Sunday, June 14, 2020
CREATING OUR OUTDOOR RETREAT WITH ALLMODERN
After getting my new outdoor accessories, I was eager to finish my outdoor space to enjoy during our summer
of 2020! I was looking for pieces to make the space feel complete and
inviting! Since we'll be spending more
time outdoors at our homes then normal this summer, I really wanted the space to feel
like I was hanging out in my family room, just outside. I wanted it to be a
reflection of my style, so I was excited to mix in accents from
AllModern to really set off the west coast casual vibe I was going for
outdoors. See my new additions below!
Accent pillows and throw blankets are the easiest way to make a space feel
more inviting and cozier and the texture and quality of these pillows is
beautiful and I love the tassel accent on them. I'm a neutral girl at heart but you could pair these with a pop of color as well.
Throw blankets are a must have for New England summers as our nights
cool down quickly. We love to cozy up by the fireplace to roast some
s'mores and watch a movie and I'm always reaching for a blanket and these throws are the perfect weight. I especially love the gray color options. It is also a great blanket for an
afternoon picnic in the yard. Throwing them over the arm of a sofa
or a chair gives the space those finishing touches it needs to make the space feel complete.
I love adding accent tables and stools to spaces because they create a place to
place your drink or snacks, they are easy to move around and even create extra
seating if needed. I love the simplicity of this white garden stool paired with the
textures on our patio. I also love that we can easily move it around for drinks or a place to put our feet up after a long day.
When creating your outdoor oasis you can't forget your outdoor planters which is my favorite part. When we designed our outside patio and created the cedar privacy screens, I knew immediately that this wall was calling for some tall modern planters. These are great because they create a place to plant your
flowers but take up very little space. It's an easy way to make a
statement without doing much work. These also work great if you live in
the city and are looking for a way to create a privacy screen from your
neighbors. Add tall grasses or shrubs and you instantly have a wall. Planters are the place where you can add pops of color or
create some drama on your patio, I like to stick with mostly whites, shades of purple and green but picking a color scheme and using it throughout the space in your planters can really create a beautiful space. I can't wait for the plants to fully bloom!
Outdoor lighting is one of the simplest ways to really up your outdoor ambience game and it doesn't have to be hardwired either There are so many
great solar panel options that work well, as well as hanging options that
you can add to your existing trees with candles or lanterns placed around your patio area. It's the little touches
that will make you enjoy your outdoor space that much more. I added these little hanging lanterns from our tree and they create a unique art element during the day and at night I light the little tea lights I added to them. You can use real or battery operated.
I hope you're able to take some ideas from here for your own patio and I can't
wait to share more ideas on how to make the most of your outdoor space this
summer. I'd love to see what you've done with your spaces as well. Share below in the comments!
Shop the items I used for our patio here:
Thursday, April 30, 2020
MOTHER'S DAY GIFT IDEAS
Mother's Day is just around the corner and since stores are currently closed, it's time to start thinking about ordering those gifts online so they can arrive in time! I've rounded up some items I personally would like to receive and gifts that I think any mom would love from comfy cute sneakers for all those outdoor walks, to a beautiful bouquet of flowers and some great at home spa items so she can retreat to the bathroom for a little peace and quiet...a classic bracelet or a cute headband to help her make it until her next hair appointment. Also how cool is this self cleaning water bottle, one less thing she has to wash right now. Another favorite to receive is a beautiful gift basket and Marigold & Grey has a great selection perfectly wrapped for Mom. You can find all the items below!
Thursday, April 2, 2020
THINGS TO DO AT HOME AND FOR YOURSELF WHILE IN QUARANTINE
It's crazy how things can change in a weeks time. The majority of us have been social distancing, isolating, and staying quarantined within our homes for over a week now. We're either going crazy or taking advantage of this time to get things done (I'm clearly not in the second category but I hope you are) . That being said, with no definite end in sight and who knows how many more weeks we'll be stuck at home, I've come up with a few suggestions of ways to pass the time, for the benefit of your home and for yourself!
Spring Clean EVERYTHING
It goes without saying that now is a good time to clean just about everything in your home. Any surface, all the nooks and crannies, bathrooms, windows, sheets, clothes, moldings, coffee maker, anything. What better time to get a jump start on your spring cleaning? This is my favorite site to order cleaning products from and now is the perfect time to create your own cleaning solutions.
Organize & Declutter
Make a list of all the places you'd like to declutter. Find a homes for all of your stuff! This is the key to staying organized. Find items in your home that you can repurpose for storage and organizing bins. Wrap old shoe boxes with pretty paper, Use glass canisters to store bathroom items such as cotton balls. Find random baskets not being used in your home to store that precious toilet paper. Get creative!
