Hi, I’m Carrie.
Welcome to the “Home Matters” newsletter hub, an offshoot of the Dream Green DIY brand. I launched DGD in 2011 as a way to document my life as a DIY homemaker, and that passion project has since exploded into a rich online community of like-minded creatives.
My number one goal as a content creator is to empower fellow homebodies to tackle design with confidence and joy. I wholeheartedly believe that anyone can curate and style the room of their dreams. It’s all about accepting that mistakes are part of the process, and that your motivation can come from the most unlikely of places—even a really bad paint color!
I encourage you to dive into the DGD blog archives if you’re new around here. There are more than 2,400 posts to peruse, including my DIY tutorials, our renovation stories (we’re on our third house now!), the rescue pets we’ve built our lives around, home brands I trust, recipes we come back to over and over again, and so much more.
A little (or, actually, a lot) about me…
My husband, John, and I live in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley with our three rescue pets: Gladys Jean (a seeing-impaired lynx point siamese), Marlo (the feistiest black feline), and Chessie (our silent, introspective shepherd mix).
I’m 38 years old, have one younger sister, and somehow managed to convince my parents to leave their home base of 30+ years to live closer to us here in Waynesboro back in 2019.
I’m deeply introverted, but cherish those moments when I get to meet a single friend to catch up over a glass of wine or shared piece of avocado toast.
I’ve been a writer my entire life, and am so grateful that I’ve been able to build my life’s work around word play. Photography was something I taught myself when it became clear that I’d need to be able to produce eye-catching visuals for my blog wayyyyyy back in the day, and it has since become my favorite part of the process.
My work has been featured by Better Homes & Gardens, Food Magazine, Domino, HGTV Magazine, among others. I’ve been a contributing writer for Apartment Therapy, Hunker, eHow, Better Homes & Gardens, Home Depot, Design*Sponge, and Camille Styles, and I helped launch Career Contessa back in 2013. I was also the Features Editor for Glitter Guide for five years before it, sadly, closed its digital doors.
Why you should subscribe
So, how does “Home Matters” fit into the DGD brand? I actually launched a newsletter back in 2018 and carried that into the following year, but then life happened (read: a global pandemic), and I quietly set the newsletter off to the side. Fast forward six years, though, and I’m back. I’ve discovered Substack as a platform, and want to create a special place here that’s separate from my blog and social channels where I can connect with all of you.
I see “Home Matters” as my casual catch up zone, where I can keep you up to date on everything going on in my life from a more personal standpoint. I plan to share a behind-the-scenes peek at my life as an entrepreneur, home updates (of course!), things that are inspiring me, and just generally all the things that really matter to my life as a DIY homemaker.
Once subscribed, you’ll never miss an update—every new post will be sent bi-weekly directly to your email inbox, and you’ll gain full access to the newsletter and publication archives. For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app (my preferred way to keep up with favorite writers and designers).
Ready to join the “Home Matters” tribe?
All that to say that I personally invite you to be part of our tight-knit little community of people who share your passion for simple, sustainable home design. Please don’t hesitate to participate in the comments section of each new post, whether here on “Home Matters” or over on DreamGreenDIY.com. This space is nothing without your creative tips, thoughtful opinions, and real life perspective, so speak up and share what you think. Every single one of your ideas, suggestions, and stories are welcome.
Want even more from Carrie? Make sure you follow along on Instagram for daily updates on her life and retro ranch renovation.
