It’s hard to believe that it’s been an entire year since our lives turned upside down. For 12 months, we’ve been wearing masks, social distancing and sanitizing like crazy. It’s been a year of staying in—and for the luckiest of us, a year spent at home. But it didn’t take long for the restlessness to set in. Even I, a major homebody, found myself longing for the obligatory nights out I once dreaded. So, what did we do to entertain ourselves? We baked bread, we tie-dyed, we TikToked, we did puzzles and we Zoomed—oh man, did we Zoom. There were days we laughed and days we cried—the exact ratio is unimportant, right? But in between the banana bread and the TikTok and the tears, some were able to find productivity in this year at home. In honor of our annual spring home edition, we’re sharing a few impressive DIY home project stories. Ranging from a 1910 kitchen renovation to wallpaper inspired by The Queen’s Gambit (another notable pandemic pastime), these locals talk all about their experiences on pg. 44. Even if you haven’t picked up a hammer since 2019, their stories are sure to inspire.
And don’t worry if DIY doesn’t exist in your universe—the professionals are always happy to help! Interior designer Shweta Jajodia, of SJ Interiors, is inviting us inside a dream-come-true basement renovation in Breinigsville. But, can you really call it a basement if it includes a full kitchen? Apparently, yes! Find this and more on pg. 54.
We hope this edition provides all the inspiration you need to find happiness at home, even if it just means purchasing some fresh plants, pg. 42, or committing to making your house your sanctuary, pg. 25.
