Hi, I’m Kayla
This little corner of the internet was born out of a lifelong love for creating beautiful spaces and making home feel special.
Here at Live Oak Nest, I share decorating inspiration, simple DIY projects, cozy home ideas, and favorite finds—all centered around creating a beautiful home that is well loved and truly lived in.
My hope is that you leave feeling inspired to add a little beauty to your everyday spaces in a way that feels personal, welcoming, and completely your own.
When I first began sharing home decor back in 2019, I felt like I needed to define my style — to fit neatly into one category — and that I needed to constantly switch out my decor to keep up and stay relevant. But over time, I realized… that’s just not real life.
Home isn’t meant to feel staged or constantly changing. It’s meant to be lived in, enjoyed, and filled with pieces that tell your story.
Over the years, I’ve focused less on following trends and more on creating a home I truly love — one that feels beautiful, welcoming, and lived in by the people I love most. While my heart will always lean toward timeless cottage and French country charm, I love mixing styles, layering old with new, and creating spaces that reflect the season of life we’re in.
I believe your home should be a reflection of you — your story, your family, and the way you live day to day.
If you’re looking for inspiration to create a beautiful home that is well loved and truly lived in, I’m so glad you’re here.
Welcome to Live Oak Nest.
Growing Up
I grew up sharing a room with my three brothers, but when I was around 12 or 13, my two older brothers moved in with my dad, and my mom let me have a bedroom all to myself. I was in seventh grade when I gave that little room its very first makeover—and I’ve been decorating, rearranging furniture, and painting walls ever since.
I can still picture that room so clearly. The walls were painted a soft mauve pink, and I chose a striped wallpaper with a floral scroll border that had touches of blue, sage, and mauve woven throughout. I absolutely loved it.
My bed was a full-size bed passed down from my grandma, and above it we hung a big shelf that I filled with books, little treasures, and a small lamp topped with a leopard-print shade (because obviously every beautiful room needed a little flair). And hanging on the back of my bedroom door—secured with thumbtacks—was a giant kitten poster that, in my mind, completely tied the whole room together.
Looking back, I think that little room was where it all began.
Over The Years
My style has definitely evolved over the years.
Right out of college, I was all about bold color. I painted my living room walls a deep, bright red, layered in a red bamboo rug, and topped the couch with throw pillows in shades of red, orange, and olive green. And just across the way? A bright orange dining room. HA! Looking back, it makes me smile because at the time, I absolutely loved it.
Honestly, every home we create tells a little story about who we are in that season of life—and that colorful little home was very much mine.
And believe it or not… I actually found a picture of it to share with you!
I graduated from Texas Tech University so I’m not sure if I was I graduated from Texas Tech University, so I’m not sure if I was channeling my inner Red Raider with all the red and black… but whatever it was, it was bright, bold, and full of personality.
And looking at this picture, it’s clear my teenage love of leopard print carried right on into my twenties. Although, who am I kidding… I still love a little leopard. These days, I’m just more likely to wear it than decorate with it. 🙂
Once that bright and bold phase passed, I found myself settling into a softer, more peaceful style.
I’m naturally drawn to muted colors, timeless pieces, and little touches of French-inspired charm throughout our home. Over the last few years, I’ve also greatly simplified my decor by decluttering—and honestly, our home feels so much more peaceful because of it. It’s easier to enjoy, easier to keep clean, and feels more like the kind of home we can truly live in.
I think for those of us who love decorating, a less is more approach can be hard. We love beautiful things, and it’s easy to want to keep layering more in. But I’ve found that being more intentional—choosing decor pieces I truly love and giving them room to breathe—creates a home that feels calmer, more meaningful, and more welcoming.
That doesn’t mean I parted with everything. Many of the year-round pieces I love are tucked away in our garage or attic, and I still pull them out from time to time to refresh a space or style a new little vignette when I’m craving a change.
Home should evolve with you—and sometimes the prettiest spaces are the ones that feel simple, collected, and lovingly lived in.
The Journey
I’m also a mama to boy/girl twins who aren’t so little anymore. (I started this blog when they were just around a year old… how does time move so quickly?)
Motherhood has changed the way I see home in the sweetest way. Not everything in my house looks exactly how I’d like it to—and that’s okay. This season of life calls for more play and less perfection. While I still love decorating and keeping a tidy home, I’ve learned that home should first and foremost work for the people living in it.
Sometimes all we have energy for is doing a little here and there—a fresh bouquet on the table, fluffing a few pillows, clearing a cluttered corner, or styling a little vignette that makes us smile—and honestly, sometimes that little bit is all it takes to feel refreshed in our homes.
Sharing our home here and connecting with so many wonderful “internet friends” over the years has been such a gift. This space has become a creative outlet for me, but even more than that, it’s become a sweet little community of women who love creating, decorating, and making home feel beautiful in a way that feels personal and lived in.
I love hearing your stories, asking your thoughts on projects and craft ideas, and sharing inspiration back and forth. If you’re reading this, I have a feeling you’re my kind of people—and I’m so glad you found your way here.
If you’re new, welcome. I’m so happy you’re here. And if you’ve been following along for years, thank you—from the bottom of my heart—for your support, encouragement, and friendship. It means more than you know.
Welcome to Live Oak Nest—I hope you’ll stay awhile.
Blessings
Kayla
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Let’s Keep In Touch
I’d love to keep in touch with you! I share French country cottage inspiration for all things home, decor, and DIY’s. You can expect to hear from me one or two times a week!
