Home - The Story of Us

Our home is special to us. It is the sacred space where we create memories and grow our family.
We want it to reflect us, the people who live here.

One of Vivian first family portraits from preschool 

As I've been tackling several design projects I've realized that as inspiring as tv shows, magazines and Pinterest is, I want our home to show others our story and what's important to us. 

Note: This means there will be toys & kid art sprinkled throughout because Vivian lives here and it's her home too. This wasn't my mindset when having her - I strived for picture perfect. I now love that her things are here and cherish their presence!

Here are some things that tell the story of us in our home ...

THE HOUSE WITH THE PINK SWING

When we tell others where we live, we title our home 'The House with the Pink Swing' because it's right out front hanging from our grand Magnolia tree. It's been there for nearly 5 years where we swing Vivian higher and higher enjoying the outside and waving to our neighbors. The time has come to move to a big girl swing and I have to admit it hurts my heart to see it go. 

AMERICA

We love our country! Ryan served as a US Navy Officer following his medical education and deployed for nearly a year with a Marine infantry unit as their Battalion Surgeon to the Middle East. This was a significant time in our lives!! 

We proudly fly the American flag and he displays sentimental awards & keepsakes from his service in his office. 

CHRIST

The MOST important thing in our lives is Christ! We proudly display our bibles throughout. This tissue papered cross was something Vivian made a few years ago in preschool. She wanted to tape it in the window at our front door and it's been there ever since. I love that it greets who ever comes over including our deliveries.

PHOTOS

Framing photos of our memories and loved ones not only reminds us of the fun times and the people we love it does our guests too. We value people more than anything and hope displaying their smiles shows!

WALLPAPER

I love color and print! I'm also extremely sentimental. The papers I chose specifically for our entry way & dining room have meaning and I hope create an environment of comfort as they enter our home and sit at our table.

TRADITIONAL

Our style is classic & traditional and you'll see that in each room with warm wood pieces and shiny gold fixtures.

 (and of course monograms!). This velvet bench belonged to my Grandma.

BEAUTY

I admire and adore beautiful things.  I curate my life and efforts with beauty.  I find antique pieces that house unknown stories, to me the epitome of beauty.  I have them sprinkled throughout our home.

This mirror in particular was purchased with a dear friend who's now in heaven giving me pause to reflect on life's priorities each time I pass by. 

BIRDS

It may seem a bit much but I love birds as I find them majestic, so you will see them almost in every room.

PLANTS

I find it important to having living things in your home - preferably plants over pets but we have Ethel & Trixie too.

HEIRLOOMS

I display and use treasured items pass down in our families, like silver and china. I don't decorate for each holiday or season but rather enjoy the gifts of others all year round. See, I'm very sentimental!! 

For you maybe it's souvenirs from your travels or art or a specific collection.  Whatever it is that tells your story have it throughout your home for others to enjoy.

Dress Beautifully Sharing Your Story

in Your Home

XOXO Sarah Louise

Treasure Hunter

Sarah Louise treasure hunter here! Those who know me well know I enjoy searching for special things. Every Summer I spend lots of time combing through the sand for seashells and shark teeth. I bring home bags of beautiful treasures to marvel over. 

Note: I'm working on a creative way to store and display them. Currently Vivian & I play with them.

The beach isn't the only place I hunt for treasures. I enjoy collecting rocks & leaves from the mountains, vintage decor from thrift shops, designer pieces from resellers and handmade gifts from small shops.

Here are some of my favorite places to hunt ... 

NATURE

I find the most majestic works of art outside.

You can keep them in a keepsake box or on display in shadow boxes or frames.

No one could ever create something as unique or beautiful as the Creator! #facts

Last week I found the ultimate treasure.

A MEGALODON tooth!!!!!

It's been on my bucket list and I even have a trip planned to fossil hunt for one.

These extinct massive sharks lived 3.6-25 million years ago (according to scientists)

and were the largest predators known. 

This find is EPIC! 

THRIFT & ANTIQUE STORES

I've been hunting here for decades. I find china, silver, linens, art, furniture, books, jewelry .... the list goes on and on! I have an affinity for old things and the stories they hold.

