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An Open Letter To Myself For The New Year

December 31, 2018 by Natalie 4 Comments

I accomplished so much in 2018. It should have been my year. I grew my business more than I could have ever imagined, traveled, got to collaborate on dream projects (hello Betsey Johnson), had wonderful clients, and got so many home features both online and in print. But all my successes were overshadowed by someone who was unsupportive, jealous, and most of all — abusive.

I’m opening up on the blog today with an open letter to myself for the new year. This might be too personal and some people might judge me for sharing but lately, the internet/Instagram has been leaving me feeling a little inauthentic. It’s really hard to create perfect things that are meant to inspire people when your whole life has just fallen apart. The internet can be a little too perfect sometimes and we’re all humans that ARE NOT perfect. We should be inspiring each other and lifting one another up through all sorts of things in life, not just the perfect moments.

This is my corner of the internet and I want to use it to heal. I also want to use it to inspire others, especially women, who might be in a bad situation like I was. Abuse, no matter what kind, is not acceptable.

I am thankful that I get another chance and a fresh start going into a brand new year.

I am thankful for all the positive things in my life and proud of all of my accomplishments. Today I leave behind all the negative. The past is in the past and it has no place beside me in 2019.

Dear Natalie,

I noticed that you haven’t been yourself lately. There’s been a lot on your plate and you’ve been having trouble keeping up. But don’t despair, please stay hopeful. Everything is going to come back. Your peace, your confidence, your joy, and the pink light which fills your heart. I know you feel like you’ve lost yourself and like the world and your whole life are crumbling down around you, but this is just a phase. It will pass.

This is just one chapter in the story you’re writing and when this chapter ends, you will find yourself once more.

You feel like you have lost control over your life and like you can’t do anything right. You feel like a fool for always trying to see the best in people and letting these toxic people tear you down again and again. You feel disappointed in yourself for allowing someone to treat you in a such an abusive and awful way for far too long. And you’re right, you deserve so much better.

You feel like you haven’t been living your life because there has been a dark negative cloud hovering over it for quite some time now. But that cloud is about to go away. Nothing lasts forever.

If you feel like you’re about to break down, give up, just remember one thing: you are strong and you are better than this and you can fight against anything that hurts you.

Bad abusive relationships, heartbreaks, failure, unfulfilled dreams, unaccomplished goals — you’ve been through all of this before. We all have.

I know what it’s like to have your heart broken into a million tiny pieces and to have to pick them all up, piece by piece, all by yourself. I have felt what it’s like to be in a one-sided relationship in which your expectations aren’t met. Instead of feeling loved, happy, respected, supported, and fulfilled, you feel lonely, unappreciated, sad, and empty.

We all deserve to be loved. We all deserve to be respected. And we all deserve to be happy.

I know what it’s like to be so close to reaching your goals and then something unexpectedly blows everything up in your face. And then you start thinking, maybe he was right. Maybe you are a stupid, worthless, washed up has been. Maybe you are a loser. This person loved you, right? So their opinion of you must be correct. No.

NO!

You can’t let heartbreak and failure tear you down. You can’t walk away from everything you want and everything you’ve worked so hard for. You can not believe the terrible words of an awful ABUSIVE person who is clearly projecting their insecurities on to you. You can not help someone that doesn’t want to change.

You need to remember your strength, resilience, and worth. There are so many people in your life that love and will continue to love you no matter what. And one day you will meet the person who will truly love, respect, and support you, no matter what. And you will be happy. So, so happy. I promise.

Life can be hard and unfair. It can be cruel and draining. People can be mean and hateful. But none of this is permanent. I know it’s hard for you now, but remember that this is just a phase. It is just a chapter, not your whole story.

You haven’t lost yourself, she’s right here. Finish writing this chapter and turn the page forever.

2019 is waiting for you and there are pink skies ahead. Everything is going to be alright.

Happy New Year!

Love,

Yourself

Thanks to each and every one of you for your continued support. Wishing you all the best. Happy New Year! xo

A Cozy Day In + 52 Lists Giveaway

October 23, 2018 by Natalie 1 Comment

Recently I spent a cozy day in with my best friend Sam. We met each other through mutual friends 15 years ago but only became super close over the last 5 or 6. We even went to the same college but weren’t really friends then either! TBH she went on a date with my ex-boyfriend so I kinda hated her.

