You know that friend whose house just has that warm, comforting, feels-like-home energy? It doesn’t happen by accident. Whether you’re picking out a paint color or hanging a gallery wall, when you’re guided by your experiences, heritage, and personality, you create a space that makes both an aesthetic and an emotional impact.
For Texas-based interior decorator Magdalena Mendez, home is a place to express herself and strengthen family bonds. Magdalena, a first-generation Salvadoran American, is one of nine siblings and a mom of four. Her priority is creating a safe and inviting home like the one she was raised in.
“My kids are going to grow up one day, and I want them to know that ‘home’ is a special place for anyone they invite,” she says. “My parents blessed me with that and I want to continue that tradition!”
Another tradition they continue: regular camping trips with extended family, like the ones her husband grew up with. This intergenerational “we time” lets them reconnect without distractions. On this year’s trip to Texas Hill Country, it also pushed Magdalena to get out of her comfort zone as a mom by letting go and granting them a bit more independence.