Hi there! Thank you so much for being here in this cozy little corner of the world. I'm Alex – a mama to three girls, wife, homemaker, Speech-Language Pathologist by day, and the dreamer behind this little shop. Having a shop of my own has been a quiet dream in my heart, brought to the surface by my roles as both a mother and a homemaker. Having a place to call home has been a dream I’ve longed to realize even as a young girl. I vividly remember being a child, watching those nostalgic movies and shows that portrayed a specific vision and feeling of home – you know, the ones with houses that had white picket fences, wrap-around porches, beautifully decorated walls, kitchens with cookie jars and fruit bowls, beautifully set dining tables; the houses that upon seeing immediately left you feeling a sense of cozy warmth and security. I would stare longingly at these homes, as I desired deeply a house as aesthetically beautiful, but more so one that was just as full of life, full of love, and full of the special traditions and keepsakes that make a house uniquely a home. It was as if every home was curated with the intention of depicting what the "perfect" home should look like. And while I'm old enough now to know that there is no such thing as a perfect home, I cannot shake the yearning to create the home that I longed for as the little girl who watched, waited, and prayed all those decades ago. Fast forward many years, my dream of having a home became a blessed reality in 2019 when my husband and I closed on our first house – a 1940's Cape Cod. The moment I stepped foot into the house, I was flooded with images and dreams of everything I hoped for this home to be. I felt instantly inspired to bring life into each room, and every day since I have spent slowly tending to and caring for our home through small acts of love that over time have made this a place that I deeply treasure and unabashedly never want to leave. It reminds me of everything I wished to have as that little girl. What has made it all the more special is the blessing it is to create a space for our family in the hopes that one day our girls will be reminded of all the bits and pieces that made this sweet little Cape a warm and loving home to spend their childhood. 

Home has an impact – not only on our own children's upbringing but also on how we choose to live out our days. It can either be a place that we dread going back to or one that leaves us feeling safe, inspired, and at peace. I firmly believe that a home should give us the sense of belonging that, as humans, underwrites everything we do. Home is the place that gifts us simple joys in the mundane, glimmers of light during dark gloomy days. Home on Hartwood is deeply inspired by those simple touches and intentional acts of homemaking done with care and love; it is built on the idea that home can be a quiet inner experience that delights in the small, deeply meaningful details that make a space feel welcoming, cozy, and warm. Whether it's a hot cup of coffee in a handmade mug, a vintage crock to hold wooden spoons used to prepare homemade meals, an antique hutch full of special heirlooms, cozy bed linens, beautiful stoneware to be used as fruit bowls or for baking, casserole dishes to adorn the dining table on special holidays, handmade candle-holders for rainy days, and all the charming and decorative elements that make a home uniquely yours. 

And this space is an ode to the beauty of intentional homemaking that I desire to live out each and every day. There's never time lost or wasted when making efforts to plant roots in one place and add in all the extra details that leave us feeling grateful, safe, nurtured, and comforted.

Home on Hartwood offers a small but well-rounded collection of thoughtfully selected and curated home-goods that will add function and beauty to time spent at home and time spent with loved ones. HOH is a space for the thoughtful homemaker, mother, friend, sister, optimist, and dreamer that with heartfelt intention always seeks to give to others. I welcome you with open arms and a loving hug to come as you are, whether you're riding the waves of motherhood, as I am, or finding yourself challenged by the ever-changing seasons of life. It is my hope that you will feel at home in this space, that you will feel light and inspired to make your space more beautiful than necessity dictates. And may these small gifts add pockets of sunshine to your home for years to come.

Welcome to Home on Hartwood, please stay awhile.