It hit home just how ignored the master bedroom was when we moved last fall. Suddenly, I had a blank slate and the opportunity to start from scratch. But let’s be real: I’m a girl on a budget, so a full-on bedroom redesign isn’t in the cards. We decided we had three goals for this new bedroom:

1. Get rid of the clutter!
2. Add bedside lighting that matches and works for both of us.
3. Brighten it up.

So, clutter. The biggest thing there is to stop tossing stuff into the master that doesn’t belong there. The next thing is clearing surfaces. Added a few shelves and bins in the closet (bigger in this house, yay!) and that made clearing dresser and chest tops easy. Rearranged to get phone and tablet charging off of our nightstands, which helped SO MUCH in terms of keeping the room looking clean and streamlined.

Bedside lighting – this is where it got fun. My husband likes bright light at the bedside, my eyes are super-sensitive and exposed bulbs or weak shades/diffusers are a big no-go for me. In service of cutting clutter, we decided plug-in wall sconces were going to be our solution here. We just had to agree on a style. He wanted simple and functional, I wanted stylish and eye-catching. His suggestion was something like this classic swing arm wall lamp. Nothing wrong with it, but it’s nothing I’m getting excited about. I countered with this cool floating orb style, but he hated it. Cue my sad tears. But I get it, he’s a simple guy and these would definitely stand out every time he walked into the bedroom.
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A few long conversations later, he really wanted something adjustable for reading in bed. I really wanted a contemporary look and soft illumination. What’d we end up with? A pair of these: ​

He gets adjustable, I get a great diffuser (and added a dimmer!) and we both get the coordinated and composed look we were going for.

Our final task -- brightening up the bedroom -- took a little creativity because of the things we decided NOT to change. Namely the dark gray blackout curtains and medium gray quilt paired with black finish furniture. His suggestion was to add some white pillows to the bed. Sure, that’d help, but it’s boring. I ended up just coming home with throw pillows similar to these bright yellow, geometric beauties and trusting he wasn’t too invested in the pillows he tosses on the floor before crawling in bed at night. (Spoiler alert: He isn’t.)

The last major thing was a little more time consuming, but still fun. We created our own art with four fun frames, each with a different shade of yellow to create an ombre effect. We painted the frame and a panel to go inside in each of the four shades, and then hung them side by side to span the width of the bed. Simple, clean, modern, and definitely brightens up the bedroom!

​Final verdict? Easy changes that didn’t require too much cash and I LOVE the results. 

I let the kids (well, teenagers, to be fair) put up the Christmas decorations this year. Scary? Yes. But they loved it and it turned out they did a really nice job. It’s turned into a welcomed update for our home. Not only that, it’s left empty the top of my sideboard in the dining room.

That can only mean one thing—it’s time to go shopping!

Browsing around got me thinking about exactly what I might want for that space, the vibe I wanted to create, the colors I wanted to use. Want I really wanted was to create a little vignette—a coordinated scene with pieces that fit together just right to tell a little story.
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My dining room is lovely, but’s not the least bit formal. Despite that, I wanted something a little more upscale for this space. The kids are getting older, I’m worried much less about the breaking things, and my tastes have changed since we acquired the bulk of our holiday decor. 

Let’s face it, this last part of winter, when it seems like it’s been months since we felt the warmth of the sun, it’s not fun. But it doesn’t have to be so bad. We’re going to talk about warming up your decor for winter, getting through whatever the winter equivalent of the dog days of summer are.

Can we start with the obvious? It warms up your decor and you. Add a gorgeous, plush throw blanket to the back of a sofa or armchair. We’re partial to this one from Pottery Barn, because let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to curl up in all that softness. A soft gray shade adds a contemporary touch to an already-appealing design.

We like this one from Ethan Allan, too. An oversized cable knit reminds us of snowed in days spent at grandma’s house, while maintaining a modern, updated look for the living room. Not only does this throw add warmth, it delivers a substantial dose of texture, creating dimensionality in any space.
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Last throw we’re coveting this winter is from Wayfair, a cozy fleece Sherpa blanket that begs for an afternoon binging Netflix. It’s a classic for a reason, and softness and warmth simply radiate from this enticing throw. Great for the end of the bed and curling up in the afternoon, it’s stylish enough for the living room, too. 

Fall has arrived. Figuratively, if not literally.
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How do we know? There are a few ways, not the least of which is the rapid onslaught of all things pumpkin spice. Another, a flood of emails encouraging me to buy sweaters and all manner of fall decor. On top of that, Labor Day has come and gone, marking the unofficial end of summer. And now it’s open season on all things Autumn. 

by Jessie

Love isn’t always logical, and such is the case with my obsession with a certain chandelier… 

For a few weeks, it was this one. Super elegant. And super modern. And totally not a fit for any room in my California casual, new traditional home. Heck, my dining room set, which I adore, is practically vintage at this point.

Despite knowing there was no way I’d ever have it, I kept “visiting” my chandelier on Houzz. I positively loved the crystal droplets and the way they reflect light. I loved the sleek, modern aesthetic. I loved the streamlined ceiling plate. Like I said, I loved everything about it. 

Then, a few weeks ago, I came across this beauty on the Lamps Plus website. And while my love of the “original” chandelier remains, this one might edge it out. Why? Because I can actually imagine this chandelier hanging above my dining table: The dark patina bronze and rustic, Western-inspired round metal frame bring a relaxed, less overtly modern sensibility to this particular chandelier. It’s a little bit less fancy and more accessible--exactly the look I’m going for in my relaxed and inviting interior décor.

Another thing I discovered—I really like that these crystal droplets have an irregular shape, in contrast to the perfectly round crystal balls in the first chandelier. I like the added sense of movement and the more organic energy they create. This one’s on my wish list, to be sure.
 
Meanwhile, my Google search goes on for the perfect chandelier, one that will meet my style and budget (we’ve all fallen in love with a piece WAY out of our price range, right?). Rather than settle for something that's almost right, it's worth the time and effort to find that piece you truly love.