A few weeks back I posted a shelfie (yes, that’s a thing… shelf+selfie) which got quite a bit of action on Instagram. So it got me thinking that this might be a great topic for a blog post… pretty shelf styling.
Now, I am not a professional designer and by no means do I follow a firm set of rules. What I think is most important about styling your home is picking out what you love and what speaks to you.
Here’s just a few tips that I have found helpful when setting up your shelving.
I don’t know about you… but I just love myself a cute, funny tea towel for my kitchen. They’re just so darn punny! (hehe… get it?) I know this sounds super nerdy, but I’m sort of a collector. Whenever I find one with a phrase that speaks to me, I just have to have it. I know there’s gotta be other addicts out there as well. Fellow Tea Towels Anonymous members… where are you? If you’re reading this and you’re already lost thinking… “what is this girl talking about?” you’ll find this article useful– What The Heck Are Tea Towels, Anyways?
I just love how it’s a fun, easy, inexpensive way to switch up the feel of your kitchen. I have some that are staples that I use all year round. Then I have others just for specific holidays or seasons.
So I’ve put together a list of my favorites to share. I’m thinking I’ll be purchasing a few of these to add to my towel drawer to add into the rotation.
Rise and Shine Mother Cluckers by RossCreativeStudio on Etsy – $12.95
I like big bundts and I cannot lie by TheLilliePad on Etsy – $11.99
Okay… the arrival of Summer is officially here… I know it’s not Memorial Day quite yet. But, the temperature hit 89 degrees in Illinois today. For us, that’s kind of a big deal!
So in celebration, I thought let’s talk summer style. Lately, I feel myself obsessing over beautiful, farmhouse wreaths. I’ve picked out my top 7 for the summer featuring some bold pops of color plus a few neutral staples.
When my husband and I decided to build our home, we knew we wanted open concept. The thought of having one big great room for our kitchen/living/dining was perfect for us. Not only does it create a perfect experience for entertaining, I’m hoping that down the road when we have little ones, it will make our lives a bit easier as well.
I thought I would share a little tour of our Farmhouse Great Room to show how we set up our furniture to break up the space and to still make it feel purposeful.
When you walk in our front door, we knew we wanted our entry way to make a statement. My husband and I both fell in love with this Metal Orb Chandelier from World Market, and you really can’t beat it for the price. A similar option from Pottery Barn will cost you almost three times as much. This light fixture gave the space a rustic/industrial feel the second you walk in the door.
Also, one of the upgrades in our home that we opted for was our front door. Again, with such a grandiose entry way from the outside and the interior, we knew this was worthwhile and would immediately give the house some more curb appeal. We went with the Therma-Tru Classic-Craft Canvas Collection fiberglass door with the craftsman grille and sidelites.
I just love neutrals and simplicity. That’s why we opted to paint the majority of our house using Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter. It’s the ultimate ‘greige’ paint. Depending on the lighting, your furniture and decor, this color can look look anywhere from a light tan color to a cooler gray. I like that it keeps the space light, bright and airy. We painted our trim a slightly off-white using Benjamin Moore White Dove. Our builder recommended that we stay away from a true white, because it tends to show dirt and dust much easier.
We also had a very specific vision (and budget) in mind for our light fixtures in our kitchen and dining spaces. We knew what look we wanted, but had a very specific budget we wanted to stick to. When a building a house, it’s so very easy to go over on lighting. It can really add up fast! So when we discovered Menard’s Patriot Lighting® Judd 13″ Olde Bronze 1-Light Mini Pendant we were thrilled.
After watching countless episodes of Fixer Upper, I always knew I wanted a “Joanna Gaines-inspired” farmhouse chandelier for our dining nook. I’m telling you… the lighting selection at World Market has to be a best-kept secret. The looks are so on trend, but yet an incredibly affordable price. We went with the Rustic Wire Chandelier. The color is a matte gray, but I’ve read some reviews from buyers who decided to paint it black and had great success. For me, I don’t mind the gray color… but if you’re set on black this could be an option.
My absolute favorite part of our Farmhouse Great Room has to be our fireplace. Truth be told, I never realized how large it would be until we started looking at mantle selections, but I’m in love. Without it, I’m not sure the space would have the same flow. When building our house, the fireplace was always a must-have. Living in Illinois where it’s pretty cold at least six months out of the year, it’s so nice to have as a practical heat source in addition to being a focal point.
