Rug Roundup: Vintage & New

One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen | Fifteen | Sixteen | Seventeen | Eighteen

A rug is one of the quickest ways to completely transform the look and feel of a space. Whether you prefer bold color or soft neutrals you can't go wrong with pattern. Turkish and Persian vintage rugs are typically one of a kind and will stand the test of time since they are made by hand with quality materials. They add lots of personality and are fairly durable as well. New rugs are typically more plush under foot and can be more affordable. 

I incorporate both vintage rugs and new rugs throughout my home and designs and I've included eighteen of my favorites here. Etsy is my favorite place to find vintage rugs, it just takes time and patience to find those gems. Use search terms like vintage, antique, distressed, Persian, Turkish, Oriental, Heriz, Malayer, Oushak, Tabriz and the primary color you're looking for to narrow down your search. 

Happy hunting!

DIY Artwork: Wallpaper Without the Commitment

One of the most common questions I get on Instagram is about our DIY wallpaper artwork in the living room. I loved this wallpaper from Ellie Cashman ever since I saw it popping up in bathrooms on multiple blogs and Pinterest, but I didn't want to do anything permanent with it. 

Alas, I saw this post from Coco & Jack and decided to give it a shot! I won't lie, it was a bit of a stressful DIY project and my husband had to rescue me at the end once it came to trimming the excess off of the edges. Wallpaper adhesive dries quickly so make sure you're ready to move fast through this project. Regardless this is a great option to create a large piece of artwork that creates a big impact in your space.

Supplies (hyperlinked):
1. Smoothing Tool
2. Smoothing Brush
3. Drying Chamois
4. Seam Roller
5. Xacto Knife
6. Small paint roller and tray
7. Wallpaper adhesive
8. Wood panel canvas from your local art store (ours is 48" h x 60" w)

Steps:
1. Paint the entire canvas including the outside edges black and wait for the paint to be completely dry.

2. On a flat surface, lay down your wood canvas and position the sheets of wallpaper evenly across the board to make sure you know where you want to place each sheet. 

3. Once you have a plan in place, apply the wallpaper adhesive to the canvas.

4. Position the first sheet of wallpaper where you want it and smooth out any bubbles. 

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4, making sure to line up the pattern in all spots and get the seams to touch without overlapping them.

6. Use the seam roller and smoothing tools to remove bubbles and press the seams down thoroughly. 

7. Once all of the sheets are in place, let things dry for 15-20 minutes. 

8. Use the knife to trim all the excess paper off around the edges. 

9. Check the edges of the canvas and use a small paint brush to add adhesive under any spots that are peeling up.

10. Use a permanent black marker to hide the white edges of the paper that show once the excess is cut off. 

11. Leave the canvas flat overnight and then hang on your wall of choice!

I hope you enjoy creating your own piece of DIY wallpaper artwork! Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

West Elm October Sale Favorites

West Elm is one of my favorite places to shop for accessories, but all the little details can add up quickly! Lucky for you, they are having a sale this weekend on almost everything! These are some of my favorite accessories that can be incorporated into any room. They are neutral, classic, but special enough to make a statement. Everything is linked below!

September Favorite Finds

Round Basket | Copper Planter | Black & White Tray | Lucite Lamp | Windowpane Blankets | Burl Wood Mirror | Wooden Bowl | Turkish Rug | Bar Cart | Black Vase | Woven Leather Chair

Something about the transition from Summer to Fall brings relief and excitement to bring out all the cozy sweaters and neutrals. I love a pop of color in every room, but a neutral base is always classic and so are all of these pieces!

Round Basket: This is a perfect catch all for your console or coffee table. I have one that I use to hold all the remotes and chargers that would otherwise be scattered.

Copper Planter: I just got two of these for my front porch and planted magenta mums in them. They are a great size and you can easily change out the plants for each season.

Black & White Tray: Target's new Project62 line is to die for (per usual) and this tray comes in several sizes. Great for a dining table, kitchen, console table or anywhere you need to corral some items together.

Lucite Lamp: Also from Target's new line, this comes in a floor lamp and table lamp version. Lucite is modern and vintage at the same time. 

Windowpane Blankets: These are the best blankets! They are a good weight that keeps you warm, but isn't too heavy. Available in solid colors as well.

