As a minimalist, I don’t like a lot on my table for everyday decor. So I rarely have a full tablescape, unless it’s a very special occasion. Here’s how I made an easy, simple centerpiece for fall for my dining room table decor…
The base is my large Dough Bowl, which is always the centerpiece for my table, and my neutral linen Table Runner, which I use pretty much year-round as well. I fill the dough bowl with assorted items, based on the season- flowers, moss, seasonal foliage, etc.
For example- here’s what it looks like in the spring:
I went to the dollar store and bought a $1 cheesecloth and then swung by my local Home Depot and picked up 4 medium sized white pumpkins. And voila…
I even threw in a couple extra small, decorative pumpkins I had for Halloween.
Come November, I’ll remove the polka dot pumpkins and probably add some cornucopia and an assortment of rich orange and yellows.
Though the dough bowl was an initial investment, I LUV how versatile it is and how I can use it for all of the holidays. Stay tuned to see how it changes in the coming months… 😉
The other day I revealed Corbin’s big boy room, and as promised, here is the kids’ bathroom reno we recently completed. The kids share this jack & jill bathroom, but each have their own vanity area connected to their room.
We ripped out the old, original builder-grade tile, tub, vanities and toilet and replaced them all. The floor tile is a matte fossil stone and for the wall tile we went with a matte white subway tile . I really like the natural finish of the matte tile, as opposed to a typical glossy tile, as I think it blends really perfectly with all of the natural finishes we’ve used in the renovations (including the white oak floors).
We used the same white shaker cabinets we put in the kitchen, laundry room, and other bathrooms to create unity throughout the house. However, each space has different hardware, so they each have their own distinct aesthetic.
We wanted something that was neutral like the other spaces, unisex and something that could grow with our kids. So naturally, I went with black and white.
Here is the side of the bathroom as you see it from Corbin’s room…
We also replaced the old builder-grade ceiling light with this charming industrial ceiling light. And I went on a hunt for a curved, chrome shower rod, so I was so excited when I found this one.
Here is the view from the other side of the bathroom, as it looks into Corbin’s room. I like the way the neutral tones blend well with the colors of his room.
We’d planned it that post-renovation Corbin would get his new “big boy” room. We got him a bunk bed (ours is IKEA, but here is a similar option) for his birthday (last December). But we knew we were planning to renovate, so his room was basically a big ol’ mess for the months prior to renovations. When the floors and bathrooms were completed, I got to work. I knew I wanted simple, clean lines (shocker), but I also wanted it to reflect his personality. Corbin is a Florida boy through & through, so these cool, laid-back coastal vibes suit him perfectly.
Reading time is a ritual at night around here. My husband or I crawl in the bunk bed with the kids and read. It was difficult to read in the bottom bunk at night, because there wasn’t enough light. So, I found these amazing sconce lights. They’re under $30 and you don’t have to have an electrician come wire for them, because they have a hanging on/off switch. I really LUV the addition of these lights. They match his dresser lamp PERFECTLY, and I LUV that they really get put to good use! (Style AND function… perfect.) I found the throw pillows at Marshalls and the curtains at Homegoods.
I found these affordable quilt/sham sets and super soft jersey sheets (that are under $20) for the beds. As you can see, I’m all about casual, especially in spaces for my kids. Ever since we got Corbin a bunkbed, our kids have slept in the same room, and they each have their own “blankies” they like to use to cover. So the quilts stay folded at the end of the beds the majority of the time (except when they’re building forts). This is the blanket that Corbin uses to cover every night. It was a gift to him when we switched his crib to a “toddler bed” when he still had a vintage/American/aviation-themed room and he hasn’t let it go since. It really is super soft, so I can’t blame him.
The rug we used is perfect for this space. It’s just the right size, cozy, soft and neutral with clean lines… just like I wanted. 🙂 I will say that it did shed for the first couple weeks, but after a couple vacuums, it is fine. (Just an honest head’s up!)
Here is the ceiling light we added. My husband hates that I like to remove all of the ceiling fans, but it’s amazing what a new light fixture can do for a space, so I win on this issue in this space. I HIGHLY recommend changing out ceiling fans to decorative lighting whenever possible for an easy statement piece. This light matches the rug and decor perfectly, yet is simple and would work with almost any decor, should we change it in the future.
We bought this dresser and absolutely LUV it! If you buy it for a nursery, it actually has a removable changing table piece so you can use it for a changing table/dresser and then just remove that part when you no longer need it. We bought it post-nursery age, so we never used that piece. But the drawers slide in and out so easily (which makes for easy use for a little one), and the color is absolutely perfect!
