Every since I can remember I’ve had a passion for creating things. My mom and grandma are artist so I suppose it’s in my blood. When I was in college I sold paintings and loved having that creative outlet in the midst of the studying and exams.
Fast forward to life after college, I took a job in IT. Everyone I meet is shocked to hear I am a secret computer nerd AND a creative. It’s true! After college I moved to a small town in Oklahoma and rented my first house. I painted the walls, decorated it (the best I could with it being a rental), and dedicated one whole room to art (i.e. “The Art Room”). When Brett and I got married we made the move to Kansas City. We lived temporarily with a family while we searched for our first home. From my time living alone in Oklahoma I had dreamt of my first house! I had the paint colors all picked out, I knew the style I was going for, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.
After looking for a few weeks an adorable gray ranch-style home popped up on MLS. Brett was out of town but knowing the area of town it was in and the pictures online we both knew it was the one – Sure enough, it was! We closed on the house and spent the next couple months fixing it up before we moved in. I wanted to document the process on social media (without flooding my friends with home reno pics on my personal page). I told Brett of my idea but I didn’t know what to call it – After all, the only thing I knew for sure in the process was the paint colors. I rattled off the names of the paint colors (the main one being Sherwin Williams, Mindful Gray) and Brett suggested I call my new creative outlet (Instagram) Mindfully Gray – “So it’s like the paint color, but not exactly.”
It stuck. I created Mindfully Gray on Instagram and eventually this blog to go along with it. It has since evolved into a home and lifestyle brand. I continue to share projects around the house, as well as about our life and motherhood! This platform has been just the creative outlet this computer nerd needed.
Here’s a few before and after pictures to show just how far we’ve come!
Living Room Before:
Living Room Today:
Dining Room Before:
Dining Room Today:
Kitchen Before:
Kitchen Today:
Nursery Before:
Nursery Today:
Front Porch Before:
Front Porch Today:
Front Exterior Before:
Front Exterior Today:
Backyard Before:
Backyard Today:
All this to say, none of this would be possible without you guys! You saw something in me that made you hit the follow button and for that, I am so grateful! My hope is that one day this “side hustle” could be my full-time gig. There is still lots more we’d like to do to the house (I didn’t share a bathroom before & after for a reason). I’m excited for what’s to come – sharing projects around the house as we’ll as more about us, motherhood and maybe even clothing!
To answer the question why I started this blog – I needed a creative outlet. I was created to create, after all.
Thank you guys for stopping by!
Jamie
Love your new ideas with changing of your rooms