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Rental Reno on a Tight Timeframe
What was to be a quick and easy two bedroom, two bath rental house turn-over for the landlord, suddenly turned into a major gut job with an impossible three-week turn-around. They initially hired me to create the pick list for all materials required but because of the tight timeframe, it turned into an “all hands-on deck” support role. There was a substantial amount of usage and water damage from the previous tenants which necessitated ripping out flooring and bathroom cabinetry, as well as needing to upgrade hardware, lighting, shelving and plumbing. The new tenant was asking for a blue/grey aesthetic that they were already familiar and comfortable with, so I…
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Listen to Your Own Opinion
In February 2020, just weeks prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, my husband and I spent several days at my parent’s home as a late Christmas gift to them, the gift of time. We live a couple of hours away and decided collectively that mom needed some help organizing and setting up her craft room that had gone unused for years. She’d been cranking out handmade goods for every charity under the sun for years, all while using other spaces in the house and at their church. It seemed like the perfect way to spend some quality time with mom, working on what she loves doing the most. She loves making…
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Good-bye Chaos, Hello Calm and Cozy
Move smarter. Live lighter. Love your space again. Feeling overwhelmed by clutter or a big move?Whether you’re preparing to sell, getting ready to relocate, or just craving a calm, organized home—I offer hands-on support and tailored solutions that make the process feel easy and rewarding. Decluttering, packing, organizing, and staging—your space is in good hands. 👉 Book Your Free Consultation 🧺 Decluttering & Home Organization – Tame the chaos—one room or the whole house. My Process Includes: 📦 Preparing for a Move Selling Your Home? I’ll help you prep your space to shine and sell quickly: Getting Ready to Relocate? Let’s make moving day (and unpacking!) smooth and stress-free: 💼…
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Your Dream Home Deserves a Smart Start
You’re finally ready to refresh your space—or maybe you just found the one: your dream home, your fixer-upper fantasy, your forever house. You’ve got ideas, a vision, maybe even a Pinterest board or two. You can see it already… But then—Your custom sectional won’t fit through the doorway.Your new king bed eats up every inch of the master.And your “serene coastal” wall color? Definitely giving more daycare than dreamy. 😬 Sound familiar? That’s Where I Come In Designing your space should be exciting—not overwhelming or full of costly surprises. With thoughtful planning, expert guidance, and a healthy dose of creativity, I’ll help bring your dream home to life—without the detours.…
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From My Sanctuary to Yours
I’m Kirsten, Principal Designer and Owner of The Lost Sanctuary, LLC. The creation of The Lost Sanctuary began on a cold, foggy morning—with a favorite sweater, an artisan coffee mug in hand, and a vision to create a space for anyone who feels lost or wants, metaphorically, to “get lost” in a sanctuary that is safe, cozy, and nurturing. A space to remember who you are—and who you are becoming. Aesthetics have been one of the strongest dominating factors in how I feel, work, play and sleep since early childhood. It is my mission to help others find their own safe haven and inner sanctum, as I continue cultivating mine,…
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How to Feel Hygge on a Snowy Day
On a snowy day, early in the morning when you first wake up, breathe out deeply against a cold window and trace your initials or even a heart in the fog your breath creates. You’re an adult, you’re allowed to be mischievous! Be prepared if the power goes out because then you can have a special day! Snow is one of the most beautiful creations of God. It creates a mysterious blanket of silence, if you’re listening. It dulls the unnecessary noise around us, and you can focus more clearly on the sounds of nature that are alive in the snow. Watch clumps of snow drop from tree branches, squirrels…
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How to Feel Hygge on a Windy Day
On a windy day, slow down your pace and limit your tasks. Wind is so powerful it will sap your energy so conserve it carefully. Listen to the direction the wind is blowing. Is it always blowing from one direction where you live or does it change frequently, creating a dizziness as it undulates? Consider where this wind came from before it got to you. Think of how many people are feeling this same wind, thinking the same thoughts about the wind that you are. If you are inside, watch the trees and plants outside and notice how the wind bends them but doesn’t snap them. The wind strengthens the…
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You’re Not Just a Stick in the River
Have you ever felt completely stuck? Stuck in life or perhaps just stuck in a situation? And you become completely overwhelmed and don’t know what to do or how to move forward? Several years back I found myself feeling pretty stuck (and yes, dozens and dozens of times since and currently, cause hey, I’m human). It wasn’t everything in my life but enough that it was easy to feel like a victim of circumstances beyond my immediate control. And I know we all feel, from time to time, as though we’re being dragged along, helpless to choose a different path or outcome and with no end in sight. And then…
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The Gate Can Wait
I hit my lowest point the summer I turned 48. I’d been working in corporate America for years and one day I finally hit maximum burnout. Exhausted, mindless, numb and functioning in a deficit; barely surviving, definitely not living. The timing was ripe for a mid-life crisis but my abundantly cautious nature settled on the careful planning of one instead. So, I got comfortable with the idea of strategically curating a mid-life crisis instead of creating a catastrophic and irreversible disaster. Perhaps I might have the opportunity to build something that would benefit me in the end which I might actually like myself for and wouldn’t result in further self-loathing.…
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How to Feel Hygge on a Sunny Day
On a sunny day, notice how the sunlight filters through the windows, stretching across the floor or your furnishings. Look at the shapes it creates between the light and the shadows. Feel the energy coming from the sun’s rays, penetrating the room. Contemplate this light, noticing how the light shows up for you again and again, even if it has been missing for many days or even weeks in some places of the world. Feel this unique moment of light; feel it filling you up and as you take it in, notice the calm spread across your body. Still your mind. Focus only on this light. If you can, position…
