In Partnership with2025 Ford Explorer®

A Family Vacation Inspired This “Unplugged” Home Library

Courtney BalestierSenior Writer, Creative Studio
Courtney BalestierSenior Writer, Creative Studio
Courtney Balestier is the Apartment Therapy Creative Studio Senior Writer. She holds a master's degree in magazine journalism from NYU and lives in Pittsburgh, where you'll find her doing DIY projects in her new house with her dog and cat (who are not being very helpful).
published Dec 10, 2024

Home is a living, breathing idea: The way it looks and functions changes as you do. That’s part of why coming home feels so good — it’s an extension of your family’s personality and an expression of what you value most.

For DIY-er and self-proclaimed “accidental interior designer” Tiffany Hahn, the Austin, Texas, home she shares with her husband and two sons is an expression of safety, love, and sanctuary. “It’s where I feel most at peace,” Tiffany says. “Where I can be creative and spend quality time with my family.”

That includes reliving the magic of their family travels, like a recent vacation hiking along the water. It was a full-circle trip for Tiffany, who grew up going to the same spot on Texas’s southern coast. But even though it was a nostalgic and familiar locale, Tiffany still found a way to push out of her comfort zone and find a new experience for her family: a secluded area along the water she’d never visited. The remote spot — off the beaten path, with no cell service or other visitors — turned out to be awe-inspiring.

Credit: Photo: Christopher Broe; Stylist: Tori Miller

“I was moved by the lack of noise pollution: All we heard were the waves, the birds flying around us,” Tiffany says. “No music, people, cars — just nature. It was soul-nourishing to experience this kind of quiet in a town that is notoriously crowded with people.”

Credit: Photo: Christopher Broe; Stylist: Tori Miller

The 2025 Ford Explorer gives Tiffany and her family the confidence to travel to new destinations. With a spacious cargo area, available PowerFold® Third-Row Seating for even more storage space, and push-button Power Liftgate, they can pack for any adventure without cramping their style. And the 13.2-inch touchscreen system puts all of their road trip entertainment, like audiobooks and podcasts, at easy reach.

Credit: Photo: Christopher Broe; Stylist: Tori Miller

Tiffany wanted to bring the magic of their quiet adventure home, so she turned a room into a similarly “unplugged” family library with a nature-inspired ambiance. She installed bookshelves and trim for a built-in look.

Credit: Photo: Christopher Broe; Stylist: Tori Miller

Then, she painted the walls a peaceful, oceanic blue — a color that, combined with the natural light and lush houseplants, creates a grounding, natural presence. With extra-comfy seating and plenty of books on the shelves, the room is dedicated to offline activities only, like reading and playing board games.

“I come from a Hispanic household, and my husband is from a Hispanic household. That family-centered life is what I’m all about. We’re proud of who we are and proud of where we came from.”

Tiffany Hahn
Credit: Photo: Christopher Broe; Stylist: Tori Miller

Now, the library is the space Tiffany’s family wants to be in all the time; it takes them right back to that serene feeling of being unplugged on vacation — and all their loved ones are invited. “Even though we’re always undergoing projects and renovations, we try to be hospitable and invite everyone in,” she says. “Home means everyone’s welcome.”