A Journey from Heartbreak to Healing Through Thoughtful Design

There are rooms in our homes that hold more than furniture—they hold memories, smiles, and sometimes, in the most unexpected ways, profound loss. For the past 5 months, I couldn’t bring myself to enter what was once my dads’ room. After he passed away following a heartbreaking two-year battle with cancer, that space became frozen in time for me, eventually turning into my popular dump room for things I couldn’t even organize.

My parents spent half of each year with me in Montreal, when summer was in the Canadian agenda and after a never-ending home reno, I had carefully designed their room, creating a comfy area where they could feel at home while away from home, Venezuela. But soon after losing daddy, the room felt too heavy to even open its door for me.

Everything changed when my mom told me she was ready to visit again—this time, sans dad. That little conversation was the catalyst I needed. If she was brave enough to return, I could be brave enough to transform that space , right Maca?. This wasn’t just about redecorating; it was about creating a soft landing place for both of our hearts.

For the occasion, COZEY, a Montreal-based furniture company I’ve long admired, helped bring this vision to life. The star of this show? Replacing the old bed with their stunning Neptune sofa bed—a perfect solution for a room that sits empty half the year but needs to feel welcoming and functional when not.

Here’s what I learned about transforming a space from grief into grace:

Start with a Clean Mind—Literally and Emotionally

For me, the hardest part wasn’t choosing the right accessories or the best idea for this room transformation, it was walking through that door for the first time to actually DO something about it. I spent entire days just sitting in my old dump room, allowing myself to feel everything—the sadness, the love, the memories. And only then, could I begin to envision what the space could become for this new era.

But how to begin your transformation? by completely clearing the room and your mind. Remove everything, clean thoroughly, and sit with the blank space for a while (this will be your best therapy, trust me). This isn’t just about physical preparation—it’s about creating emotional space for new memories to form, even if it’s hard to accept. Take your time with this step; there’s no rush when you’re healing our hearts.

a girl setting up a sofa bed in her room

Choose Multifunctional Furniture That Adapts to Life’s Changes (For real!)

For this mama over here, life rarely stays quiet, especially after losing my best friend. One thing I wanted to do for a long time was to get a stylish, multifunctional and modular furniture piece that could adapt to our family, and Cozey’s Neptune sofa bed became just the perfect centrepiece because it acknowledges this reality of ours. During my mom’s visits, it will be a comfortable place to rest, sleep, hug our cats, and have fun. When she’s not here, I’ll transform this room into a stylish sofa for guests or a quiet reading-work from home nook for me.

A piece of advice if you need one, look for furniture that can evolve with your family, a storage ottoman that doubles as seating, floating shelves that can be rearranged, or a dining table that extends for gatherings—these pieces adapt to life’s changing seasons, something we all need.

Create Zones for Different Emotional Needs

One thing I’ve learned the past months is that grief is anything but linear, and during this rollercoaster of life, not every moment of grief—or healing—looks the same. Some days call for resting up with a book; while others need space for inspiration or just be quiet resting. I designed this new space for mama (and myself) with distinct zones within the room: the sofa bed for some sleep, a small ottoman with storage to keep all the blankets and to sit for a bit, a side table to keep things handy and a coffee table that could be used to snack something yummy or display meaningful objects.

Think of a bright corner for morning coffee, a dimmer area for evening reflection, or a desk space for writing or inspiration. These zones give permission to feel whatever needs to be felt, very needed during this phase.

Creating Space for What Comes Next

Transforming this very special room taught me that healing isn’t about moving on—at all. It’s about moving forward while carrying that endless love with us. I am so sure that my mom’s first night back in this newly transformed space will be so emotional for both of us, but it will also be filled with something we hadn’t expected: hope.

This change is a symbol that life continues to unfold, that comfort is possible even after loss, and that sometimes the most loving thing we can do is create space for what comes next.

If you’re facing a similar transformation—whether after loss, a life change, or simply the need for renewal—remember that every room has the potential to become a sanctuary. It just takes courage to walk through the door and begin again.