I recently hit my T-shirt frustration point – just not having any that I felt comfortable in (outside of a couple of vintage gems). Now I like boxier, looser, and not “too long” T-shirts, which is a cut that might be less popular (I think most people like more fitted T-shirts). Can’t a gal easily find non tight T-shirts? I know that oversized is what’s in, but when it’s not the right cut, it looks really schlubby on me, and while I don’t mind if they hug the boobs a tiny bit, I don’t want them hugging anywhere else (or showing bra lines, etc). But I found a few that are pretty dang good, and we shot them for a T-shirt show-and-tell. Let’s get to it:)

Hat | Necklace | Shirt | Shorts | Sandals

The slight drop shoulder and wider sleeves make this feel stylish, but it’s also just a super easy black-and-white shirt to layer over. I’m wearing an XS, so size down unless you want super oversized. Just super easy to make any basic look feel a little more stylish.

Hat | Necklace | Shirt | Shorts | Sandals

This was my #1 winner here for value + style (and I bought in a solid burgundy, too). It has a soft vintage wash, dropped shoulders, a great color combo (burgundy and navy), and totally feels like The Great, while only being $25. It’s a bit long, but an easy 1/2 tuck (or you could do what the kids are doing and tuck part of it into your bra strap so it kind of bellows out – I did that one day and actually thought it was super cute). I’m wearing an XXS (size down).

Hat | Necklace (unavailable) | Shirt | Shorts | Sandals | Purse

While I know it’s 1,000,000x cooler to wear actual vintage shirts, this is a solidly good shirt for getting the vibe. I rolled the sleeves, which I think is the right move, and the washed black color is perfect. I’m wearing a XXS so def size down unless you want super oversized.

Hat (similar) | Beaded Necklace | Shirt | Shorts | Belt | Sandals

Ugh. I’m not really selling this V-neck here, but it’s boxy, and loose and cropped just enough for an easy tuck. I bought this in light grey, too, and it’s the perfect heather color.

Hat | Beaded Necklace | Shirt | Shorts | Belt | Sandals

Another shirt that feels vintage and makes a basic outfit slightly cooler but in a neutral palette that is easy to mix. If you like short shorts (y’all this long JORT craze is taking over!!) I really love these shorties from Free People – low wide, sit on the hips perfectly, etc.

Hat | Beaded Necklace | Shirt | Shorts | Belt | Sandals

I tried a few white T-shirts, and they all hugged somewhere in a way I didn’t feel great in. But this one is basic, a great length and some structure (so not too drapey, more boxy), and just fit so well. Comes in a few colors, too (I also bought one in burgundy that I work out in).

Hat | Beaded Necklace | Shirt | Shorts (vintage) | Belt | Slides

Lastly, the muscle shirt that has such a great vintage texture and I find so easy to wear and flattering. It’s still on sale at the Nordys Anniversary sale for $45 but will go up to $68 after it’s over, so snag it if you want. Vintage Levi shorts, I’m sorry.

I feel like I have my fall base layer now. And yes, fall is so close, and I’m not ready, but I am ready, but I’m not ready, but I am ready. You know what I’m talking about.

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

The garden has exploded this year (turns out heavy rain + lots of sun + good design + good maintenance are the key, lol). Get excited for this backyard tour, y’all. Last summer we finished another phase of landscaping and turned the massive broken-tennis-court-turned-cement pad into a smaller pickleball court, and then we hired Dennis’ 7 Dees to do all the hardscape and landscape (shout out to Eric, our designer who totally got us). Year one was sooooo pretty. And yet year 2 is an even more magical wonderland of plants. A quick and satisfying recap:

When We Bought The Property…

It was rustic and charming, and while we didn’t intend on doing so much (we loved the idea of grass and using the existing tennis court as a sports court), the construction of the house ruined a lot of the original landscaping, so we launched into re-landscaping. The end of that string was very hard to find (and we still aren’t done – so doing it all in phases).

A Year (Or Two?) Of Mud

Despite our efforts, we had to take out the broken tennis court (which we were able to grind into gravel, BTW, and we used for our access lane), and once the machines were here ripping it all up, the entire yard became a mud pit. I’m not sure if it was more “give a mouse a cookie” syndrome or an unstoppable snowball, but let’s just say it triggered extensive updates that we are so grateful for. The band-aid was pulled off, and the hardscape, landscape, mini-gym, and Soake pool area were all put in.

The Too-Big Cement Pad

But the reduced-sized tennis court was still too big (IMHO, Brian loved the huge sports court, lol, but now realizes that I’m right). So we took a year and a half break and last year hired Dennis’ 7 Dees to reduce the pad and landscape the area underneath it and around the future outdoor BBQ area.

Last summer I did a full process post showing how they did it and how long it took, so if you are new to this and you want more info, check out this post.

Cut Down Sports Court, Outdoor Kitchen Summer Of 2025

The Dennis’ 7 Dees crew did such an impressive job – fast, professional, and super high quality. Hot tip – Book them in the fall so they design in the winter for an early spring install – that is their slower time, so they have more crew to put on your project. We finalized the design by February, and it was completely done in late April (or somewhere around there – but FAST).

It looked amazing in year one. Monrovia, which is a huge nursery in Oregon, grows really healthy, robust plants, so they planted larger than you can typically. You could still see bark and some plants were still small, but for year one we were so impressed.

Introducing…Summer Backyard Tour 2026

It’s so lush and beautiful right now, and we are enjoying the heck out of this yard. It changes every month, so I didn’t know when to shoot it, and August normally gets pretty hot, so I thought mid-July would be best. But little did I know that all the hydrangeas turn to blush pink in late July, and now I want to show you that!

Seating Set

The winter was actually still so pretty thanks to the abundance of evergreens (you can see that tour here). We already have had a huge harvest and cutback of the white garden roses, so there are less of them in these shots, but they are coming back really strong. Oh, and as you can see, we added some way more comfortable and durable seating by Polywood that I can leave out year-round without being covered (yes, in the extreme rain).

The sofa and chair set is really comfortable and is getting so much use already (it’s the best place to read while the kids are playing on the sports court). Being surrounded by the greenery feels like you are in a hidden garden, and by the time I’m out there reading (in the evening ) it’s shaded by the tall trees. But we have a third umbrella on hand during daytime hangs.

The entire garden looks like it’s been here for years and years. It’s just so lush and natural. Remember that Oregon conditions make it much easier to have a lush garden – the entire city looks so beautiful and abundant right now. Our summers are dry, so you don’t invest in this kind of landscaping without irrigation unless you are good at daily watering, but the rest of the year is so wet that the second the sun comes out, everything just bursts and it’s incredibly satisfying. We have all our irrigation on our well, thank goodness, and Dennis’ 7 Dees monitors the water needs closely.

I love that the ground cover in between the stones is thriving and so sweet. Dennis’ 7 Dees also did the area on the left side of the gazebo, which really softened that harshness of the building and made it look like it’s been there longer.

Adirondack Chairs

Aesthetically, we loved the wood picnic tables more, but functionally no one really wanted to sit in them (I think people felt locked into a conversation during parties, not to mention the lack of back support). I found that most people remained standing holding their food and drink, and as a host that mostly cares that people have fun and can relax, it bummed me out. So having these two conversation groupings (one for firepit, one for lounging) has been awesome, and they get SO MUCH USE.

I chose the green Polywood in hopes that it would blend the most year-round. We thought that black would be too modern and that white would be too bright, and we already had the green stools so we just went with it. Then we chose a more tonal soft green Sunbrella fabric to reduce contrast and again, just have them blend in with the garden.

Our wild strawberry groundcover has really taken hold in some places, but it’s so lush and natural that we love it.

We love how layered it is with different heights, textures, sizes of leaves, and color variation. There are still a lot of perennials, and some are just not popping up (so many more echinaceas have bloomed since we shot this).

I’m sure a lot of you are wondering about maintenance, because obviously this doesn’t maintain itself. Because of my job, this property needs to look good year-round, so I’m so grateful to have Dennis’ 7 Dees crew maintain it (Fernando comes every week in the summer and once a month after big cutbacks in the winter). Charlie and Elliot mow the lawns unless we are out of town. And then once a quarter, a project manager will come by and see if there are any more major tweaks that need to be made or requests from us. The garden has a mind of its own, and some plants take over, or maybe we want a jasmine to climb the posts, etc. So then we pay extra for additional work outside of maintenance. It’s a big property, but they did a really good job of weed abatement, so it’s usually a 2-3 hour maintenance every week.

I think we are those odd clients that don’t mind it more grown and less manicured (I don’t even like sharp edgelines on the grass), so we often let things grow more and then we’ll cut back in the late fall. I know it’s an extreme luxury and privilege to have maintenance, but one of the best things we did this time around is hiring the same people that designed and installed the landscaping to do the maintenance. They just know the overall art direction and irrigation system so well when it needs to be tweaked. There is so much trust. Also, having an in-house maintenance team means they are inherently much more invested in keeping it looking really good and keeping all the plants healthy because it’s their work. Same with interior design, there are going to be changes and tweaks based on how a family lives so I actually love it when my friends call and say “hey we need to get new bedding, what do you think about this” so that the room remains looking good (Don’t worry, it’s not a requirement and I’m not weird about it, but I like that we both care that the design work continues to look really good, even years after its “reveal”).

