Stay Connected With The Latest Posts

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Stay Connected With The Latest Posts

Living Room Reveal with dHp

by | Jun 19, 2018 | Living Room | 0 comments

The following post contains affiliate links and is sponsored by dHp Furniture. Read my full disclosure here.

This living room is great because it’s a similar layout to our previous home. It is a nice open room with a fireplace centered on the focal wall. The large window allows plenty of natural light and makes the room feel bigger. We have a lot of plans for the living room such as new flooring and window coverings. However, those plans have been put on the back burner while we work on finishing the basement. The kitchen was also a higher priority so that means this room got the least amount of love.

I wanted to create a space that we could still enjoy now. I know a lot of people think it may be silly if you plan on making changes later. Why not just leave it untouched until you can have it the way you want? Well, I say why not enjoy the space you have now? Create a beautiful budget friendly space you can utilize until the day you make changes.

So, that is exactly what I decided to do with this living room. First, I had the fireplace refinished in a paint to match the kitchen cabinets. Wow, the power of paint never ceases to amaze me. I also love that this fireplace has a fun little hearth to sit on while getting warm. Next, I hung curtains. You can find my tutorial on very inexpensive pinch pleat curtains here. I (Mr. Whitelane really did this) also replaced the ceiling fan with a low profile updated fan. Then I decided to use two inexpensive Besta storage units from IKEA and jazz them up with new knobs. All of these changes really helped make this living room feel like it was for our family. It was starting to feel like our own style.

Let’s be honest, the real beauties in this room are the Ivana Tufted Futons. I know what your thinking….futons? You would never be able to tell these beautiful sofas are actually futons! Now that we have three kids, our four bedroom house is pretty full when visitors come. These futons are such a great way to save space and pull double duty. There are so many different pieces that dHp Furniture has to choose from. A lot of the furniture they offer works with a small budget while being highly functional.

I really fell in love with the modern tapered wooden legs on the Ivana Tufted Futon. The tufted velvet is so sleek and classy as well. This futon comes in blue, green, and gray too. I was really wanting to be bold and try the blue or green. They really look stunning on dHp.com. You know my neutral loving heart just couldn’t commit and I ended up choosing the tan velvet.

I decide to do two separate sofas because I felt like a sectional would cut the room off. I am all for keeping things as open as possible. These two futons sitting across from each other really make a statement and keep the room feeling airy. I also have to tell you that this futon has a split-back design seating that can be independently lowered into lounging or sleeping position. It is like the sofa that keeps giving. So many hidden features you don’t even realize at first glance. If I am being honest, I really just fell in love with the modern and sleek design. Finding out it was also able to configure into multiple positions such as sitting, lounging, and sleeping was a bonus.

The Ivana Tufted Futons really finished off this room while creating highly functional seating for our family. My kids just love how soft the velvet upholstery feels. I really love how easy it is to wipe clean. A perfect fit for my design. I definitely love this space now. Who knows? Maybe the living room will stay just the way it is. Be sure to visit dHp Furniture for more inspiration and create a space you love right now!

Perfect Touch of Blue Rug

by | Jun 16, 2018 | Living Room, Rugs | 0 comments

The following post contains affiliate links and is sponsored by Boutique Rugs. Read my full disclosure here.

I found the cutest rug from Boutique Rugs for the living room. They had such an amazing selection that I had a hard time narrowing it down. I loved all the unique colors and designs I found at Boutique Rugs. I would have never thought I would have chosen something with color for this room. When I saw the Asia Minor ASM-2306 I had to think twice. The creams with subtle blue were just enough color but not too overwhelming. I decided my neutral loving heart could definitely do this kind of color. 🙂

This rug really fits perfectly with the coffee tables as well. The quality is beyond what I expected and their prices are fantastic! My kids haven’t wasted any time breaking in this rug. The first spill has already happened and cleaned up nicely. I was worried about the light color but it has been an incredible quality rug for this room.

Do you like the touch of light blue the rug brings to the room? I think It is a great addition to blend with all the white. I am also loving how well the subtle blue pairs with the gold accents. Walking on this rug is literally like being on a cloud. It is low pile but also really plush.

Be sure to go check out Boutique Rugs for an amazing selection of quality rugs at a fantastic price! I just love this rug and can’t wait to find a few more for the other rooms in our home.

 

 

Hunter Fan Company

by | May 16, 2018 | Living Room, Master Bedroom | 0 comments

The following post contains affiliate links and is sponsored by Hunter Fan Co. Read my full disclosure here.

There are two things Mr. Whitelane requires in a house. A fan in the master bedroom and a fan in the living room. I guess it’s a guy thing? He really can’t sleep at night unless he has a ceiling fan circulating the air. Mr. Whitelane also loves to have a fan in the living room to circulate air as well. I swear he would have one in the kitchen too if I didn’t care. Luckily our new house had a ceiling fan in both of the mandatory places. However, both of the fans were builder basic, drab, and not very stylish. You can see what I mean in the picture below.

