Ana Hill and her husband Robert Hill have chosen to embrace a simple and slow-paced lifestyle after getting married last August. They decided to step back from their busy lives and transform their modern house into a cozy vintage cottage.
The Hills believe that faith is the foundation of their marriage. They find joy in simple things like listening to birds chirping in the morning, admiring blooming flowers, talking to their cat, and starting their day slowly with a cup of coffee.
“Slowing down, living humbly, and being grateful for the ordinary moments in life can lead to so much happiness,” Mrs. Hill told Epoch Times. “Sometimes people get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life… We didn’t want to become a couple rushing through life but rather individuals at peace with our hearts.”
“God is at the center of our relationship. We walk with Him every day, not just in tough times but in every small decision throughout the day.”
The couple met in Chesapeake, Virginia in 2020. Mrs. Hill, a former private nanny turned elementary school teacher, and Mr. Hill, a web developer, found solace in each other during the COVID-19 restrictions on social activities and soon became best friends, eventually getting married.
Starting their married life in the Hills’ ten-year-old two-bedroom house in Chesapeake, they began the process of turning it into a reflection of their personal story and style by selling or donating unnecessary furniture and planning their interior decorating budget.
Mrs. Hill, originally from southern Mexico, was unfamiliar with the concept of thrift stores. She was initially overwhelmed at her first visit due to the lack of organization but stumbled upon a few rustic antique pieces before leaving. Intrigued by the high prices of similar items online, she and Mr. Hill began exploring other thrift stores for original antiques, sparking her interest.
“Discovering old, authentic pieces is delightful,” she said. “Creating a sense of home is about the process of collecting and arranging things, each piece telling a story and holding memories.”
Describing her style as a blend of minimalism, cottage core, vintage, and French country, Mrs. Hill particularly enjoys blue and white porcelain, especially pieces featuring sceneries, colonial themes, and Chinese motifs.
The price range for these items varies greatly. “Plates can sell for $35 or higher, but we have also found plates for $1 or less. You need to know where to look, have patience, and diligently search,” she said. The couple is frugal with their spending, frequently checking Facebook Marketplace and yard sales while visiting their favorite local antique and thrift stores.
After painting, wallpapering, hanging new curtains, and adding unique furniture, their house started to exude a distinct cottage feel. Mrs. Hill adores vintage baskets, copper items, and other unique pieces, using them as kitchen decorations.
“One of my favorite pieces is our cabinet, around 100 years old, displaying my collection of blue and white porcelain,” she said. “The kitchen and dining area are our main focuses. Our dining room is filled with the collectibles we use in our daily lives. It’s my favorite space for cooking, baking, or simply sitting at the table with my husband enjoying coffee or meals.”
According to Mrs. Hill, the joy lies more in the search than the items themselves, and their home design is a part of the new lifestyle they have embraced.
“We enjoy traveling and road trips,” she said. “Repurposing old things and creatively turning them into new ones can be an adventurous experience. Another benefit is that thrift and vintage contribute to creating a more sustainable environment as we recycle rather than mass-produce more items we may not necessarily need.”
“Besides, in my husband’s view, the prices are more affordable compared to those of big brand stores.”
Mrs. Hill attributes her desire for a simple life to her upbringing in rural Mexico, where she revisited many old traditional ways of living. She plants vegetables, bakes bread, cooks with raw materials, enjoys entertaining guests, and sets her eclectic porcelain collections on the dining table. Instead of letting them gather dust, the couple uses their vintage crockery daily.
She claimed that arranging a comfortable home the way they wanted undoubtedly brought more “tranquility and serenity” and added that their family and friends also appreciate the warm, inviting atmosphere.
“My mother-in-law was amazed by the pace of the house’s transformation and decoration,” Mrs. Hill said. “Initially, my friends might have thought I was crazy to have so many old things, but now, they are eager to see what new things we will acquire next. There are many people online who also enjoy collections and the slow living lifestyle.”