The hydrangeas really are the star right now. They are Panicle (sun-loving) hydrangeas from Monrovia that Dennis’ 7 Dees has at most of their nurseries. They change colors – more pink in late summer and burgundy in the fall. Truly incredible.

Eric also redesigned the pool area this year, which is growing in so well, but I’ll show you that in our next Soake pool update post. While I loved the wildflowers from years 1-3, they were getting too messy even for us, so we took most of them out and Dennis’ 7 Dees planted more of what we have around the flagstone here instead. It’s still natural, but it’s so pretty and is easier to see over.

The overhead shots really are my favorites – we feel extremely, extremely lucky. This summer we had so many kids here every day running around. And don’t worry, all the random socks, towels, plastic squirt guns, frisbees, balls, water cups, janky pool toys, and trash are not shown – it doesn’t always look this good. We always have to do a huge yard cleanup before we shoot in the summer because these feral summertime kids do a lot of beloved damage.

Our Soake pool has gotten so much use this summer (and winter and fall and spring) because even though it’s small, when it’s hot outside it’s PERFECT.

We have our annual pickleball tournament fundraiser for our elementary school in two weeks, which is only for grownups (and taken very seriously by some of our neighbors). It’s always a blast, so I’ll try to take more footage (but understandably not all our neighbors are as psyched to be all over the internet as I am). Point is, we feel extremely grateful and lucky to live here and continue to use and share our yard.

We have 2-3 more months of nightly hangs out here before the great long dark. So trust me that we’ll take advantage of every night possible.

Here is a pretty fun true “before and after”!

And the next two are sliders showing the difference between last year and this year:)

A huge thanks to Dennis’ 7 Dees for the design and install of the garden. If you are in the Portland area, I can’t recommend them enough for design, project management, install, and maintenance. And for most people who aren’t going to hire out for a full design, their nurseries are the best (one in Lake Oswego, a new one near me in Raleigh Hills, Cedar Hills, and Vancouver). And for a very fun perspective from their side as well as specific plants they used, head to their post on the project

*Photo by Kaitlin Green

If last week’s update was a schadenfreude-y dump of bad news, this week’s post is the opposite. Because guys – I DID IT. I sold my childhood home. FOR OVER ASKING. Not just that: I set the price record for my neighborhood! We just closed on Tuesday afternoon – I got the text that the sale had been completed while on a Zoom meeting with Em and one of our partners, which made it even sweeter – and I am still in shock that something good happened. So today, I’m ready to spill the tea: everything I spent to prep the house for sale, the offers I considered, closing costs, and how much we netted at the end. (I’ve always been curious about how that math shakes out, and I’m happy to share with the class.) I also have lots of really exciting news, so settle in – it’s a feel-good post, finally. I promised a happy ending, and boy – I AM GOING TO DELIVER!!!

The Total Prep Spend

Let’s kick it off with all the updates currently tanking my credit score. In all honesty, this is a much smaller scope of work than I’d expected – I planned to fix the dinged walls and scuffed paint – but focusing on only the crucial fixes paid off. My realtor graciously covered the professional deep cleaning service before our open house and after I’d completed the move-out, which my wallet very much appreciated, but all other costs are below…

• Replaced Tile in Entry/Laundry Room: $3,752.20
• Replaced Carpet in Basement, Family Room, and Entire Second Story: $19,236.60
• Replaced Gas Furnace (with 10 Year Warranty): $9,991
• Replaced Sump Pump: $1,089.70
• Outdoor Pipe Repair: $467
• Installed New Toilet and Pedestal Sink in Powder Room: $1,247.03
• Weekly Mowing: $1,500
• Fresh Mulch: $2,000
• Refreshed Outdoor Plants: $500
• U-Haul Rentals (x4, Varying Sizes): $1,288.55
• Junk Removal (x4, Varying Sizes): $1,928

The Grand Total: $43,000.08

Again, this remains the most money I’ve ever spent on anything in my life – over the past few months, my credit utilization ratio has gone through the freakin’ roof. When I add in the monthly mortgage and bills, the number creeps to well over $50,000. It’s been a huge expense to juggle but honestly, now that I’m a little removed from the situation (she writes, hours after bringing the sale proceeds to the bank), I feel really proud of myself for being able to make this work – it was really hard to manage all of these unexpected costs, but I still kept my head above water and got it done. Ironically, it almost made me feel closer to my parents – they both worked in banking, and I’d like to think that I absorbed some of their financial wisdom through osmosis. I feel like I faced a hard situation like a real, competent grown-up!

But there was some good news about all that spending, too: when my realtor looked at the work I’d put in along with the prices of the newly-listed competing houses in my neighborhood, she suggested raising our asking price from $825,000 to $839,000. I was a little nervous about this – the two most recent comps on our street had sold for $839,000 and $849,000 in 2025, and I wasn’t sure how my home compared – but I trusted her expertise and agreed that closing the gap a bit would be wise. (In case you forgot – 3 houses on my street went on the market within 8 days of each other – the first for $989,000, the second for $939,000, and we were third to market with the adjusted price of $839,000.)

The Offer(s)

This is where I left you last week: Dennis and I scrambled to get the house clear enough for photos and staging, handed the keys to my realtor to prep for an open house, and immediately booked it to the airport for a 2-week Ireland excursion with 13 (!!!) members of his family. (Side note: as someone who grew up with like, 3 family members, it is SO FUN to have a partner with both parents and siblings and tons of aunts and uncles and cousins. We stayed in Cavan, the town Den’s great-grandfather immigrated from, and it was a blast to explore the country with such a fun group. I really lucked out here – it was a much-needed break with some really wonderful folks.)

ANYWAY – I highly recommend this hands-off strategy. I personally really struggled with seeing the changes in my childhood home – every junk pickup was emotionally challenging; working with my organizer stirred up difficult feelings; and I know that seeing things move around in preparation for the open house would have made me a little prickly, so the distance was much appreciated. If you’re able to give yourself some physical space from your home at this time, I think it really can help protect your heart a little bit. (And I’m sure my realtor was glad that I wasn’t like, sitting on the couch weeping while she further decluttered. Everyone wins!)

So while I gallivanted around Ireland (did I mention that Dennis was one of our drivers? He did great!), my realtor held two weekend open houses…and the offers began to roll in. We listed on Friday, June 5th, and by the evening of the 6th, I was sitting on two offers with verbal promises of several more coming first thing Monday morning. Den and I were sitting in the living room of our Airbnb when I got a text from my realtor, who told me to check my email for the specifics, and when I did…you guys, I WAS FLOORED.

The first offer was for $900,000. Your eyes do not deceive you: NINE. HUNDRED. THOUSAND. DOLLARS. That’s $61,000 over asking (I told you those updates paid off!), $75,000 more than our original asking price, and SO MUCH MORE than I’d ever imagined when we kicked off this process. They’d waived all but the finance contingency, wrote a beautiful letter, and offered to cover a $45,000 appraisal gap. The best part? They were a young family, with ties to one of the hospitals that had treated Brenda in 2025. They were exactly the buyer I’d dreamed of when I decided to eschew that $776,000 OpenDoor offer – I am so glad I was able to sell directly to people who loved my home as much as I did and that I didn’t just line a business’s pockets.

The second offer started at $850,000, but was raised to $875,000, and included all contingencies. And while I knew that more offers were inbound on Monday, I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time – I knew I’d already found the right buyers and was confident to move forward knowing we still had an ultra-solid backup offer. Sitting in Cavan, Ireland, I entered escrow on my childhood home on a Sunday evening. My realtor says she thinks my mom sent those buyers, and honestly, I do too – I am so, so, so grateful that their two little peanuts will get to grow up in the same house that I did. I love knowing that my childhood home – once filled with a never-ending barrage of teens screaming about everything at all hours of the day and night – will again be filled with love and fun and joy. (Let this be a lesson that sometimes, taking a chance on the hard route really does pay off.)

But Wait, There’s More

This is where I really feel like Brenda worked some magic from somewhere in the universe: our house appraised for $945,000. That’s $106,000 over asking (!!!), and $45,000 over what our buyers paid. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! The buyers also asked to keep a bunch of furniture, which took even more off my plate – it felt like a miracle. I’m so excited and truly feel like everyone won in this situation – the buyers are walking in with bonus equity and a partially furnished home, and I’m clearly overjoyed by how it worked out on my behalf. Happy endings all around!!!

…with a few exceptions, I think. Remember my neighbors? The home listed at $989,000 ended up selling for $874,600 – they discovered some issues during inspection – and the house that listed for $939,000 had to drop their price to $899,900. They’re currently still under contract, but my realtor suggested the purchase price was going to still be a bit lower. So despite the massive gaps in asking price and the differences in our finished square footage…we somehow came out on top. I genuinely wish my mom could have seen how it all shook out – I’d do anything to just be able to talk to her about it, even if it was only for a few minutes. I don’t think she’d believe it!

