Farah Merhi - Inspire Your Home

An Imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

1230 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

Copyright 2019 by Farah Merhi

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Simon & Schuster Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Tiller Press hardcover edition October 2019

TILLER PRESS and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-866-506-1949 or .

The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event, contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.

Jacket and Interior design by Melissa Clark

Cover photo by David Sparks

Cover design by Melissa Clark

Photography by David Sparks Photography

Except on pages , photography by David Burgess from Studio 616 Photography

On page , photography by Matthew Stallone Photography

And on pages , photography by Karyn May Photography

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for.

ISBN 978-1-9821-3124-1

ISBN 978-1-9821-3125-8 (ebook)

DEDICATION

To my children, Celine, Julia, and Adam: If there is one thing I want you to take away from this, it is that when you do what you love from your heart, dreams do come true. You three are my reason, my why, my everything.

To my husband, William: You have shown me the definition of true love. The way you believe in me, the way youre there for me, has allowed me to spread my wings and do what I love without holding back. Thank you for being you. I love you!

To my parents, who sacrificed so much for me growing up, and taught me that hard work and drive are all I need for success, and that being respectful and compassionate toward others is everything I need to be the best version of myself. You continue to be my support system to this day. I am forever grateful, and I love you!

To my mom, who showed me the importance of loving my home. Through you, I learned that our home should be our pride and joy, and that its one way to take care of our family.

To my fans, customers, and social media friends, you are my extended family, and I will forever be grateful to you for accepting me for who I am and allowing me into your homes whether through investing in my products or through social media. I am forever humbled! WE did it!

WOW! Is this real?

Its still hard for me to believe where I am today. I started Inspire Me! Home Decor in 2012 as a spontaneous idea, a potential outlet for a person who was struggling to find her place in the world. Back then, I was looking for an answer to the not-so-trivial question: What am I meant to do with my life?

I had what you might consider an unusual childhood. Im Lebanese American, but I grew up in Kinshasa, in the Congo. My father was a businessman, and my mom stayed home to take care of my brother, my sister, and me. Like other African countries, there was a lot of political upheaval. We frequently had to grab what we could carry on our backs and run to the airport due to a military coup or uprising. My childhood was disrupted quite a few times: Leaving Kinshasa meant abandoning our familys home, leaving behind cherished items. But once things settled down, wed return to start all over again, which I believe played a huge part in instilling a strong will and determination in me. My mom would pick a new house, and no matter what state it was in, within a few months she would turn it into a beautiful home for our family. Watching her start from scratch and make her vision a reality is something that stayed with me. I didnt realize how much of an impact it had on me until I had a home of my own.

I was always opinionated and strong-minded, and from the time I was young I thought I wanted be a lawyer. But, after I went to college in Michigan and prepared to apply to law school, I realized I was just going through the motions. I wasnt truly excited by the idea of studying the law. I knew deep down that being a lawyer wasnt going to make me happy. I summoned my courage and told my family I needed some more time to figure out what I wanted to do.

I truly believe that everyone needs to have their own thing, their purpose in life. And that purpose can take many forms, but it needs to be yours, and, more important, make your heart dance.

A couple of years passed. By all standards, I had an amazing life. A devoted husband, beautiful kids who filled my time, loving parents, extended family and friends. I felt guilty even acknowledging something was missing. Believe me when I say I asked myself over and over, wondering howin spite of all I hadI could continue to feel a tug, a pull, a NEED for something more. I wanted a career that would make me happy, to love something I could do for myself. Now, dont get me wrong, my family certainly makes me happy, but I truly believe that everyone needs to have their own thing, their purpose in life. And that purpose can take many forms, but it needs to be yours, and, more important, make your heart dance.

In 2012, we embarked on our first home renovation. I turned to Instagram in search of ideas, but I couldnt find a page that really spoke to me. Maybe it was the mix of my Lebanese heritage and American influence, maybe it was the example my mother had set, but I didnt see my design aestheticwhich I started to identify as Glam Elegance with a Cozy Vibereflected on the many home decor pages that were out there. I wanted to create a stylish statement home that would also feel warm and inviting; a home that could wow guests and also accommodate my everyday family life.

I decided to share my own process and vision, and nervously launched the Inspire Me! Home Decor Instagram account (@inspire_me_home_decor). I initially didnt tell anyone about it; it was my secret, my creative outlet. I thought I would find a few fellow homeowners who might appreciate any advice and inspiration I discovered along the way. What I found was my calling.

As the renovation progressed, I realized I was waking up each morning energized and ready to tackle the days to-do list. From picking out paint colors to selecting carpeting, choosing finishes and, most important, bringing my vision to life, I enjoyed making the kind of decisions that tend to frustrate normal people. And, thanks to my growing group of followers, I learned I had a decorating style that seemed to resonate with others. Yes, I embraced bling, faux fur, and metallics. I really loved mirrored pieces, chandeliers, and other statement decor. But I balanced the aspirational with the practical, mixing in pillows, blankets, storage solutions, and other accessories to add coziness and color.