The pouf was a seasonal option from Target a year or so ago, but here is a similar option if you want the look. My son sits on it all the time to read, play school, etc.
kids’ kitchen | Art is Marshalls | Laundry Basket is Homegoods
We had the inside of his door and the inside of his closet painted Sherwin Williams Naval, and I LUV the pop it adds!
Hope you enjoyed the update! Thanks for taking the time to check it out. I’ll be sharing the kids adjoining bathroom update next, so stay tuned! 🙂
In the last 15 years, my husband and I have moved more times than I can count. Between college moves, relocations, and just the fact that I get the itch to move every year or two, we’re basically professional movers. But no matter how many times we’ve moved, how much furniture we’ve purchased or how many home renovations/updates we’ve completed… our master bedroom has hands-down been the most neglected space of each home we’ve lived in. So this go-round, we decided it was time to give her the makeover she deserved…
It all started with a mattress. If you don’t follow along on my insta and haven’t heard me shout it from the rooftops… I LUV THIS MATTRESS! In all my time blogging and collaborating, I’m yet to find a better deal than this mattress. Yes, this was a sponsored collaboration, but my opinion is 110% honest in telling you it is the absolute best mattress for the absolute best price! My husband and I are sleeping better than we ever have, and I don’t even hear him snore anymore. If you haven’t already read the reviews for this mattress, click on my link above (“mattress”) and do so! You won’t be disappointed!
And check out this video to see how amazingly easy it is to arrive & set up!
https://instagram.com/p/BIdsjJLAI-V/
The bedroom furniture took up a large part of the budget we allocated for our house updates/renovations and were some of our “splurge items”, but we fell in LUV with the natural color and simple lines. Here is a similar option for the bed, and here is a similar dresser and another similar dresser option.
If you’re looking for the most amazingly soft, unique, yet affordable rug, I am legit obsessed with this rug. It has the vintage look I luv for a fraction of the price, and I think it really grounds all the neutral colors.
I found the pink bench at Marshalls, but here is a similar option I LUV!
This Handira Blanket is from one of my favorite Etsy shops, and it’s an item I’ve been coveting forever, so I was so excited to incorporate it into the design. I wanted a throw for the end of the bed, and it’s global appeal works perfectly in the space.
The total inspiration for our room makeover was these bookends. My mom gave them to me years ago and I fell in LUV. They never really went with anything before our reno, so I decided that I wanted to design the room around these pieces. Here are a very similar option if you’d like a pair for yourself. For our side tables, I used this Lamp Base and this Lamp Shade in the large size. I’m obsessed with these lamps! So much so that I almost bought another set for my family room! I keep switching them between rooms because I can’t decide which space I like them better in! They’re amazingly affordable and totally versatile. The plant photographed seems to have just been discontinued, but here is a similar version.
The turtle shell was also discontinued, but here, again, is a similar option.
The baskets under the bench are also from one of my favorite Etsy stores I mentioned above. Click the link for the Handira blanket above to visit the Etsy shop to find these baskets and all of their other amazing items.
That’s all folks! Hope you enjoyed! We sure have! It’s been amazing having our own peaceful oasis, and I know the items we chose will carry us through for a long time. ☺️ Don’t forget to check out my insta for more design inspo at www.instagram.com/luvbec.
For those of you who have been following along on our renovation journey, you know our bathroom has been quite the process! It took far longer than expected to pull it all together, but we couldn’t be more happy with the end result. I’m realizing that as my style evolves, it simplifies. I’m liking cleaner lines and LESS STUFF. So the inspiration for our bathroom was clean, modern and minimalistic.
If I haven’t told you already, we had actually just done somewhat of a renovation on our bathroom. When we moved into this house 2 years ago, it looked like this… (well, the cabinets had doors, but I always forget to take the before picture BEFORE they actually start the reno). :-/ But, here’s the vanity side of the bathroom when we moved in…
We couldn’t afford to gut the entire house at once. Since we wanted to do the kitchen (and other projects) first, but the current state of the bathrooms was kinda unbearable for us, we decided to do a temporary fix to the bathrooms. So… we added granite and refinished the cabinets, and this is what it looked like after the first round of renos… (Sorry for the poor quality of the photo.)
We added new white shaker cabinets (which we used in our kitchen, laundry room and all other bathrooms to create unity throughout our home) and added a tower of cabinets above the countertops because we really needed more storage. The design of the cabinets also gave us each 3 drawers, so the additional storage space is substantial.