The Take Home $$$

I’m going to be honest: I had no idea what to expect here. I knew that I was forking out 5% for my realtor fees; I knew that $172,000 remained on our mortgage; I knew that there’d be some type of transfer tax…but I wasn’t sure how the proceeds would shake out, and I feel like most people don’t discuss this part, so I’m taking one for the team and sharing all of my fees, closing costs, and the like. We’re all friends here at this point, right? (I mean – we’ve been through everything together. You’ve seen me fail at buying a house several times; you’ve seen me successfully sell a house – we’re basically family at this point, no?)

In total, the buyer had to pay $901,046.08. The additional grand came from a prorated reimbursement for the sewer fees, HOA fees, a water fee, and property taxes that I’d paid in 2026. But now, let’s break down my closing costs (because they were not cheap!)…

• Settlement Fee: $150
• Wire Payoff Fee: $35
• County Transfer Tax: $6,750
• State Transfer Tax: $11,250
• Realtor Admin Fee: $395
• My Realtor Commission: $22,500
• Buyer Realtor Commission: $22,500
• HOA Dues: $300
• Final Water Hold: $100
• Water Transfer Bill: $293,28

Closing Costs Total: $64,273.28

We had $172,876.02 left on the mortgage (at an incredible interest rate – oh man, it was hard to see that go!), which brings my total seller costs to $237,659.41. So yesterday morning, the day after closing, I picked up a check for $663,386.67, which was promptly deposited into the trust’s bank account. I’m waiting on the official green light from my estate attorneys before I reimburse myself for any of my costs (no splurges here – the funds aren’t mine yet! I’m a responsible successor trustee!), but PHEW. I am so relieved to be one step closer to paying off this credit card debt!!!

A Brief Aside

This is where I spill the beans: that extra $61,000 over asking is going to come in pretty handy, because DENNIS AND I ARE ENGAGED! (That feels crazy to write – it seems like just yesterday I was telling you guys that I fell in love for the first time.) It is a little bittersweet, though – in October 2025, after my mom’s cancer had spread to her brain, we’d agreed that we’d get married in the hospital if things started going south. But then things did start going south, and I found myself juggling a ton of hospice paperwork and final goodbyes, and it was Christmastime, and it didn’t really feel appropriate to drag a bunch of people into a hospital room for my own benefit as my mom faded away. Her last long conversation was actually with Dennis – she gave him a whole-hearted blessing, reaffirmed that he’s a great guy, and said she was thrilled I got to join a big family. She died 3 days later.

GOD, THAT’S SO SAD. Let me cheer you up a bit: in February, Den and I flew back to LA to spend 2 weeks in our apartment (yes, we’re still paying rent for this glorified storage unit). Our EHD Q1 retreat was being held in Palm Springs, we’d been working on clearing out my childhood home for about two months, and we desperately needed an escape from the winter’s punishing (and seemingly non-stop) snow and ice storms. A trip back home to LA was a helpful reminder that we did once have a life outside of caregiving and executrix-ing and trustee-ing.

This is where it gets cute: I drove back from our Palm Springs retreat, parked in our garage, called Dennis and asked him to help schlep all my stuff upstairs, and followed him as he opened the door to our apartment. I first spotted my monthly Bouqs delivery – he gets me a subscription every Christmas, highly recommend! – and was excited that my flowers had arrived. But then I saw another bouquet…and another one…and as I was wondering who’d sent all me these sympathy bouquets, I realized that Den was on one knee and proposing, right in our beautiful little living room. He later told me he wasn’t nervous about me saying “yes,” but he was nervous about making sure it looked nice – and boy, he did a great job. It was private, a total surprise, and absolutely perfect. (I only wish I hadn’t said “IS THIS REAL? THIS IS HAPPENING? IT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?” over and over and over while he did it. SO EMBARRASSING.)

So that’s the first secret I’ve been keeping from you for the last 5 and a half months – I’M AN ENGAGED LADY! And I couldn’t be happier to spend the rest of my life with Den. We’ve been through a lot of “for worse” over the past few years – the first time I met his extended family, his grandmother passed away in the room; he moved cross-country for me before immediately moving back into my childhood home; he woke up multiple times per night to help me lift and move my mom when she couldn’t do it herself; we’ve now cleaned out 5,000 square feet of stuff and sold a home together – and he’s just made every experience survivable and – dare I say it – even fun. He’s genuinely kind, he gives 100% effort, he steps up to handle things when I can’t manage, and he always knows how to put a smile on my face. (Den even cracked a joke that made me laugh minutes after my mom passed. I think I’ll always remember that one clearly, because that moment made me realize that I still had the capacity for joy somewhere inside, even though I knew I was about to dive headfirst into a horrible grief hole.) He’s the best teammate I’ve ever had; he’s held our world together like Atlas, and if we like hanging out with each other this much through all the hard stuff, I can’t wait to see how good our “for better” will be. The universe has dealt me a fair share of gnarly blows in the past 34 years, but it did me a real solid when it brought Den into my life. HE’S A KEEPER, FOLKS! I think he’s cute too

Our New Daughters

…they’re not human. (SORRY, I HAD TO.) But surprise: we inherited two cats, which brings our grand feline total up to three. I’m only telling you as context, but also because I wanted an excuse to show you pictures of these cutie patooties.

The black one (“Squeaky,” aka “Eeky,” “Eekers,” “Big Black Cat,” “Fat Cat,” “Beautiful Lady,” “Bean Dip”) showed up at Brenda’s house seven years ago out of nowhere and wormed her way into being a full-time house cat. This was actually my fault – my mom let her into the garage one day when it was raining; I opened the door to the house, she sprinted inside and just…stayed. She didn’t have a chip, and despite her feral beginnings, she’s since turned into an ABSOLUTE LOVE BUG, which is only hampered by her enormous size (20 pounds!). She was always on top of my mom, sitting chest to chest, one paw wrapped atop each shoulder like a hug, and I am so grateful to be the new recipient of those cuddles. It feels like getting a hug from Brenda

And I’m actually the second inheritor of this gray one (“Boots,” aka “Upstairs Cat,” “Upstairs,” “Janet Yellen”): she belonged to my great aunt, who passed in 2022. Boots was a feral barn cat from Amish country, and while Brenda was able to rehome all of the other cats that belonged to my great aunt, this one was just too skittish – my mom worried she’d be put down in a shelter. 4 years later, the cat is just as skittish, but I can finally pet her after months of work. (Did this cat also need surgery earlier this year? Of course she did! Because what’s a little more credit card debt?)

But man, AREN’T THEY CUTE? Naturally, Dennis is terribly allergic to all of them. He’s a trooper.

…And Our New (Vacation?) Home

If you read The Link Up every Sunday, you might have inferred this from my recent request for help…but SURPRISE, I’M (technically) A HOMEOWNER! (I’m actually just the successor trustee of the trust that owns the home, but that’s semantics.) Brenda actually had two properties in her trust – this one is an awesome condo in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware that she purchased in 2012. It had once been summer employee housing for the foreign students working at Funland (that’s an extremely specific detail for my DE readers out there), and she purchased it after it’d been foreclosed when the market crashed.

I still remember how she told me: we were at an ice skating competition somewhere in the Midwest (Michigan? Minnesota? Wisconsin? All I remember is that it was freezing!) and she woke me up from a nap by standing above me, holding a giant mermaid carving she’d picked up at an antique mall. When I asked where she was going to put it, she said it was going in the beach condo she’d purchased and that she’d be remodeling. When I asked for further clarification – What beach condo? Your beach condo? Who is remodeling? YOU are remodeling? – she confirmed that yes, she’d be undertaking this project…and man, she knocked it out of the park. I’m still proud of her!

I’ve been coming here a few times a year since – every July 4th, at the end of summer, and then again around the holidays, with a long stay during Covid – and it’s my favorite place in the world. It’s also made an incredible staging ground for all of the boxes, bins, and art I took out of my childhood home. I’ve slowly been working my way through a second round of decluttering and donations, which is SO MUCH EASIER when the items are in a new context. If you’re ever struggling with sentimental stuff, I highly recommend boxing it up and moving it to a new location – I cannot emphasize enough how the change of location and scenery has made it so much less painful to make ruthless donation decisions.

Dennis and I are planning to stay here for a while – it’s a great place to recollect ourselves while we figure out what’s next. (It also has air conditioning and room for 3 cats, which are two things our LA apartment does not offer.) I still have a ton of boxes to get through, and there are a few projects here I’d love to get done to make it less of a vacation home and more of an everyday home. We want to turn our powder bath into a pantry (there are 3 more full baths, so we’re not losing much), I’d love to upgrade the builder-grade wire closets with more functional storage, and we’re both dreaming of adding built-ins to the office to house the enormous book collection I saved from Brenda’s house (what can I say – I’m the daughter of two avid readers, and I love having the books their hands touched :)).

Naturally, it’s not all roses – the 20-year-old washing machine kicked the bucket in June; I had to get a new garbage disposal and piping installed on Tuesday, during which the plumber discovered that all my toilets are on their last legs; one of the hot water heaters is on the fritz – but it’s exciting, too. It was fun to pick a new washer! I’m enjoying looking at toilets! I’ve only been a renter, so finally having a home that I can modify to fit my needs is a dream come true. (I wish it wasn’t under such shitty circumstances, but that’s life, I guess.) But stay tuned, because I’m hoping to knock out some of those lighter-lift projects, like the closets and pantry, later this year – there’s a California Closets just down the road, and I have a feeling I’m about to become their number one customer.