LOL. Sam if you’re reading this—don’t worry I’m totally over it.

I’d like to think that we came back into each other’s lives at just the right time when we were ready to be friends or perhaps when we needed each other the most. I think it’s true that people come into your life for a reason, sometimes exactly when you need them to.

As we get older different things are becoming more important to us. Last year Sam got married and also found a new job with more responsibility. While I moved in with my long-term boyfriend and started my own business. We both even talk about moving out of state sometime in the future. Which means it is possible that one day we won’t be living in the same state anymore. It’s safe to say that we both have our own busy lives going on but we try to make time for each other as much as we can.

Moorea Seal recently released another book in her 52 Lists Project series called 52 Lists for Togetherness. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to grab a copy for Sam and me to fill out together. The whole idea behind the book is to learn more about who you are, how you see your loved ones, and how you can thrive together by creating 52 lists, one for every week of the year. You can fill it out solo or you can use it as a tool to connect with loved ones by working on the lists together.

We spent a cozy day in filling out a few lists while sipping on Boozy Apple Cider a la Modes, a recipe that I made on A Beautiful Mess last Winter. This drink is so delicious and couldn’t be more perfect for fall. Mulling cider in the house is probably my favorite activity to do in the colder months. It’s so soothing and fills the air with warm baking spices.

Let us not forget about the bourbon.

Who could do such a thing?

Sam even got to meet Beemer — the little black kitten I rescued from the hood of a BMW in September. She’s so adorable and I think we might be keeping her but probably changing her name. Thoughts on the name Dolly? Please leave kitty name suggestions in the comments below. Bowie had to make an appearance too. He’s so jealous, he needs ALL the attention. It was a lovely day filled with snuggles from the animals and lots of talk about the present and the future.

I’m pretty sure the animals just wanted to steal sips of our Boozy Apple Cider a la Modes though.

I’m looking forward to filling out each list in 52 Lists for Togetherness and I’m so excited to be teaming up with Moorea Seal to gift one reader two books so they can also work on their lists with a loved one. I can’t recommend the journals in the 52 Lists Project enough. If you’re looking to deepen connections with yourself and the people around you this is the perfect way to do it. You can enter to win by heading over to my Instagram and following the rules. You can also pick up a copy here too. Good luck everyone!

What do you do to keep the relationships flourishing in your life? Would love to hear your tips below. xo

One Room Challenge | Reveal of the Office Overhaul

May 10, 2018 by Natalie 12 Comments

The reveal of the Office Overhaul is finally here. This is my third time being at week six of the One Room Challenge and let me tell you it’s not easy. Even when you say you’re not going to get stressed, even when you plan ahead, something inevitably goes terribly wrong. Yet somehow I always get to the finish line even if it’s amidst a nervous breakdown and completely exhausted.

As I write to you from my newly finished office, I am so happy to show you the reveal of the Office Overhaul! I couldn’t have done it without Greg Pallante who came to the rescue and photographed the room on Monday. He did such a great job and is a photographer I’ve been wanting to work with for awhile and finally, the stars aligned. Maybe everything does happen for a reason.

Now for some Before + Afters. Drum roll, please!

Although this room wasn’t giant and just needed some small updates I think the end result has a huge impact. It just goes to show you that using paint and updating decor goes A LONG WAY. My design plan and inspiration from week 2 goes over everything but I was heavily inspired by The Parker Hotel in Palm Springs for my color and pattern choices. I decided to give the room a fresh coat of white paint and then color block the walls almost half way up with the color Bold Yellow by Benjamin Moore. Swapping out my giant desk for a smaller vintage one that I also painted was important. I actually found it on the Facebook marketplace in pretty rough shape for $75, sanded it down, and then repainted it with Razzle Dazzle by Benjamin Moore in a semigloss.

Having a smaller desk opened up the room a lot and allowed me to extend the shelving for storage. In the end, I decided not to make a seat cover for the acrylic chair because I love how it disappears into the room. It takes up no visual real estate, which also makes the room look more spacious. Another thing I added was the banana leaf curtains which are old H&M that I found on eBay. They draw your eye upwards, also giving the appearance of a larger room. I swapped out the outdated light fixture for this inexpensive rattan pendant light from IKEA that I’ve had my eye on forever.

