I was blessed & honored to be invited to be a speaker on the E-Design panel at High Point Spring Market (#HPMKT). Not only did I get to speak on something I love alongside women I admire, but I also got to meet with the founder of #thedesignnetwork & co-owner of the WORLD's largest furniture store, #furniturelandsouth. I left this MASSIVE furniture campus feeling more than inspired, so I hope it does the same for you!
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 MoreAs I continue to refresh my home for the Spring season -- new season, new beginnings -- in addition to assessing our needs, I started to take stock in just some basic decor essentials that we needed, specifically for the Spring season.
A huge design priority of mine is the balcony, specifically, investing in creating an space where we can relax and enjoy both indoor & outdoor living. I want inside the apartment to feel connected to the outdoors, creating a calm Hygge atmosphere; while I want outside to be an extension of our home -- Hygge inspired, cozy, and inviting.
Read MoreIt's officially Spring & I am totes in the spirit of the season!
As you know, our condo has a very warm aesthetic -- the primary living areas are a deep beige tone -- which is the complete opposite of my husband & I's aesthetic. Since we prefer cool, light, bright, and airy, I rely HEAVILY on decor styling to balance out the overall warm tone of the space.
I decided to introduce into the space lighter tones in the tablescaping & surrounding decor, as well as incorporating more natural accents to create a Hygge inspired springtime look.
Spring Is In The Air!! And I am here for all of it because while I've ALWAYS been a big fan of Spring, something about it this year is almost contagious -- all I want to do is go for walks, lighten up my decor, and immerse myself in all things Spring related. Being that my coffee corner is a HUGE part of my days, naturally, it was going to get a Sring makeover! Using a bit of what I got from my previous shopping hauls, I took to transitioning my coffee corner into the new season!
Read MoreWe’re back today for another haul from one of my favs: H&M Home! There’s lots of pink, lots of pillow covers, and lots of Hygge.
This haul def shows what I consider to be more spring Hygge — lots of cozy textures and natural elements, punctuated by soft tones perfect for spring!
We’re so conditioned to think Hygge is synonymous with winter, but that’s not the case.
While there's an obvious correlation between the two, many elements of Hygge living can be carried into spring!
I want to make sure my Hygge living transcends seasons & in addition to actual lifestyle hacks, purposeful decor is part of that transition.
In this haul, featuring items from Amazon, Joss & Main, and Target, I was very intentional about choosing items that illustrating Hygge decor -- textural and natural elements for a cozy, blissful home.
Check out some of my fav Hygge decor finds for the Spring season!
About 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.
I'm back in the bathroom!
In my last refresh update, I shared how I used stylish storage solutions, budget-friendly DIY, and creative design to transform my boring, beige bathroom into something more spa-like, tranquil, and Hygge inspired.
I felt great to see that transformation start to take shape but here's the thing:
THE BATHROOM WAS STILL BEIGE!
I was totally in love with the updates, especially considering how pragmatic & affordable they were, but I knew there was something I needed to tackle or I'd never be satisfied -- THE WALLS!
This is why a professional is important.
We help you sort through those ideas & feelings, and really just quiet all the design noise. What we see isn't always what the client sees, especially when it's not their natural inclination. So what ends up happening? Projects, instead of creating a design, are fixing a series of design mistakes.
Read MorePart of having a beautiful home is having a CLEAN home so this was a long time coming -- I finally signed up for Grove Collaborative and OMG! Check out my unboxing & first impression of my first shipment. I definitely recommend signing up for Grove Collaborative, if for no other reason, then to always make sure you're always stocked & on budget when it comes to your household essentials.
Schedule
Read MoreTake it from me, moving across the country can be equally exciting and nerve wrecking. You're literally kicking off a brand new adventure, no matter the reason you're moving & mo matter how prepared you think you are. Personally, I never truly appreciated the differences in the two coasts till having moved from east to west; so I could 100% empathize with this client as she kicked off a move from Virginia to California.
Read More
I went on a bit of a shopping spree inspired by my new accent color obsession: BLUSH PINK! Watch me update my beverage station, dining room, and living room with simple decor updates.
Read MoreIt’s that wonderful time of year where getting a restaurant reservation is harder than trying to get a toddler to bed on time.
I’ve never been one to “celebrate” Valentine’s Day for a myriad of reasons but especially because of the crowds — everyone’s outside with their red dresses, red ties, and red roses clamoring for a spot at a “romantic” restaurant.
How is yelling over dozens of other patrons just for a glass of over even remotely romantic?!
Call me old fashioned but I’d much rather celebrate my love in the quiet, intimate setting of my home. There’s no wait time, no mandatory gratuity, and no dress code.
So this year, whether you’re “celebrating” with your significant other over a candlelit dinner or with your fav besties over a casual brunch, I challenge you to trade in the public fanfare for an at home meal... and that starts with fabulous tablescaping!
Read MoreI predict lots of blush pink & burgundy for 2018.
Yep, I've said it!
And the best time to share with you my fav finds from this romantic union would be during the "month of love", February.
While Valentine's Day is just another day on my calendar, I do believe that there's nothing wrong with showing love anytime you can -- and that includes to your home.
Read MoreDuring the holidays I began working on refreshing our condo rental bathroom, to take it from dated & dull to feeling tranquil, spa-like, and Hygge inspired. While still a work in progress, check out my progress so far with stylish storage solutions, budget-friendly DIYs, and creative design.
Read MoreMany lessons, applications, and failures later, I think I've got this! Balancing the different areas of my life has been a juggling act of pragmatic choices & creative solutions, at the heart of which is LOTS of online & offline tools.
So, if you're any kind of entrepreneur, and you struggle with figuring out what you need...or if you've just wondered, "How the heck does she do it?!" here's a peek behind the scenes that is my life as an entrepreneur, student, wife, and mom...