What’s Next?

AHH. This is where I need to ask you guys: if you were in my shoes, what would you do? The house is finally sold, I’m wrapping up the probate process now, and I’m almost ready to start thinking about where we’ll live next. We both want to return to LA (the weather! The flea markets! The antiquing! My skating team! The job opportunities! Our friends! The diversity!), but we’re also tossing the idea of Philly around – it’d be great to be closer to Rehoboth, now that we have a spot here. We’ve also considered just staying in Rehoboth, but I think I feel most comfortable in a walkable city. In any case, every option for our future involves a bit of sacrifice – I’m curious how you’d play these cards.

AND THAT’S WHERE I’LL LEAVE YOU. I told you it’d be a happy ending, right? We had loss! We had love! We had triumph! We had plot twists! But it all kind of worked out at the end, I guess. Funny how that happens, huh? I feel like I’m closing the book on my childhood and about to kick off the second chapter of my life, and I’m finally starting to feel a little more ready to jump in. HERE’S TO THINGS LOOKING UP, FINALLY. Thank you for being here with me through it all!!! xxxxxxx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Caitlin Higgins (me!) | Styled by Emily Bowser | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: The Reveal We’ve All Been Waiting For! Caitlin’s Mostly Thrifted, Postmodern Regency Deco Living Room

We have been very lucky to have showcased many of Kirsten Blazek’s (of a1000xbetter) projects over the years. Remember this wood-filled beauty? This one, however, is extra special because this project is her actual personal home. For me, why I think I’m so drawn to her work in general is that there’s almost always a heavy dose of a Southwestern-inspired aesthetic. I mean, she’s known for it. Now, you may be thinking, but Jess, there’s nothing really “Southwest” about your aesthetic, so why?? Well, the town I grew up in and the homes I grew up in were very much decorated in a Southwest-inspired style. I also spent a lot of time in New Mexico growing up, so there’s an immediate sense of comfort when I see spaces that embody this energy. Now, my homes were not even close to being as cool or as beautiful (no shade to my parents, who gave us wonderful homes to grow up in), but when you see a Kirsten masterpiece, it’s a different ballgame. So let’s start with a little backstory on her home. It’s in Los Angeles County (not far from me:)), surrounded by some awesome nature. It was built in 1947, so it was really important to Kirsten to keep all of the original adobe features. This, of course, was not easy, as she still needed a house that could really work for her life. To solve this, she added a nice addition to the back, which is where the kitchen, a big bedroom, and a bathroom are. Ok, I’ve talked enough. Let’s get into these photos and talk about maybe the coolest fireplace I’ve ever seen…

I meeeeeaaan. The way Kirsten effortlessly blends midcentury modern and southwest style should be studied. The key elements seem to be bold shapes in organic materials in neutral tones. It seems to be her no-fail method if you look at this home as well as her body of work. This space feels perfectly grounded without feeling heavy. You have the darker woods, tiles, and textiles towards the bottom half of the room that make the space feel like a hug, while the light-colored textured brick walls and lighter wood ceiling on the top half balance and lighten. But that stunning piece of art also does an incredible job of blending the whole space together.

Now let’s focus on this fireplace. The top of the fireplace captures Southwest design while the tile gives that almost MCM feel. But what’s even more special about this tile is that not only is it from a female-owned small-batch tile company out of Guadalajara, Mexico, LOFA Ceramics, but this collection in particular was in collaboration with another LA artist we adore, Cindy Hsu Zell. You know Cindy’s work, and I promise you are already a fan. I feel like I’m in a design dream I don’t want to wake up from! Then add in Kirsten’s collection of ceramics, objects, and art, and you have a deeply personal and special architechural feature.

Here’s another view of that awesome dining table set up. I love some vintage chunky wood chairs:) That pretty rug is also from Pampa.

The furniture in this home is unreal. The shapes and materials are so so good, and this Lawson-Fenning cabinet is a testament to that. Also, how cool is that floor lamp??

Kirsten is a woman after my own heart in that we are not lovers of cooking! However, we are lovers of a beautiful kitchen, and that is something proved by her designing this baby. I really love how she chose to make the cabinet slats and the backsplash tiles all vertical. It makes the kitchen feel taller, which was potentially her plan all along:)

Another little detail to take note of is the upper cabinet heights. They are lower on the range wall and higher on the sink side. BUT the floating shelf height is in line with the height on the range wall uppers. That’s why your eye isn’t confused. Details, details, details.

And here we get a closer look at these beautiful backsplash tiles. I love that they look handmade but aren’t Zellige (nothing wrong with Zellige, I LOVE IT. But nice to see something else too:)). I just can’t say it enough: between the texture of the tiles and the grain in the cabinets, this kitchen has so much texture. It makes it feel alive in the best way. Also, I love the shape of the sconce.

Onto the living room! It’s cozy but cool. I love that she used the same Zak + Fox fabric in the drapes here as the shade in the kitchen. Oh, and notice the fun art placement and configurations. I am a forever fan of the “art piece under the window”. Also notice how the ceiling is painted instead of odd paneled like most of the rest of the home. A nice color contrast but not so much so that it’s jarring. It flows so effortlessly.

The detailing on this cabinet is amazing! It’s these kinds of elements that make a neutral space so exciting to look at and be in. If you want a neutral-toned home, playing with textures and shapes will make all the difference between a home that feels flat or a home that’s welcoming and interesting.

As we move down the hallway to one of the bedrooms, let’s take a second to notice the mixing of wood tones. The ceiling is that light/medium tone while the window frames and doors are a very dark brown. It’s visually exciting and makes the space feel both cozy and open.

Not that Kirsten needs to hear this from me (ha!), but no notes. I love the mixing of the stripe scales so much, and those warm tones are the definition of welcoming.

On the other side of the room is that amazing wall unit. Again, vertical panels which make the room feel taller and in a green that has warm undertones. Maybe if I close my eyes, I can pretend I’m writing this post from that vanity/desk.

Before we get to the primary bedroom, here’s the other beautiful bedroom she designed to perfection. I love that each room has its own personality. This one has the cool tones but still has some stripes and her signature Southwest-inspired pieces like the art and rug.

Another angle and another beautiful built-in closet. How great is that hanging pendant that’s seemingly floating?! Such a cool detail to hide the canopy with that front panel.

This is a bathroom I would happily call mine. Again, all vertical paneling and tile, beautiful tonal greens, and dark-toned hardware. It’s both moody and soft! Look into the mirror so you can see all the colors and materials at the same time:)

Finally, we have arrived at the primary bedroom, Kirsten’s sanctuary. As you can see, the walls aren’t overly adorned, and the bedding is simple (I used to have a blanket like this one and it was my favorite!). But each piece brings so much to the space. According to Kirsten, the rug is from Salam Hello, “a female-owned business who source all of their rugs directly from the makers, all over Morocco & beyond.” I really love how thoughtfully she designed this space. I think that if you have the bandwidth (and often the budget), it’s so unbelievably rewarding to really invest in pieces that hold special meaning to you and your values. It’s clear that while not everything in her home is woman-owned and made, having pieces from businesses that fit in that category is very important to her.

Those nightstand lamps are oversized in the best and coolest way, and that dining table as a desk is exquisite.

This is a designer-approved accent wall! That wallpaper is a dream, isn’t it? Again, vertical stripes;)

Kirsten kept the green bathroom motif but made it her own for her primary bath suite. She also ditched the medicine cabinet in both spaces and opted for a special mirror instead (she, of course, seems to have ample storage space as you will continue to see). From there, all her lighting is ceramic, which I love. That sconce is from the endlessly talented Heather Levine.

I’m not sure where the others are from, but it’s a little unexpected in a bathroom and something I’ve seen Kirsten do before…and LOVE. Can we also take a moment to appreciate this little vanity? That wallpaper accent is the perfect touch.

To finish off this incredible tour, here is the exterior of Kirsten’s home. It feels like a historic Southern California home in the best way…the warm tones and perfect landscaping.

Even her outside bench is one of the coolest I’ve ever seen.

I want to thank Kirsten for letting me oogle over her home. You can feel when a home is personal, and this one is absolutely that. Have a beautiful rest of your day, and hope you feel filled up and inspired!

More Resources:
Paint throughout – Dunn-Edwards
Switches and Outlets – Buster and Punch
Rugs in Guest Rooms, Dining Room, Hallway – Pampa

*Design by Kirsten Blazek of a1000xbetter
**Photography by Michael P.H Clifford

It’s no secret that I love fewer things more than snuggling up on my sofa or bed, turning on a good show, and clicking through the many pages of Etsy when I’m designing a space. It’s the closest thing to the “thrifting rush” I get when I’m at a real-life flea market or thrift shop. And while it can take time to find the pieces that really speak to you, it’s so worth it because those tend to be the things that make your home feel special and personal. So I’m sure you all know I’m an Etsy lover and shopper (and no, this isn’t a sponsored post), but we thought it would be fun to go over the home categories I tend to turn to Etsy most…with one you might not totally expect to see on this list…at least not right now:) Just know that filters and keywords are your friends (aka trying different names for the same item you are looking for). Ok, let’s jump in!

