“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” This was quoted often in the King Richard movie I recently watched with my husband. The movie tells the story of Richard Williams, played by Will Smith, the father of Venus and Serena Williams who relentlessly pursued opportunities for his daughters’ to become the top athletes that we all know them as today.

You hear this quote, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” throughout the course of the movie, and it had me thinking about intentionality.

Interior design is about intentionality. And there are many methods to define and execute a plan. And while I believe in and use some of those methods, I know that prayer is ultimately the best and most crucial way to be intentional - both in my design and especially in showing hospitality.

Gathering/Family room: May laughter fill these walls and silliness always (be) welcome.

During the remodel of our current home, we had to strip down much of it to the studs, these pieces of bare wood that you see pictured here. I had heard of people writing prayers or verses on the studs of their home before, and because I am inclined to not want to do what others are doing, I initially wasn’t going to participate. But something in me said this was good, writing down what we wanted was good. Praying for what we hoped would happen in these spaces was necessary and would help me be intentional in how I pursued not only the design of the space, but how we actually lived in it. These prayers would form the environment we were creating, the lifestyle we wanted to live. The more I considered it, the more I realized that ultimately, these prayers would form us. So, I began to pray and wrote down our hope for each room.

Hospitality is always on the mind here. So as I prayed for those who would live in this home - Brandon, myself, the kids - I also prayed for those we would welcome in.

“May you be welcomed with joy. May the delight in your presence overwhelm you.”

For much of my life I’ve been searching for a place to belong. It’s only been in recent years that I’ve discovered my intense desire to create places that are as beautiful as they are meaningful was birthed in my ultimate desire to include others and let them know they matter, that they belong, that they have a place. I haven’t always had such a place where I immediately felt as though I belonged, and oh how desperately I longed for one. But now, at least I could make one. That’s what this prayer is about. From family, to friends, to strangers, our prayer is that all know what it means to be welcomed with joy. To be delighted in simply because you exist. Not for what you have or haven’t done, but simply because you exist.

“May we not only focus on filling bellies, but also hearts.” The end of my final prayer written on a stud in the kitchen is the hope of being reminded that hospitality is about relationship and serving others. Good food is an incredible gift only topped by good conversation and connection that reaches one’s heart. I pray people are well fed - physically yes, but relationally, too.

Now tell me, have you done anything like this? Whether writing prayers on the framing of your home or something else? How do you mark the intentions of not just what your home will look like but also how you’ll use it to connect with others more deeply?

Until next time,

Alexa

Framing Prayers

Reader question: tips for making guests feel welcome and comfortable

Gardening and Lessons on trying, failing and beginning again.