Friday Favorites: Home Decor

TGIF! What a sweet week this has been.  It's the last week of Summer before Vivian Louise starts preschool.  It hasn't hit me yet that our days of splashing, sliding and story times are going to be fewer.  I believe it's because I'm so stinkin excited for her to learn and make new friends.  It's going to be a change for me too, I'm ready to get back into working but that's a whole other topic!

I realized that we've been in our home now for close to a year!  Wow, I can't believe it's been that long.  I also realized that I've never shared a home tour, probably because there's SO MUCH we want to do to each room but is one's home ever really done?? I'm going to work on sharing some of where our home is now and a peek at what we'd like to change.  In the end it's the time shared in these rooms that make them great.

When it comes to decor and furniture I'm a traditionalist with a tad of modern sprinkled throughout.  I believe that furniture can be lifetime investment, such as your bed, dressers, rugs, buffets, consoles, end tables and dining tables.  The filler decorative pieces can be a bit more fashionable and replaced over the years.

Here are several pieces that are stylish, add function and are fairly inexpensive...

Metal Shelves
I love these shelves! Because they are glass they don't weigh down a room like heavy wood bookcases do.  The metal adds a modern touch to your room.  I'm thinking of adding these to our formal living room but since we have a mirrored console already in there I hesitate to add more metallic.
Another great thing about these shelves is that you could move them from room to room.

China Cabinet
This cabinet is the most expensive thing on this post but I'm considering it for our den, one on each side of the fireplace so I had to share it.  The other option is custom built ins. I love that this one looks like an expensive piece but for a much lower price. 

Spindle Chair

I think spindle chairs are so beautiful! And I'm amazed to have found one for under 1k!

Settee
We have a settee in our house and they are so versatile! It's served as seating in our prior breakfast room and now in Ryan's office.  I'm thinking of moving it into our master bedroom.

Chest

Chests are expensive especially if you are buying multiples but they serve multiple purposes in bedrooms and living spaces. I prefer solid hardwood but if you need something more affordable these are the ticket. 

Glass Lamps
These lamps look so designer and come in multiple colors.

End Table
Another piece that's easy to fill your space and add quick function next to your seating.

Boxwood Topiary

I believe that every room needs plants but not every room has the lighting needed and not every owner has a green thumb. Silk plants save the day!

Gold Drapery Rods
We have gold rods throughout our home and I feel it adds glamour and looks expensive.

Garden Stool
Porcelain garden stools are so handy. They add function beside accent chairs and are easy to move around.

This pink swing hanging on our grand magnolia tree is our home's cutest decor!

Just like your wardrobe, I believe you should invest on foundation/classic pieces but can opt for more inexpensive pieces when it comes to adding modern style.

Dress Your Home 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