Have you ever found yourself driving through a neighborhood and admiring the houses that it holds? Maybe the charming, cute neighborhoods catch your eye. Or, perhaps the modern, urban, cool feel is more your thing. You could be drawn to traditional Americana or funky, eclectic neighborhoods. Whatever your style may be, as you cruise through these neighborhoods, do you find yourself picking out 1 or 2 (or more!) homes and thinking, “I wish I could see the inside of that house.” Well, I do! All the time!
Without trying to sound like a total creeper, I’m that girl who will casually glance in the windows of homes as I walk my dog through the neighborhood just to get a peek of the style that lies behind those walls. Our homes are our places of refuge, the place where we spend a majority of our time and where we make some of our most special memories. To see into a person’s home is to get a glimpse of their personality and what brings them comfort.
I love home décor! I am a self-proclaimed design nerd and I truly enjoy seeing how others express their style through their living spaces. I like to hear the stories behind how rooms came to be and the pieces that make them special. I am always getting inspiration from others. So much so, in fact, that I decided to create this space to share that inspiration with my fellow design nerds.
A bit of background on me. My name is Courtney Payne. I am a wife and mother of two amazing, creative little souls, and one energetic Labrador pup. I am a big home décor enthusiast, writer and artist. (All of which are more for fun than profit!) We live in the Brookside neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri in an (almost) 100 year old home that we have spent the last four years turning into the perfect space for our family.
Here at Brookside On Main we are going to take a peek inside some of the homes in the many great neighborhoods that Kansas City has to offer. And, we won’t just be making the rounds in Kansas City. We will visit homes in neighborhoods across the U.S. as well. We will hear from residents about what makes their home special, style tips, favorite spaces and more.
I will also use this space to share my thoughts on design, décor tips, DIY projects and renovation. We have lived in three different houses in three different state, all with their own distinct personality. Our design style has evolved quite a bit from our first home to now and our current home has been, and continues to be, a work in progress. We have learned so much in our home journey. We have had some good décor success stories, but we have also made quite a few mistakes along the way. Trial and error is all a part of the process in the evolution of the style that has become the right fit for us.
I will also share how we have done things in our home on a budget. As a stay-at-home mom with two kids and a dog that, on many occasions, work as a perfectly united demolition squad, we have had to be very realistic in our approach to design and décor. You won’t find things too high-end or precious in our home. Maybe someday, (I wistfully say,) but that just doesn’t fit into our crazy-hectic lifestyle right now.
Again, welcome to Brookside On Main!
I am so glad you are here! Be sure to check back because exciting things are ahead!
-Courtney