Before the renovations, our master shower was tiny, and our bathtub was huge. While the spa tub was pretty amazing, it was RARELY used. And since the shower was used daily, we decided the obvious route was to take out the tub and create one large shower. And we mean large…
The other side of the bathroom looked like this… (again, forgot to take a before picture BEFORE they actually started demo, but you get the main idea).
And the after…
We created a bench where the window sill used to be and used the same stone as our quartz countertop for the bench top. The quartz we used is Ella by Cambria. We also installed the same countertops in our other bathrooms and laundry room. Again, we really wanted unity throughout the house.
We did floor to ceiling tile and added 2 shower heads to each side. I found the shower heads and valves on Amazon. For the rainfall shower heads, I actually found it cheapest to purchase these shower heads with arms. And then I purchased these extension arms. You can also purchase a kit like this.
Not that anyone really wants to see my (new) toilet, but I did want to show y’all how we added cabinets over the toilet. It really was another great way to add storage, if that wasn’t an obvious decision. It was driving me crazy finding the perfect storage piece for this oddly shaped-space to hide toilet paper, etc.
Thanks for stopping by to see our project! I’ll be sharing the full reveals of the other spaces we updated soon, so stay tuned!
As you all know, I’m all for finding a good deal… and sharing it with you. But if you’ve been with me a while, you also know I’ll let you know when a splurge is worthy. Well… spoiler alert… this is one of those moments.
We’ve lived here 2 years this month, and we’re just working on the windows. A project we knew we’d want to do right, so we took our time. I’ve bought some super inexpensive Homegoods curtains for other, non-apparent rooms (i.e. guest room) and some West Elm drapes on SALE for my dining room. See here. Don’t get me wrong, they’re pretty. But these Smith & Noble ones are game changers, y’all! For our family room, I really wanted something serene, neutral, classy. And for some windows, you just need custom to find the length/size you need and to make everything look cohesive. I wanted something that would stand the test of time both style-wise and in the sense of quality. If you follow Wendy Bellissimo on Instagram, you’re probably as smitten with her style as I am. She’s literally what people speak of when they say #onetofollow. Her easy, boho-inspired style is both sophisticated and laid-back, which is basically my design love language.
Since I followed her so avidly and looked up to her as a mentor, she started becoming a friend through the amazing small world that is Insta. When a collaboration became a possibility, there were few people I knew I’d be as excited to work with than her. I do NOT endorse a product I don’t LUV/believe in/adore. And anything with her name on it, is something I’m totally happy to endorse.
So here’s what we went with. A gorgoeus Natural Woven Shade and Sonata Linen Drape. They’re soft, extremely relaxed and they LITERALLY transformed my room.
In case you’re wondering what the room looked like before…
The panels that were up before were basic Pottery Barn panels and we basically jerry-rigged a couple curtain rods to be long enough to span all of our windows until we wanted to budget ourselves for a custom rod. I know- talk about cutting corners.
The new drapes, rod and natural woven shades are spectacular, in my opinion, and I can honestly say that I highly recommend them!
Wendy also sent us some pretty amazing pillows! Her textiles span many different styles, but I’m most smitten with anything boho-inspired, neutral and tons of blues/golds. Here are some photos showing the different ways I styled her pillows. I usually mix her pillows with other super affordable pillows, such as covers from IKEA and Homegoods. Adding some of her pillows to my other non-designer pillows creates a richer, more sophisticated look.
(Gold/cream pillows shown above are Wendy Bellissimo for Smith & Noble. This print is the Bohochic in Parchment.)
(Tan/Black pillows shown above in Umbria/Iron.)
(More photos of the Bohochic in Parchment shown above.)
(Pillows shown above in Hollister/Navy in the corners and Tribal Chic in navy next to those.)
As you can see, there’s all kinds of ways to style her pillows, but the bottom line is a couple designer pillows can totally transform a room and add a bit of sophistication. If you aren’t going to hire a designer to complete your room, your friends will at least think you did when you add designer textiles!
So there it is! My review of Wendy Bellissimo Home for Smith & Noble. I wouldn’t endorse something I wasn’t completely happy with, and I’m ecstatic. Furthermore, I’ve collaborated with a lot of brands, and never have I had such a warm, personal experience. Wendy’s hands personally touch her designs. She’s super involved in every aspect of her brand. When we started this journey, she actually got on the phone with me and chatted about life and relationships and her brand. If you Google Wendy, you’ll see she’s basically the head of an empire. And the fact that she personally speaks with people like me, well it shows what an amazing person/enterpreneur she truly is. So, if you have any questions, let her know! She’s accessible via her Instagram page and you can follow her on Snapchat @ Wendy Bellissimo as well. Tell her I sent you!
