Meet Delores

 Meet Delores! She's brand new to our formal living room. 

Note: I intentionally set out to NOT do any home design projects this Summer until after school started ... I did 3 rooms that were not even on my list. I am my mother and am constantly redecorating rooms, often spontaneously! 

Our den (reveal coming soon) went through a total transformation which then resulted in some changes to the formal room with the additional of these etageres, removal of the tv and Delores.

With the etageres now flanking the mirrored console, art was needed on the wall. Because this room is traditional, I wanted art that's modern and interesting but complemented the current color palette.

In scrolling online I found this portrait. I named her Delores. I find her elegant and also mysterious. She an unexpected piece bringing interest to the room. 

When I added the grasscloth wallpaper to this room several months ago I realized the windows needed formal dressing. I decided on long drapes in a rich golden yellow color.  To me, they were the perfect finishing touch. 

Adding a jewel tone to the soft muted colors really added depth to the room!

BEFORE

AFTER

'Delores' Art Print - Etageres - Drapes - Drapery Rods & Finials 

I encourage you to be creative in your living spaces and add fun art!

Dress Your Home Beautifully

XOXO Sarah Louise

Chartreuse Sunroom

 Every now and then I get a 'wild hair' ... meaning a spontaneous impulse to do something. Most often it's a home design project and sure enough this weekend that was the case! I had actually decided when making my Summer list that I wasn't going to tackle any rooms until after school started. I should know myself better haha

I decided to add chartreuse paint to our sunroom! 

Our sunroom is the room that literally lights up my days. It's surrounded by windows where I can see the sunrise, bird watch and enjoy the beautiful scenery of God's creation. It also houses bunny Ethel and several plants I've been tending for years.

I've felt like the white walls, while clean and bright were not complimentary to the rich bold colors in the room or the nature surrounding it.

Now the art, furniture, floor and windows really POP!!!

Since purchasing our home we've designed this room to look like a conservatory with classic black & white tile flooring, bold tropical furniture and pretty art.  This post shares our sunroom transformation from the beginning. 

Fun Fact: I painted the sunroom in our first home the same chartreuse color.

Tip: I paint the air vents and switch/outlet plates.

Like my gal pals says "white wall are not me!"

Paint: Sherwin Williams Chartreuse

Dress Your Home Beautifully with Color

XOXO Sarah Louise

Grasscloth Wrapping

Fact: I would wallpaper every single wall (and ceiling) of my home.

Also Fact: I'm married & have a budget.

White walls do not showcase my personality; not even close! I'm a cheerful, dynamic and full of enthusiasm which means color, prints and textures are key in having our home reflect who we are (ok more me than him). 

I also have a very traditional and classic style that suits wallpaper beautifully.

I have already papered our dining room with cranes and our foyer with hydrangeas but the formal living room in between just fell flat.  I chose to wrap this room in a whisper blue grasscloth paper that adds just the right amount of subtle compliment.

BEFORE

AFTER

The BEST part of this project was the gal that hung the paper! She's a very dear friend that generously shared her talents and did a beautiful job of adding beauty to our home! 

Here are some close ups. This paper is actually a faux grass cloth in a peel & stick application. I find it's a pretty option for adding color and dimension to your walls.

Bonus: you can easily remove it with no consequence! 

It pairs so nicely with the adjacent rooms & papers.

One of my favorite outcomes was how our dental crown molding shines! 

I wish I could share the tips, tricks and tools you'd need - but I bet you have talented friends like mine and together you can have a blast wrapping your walls!

FAUX PEEL & STICK GRASSCLOTH WALLPAPER

I chose color Whisper Blue

I may add some art and drapes! 

Dress Your Walls Beautifully with Grasscloth Wallpaper

XOXO Sarah Louise

Marble Decor

 I LOVE marble! It's luxurious and a natural beauty. I also have an affinity for things found in nature as I believe that man cannot create anything as beautiful as God can.

When decorating my home, I mix materials like wood, fabric, metal, glass and stone for design that traditional and well collected. The textures add dimension and since I sprinkle antiques into each room they feel timeless and sentimental.

This past weekend, I added this midcentury marble coffee table to our formal living room! I've been hosting several times a month and realized our guests were having to sit their glasses, plates and belongings on the floor. We have conversation couches to encourage friendly exchange amongst our loved ones but there was a slight disconnect with the vast space between them.

The marble adds a surface that's durable and easy to clean particularly as food and beverage will be in use.

Coffee tables are a high traffic piece so I didn't want anything fragile like a delicate wood or glass, tufted wouldn't work with serving and it needed to be at a savvy price!

Note: there was a big controversy over adding a coffee table. I wanted it. Ryan didn't - he also doesn't like marble or antiques (Bless Him!). I won. 