I knew those fans had to be swapped out and where to find new ones. We had a few Hunter fans in our previous home and I just loved them. Hunter Fan Company is one of my favorite sources for ceiling fans. I am telling you they put style and function into one of the best fans you will use. I was browsing itsaHunter.com and I found so many fans I wanted. There really is a ceiling fan for just about any style or room design you can think of. In fact, I am now wanting to put a fan in all the kid’s bedrooms as well.

The Dempsey was so great in our last house that I decided to use it again for our living room. I wanted to take it up a level and go with the low profile Dempsey this time. We only have nine-foot ceilings and it fits perfectly in this room. By the way, it has a remote and the light is dimmable! We have a baby and I love being able to dim the light when it is getting close to bedtime. Also, Mr. Whitelane is on cloud nine walking around with the remote to control the fan. He loves how easy and convenient that feature has been.

The master bedroom got its own little piece of ceiling jewelry with the Symphony. The simple modern lines were calling my name as soon as I saw it. I wanted something that blended in with the aesthetic of the room and didn’t look like a heavy piece of equipment hanging from the ceiling. The advocate met all my criteria and it is a Wi-Fi enabled smart fan. That’s all I had to say to Mr.Whitelane and he was sold.

The Symphony is part of Hunter’s line of SimpleConnect smart fans that is so easy to use. It even pairs with our Alexa device. I love laying in bed and controlling the fan and light from an app on my phone. It has saved me many trips to the light switch. The Symphony also comes with a remote. It is so convenient to have access to control the fan right from my phone or the remote.

 

Both ceiling fans have been so much quieter too. The previous builder basic fan made quite a bit of noise and drew a lot of the wrong kind of attention. 🙂 Mr. Whitelane proudly tells people #itsahunter when they ask about our new ceiling fans now. I can’t help but laugh. At least he has his two requirements for this house. Hunter has made ceiling fans a stylish feature that leaves me wanting one of their fun designs in every room. Don’t even get me started on how cute their outdoor line is. Mr. Whitelane may be getting more of what he likes in every single room!

Hudson Valley Lighting

by | May 10, 2018 | Dining Room, Living Room | 0 comments

The following post contains affiliate links & is sponsored by Hudson Valley Lighting. Read my full disclosure here.

I am so excited to have some finished rooms here at our new house. I have been eagerly waiting to show you this dining room and front living room reveal. I could not be happier with how everything came together. I decided to go clean and simple for this little dining nook. I have always wanted a dining nook. Most of our previous homes have been an open concept with the dining room between the kitchen and living. Having the dining room to the side of the kitchen creates a better flow and works for our family. It is still open and bright. I really just like looking out from the kitchen to the living room with no dining room blocking the view.

Ok, let’s talk about the gorgeous elephant in the room. I have said it a million times but lighting can make such a huge impact on a space. You can take a builder basic house and transform it into a curated home by just swapping out a few light fixtures. It really does make a statement and sets the tone for the rest of the room. I knew that Hudson Valley Lighting was my go-to for the dining room. I found several gorgeous contenders but then I stopped dead in my search. There it was, the perfect pendant. The Sweeny. Isn’t she a beauty? Look at those scalloped curves and perfect pinstripes. The aged brass chain and plate cover is the icing on the cake. I could go on all day about this pendant.

I’ll be honest. My husband was not sold on this light until it arrived and I got it installed. Once he saw it in our dining room he knew it was the one. I mean how could you not love this pendant? I went with the 20″ by 18″ pendant and it is the perfect size for our 72″ table. I almost went with the larger 25″ as well. I really think it would have been fine too. You really can’t go wrong with the Sweeny. You can see what a change this light made for the dining room by looking at the before picture below.

It is retro, modern, and timeless all at the same time. I love that this Sweeny Pendant can blend with so many styles to create the perfect ambiance.

But wait there is more. 🙂 The front room had to get its own ceiling jewelry. This front living room is a lot smaller than in our previous home. However, it still fits the piano and a few chairs. It really works for our little family. Now, to fully appreciate the after you have to see the before. The previous owners used this room as a toy room. There were dome lights everywhere. A classic staple in tract homes. WHY!? They are the worst. Well, guess what? There is the cutest little flush mount that coordinates (in my opinion) with the Sweeny pendant.

Meet Chandler. How cute is this little guy? The quatrefoil design with opal glass has me all heart eyes. Of course, it is aged brass because that is my new fav color. It flows so well with the touch of soft blue I have in this room. The Chandler is a great stylish alternative to dome lights. It is still a flush mount but with all the wow factor that this room needed. See what I mean? Lighting does wonders for updating a room!

Both light fixtures have been such a great finish to these two rooms. When style meets quality it is a rare combination these days. Often times you can find really cute lighting that has poor craftsmanship and doesn’t last. I have to say Hudson Valley Lighting is definitely well made. A breath of fresh air in the design vertical. I still have a few more rooms to update and I have been obsessing over some of their other lines too. What are you waiting for? Go give your room a whole new look and swap out your basic or outdated lighting!

