This DIY Kitchen Island Is Inspired by Family Camping Trips and Campfire Conversations
You know that friend whose house just has that warm, comforting, feels-like-home energy? It doesn’t happen by accident. Whether you’re picking out a paint color or hanging a gallery wall, when you’re guided by your experiences, heritage, and personality, you create a space that makes both an aesthetic and an emotional impact.
For Texas-based interior decorator Magdalena Mendez, home is a place to express herself and strengthen family bonds. Magdalena, a first-generation Salvadoran American, is one of nine siblings and a mom of four. Her priority is creating a safe and inviting home like the one she was raised in.
“My kids are going to grow up one day, and I want them to know that ‘home’ is a special place for anyone they invite,” she says. “My parents blessed me with that and I want to continue that tradition!”
Another tradition they continue: regular camping trips with extended family, like the ones her husband grew up with. This intergenerational “we time” lets them reconnect without distractions. On this year’s trip to Texas Hill Country, it also pushed Magdalena to get out of her comfort zone as a mom by letting go and granting them a bit more independence.
“My kids are teenagers now. It’s a bittersweet time for me, watching them grow into incredible young adults. I’m filled with pride for who they’re becoming but also missing the days when they were little,” she says. “As I adjust to this new stage, where they need me less, I feel so grateful for the memories we’ve built and continue to make together.”
The 2025 Ford Explorer gives Magdalena the confidence to seek out every new vista, with features like a 13.2-inch touchscreen, spacious three-row seating, and multiple Drive Modes for whatever road lies ahead. Smart and energy-efficient Eco Mode is great for long drives, while the Sport and Off-Road modes make for better handling and performance on curvy roads or steep hills and bumpy terrain. That means Magdalena and her crew can keep chasing stunning views, gathering around campfires, and making family memories.
Inspired by their quality time around the campfire, Magdalena redecorated her kitchen island to foster the same kind of family connection they experience on their camping trips. She brought in butcher block countertops made of natural materials that evoke the trees of the Texas Hill Country.
Then she painted the island — where the family often preps dinner together — in a cool blue-gray that evokes the beautiful river views they’d wake up to every morning. For Magdalena, it was important to bring nature home and incorporate it into their decor.
“It’s all about recreating that cozy, grounded atmosphere I felt on our camping trip,” she says. “Whether it’s sharing a meal around the dinner table or having heart-to-heart conversations about real-life situations around the kitchen island, these moments are meaningful. They’re our way of staying connected and grounded as a family.”
“I am incredibly proud of my Hispanic heritage. I watched my parents work tirelessly to give us a better life, and it instilled in me the same drive to create a bright future for my children. We never forget where we started.“
Magdalena Mendez
Though Magdalena’s eldest is 16 and the others aren’t too far behind, she wants her kids to feel like they can always come home — and hold the comforting feeling of home with them, too. “My hope is that this home holds all those moments of joy from the past, present, and future, not only for me but also as a place of warmth and memories they’ll carry with them always.”