Motherhood, Work, and Creating a Beautiful Life in Between
There’s a certain kind of beauty found in the “in between” moments of life.
Not the perfectly styled photographs.
Not the pristine countertops or color-coded calendars.
But the blueberry-stained fingers after baking with your children. The late-night design plans after bedtime routines. The quiet cup of coffee before the house wakes up. The laughter echoing through a home that’s truly lived in.
As a mother, business owner, and designer, I’ve realized that creating a beautiful life rarely happens in grand, sweeping moments. More often, it’s built slowly — between motherhood, work, creativity, and the chaos of everyday living.
And honestly? I think that’s where the magic is.
A Life Built in the In-Between
For a long time, I thought balance meant everything fitting neatly into place.
But motherhood has taught me otherwise.
Some days look polished and productive. Other days look like answering emails from the carpool line while reheating coffee for the third time, only to find my coffee in the microwave the next morning. There are design meetings mixed with preschool pickups, fabric samples beside grocery lists, and work deadlines woven between bedtime stories. And then there’s that unexpected trip to the pediatrician in the mix.
Yet somehow, those worlds have become beautifully connected.
The older I get, the more I realize that home isn’t just about the way a space looks — it’s about the life lived inside.
Motherhood Has Changed the Way I Design
Motherhood softened my perspective on perfection, especially in my own home.
It has made me appreciate durable fabrics, meaningful heirlooms, cozy corners, and homes that truly function for the families living within them. It has reminded me that beauty and real life can coexist.
Some of my favorite spaces now are the ones filled with evidence of living:
Cookbooks left open in the kitchen
Children’s artwork on the refrigerator
Linen napkins slightly wrinkled after hosting friends
Beautifully designed built-ins with toys organized beneath
A well-designed home should feel welcoming, curated, and personal — not untouchable.
Because the most beautiful homes are the ones where memories are constantly being made.
Work That Fits a Life — Not the Other Way Around
Building A Pop of Colour has also challenged me to rethink success.
Success isn’t only growth, productivity or the amount of likes on an Instagram post.
It’s creating a business that supports the kind of life I want to live.
One where creativity has room to breathe.
Where family dinners matter.
Where slowing down isn’t viewed as failure.
Where work can still feel meaningful without consuming every part of life.
I’m learning that a beautiful life is less about doing everything perfectly and more about being intentional with what matters most.
A Pop of Colour — In More Ways Than One
When I first started A Pop of Colour, the name represented vibrant interiors and joyful design.
But now, it means something more.
A pop of colour can be:
Fresh flowers on the counter
A handwritten note
A family recipe
A spontaneous beach sunset, accompanied by the cutest beach umbrella
Blueberry cobbler baked together on Mother’s Day
A home filled with warmth, laughter, and love
The beauty of life is often found in those small details — the little moments that brighten ordinary days.
This Mother’s Day
This Mother’s Day reminded me that home has very little to do with perfection.
Home is the people you love gathered around the table.
It’s flour-covered countertops and tiny helping hands.
It’s meaningful work paired with meaningful living.
It’s creating spaces — and a life — that feel full of heart.
And maybe that’s the real goal after all.
Not perfection.
Not hustling beyond insanity.
Not having it all together to the point of crippling anxiety.
Just creating a beautiful life in between.
—
With love,
Cary Anne
A Pop of Colour