Art

Art is by far one of my favorite things to find on Etsy, but like anything else on the site, you gotta dig. There’s nothing wrong with digital prints, but there are so many really amazing and even affordable vintage and original pieces. My seascape wall in my family room is a big ole testament to finding awesome Etsy vintage art. Jess’ last apartment’s gallery wall had a few new original pieces that helped to make it even more dynamic and fun to look at. Here are some we found and love for you to shop:)

Swedish Mid-Century Semi-Abstract Modernist Coastal Landscape Art | Classic Seascape Art

Both of these are seascapes but in different styles, and we love both:) The abstract one is definitely pricey, but if it’s within your budget and works with your style, it’s such a special piece. The oil-painted seascape is much more affordable, and for not much more, it can come with the frame, which is ideal. Framing can be expensive, but never forget that IKEA is always worth a look. This series seems to be the most similar to our beloved RIBBA frames. But as you will see soon, I also LOVE buying frames on Etsy.

Original Paper Collage | 1946 “Figures” Abstract Art

I’m a sucker for a paper collage, and we love the style and colors of this geometric one. Plus, float-mounted in a great frame?? Perfect. Then this vintage abstract art comes framed and is just over $150. That’s not bad at all, and the colors are rich and awesome.

Curiosity | Abstract Figurative Sketches (Set of 6)

Bring on the burgundies with these two options. The first one we think is playful but cool, you know? It’s a print but comes on archival paper, making it look very beautiful (and more expensive). The second option is an amazing set of 6 pieces for under $200!! The color blows us away; the sketches are bold, soft, and kinda whimsical at the same time. We also love that all the pieces are different sizes, which would look so amazing on a wall all together!

Frames

Beaded Frame | Striped Frame

We love all styles of frames, but I have really been in my “fun frame” era, ha. These beaded and striped frames have been the latest additions to my collection, and I love what they add not only to my walls but also to the art! Here are some more options we love:

Custom Monochrome Picture Frame | Vintage Creative Solid Wood Frame

Looking for something “fun” but not “too out there” stylistically? These monochrome frames are so chic and come in 11 different color options. We’re BIG FANS. But my, do we also love these solid wood frames. The “wood mat” is definitely a trend, but we think it’s so timeless and so cool. This one has so much dimension despite it being all one material.

Rustic Photo Frame | Vintage Wavy Walnut Frame

Continuing with great wood frames, here are two other great ideas! The first ones, we loved because the overall shape was great, the mat shapes were even more fun, and the different color options were all so pretty. The wavy frames are a really playful but cool option and come with a premium linen-textured mat. Added texture is always a bonus. Oh, and those botanical sketches are included! But you can, of course, put any art in them you want.

Classic Coastal Gallery Wall Frame | Custom Brushed Stainless Steel Picture Frame

Actually, if you like a little linen, maybe go for FULL linen with a great frame like this striped coastal one! It’s unexpected and so sweet. For our modern lovers, this metal frame is so dope. Not only is the material extremely cool, but the asymmetrical placement of the art may be cooler. 100/10 if this is your style.

Rugs

Oh rugs. Another great love and something I definitely buy off Etsy a lot. But I’m not the only one. Both Caitlin and Jess have also looked to Etsy for a great vintage (and non-vintage rug). As you may have read, my love for Persian rugs is VERY back, and Etsy is one of the first places I look. Actually, the one for my living room and the guest cottage are both from there.

Here are the ones that Caitlin and Jess have. Caitlin’s is new and was super affordable! Jess’ is vintage and was on sale, so she got a great deal. I love that you can truly get any style of rug you want on Etsy, and a lot of the new ones are customizable in size. Here are some more we love:

Blue Large Wool Oushak Rug | Oversized Soft Moroccan Style Oushak Rug

The colors on both of these are very EHD. They are both vintage, large, and just over $2k, which is normal when you get into those kinds of sizes. Finding good vintage rugs like these with some blue tones isn’t easy, so being able to go on Etsy and scroll for as long as you want is pretty awesome.

Brown Floral Rug | Vintage Anatolian Navy Blue Rug

Blues but with some more browns! These vintage guys are smaller, so better for a big entry, kitchen, landing, etc. I just think Etsy is such an accessible place to find great vintage rugs. I promise the time it takes to search tends to be worth it!

Scalloped Runner Rug | Hand-Knotted Beni Ourain Moroccan Wool Rug

Here are two new rugs that come in a ton of sizes! I used that runner in my niece and nephew’s bathroom at the river house, and it looks SO CUTE. Then this Moroccan beauty leans modern but would also add a ton of softness to a room with its plushness. There are truly endless options like these to choose from. If you want a Moroccan rug, I will bet you can find an amazing one on Etsy (new or vintage).

Fabric

I’ve been buying fabric on Etsy for a while (remember my Boro collection??), but I’ve branched out to blockprint, upholstery, and more. It’s such a cool and fun way to personalize and customize a home.

Moody Foliage Upholstery Fabric | Blue Canopy of Trees

Nature fabric forever! Both of these are classic, elevated, and soft. But they are also so versatile stylewise! I’ve been looking at these to use in a project:)

Handmade Block Print Fabric | Fabric Block Print

The selection of blockprints on Etsy is almost endless and so good. I ordered so so many for the cafe curtain selection process. Both of these are very special in their own ways. I’m sure it’s of no surprise that most of these options are heavy on the greens and blues:)

Vintage Japanese Indigo Fabric | Striped Upholstery Fabric

I love flowers and foliage, but you know I love stripes! Japanese Boro fabric will always be one of my favorite kinds, and often, they have stripes and plaid patterns. But a simple stripe is good in my book too and can look incredible with any style. A classic for a reason, and Etsy has a lot to choose from.

Hardware

We use hardware for Etsy a ton! I think there are at least two rooms in the mountain house that are lucky to be adorned by them. One is, of course, the upstairs laundry room. The light wood and brass accents perfectly popped off that incredible cabinet color. Jess used those cute little MCM knobs in her last kitchen for that right hit of modern contrast. And the best part is that so many of the options on the site are really affordable! Here’s what we like:

Walnut & Brass Cabinet Pulls | Wax Wood Kitchen Drawer Pulls

There’s really just something about wood and brass, huh? It’s a dream combo, and both of these are excellent examples! Well, the wax wood ones are the same ones from the laundry room, so we are partial:) They will add warmth but with an elevated modern (and even MCM) twist.

Brass Antique Handles and Knobs | Solid Wood Cupboard Handles

But if you are less into mixed materials and prefer a single material, take a look at these. The dark brass is so pretty, and that shape is classic. Now these wood ones are almost identical to the ones we used in the river house family room. They are so pretty and really added to the organic modern style we wanted.

Mid-Century Modern Black Brass Drawer Knob | Solid Brass Cupboard Knob

Calling all my Midcentury Modern lovers! These knobs were made for your cabinetry. They are simple but in cool shapes and truly look so cool in a home that’s looking for this style.

Lighting

Vintage lighting is nearly a love language, and Etsy has great finds. We all love scouring through those pages when we are on the hunt. But they also have great new pieces too at great prices. That’s really what is so great about Etsy. You can really find what you are looking for.

I got this little guy on Etsy, and I couldn’t love it more. It’s sculptural, is in that amazing wood material, and gives off a soft, warm glow. Perfect for a cool, functional accent! Here are some other options that are great!

Vintage Brown Anvia ‘Bucket’ Wall Lamp | Burgundy Plug In Wall Sconce

There’s nothing like a sculptural wall lamp. I’ve written about them a ton, and Arlyn just wrote a great piece you should check out if you haven’t yet. But I mean, look at that “Bucket” sconce. It’s insanely cool and so unique. Perfect for a modern home or a more traditional one that’s asking for an unexpected moment. Then, for a more traditional, but still very fun and special option, this burgundy one is good. It comes in other great colors with different cord options too!

Art Deco Wooden Table Lamp Base | Swedish Teak Floor Lamp

Looking for some organic materials, these two wood options are so good. Although that cone shade doesn’t come with the wood base, we might be trying to figure out whose house this perfect guy should go in:) Then for a floor lamp, we all love this Swedish teak one. Simple but you guessed it, very special. The two tones on the shade are awesome.

1950s Mid Century Brass Floor Lamp | Vintage Italian Diabolo Table Lamp

More modern vintage! The colors on the floor lamp are a current favorite color combo amongst the team. If you look at the proportions on the listing, they are fun. Same goes for the black table lamp! It’s cool, modern, and unexpected. All the things we love finding on Etsy.

Custom Ornaments…It’s Not Too Early To Start NOW

Ok, ok. I know it’s still July, but when it comes to custom, you want time on your side. Think about it and order soon so you won’t be stressed later. Plus, custom ornaments are, without a doubt, one of my absolute favorite things to buy on Etsy for my home (and tree:)). Here are some standouts and ones we’ve purchased.

Hand Painted Pet Portrait Bauble | Felt Personalized Christmas Ornament

Those are the pet portrait baubles I got for our pups, and boy, are they cute. I love that they are hand-painted and add so much joy to our tree. Don’t worry, Butter and Oscar approve. Those sweet felt ornaments are ones that Jess had made for her niece, and she loved how they turned out.

