I’m Katharine Cornfield, founder of Housters & Co., and I’m a design thinking house hunting guide.
I believe deeply in the opportunity and momentum of a move. I believe in the importance of place, the effects of space, and the substance of style. I believe that comfortable, beautiful, soulful homes are the result of mindfulness – not money – and I believe in the power of design.
Most of all, I believe there is no better time to bring your life into alignment than before you rent or buy.
When else is there so much at stake? Moving house is literally a life changing experience. Values, relationships, resources, and your personal aspirations are all in play – and let’s face it – you live with your choice every single day! Home is your hub. Headquarters. Command central. It should bolster your most meaningful goals, not compete with them.
I’ve learned all of this the hard way. After making many moves and even more mistakes, I’m finally living in a home that makes me truly happy. Housters & Co. is my way of helping others feel the same.
I offer maverick moving advice to kick off your property shopping, and apply my design eye to help you dig deep before you decide. My work even supports your savvy design-minded professional real estate team.
Why?
Because I’ve been resident in a condo development that was way too tight knit, and lived big in a stupidly small space in the heart of the city. I found the home I thought would be forever, but flipped it for a profit a few short years later. Then, I moved to a mega-sized manor with 7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and 2 kitchens to run a bricks & mortar business. When baby arrived, I inhabited the ‘helpers-suite’ in the attic, fought mess-induced stress and succumbed to chaos.
For relief, I downsized to a bungalow with buckets of money in hand, then sold at a significant loss, due to a sad separation and divorce. Starting fresh again, I thought I was sooo smart when I settled into a ritzy second floor rental strategically located in a swanky neighbourhood. Unfortunately, I found my single-mom-self totally lonely in a community of more conventional families. Fast forward to now, past the chance meeting with my present day partner/fabulous fella, and I finally feel like I’m home in his charming fixer-upper – which is a long way from being done.
All the while, I’ve been living, observing, and learning the principles and practice of design.
Yes, I’ve done loads of budget decorating, spent big to fix structural shortcomings, and had several real estate deals go awry. I’ve renovated kitchens, rescued furniture, and ruined floors. I’ve tried spray, stain and high gloss paint, and lived both high above the trees and on a busy street. I’ve experienced the lifestyle costs of the wrong location, and come to appreciate the unique needs of those who work from home. And, I understand the difference between a surface hitch, a storage glitch and a bona fide design dilemma.
I Know What Housepoor Really Means
To sum up? I know what it feels like to be frustrated and stuck. I know how hard it can be on the psyche when your home demands more than you have to give, and ends up being less than you had hoped. Trust me, this is what ‘housepoor’ really means.
I’m a self-taught/properly schooled interior decorator with a special skill for seeing space, and an eye for helping others identify their personal style. Somehow, I’ve also managed to acquire an uncommon combo of wonky knowledge in the areas of migration and design. And, I’ve scored some pretty serious strategic superpowers as a fancy pants political advisor and earnest public servant. So – yes – I’m well equipped to help you take charge of your change!
Think of me as your guide on the road to a truly happy home.
Don’t be shy. I’m easy to find!
- Sign up here for my predictably unpredictable email newsletter chock full of scoop you can really use.
- Interview me, pitch a partnership or propose a guest post. Let’s talk!
- I’m also a registered Sales Representative with Malcolm Gibb Realty Ltd., my fella’s very own independent boutique real estate brokerage, where Housters & Co. services are fully integrated for buying clients.
- Email me, join me on Facebook, or track me down on Twitter. I’m @girlaboutOtown, a nod to my parallel life as a local lifestyle blogger in Canada’s national capital, Ottawa.
0