Note: I pretty much always win because he's amazing and always wants me happy :)

TIP: Marble topped furniture & decor is best found at antique/thrift shops

and resale sites like Marketplace. I find old furniture to be of great quality!

This shell planter was actually white. 

I did a little DIY and added Gold Rub N' Buff to it and voila! 

While marble is exquisite in kitchens and bathrooms it is susceptible to staining, cracking and chipping. Not to mention expensive. So I incorporate it in decor.

Here are some beautiful marble pieces to decorate your home with ...

TRAY

Great for display in a kitchen/bath or serving beverages & food 

WINE COOLER

you can also use this as a vase for fresh flowers/plants or as a utensil holder

FRUIT BOWL

beautiful for serving and display

MARBLE ACCENT TABLE

great for living spaces or bedrooms

PLANT STAND

LAMPS

also in a brown red stone

DECORATIVE BOWLS

comes in multiple sizes and sets

OUTDOOR SIDE TABLE

Dress Your Home Beautifully in Marble

XOXO Sarah Louise

Built-In Bourbon Bar

 When we purchased our home over 5 years ago, Ryan was very enthusiastic about having a room dedicated for his work and things. A manly room all to himself. Well, he's married so the reality is I'm going to go in there and zhoosh things around and add decorative touches.  He finds this very offensive but  has endured.

His room, the front office, has builtins on one wall that serves as a desk, adds storage and has shelves for display. As I've been slowly decorating his space with a new rug and dark moody paint, I had the idea to turn one side of the shelves into a bourbon bar. 

Ryan loves bourbon and has started quite the collection.

Originally these built ins were stained wood that we had painted white prior to moving in. I then went in and painted the backs a dark charcoal color - Wrought Iron by BM. 

To make this bourbon bar I wanted an antique mirrored backing but I couldn't find mirrored tiles in my budget and they were also fragile and required tools to install.

I found peel and stick mirrors that were the perfect solution.

Turns out when my gal pal and I were putting up the faux mirrors, due to the texture of the wood backing there was a rippling appearance that gives an antique look (WIN!)

I added decanters purchased from vintage shops and home goods.

The Waterford crystal glasses belonged to Ryan's dad that he purchased in Italy while on a deployment in the military. They're very special.

I added sentimental pieces from Ryan's time as a medical officer in the US Navy that are very important to him as layers of decor. 

And there's always Trixie, his beloved puppy that sits in what used to be Ryan's dad's chair and watches all the birds, cars and other puppies. She never lets me miss a delivery!

I'm far from a DIY gal but I will say this quick project was easy and a lot of fun to do with a friend.

You could use any type of bookcase or shelving to recreate this.

PEEL & STICK MIRROR TILES

Dress Your Home Beautifully with a Bourbon Bar

XOXO Sarah Louise

Deck the Halls

Every year I find more and more joy in decorating our home for Christmas.  It's not about the grander or perfectly staged arrangements but the beauty in the sentiment! 

The happiness of the season is sprinkled throughout each room with reminders of the blessings that Christmas brings.

This year I tied red velvet bows on our tree

Ryan insists we get a real tree every year 

Every single item displayed was either handmade, gifted, passed down in my family or purchased at a thrift/antique shop. I'm traditional when it comes to decorating and love beautiful things. I hope by sharing them it inspires you to create Christmas beauty in your own home. 

I hope you enjoy our decked halls!

Vivian's friend gifted her this Olaf blow up - dreams come true!

Our live wreath was purchased from her classmate's boy scout troop

We place our nativity front and center in the entryway 

Our banister might be my favorite!

I love the big red velvet bows & live garland (Trader Joe's) 

I added a plaid runner this year and little gold trees

The lace tablecloth & placemats I've had for years

One thing that's missing is my Christmas dishes!

I use them all month long

I decided to incorporate my silver tea set this year.

Vivian picked out these two porcelain angels.

I find red poinsettias so bold and pretty.

I've been placing them in champagne/ice buckets as vases for years

I also love hanging wreaths with more red velvet on all the windows in our sunroom.

I don't have a lot of Santa decor but I find this to be so nice!

I have lots and lots of Christmas linens! I hang the tea towels everywhere I can 

and use these cocktail napkins when hosting.

PS Frasier fur candles are the best smell of the season

I went around and tied red velvet ribbon on just about anything that wasn't moving.

We have two matching couches that face each other with matching pink pillows but

the one Vivian made us in preschool is the sweetest!

Along with a wreath hanging in the window & towels, 

I display old Christmas cookbooks and a platter that matches our dishes.

In Vivian's bathroom I hang embroidered towels.

What an absolute gift it is to have 3 stockings hung on our chimney!!!

Dress Your Home Beautifully for Christmas

XOXO Sarah Louise