Here are the full shots of the room so you can get a good idea of what I accomplished with my design plan. This room is narrow and therefore a challenge to shoot but I think Greg nailed it. I love how all the colors play off each other and the rug from RugsUSA ties it all together. As far as I’m concerned there can never be enough plants. I love brining the outdoors in and decorating with greenery. I think my office is now officially “The Jungle Room”.

I love that my new desk has drawers so that I have a place to store all my paperwork and files. This DIY ombré bookshelf that I made comes in handy to store and display cute notepads, my planner, and whatever books and magazines I’m currently reading. It is right next to the desk so I can grab something when I need it without having it clutter on top of the desk. I had the pegboard already and used paint leftover from the stairs to do the ombré. Then I purchased elastic cord and got the wood cut at Home Depot. Easiest DIY ever!

Here are some close-up shots of the shelves. I’m using the bottom shelves to store office related things in the baskets. On the higher shelves, I’m displaying a lot of plants (duh) and barware that I have collected over the years. I’m so happy to have my tiki mug collection out of storage finally. I have some super rare ones and I love that I can look at them now instead of them being in a box in the closet. The rattan tray from the Opalhouse Collection for Target houses all my special booze. Bottles that were gifted to me, limited runs of things, or brands that I’m currently working with. There is booze all over the house but I wanted to display the important stuff here. I may need to periodically taste some when I’m having a hard day. 😉

The desk will be more functional for everyday use but I really wanted to make my pink Royal typewriter the showpiece. I always wanted one and would search Etsy and flea markets nonstop but they were always super expensive. Then one day as I was strolling down the sidewalk on my way to work and she was sitting in the window of my local pawn shop at an amazing price. I even haggled the price down a little and then I walked out the door with her.

My Gray Malin print looks perfect above the desk and I offset it with planters from Project 62 and the hey neon sign from Oh Joy both from Target. I actually had the planters and the hey neon sign so this didn’t add to my budget. The dinosaur planter is from Homegoods and was in the living room so I moved it to the office where I think it will stay. The task lamp and swan pool float snow globe are from West Elm. Catchalls on top of the books are vintage and the gold banana vase is Jonathan Adler.

The string of pearls plant and wall hanging were last-minute additions. If I shot the reveal of the Office Overhaul last Wednesday they wouldn’t be in the reveal photos. So the plus side to not shooting last week was that I had a few days to put some finishing touches on the room. The wall hanging is by a friend who is local Margaret Margaret Gabriella that I purchased at Kanibal Home.

I’ve been searching for a string of pearls plant for years and my local garden center never gets them in. I went there over the weekend and boom! There it was in all its glory! I DIYed the same twine plant hanger that I did for the Hallway Refresh and also made that curtain tie back out of twine too using a pom pom maker. I love the texture that the wall hanging and twine adds to the room.

Participating in the One Room Challenge is fun but it’s never easy. I love that this challenge motivates you to finish a room in only six weeks. Which means you get to enjoy your room and your design sooner but it’s hard work! Not sure how many of you are slow decorators but I am guilty of taking my sweet, sweet time. That’s why I’ve been a guest participant for the last three One Room Challenges. Not only does it motivate you to finish a room but it also encourages you to connect and support other designers and bloggers which I think is the most important part. We’re all in this together and we’re all just trying to get to the same place.

I’m so happy with the reveal of the Office Overhaul. I can’t wait to spend many days and nights in here growing my business and staying inspired. Thank you for following along and make sure you check out all the other featured designers and guest participants rooms on the One Room Challenge site. I’ll be updating my Office Overhaul board on Pinterest with the additional product that I added to the room. I’ve also linked to past weeks below in case you missed any of my progress over the last six weeks. Cheers to another successful One Room Challenge everyone! Let me know what you think of the Reveal of the Office Overhaul in the comments below. I always love to hear what you guys think!