Custom House Portrait Ornament | Custom Photo Wedding Ornament

Looks like the Etsy shop I used for our house ornaments is no longer selling, but these ones are great too! I love commemorating the different homes and stages of life we’ve lived through. Highly recommend. But if you or our loved ones prefer a little more glam, these brass wedding ornaments are really pretty and feel special.

Custom Pet Embroidered Ornament | Custom Baby First Christmas Ornament

Embroidered ornaments are also so sweet and add to the coziness of a Christmas tree! Both of theses depending on what you are looking for, seem like really great customizable options.

Of course, I’ve bought other great things for my home on Etsy (because it’s awesome), but I’d say these are the main categories. Hope this was helpful! Anything else you buy on Etsy for your home? Let’s chat!

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Cafe Curtains Update

YOU GUYS IT’S THE FIRST REVEAL IN MY NEW HOUSE AHHHH!! I am absolutely thrilled to be here sharing my rooftop with all of you today! Quick recap: I moved from my Los Feliz apartment (see all of those reveals here) to my boyfriend, Austin’s house in February of this year. We hit the ground RUNNING on some fun house projects – the first of which was OUR ROOFTOP!!! We live in a townhouse that’s very vertical and therefore doesn’t have a traditional backyard, but what we do have is a decent-sized square on the top of our house that was just begging to be the ultimate party spot. It was begging for an outdoor kitchen DIY. It’s not a small space by any means, and it’s definitely the largest outdoor space I’ve ever had as an adult, but it’s also not crazy huge, so we had to get creative on how to fit all of the “zones” into it to make it as functional and comfortable as possible. Let’s start from the beginning:

So here’s where we started. There wasn’t much out here other than a sofa with some white cushions in desperate need of attention, but we dreamed of it becoming the ultimate hangout spot for our friends and family. We already entertain A TON, so we knew this roof would get a ton of use (especially in the summer) if we just put in a little elbow grease. Also, I got SO lucky because right before I moved in, they repainted the paint color on the wall from a crazy orange to this more nautical blue. I was absolutely thrilled!! So we had a fresh coat of paint, some string lights, and a dream; it was time to get to work. The opportunities were endless, but we knew we wanted 3 areas ideally: an outdoor kitchen to grill delicious food, a dinner table to eat said delicious food, and then a fire pit area to digest the delicious food while talking with our friends for hours. So after a lot of space planning, we came up with this…

We decided the best spot for the outdoor kitchen was this corner because it’s the only area that doesn’t look directly onto our neighbor’s deck, and it has the best view hands down. Although had we faced the kitchen the other way, it would’ve looked over at my parents’ house, which is actually hilarious… For context: Austin and I met back in college (we actually studied abroad together in Madrid!), but we were more acquaintances than friends who hung out all the time. Then a couple of years ago, I was driving over to my parents’ house when I spotted Austin working out in his garage (he likes to say he was on his 1000th rep). I pulled over to say hi, and the rest is history. Flash forward two years, and now I am neighbors with my parents (like literally 7 doors down…it’s actually kinda awesome). So yeah, you can literally see this rooftop from the window in my parents’ living room makeover. Life is so weird sometimes!! And to answer your question, yes, we see them a lot, and they hang out on this roof all the time

Okay, now back to the design and DIY of it all. Austin and his dad built the whole outdoor kitchen together, and I was genuinely so impressed by everything they did. They started this project a few months before I moved in, so I will try to give you the details as best I can, but I wasn’t there for a good portion of the build! So a family friend who works in construction provided all of the steel, which was incredible. Austin says it was something similar to this. They borrowed his special steel-cutting saw and screwed the steel pieces together with special metal screws.

The roof slopes down so that rainwater can drain, so they used these feet to level it out. Also, I’m fully aware that cutting steel is a wild DIY for most people (me included), so if you’re looking for something similar, I actually found a ton of ready-made steel frame options online like this one at Home Depot that’s a bit smaller than ours or this big one that’s fully modular and customizable (but it’s definitely pricey). They also have more affordable options here that seem a little less heavy-duty but might work well depending on where and how you’re planning to do this DIY.

Some of these ready-made galvanized steel frames can definitely get pricey, so if you’re looking for something more plug-and-play, you can also sleuth the Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel Outlets to find pieces like this. That option definitely takes longer since you have to wait for the pieces to get to the outlet and go on sale, but you can always call the outlets to see if they have any in stock:) Also, shop around for the exact layout you’re looking for – the internet has a ton of ready-made options!

The next part of the DIY goes crazy…get ready…

They screwed composite decking into the steel, so this thing is crazy durable. This material is ideal since our rooftop is really exposed to all the elements (which is mainly just marine layer from the beach since we live in Southern California but still). They snagged about 14 12ft planks of the decking (in the color “toasted sand”), which ended up being around $350-$400. Then they installed some stainless steel drawers and this propane pull-out next to the grill. The open cavity on the left was the space they left for the mini fridge!

Then the wildest part was they wired electrical through the steel frame and installed a few outlets for appliances like our slushy machine (which we’re obsessed with and use for parties all the time). You guys, Austin and his dad are so handy; it is wild. This genuinely was so impressive, and I was shook when I walked up here, and it was just like…done. I’ve always been the one doing DIYs (but obviously never on this level), so this was pretty awesome to just walk up and see the whole thing basically finished. Dating into a handy, DIY family is actually incredible, and I feel so lucky!!

As you can see, it was A TON of work to get to this point, but we still needed one major thing for this kitchen: the countertops!

Austin’s dad went back to his workshop (his house), created some molds, and poured a few concrete slabs for the top. You are not ready for what’s about to happen next. Once they were dry, we got a call saying he was going to come drop them off and…

This crane shows up at our house Like WHAT?! This felt like a total fever dream to me, and looking back at the photos, I am still in shock. I guess when you work in construction, there are a few perks haha! This actually was a miracle because those slabs were HEAVY and carrying them up the stairs would have been a nightmare…crane to the rescue!

So after some cranes, trains, and automobiles (literally) – WE HAD AN OUTDOOR KITCHEN!! The fridge was put in, and the blackstone grill arrived (which is now completely out of stock or 4x the price…we got it on sale for $400 so timing is everything!) and WE ARE OBSESSED. Hot tip: GET THE BBQ COVER! We’re anal about protecting this grill, so this cover for the inside and this one for the outside have worked so well so far. I actually can’t believe how the outdoor kitchen area turned out – we use it ALL THE TIME. Once the grill area was complete, all we needed to add was some seating! That’s really where I came in…I was like, guys, I got this. The two zones left to add were: dining area and a fire pit…so cue the pretty photos because it wouldn’t be a reveal post without them!!

Swivel Chairs | Fire Pit | Rug | Dining Table | Accent Table | Shell Bowl | Sofa | Bar Cart | Cordless Lamp | Dining Chairs

WE COULD NOT BE MORE THRILLED!! I’ve never had an outdoor space of my own that’s big enough to entertain, and it really is so special. Our whole summer has pretty much been spent up here, and I am not mad about it! The dining table and chairs were the last thing we added to the space, but they made it WAY more functional considering how much we cook out here. The table was a splurge from West Elm, and the chairs were super affordable from Target (sadly not available anymore?? Like Target, PLEASE put them back in stock!) They’re also stackable, which is awesome if we want to put them away after we have our larger parties.

Swivel Chairs | Fire Pit | Rug | Accent Table | Sofa | Cordless Lamp | Propane Tank Side Table

Let’s take a look at our little fire pit area, shall we? You might remember the sofa from the before photos; Austin already had it before I moved in (pro-tip: they got it at the Pottery Barn outlet for a steal – so again, always be sure to check the outlets if you’re looking for a great deal!) You also might remember that the cushions were absolutely nasty…Well, I looked up the cost of a replacement, realized you HAD to buy the whole cushion and couldn’t just get a cover, so it was going to be $700 to replace them, then I immediately went on the longest journey to get them clean again…and you guys…IT WORKED! Well, for the most part. There’s still a little bit of slight discoloration, but literally no one ever notices. We store all of the cushions inside now so they should last a very long time The rest of the product is all super affordable – I did a Wayfair partnership earlier this summer (which was SO COOL!) and was able to furnish it with some of my DREAM pieces! The fire pit is one of the more cost-effective ones I’ve seen, and we absolutely love it. It’s also hollow on the inside, so it’s not CRAZY heavy (which was great for us moving it upstairs), but it’s still heavy enough where it’s certainly not going to blow away. We cut a small hole in the rug and ran the propane cord underneath. It’s hardly noticeable and is a great solution if you want a fire pit but can’t run a gas line. The propane side table is the best because it has a door that opens to the front as opposed to the ones you have to lift up every time that are crazy heavy. It’s the little things!

Swivel Chairs | Fire Pit | Rug | Dining Table | Accent Table | Bar Cart | Dining Chairs

Like I said, there’s not a crazy amount of space up here, but it’s the perfect amount of space to fit everything we need. I’ve called this “roof summer” because for the last 2 months all we’ve been doing is hosting events with like 10-15 people at a time, and the space honestly works GREAT. People end up spinning the dining chairs around, and we can form a big circle around the fire pit and make s’mores or just drink our slushy drinks and have a blast.