(I’d also recommend you ask for Anita when you call Smith & Noble. Her service is unrivaled. Tell her I sent you as well! Mention my name and they’re currently offering FREE SHIPPING on all Wendy Bellissimo home items to anyone who mentions my name.)
Yes… I’m giving you a recipe for “from the box” cupcakes.My neighbor makes these delicious gluten-free cupcakes with a box mix. You’d think they were from the bakery, they taste so great! So, since I’m all about easy-peasy, I thought I’d share for all you gluten-free peeps!
The mix:
Get the King Arthur gluten-free yellow cake mix. It looks like this:
The recipe is on the box, but my friend suggests you also add 1 tbsp. of vanilla directly to the cake batter.
She said you can either use Pillsbury frosting (Put entire contents into a bowl and whip using a hand mixer until fluffy.)
OR… here is a simple homemade frosting recipe:
1 cup butter (soft, room temperature)
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp or more of whipping cream.
Whip butter until light (until it turns light yellow). Add powdered sugar and whip for another couple minutes. Add vanilla and whipping cream. Use sprinkles and decorations as you’d like.
She also wrote this amazingly adorable little poem and hand-delivered with bags of treats for the kids. I had to share what she wrote, in case you’d like to share with those you love! (I’m not even kidding… this girl is missing her calling writing for Hallmark.)
Here’s what she wrote:
On Valentine’s Day,
And the whole year through,
Nothing feels better,
Than having a friend like YOU!
For the times we get to laugh,
And the times we get to play,
I’m thankful for your friendship,
And there’s something I’d like to say.
So here’s a treat for YOU!
You’ve been HUGGED & KISSED by me.
Now there’s something you must do.
No need to make a copy,
No need to spread the cheer.
Only one thing you need to do today,
And I’ll make it very clear.
Just hear my words of KINDNESS.
And feel it in your heart,
Our friendship is a GIFT from GOD,
I loved you from the start!
You are awesome! You are great!
What more is there to say?
I love you very much dear friend,
Happy Valentine’s Day!
There it is. Hope you enjoy spreading some cheer to those you LUV this Valentine’s Day. Thank you Lisa for this incredibly thoughtful gift to our family. Your thoughtfulness and creativity never ceases to amaze me.
You may remember what my dining room looked like before. Nothing wrong with it. Just not my ideal decor. Neglected, with remnants of old items that no longer felt like me. (Sorry I don’t have a better photo. I actually forgot to take a proper “before” of how it was just before changing it, but hopefully you remember glimpses from my Instagram account.)
Like a lot of my room edits, this one kind of happened on accident. I had painted the beige walls Sherwin Williams Extra White a couple months ago. Then I decided I wanted to sell my rustic chairs for something more modern. So, I posted the chairs on Craigslist, and next thing I knew my chairs AND table were both gone. Then someone conveniently happened to ask me to buy my living room rug, so I decided I might as well switch the dining room rug to the living room and start the dining room from scratch. This is typical around here…
So, after a frustrating go-round at finding the perfect dining room table, I decided to go with something I really LUV and ordered the Restoration Hardware Flatiron Table I’d had my eye on. It was on sale (which you know is my love language) and I really loved the mix of rustic and industrial. OK, sold. I’d had my eye on the Madeleine Chairs forever too, and those were ALSO on sale, so check, check. Sold. Sold.
Because you know I LUV a good deal, I headed to my local West Elm and checked out which curtains they had on sale (the ones I wanted were sold out on their website). I rummaged the sale bin and found 2 108″ panels on sale in a gorgeous color, and I headed to the register feeling like I’d just hit the jackpot. (The panels are now on sale on their website as well, so here ya go… Luster Velvet Curtain – Blue Stone. You’re welcome.)
The rug was a tough one… I fell in LUV with two, so I brought in backup and asked all of my Instagram friends for help. (Thank you to all who assisted in this decision.) I’m sure I knew which one I really wanted, but I guess I just needed the extra nudge. There was no question- she was a winner by a landslide. Between the Beaumont Panel VI06 Rug and the Trebizond SM03 Oriental Floral Reflections Rug, I had one more piece of the puzzle in place. She just coordinated with the gorgeous new curtains too perfectly.
But are you ready for it??? The cherry on the cake? The peanut butter to my jelly. She’s gorgeous… The finishing touch that brought the whole room together. I’ve been coveting a brass piece from Lucent Lightshop for far too long. This one hasn’t even been released to the public yet, but it’s shining gloriously in my new dining room. If you’re looking for the perfect unique piece for a space in your home, contact Sarah with Lucent Lightshop. She’s the sweetest and so insanely talented, and she can help you find the perfect piece for your home. So without further ado, here she is, the statement piece I can’t stop SWOONING over…
I know… you’re speechless. I still am too.
