Home Tour Series: Gilbert Home Tour
Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
Hi! I’m McKenna. I love gardening when the weather’s nice, traveling when it’s not, puzzling occasionally, and reading every night before bed.
I’m lucky enough to be married to someone who loves and values art and home as much as I do. I am truly having the time of my life in this season with my family. As a mother of three, with ages ranging from 18 months to 8 years, life is busy, but it’s the good kind of busy, the kind that feels full in all the best ways.
What is one design tip or lesson you’ve learned while creating your home?
One of my favorite philosophies I live by, and one I’ve learned through creating my home, is that the house and the rooms will tell me what they want to be. I know that sounds weird, but bear with me!
I actually think this idea was inspired by Marie Kondo. I watched her Netflix series in our first home years ago, and when we moved, I knelt on the floor and thanked the house for providing me with joy, shelter, and love. I think that experience, and what I felt in that moment, really inspired me to look at my home differently.
It’s so much more than a roof and stone. It carries memories and experiences, and through good, thoughtful design, a home makes you feel things. I believe that if you listen, it’ll tell you what it wants to become.
So many rooms in this house I’ve sat with for months and even years, with little tidbits of ideas on what I thought would look best. But then one day it’ll click, and I’ll just know what the room can be. Its potential manifests itself to me, and I’m compelled to obey!
I love looking at my house this way because I can feel so much gratitude and confidence in my decision-making. It doesn’t feel like I can take all the credit, which is both thrilling and humbling.
What are your favorite local businesses, makers, or sources for home inspiration?
Antique & thrift stores are my go to when sourcing for my home! 
Is there a piece of art, furniture, or decor in your home that has a special story behind it?
So many pieces of art I collect have meaningful stories. I love to bring home local art from the places we visit. Two of my very favorite pieces are from an artist in Boston, they are portraits of my older two kids.
Boston is a place we visit often and love deeply, and over the past several years we’ve noticed an artist who sits outside Faneuil Hall doing pastel portraits for $20. We went back in March this year with our kids and were lucky enough to run into him again, so we finally got their portraits done. They hang in my living room and are some of my very favorite pieces of art.
What is your favorite way to gather or entertain in this space?
I love to gather and entertain in my open living room and kitchen. There’s room and a cozy seat for literally everyone. I also love the back to back living spaces, because when we entertain, the girls tend to gravitate toward one space and the guys toward the other, but because everything is so open, we can still all be together without feeling separated or far apart. It creates a kind of versatility that I think is really unique to our home. 
Where do you spend most of your time at home?
I spend most of my downtime in my bedroom, it’s my favorite room in the house. I love the way it feels! It’s dramatic and warm, but still cozy and welcoming. I feel really proud of this space.
I’m also not a couch lounger, I’m a bed layer. I’d much rather lay in bed reading a book or vegging than sit on the couch and turn on the TV. Plus, every once in a while, it turns into a little family spot for snuggles, wrestling, or just hanging out together, which makes it even better. 
What are some of your favorite everyday rituals or routines that happen here?
I absolutely love to “wake up the house” by opening all the drapes. It just lights my brain on fire and feels like such a literal way of welcoming a new day.
Now that it’s summer, we’ve also gotten into the routine of swimming together as a family after Dad gets home from work, a simple routine that’s become one of my favorite parts of the day. 
How would you describe the style of your home in three words?
curated, warm, transitional. 
What’s next for this space? Any future dreams or projects on the horizon
Our time with this space is coming to an end. Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to purchase the house my grandpa built and spent the last years of his life in. It’s where we had weekly Sunday dinners, Christmases, and every major (and minor) holiday celebration.
As newlyweds, we lived just a few doors down and would dream about one day buying his house. We are absolutely elated and deeply honored to have the opportunity to continue his legacy while making the space our own.
He built the house as an empty nester, so we’re going to renovate it to better accommodate our family of five and the way we live. It’s a dream come true, and one we don’t take lightly. We’re incredibly excited for what’s ahead and humbled by the responsibility of carrying his home into its next chapter.