A New Way to Order Furniture Online…and actually receive it ON TIME

This post is sponsored by Serena & Lily

Happy Thursday friends! You guys know my love for Serena & Lily runs deep…well, it’s about to get even deeper! Let me explain why. If you’re like me, and love to shop for furniture online; it’s seriously my favorite past time. Ok…maybe only second to shelf styling, and you guys know how much I love to style a pretty shelf! IYKYK. But, lets get back to my explanation, our current supply chains are a mess here in the US, and I hear things will get a lot worse before they get better. Ordering goods online used to be easy and fast, but now I’m constantly hearing stories about waiting up to twelve months (really! A YEAR!) for a refrigerator or a new treadmill, or six months for your new sofa to arrive. Well, the brilliant folks over at Serena & Lily just introduced a new feature on their site to combat these issues, and it’s so smart!

Now, you can search Serena & Lily using their new availability feature that allows you only shop for things that are in stock and available – ranging from four weeks to 2Day shipping! Such great timing for such a useful feature with the Holiday Season right around the corner! Thinking about a new dining table for Thanksgiving? Or maybe a new sofa for your Christmas guests? Serena & Lily has got you covered. And the best part is, you won’t be left guessing when your order will arrive! Peace of mind for the win!

I just used this new feature to shop for a new nightstand for my bedroom and it arrived in just two weeks from the date that I made the order.

This is their Balboa Wide Nightstand and I think it might be the prettiest piece of furniture I’ve ever owned. It’s handwoven and has that casual and warm feeling. In contrast, the brass drawer pulls and brass detail on the feet really dress it up. Really the perfect combo between casual and formal IMHO. This nightstand is the new star of our bedroom!

The drawers are generous in size and allow you to store all of those nighttime essentials, like chap stick and your phone charger.  The shelf on the bottom is a fun spot to display your fave decor pieces or stash your collection of bedside books. Anyone else love a cozy reading session before bed? Me too!

So, in honor of my new nightstand and Serena & Lily introducing their new avalability feature on their site, I thought it would be fun to round up a few of my favorite nightstands for you guys! All of these pieces will arrive on your doorstep within four weeks! So, let’s GOOOOOO!!!

First up, is the other Balboa Nightstand, a close relative to my Balboa, but smaller (for those tight spaces) and with the white drawer. I love the pop of white on this one. Feels so bright and fresh!

Next, is the Atelier Wide Nightstand with its clean and modern lines. This nightstand would pair beautifully with a wood or rattan bed to make for an eclectic, yet timeless look. Ample storage is another big bonus for this babe.

Meet the Harbour Cane Wide Nightstand. I was so drawn to this one with it’s fluted legs and the perfect wood tone. It feels traditional in style and has a cane shelf. It has an antique quality to it, which I love. Also, it comes in three different color options, and who doesn’t love options?!

Allow me to introduce, Reese, who is made from oak and has the prettiest cerused finish. I’m all about this sturdy frame and the little turned feet. So cute!

And finally, we have their Caledonia Woven Nightstand. I love that this one could fit right into so many different styles of homes. The seagrass detail on the drawer adds a touch of coastal style, while the oak gives it that classic feel. And how good are those leather pulls?! #ILYSM

Well, is anyone getting the shopping itch after all that cuteness? Leave me a comment below and tell me which one is your fave! It’s kinda hard to pick just one! Happy Shopping, friends and as always, thank you for reading!

 

 

Dining Room Makeover with Serena & Lily

This post is sponsored by Serena & Lily

A few months ago, I shared with y’all that I was on a mission; to give our teeny weeny dining room a new look, that also functioned well for our family. This lil’dining room is a challenging space that has had me scratching my head since we bought our home back in the fall of 2019. Our floorplan is an open concept (which is great, but can make furniture placement tricky!) and the dining space sits right in the middle of the kitchen and our living room. Here’s a look back at what this space looked like when we bought this old fixer.

Can you believe this is the same house?! Gives me all those warm and fuzzy feelings. Anyways, let’s get into the details of this fresh new look!

