A home is never finished, as it evolves to fit the changing shape of our lives, says Cassandra in her final column
We all dream of the perfect moment of home happiness, and so we moodboard, plan, budget and invest our savings and hopes on ahouse that will deliver this perfection. Except that in the interim, our lives may have changed. Or more importantly, what we want from our lives and shelter may have changed.
I’ve mentioned my kitchen before. In past homes, Ihave designed kitchens swiftly. Iam (or have been) the cook in the family, and cooking for people has been abig part of who Iam. Gathering harmoniously around afamily table wasn’t something that happened for me as achild and so Iknow why it feeds me now.
Recently, the cooking in our household has been taken over by our 23-year-old. Food has become her life, at the same moment my business has become mine, and suddenly there is another adult beautifully taking up aplace that was once solely mine. Our kitchen takes on new meaning for both of us, and it will look and feel different as she continues to bring herself more into the space.
I think of a home as two things. The first is the physical –the rooms and shape of it all, and the functionality of how it works for you. The second is the story you weave through it.
With the first, it is sensible to plan as far ahead as you can, future-proofing your home for whatever life or decorative changes you would like to make. Think about how each room can adjust as you need it to. Achild’s bedroom now may beco