Week 1 // Week 2 // Week 3 // Week 4 // Week 5

Design by Natalie Jacob // Photography by Greg Pallante

Decor Sources:

Desk- Vintage

Chair- Flash Furniture Ghost Chair – Hayneedle

Shelving- VITTSJÖ, VITTSJÖ – IKEA

Rug- Adileh rug in orange – RugsUSA

Elephant Photography Print- Gray Malin Always Welcome at the Parker

Wall Planters- Succulent Wall Geometric Hanging White/Gold – Project 62 Target

Hey sign- HEY LED sign lamp– Oh Joy – Target – Sold Out

Banana Vase- Jonathan Adler Banana Bud Vase

Dinosaur Planter- HomeGoods (similar)

Table Lamp- Scoop Table Lamp – West Elm

Snow Globe- Swan Pool Float Snow Globe – West Elm

Wall hanging- Margaret Margaret Gabriella – Kanibal Home

Curtains – Banana Leaf Curtains – H&M – Sold Out

Catchalls- Vintage

Ombre Bookshelf- DIY

Rattan Pendant Lamp- SINNERLIG – IKEA

Uppers Canister- Jonathan Adler

Rattan Tray- Opalhouse – Target

Flamingo Canister- Flamingo Cookie Jar – World Market

Flamingo Mirror- Vintage

Yay Vase- YAY 3 letter vase – Oh Joy – Target

House Plants Print- Home is Where my Plants are – WildHartPaper

Elephant Basket – Opalhouse – Target

The Office Overhaul | Week 5 Disaster

May 3, 2018 by Natalie 5 Comments

It wouldn’t be the One Room Challenge unless something went terribly wrong, right? The Office Overhaul Week 5 has been quite the disaster.

While doing the Spring 2017 ORC the day I was having the wallpaper installed we realized we didn’t have enough wallpaper. Last minute we had to switch walls, which actually turned out for the better. THANK GOD! For the Fall 2017 ORC I had a lighting nightmare that almost made me not finish on time but then we were luckily granted a week extension. Phew! This time around I knew exactly what to do ahead of time to ensure that this project was smooth sailing. Sometimes things are completely out of your hands though.

I had The Office Overhaul finished ahead of time.

I need to stop for a second and pat myself on the back before I tell you that I drowned myself in many Aperol Spritzes last night. This room was completed ahead of schedule and is so glorious I exceeded all of my own expectations for it. I was suppose to shoot yesterday, Wednesday May 2, but the photographer flaked last minute leaving me in a lurch. Everyone is saying I should just shoot it myself but I dont have the correct lens and I wanted these photos to be 100%.

This is a huge setback as I need photos for the reveal next Wednesday. It’s already such a tight timeline to have photos taken and get edited product back in 7 days but in a few days depending on when I get them taken? I could be cutting this REAL close. There was a breakdown, then there were some tears, then there was a cheese danish (if you watched my IG stories), and then there were drinks. Can you blame me? Also the drinks are defintely to fault for me getting this post up late.

I took some quick pics yesterday just to show you what I got done last week. It’s a small room so I don’t want to show you the desk or shelves styled. I need to leave something if the final reveal ever happens.

Last minute I decided not to make a seat cover. I love the way the chair disappears into the room and because it’s a small room I like how it takes up now visual real estate making the room appear larger in a way. If I decided I want something removable I can always make it at a later time.

I DIYed this pegboard book shelf. It was SO easy. I used leftover paint from my hallway stairs to create the ombre effect, got wood cut at home depot, and used elastic cord to hold the books up. Pretty neat, huh? I already had the pegboard from my studio so I just repurposed it. So much of that stuff would be sitting all over the desk and now I have somewhere pretty to stash books and notepads that are easily grabable when I need them.

I’m sure you’ve seen these baskets everywhere, and for sale online for a lot of money. I snagged the baskets at IKEA for $12.99 and made my own pom poms using supplies I already had (pom pom maker and yarn).

There are lots of plants. Ethan has been calling it “the jungle room”. I’m not mad about it. I bought that plastic flamingo at Target for $1!!!

Erik approves of the room transformation. It also wouldnt be The One Room Challenge without one of my pets photobombing my images. How is he even comfortable lying there like that? lol. Wish me luck in my hopes to track down another photographer and get this room shot on time. Stay tuned for the reveal (hopefully) next week!

Images edited with Amethyst from Glow using the A Color Story app on Iphone

Office Overhaul | Week 4 and a Sneak Peek

April 26, 2018 by Natalie 3 Comments

By now I should be freaking out because it’s week 4 of the One Room Challenge. Maybe the third time really is a charm though, because I have So. Much. Done.

