Hey everyone! I’m Jen and I’m so excited to be a part of the Openhouse blog. I thought I’d tell you a little about myself in this first post. I am passionate about my home. I live in a house (pictured above) in a cookie cutter suburb that I’m in the process of adding character to. I love lots of different styles but my personal look leans towards an eclectic cottage style. My first requirement for my home is that it is easy to live with and is a cozy refuge for my husband and two girls.

For as long as I can remember I have loved decorating. Also, for as long as I can remember I have been on a budget! While it’s nice to dream about going out and buying everything that I want for my house at one time, the reality is that I’m more creative because I can’t. I always have a project going and my to do list is as long as my arm. I love doing things myself which might mean anything from building a fence to sewing pillows. In my free time I can be found cooking, reading, crafting, gardening, thrifting, decorating and dreaming. I love everything about making a house a home, well except maybe cleaning the bathrooms.

You can also find me at my blog The Cottage Nest where you can learn more than you ever wanted to know about me!