When Dale and I started dreaming up our forever home, we had a lot of ideas floating around—grand plans, practical needs, and a few things that might make others raise an eyebrow. Like a dog wash/pet area. Yes, you read that right. A whole space dedicated to our furry family members. Sounds ridiculous, right? I mean, who builds a house around their dogs? But for us, it’s all about building for what matters: embracing the unapologetic dream home.
Well, we do. And here’s why.
Unapologetic Living: Embrace What You Love
Building your dream home isn’t just about creating a beautiful space; it’s about crafting a life that reflects who you are and what you truly value. For us, the dogs are a big part of that. They bring joy, companionship, and let’s face it, a ton of hair into our lives. So why shouldn’t they have a space that’s designed with their needs in mind? (And to keep the hair out of the kitchen.)
If that means building an entire wing devoted to our dogs, so be it. We’re unapologetic about how we live our lives, and that includes making space for the things (and beings) that bring us happiness. It’s not about impressing others or sticking to some predefined notion of what a home should be; it’s about being true to ourselves.
Realistic Needs: Plan for the Life You Actually Live
Let’s get real for a moment—our dogs are part of our daily life, and that means dealing with everything from feeding time to bath time. Having a dedicated area to wash and care for them isn’t just a luxury; it’s practical. It’s about making our lives easier and our home more functional.
Why build a home that doesn’t cater to the life you actually live? Why pretend that our dogs don’t need a space when they clearly do? By acknowledging our real needs, we create a home that works for us, not against us. It’s about being honest with ourselves and building a space that reflects that.
Values at the Core: Build Around What Matters Most
At the heart of our home-building journey is a deep understanding of our values. We know what’s important to us, and we’re not willing to compromise on that. Whether it’s dedicating a space to our dogs or designing rooms that cater to our lifestyle, every decision we make is guided by our core beliefs.
I’ve written before about the importance of knowing your values (you can check that out here), and this is just another example of putting that into practice. If we value our pets, why not honor that in the way we build our home? If our values drive our decisions, then those decisions will lead to a home that’s not just beautiful, but deeply meaningful to us.
The Takeaway: Build a Home That’s Unapologetically You
In the end, building a home is about more than just walls and roofs—it’s about creating a space that’s unapologetically yours. If that means including a dog wash, a cat palace, or even an entire wing for your pets, then do it. Your home should reflect who you are and what you care about, without any apologies.
So yes, we’re building a dog wash/pet area. And we’re doing it with pride, because our home is our sanctuary, our reflection, our unapologetic expression of the life we love.
And that, my friends, is what building a dream home is all about.
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