Last week for the Office Overhaul I painted the desk, painted the room, and received all of the product. I had a ton of wallpaper left over from my first One Room Challenge because last minute we had to switch walls. I decided to use the wallpaper on the sides of the desk drawers. It goes so well with the color of the desk and adds an extra splash of fun. Because where there is too much color and pattern, Natalie, decides to add more color and pattern. Are you surprised? A big plus that it cost no extra money since I already had the wallpaper. I still have to spray paint the hardware and put it back on. Also: Did you peep that rug? SWOON!

Monday I took a trip to IKEA and purchased the pendant lamp, which will hopefully go up over this weekend, and the second part of the shelving. While I was at work Ethan put the shelf together (he’s such a doll) and today we hung the curtains. I really won’t elaborate too much because I don’t want to give the whole reveal away. The least I can say is SH*T looks good.

After the light fixture goes in I’m going to DIY some last minute things and do the fun part, which is all the styling.

I unboxed the Gray Malin print, which looks amazing. It’s such a fun print and I can’t wait to hang it! I’m shooting the reveal next Wednesday so make sure you tune into my Instagram stories to see some behind the scenes. I’m beyond excited to team up with another local female photographer, Keren, of Finally Home JC.

One million glass clinks to a very successful week 4 of the One Room Challenge. I can not wait to show you what I’ve done with my office. I keep catching myself standing in the hallway peering into my office completely in love with it already. Mission accomplished.

Make sure you’re following along on Instagram with #TheOfficeOverhaul + checking in on my stories and my Office Overhaul board on Pinterest. Catch up on the progress of this room with Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3.

Office Overhaul | Transforming a Room with Paint

April 18, 2018 by Natalie 4 Comments

I’m so excited for Week 3 of the One Room Challenge. Things are speeding along and yesterday we began transforming a room with paint. It is really crazy how much of a difference a fresh coat of paint really does! I have to thank Ethan for this week because he started painting the office for me on Tuesday while I was at work and that has really helped me stay on track with the Office Overhaul. Everyone say thanks, Ethan!

I bought the paint on Monday night and decided to go with Benjamin Moore Bold Yellow which is part of their Classic Color Collection. At first, I was a little nervous that this color would be too bright. Should I have tested it? Maybe. Once the color was on the walls I knew I made the right choice. It is exactly the color I was dreaming of! Bright, sunny, and invigorating. I already can’t wait to get some work done at my desk with a cup of coffee and some lemon essential oil diffusing.

Now that the hardest part (I think) is over, I really only have a few more things to do. This weekend I’m going to paint the desk. I chose another color by Benjamin Moore Razzle Dazzle. I checked the last item off my product ordering list today, yay! So far the items that have arrived are the rug, curtains, all the paint, and the Jonathan Adler goodies. On the way are the chair and the Gray Malin print. Next week I’m taking a trip to IKEA to grab the pendant lamp and the second part of the shelving. Then it all comes together!

I’m going to try to carve out some time to get a few DIYs in next weekend too. I’m thinking this Litter Box Cover DIY and this Ombre Pegboard Shelf. Also, I’m going to get a cheap faux sheepskin from IKEA and dye it so I can use it as a seat cover for the acrylic chair.

Bowie was my little helper today. He desperately needs a bath and some grooming but he’s still a cutie. Make sure you keep following my Office Overhaul board on Pinterest because I keep adding ideas and items as I find them. Cheers to success so far with the 2018 Spring One Room Challenge! Are you following any other room transformations participating in the One Room Challenge? Let me know your favorites below! xo

If you’re just chiming in, make sure to check out Week 1 and Week 2 of the Office Overhaul. Follow along on Instagram with #TheOfficeOverhaul.

Office Overhaul | Design Plan + Budget

April 11, 2018 by Natalie 3 Comments

It’s the second week of the One Room Challenge and I’m sharing my Design Plan + Budget with you all today for the Office Overhaul. I’ve been very proactive this time around and have placed orders for a lot of items in the design plan. I’ve learned the hard way from the last two One Room Challenges that I have participated in. Things get lost or don’t show up, so the earlier you get your orders placed the better. I’m trying to keep the stress minimal. I will not stay up late the night before a shoot panicking because I’m not prepared. You know, like not having enough wallpaper or DIYing plant hangers that didn’t get here on time (insert eye-roll here).

