I’ve made it no secret that I don’t let the fact that I rent keep me from making our place cozy & chic, and really feel like a home. What I love about both these solutions — sconces & picture lights — is that, alongside your chandeliers & lamps, you'll have the ability to play with different lighting moods in your space, while introducing brand new decor that can have a moment, while still complementing (and completing) the rest of the look.
Read MoreIt’s crazy to think that a simple bedroom refresh, redesign if you will, turned out to be this laborious undertaking, but man oh man, was it worth it. Overall the plan was to use the space better, and in turn it would feel better…all while keeping in mind that we rent. While I wasn’t able to get everything done, because life and all that, what ended up being left over isn’t anything that can’t be tackled in our free time.
Read MoreOne of the biggest components of making this new transformation work is storage — no sense in having everything nice & pretty if it can’t stay that way because there’s no where to put anything. And I am so glad we upgraded our mattress before kicking off this madness & mayhem, because while it may just be a redesign — no reno or major cosmetic upgrades — it’s still somehow managed to turn our bedroom upside down; so imagine having the bedroom in shambles AND an uncomfortable mattress!
Read MoreAs a renter, the common theory is that we deal with whatever the existing ceiling lighting is are and then maybe get some table and/or floor lamps, but that’s not what I wanted.
I wanted sconces specifically to make the best use of the space — table & floor lamps take up space that I wasn’t willing to spare. After having a table lamp on our nightstand for nearly a year I knew I wanted that surface area back.
Even as a renter, with a very focused search, I quickly found that I was not limited in my stylish lighting solutions.
Read MoreOne of the first things that stood out to me when we moved in was the paint color because it wasn’t my personal cup of tea. Getting a chance to team up with Wallplanks to do an accent wall was like a DREAM!
Read MoreHaving already most of the marquee pieces — bed, rug, seating, window treatments, and nightstand, I wanted to be sure to work with them. I partnered with the amazing team over at From the Forest, the parent company of Wallplanks, chose my planks and knew this was exactly what the room needed to feel cozier, brighter, and more like us.
Read MoreSo in my lifetime, I've moved 7 times. With every move, I found myself constantly trying to define my life via my space. I'm someone who lives in my head, and with that, someone who's always planning and envisioning and daydreaming. I'd get lost in thought planning changes I'd want to make; because no matter what was happening around me, I needed to be able to control my home. With each move, this has never changed. But also with each move, I've learned just a little bit more about myself, the people in my life, and honestly, the world around me.
Read MoreThis past May, I participated in the One Room Challenge for the first time & it was a great opportunity to show our condo balcony some love — transforming it from an unused storage overflow area to a Hygge inspired outdoor space where we enjoyed the entire spring & summer season! Now it’s time for another One Room Challenge & I’m excited to be participating again, this time with our master bedroom.
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Over the summer we decided to give our daughter her own room, which meant moving out of my home office & transitioning that room into a space fit for a threenager — fun but peaceful, child-friendly but chic, and most importantly something she would love!
Read MoreThe one common thread for me every time I've moved is that I'd slowly get my marquee pieces then I'd layer in my decor. Now, this isn't because I have amazing self-control -- I wish! But for me, it's a few things that keep my impulses in check, with budget reigning in at #1.
Read MoreOverdue for some carpet cleaning in the dining room, I pulled out my Bissell Proheat Essentials and also took the opportunity to also squeeze in some tablescaping to tone down the summer vibes & get ready for fall.
Read MoreTime and time again you hear about what isn't possible as a renter, with one of those things being wallpapering! But to be fair, almost no one likes to wallpaper, not even homeowners, because when you think of the removal process all you know is that it sucks! This is why I've been a long time fan of removable (or "peel and stick") wallpaper.
Read MoreWhen you search “bedrooms for little girls” on Pinterest, you get a hodgepodge of ideas from inspiration rooms to diy projects, so needless to say I had to think long & hard about exactly what my vision for her room would be. My daughter has had all of one request — pink! I put together a design that featured a mix of colors & textures that would be soft enough of for a little girl, but also chic & timeless, because the last thing I wanted was to change her room every couple of months.
Read MoreIf I had to categorize the type of furnishings I gravitate to I’d say it’s Hygge chic with hints of glam. As we’ve been in the midst of updating a few spaces in the house, I’ve been doing a bit of shopping, so here are five recent Hygge inspired finds that I am living for
Read MoreAs I got ready to makeover our balcony for the One Room Challenge I did quite a bit of shopping from some of my fav retailers. So let's go over everything I bought so you can hopefully get inspired to create some indoor/outdoor Hygge in your home for the warmer months!
Read MoreI hereby declare this to be Tropical Hygge! You heard it here first...you're welcome! Aside from finally having our balcony in it's best state since we've moved in, making it a space where we can leisurely hang out & enjoy the outdoors, what I'm most proud of is that despite the limitations that come with renting, I knew I could transform this boring balcony into a super dope outdoor sanctuary. While there were some things I wish I could've done, I couldn't be happier with our new outdoor Hygge space.
Read MoreYou’ve seen the before tour. You’ve seem my inspiration board, design plans, & digital renders. This week I’ll be sharing with you my shopping!
I do have a few items that I’m still deliberating on but didn’t wanna hold up the design while I work through my indecisiveness. Plus it’s not like they’ll make or break the final transformation.
Read MoreSo now that we're in the second week of the One Room Challenge, while I already had my vision in place, this was when I really get deep into planning the space & making my concept more tangible.
Read MoreI am both excited & anxious because never have an ever participated in the One Room Challenge! To be honest, every time it came across my radar I would think to myself, "One day I'd love to do that!" REALLY thinking, "One day when I own a house I'd love to do that."
While you can't knock down walls or swap out fixtures, there is a lot you can do to makeover your rental, transforming it into something that is uniquely you!
So when this One Room Challenge came around I said that there is absolutely no reason I can't participate!
I was already prepping to do different refreshes throughout our condo, with the balcony being my main focus for the spring, so that we could truly take advantage of having this outdoor area.
While I don't know that I'll be able to do everything I'd like, I think I've set some pretty attainable goals & I am excited for the next 6 weeks!
Read MoreAbout a year ago, we bought this nightstand/side table from IKEA -- the Nesna -- with the sole intention of using it as our outdoor side table.
Unfortunately, within the past year, I can count on one hand how many times we cleaned the table *hangs head in shame* or really tended to it at all. It stayed pretty neglected and it was definitely starting to show.
With some grey wood stain and frosted contact paper, I was able to transform this table into something that could still be useful in our home.
Once I'm done tackling the bathroom, I cannot wait to turn my attention to the balcony, new table & all!
Good (and effective) design isn't always about buying the latest & greatest, but instead assessing your needs & taking inventory of what you already have.