After taking one look at Serena & Lily’s Downing Dining Table, I knew it was perfect. I had been on the hunt for a dining table with a white finish as I thought it would be a nice way to break up the many wood tones I have in my house. This is one of the challenging parts of an open floor plan; all of the tones/finishes have to work together to form a nice cohesive look. I also love the airiness of the table. You can see through the legs and it doesn’t obstruct your view from either room. Such a beautiful and classic look, IMHO.

Chairs came next! I went with their Carson Side Chair. I love the woven seat/back that offers a casual vibe, that you guys know I’m a sucker for. The dyed pieces add a beautiful detail, and the black accent helps to tie together other elements from around the room. Arms are optional on this chair, but I opted to go without arms, that way it would easily tuck under the table. If I had a larger dining room, I would have definitely considered going with arms. The seat is wide and comfy, and wipes right up when my kiddos spill…which may or may not happen just about on the daily around here.

This rattan tray is perfect for displaying your favorite decorative pieces, plants, or could round up more practical items, like napkins and silverware. It also has leather-wrapped handles that gives it a certain something special.

While the pendant light isn’t brand new to the space (we added it last summer), it completes the look! It’s entirely made by hand, and I love the shape! It’s modern, but not too modern, if ya know what I mean. My mom loves it so much, she’s considering this same pendant for their new house too. My sister, mom, and I are always copying each other when it comes to home design!

Lastly, I chose the South Seas Console to add storage, and for the opportunity to style it up! Every dining room needs a cool console table. They are so versatile, and can be used to store your fancy china – if you are a fancy china kinda person, or just use them to display your favorite things!  I love that it has two levels, and can definitely see myself switching out decor whenever the mood strikes. If you’ve been following along for a while, then you know that decor swapping happens to be one of my favorite past times.

So that’s it! I am so happy with how our little dining has transformed into a beautiful, casual, and functional space for our family! Thank you to the kind folks at Serena & Lily, who are always a joy to work with. So, what do you guys think? Let me know in the comments below! My hope is that it will inspire some of you that are dreaming up new looks for your spaces! XOXO

My dream chair is here!

This post is sponsored by Overstock

Every evening during the winter months, Nate makes a fire and I sit on the floor in front of the fireplace and enjoy the warmth (I know I know…I’m officially 100 years old). It’s really my fave thing to do after the kids go to bed. I’ve been on the hunt for the past few months to find the perfect chair for my favorite perch, and I finally found it! Now, I have the most comfortable seat in the house!

I was thrilled when Overstock reached out and wanted to work together, because I had been eyeing this chair for months. I knew I wanted a leather chair as I have confidence in its ability to stand up to my three rowdy kids. Spilled juice and cracker crumbs wipe right up! As far as design goes, it’s classic and will never go out of style –a nod to the past, but modern. The ottoman completes the look and provides a comfy spot to put up your feet and relax. I feel like it fits in well with the vibe of our home too, where I like to mix modern and rustic. The seat is firm, but so incredibly comfortable.

The details on this chair are really stunning. The wood encasement is made from eucalyptus trees that complement the caramel tones in our sofa, which I just adore. The stainless steel base is really lovely too.

I’m usually eager to add accessories like pillows and throws but this chair is so pretty, that it doesn’t need any frills or extras.

Our living room is open to our tiny dining space so adding extra seating always presents a challenge, but I was surprised to see that the chair fits right into the space, without crowding our existing furniture arrangement. The ottoman can easily be moved around the room, and used as an extra seat for when we have company.

I have been slowly adding furniture to our home since we moved in and with the addition of the new chair, the living room definitely feels complete, thanks to Overstock. Now, I look forward to my cozy spot by the fire each night, more than ever!

 

 

 

The light of all lights!

This post is sponsored by Blueprint Lighting 

Ever since we finished our bathroom at the beginning of the summer, the most frequently asked question that I get is; Where did you get the light above the vanity? I knew it was the ONE as soon as soon as I laid eyes on it! See what I mean…

This particular light is the Monarch Articulating Wall lamp in the Greece color from Blueprint Lighting. If you aren’t familiar with Blueprint Lighting, they are an NYC based company that produces quality, boutique wall/ceiling lamps, as well as chandeliers at a palatable price. Easier said than done! I love them (well, for many reasons really) but, especially because they produce handcrafted lighting, without the crazy lead times that you see from other custom lighting companies… I have seen anywhere from 8 to 24 weeks from other places! And with all of the color and metal options they offer, they really have something for everyone!

