Our Home Featured in Better Homes & Gardens: A Dream Come True!

Growing up, the sight of a fresh stack of Better Homes & Gardens magazines on our family room coffee table was as much a part of my childhood as Saturday morning cartoons. I’d spend hours leafing through those glossy pages, captivated by the impeccably styled homes and envisioning the lives of the “perfect” people within them. I often wondered if those breathtaking spaces and smiling faces were even real, or merely figments of a creative director’s imagination.

Little did I know, years later, that question would be answered in the most personal way imaginable. Because, as of February 2018, those real people are, in fact, us!

The journey to seeing our home grace the pages of such an iconic publication began rather unexpectedly. It was a scorching July afternoon, and I was casually checking my email in the thrift store parking lot – my weekly ritual before diving into my treasure hunt for unique home finds. Suddenly, a new message popped up, and my heart nearly stopped. The sender? A Better Homes & Gardens editor. I almost spluttered my entire cup of coffee all over the dashboard of my car in disbelief.

The email was an invitation, a dream-like proposition. The editor expressed interest in featuring our beloved DIY window seat, ingeniously crafted from an old kitchen cabinet, in an upcoming winter issue. Specifically, they wanted to include it in their popular “I Did It” column, highlighting clever home improvement projects. Our window seat, a proud solution for neatly housing all our TV electronics, had caught their eye. My fingers, usually adept at typing swiftly, fumbled in their haste to peck out an enthusiastic “YES!”—a response that couldn’t be sent fast enough. Even as a millennial, my excitement translated into a rapid-fire, slightly uncoordinated, traditional texting flurry!

The idea of our humble DIY project being recognized by Better Homes & Gardens felt surreal. This wasn’t just any window seat; it was a testament to creative problem-solving and transforming an overlooked space into a functional and stylish focal point. We had painstakingly converted an unused kitchen cabinet into a seamless built-in feature, complete with a comfortable cushion and ample storage. The primary motivation was to declutter our living area by cleverly concealing all the wires and devices associated with our television, creating a clean, organized aesthetic that many homeowners strive for. It was a practical solution born out of necessity, yet it had blossomed into a design element that genuinely elevated our home’s character.

Behind the Scenes: The Magic of a Magazine Photoshoot

Fast forward to a wonderfully rainy day in August – a welcome respite from the Carolina summer heat. This was the day I met Sandi, our incredibly talented stylist. Just uttering the word “stylist” in relation to my life made me feel absurdly glamorous! Sandi whisked me away on a shopping excursion, the mission: to find a few winter-friendly outfits that would look perfect for the upcoming photoshoot. Finding winter attire in the heart of August in the Southern states is, as you can imagine, quite the challenge, but Sandi had a knack for it.

The actual shoot day arrived, and our home was transformed. Sandi, with her keen eye for detail, meticulously styled our DIY window seat. She brought an array of beautiful accessories and plush pillows, expertly arranging them to create that signature magazine-worthy look. Robert and I, playing the part of “models” for the day, tried on several outfit combinations, with Sandi guiding us to the winning ensemble that best captured the cozy, winter aesthetic for the “I Did It” feature.

Our photographer, Lincoln, was a master of light and composition. He, along with his assistant Graham, meticulously set up an impressive array of professional equipment. I honestly lost count of the number of lights, diffusers, and pristine white screens that appeared. Our back porch, usually a simple outdoor space, was completely converted into a temporary studio, bristling with photographic gear:

Despite the intricate setup and the seriousness of the task, the atmosphere on set was incredibly relaxed and joyful. Both Sandi and Lincoln, along with Graham, made the entire process genuinely fun. Robert and I found ourselves laughing throughout the day, which helped immensely in making us feel comfortable in front of the camera. Their professionalism was matched by their personable approach, turning what could have been a stressful experience into a memorable adventure.

It was truly astounding to witness the meticulous detail involved in a professional magazine photoshoot. They took an incredible number of shots, each one with the most minute adjustments. I remember Lincoln giving directions like, “Lauren, could you tilt your head just an inch to the right?” or “Robert, turn your foot ever so slightly.” These super detailed instructions, combined with countless clicks of the shutter, were all aimed at capturing that single, flawless image that would ultimately appear in print.

Magazine Perfection vs. Real Life: A Valuable Lesson

This behind-the-scenes experience provided me with an invaluable perspective on the curated world of media. It solidified a truth I had always intellectually understood but never fully internalized: the images we see in magazines, catalogs, on television, and in films are rarely, if ever, that perfect in real life. While I’ve always known that media portrays an idealized version of reality, witnessing the painstaking process firsthand—the hours it took to capture just one perfect photograph—made it undeniably clear.

The quest for “magazine-worthy” perfection in our daily lives is not only unrealistic but utterly impossible. Our homes are lived in, our clothes get wrinkled, and our pets sometimes decide to eat the furniture. And you know what? I am completely, utterly okay with that. This experience reinforced the beauty of imperfection and the authenticity of everyday living. It was certainly exhilarating to be “models” for a day, but the genuine charm of our home lies in its warmth, its comfort, and the stories it tells, rather than its ability to perfectly align with a styled photograph.

The Big Reveal: Holding Our Story in Print

The culmination of this incredible journey arrived with the release of the Better Homes & Gardens February 2018 issue. The excitement of seeing our project, our home, and ourselves featured in a publication I’ve admired since childhood was truly indescribable. Walking into a newsstand and spotting that familiar cover, then flipping through to find our story in the “I Did It” column, was a moment I’ll cherish forever. It was a tangible testament to our hard work and creativity, validating the countless hours we’ve poured into making our house a home.

A Dose of Reality: Our Family’s “Famous” Window Seat

And now, for a much-needed “reality check.” Fresh from church yesterday, still dressed in our Sunday best, we decided to stage our own impromptu family photoshoot on our now “famous” (cue the snickering!) window seat. We gathered our little clan, including our daughter Olivia, and our beloved pups, Lola and Stella. It quickly became clear that a career in modeling is not in their future.

Lola and Stella, our furry companions, proved to be far less enthusiastic models than Robert and I. The pressure of the camera seemed to get to them. Stella, ever the opportunist, was more interested in trying to nibble on the magazine itself than posing elegantly. Lola, on the other hand, just kept giving me those soulful puppy-dog eyes, silently pleading to be left alone so she could return to her much-preferred nap. Olivia, bless her heart, tried her best, but even she couldn’t quite replicate the serene perfection of a magazine spread. This candid, slightly chaotic moment perfectly encapsulated the joyful, imperfect reality of our family life, standing in stark contrast to the meticulously staged shots captured by professionals.

As you embark on your week, friends, I sincerely hope you find joy in the non-magazine-worthy moments. Embrace the beautiful chaos, the lived-in spaces, and the genuine warmth of your own reality. Because in its truest form, real life is always, unequivocally, the most beautiful thing of all. Thank you for celebrating this incredible milestone with us!