We cook up here all. the. time. Austin is an incredible cook – he is always cooking up the most insane dishes from steak au poivre to sushi to literally the best lasagna I have ever had. There are A TON of things you can do on the Blackstone griddle too, so we’ve had taco nights, smash burgers (of course) and one of our favs…

HIBACHI NIGHT! We just did this last week with some friends, and it was a blast. Austin makes incredible fried rice so this has been really fun to cook Oh, and if you’re wondering about the beating sun up here…let me show you our solution!

Yes, it gets crazy hot up here, and you’re really just standing in the sun with nowhere to go UNTIL – we put these guys up, and they made the biggest difference. We’ll take them down in the winter when we’re not using this space as much, but boy are they incredible in the summer (and I LOVE the yellow stripe). We left the area above the grill open so that the smoke can go off into the distance and not directly onto the shade (which would’ve been giving fire hazard)…

But when it becomes sunset, the shades are totally not necessary, obviously. And this roof THRIVES at sunset; it’s truly become one of my favorite places in the whole world. Slide the slider, and you’ll see what I mean

So that’s our roof!! It’s come a long way, and I just feel so grateful that we get to call this place ours! If you’re wanting to see more photos and videos, you can follow me on IG here

Dress | Sandals

We are just obsessed with it. Thank you for reading and for following along. Just so happy to be here. You guys rock!

*Design by Mallory Wackerman
**Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Happy Sunday, everyone! Things have been VERY busy at the farm, so know that lots of fun progress is happening:) Also, everyone is now back from their big summer vacations, and we are so so excited for Caitlin (did you read her latest post?). Ok, let’s get to these links so we can all get out into the sunshine.

This week’s house tour is a stunning 1817 dry-stone Provençal house in France by designer and interior architect Margaux Keller and her husband, Alban. They really did a beautiful job working with and restoring what was there while still making it functional for a modern family. Every room has a special surprise, and the dining room wall might be our favorite!

From Emily: Two great, extremely enjoyable summer reads (one is an audiobook). I’m way behind on reading this last year, which I blame on the kids being older and staying up later and therefore cutting into my nighttime reading time. But last week I sped through Dolly All The Time, a rom com by Annabel Monaghan that was such a fuzzy, feel-good with relatable yet poignant writing within the “fake dating” trope (one of my faves), with a bit of a Cinderella story. The leads in her books are always likeable and feel like a friend (and the men are surprising, attractive, and easy to fall in love with). You could read it in one sitting (and I listened to some on audio while I was cleaning, but I don’t love when women do men’s voices in a rom com, so I went back to reading it). But last weekend I had a ton of housework, and I seemingly had listened to every podcast on the internet, so I downloaded This Story Might Save Your Life, which is a very fun contemporary whodunit, played by two voice actors that are engaging and easy to listen to (listen at 1.2 speed). I find that I can’t really engage in listening to audiobooks unless they are thrillers (The Silent Patient was my gateway audiobook – I had listened to others but found the thriller aspect of it what was so gripping and hard to stop listening to!). Sometimes I can start a book on my Kindle, then transfer once I’m into it, but there are so many books that I started as audio that I found myself spacing out or not paying attention to. But domestic or psychological thrillers tend to shoot you into the drama immediately and keep you hooked, making chores an enjoyable breeze and easier to keep engaged. Alice Feeney’s My Husband’s Wife was another recent one that was such a great listen. I would love any recs in the comments. I started Mad Mabel last week and hear it’s great, but I need some encouragement – a good listen???

In case any of you, your friends, or your tweens/teens love Olivia Rodrigo, she just did a great collab with Etsy for her Daisy Chain Fields music festival! “This collection, that I got to create with an incredible group of women, brings to life pieces that fit perfectly into the world of Daisy Chain Fields.” Like Lilith Fair was, Daisy Chain Fields is an all-female festival where women and girls can connect and celebrate. Plus, the net proceeds from the festival will benefit non-profit organizations dedicated to advancing and advocating for women and girls. We think this is SO cool and the lineup is incredible!

From Arlyn: I’m on a journey to find new skincare and makeup that works with my newly crowned East Coast skin. I remember when I moved to LA 8 years ago, I went through this, too, but in the opposite way. I needed creamy face washes because my skin was so incredibly dry, but now I need something that balances the oils that find me quickly during this humid summer. I’m really loving this First Aid Beauty Ultra Gentle cleanser. I find that anything that foams up can be overly stripping, but this one is, as the name suggests, ultra gentle. It cleans REALLY well, leaves my face feeling soft and clean with no tightness, and a tiny bit goes a super long way. I’ll definitely be buying this one again.

From Mallory: I was on the hunt for some solid and affordable woven roman shades for my guest room and guess what?? I found some that are excellent. I got these in espresso (they come in a few different colors) and I love the texture they bring to the room. Plus they have every window size up to 47″ wide for under $60, so the selection is pretty solid:)

From Marlee: I’ve shared these jeans before but wanted to share again because they’re 50% off right now! (usually $98, now $49). I love them because they have a really nice stretch to them, which makes them super comfy – they’re so easy to throw on and are SO cute with a simple white tee and a flip-flop.

From Gretchen: I am a suckerrr for a great pair of overalls, and these barrel/horseshoe style bibs from the Gap are my JAM! They are perfectly baggy and weirdly so soft they feel like sweatpants, but are definitely denim. I was influenced to buy them by @taylorjoyriley, my new go-to style inspiration and close, personal friend (she’s not; this is 100% parasocial, but like I WISH). She’s an awesomely creative and spunky dresser with a joy about her that just permeates through the screen. She’s covered in cool tattoos and speaks to herself (and her body) in the same ways I strive to do for myself–lightheartedly and with deep appreciation. She thrifts and collects and creates the coolest, most interesting outfit combos that somehow always just WORK. And when she recommends a pair of cool overalls, I trust her, I buy them, and then I never take them off. If they weren’t $100ish, I would buy them in another color, but until they go on sale, I’m super content with wearing my ‘mojave tan’ pair around town and pretending I’m her:)

From Jess: Here’s the deal: I love love love my long nails (Thank you, hard gel), but they aren’t without their issues. Of course, a crack is my archnemesis, especially on a long vacation away from my (and Caitlin’s) beloved nail tech. So I went prepared this time with this nail glue that I’ve used before, and it works like a dream. It’s tiny so it fits in any purse and dries so fast so you can get on with your life. Unfortunately, I did get a fairly large crack in the first few days, but the glue fixed me right up, so thankfully the whole trip wasn’t ruined;)

From Caitlin: I have the perfect summer TV show for you: Widow’s Bay. I’m not going to lie – I don’t normally do horror shows, and I was a little put off by the trailer for this one. (I have enough to be scared about without adding monsters to the mix!) But Den is in love with Matthew Rhys, so he threw it on, and I WAS HOOKED. It’s SO FUNNY! It’s scary, too, but in like, a campy Indiana Jones way and not a “stay up all night scared of a murderer way”. (You can brace yourself for every jump scare, and nothing is nightmare-inducing. I’d say it’s safe for 13 and up.) But let me reiterate: IT IS SO FUNNY. It is laugh-out-loud funny. The story follows the mayor and municipal officials of a tiny cursed Massachusetts island, and if I’d known it was created by alums from Parks & Recreation and Atlanta, I would have watched it a lot sooner. IT’S REALLY GOOD, GUYS!

Thank you for hanging out with us, and see you tomorrow! xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Our Living Room With The New Vintage Rug (I’ve Got Feelings, Per Usual)

I realized I’ve become an accidental linen expert because I’ve tried some from every brand, so I feel confident in saying I know what the best linen clothes on the internet are. And not all made the cut – outside of Quince, the cheaper it gets, the cheaper it feels and hangs. Some of these you’ve seen before, but there are a few year-round hits (the best blazer and drapiest dress) that were new to me that are extremely timeless, well-made, and season-less. I’m a convert. Oh, and if you want to shop all the fashion posts lately without reading my TED Talk about each one, head straight to the shop page where you can scroll with direct links.

Linen Blazer | Shirt | Pants | Shoes (unavailable) | Purse | Gold Bangle

This is my cos-playing business lady but in MY way (and I LOVE this look). The navy linen blazer looked good online, and since I had had such a great experience thus far with Quince, I gave it a go. It’s lined, structured, and has the richest color (not dull) with a roomy shape that is still flattering (so it’s easy to layer over). I’m wearing a small. Huge shout out to those pants that are fantastic Nili Lotan Shon dupes by Pistola, and MUCH more affordable (and fantastic). Great work trousers with slight barrel vibes, but I’m wearing them all week long. This is absolutely an outfit I would recreate for a business lunch or happy hour.

Denim Pull-On Shorts | Linen Shirt | Huaraches | Hat (no longer available)

This is the J.Crew linen shirt, which is excellent (10% better than Quince, just with the pocket and a bit roomier but twice the price). It’s been in heavy rotation this summer (so have those huaraches).

Hat | Button-Down | Shorts | Necklace | Target Bag (In-Store Only) | Shoes | Sunglasses

This is the Quince white button-down version that is honestly great (I kept both because I don’t trust myself with white clothes, so at least I have a backup). For the price, it’s awesome (and comes in a lot of colors). The shorts are perfect weekend shorts but also look nice enough that, paired with a cardigan or blazer, you could wear them to work on a super hot day.