The Monarch light is perfect for a vanity light as it adjusts in two different spots so you can direct light in any direction that you prefer, but also disperses the light beautifully in a way that lights up the entire bathroom. The glossy blue and brass combination is so funky and adds just a little bit of personality and sass to the bathroom. It’s really the perfect combination of form and function.

Our kitchen is also outfitted in Blueprint Lighting lights. For our flushmount, we went with their Model 130 Strobus in unlaquered brass. It is a show piece and definitely acts as the star of the kitchen!

The sconces are their Campana Wall Sconce in stark white. I love them! Just like the bathroom fixture, they are fully adjustable and make a statement without overpowering the overall design of a room.

If you are in the market for some quality, handmade lighting, you’ll definitely want to check out Blueprint Lighting. I have a feeling you guys will love their selection of beautiful fixtures. AND OMG I just saw on their site that many of their wall lamps are BOGO right now! SERIOUSLY, RUN!!! Happy Shopping, friends!

 

Summer Refresh with Serena & Lily

This post is sponsored by Serena & Lily

Hey guys! So, if you’ve been around here for a while then you know how I love switching things up around the house! For a homebody, like I am, it really helps keeps things feeling fresh! Also, rearranging a room might just be my favorite way to get a work out in. When Serena & Lily reached out and asked if I wanted to partner up for a room refresh, I didn’t have to think twice! If you aren’t familiar with Serena & Lily, they are a furniture and home goods brand with breezy California vibes. Think casual and coastal, with classic American influences and modern lines. I, for one, am a BIG fan.

I have been eyeing this chair for months (told ya I was a big fan) and thought it would be the perfect addition to our living room, especially for the summer months. I love how it doesn’t feel heavy visually, and still even allows light to flow through it. The lines are clean, modern and lend themselves to a mid-century style that I always gravitate towards. Serena & Lily also carries cushions for the seat and I’m thinking about ordering them next. The chair feels so well made with its sturdy rattan frame and I love the deep seat too!

The two chairs feel much more balanced in our living room and really create an inviting spot for conversation. Can’t wait until we can have guests again!

Another favorite from Serena & Lily is this little stool. I have used this little cutie in a variety of spaces and I swear, it looks good everywhere! It’s been hanging out in our newly remodeled bathroom and is a great spot for wash cloths, pretty display soaps, or a nice candle….oh yeah, I forgot, PLANTS! How could I forget about plants?!

I also have one more really fun item that’s coming soon so stay tuned! I can’t wait to show you guys! And just for fun, I thought I would add a few more of my faves from Serena & Lily right now. Summer is the best time of year to refresh a space if you’ve been thinking about changing things up! Just simply click the picture! Happy shopping, friends! XOXO

 

The most popular seat in the house

This post is sponsored by Sixpenny 

Hi guys! Hope everyone is doing well during this mess that is COVID, and everything that goes with it. All this time at home has recently allowed me to really see how we use our living spaces since we’ve moved into this new (old) house of ours. It’s funny to think about how I thought we would be using our spaces vs. how we are REALLY using them. I usually try and provide the most seating as possible for guests in our living room, so that everyone has a comfortable place to sit when they visit. But, quarantine means less visitors (ahem…no visitors) and I set up an additional TV zone upstairs in the loft for the kids. I mean…how much Blippi can one person take before they want to pull their hair out?! This meant that I spread out my extra living room chairs throughout the house which left the living room feeling a little bare. So when Sixpenny reached out and asked if I wanted to work together to refresh some seating options at our house, I jumped at the chance!

If you aren’t familiar with Sixpenny, they are a furniture brand that specializes in premium furniture – all natural fabrics, down fill (or poly fill as the vegan option), luxury leathers, solid wood frames, and so much more! Somehow, they still manage to offer all this at digestible prices and if in stock, ships within 2-3 weeks. Pretty great, right?! Now you can see why I was so excited to work with them!

