Your home is a reflection of you
A self actualization story using Architecture and Interior Design
17 years ago, when I was 35, I came back to live in my country after living abroad as an expatriate’s wife for more than a decade. I lived in many countries and in each house where I lived, I tried to reflect my style, my personality. Even if it was a hotel room, I did what I could to make it mine. I didn’t realize then that I was doing House-Coaching™ intuitively.
When I got back to Colombia, my home country, I found out that until then I was living my married life to be a good wife, a good mom, and house wife. Even though I wasn’t clear about my dreams as an individual, being me, independent from other people.
I had the fortune of being able to build a house in the country, in my family’s land and I was lucky enough to be able to build it from scratch. I started looking for an architect to help me with the project but soon I found out that he was going to build it according to his taste and personality and that wasn’t what I wanted. Instead I decided to hire a constructor who understood and executed my ideas.
Even though I designed the house without any architectural training, I asked for help from and engineer to take care of the structure design so I didn’t have any problems with that in the future.
The house is located in a land in Colombia known for its ceramics. The architecture there is made from adobe, clay tiles, so I decided to use those materials. It made sense to me not only because it seemed appropriate but because I totally identified myself with the texture, warmth and colors of the materials. We made 10.000 adobe bricks, from the clay extracted directly from the land, that is an almost medieval process that uses a horse and a mill to mix the materials. That was the beginning of a self knowledge process for me as every single decision made me think and discover who I was, what made me happy and what represented me as a person.
Adobes made with the clay extracted from the land
We made 10.000 adobe bricks to build the house
The constructor asked everything. I started to discover what I liked and at the same time we built a house that represented me in every way.
Budget was a main issue for me in every decision because I was very interested in keeping the expenses controlled and also didn’t want the house to be ostentatious, instead I wanted it to be austere, just like me. For instance, when I had to decide about the floor, It was a 300 sqm. house so I had to find a material cost effective and also aesthetically suitable to go with the adobe. That’s why I chose refined cement which was also a beautiful process. We did several samples until we found the perfect color. I decided to use gray for the social areas and white for the rooms and it looks perfect with the yellow color of the adobe. We also used the same material for the bathrooms to keep the budget on track.
Mexico was one of the countries where I lived and their architecture left an important print on me. The contrast within different materials and the proportions used. That’s why my house has a big Mexican influence. Also, the provencal style even though it is not part of my past, I have always loved it.
The furniture and accessories were chosen in a very careful way. Some are old and have a wonderful contrast with the rustic materials. The lamps are all made and designed by me, because it’s hard for me to find a lamp I like in the stores. I wanted something unique and original so I made them out of bottles, wood, and recycled fabrics. That gives them a special character and originality. They all tell stories of past times.
Now comes the best part and that is how I feel when I am at this house. Literally for me it is like connecting to a charger just like a cellphone. When I’m there, I am at peace, I feel myself, strong, valuable…. each corner gives me energy and amazes me. It is like my own value as an individual, captured in a house. The feeling is unique and that is what we do with House-Coaching™ when we finish a project: we want people to feel at home in their home and want to be there. It is Interior Design and Architecture with purpose.
The House-Coach™ coaches the person, couples, and families to do this self knowledge process, connecting with the heart so the space reflects their soul, their essence and their families. It can also be done with businesses.
A lot happened after building this house and that is the result of a House-Coaching™ process. I found a new career that matches my life purpose, I am a Coach and House-Coach™, I help people in a self discovery and self love journey. I use my skills and strengths to help others love who they are without external expectations and become the best version of themselves. I love what I do and it doesn’t feel like work. Just as my house, it recharges me, it reflects who I am and brings out the best in me.
Besides that, I became a better mom -my daughters say. I don’t expect them to fulfill my expectations or needs and I accept them each with their own individuality.
