Christmas Home Tour 2020

My favorite post of the year is always my Christmas Home Tour! This year I added more pops of red this year than ever. I also have non-traditional decor in my foyer if that's more your speed. I love it all! 

I love these new nutcrackers to meet our holiday guests! They light up at night too. Thanks to my 12 year old son, Aidan, for taking my holiday photo this year. I think he did a great job!

Check out this top! I just got it in yesterday and it's so cute with a bow that ties in the back. It's only $12.50! 

You can see a bit of the bow under my hair. 

It wouldn't be a Christmas Home Tour without Mario! How sweet is it that his bow tie matches my top?

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The foyer is always the most popular of my photos! It's the only room without traditional color this year. I added whites, blues and golds. 

The living room is the heart of the home and where we spend the most time this time of year. It's downright magical in the evening by the glow of the tree and fire. I didn't want to overwhelm the room with red since it would be too harsh with the rest of the room so I added red berries to the mostly ivory and gold tree, fireplace garland and coffee table bowl. The big punch of red is in the bow over the fireplace. It's just enough red to feel festive. 

Of course it's best lit up at night!

Mario in his Christmas sweater

I think I'm most excited about the kitchen this year. I've replaced the counter stools with these light ones. I was excited to finally have backs to hang wreaths on them. I also have my new brass and mercury glass lantern in so it has a completely different look.

I hope you enjoyed the Christmas tour! Stay tuned for the dining room post!

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Guest Bedroom Reveal with Universal Furniture

I am so excited to show you my guest bedroom makeover! If you're wondering what it looked like before, don't worry because I have never shown you this space. It was very bare and boring, and definitely not worth photographing. I always dreamed of having a room that wasn't just comfortable, but a retreat for my friends and family. I knew I wanted it to be light and pretty. I pictured flowers and candles on the side tables, layered bedding and drapes framing the arched windows that overlook the roses outside. 

When Universal Furniture contacted me about making over a room in my home I knew their furniture from Miranda Kerr's new LOVE.JOY.BLISS line fit my aesthetic perfectly. It's light and bright, but with clean lines. The bedroom furniture was exactly what I imagined in this room-white, contemporary, a bit romantic, an upholstered headboard and glass topped nightstands. 

I love that the footboard and side rails are also upholstered. Notice the brass detailing on the feet. It really sets this bed apart from others I had been considering to purchase. 

I didn't have room for a bench at the end of the bed so I opted for a chair and garden stool in the corner. The curtains instantly made the room feel so much cozier. Layered fabrics always has that effect in a room so I try to add as many as possible. 

The nightstands have plenty of room to showcase your decor, but there's also a large drawer for storage. Glass tops are a must for me when it comes to nightstands. I don't have to worry that guests will damage the tops with drinks. 

This stone colored fabric on the headboard comes standard. It feels like chenille and has a great texture to it. 

I love that guests have a pretty view of the roses outside, It also gives them a bit of privacy from the street. 

Universal Furniture has a great trade program! Click here to sign up. 

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Theodora Bed It also comes in a king size. 

Peony Nightstands 

Happy Halloween!

We are ready for trick or treaters! I put together this bar cart on a whim yesterday when I was trying to find a container for the candy. I came across all of this great Halloween decor I bought and never used. I love the "candy cart" idea because I can keep it in easy reach right by the front door. I'm just hoping the kids didn't eat all of the candy yesterday. I might have to run out for more!

Have a great Halloween!

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Fall-Halloween Porch 2020

It's been a long time since I've incorporated Halloween into my front porch! I found the cutest pumpkin topiaries this year in orange and black that completely influenced this year's front porch. Except for changing the ribbon on last year's semi-DIY magnolia wreaths I didn't have to buy anything else. My goal was to go completely faux this year. Life is too busy to worry about keeping real plants alive!

Aren't these the cutest pumpkins?! They can also be separated so you can have a different look year to year. I put them in planters I already had to give them a bit of height. Then I added orange berry stems in between each pumpkin. 

The wreaths are the same semi-DIY magnolia wreaths from last year. I just changed the ribbon from the green one to the plaid.  Oh, I did add battery operated lights to them. All of the decor lights up this year. What's the point of decorating if you can't see it?! If your favorite decor, mums or pumpkins aren't lit just drape an inexpensive battery operated strand with a timer around it. That's what I did with the  wreaths. I have the exact strand linked below. 

You might notice the pumpkin reflection in the window. Our dog, Mario, keeps barking at them. My husband finally pointed out that he probably thinks there are two little kids at the door!

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Fall Kitchen 2020

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted last! I've been so busy with work that I haven't even had time to think about my own home. My laptop decided to die on Monday morning so while I was waiting for an appointment to get it fixed I had time to get out my fall decor. It turns out my laptop was beyond repair of course! I only have one box of fall decor and usually just buy fresh florals and pumpkins, but knowing I would not replace dying florals or pumpkins with my schedule I decided to keep it easy and go with mostly faux this year. 

This is definitely a more casual look than how I usually decorate, but I wanted something a bit more cozier this year. The pumpkins, vase and leaves are from local boutiques. I was able to find similar to link for you. I think I might switch out this tray for the one from Target I'm linking. 

