Gratitude Lives Here: Designing a Home That Speaks of Love, Loss & Thanksgiving

Hey Roomies—Roma here. This one’s from the heart.

If you’ve followed my design journey for a while, you know I can talk about fabrics, textures, and lighting for days. But today, we’re going deeper—past the paint colors and mood boards—into the emotional blueprint of what truly makes a house a home.

Because for me, design has never just been about pretty spaces. It’s about heart space.

Family, Love, and the Beauty of Memory

Family has always been my compass. I have a wonderfully supportive one, and my daughter—my sunshine—is the heartbeat of my world. But there’s another piece of my story that quietly shapes everything I create. I lost my husband some time ago, and not a day passes that I don’t feel his presence in the spaces around me.

There are corners of my home that hold whispers of him—the scent of his favorite candle, the chair he loved, the sound of laughter that somehow still echoes. And while there’s pain, there’s also peace. I’ve learned that grief doesn’t leave; it transforms. It becomes the soft lighting in the background, the reason you choose warmth over perfection, and the reminder that beauty can grow even from heartbreak.

This Thanksgiving, I find myself holding gratitude not just for what I have, but for who I had.

Designing Gratitude: The Soul of a Home

When I design for clients—especially around this season—I always ask: What does gratitude look like to you?

Sometimes it’s a family photo wall surrounded by golden light. Sometimes it’s a reading nook for quiet reflection, a small altar with framed letters, or a kitchen island that feels like a gathering hug. Gratitude doesn’t need grandeur—it needs intention.

Your gratitude space can be whatever you need it to be:

• A mantel lined with candles representing each person you’re thankful for.

• A corner chair near the window where you write, breathe, or simply remember.

• A table centerpiece made of things that hold meaning—an old recipe card, a seashell from a favorite trip, a flower from a loved one’s garden.

When you infuse love into design, it becomes more than décor—it becomes devotion.

The Thanksgiving That Lives On

Thanksgiving isn’t just about one meal or one day. It’s the quiet gratitude that lingers after the guests leave, the feeling when your home smells like comfort, and the memories that refuse to fade.

If you’ve lost someone this year, know that your space can be a way to honor them. Let your home tell their story through warmth, color, and connection. Let every candle be a thank you, every blanket a hug, every photo a prayer whispered through design.

Because love doesn’t disappear—it decorates differently.

From My Home to Yours

This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to pause, breathe, and look around your home. See the walls that sheltered you, the table that hosted laughter, the floors that caught your tears and dancing feet.

You worked hard for this space—make it your calling card. Make it a reflection of your journey, your joy, your resilience.

And if you ever need help designing a gratitude space—a place to celebrate your people, both here and in memory—I would be honored to help. Together, we can create something that feels like peace, warmth, and the gentle heartbeat of home.

Reach out to me anytime at roomsbyroma.com.

With love, light, and endless thanks,
Roma