So let’s move on to my inspiration, design plan, and picks for the Office Overhaul.

Inspiration

As always, I’m forever drawing inspiration from Palm Springs. I basically designed this whole room around my love for The Parker Hotel. I’ve actually never stayed there, unfortunately, it’s a little out of my price range. One day I will though and it will be glorious! Whenever Ethan and I visit Palm Springs we always plan to have breakfast in The Parker at Norma’s for one of our morning meals. The food there is absolutely amazing (try the oatmeal brûlée) and I love to sit on the back patio. The hotel, designed by my favorite interior designer Jonathan Adler, is someone I’ve admired since design school. When I’m there it is so inspiring because you’re sitting in the perfect fantasy of what a Palm Springs house should be.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13

Design Plan

I decided to color block the walls instead of going with wallpaper. The upper part of the walls will remain white and the bottom half will be bright yellow. I picked a sunshiny yellow that reminded me of the yellow umbrellas on the back patio at Norma’s. For the carpet, I chose an orange one reminiscent of the orange rug on the floor at The Parker. The rug in the hallway of The Parker is actually the same rug in the movie The Shining, which totally freaks me out! I’d have nightmares so I didn’t choose that one, instead, I chose something with a little pink in it to complement the desk.

The desk was such a good find and I can’t wait to show you! I sold my original desk (before photos here) and actually found the desk of my dreams on the Facebook Marketplace. Crazy! It’s a vintage Hollywood Regency style desk with faux bamboo trim. I’ve linked to a similar desk above.

We drove all the way to Jackson Heights which is deep in Queens, NYC, and carried it down a four-story walk up. We almost died trying to get it into our house. Luckily a kind neighbor helped us carry it in. Anyways, it needs a little love and I’m giving it a makeover. I’m painting it a bright pink similar to the one pictured above. Did you really think I was going to design a room without any pink in it? To be fair, it is a different shade of pink than my usual pastel.

The larger IKEA bookshelf I already owned from my studio. I’m buying the smaller version to put beside it to increase shelving space. Since the new desk is much smaller, it opened up a lot of floor space for an additional piece of furniture. I’m going to swap out my current chair for a ghost chair. I love acrylic furniture because it’s useful but doesn’t take up any visual space because it’s clear. I’m going to DIY a seat cover for it based on a set of very expensive chairs I saw in a vintage shop in Palm Springs. Stay tuned for that!

Also from IKEA, I plan to get the rattan pendant lamp that I’ve wanted since it came out! Hopefully, there aren’t any problems with swapping out the light fixture like last time. Prayers and positive vibes everyone! It was really hard to find banana leaf curtains and these are actually old H&M that I snagged on eBay. Such a score because similar curtains are over $200 a panel. These only cost me $50 for 2 panels!

I’m having trouble with that desk lamp because the one I wanted from World Market is currently out of stock online. There’s a similar one on West Elm but it’s a little more expensive. I haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I’ll be adding plants (DUH!) in these cute wall planters from Target and hopefully a fiddle leaf fig in a seagrass basket. I have the basket already but I linked to the one pictured above.

The main star of it all will be this print by Gray Malin from his series At The Parker. I’ve wanted this print for so long and I bought it just a few days ago because he was having a free framing + shipping sale which saved me almost $200. This was the most expensive thing in the design plan but I really feel like this is the only photograph I want hanging above my desk in my Parker themed office. If Jonathan Adler is my favorite interior designer, Gray Malin is my favorite modern photographer. His work is fun and he has fused photography, interior design, and travel in a way that is full of adventure. When I look at his images I want to live in them.

Lastly, I couldn’t have a Parker Palm Springs-themed office without a gold banana vase from Jonathan Adler. For those of you that don’t know there’s a 7-foot giant banana sculpture on the lawn of The Parker. This one isn’t 7 feet but I needed a gold banana sculpture! 😉

Budget

As of now with the items listed above in the design plan, my budget is looking like $881 for this project. I’ve sold two items from my current office that raised $100 to put towards the budget which brings it down to $781. This will probably be adjusted as I go along and will depend on what lamp I decide to buy and if I use a few other things I already have.