Start planting a garden
This is high on my list when it gets warm out. I bought seedling kits to do as a project with the kids. I have been wanting to do this for years but have always been discouraged by the rabbits so if you have any tips to keep the rabbits out, let me know. Now is the perfect time to grow some of our own food.
Exercise
I miss the gym and Pilates more then I thought I would. It's important for our mental state to keep our body moving. There are so many offerings online right now for free and livestream classes, so take advantage. Some of my favorite at home workout apps are the Sweat app (I've done the BBG programs but have recently been doing Kelsey Wells programs), Obe and Alexia Clark. Alexia shares a lot of ways to use items from home to workout on her Instagram page.
Read
I have a slew of books I've started and haven't finished, anyone familiar with that? It's the perfect time to take a break from the news and our phones and sit down with a good book and actually finish it. If you're looking for some good coffee table books to read, I've rounded up a couple of my favorites right here
Clean out your basement or garage
We all know that dreaded space we've put off organizing. Well, now you have the time to tackle it. Create piles of things that you can donate when it's safe to and consolidate and organize the other remaining items on shelves. I don't know about you but being in my house so much has me wanting to really pare things down.
Try new recipes...cocktails included
We're always rushing to get everyone fed and we truly don't get to slow down and enjoy cooking a meal. Test out some new recipes to add to your favorites. Create your favorite Starbucks drinks at home. Play around with different cocktail combinations because we could all use one right about now.
Self Care
It's a really important time to not forget about yourself right now. Take some time for a bath, some yoga or just sitting in peace and quiet. I mean driving around aimlessly in your car counts too. Just crank up those tunes and zone out. Whatever it is that recharges your batteries, it is really important to get that time.
Monday, February 10, 2020
TWO MODERN BATHROOM REVEALS - WITH BRASS - MATTE BLACK AND MARBLE
I'm so excited to finally share our Project Meadow Lane that we've been working on the last year. When this client reached out to me again to help with their renovation, I was so excited to jump on board again. Not only because I enjoyed working with them before but we were transforming two of their bathrooms in their midcentury style home for their three kids and I love nothing more then designing a bathroom or two.
This project began as an addition to their home to create another bedroom, a small office and to update 2 bathrooms. The first floor bathroom was going to be used by their teen daughter and guests so we wanted to create something feminine yet timeless and classic that could be used for guests as well.
Our starting point was a fun printed tile in shades of blue and gray that give the space some depth. We chose a scalloped shower tile with a dark gray grout to pull in the shower floor which was a matte black penny tile. During our tile search the client fell in love with this beautiful subway tile which we added on the lower half of the bathroom walls. A custom art piece from Minted completes the space.
We had the vanity custom painted to coordinate with the tile we had selected. We added brass fixtures to compliment the navy mixed with neutral tile selections. We wanted to get the most storage out of this space as we could so we chose a vanity with lots of storage and drawers which are key in a smaller bathroom, a large built in medicine cabinet (the contractor may have been cursing me when trying to install that beast) and recessed shower shelves to hold bath necessities.
A decorative tray was added to hold hand soap and lotion.
Moving upstairs to the second kids bathroom and continuing with the navy color scheme which continues throughout their home. This bathroom is long and narrow and created quite a challenge with kitchen plumbing below that couldn't be moved. We removed a looooong vanity that stretched from one wall to the other and we got creative and created a built in look with the vanity. What wasn't in the original plan was the little ledges that would be flanking the vanity but these made for the perfect spot to store towels.
The client had fallen in love with these School House light fixtures that I had originally sourced for the downstairs bathroom (I have to admit they were a favorite of mine too) but when they had discontinued the style we chose we didn't have another option so we moved them upstairs and I think they fit just perfectly flanking the double vanity mirrors and how fun is that Serena & Lily wallpaper?
Continuing with the homes more modern style we added matte black fixtures, warm wood tones and pops of color in the wall coverings and artwork. The gray slate floor is a great option for this long and narrow bathroom. It's also great for wet feet not slipping when they get out of the shower. The shower walls are a simple white herringbone tile with a dark gray grout. This deep tub is perfect for baths for the kids and adding a half glass shower wall keeps the bathroom from feeling closed in. We added cool towel hooks and toilet paper holders from Rejuvenation to coordinate with the matte black fixtures.
We completed the space with an art piece from Minted. When the client told me that her kids like to surf, I knew the right piece that would be perfect for their bathroom.
These wicker baskets were the perfect addition to hold extra towels.
I hope you love these bathroom as much as we do!
Photography: Carrie Belcher Photography
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