I wanted a comfortable chair to accent our leather sofa for the living room. Something that you could curl up with a book, or for some serious Netflix binging. And then I found Gabriel…

I selected their Gabriel Chair in the medium weight linen, and the poppy seed color. I like that the cushions are down filled as it allows for easy fluffing. And do you want to know the best part? It’s slip covered, which makes throwing this baby in the wash a breeze. Now I won’t be holding my breath every time my three year old is running amok with a chocolate chip cookie in hand. Peace of mind for the win!

Nate and I have been racing to the living room each night after we get the kids to bed to see who can score this cozy new spot for the evening. Spoiler alert – I’ve won the last three nights! The poppy seed color compliments my leather sofa and the colors in the rug too, don’t ya think?

I love the linen and its casual vibes work so well in our home. And have a look at all this texture!

I also should mention how seamless Sixpenny’s ordering process was. After I selected my Gabriel, it shipped within two weeks and was delivered to our front door in less than a week after that! Usually, Sixpenny offers white glove delivery, where they come right inside your home, unbox the piece, and then place it wherever you’d like. But, during COVID, they are exercising an abundance of caution (which I appreciated), and just left it on our front porch for us. Completely contact-less!

Every time I see this view, it puts a smile on my face. And I would be more than happy to answer any questions you guys might have about Sixpenny or the ordering process! It was a truly a breeze, and I am still totally smitten with Gabriel…although I call him Gabe now, as we’ve gotten to know one another a little better. Ha!

XOXO, Courtney

 

The New Kid in Town…Aka Our New Sectional

This post is sponsored by Rove Concepts

Whew…now that the One Room Challenge has wrapped up, I’m so excited to give you guys some more details about the some of the products and companies that I was SO lucky to partner with to make this massive project come to life. I’ve been busy putting in a lot of sofa time (jk…not busy at all) since we finished up the ORC last week…I swear, it feels like I haven’t sat down in six weeks! After breaking in our new sectional for the past week, I feel confident that I can give you guys an honest opinion of the sofa, how the ordering experience was, and what I thought of it in person! Am I the only one who gets nervous about ordering a sofa online when you can’t see it in person or sit on the cushions? Eek!

We have had a fabric sectional for years, and I felt like it was a good time to switch things up! So, I started considering leathers for the new sectional. When I started poking around the Rove Concepts website, I found the Luca Sectional and it was love at first sight. It comes in three shades of leather and countless fabric/velvet options, as well. I went with the Palermo Caramel leather. It is a dream!

Right away, I was struck by the sleek, mid-century inspired lines of the legs and sofa. Something about a mid-century inspired sofa that feels so classic. I am confident that even as trends in furniture and decor change, this sofa will never go out of style.

Rove Concepts also allows you to customize your sectional, and add a chaise on whichever side works best for your living space. I wanted the chaise to be on the left side (between the dining space and living space) as it would allow me to add a couple of extra chairs on the window side of the living room for additional seating. But, every living space is different, so having this option is a big bonus. If you have a keen eye, then you might have noticed the tufting on the seats and the piping around the edges. Just a few of the details that make this sectional feel so special. Another customizing option is the color of leg. I chose their brown option, but you could also select the natural or black colors.

Another great feature about this particular leather is that it has natural color and marking variations that can vary, making each piece of furniture unique. The soft surface will scuff and a beautiful vintage patina will develop over time. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve never owned a piece of furniture that actually improves over time! Especially in a house full of kids, like mine.

I was also pleasantly surprised with the customer service at Rove Concepts. If you’ve ever had a bad customer service experience (I know that I have, unfortunately), you know the importance of a company that communicates clearly and stands behind their product. During the ordering process, I received emails letting me know the status of my order, and then again when my order was ready to be shipped. They also provided shipping notifications and set up a time that was convenient for delivery. Since ordering a sectional is a big deal (at least it is for me), I found that these updates were both reassuring and helpful. They even sent a survey after delivery to rate their customer service, and to gauge how I was liking (ummmm LOVING) the new sectional.

In person, this leather is soft and the seat is deep and comfortable. My favorite spot is the chaise at night for cozy TV watching. It smells so good too, and serves as a reminder as to what good quality the leather is. It was also important to me that the sectional didn’t feel overwhelming in our small-ish living space, and I think the low lines of the back gives it a lower profile, which is perfect.