We still want to make a few additions to the space. We want to install some wainscoting on the walls. I’ll probably add some end chairs soon, and I’m already thinking of all of the great things I want to do with my gorgeous new, larger-than-life doughbowl. But the big pieces are in place. I hope you enjoy! Thanks for sharing the journey with me and helping me decide on a rug. Stay tuned to my Instagram for more updates as they take shape…
Of all the questions I receive, the most frequent pertain to my pillows. Yes… go ahead, let’s all give a collective… “You have a pillow problemmmmm!” It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve heard it, and I know it won’t be the last.
(If you haven’t seen this commercial before, this one was made for me.)
IMO, one of the easiest, quickest and most efficient ways to change up the look of a living space is to do a quick switch-a-roo of the pillows and throw blankets. Now to most, it probably looks like I’m buying pillows every day. But the truth is, I have several basics that I move around, and I just change the accent pillows every so often. It’s like one big, ongoing game of musical pillows.
Take a look at this photo of my family room from the end of spring:
I have several basic white throw pillows, as white tends to be my canvas. I have a set from Homegoods, a set from Pottery Barn and I have several of the basic VIGDIS pillow covers from IKEA. (At only $6 a cover, these are great to have around.) During the spring and summer, I’m usually happiest when my space consists of mostly white. This LAPPLJUNG RUTA pillow from IKEA also likes to move around my home (it’s currently on my guest bedroom bed). One of my FAVORITE new accent pillows I’ve added to my collection is this awesome Swiss Cross Pillow by So Vintage Chic. She has amazing pillow covers, including custom covers that make amazing gifts (think custom baby shower gifts, Christmas presents, housewarming…) Check her out, and use code “LUVBEC” for 20% off your order!* You’re welcome. 😉
*{Coupon code is only active for one week from original date of this post, so act fast!}
When October struck, (OK, OK, several weeks before October. I have ZERO patience when it comes to waiting for the holidays.) I couldn’t wait to add touches of fall to my home decor. And some color.
I took out my favorite furry Homegoods pillows** (that I keep stored the rest of the year in Ziplock Space Bags). I actually bought these at Christmas time last year, but I couldn’t wait to get them out. For a week or two, my pillow situation consisted of all of my white pillows, bookended by my furry pillows. I threw a gray cable knit blanket I had in a basket onto the sofa to make the furry pillows feel more season appropriate. I was going for the “I know it is still technically spring, but I just can’t help myself” look. Did it work at all?
{**Sidebar: Whatever the question, furry pillows are always the answer. Say “YES!” to furry pillows. They add texture and dimension, and they’re a great way to add style to an otherwise traditional sofa situation.}
Skip to a week ahead, and I was ready to take the full fall plunge. Another pillow secret of mine: Homegoods double-pillow packs. Have you ever been to Homegoods and noticed they have sets of pillows that come with 2 of the same? I LUV them! This is a great way to create a base of pillows and ensure the right symmetry. Plus, they’re always an amazing price.
Here’s my first fall edit. (Note that the yellow pillows and white ones next to them both came from Homegoods double packs. I think the packs were $29.99 each, so that’s 4 great pillow covers and inserts for only $60!)
I took some neutral, textured pillows from the leather sofa in my front sitting room and brought them in here. (So, I basically just switched the pillows from room to room and added the yellow. Have I confused you yet, or are you still following?)
It only took me a couple weeks to decide I wanted to make another change, and I grabbed my navy Homegoods pillows from my guest bedroom. (These did not come from a double pack, but they are larger and super plush.) See how the musical pillows works?
You can’t see it in these photos, but my awesome navy tufted bench is tucked under a table right behind my sofa. These pillows bring the space together perfectly.
So, here it is in a nutshell… buy basic pillows in super neutral colors (that YOU love). I highly suggest the Homegoods double-pillow packs. Find a couple great accent pillows, preferably some with texture. When bored with one look, play musical pillows from room to room. Continue as the seasons change.
Hope you got some useful information here that inspires you to make a space you LUV! Visit my Instagram page for more decor and fashion inspiration @luvbec. And if you need help styling a space of your own, email me for affordable E-design inquiries at becpfeif@gmail.com. 🙂
, Bec
My neighbor makes these delicious gluten-free cupcakes with a box mix. You’d think they were from the bakery, they taste so great! So, since I’m all about easy-peasy, I thought I’d share for all you gluten-free peeps!
