Did you ever watch that show Cribs on MTV? Well, if you did, you’ll remember that silly–yet catchy–line used every time they revealed the bedroom: they would say “and this is where the magic happens!” Well, if I ever gave a house tour that would be a line reserved for my kitchen and dining area. It’s the workhorse of my tiny apartment. Besides being an area to prep, cook and eat food, it also works double-duty serving as my photo studio and prop storage for the photographer/stylist in me. Proof that you don’t need a lot of space to make home yours!

I’ve partnered with HomeGoods to create HomeGoods By Julie’s Kitchen, which tells the story of how I make my home reflect who I am. Below are 3 things that come to mind when I think of my home:

Delicious

Delicious? What does that even mean? You can’t eat your home, Julie! I know, I know. What I mean by that is that I make my home delicious by surrounding myself with delicious things, like local, seasonal produce from the farmer’s market. I love having baskets and bowls of fruits and veggies out on the tables and counters. They serve as a reminder to snack healthily and they double as pretty table decor.

Inspiring

During my styling workshops, one of the questions I often get is about the white surface I shoot on. Everybody wants to know what I use. Sometimes it’s photography backdrop paper or wood laminate sheets, but 90% of the time it’s my white dining room table. I try to make everything around the table very simple, because it turns the room into a “blank slate” where I can get inspired. Also, some of my favorite adventures have been planned around that very table! Alaskan dog sledding elopement, anyone?

Inviting

My home may not make it onto the cover of a magazine or anything, but I love it all the same. I make it inviting by filling it with art and food and friends. You all know my favorite thing in the world is feeding people, so I want my home to feel vibrant and cozy! That way my guests will be comfortable, happy, and ready to eat!

Stay tuned for more HomeGoods by Julie’s Kitchen next week! I’d love to hear what makes home yours too. Comment here, tweet at me, tag me in you grams–remember to use #MakeHomeYours! I want to know.