When you live with someone, you learn quickly about compromise. I will be the first to admit this is hard for me. Both my husband and I spend a lot of time at home and we care deeply about our spaces and the things in them. We both brought heirlooms and treasures we’ve collected over the years to the marriage and had to work together on where they would live.

One way to help figure out how to live with our shared pieces, is to have rooms that can be more your loved one’s room and a room/s that can be more yours. My husband has a home office and I found that it is a great place for him to hang his favorite paintings and have the things he’s collected from all his interests & hobbies. If you are not able to have your own rooms or spaces, the challenge is to have your things live together. And while this might not be the ideal or perfect looking situation, it can be more successful if you make it fun. Layers are important. They tell a story, they share your personality and telegraph it to others.

My husband and I have an old boathouse on our property in Maine. I wanted the feeling to be seaside mixed with Moroccan with a party vibe and he wanted country mixed with a hunting and lodge feel. Does that sound impassable? Impossible? The photo attached was where we landed, and guess what? We both love it.

The chandelier is from Creel & Gow and the vintage disco ball is from Ebay. Tablecloth, napkins and glassware are from Summerill & Bishop.