Even my engagement ring is an estate piece dating back to the 1920's.

I often imagine the memories these pieces help make. I can be very sentimental :)

My favorites in Charlotte are: The Assistance League & Sleepy Poet.

When I travel I often visit local stores.

RESALE BOUTIQUES

Consignment shops & resale sites are fantastic places to find unique and designer pieces at a great price.

Here in Charlotte I visit J.T. Posh & Divine Consign.

In Wilmington, Hope Consignment.

For online sites I have been successful shopping on 

Poshmark (shop my own closet here later this week!) & Ebay.

HANDMADE SHOPS

Local markets & Etsy are great places to find handmade items from artists. 

There is something special about something that's created by hand and is truly one of a kind.

These make the best gifts! Even Instagram is a place to find works from talented makers.

I encourage you to search behind the big box sellers and see what treasures you can find!

FACT: There is no greater place to find eternal treasures of truth, hope, peace and love than in HIS Word!

Start there before seeking anywhere or from anyone else!!!

Vivian's favorite beach treasure is sea glass

Dress Beautifully Treasure Hunting

XOXO Sarah Louise

Mamma Monday: Vivian's Nursery Design

Gals, this week’s ‘Mamma Monday’ post didn’t get posted yesterday – oops.  Forgive me.

The weekend was ROUGH – I was in bed and sick on my stomach ALL day Saturday (I’m constantly telling myself that this baby girl does in fact love me and that I love carrying her - #theStruggleisReal ).  I’m giving up on hoping the sickness with improve but I still battle the frustration of my low productivity levels.  I want to do so much but my body will not let me. Lots of prayer happening!

This week, I want to share with you Vivian’s nursery design.  It was inspired by this Pinterest pic my gal pal showed me last year…

Lavender with pops of tangerine orange.  It was different yet still feminine.  I instantly knew this was the palette for a girl’s nursery. With my own spin on it of course!

Here’s the design I created of what her nursery will actually look like ….

For the walls I chose Sherwin Williams color ‘Inspired Lilac’ a super pale shade of lavender. Lighter is better with paint.

I’ve added pink in the lamp and rug and kept the orange to a minimum with greek key trim on ivory silk drapes, a Hermes decorative box and flecks of light orange in the rug.

The rug is even prettier in person, soft and much lighter in color than online.  It pulls in all 3 colors lavender, pink and orange in a traditional design.

I’m not a big fan of nursery furniture as it is temporary so I opted to incorporate what I have and my traditional taste and am using my antique buffet as the changing table.  It also breaks up all the pale hues with its rich dark wood.

I’m adding touches of gold and glam in the lighting, mirror, pouf ottoman, small side table and frames.

The crib is a classic – just like the one I had as a baby but in white.

The chair swivels and rocks – this piece of furniture is not designed specifically for a nursery. When I found it I felt like I was sitting on a cloud and I seriously wanted to close my eyes for a cat nap right in the store.  For fear of embarrassment I didn’t.  You can choose from over 80 fabrics.  I went with a textured cream. I have plans for this chair to one day be my reading chair in our master bedroom.  

For art I’m adding our Anne Neilson painting of angels, and pieces my Mamma and sister have painted.

FYI I have a slight obsession with Jellycat stuffed animals! She already has 4 J

Everything has been purchased for her room with the exception of ordering the chair and gold pouf.  We hope to begin decorating in the next week now that our living room renovation is almost complete – I need to share that fun project with you!

I can’t wait to share the finished room with you later this month!!!

I hope you like it – check out my Nursery Pinterest board and my Maternity Style Board for inspiration!

Dress Your Nursery Beautifully

XOXO Sarah Louise

Vanity Fairest

There's something so pretty and feminine about a vanity table.  It's not just a place for primping but rather to sit and reflect.  Vanities are almost a thing of the past - hence you're sure to find them at antique shops.  For me, vanities evoke the image of a mother powdering her nose, applying rouge to her cheeks or perfume behind her ears while her little girl sits in admiration.  Vanities have a sense of past time and tradition, mine especially.  

