Sarah is the program director at a local playgroup for city kids, and she's also pursuing a master's degree in early childhood special education at George Washington University. She and her husband Nate graciously welcomed me into their home to hang out and chat and shoot.
Where are you from and when did you move to DC?
I grew up in Florida, and then moved to North Carolina for college. I moved to DC in April of last year, so I've been here just over a year now. I'm really loving it.
What's your first memory of this place?
We drove up to DC, signed our lease, and were waiting for our moving truck to arrive, but it didn't because it got stuck in a big thunderstorm in North Carolina. We were exhausted so Nate and I took a nap on the hardwood floor in our new, but empty apartment.
Tell me about your cat and the special role she plays in making this a home.Disclaimer, she's not my cat. Lily came into our lives in August of last year. She's 11 years old and she's been Nate's family's cat. We're watching her for now. She's really made this house feel like a home. Lils is a very funny cat. If you sing really high-pitched opera music, she'll come over, sit in your lap, meow and rub her head on your face. It's the best.
Are you a morning person or an evening person?
I'm definitely a morning person. I'm a grandma and fall asleep at like 9:30. I like to get up on the earlier side, have my coffee, and watch The Today Show.
What's the best way you find rest?
I think just laying in bed listening to music.
What's currently on your playlist?
Penny and Sparrow, Noah Gunderson, and Joseph.
That window over there was actually part of our last apartment in Wilmington, NC. It was a really old 1920's house and they had just gotten the windows replaced when we were living there. We asked if we could keep the extras because I was going to do crafty things with them, which I ended up not doing. It was our first apartment together and a really special time in NC. We hung it here as a reminder of those times and all the good times we'll have in this apartment.
I would say the kitchen and our little kitchen table. We've had a lot of good conversations at the table. We both really like cooking and have a lot of fun cooking with each other. We started a fun thing too - we'll randomly pick a country on the map and then cook a traditional meal from that country.
What do you want people to see or feel when they enter this space?
I want people to be comfortable and relaxed. Nate and I are very laid back and I want people to feel that vibe in our home. The city can be overwhelming and extremely stressful, but I always want our home to be a place of rest.
Every night before we go to bed, Nate makes the coffee and puts it on a self-timer because I don't like making coffee. And so when we wake up, Nate gets his coffee and leaves, and then I get up and there's already coffee made, which is really nice.
What does home mean to you?
Home means that you're with the people you love. For me, another big part of home is inviting other people in to create those new friendships and relationships.
This is home...
...when we invite people into a relaxed space for friends to grow and to laugh and to learn.
...when it's full of people, full of laughs, and good times.
...because I live here with Nate who is home to me. I am really grateful for the space that we have and our new home in DC.
Interview and photos by Angela Wu.