The House That Taught Me
Our homes bear witness to every step we take on the path to becoming who we are. In this way, our homes act as our daily observers and play an essential role in raising us. Miranda Lambert’s song, The House That Built Me, always reminds me of that. It reminds me that our homes help build us, teach us and leave an indelible mark on who we are.
“But these hand prints on the front steps are mine
Up those stairs in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar”
I feel this acutely right now. We recently sold a house in Vermont where I not only fell in love with my husband but fell in love with design. When we lived in New York, this house was our oasis and it’s 1850’s birthdate gave me plenty to work with. I stripped old wallpaper, uncovered 12” pine planked floors, built new closets and cabinetry. I learned to cut grass, drive a tractor, plan and build a raised mahogany deck and wield power tools with just enough mastery to think I knew how to fix anything broken. This house built my confidence, my skills and countless memories with my kids. Saying goodbye has been bittersweet. As our kids and companies grew, we saw less and less of it and it became clear that it needed more immediate hands to care for it.
“If I could walk around, I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothin’ but a memory
From the house that built me”
So much of our lives are wrapped up in our homes. They are the canvas on which we write the collection of our experience and map out the moments of our memories. I will forever be grateful to this house for the lessons it delivered and the gifts it gave me.
Lyrics from The House That Built Me by Miranda Lambert
I know they say you can’t go home again
I just had to come back one last time
Ma’am, I know you don’t know me from Adam
But these hand prints on the front steps are mine
Up those stairs in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar
And I bet you didn’t know under that live oak
My favourite dog is buried in the yard
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here, it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in, I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothin’ but a memory
From the house that built me
Momma cut out pictures of houses for years
From better homes and garden magazine
Plans were drawn and concrete poured
Nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to momma’s dream
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here, it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in, I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothin’ but a memory
From the house that built me
You leave home, you move on
And you do the best you can
I got lost in this whole world
And forgot who I am
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here, it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could walk around, I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothin’ but a memory
From the house that built me
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Douglas Tom / Douglas Thomas Stevenson
The House That Built Me lyrics © Built On Rock Music
Courtney Thomas, ASID
Principal & Lead Designer
My job is to make spaces functional in their layout, comfortable in their use, inspirational in their style and luxurious in their appointment. In that order. For that one moment after installation, the pictures are perfect.
