I’ve written this entire blog – years of musings – within my home. Indeed, the concept of making a home has been a common thread throughout my posts; raising children, cooking meals, creating ephemeral vignettes, sorting washing.

For the past few years I haven’t loved the house we live in. It may be practical which makes the day-to-day that much easier, but it’s not a space that makes my heart sing. The busyness of growing and raising four children has definitely made everything seem a little worn around the edges. Or well-loved, shall we say.

But this house, I now realise, has been a stepping stone; a catalyst for big change and even bigger plans. It’s pushed us out of our comfort zone and into a new way of living and for that I’ll always be grateful.

Our next home – all 24ft of it – is currently being prepped for departure. We’re freshening it up, adding some personal touches and making sure it ticks all the practical, comfortable and homely boxes. I don’t want to be to fussy with the details yet at the same time I want it to feel like ours – a space we can reside to when we feel the need to retreat.

This very notion; of retreating, relishing in comfort and resting within the walls of the home is at the very core of Natalie Walton’s new book This is Home. I knew it would be a beautiful and heartfelt book but what I didn’t expect was such a palpable sense of authenticity; a thought-provoking story of the home and the integral role it plays in our lives.

There is nothing pretentious about this coffee table book; it doesn’t showcase wealth or unattainable perfection. Instead, it’s a conversation between Natalie and the 15 home owners she has featured; tales of creating, living and nurturing within four walls.

Personally, the message that spoke most profoundly to me, is that some houses are merely seasons for us. We may live in some homes to grow and transition, whereas others become places to create and evolve. They are never finished or complete; they change and flow according to our needs, priorities and loves.

Right now I’m culling my belongings so we can set off with only our keepsakes stored in boxes. And while I’ve minimised my bookshelf over the past few months, I’ll be tucking This is Home into a box for future reference when home inspiration and guidance is required. Or when a snippet of time begs for tea, quiet and a flick through lustrous paper pages.

You can buy a signed copy of This is Home from Natalie’s beautifully curated store, Imprint House.