design

PREPARING A GUEST ROOM

Is there really anything better than walking into a hotel room ( or whatever kind of accommodations you have made) when on vacation or a business trip of some sort? Clean sheets, fresh towels, beautiful flowers….. I die for them all! A hotel room, with a beach cottage feel, is exactly what my husband and I wanted our guest room to feel like for friends and family that come to stay with us. Whether it be for a night or a couple of days, I still prep the same.
Our dear friends, who are also newlyweds, came to stay with us for a night after a party we all attended  near our home this past weekend. The sole reason we have a house with more rooms than we need is to be able to open our home up to people. It is a passion of ours to be able to bless people that way. When they ask, we say “yes!” I took some time to shoot the room to show how I set up for these occasions. 
Everything in this room ( excluding the duvet cover and sheet set) has either been handmade, or purchased at an extreme discount!! You can completely make a beautiful space on a dime. 

We tend to call this room our “California room”. California is a special place to us because it is where my husband is from, and also where we were married. I found “vintage” San Francisco prints at Goodwill and framed them with clearanced Target frames that I spray painted white. The wooden San Diego print was a gift from my husband. Also, the chair was a thrift find that I spray painted and covered in fabric during our first year of marriage….. 7 years ago.
I love keeping a pen and pad by the bed. Most of my thoughts come to me at night, so I assume the same for my guests I suppose. Ha! Lamp, table and golden crab were clearance finds from Target.
Sconces were handmade by my dad. Love them!
We made our headboard using a drop cloth from Lowe’s.
The navy and ivory Pottery Barn pillows were given to us along with a couch that was given to us when we first moved into this house by some super sweet friends. We have held on to them and I added the duvet, sheet set and ikat pillows (clearance find) from Target.
I handmade a little monogram tag and attached it to a fresh bottle of water for our guests when they arrived. Saves them from making a trip downstairs, especially in the middle of the night if they get thirsty. My husband handmade this console table with hairpin legs from hairpinlegs.com and a piece of wood from Lowe’s.

A little gold dish for jewelry, coins or any other pocket items…

 End table was a $30 clearance find at a furniture store several years ago.
 Magazines are always a good thing to have stacked up!
 Shell from Target (clearance)

Curtains are old ( and quite short for my taste) clearance finds from West Elm, but they still work for now, and I have always loved the subtle pattern on them.
Hope this inspires you to create a little oasis for yourself or your guests somewhere in your home.
Sweet Dreams!
-J

SHOP CRUSH: DABNEY LEE

The first in our Store Crush series is Dabney Lee in Brooklyn, New York. One of our fav things is supporting small businesses, especially ones owned by women and mamas. Oh and Dabney is a mama to THREE. Triplets. Count ’em. Dabney manages to somehow balance motherhood to her cuties AND run a successful design business AND own an adorable retail shop. This colorful gem is located in the charming Brooklyn borough, Dumbo (and this summer she’s taking over Shelter Island!). Filled to the brim with beautiful paper, cheeky cards, unique party supplies, personalized goods, not to mention her  custom stationery and invitation lines. Modern preppy chic at it’s best.
Okay, can we talk about this custom wallpaper for a second? Dabney, you genius!

Comprehensive New York / Brooklyn section of course!
 Dabney’s shop is so cheery and happy! Colors and patterns (literally) wall to wall. 
 Party supplies up the wazoo!
 Dabney even designs wrapping paper. Yes please.
 Pup friendly of course.
We asked Dabney for a peak into her noggin and here’s what she had to say:
1. What has been your favorite thing about opening your shop?
Getting to know everyone in my little neighborhood. I love seeing clients come in when pregnant and then meeting their little ones after they arrive, or helping engaged couples with their wedding days! It’s been really fun to grow with the neighborhood and become a part of the community.
2. How do you balance being a mommy and a business owner?
I try really hard to balance being a mommy + a business owner. However, I know that I fall short from time to time, but that is just part of being who I am and what I do. I’d be lying if I said it was perfect all of the time. I purposely opened my shop 2 blocks from our home so that my kiddos can pop in to see me during the day for a quick hug and kiss!  
3. What is your guilty pleasure?
Definitely fried chicken. My grandmother makes the best fried chicken in the world, and I am so happy she taught me her recipe!  
4. What’s up next for Dabney Lee?
The launch of our tech line and pet line- due in stores this summer! Our planners and calendars will be in Target again this summer, and we are super excited about our designs. I think our clients will fall in love with the lines, we definitely have!  
5. If you could be anyone else for a day, who would it be?
It would definitely have to be my son Bennett. That kid is a wacko. I’d love to know what goes on in that little head of his, like why he thinks he absolutely needs to have pirate booty for breakfast or why he thinks running around naked is the best thing ever!     
You’ve gotta go visit Dabney Lee, people! Your brain will explode from the awesomeness. 
If you can’t make it to Brooklyn or Shelter Island, be sure to check out Dabney’s ONLINE SHOP and BLOG. Keep up with Dabney on INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, and PINTEREST.
Dabney, we want it all!

STYLED: ENTRY WAY

My husband is not touring these next couple of months, which means he is HOME and I am putting him to WORK! Lots of things get left undone when he is away, so we have a lot of catching up to do. We are currently in the process of ridding our walls of the flat builder’s paint that has been here since we moved in, and painting them in Behr’s lovely “Chocolate Froth”. It is a lot of work, but so worth it! I absolutely LOVE this color! We painted our guest room with this color, and I knew immediately that I wanted it in every other room in our home! 
We are currently working on our entry way, which is (by default) part of our living room. I put together a little inspiration board of things I have pinned over time or recently purchased for this little space. I am  mostly excited about wrapping a parsons console table in fabric or grass cloth. Leaning towards grasscloth. Have you ever tried a project like this? I am curious to know any tips you may have!
-J