I think it’s safe to say that winter is pretty much in full force and effect just about everywhere right now. I happen to be one of those odd people who enjoys the season, but I will admit it doesn’t do a whole lot for my productivity. The short days and cold air have me craving couch time with a cozy blanket and a fire like no other.
Which could be why I love it so much.
Or maybe it’s because no other season is more perfect for being home.
I tried something new last year and brought out less “Christmas” stuff and opted instead to use some of my favorite everyday things with just a little Christmas sprinkled in.
Such an eye-opener.
Not only was my decorating time cut in half, but I ended up with a look that was a little less cluttered, yet still festive and cozy. Not to mention, the take-down was an absolute breeze.
I loved the simplified look from last year so much that I embraced the same thought again this year.
I am all about using something pretty and simple to make a seasonal statement on the dining room table from day to day. My antique round table is on the small side, so it can be easily overwhelmed – plus, who wants to move a bunch of stuff out of the way every time you want to sit down at the table?
Not this girl.
So today I rounded up some of the ways I’ve added a little bit of fall beauty to my dining table over the last few years. All of them are simple, classic, and can be thrown together in just a matter of minutes.
I’ve been keeping a little secret from you.
About two months ago I bought a new bed.
It’s been…what…two years since I first started talking about finding a new bed for my bedroom? Something like that, anyway. And I finally went ahead and did it. But I’m kind of wondering what the heck I was thinking, because I don’t really think the bed I chose was the right choice. I’m blaming the poor decision making on a broken heart. My head just wasn’t in the right place.
But today isn’t about the bed – we’ll get into that another day – it’s about a nightstand (but you’ll get a tiny sneak peek at the bed in here too).
Because as soon as I put the new bed in the room, I knew I needed new nightstands. I also knew I wanted them to be vintage in look and feel and dark gray or black in color. I had one stand (in the basement – of course!) I could paint, but I needed something to go with it.
“Fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks.” – Dr. Seuss
I have never met a bookshelf I didn’t like.
Never ever.
You neither?
There’s a reason we’re all friends. 🙂
So big is my love of bookshelves, that I’ve always dreamed of having my own little library somewhere in my house, but our house is pretty small, so shortly after we moved in Jordan gave me the next best thing and built those amazing wall to wall bookshelves in the living room you always see.
We drew a concept out on paper and then made some adjustments.
And then we taped it all out with blue painters tape on the wall to get a feel for how it would look in the room.
And then we made a few more adjustments.
And then he started building it in sections out in the garage.
And we primed and painted…and painted some more.
And we muscled each section into the house and installed them against the wall.
And then we painted some more.
And then finally I got to fill those shelves! It was a pretty great day. 😀
I really hate shopping for curtains.
There is just simply nothing about it I enjoy.
They’re expensive.
If I find a pattern or color I like, I hate the material.
If I find a material I like, I hate the pattern or color.
They’re expensive.
No matter where I’m shopping, they always seem to be one panel short of however many I need.
Oh, and did I mention they’re expensive?
So yeah. Not my favorite part of outfitting a home.
Hello and Happy Monday!
Did you all have a nice weekend?
We had such a beautiful, sunny weekend here (the second in a row – feels like a record!) – the trees are all in bloom, tulips are popping up in the backyard, and it’s just been so nice to have a break from all the rain and cloudy skies we’ve had for what seemed like months.
I shared last week that I made a little progress in giving the master bedroom a facelift. Aside from a new paint color (check!), and a new bed (still in the works), one of the other MUST do’s to get our master bedroom looking the way I have been wanting was to replace the drapes.
I hated those drapes.
Pretty much from day one I hated those drapes.
So why did I ever buy them?
Hi there!
So I took a little unintended break from things around here. I’m so sorry if you have left me a comment or sent a message and I haven’t yet responded – I didn’t mean to neglect you all on purpose. I started a project, and then things got busy, and then Jordan had his second surgery, and I basically didn’t even open my computer for nearly three weeks.
So what’s new? How have you been? Did you have a nice Easter? I feel like we have so much to catch up on!
I love the farmhouse plate rack we have in the dining room – it’s one of my favorite projects to date (you can read about it here). I have fun changing it up from time to time and adding things to introduce a little seasonal flair in the dining room.
And no matter what I incorporate, the one constant has always been the plates…because…well…it’s a plate rack.
Right?
But maybe it doesn’t have to be just a plate rack…
Whenever I share a post about styling or creating vignettes around a room, readers will often write to me and say they struggle with this part of decorating. How do you know what to bring in? How do you know how to arrange it? When is it too much and when is it not enough?
You know what I’m about to say…
There is no right or wrong – it’s completely about personal taste.
Not what you wanted to hear, right?
I know. I get it. It can be a little overwhelming, and having no direction when you’re not sure what to do does not help.
