“I came to the conclusion that more of my clothes were being wasted by not being worn than were being ruined by my kids. Things get stained and have to be fixed from time to time but how often does something get really ruined? Hardly ever.”
This sentiment of Courtney’s sums up the approach our designers took while collaborating with her on her home and the pieces in the Foundation Goods x Courtney Grow collection. She continues, “I definitely don’t get gussied up every day. I just don’t talk myself out of getting dressed in what I want to wear because I will be with my kids.” Similarly, she could not be talked out of adding in some showstopping, splurge-worthy pieces to her home for fear of living near them with children.
Photo by Lindsey Stewart
Courtney’s philosophy (and ours) is to buy the best you can afford, break it in, wear it out and live your best life in your home. Here’s how to start.
Plan for Longevity
When purchasing furnishings or finishes, plan for the long haul and pick the hardwearing option. A lot of high-end options are made to withstand more use than you might think.
Photo by Lindsey Stewart
Photo by Lindsey Stewart
Courtney’s seagrass wallpaper is actually very kid-friendly and much more wipeable and cleanable than most painted walls.
Photo by Lindsey Stewart
Photo by Lindsey Stewart
When it comes to rugs, picking the right colors and patterns can easily hide spills and stains and no one’s the wiser.
Skip the Kid Section
A lot of beautiful things are inherently long-lasting. While it’s tempting to buy the obvious designed-for-kids option when it comes to things like dinner plates, small stools or baskets for toy storage, look for durable features in the grown-up versions. They’ll function just as well (if not better) and be much easier on the eye than the typical plastic or brightly colored versions.
Photo by Lindsey Stewart
Photo by Lindsey Stewart
In Courtney’s words, these enamel dishes are “Lightweight, clean, and safe to hand to a child of any age. The world needs more things like this.”
Photo by Lindsey Stewart
Corral household items in stylish trays and baskets that are just as durable as their plastic counterparts. This goes for playrooms and children’s rooms too!
Photo by Lindsey Stewart
Kids can play, climb and sit on these benches and they are virtually indestructible in sturdy, stain-resistant fabric.
Lose the Fear
Once you’ve done your best to shop and plan for durability, let go. The items in your home are things that are meant to be well-used, well-loved and will often look better and more lived-in with time. Adopt a wabi-sabi approach and aim for comfort and beauty, not perfection. If all else fails, if it’s too precious, keep it out of reach or out of sight!
Photo by Lindsey Stewart
Vintage and antique items that have withstood the test of time often already show wear so you often don’t have to worry as much about breaking them in.
Keep collectibles up high on walls or shelves so they stay out of reach of little hands.
The pleating on the dining light fixture calls to mind an expertly sewn dress Courtney might wear.
Photo by Rebekah Westover
Photo by Lindsey Stewart
Add sophistication with elegant light fixtures that pay no mind to the age of a home’s occupants. Just keep the Nerf guns out of reach!