I always aim to keep my design budget low and renter friendly because I am in fact a renter. I also believe that design and decor should be for everyone. That’s why I look for items and decor with approachable price points that can be accessible to a lot of peoples budgets. I already have the desk, large shelving, planters, and curtains. Orders for the Gray Malin print and rug have been placed, which I got both on sale! This week I’ll be placing the rest of my product orders and testing out some paints colors. Stay tuned to see what happens next!

Sunday Kind of Love

February 4, 2018 by Natalie Leave a Comment

I think I need to set more attainable goals when it comes to my Sunday Kind of Love posts. For some reason, I just can’t seem to keep up. One day they will become weekly again but for now, I will pop in when I can — OK? Above is your Monday motivation.

I fell off the January Cure a little but am continuing it into February. Everything is almost done but I’m waiting for some things from the container store to get here so I can organize the closets. I can’t wait to have organized and functional closets. Are there people out there that have those? I still need to order my wallpaper for the bedroom but I keep stalling because it’s kind of pricey. We are signing on for another year in our apartment so there will be plenty of time. My goal is to finish the bedroom and my office by Spring. Fingers crossed I can hold myself to it!
While I was on Pinterest this week I spotted a photo of my Hallway Refresh for the One Room Challenge. I figured someone had pinned it from my reveal post BUT it was actually from Apartment Therapy. It was in a before + after feature that was posted back in December and I somehow missed it! If you want to check it out head over to Apartment Therapy.
Two posts went up on A Beautiful Mess and Palm Springs Style last week. I shared Tips for Mixing Healthier Cocktails plus three fresh vegetable juice cocktails and a Spicy Beet Bloody Mary. I’ve been on a fresh juice/healthy cocktail kick since I got my Hurom slow juicer. No regrets, I’m still totally in love with this juicer. Worth every single penny! Go check out the recipes and let me know what you think.
I’ve been feeling down lately. Not sure if it’s the workload, the weather, or my San Pedro Cactus dying. Yes, I’ve officially stripped myself of my plant lady title until further notice. Anyways, today I came across A Month of Self-Love that Glitter Guide is doing and I think I’m going to join in. I need to start taking better care of myself and making self-love a priority. Hopefully, these tasks will help me make it a part of my daily routine again. My life is busy but I need to have a healthy mind and body so I can stay motivated.
One thing I have to look forward to… I booked a trip to Palm Springs for Modernism Week at the end of this month! Last years trip to Palm Springs pretty much changed my life forever and I can’t wait to get back to the place that inspires me every day. I really need this trip to relax and I think it will be good for my soul to get back to the desert. I’m not going to lie, one day I might just go there and never come back.

Happy Sunday everyone! xo

Sunday Kind of Love

January 14, 2018 by Natalie Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone! Just checking in to see how your week went. I had a pretty busy one filled with work, lots of photo shoots for new blog posts, and one really bad hangover. OUCH! The Dutch Kills staff party was on Monday and I went a little too hard. Does anyone else get 3-day hangovers like me? I’m back to share my Sunday Kind of Love Post with you. Did any of you decide to also take part in Apartment Therapy’s January Cure? I’m still at it and I’m sharing my progress plus some items I’m looking at to get more organized in the new year.

I loved so many of the assignments this week.

Spend time with your home tonight. This was a media fast day which is so refreshing for me. It’s great to sit and think about all the things you want to accomplish with no distractions
Identify the places at home where paper tends to collect and work to get rid of it. This was a big one for me because I freelance which means I save ALL of my receipts. Keeping all the paper organized is important so I don’t lose anything I need but I cleaned out my desk, purse, and kitchen counter where the papers like to hang out.
Take some pictures of your home and use them to help you pick one thing from your list of projects to finish. I would really love to wallpaper the bedroom so hopefully, I can order it in time to be done this month!
Get your primary sofa into shape. I removed all cushions and gave the sofa a quick vacuum. Then I vacuumed and fluffed each cushion. My pink couch from Article was my dream couch and I’m so happy to own it. This was a quick refresh and made my favorite spot look flawless.
Refreshing the kitchen. This assignment had many parts to it and I did my best to tackle most of them. Basically, you organize everything in your cabinets and drawers plus get rid of anything you don’t need. Lucky for me I organized all my drawers last week! The other part of this assignment is cleaning the entire kitchen by decluttering, cleaning the appliances, and wiping down everything. I’m pretty much done besides tackling the inside of my cabinets. Do you know how much glassware I have? A LOT. Pour me a glass of wine and I’ll finish this by tonight.

