As the year draws to a close, I love taking a moment to look back with gratitude and notice the progress we’ve made. Reflecting on the past months helps me find the silver linings, remember the small wins, and appreciate the effort that often happens behind the scenes.
Creating a home is a gradual process. Some years feel slow or uneventful, but when you step back you can see meaningful forward movement—even if it was made up of small, steady steps. Every season asks for different priorities, and making those intentional choices matters.
For us, 2022 was a year of planning, settling in, and preparing for what’s next. We moved late in 2021, so 2022 became our first full year in the new house, experiencing all four seasons and getting comfortable in new rhythms and spaces. Moving always takes energy to recover from, and it’s worth acknowledging that transition time as progress, too.
Shortly after moving, we dove into planning a wedding—my daughter Courtney became engaged and we celebrated her July wedding. It was one of the year’s brightest memories, alongside the inevitable family ups and downs. Joys and sorrows both shaped our year.
A large portion of 2022 was spent preparing for a long-planned remodel that will start in just a few weeks. We’re excited about the addition for my parents and the transformation of our kitchen and dining room. Some years are about laying the groundwork behind the scenes; other years you see those plans take shape. We expect 2023 to be a year of visible progress both at home and in our business.
Looking back, I’m proud of the consistent work my team and I put into The Inspired Room. We published many posts this year, and I released my eleventh book, A Lovely Life. We also worked on a new book slated for next year and advanced a dream project we’ve been planning for years. More details on that will be shared soon.
Staying connected with our community is central to what we do. We communicated regularly through email and social media and collaborated with several brands this year. That ongoing connection makes this work meaningful and keeps the conversation alive.
We also marked another milestone in our online business—January 2023 will be our 16th year in business. The internet keeps evolving, and while I sometimes miss the simpler early days of blogging, I’m grateful we’ve adapted and continued to create content we care about. I’m thankful to be doing work I love—and to have had the opportunity to encourage others in making their homes more comfortable and intentional since 2007.
Do you take time to look back each year and notice how far you’ve come? Even in difficult seasons there is often something to be grateful for and reasons to look forward to the year ahead.
I’ll be sharing a lot in 2023—our remodel will be in full swing and I’m looking forward to connecting in new ways. I hope you’ll follow along and make sure you’re subscribed to my emails.
I recently wrote about seven simple ways we made progress in our home during the first year; below are more highlights and favorite posts from the year.
Here are highlights and posts from the year, listed from most recent to earlier in 2022. Click to read the full posts.
Getting Ready for Winter in the Snug (shared photos and details of how we arranged furniture and used what we had in this cozy multi-purpose space)
DIY Whale Wreath
My early winter cottage bedroom and seasonal printable artwork
Decided to name our multi-purpose room THE SNUG and shared our whimsical winter guest space
Continued our tradition of the Moravian Stars on our porch
Changed out our living room chairs for affordable striped armchairs and described how a Christmas tree influenced the design decision
Decorated the stairs for Christmas and shared tips for making garland fuller
Shared a favorite vintage Staffordshire piece and tips for telling your home’s story
Hung our DIY porch lantern with a flickering battery candle
Battery-operated window candles that set a warm mood in our home
Invested in mix-and-match pillows and shared tips for pattern mixing and saving money
Decorated our porch for fall
Ideas for a cozy fall entry and tips for a welcoming entryway
Shared a secret decorating tip and the blue glass lamp in its new spot
Solved storage needs with shallow underbed storage bags
Hung coastal and seascape artwork and shared sources
Savored summer sunsets from our porch
Got white washable slipcovers for Ikea chairs
Discovered lightweight reversible blankets many readers loved
Added railing planter boxes for curb appeal
Created a summer door basket with faux hydrangeas
Shared thoughts about how a home is a sanctuary rather than a showplace
Small space laundry closet storage solutions
A full beach house tour with before photos
Small space storage tips and making room for what you love
Six-month progress report in the new beach house
Added personality with a new lantern light in our entry—before and after
Spring door basket to welcome the season
Our kitchen and dining room remodeling plans with before photos
Three simple updates to make your bedroom a winter sanctuary
A few other things that happened in 2022:
Released my 11th book, A Lovely Life.
Started the Monday Mood Boards series.
Launched @theinspiredroomstyle, a curated shop of timeless furniture and accessories.
Courtney’s wedding and a post sharing photos and planning advice.
Shared cozy inspiration in our annual Fall Nesting series.
More favorite posts:
Kylee shared progress on her home.
Embraced the Coastal Grandmother style.
Shared a downloadable seasonal planner and tips for intentional holiday planning.
Reflected on creating an intentional home and the secrets to success.
My design philosophy and the gift of home.
Ten favorite cleaning tools, gadgets, and hacks that make life easier.
Thoughts on how to live a more lovely life.
Why I love being called a homebody.
Happy New Year, friend!