All in all, I’m so happy to have went with a Rove Concepts sectional, and I couldn’t love it more! I’ll be back next week to talk kitchen appliances. I’ve been getting lots of questions about how we like them and I’m gonna dish allll the details for you guys then! But, in the meantime, if you have any questions about our new Luca Sectional or about Rove Concepts, leave me a comment and I’ll be happy to help! See you next week! XOXO

One Room Challenge – Modern Mountain Kitchen and Family Room – Week Three

Howdy friends! Welcome to week three of the One Room Challenge and I can’t even believe it! Where is the time going? Let’s get into this, and I will fill you in on allll the happenings around these parts! There are LOTS! For anyone who’s new here, here is my vision for the space, and if you’d like to look back to week two or week one, feel free to clickity click!

Let’s start with windows! Sierra Pacific Windows provided me+ with three of the most glorious, modern, sleek, black windows and to say that I love them would be the understatement of the century. Here is what the above the sink situation looked like before SPW came to the rescue.

And now LOOK!!!!

CAN YOU EVEN?! Guys…I love these windows so much that I could write them a poem about my deep, intense and everlasting love. Just kidding…but only sorta. We spent an entire day installing these bad boys and lucked out big with a Dad who was a commercial glazier for forty years. So he definitely knows his way around a window install. It was so exciting and scary all at the same time! It seems obvious when you think about it, but you have to cut giant holes in the side of your house, and that is NERVE WRACKING! I will write a blog post in the coming weeks to show you guys these beautiful windows up close and personal. Also, they have some pretty cool features!

  Another thing that we worked on this week was giving the fireplace a face lift. This is what the fireplace used to look like in all of its brown glory.

I decided right away that the brick was calling for some bright white paint to freshen it up.

The old pellet stove that has been residing in this spot since 1993 was re-homed with a local family who have a rustic cabin on the river that they rent out to vacationers.  For the hearth, I am going to add a cool cement tile from Zia Tile that will add a pop of pattern. I have mentioned before that my goal is make this house feel alive again, and I think this funky tile addition will help do just that.

Finally, the last bit of demo was completed this weekend because this old pantry is going to house the new refrigerator with a cabinet surround.

The closet that you see on the backside of the pantry will be removed to make room for the refrigerator and additional cabinetry. I was hoping to keep the closet for obvious reasons, but lost that battle so new drywall will be added in its place. And speaking of sheet rock, we decided to hire out some of the drywall/texture work out and I am so excited! We could really use the help, as our list of to-do’s is looking looooong.

Tearing out these two closets brought us to our first major hiccup in our plans as well. We were sure that there wasn’t any plumbing/electrical inside these walls that would get in the way of the refrigerator placement, but we were wrong. SO WRONG. Allow me to introduce our upstairs shower drain pipe. Which is now going to be re-routed to make way for the refrigerator. Not a huge deal…but definitely an unwelcome sight.

Ok…so here’s what’s on the list for this next week.

  1. Finish flooring
  2. Tile hearth
  3. Finish painting walls and any touch ups that need some attention
  4. Paint the ceilings
  5. Rent scaffolding
  6. Install new lighting in family room/dining room

I can’t believe week three marks the half way point! OMGOSH there is so much to do! I’ll be back next week with all the dirty deets for week four and don’t forget to check out all of the other designers to see their progress! Until next week! XOXO

At Charlotte’s House | Design Addict Mom | Erika Ward Interiors | Erin Kestenbaum | Girl & Grey

Gray Malin | Hommeboys | I Spy DIY | Jewel Marlowe | The Learner Observer | Making it Lovely

 Nicole White Designs | Old Brand New | Oscar Bravo Home | Place of My Taste | The Rath Project

Room for Tuesday | SG Style | Undecorated Home | Veronica Solomon Media BH&G | TM by ORC

 

Sneak Peek at Walmart’s new MoDRN line

Hey guys! We are busy getting settled into our new house and lemme tell ya…things are a bit crazy atm. My big kids are back in school and between their new schedules, unpacking alllll the boxes, and starting some exciting new projects, things are BUSY around these parts. But before we lost our minds, (jk…kinda) packed up our house, only to move a couple streets over, I had the pleasure of testing out and styling a few of the new and exciting pieces that are fresh from Walmart‘s new line, MoDRN. Stylish beautiful home decor and at affordable prices??? Sounds good to me!