Rather than a traditional brick fireplace, we opted for stone to give it a more rustic look. Our mantle is an actual old barn beam that came from a local farm here in our area. We decided to showcase the slots in the wood by leaving them in the front to show the authenticity of the piece. This serves no purpose, just injects some character. (We get this question a lot.) The beam was sanded before it was installed, but we decided not to stain it, because we loved how it looked just raw.
Finally, to enhance our home’s rustic, farmhouse look, we decided to go with hickory wood flooring for our entire great room. We knew that we wanted a wood that was a bit harder, and would be able to handle some wear and tear from our dog and future children. Originally, we thought we wanted a wider plank and dark floor. But we completely changed our minds and decided with a more narrow plank to hide any flaws and a lighter color so we didn’t need to keep up with the cleaning quite as often. I have to say… this was a GREAT decision for us.
Traditionally, hickory isn’t a wood that is typically stained. However, I knew that I wanted to eliminate any sort of yellow tones that the wood has a tendency to show. We went with Minwax Weathered Oak Wood Finish with a matte top coat. This was one of the only decisions that the hubby and I couldn’t agree on… I was Team Stain and he was Team Natural. After much debate, the right team won (obviously) and today he agrees that it was the right choice. I win!
That pretty much covers our whole great room… if you have any questions at all, please ask! I hope you found this home tour blog post helpful when it comes your own renovation/building projects.
xo,
lauren
As I write this post, I’m currently watching the season finale of ‘Fixer Upper’, and I’m just swooning over this gorgeous master suite that Jo and Chip have completely transformed. They have taken the original siding of the shack and used to create an accent ceiling. It’s just stunning!
You may not be able to accomplish that look all that easy… but you can make your own statement in your Master Bedroom with some beautiful bedding with farmhouse flair!
I’ve made it my mission to scour the internet for the best quilts, duvets and bedspreads all while staying on a budget. Here’s the best of the best…
How do I love thee, Target? Let me count the ways. But seriously though, is Target not the best? I mean… what other store can you walk into looking to buy just one thing and you walk out with a trendy outfit, some seasonal Dollar Spot finds and a bunch of new home decor?
Target has to be one of my favorite spots to shop for home furnishings. Not only is it budget-friendly, but it’s always on trend, and they really have something for every style. Lately, I have been loving all of the industrial elements I see in interior design. I’ve thoroughly searched Target to pick out the best industrial decor items.
1. Real Wood Floating Shelf – Threshold
Floating shelves are in! I’ve seen them used in bathrooms, dining rooms and everywhere in between. I really love them in all spaces. These real wood floating shelves come in three different sizes so that you can style them in any size space, or you can stagger them with all different sizes for a more unique look.
Last weekend I attended my first Flea Market of the season. Even though it was a bit chilly, it was well worth the trip. This was the first time I attended the Kane County Flea Market in St. Charles, Illinois, and I highly recommend it. It’s laid out really well, and there’s a large variety of vendors. Definitely something for everyone! If you’re local, check it out.
If you’re looking to incorporate some farmhouse flair into your home, a flea market is a great place to start especially when you’re on a tight budget.
Here’s a few pieces that are fairly simple to find at any flea market at a fair price…
1. Chippy Spindles
Chippy spindles have been popping up all over lately. I love how you can incorporate them into almost anything. Throw them in a dough bowl, hang them in a gallery wall or just style them on a shelf. The opportunities are endless. I snagged these beauties for just $14 for the pair.
2. Wooden Crates
Wooden crates are always plentiful at any flea market. Just be sure you’re not overpaying for them. For me, I feel like $10 is fair for an old crate in decent shape. These rustic beauties are good for adding height when styling shelves and tables. You can also use them to hold pillows and blankets or just for storage in general.
3. Old Mason Jars
Another flea market find that is always in abundance! I think old Mason jars are just beautiful. I use them to hold cotton balls, cotton pads and Q-tips in my bathrooms, but you can do so much more. They would be super cute in a craft room or an office as well. Whenever you have small items that can be stored together on display, they are stunning. Make sure that when you’re buying these, that they’re in good shape. No cracks or chips. Also, check to make sure the lid is old and original. If it’s too pristine, it’s likely too good to be true. On the underside there will be a glass if it’s truly old.
Since moving into our new home I feel like there’s so… many spaces that I want to re-decorate. But I think it’s important to start small. So my first room I’m planning to tackle is our guest bathroom. It’s not a huge space at all. The last few weeks I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect shower curtain. When decorating a bathroom, I like to start with finding a shower curtain, and then building the ‘feel’ around it. Here’s a collection of my five favorite farmhouse shower curtains for those on a budget.