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Foyer Update: Light, Bright and Transitional

My foyer is one of your favorites, and one of mine too! I knew I wanted to make it lighter, brighter and more transitional for a while now. The new decor pieces would have to fit that look, plus blend with my chandelier and console table that I love. I am so happy with the way it's coming along!

The mirror, art and lamps are all new. They might be modern, but still blend with the French look of my home. I have a new bench coming soon that will go underneath the art.

I've been eyeing this mirror forever! I love the star detail between the panes. I think the lamps are a great complement and so unique.

I love the way my chandelier by the front doors blend with the new decor. I still need art for that side wall. I have also been considering some type of wallpaper and/or ceiling treatment in that area as well.

The art upstairs will be going back to the master bedroom so I need to buy something new for that wall as well. I might even paint it an accent color like a blue-gray. I also want to continue the French wall trim treatment down the side of the stairs too. There's always so much to do!

I don't know if you can see it, but I love the way the foyer blends with the dining room behind it in the mirror. It flows so well despite the newly added modern accents. It just goes to show carefully blending styles and colors can give your rooms so much more depth.

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Lamps  Art  Lotus Bowl  Mirror  Similar Mirror (larger)  Rugs  Garden Stool  Chair  Intaglio Art  Small Chandelier  Large Chandelier  

What's In My Cart: Everything You Need for Spring!

Has anyone been online shopping through this quarantine? I have! I thought it would be fun to show you what is currently in my cart.

Here are my top three clothing items that will take me through spring and summer. There's really no difference in Texas! It's hot in the spring and then hotter in the summer. Bonus points for being all on sale!

Striped Romper

White Halter

Floral Top

These are the only sandals you'll need to get you through summer and they are all under $75!

Champagne Thong

Brown Sandal

Tory Burch Pool Flat

These pajamas will keep you cool with the weather warming up. Also on sale!

Floral Nightgown

Pajama Set

Chemise Set

Kitchen Update: New Barstools and Future Plans

I can't believe I haven't posted since Christmas! I have been so busy with client projects that I haven't had time to focus much on my own home. Every day that I'm in my kitchen I have vowed to change out the black lantern pendant lights and the counter stools. I like both, but they seemed a little mis-matched since I changed my adjoining living room from cream and black to blue and gray. I've had my eye on the Dayna stools from Ballard Designs for a while now, but I wanted to plan out the entire kitchen and breakfast room before buying anything. Since that was over a year ago and I still hadn't taken the time to treat myself like a client, I decided to just buy them anyway. I'm so glad I did! I love the way they look in my kitchen.

I chose white to contrast with the gray island. It's a prettier, softer look than the black. I considered a more transitional stool, but nothing caught my eye as much as these or went with my traditional kitchen so well. They also go so much better with my living room furniture.

I love the way the look with my current breakfast room too. I am planning on changing up this room as well, but who knows how long that will take?! The first thing that needs to go is that chandelier that was supposed to be temporary. It's honestly driving me crazy! The bistro chairs were from the beach house when I decided I didn't want to decorate with gray there. I might take them back to the beach house to use on the balcony when I find new chairs for this room. They're just a little too casual in comparison to the other rooms in this house.

You might notice I took down the lanterns. They just didn't quite go so we put the plates over the outlets until I pick new lights. Here it is before we took the lanterns down.

Before-It was just too harsh. Maybe if the cabinets had been a cream color or the island painted black they would have gone better. 

New Pendant Dilemma-Metal Color/Style

The big question is do I match the lights to the silver hardware or the brass in the adjoining rooms? I'm not a fan of overly brass kitchens and I don't love brass with bright, white kitchens. That's just my personal preference despite seeing the look everywhere these days. There's something a bit harsh about it. However, my island is gray and I love brass with gray. I do love two tone metal kitchens. I would love to have a silver vent hood with brass trim. However, that would be an unnecessary expense. Maybe adding brass lights and keeping my silver hardware would give me that pretty, two tone look. It would also keep the gold tone to a minimum. I love silver tones, but with the French style my home has I feel like it would take on a Hamptons look instead. So I am considering brass pendants and keeping the hardware silver. The second question is pendant style. I am leaning toward a transitional style since everything in the room so traditional. I feel like lighting is one element that can update a traditional room.

Recovering the seats

One thing I didn't mention about the stools is that the seats are linen. I am fully aware these will not last with three kids in the house. The good thing is they are easy to re-cover since there is no welt around the bottom. I took a look at fabric the last time I was in Schumacher's showroom shopping for a client and there are some great performance fabric options.

I'm also considering vinyl that looks like leather. I had a banquette made for a client's pool table room and you would never know it wasn't leather. There are different colors (blue, gray) and even different textures (animal skin). This would be a better option since performance fabric can still stain. It's great for living room fabrics, but I'm not so sure I want to deal with it where food and drinks will be dropping on it often.



Breakfast Room Plan

The next step is to plan out the breakfast room and the pendant lights. This is the look (via Restoration Hardware) I have in mind for the breakfast room. That table is amazing! I'm not sure I want a marble top and these white linen chairs look like kryptonite to me. I need a family friendly version of this!





But with this chandelier that's so expensive it makes my eyes water. Even the designer discount doesn't help all that much!









Only if practicality and budget weren't considerations!