Joyful Fall Home Tour 2017

by | Oct 2, 2017 | Entry, Home Tours, Kitchen, Living Room | 13 comments

I am so excited to bring a joyful fall home tour with such a great group of bloggers. There are some gorgeous homes that have been decked out for fall. Be sure to stop by all of them today on the links at the bottom of this post. There is so much inspiration for everybody’s style.

Looking for fall decorating ideas? Tour 12 bloggers' homes and find beautiful inspiration for fall decor and encouragement to make your home cozy for fall!

I can not believe fall is here. It is like I blinked and summer was over. I feel like my kids just got out of school and I am already sending them back. That is always how summer is I suppose. This summer seemed especially short because we welcomed baby number three to our family. She was born the end of June. Everything after that just seems like a blur. Our life kind of went into chaos, love, and survival mode. Adding a new baby is always an adjustment. I would say that having number three has been an easier transition than the first two. It was like she just fit right into our family. The sleep deprivation is the hardest adjustment for me. I love my sleep and figuring out how to wake up all night and function all day is tricky. It only lasts for a short time and then they grow up. At least that is what everyone keeps telling me. I keep telling myself that too at 3 a.m. 🙂

 

Needless to say, fall around here is simple and minimal. A newborn and two other kids do not allow much time for anything else.  I kind of like it that way. I just got out the basic necessities to add some touches of fall. Pumpkins are my go-to for adding fall touches that can transition into Halloween and Thanksgiving. Let’s be honest, I will be lucky if anything changes with my decor until Christmas and even luckier if I get Christmas up at all! I got out my white and cream pumpkins and sprinkled them around the living room and kitchen and thought that was good enough. However, after an impromptu trip to Target one day, I ended up with more than I bargained for. Famous last words right? Especially since Joanna Gaines just announced they will have a line with Target too. WHAT!? I pretty much will never be able to get out of there with any money again. Anyways, I went there and they just happened to have the cutest fall decor at the dollar spot.

The Target dollar spot always has so many fun things for each season and holiday. They had these fun dark green, mint, and white fabric pumpkins. I may have grabbed a few (or 18 after going to two other Targets). So I spent $18 on fabric pumpkins and got 18 pumpkins. That is a good deal and look how cute they are. I was able to mix these fun new pumpkins with my old ones and that is about all this house got for fall. It was all I had in me as well. Honestly, I love that it is simple and just the right amount of decor to get you in the mood for the season. I grabbed a few pumpkin spice candles from the dollar spot and this cute recipe box too. I am telling you, the dollar spot is going to have run for its money when Joanna Gaines gets her line there. 🙂

 

I am living proof that anyone can decorate for fall. Just throw some pumpkins and pumpkin spice candles around your main living areas and call it good. That is all it takes to bring some cozy fall vibes to any space. Simple and easy. That is my new motto for decorating with a newborn. Hopefully, Christmas will be just as easy. 😉 Be sure to hop on over to all the other home tours below and see what they have for some amazing fall inspiration.

Maison de Pax | White Lane Decor | Farmhouse on Boone | Lemons to Lovelys

My Vintage Porch | Meaningful Spaces | A House With Books | Delightfully Noted

Kim Power Style | Tidbits | Belle Amour Designs | The Mountain View Cottage

Designer Hacks

by | Sep 7, 2017 | DIY, Living Room, Spray Paint | 0 comments

If you caught the segment onFox 13’s The Place today, then you already saw some of these high-end looks for less. I wanted to take a minute to show a few of my favorite designer hacks in detail.

  1. Pleated Curtains. These can be very pricey, especially for longer lengths. They create a custom and classy feel. I was able to create this look with Ikea Ritva Curtains and pleater hooks. See my video tutorial here.
  2. Spray paint. Everyone loves to stay on trend with the latest color styles. It can get expensive trying to keep your decor up to date. Instead of buying new, spray paint your existing decor to match the trend. I took all of my silver decor and sprayed it a fun brassy gold. Gold is all the talk right now in decorating. I got my gold accents with a few cans of spray paint. You can watch my video tutorial here to see the products I like to use for spray painting.
  3. Thrift store books. I visited my local Desert Industries and scoured the book section for all the white, cream, and neutral hardcover books (search for any color that fits your style). Be sure to look under the paper book covers to check the actual hardcover color. You can make a great custom monochromatic look on your open shelving or bookshelves. Stack the books together in sections until you like the groupings. Some can stack upright and others can lay flat with decor placed on top. Thrift store books usually range from $.50 to $2. A very easy and affordable way to fill bookcases and create a luxurious look without the price tag.
  4. Wooden Bead Garland. These wooden garlands have been a big hit as of late. They have warped into a mini version for napkin ring holders and key chains too. They can be customized by adding stain to the beads or tassels to each end. I tend to like the simple, clean look of the raw unfinished wood beads. I took hemp cord (or jute) and bought three packages of wooden beads from the craft store. I was able to create my own DIY version for a fraction of what these garlands sell for online. The beads can be draped across coffee tables, pictures, centerpieces, and just about anywhere you want. It adds a fun trendy texture to any decor. Find my detailed tutorial here.

All of these design hacks are easy, inexpensive, and add that high-end look for less. Hopefully, you can add some custom looks to your home with these ideas.