Sarah Carnahan
Where I live: Kingwood
Occupation: Middle and Upper School librarian at Pulaski Academy
My favorite space is: the backyard, but for more than just a quiet, shady place to watch our kids play or climb a rock-climbing wall.
Why? When we bought the house, everything was so overgrown we couldn't see the end of our backyard. It wasn't until my husband, Daniel, went to explore that he realized the property line touched my sister's property line. So he and my brother-in-law removed some trees and a fence. The path has been clear ever since, resulting in 10 years of impromptu family visits, cousin slip-and-slide parties, grills and even epic snow sledding from one yard into the next. On many days, this space also allows the kids to play while I read. Part of my job is advocating for Young Adult literature (my favorite genre), which includes having a library collection of modern novels the students want to read. However, I don't always have time to read a physical book with young children, so another perk of this space is the privacy. Many audiobooks have played aloud while we color or kick a soccer ball.
If I could make one change to improve this space, I would: add actual landscaping and flower beds. Other than a tomato plant, I don't have a green thumb.
— Celia Storey
If you have a favorite Personal Space, email Rachel O'Neal at
HomeStyle on 11/02/2019