Ana Hill loves simplicity and slow living. Upon marrying last August, she and her husband, Robert Hill, decided to take a step back from their busy lives and turn their modern house into a homely vintage cottage.
Mr. and Mrs. Hill consider faith to be the main foundation of their marriage. They take pleasure in simple moments, like listening to and watching birds in the morning, watching flowers bloom, talking to their cats, and starting the day slowly with a cup of coffee.
“So much joy can be found in slowing down and living humbly and gratefully for the ordinary moments in life,” Mrs. Hill told The Epoch Times. “Sometimes people can get caught up in the busyness of their lives. ... We don’t want to be a couple whose lives are marked by hurry but, instead, people whose hearts are at peace.
“God is at the center of our relationship. We walk with God each and every day, not just when times are bad but also in every little decision throughout the day.”
The Journey
The couple met in Chesapeake, southeastern Virginia, in 2020. Mrs. Hill, an elementary school teacher, had spent the previous four years working as a private nanny, and Mr. Hill is a web developer. Meeting during a period when there were restrictions on socializing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the two spent a lot of time together exploring out in nature and before long, became best friends, eventually going on to wed.They started married life in the Chesapeake house Mr. Hill already lived in—a 10-year-old, two-bedroom property with a superficial cottage look. But wishing to create a cozy home with character that reflected their personal story, the couple got to work changing everything up.
With already busy schedules, the couple reassessed their priorities and knew what they wanted the most was to curate a more peaceful, harmonious home. The first stage involved selling or donating unwanted furniture and planning their decorating budget.
Originally from southern Mexico, Mrs. Hill wasn’t familiar with the concept of thrift stores. Recalling her first visit to such a store, she said she was initially overwhelmed “because items weren’t classified by category or color” and even told her husband she wouldn’t go back. But before they turned to leave, she spotted a few pieces of rustic, antique furniture.
Later, searching online for similar styles and noting the expensive cost, her curiosity was piqued. She and Mr. Hill began hunting other thrift stores for original vintage items, and Mrs. Hill was hooked.
“Discovering I could buy old, authentic products for my home was delightful,” she said. “What makes a home feel like home is the process of collecting and arranging things, the stories and the memories behind each piece.”
Vintage Treasures
Describing her style as a combination of maximalist, cottage-core, vintage, and French country style, Mrs. Hill especially likes blue-and-white china designs, particularly those featuring landscapes, colonial themes, and chinoiserie.The cost of such items varies significantly.
“Plates can go for $35 or higher, but we also find them for $1 or less. You need to know where to look, be patient, and be diligent in your search,” she says, adding that the couple is conscious about their spending; frequently checking Facebook Marketplace and estate and yard sales as well as visiting their favorite local antique and thrift stores.
After painting, putting up wallpaper in some areas, hanging new curtains, and adding unique furniture finds, their house slowly took on a distinct cottage feel. Mrs. Hill also adores vintage baskets, copper treasures, and other unique items and uses them as décor in the kitchen.
“One of my favorite pieces is our hutch, a cabinet that is about 100 years old, which holds my collection of blue and white china,” she said. “Our kitchen and dining room are the areas we have focused on the most. Our dining room is full of collected pieces that we use in our daily routine. These are the spaces I enjoy the most when cooking, baking, or simply sitting at the table to enjoy a cup of coffee or meal with my husband.”
Mrs. Hill says the pleasure lies more in the search than the object itself, and the design of their home is part of the new lifestyle they embrace.
“We love to travel and take road trips,” she said. “It can be a fun adventure to repurpose something old and turn it into something new creatively. Another positive is that thrifting and vintage contribute to a more sustainable environment as we’re recycling rather than mass-producing more items we don’t necessarily need.
Simple Joys of Life
Attributing her yearning for simple living to her upbringing in rural Mexico, Mrs. Hill has returned to many of the old ways. She grows vegetables, bakes bread, cooks from scratch, and enjoys hosting guests, setting the table with her eclectic china collection. Rather than letting it sit gathering dust, the couple use their vintage crockery every day.Curating their cozy home just the way they wanted it has undoubtedly brought more of a sense of “peace and tranquility,” she says, adding that their family and friends enjoy the warm, welcoming atmosphere, too.
“My mother-in-law is amazed at just how fast the house has transformed and how it has been decorated,“ Mrs. Hill said. ”My friends, at first, probably thought I was crazy for having so much old stuff but now, they’re excited to see what new things we’ll get next. As for online, there are so many people out there who also enjoy collecting and slow living.”