I desperately need to organize all the closets because I know they could be more functional. Here are some items I want to get for the January Cure.

This door rack for the kitchen closet.
This shelf tower for the kitchen closet.
This wallpaper for the kitchen backsplash.
This wallpaper for the bedroom.

I’m sure I’ll be adding more things to that list as the month goes on. What are you doing to get your home more organized in the new year? Are there any big projects you want to tackle to get your home in order? Let me know in the comments below. xo

One Room Challenge Final Reveal of The Hallway Refresh

November 15, 2017 by Natalie 41 Comments

I am beyond excited to be showing you the One Room Challenge Final Reveal of The Hallway Refresh. Honestly, I almost didn’t survive this 6-week design challenge. After a few breakdowns and some tears, I think I can finally laugh about it. Despite some ups and downs with the light fixture and not getting a product on time, we pulled through and I am SO happy with the final results!

Originally I picked the hallway because the design process had already started in the rest of the rooms of the house. The hallway was neglected and kind of sad and dingy looking. When the One Room Challenge came back around I took it as my chance to force myself to fix up this space. I’m so glad I did because I think it is now my favorite area of the house. Is it weird if I just hang out in the stairwell?

In case you missed any of my previous posts about the One Room Challenge, I put together a few before and after comparisons for quick reference. Taking a look at all the before photos is recommended to fully appreciate the results of the One Room Challenge Final Reveal of the Hallway Refresh.

By far painting, the stairs is the biggest upgrade to this space. When we looked at the apartment the stairs and banister were actually brown, having never been renovated since probably the 1970s. When we moved in the banister was white and the stairs were painted a mustard yellow. This was definitely an improvement but the paint job wasn’t that great. I’m sure they were just rushing to get it done but the sight of it really bothered me. Now the stairs are so colorful and bright. The sun from the skylight reflects off of the stairs and brings a lot more light to the bottom hallway as well. Looking at the staircase instantly puts me in a better mood. How can you not be happy looking at a rainbow of pink?

The other goal of redoing this space was to brighten up the bottom hallway. It is the only area in the whole house with no window, therefore, it is the darkest. I picked a light and airy wallpaper for the accent wall and created a landing area. I bought this bench, this coat rack, and added baskets. Now we can hang coats, put down our bags, and store shoes. I’m really happy with this upgrade because it so much better looking but it is also so much more functional. I’m glad that the light fixture worked out in the end because it was so important to the design. It also gives off so much more light than the old fixture on top of also being way better looking. Thanks for all the support while I figured out how to install it!

The last problem I encountered was the macrame plant hangers did not get delivered on time. This really bothered me because they were the first things I ordered 6 weeks ago. I went back to my original plan of DIYing plant hangers out of twine instead. The stairwell wall gets so much light which is why it was important to incorporate plants here. I love how easy the plant hangers were to make and the contrast of the twine against the white wall. I wish I had stuck with that plan instead of causing myself so much stress. In the end, I’m happy with how this wall came out. There are never enough plants.

I needed art for the top of the stairwell and Ethan made this abstract painting that came out so good! I’m completely in love with it and so happy that we decided to do that last minute.

I could go on and on about how happy I am with the turnout of the One Room Challenge Final Reveal of the Hallway Refresh. I’ve listed all the room sources below as well as links to each week of the One Room Challenge. A huge thank you to the One Room Challenge for letting me be a guest participant, Ethan for putting up with all my craziness and my friend Thaddeus Rombauer (who is an amazing photographer) for helping me photograph the space. Be sure to head over to the Calling it Home website to check out all the other One Room Challenge guest participants room reveals today and also yesterdays One Room Challenge participants reveals.

Thanks for following along on this crazy journey! I hope you enjoyed the way the Hallway Refresh came together. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Wallpaper / Bench / Coat Rack / Light Fixture / Paint / Flower Pots / Baskets / Rug / DIY Plant Hangers

Week 1 / Week 2 / Week 3 / Week 4 / Week 5 / Week 6

at home

Inspiration

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