Interior Design
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5 Countertop Options for Older Homes
I have recently been obsessively reading about countertops, only to look around the realize that I also have a lot of first hand experience with a variety of countertop options. We have butchers block counters in the Beach Cabin kitchen. A lovely quartzite graces the countertop on the lower level dry bar. The dresser turned vanity at the Beach Cabin has quartz countertops. We have had both polished and honed marble countertops in our Colonial Home. Earlier this summer, I was able to go with friends to shop around for a new island counter for their kitchen. We learned quite a bit about quartz and dolomite. Read on to learn…
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A Timeless (very) Small Bathroom Refresh
A Timeless (very) Small Bathroom Refresh We recently had the kids’ bathroom get a little refresh. I could not be happier with how it turned out! Although admittedly not entirely on purpose, I feel that we effectively gave the bathroom a timeless facelift. Looking back on the project, I think that this was the main formula: keep what we can/have to/is original to the house, stick with the house’s age range when considering the materials (i.e., the tile), add elements of our (other) favorite designs through more decorative items, add a little luxury (hand soap, new towels), and finally incorporate a little nostalgia with wall art.
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Comfortable and Stylish Home: The Basement Makeover
The Basement Makeover This is the last post about the lovely Comfortable and Stylish Home. We covered the Living Room, Home Office, and Kids Spaces previously and will end where I actually began the projects in this home- the basement. The Basement: Purpose The basement serves as a hang out space and also as an extra place for guests to stay. Movies and sports are watched down here, card games are played, and general chatting occurs. We wanted the space to be like the rest of the house- comfortable and stylish. The Basement: Paint With some restraint (you know I love a good paint sample session), we threw several options…
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Comfortable and Stylish Home: The Kid Spaces
Comfortable & Stylish Home: The Kid Spaces The kid spaces were incredibly fun to complete! Although I probably should not be calling them kids anymore, I am now of the age where anyone under 25 years old is a “kid.” To be more specific, these kids are all in their tween and teen years. Older kid spaces are interesting (in the best way) because the kids have generally refined their style and interests. Furniture selections can be made with longevity in mind at this point. But, the details are still (always) personal and fun! For these spaces, the kids provided great insight and have such definitive styles that at once…
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Comfortable and Stylish Home: Office & Living Room
Introductions When I think about this project, I cannot help but marvel at how seamlessly it all came together. But I shouldn’t be surprised. This friend/client has a beautifully understated sophistication about her and this easily carried into her selections and our collaboration together. It is no wonder that the project possesses a quiet luxury factor with clean lines, timeless choices, and a neutral color palette (yes, I am counting the color drenching blue-gray as a neutral ;). The result is a stylish, inviting, and comfortable space. Comfortable and Stylish Home: The Office/Sitting Room The office/sitting room ended up being a favorite. We kept what the family had, borrowed from…
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8 Design Books I Own & Love
When it comes to design, it feels like it is every bit that art-science combo (as most things tend to be). I’ve read again and again that it is important to know the design rules so you can break them properly (or some variation of such sentiments). While the books below are not technically technical books ;-), I find them to be more helpful and to keep my attention considerably longer with their quick guides and lovely imagery. Below are the 8 Design Books that I own and love (and the reasons why).
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Beach Cabin Dry Bar
When we purchased the beach cabin about 7 years ago, I loved the idea of vintage movie chairs in the entryway. We quickly discovered that the varnish wore off with wet swimsuits and towels. Over the years, I have also been craving more storage space. My knees have been hinting at not wanting to run up and down stairs quite as much. Enter, our Beach Cabin dry bar.
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Mackinaw Road Round Up: Wall Sconces
I have been looking at wall sconces lately. They add so much to a room and can double as art too (in my opinion). Below is a round up of 16 wall sconces that have caught my eye lately.
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Concrete Overlay: A DIY Concrete Table Top Refresh
When we moved into our house almost a decade ago, we quickly switched out our old rectangular kitchen table for a round one. The base of the table was a beautifully colored wood. The top was some sort of metal material (I think). It had little button rounds on the side. It was a great table. It has lasted for years and fits the space perfectly. However, the top has been painted on, nail polished on, banged with toddler forks and spoons, etc, etc. Needless to say, it was time for a little refresh. I love how the DIY Concrete Table Top Refresh turned out!
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Colonial Home Primary Bedroom
*This post began as a bedroom lighting article. However, nothing is quite that simple with me when it comes to decorating. Read on for the bedroom lighting I love and the after-effects of changing out a light in our Colonial Home Primary Bedroom **DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you click and purchase, I may receive some compensation. Thank you! Primary Bedroom Lighting When we moved into our house almost 9 years ago, we had a 6 month old and a 3 year old. We put as much time, effort, and thought into our selections as we could. That said, some items went by the wayside and…
