Meet Me

Hi, I’m Jane.    When I was a kid, my idea of a fun Saturday or Sunday morning was to wake up before dawn and rearrange the furniture in my bedroom while trying not to wake my parents.  But they always woke up!  I’m just that clumsy.

Me and the man who keeps me sane.

To this day I’ve never stopped rearranging furniture, attempting to make the most of whatever home I’m living in at the time, on whatever budget I have available.  I’m impulsive, zany, overly enthusiastic, and absolutely obsessed with organizing things to make the most of any small space.  I’m  shy when you first meet me, but once I get comfortable with you I’m bound to talk your ear off, especially if we’re lingering over a cup of one of my favorite beverages – coffee or wine. :)

About The Blog

A few years ago I started reading home design blogs, and while I loved them, they all seemed to be written by and for homeowners.  What about those of us who rent,  I wondered?   Where are all the blogs for us?

With that, my idea for a rental home decor blog took root, some brainstorming ensued, and The Borrowed Abode was born.  The content got off to a slow start (sometimes I look back and am horrified by the ideas I tried in my first few months of blogging . . . ) but all the risks I took were worth it.

At my last condo I worked to inexpensively make it just as lovely as if I owned it, but without implementing renovations or other permanent fixes.  Then, before I was finished, it was time to pack up and move again – to a cute little ranch with my sidekick Ryan – in the suburbs.   With that move I kicked my long commute for good, and re-started the process of making a rented house a home.

These guys are totally worth the furballs they leave in their wake.

And now, inspired by the extra space in the new house, I launched my own handmade product business in spring 2011, and I’m sharing some of the trials and tribulations of that as I grow.

So welcome, and I hope you’ll have a look around.   You can virtually tour  our abode, check out some of my favorite past projects, or visit my handmade products shop.   Got a question?  Drop me a line at borrowedabode@gmail.com

Thanks so much for stopping by – I hope you’ll take a moment to say hello!