05/05/2026
From dated wallpaper and a room that felt blasÊ⌠to a space that holds so much of her.
This bathroom used to be just âblehâ⌠beige, quiet, nothing special.
When we started our kitchen remodel, we decided to âthrow inâ the half bath while we were at it and continue the wood flooring in there. The original design for this bathroom looked very different. I had something safer in mind. Simple. Pretty. Done.
And then it changed.
Slowly, the hunt for wallpaper became something more than just picking a pattern. I found myself searching for a feeling⌠some way to fill a hole in my heart.
Then I saw it.
The red. The movement. The life in it.
Poppies.
My mom painted poppies. She gave me one before she passed. I took it off the wall, turned it over, and read what she had written on the back for the first time.
âA poppy is a flower that survives harsh conditions. This is why itâs such a beautiful and precious flower to me. Love always to eternity.â
I just stood there and cried. My mom had survived so much in her life. She was so strong. So caring and energetic. She loved flowers and gardening. I wanted to capture a little bit of her.
Red is vibrant. Bold. Full of life.
That was my mom.
Vibrant. Warm like the golden sun.
I miss her more than words can express⌠but somehow, in this space, I feel her.
Now this is where Iâll end our days, washing little hands, brushing tiny teeth, getting our babies ready for bed.
The ordinary moments.
And in those quiet minutes, when the house finally slows downâŚ
sheâs there.
In the colors.
In the warmth.
In the way this room feels wrapped around us.
This was never just a remodel.
It became a place where I still get to feel her love every single night. I hope our children get to feel that too. Our 4yr old never met my mom, just felt her warmth through a hand placed on my belly. Thatâs one of the hardest parts of losing my mom. Not having her here to share her bright energy. Tonight I asked our daughter what her favorite part of her new bathroom was, she said âthe wallsâ. Me too. Me too.