Side Note:  My favorite vanity is that of Scarlett O'Hara's in 'Gone with the Wind' - that scene in her gaudy red dress #epic 

In today's era bathroom counters are a gal's vanity. Myself included.  I mean who wants have make up mess on furniture and we all know a big mirror and natural light from the window is essential.  Not to mention outlets and countertops are needed for the heated styling tools we use on our hair.  It's just practical to primp in our bathrooms today.

What I do use my vanity for is jewelry, perfume and my quiet devotional time. 

This vanity is actually a desk.  It was a part of the bedroom suit my Mamma had a child which was handed down to me at about age 6, then when I went to college it became my little sister's and now I have the pieces back in our new home.  I remember my Mamma using it as a desk to pay bills and write letters and how I used it to do my homework and create art projects as a kid.

I love that it's back in my world.  I have countless memories with this piece.  Something I did when incorporating it into our home was to add the mirror that originally pairs with the long dresser of the suit.  That piece is in our guest room.  

I also placed it on my side of the bed to act as a bedside table until I find a matching set I love.  I shared our bed and custom linens earlier in this post.  That was the start of furnishing and decorating our boudoir.  It's been a much longer task than I ever anticipated!  

This vanity was repainted with gold trim and brushing by my mother decades ago but over the years it's seen a lot of love and needs a fresh coat. I just can't bring myself to do it.  Distressed furniture is not my style at all but those chips, dings and scratches are memories. 

What makes this vanity so special is it's heirloom elements.  The fabric on top at one time covered a vanity table that belonged to my grandmother.  Her vanity was a simple table top. So that I could access the drawers, I neatly folded one side under.  She was and always will be my inspiration so I find it sweet to think of her when I see the light roses of this cover. The oval mirror tray was also hers.

The bride & groom figurine along with the crystal perfume bottle and crystal ring holder were gifts from Mr's parents.

The drawers house trays of baubles and other things like my bible, devotionals, books, and a flashlight.
I like to do my devotionals sitting at my vanity because it's a quiet space with lots of special reminders.  It's my nook.

Speaking of sitting, this chair cushion was in shabby shape until I decided to recover it.  I left the original fabric underneath for sentimental sake but went a bit on the modern and fun side when choosing a textured leopard fabric.  It was surprisingly easy to do.  The cushion unscrews and all you need is a staple gun to attach.

Perfumes are just lovely!  The bottles and floral scents tickle all the senses in a happy way.  I find perfume to be fancy.  My all time favorite is the original Chanel Chance Eau De Parfum.  I've been wearing it since high school an have no intentions of ever changing my signature scent! My Mamma gifts it to me for Christmas.  She also gave me the Coco Mademoiselle.

The round gold bottle is Kate Spade's 'Twirl'.  My gal pal and I each bought a bottle while on vacation because we loved the light scent. Sadly it's discontinued. The last bottle is Mr's cologne.  My Mamma gifted it to him as well.  There is something so handsome about a man that smells good.  He practices medicine so he only wears it on date nights and for church so I'm sure to be found sitting extra close to him on the weekends :) My favorite men's fragrance is Chanel's Bleu De Chanel.  Mr always puts it on when we are out shopping in a department store.  I'm going to have to get him some for Christmas.

These framed pictures are of my Mamma in her wedding dress and of myself in my wedding pearls.  I find pictures of brides to be the most beautiful.

The Chanel box was a gift from Mr right before we left Charlotte when moving to the military base over 3 years ago.  He wanted to gift me something nice to soften that sadness of leaving.  I keep special notes and trinkets in it.

The lamp is tall because as you read in my post about our linens, our bed is extra high and it fits the space.

It's not uncommon to find sweet Scragley sitting in my vanity chair.  Imitation is the highest form of flattery!

Create a space in your home that's special to you with heirlooms or just pretty things that make you smile.  Every gal needs a place to go to, to feel pretty and spend time with herself.

Vanity Tables: Here - Here - Here - Here 

Dress Yourself and Home Beautifully with a Vanity

XOXO Sarah Louise