“Where house becomes HOME”®
Hi, I’m Joy — interior designer, lifelong home-lover, and the voice behind The Aspiring Home.
I’ve been turning houses into homes since I was a little girl building dream houses out of shoeboxes, and these days I get to do it for real, as an award-winning designer here in North Texas.
I believe great design isn’t about being “magazine perfect” — it’s about your story, told through the rooms you actually live in. This is my corner of the internet to share it all: real projects, simple ideas, and a whole lot of heart. I’ve been writing here since 2012, back when this was just my creative outlet .
I’m so glad you’re here.
And if you’re just looking to wander a while, here’s where everything lives:
- Design & Home — Real room makeovers, honest design advice, and simple ways to make your space feel like you.
- Gather & Celebrate — Tablescapes, seasonal touches, and easy hosting ideas for turning ordinary days into ones worth remembering.
- Living Well — The behind-the-scenes that keep home running and feeling good — organizing, routines, and a little everyday peace.
Pick whatever fits the season you’re in — and make yourself at home.
Join the Community…
Let’s refresh your home — this weekend.
Grab my free 5-Day Room Refresh checklist — a designer’s simple, no-budget-required guide to making any room feel new again using what you already have.
Latest From the blog
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Simple Ways to Celebrate Freedom – 4th of July Style
This Fourth of July, America turns 250.Two hundred and fifty years. That’s not a birthday that comes around twice in a lifetime, and it deserves more than a bag of chips and a folding chair. Not fussy. Not Pinterest-perfect. Just a little more thought than usual, because this one matters.So let’s talk about gathering well….
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Is Hiring an Interior Designer Worth It? (Honest Answer Here)
Maybe you’re holding a paint chip in your lap right now, wondering if a designer is even worth it. Let’s talk through it together. It’s one of the most common questions I get asked. By clients across the kitchen table. By family at Thanksgiving. By people who reached out three years ago and just haven’t…
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Stop Designing for Resale — Design for You (And Watch What Happens)
You’ve heard it. Maybe a real estate agent said it. Maybe a well-meaning friend said it. Maybe you’ve been saying it to yourself every time you almost committed to something you actually loved: “But what about resale value?” For decades, that phrase has been the invisible hand pushing homeowners toward beige walls, builder-grade finishes, and…
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Spring at Home: Refreshing the Beauty and Checking What Winter May Have Left Behind
Well, Spring is “Springing” and it has a way of changing how we see our homes. The windows open a little wider. The light lingers longer in the evenings. Suddenly we notice the rooms around us again. After the gray of winter, there’s an energy that makes us want to refresh things—open the windows, and…
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Design Hound at KBIS 2026: Exploring the Future of Kitchen and Bath Design Trends
I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be attending KBIS 2026 as an official Design Hound — and if you know me at all, you know this is my version of a design treasure hunt. KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) is where the future of the home quietly steps onto the stage. It’s where brands…
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Texas Winter Storm Prep: The Simple Homeowner Checklist to Protect Pipes, Power & Your Sanity
Texas Winter Storm Prep: A Quick, No-Drama Homeowner Guide Because in Texas, winter weather loves a plot twist. If you’ve lived here longer than one H-E-B run, you already know: a “little wintry mix” can turn into power outages, frozen pipes, and a whole lot of regret faster than you can say “We’re out of batteries.” This is…