Burl Wood Mirror: I love burl wood pieces, especially when they are this light blonde color. We are planning our basement bathroom remodel and this mirror is a top contender.

Turkish Rug: I saw this rug awhile back and LOVE it. I recently saw it on Instastories and it is even more gorgeous in real life.

Bar Cart: This is a timeless piece and a great size. Can you ever go wrong with brass and mirrored finishes?! 

Black Vase: This vase has a global feel and is a great size to hold medium or tall arrangements.

Woven Leather Chair: These are gorgeous dining chairs! There is a lounge chair version as well that would be great in a living room.

Pillow Roundup

I have a serious pillow problem....borderline obsession, but with good reason. Many of my clients get sticker shock when they see how expensive pillows are. They are always worth the investment though, because they make the room in many cases. All those pretty rooms you see on Instagram and Pinterest likely include some designer or vintage pillows. Imagine those rooms without them, they would be lifeless!

So my advice is to splurge on at least a few pillows per room and then fill in with others that are a little easier on the wallet. Also, clearly you can see my favorite colors include gray, black, blue and pink not necessarily in that order. 

Row 1: One | Two | Three | Four
Row 2: One | Two | Three
Row 3: One | Two | Three
Row 4: One | Two | Three | Four

July Favorite Finds

Couch | Blue Pillow | Accent Table | Scalloped Mirror | Stripe Pillow | Coffee Table | Rug | Basket | Round Mirror | Black & White Pillow

I am so excited to share 10 of my favorite finds from the month of July! I am constantly shopping and sourcing for projects, but I don't always get to use all the gems I discover. 

Couch: I actually discovered this at the Rejuvenation store in Seattle and it is super comfortable. It is a bit lower to the ground than a standard sofa and the linen is absolutely gorgeous.

Blue Pillow: This is such a beautiful vintage Hmong fabric and Boho Pillow is constantly adding new one of a kind pillows to her shop.

Accent Table: This can go almost anywhere, super versatile and will add some personality with the gold geometric design.

Scalloped Mirror: Serena & Lily is having a tent sale and although this mirror is still a splurge, it is on major sale. Take a look at some of the other sale items while you're there!

Stripe Pillow: This comes in multiple colors and a lumbar version, can go with almost any design style.

Coffee Table: I had my eye on this coffee table forever hoping it would go on sale, ultimately to decide to go with a round coffee table instead. The top is glass so it won't scratch like lucite does and the corners are rounded so if you bump them it won't hurt quite as much.

Rug: Lots of great rugs that are part of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and this one is a stunner. Vivid color with a vintage look to it. All sizes are still available!

Basket: These are the best baskets because they have a lid! Toys, blankets, towels, etc. can be stuffed in and hidden away.

Round Mirror: This is a giant mirror and super versatile. Bedroom, bathroom, entryway, anywhere you need a mirror this one is classic and a great price for the size.

Black & White Pillow: Peter Dunham textiles are beautiful and this is such a great print. Has a modern tribal feel, but the black and white makes it easy to blend with other styles too.

HOUSE HUNTING 101 & THE BEFORE PHOTOS

I will be the first to admit that finding a house is one of the most stressful experiences you'll experience. It is an emotional rollercoaster especially in an insane market like Seattle. 

We started the hunt in January 2014 and it took us 3 months to find "the one." We fell in love with multiple houses, I began remodeling and decorating them in my head, only to get out bid and start over the next week when new listings came on the market.

There will be things you need to compromise on, unless you have an unlimited budget, or get lucky and find the perfect house that is done exactly to your tastes. My best advice is to make a list of non-negotiable priorities, 3-5 is realistic, and a separate list of desirables that aren't essential. 

Our priorities included:
1. Location, location, location (Within a few neighborhoods in Northeast Seattle)
2. Hardwood floors (Original is fine, at least the entire main floor)
3. Good layout (We wanted to do remodeling, but wanted to try and not take down any walls since it was our first house and we didn't have a huge renovation budget)

Since most of you have seen the after photos of our house, I wanted to show you the before so you can see how much paint, lighting, some minor renovations and beautiful decor can transform a space. Seeing past the current state of a house can be challenging, but it can also open up more options for you to find the right one!

Please note the amount of beige, orange (aka. cherry), and bad light fixtures that lived in this house before we did. Scroll through below!