The new MoDRN line is so good, guys. Think earthy materials, raw finishes, and simple shapes…yes yes and yes. This dresser is a part of the new MoDRN Naturals line and I am IN LOVE! It is so sturdy and feels very well-made. Also, the detail on the legs add a nice touch, don’t ya think. The shade of wood is perfect and light and shows off the wood grain for some added texture. The size is also great and could work in a number of different spaces around the house…think kid room for gathering all the toys, or maybe in the living room for storing all of your extra home decor items. I can’t be the only one who stashes extra decor all over the house, right?! Also, peep that cute teal throw! That’s also part of the new line and it’s soooo soft and cozy.

Ok. Next up, is this mirror. I love this mirror. It has a metallic frame with rounded corners for an industrial/modern look that I cannot get enough of. I love to decorate with mirrors because not only are they beautiful, but they are particularly useful, especially in an entryway, above a bathroom vanity, or for bouncing light around above your mantel. They add a lot of visual interest to a space and this one does not disappoint.

And lastly, I had some fun with this copper floor lamp. Copper is a metal that I don’t use very much, but I love the warmth of it. The clean-lines are inspired by Danish design, which celebrates function ahead of form. The lamp has the cutest marble base and the neck adjusts to a variety of positions…great for reading. Something to note: the lamp came with its own edison bulb and that is one detail that I appreciate very much. I have bought lamps before only to find that I didn’t have an extra light bulb in the house. Not a huge deal…but still annoying.

Fun fact; if you zoom in on this last pic, then you might spy the reflection of yours truly while I was taking this photo. But seriously, I am loving this new line and I think you guys will love it too! You can check it out here or you can find them on Instagram @MoDRNliving or try searching the hashtag #liveMoDRN

That’s all for now! Wish me luck on all the unpacking!

One Room Challenge – Rustic Modern Office Space – Week Two

Hi guys! It’s week two already, and things are happening over here! Last week, I let you in on my exciting plans to completely revamp my husbands shack of an office as part of the One Room Challenge. And just a refresher, here’s a look at the mood board from which I’m using to plan the space.

1./2./3./4./5./6.

So this week was all about the floors and walls…as in, we needed both. When the shed arrived, it had just plywood for both so I was excited to get started and get some walls and floors down. For the floors, we went with pine 1×6 boards. Originally, I was just going to leave them as-is, and add a poly for a protective coat, but then a reader informed me (you guys are SO helpful…keep sending me all your tips) that if I went that route, the floors would darken over time leaving us with a 1950’s cabin vibe (a look that I love, actually), but not the Scandi look I am going for for this project. So…in order to keep these floors from darkening, I am going to use a white stain that I’m hoping will keep them light and bright. I considered a lime wash, but was discouraged when I started researching the process. Seems so complicated! For now, the plan is to stain with a transparent white stain and then lots of poly to protect and seal them.

 

For the walls, we are going to use the same tongue and groove pine planking that we used for our stair well project that we completed this winter. I’m a big fan of the texture that it brings to a space. Also, it lends itself to a more casual look and I’m all about casual, comfortable spaces.

Because the floors are going to be so bright and natural light isn’t an issue for this office space, I am thinking about painting the long wall (the one that doesn’t have a window) a deep, matte black. Originally, I was contemplating trying the shou sugi ban technique, where you actually singe and burn the wood for a dark and dramatic effect. But, since the paneling is already installed and I don’t want to burn the shed down, paint will have to do!

See how much lighter the paneling is (on the left) versus the old plywood (on the right)??? The plywood has a lot of orange and pink undertones that I am just not feeling. This project is really making me get creative because I LOVE a rustic look, but for the shed, if I go too rustic, then it starts to resemble that murder shack look that I am desperately trying to avoid. So balance is the key here, folks.

So that’s the skinny on our progress for our second week! Guys, I cannot wait to get to the pretty stuff…furniture, lighting, accessories….ya know, the fun part! Have any questions for me? Hit me up! Until next week!