Hearth + Grace

Hearth + Grace Rooted in faith. Nourished by home. I’m Valerie—homemaker, momma, nana, recipe collector, and believer in keeping life cozy, simple, and grace-filled.

Sharing recipes, simple rhythms, and everyday encouragement from our little home in the woods—where grace meets ordinary life. We’re building our home little home in the forest, and I’m sharing the journey—along with faith, homemaking rhythms, garden, décor ideas, and the little things that help keep a home peaceful and grounded. My hope is that this space feels like a warm kitchen table—filled with encouragement, peace, and the reminder that grace meets us right in the everyday moments.

06/05/2026

Figured I’d give you all a little tour of the house. Still a work in progress…but you can see the “bones” of the home & the ideas of each space.
Simple & sweet! 🩷

6 stain samples later...Actually, let's be honest. It was more than six. 😆We finally picked the stain color for our inte...
06/03/2026

6 stain samples later...

Actually, let's be honest. It was more than six. 😆

We finally picked the stain color for our interior trim and doors, but you'll have to wait until the house is finished to see which one won.

Until then, help settle a debate:

If this were your house, which stain would you choose?

(And no, I won't tell you if your pick matches ours. 😉)

👇 Cast your vote below! 👇

Decision #127...or at least it feels like it😅✨Nobody warns you that building a house is really just making hundreds of ...
06/03/2026

Decision #127...or at least it feels like it😅✨

Nobody warns you that building a house is really just making hundreds of decisions you never knew existed. Paint colors. Flooring. Cabinet styles. Stain colors. Hardware. Repeat. Some choices come easy. Others require six different stain samples before you finally say, 'Yep, that's the one.'"

Stain has been the "bane of my existence"...let me tell you.
I originally thought I had it all figured out. I had a color all picked out before we even started to build.
But then... flooring changed, we found something we loved more. And that meant changes to stain color. I did not think it would be that difficult, until it was.

So, after buying the first 3 colors we liked...none matched
-tried combinations of the 3 colors...still nothing
-went to Lowes had a custom color made...nope
-went to Menards and tried a different brand, brought home 3 more colors...and the first one I opened was the winner. Wheew! The stain "pain" was finally over.

Be prepared that things will change, be prepared to do lots of "looking" (online & in-person), give yourself lots of grace...it's ok. Building anything consists of a lot of growing and learning.

Ps. Did you know the wood you choose makes a difference in how your stain looks?

(Our house inspiration in the picture🥰)

The House Behind the Walls✨The past few weeks have been filled with electrical, plumbing and hvac being put in.It's funn...
06/02/2026

The House Behind the Walls✨

The past few weeks have been filled with electrical, plumbing and hvac being put in.
It's funny how much of a home is built from things you'll never actually see. Wires. Pipes. Connections hidden behind drywall. Right now, our house is full of the pieces that make everything work, even though they'll eventually disappear behind finished walls. There's something so very cool to see the process happening.

*Homeowner Tips:

1. If you are not working with an architect, make sure you have an understanding of "code". There were some things I was disappointed that I needed to change in my kitchen cabinet design to fit outlets for code.
2. Know what light fixtures you plan to have in each room; the electrician will want to know this. (Ceiling fans, can lights, specialty lights, etc...)
3. Be prepared for messes...I was but also was NOT prepared...it's a new adventure getting to see the whole process of the build.

t’s been a quiet little while here on Hearth + Grace 🤍Life has been full in the best (and sometimes busiest) ways—family...
06/01/2026

t’s been a quiet little while here on Hearth + Grace 🤍

Life has been full in the best (and sometimes busiest) ways—family, photography, and slowly watching this house of ours continue to take shape in the background.

We’re still in the building process, still making decisions one layer at a time… cabinets, finishes, little details that don’t always feel little in the moment. Some days it feels exciting and easy to imagine the end result, and other days it’s a lot of waiting and trusting the process.

But I keep coming back to the same thing—this is becoming our home. Not all at once, not perfectly, but piece by piece, story by story.

I’m hoping to start sharing a bit more of the journey again here… the progress, the in-between moments, and the quiet parts that don’t always make it into the “finished” pictures.

Thank you for being here while this chapter keeps unfolding 🤍

I feel like this speaks for itself...✨
01/31/2026

I feel like this speaks for itself...✨

One of the little things we recently learned about while building — Builder’s Risk Insurance. 🤍It’s not something I’d ev...
01/28/2026

One of the little things we recently learned about while building — Builder’s Risk Insurance. 🤍
It’s not something I’d ever heard much about before, but it’s been an important piece of the process.

Builder’s Risk Insurance is a temporary policy that helps protect the home while it’s being built. It can cover things like damage from weather, fire, theft, or vandalism during construction — before the house is finished or insured as a traditional home.

Cost-wise, it’s typically a short-term policy and often runs a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars total, depending on the size of the home, build cost, and length of the project. It’s usually paid once and lasts through the construction phase.

It’s one of those behind-the-scenes decisions that doesn’t feel exciting — but brings a lot of peace of mind.
Learning that building isn’t just about walls and finishes, but also about protecting what’s being built along the way.

Just another reminder that the little things matter too.

One thing I didn’t fully realize before building…it’s not just the big decisions — it’s all the little things that add u...
01/26/2026

One thing I didn’t fully realize before building…
it’s not just the big decisions — it’s all the little things that add up. 🤍

In the middle of framing and frozen temps, I’ve been reminded how helpful it is to prepare early for the small, everyday details. Here are a few things that have helped us feel more steady in the process:

1. Keep a running notes list
Questions, ideas, changes — write them down as they come. Building moves fast, and it’s easy to forget small things once the moment passes.

2. Decide where you can be flexible
Not every choice has to be perfect. Knowing ahead of time where you can adjust helps reduce stress when plans shift.

3. Budget a little margin
There are always tiny extras that pop up. Having a small cushion makes those moments feel manageable instead of overwhelming.

4. Ask questions early
Even the “small” ones matter. Clear communication upfront saves time and confusion later.

5. Give yourself grace
You won’t think of everything — and that’s okay. Homes are built in layers, just like life. Progress is still progress.

Watching this home take shape has been such a lesson in patience, trust, and preparation — especially in a season that feels cold and unfinished.

If you’ve built before, what’s one small thing you wish you’d known ahead of time? 🤍

One simple way I’ve been stretching our grocery budget lately… 🤍I start with a single rotisserie chicken and let it do a...
01/23/2026

One simple way I’ve been stretching our grocery budget lately… 🤍
I start with a single rotisserie chicken and let it do a little extra work for us.

Today, I broke it down right away and stored the meat for meals later this week:
• Chicken & veggie bowls
• Chicken salad for lunches
• A simple chicken pasta or soup

Then the leftover carcass goes straight into a freezer bag to save for homemade chicken stock. Nothing fancy—just being intentional.

That one rotisserie chicken will easily turn into 3 meals for our family of four, plus stock for another meal down the road.

It’s a small thing, but these little habits really add up—especially when grocery budgets are important. Simple food. Less waste. A little bit of love.

This past week… 🤍I’m not sure where you live, but here in Michigan it’s been bitter cold with what feels like nonstop sn...
01/22/2026

This past week… 🤍
I’m not sure where you live, but here in Michigan it’s been bitter cold with what feels like nonstop snow.

And even in the middle of all of that, the bones of our new home are taking shape.
Framing has begun, and those boys are working hard—through freezing temps and swirling snow.

Watching something so meaningful rise in a season like this feels especially powerful.
Strong things are built slowly… and often in the cold.

Grateful. Hopeful. And quietly excited for what’s to come.

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Howard City, MI

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