Jacket | Top | Bag | Scarf | Skirt | Shoes

Same color palette, different vibes. While I typically go for a shorter skirt, I loved the drape, shape, and color of this olive A-line number that has a drawstring at the top. The stitching creates a nice flutter at the bottom.

Jacket | Top | Bag | Scarf | Skirt | Shoes | Gold Bangle

This Quince jacket is thinner and feels like it could be worn as a shirt, but I like it over this lacey tank top. Just really easy to wear and can be dressed up or down.

 Linen Jacket | Long Sleeve T-Shirt | Jean Shorts | Shoes | Sunglasses

I grab and wear this ochre linen jacket all the time. It just works so well with denim and layers so well. It was expensive when I bought it (from Mango, which I rarely shop). It’s on sale now, and I personally think it’s great for fall.

Blouse | Jean Shorts | Boat Shoes | Sunglasses

Another short-sleeved linen top from Quince, which I liked because the sleeves flare out. It’s just a really good cut, drape, and has a nice menswear pocket.

Dress | Necklace | Purse | Sandals

I wanted to try this classic linen shirt dress, which is certainly a summer office staple. It comes in a lot of different colors, and while I don’t feel like I’m really selling it here, with a denim shirt around your waist to help cinch it a bit, it’s great.

Hat | Shirt | Pants | Slides | Sunglasses | Necklace

These are my fantastic summer linen pants – it just feels like you are wearing nothing. Has a nice taper but a little ankle flair (so not straight down and dorky, imho). I also bought them in the pin stripe.

Linen Top | Jeans | Belt (similar) | Sandals | Necklace

This shirt is such a good color and texture. It comes pre-washed (or so it seems) because it was soft immediately. It’s a boxy cut, roomy, and would be great for all the seasons, honestly.

Linen Shirt | Shorts | Hat | Sandals

This button-up is a favorite of mine. Sure, it’s just a stripe, but it’s a good cut and drape, and that contrasting pocket makes a huge difference and takes it from basic to stylish. I rarely buy Faherty. Big fan.

Shirt | Pants | Shoes

These are such pretty linen slacks/trousers that are elevated and so classy (but not full on structured). These have an elastic waist and the drawstrings are an added embellishment that you can adjust or just leave tied. Y’all don’t sleep on Aritzia. It’s so good.

Dress | Head Scarf (unavailable) | Bag (unavailable) | Sandals

I wanted to try this short-sleeved linen dress to see if it’s something that could work in my rotation, but I think my boobs are too big for it. I think it would drape better on a smaller frame. But the quality is great, and it’s a really good price (and I think for so many people that need easy workwear you can layer over it’s awesome).

Dress | Shoes | Necklace

I scoured Amazon to try to find the best-rated linen clothes, and I had to kiss a lot of frogs, y’all. But this dress is so cute, affordable, and obviously duping Free People. It’s GREAT. Cute pockets, great pleating.

Dress | Purse | Shoes | Gold Bangle

My team loved this dress on me, and it’s admittedly very pretty. The sleeves, the neckline, the color – all so good. I was in between sizes, so this is a medium, which fit in the boobs but not in the waist and then still kinda hugged in the tummy (which I would feel better in with Spanx). But regardless, this is a beautiful streamlined dress.

Jacket | Shirt | Pants | Belt | Shoes (old)

Now these are linen trousers for all you office gals. Still lightweight and breathable but thicker with nice structure. The back has an elastic waistband, but the front looks like trousers (so more comfortable, less tight around the waist).

Hat | Button Up | Jean Shorts | Sandals

I loved the big stripes on this oversized linen button up. It’s a thicker linen that still drapes nicely and softly. It’s a bit oversized and long, so size down.

Hat | Scarf | Shirt | Bag | Pants | Shoes

Now these are the more tapered Quince pants that I think fit better on me (they just slouch in a flattering way). I even wear these on bike rides to lunch, but they can be dressed up.

Oversized Linen Button-Front Maxi Dress | Denim Shirt | Sandals | Sunglasses

While the short linen dresses didn’t feel as flattering on me, this one is one I wear a lot when I want full coverage and just to be comfy AF. It has slits that are up to the knee so it doesn’t feel like you are a nun, and it’s so easy to wear (I wear this on planes, and if you really want to know, it’s my “tanning dress” when I’m either letting my self-tanner dry or after I get a spray tan, LOL).

Linen Dress | Shoes | Bag | Necklace

This is hands down the prettiest linen dress that I was so excited to keep. A few things – I’m wearing an XS, and it’s still oversized so def size down (I’m a 4 on bottom, 6 on top). The color and pattern are classic and season-less. The shape of the hem creates a really nice fluttering that just feels so graceful and pretty. I haven’t shopped at Banana Republic in so long, and while it was splurgier (on sale now, of course), it’s just a GREAT dress. Far more fashion forward than Quince, but still feels really timeless.

Hat | Dress | Sandals

This is a real throw and go vacation or casual work dress. It’s pretty shapeless but has pretty texture, and that stripe is so classic. It’s full coverage, a great nighttime summer dress (and I think breaking it up with jewelry or a sweater around the waist is the way to go.

Linen Top | Shorts | Belt (similar) | Hat | Necklace | Mules

This is the white blouse I’ve been wearing the most this summer. It just has a nice neckline and is boxy and flouncy and easy to layer over. Nothing fancy, but a fantastic staple.

T-Shirt | Trousers | Sandals

Now these are the trousers that I know that I LOVE for fancier pants. These are low-waisted for those like me (I’m wearing a size 4 and it fits nicely, so pretty TTS) but still snug and tailored and so well made. Another Banana Republic find that I was so impressed with. The length is also really nice – easy to wear with flats and so easy to dress up and dress down. Big fan.

OOF OMG THAT WAS SO MUCH LINEN. I hope this helps, y’all. Most of this feels pretty dang seasonless but felt like a great mid-summer post for those in hotter zones. Stay cool, friends

Oh, and don’t forget to check out the shop page! xx

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

It’s nearly the end of July, and I don’t know about your weather, but the heat over here is not ending anytime soon. So, a question for you then. Did summer come at you fast, and the “outdoor refresh” plans you planned haven’t happened yet? Ya, me too. My little balcony still needs a good cleaning (and honestly a lounge chaise that lies all the way flat). The good news is that there is still time to refresh, not only this summer to enjoy but next too. The other good news is that Wayfair is currently having their Black Friday in July sale where you can save up to 80% off and sitewide free shipping (which is so nice for those bigger pieces!). The sale ends on Monday, so you might want to take a look asap:)

Today, I decided to focus on the bigger pieces like sofas, chairs, and tables, because at least for me, that’s where I want big savings. Wayfair, of course, has truly everything you could want down to the pool noodle I didn’t know I needed, so if your big pieces are fine, there is plenty more to look at on the site. I did add some other fun pieces at the end too because I couldn’t help myself, ha. Ok, let’s start these outdoor refreshes!

1. Outdoor Patio Daybed with Cushions | 2. Samya Outdoor Patio Sofa

What’s better than an outdoor summer daytime nap?? The only thing that you really need is a great sofa to rest your pretty head on. I really like these two a lot. The daybed (last time I checked) is under $500! It’s the perfect modern organic piece that is so so versatile stylistically. Oh, and there are other cushion color options if a cream isn’t for you. Now, if you are more of a traditional style lover, this sofa is A DREAM. This one is also hugely discounted and comes in other cushion colors (the brown and gray are my two other picks;))

1. 4 PCS Outdoor Eucalyptus Sectional Seating Group | 2. Fellers L-Shaped Patio Sectional

If you are someone who has a bigger family, a bigger outdoor space, and/or loves to entertain, a sectional is probably the way to go. The first modern one (that also comes with a coffee table!) is almost 50% off! I love love the arms and how they can act as drink/food holders on top and decorative shelves below. Plus this one also comes in a cream and lighter wood option. Then for the second, boy am I a sucker for wicker and curves. This one is so chic and timeless. What space wouldn’t be improved by its presence!

1. Arunas 5-Person Aluminum Outdoor Conversation Set | 2. Mondovi Eucalyptus 4 – Person Patio Conversation Set | 3. 4-Person Acacia Wood Outdoor Conversation Set | 4. Modular Yellow All-Steel Webbing Sofa Set Of 4-Piece

If you’ve been following Emily for a minute, you know that while she isn’t a huge fan of furniture sets for inside the house, she is for outside! So in honor of that, here are four great sets to choose from (there are, of course, many more on the site). Each one is classic and versatile for a different reason, but if you love a little color and whimsy, I can’t get enough of the yellow striped set! It’s making me want to live in a Palm Springs fantasy land:)

1. Guthrie Adirondack Chair | 2. Adirondack Chair | 3. Foldable Outdoor Adirondack Set (Set of 2) | 4. Farmhouse Style Outdoor Patio Adirondack Chair

Adirondack chairs are simply THE classic lounge chair of our time. I do love a more traditional style like #3 (foldable!) and #4 (adjustable!), but I am very partial to the more modern style like #1 and #2. Both of them come in other colorways, too. Ultimately you really can’t go wrong!

1. Cormach Mathew Patio Rocking Chair | 2. Aleatha Porch Rocker with Weather-Resistant Back (Set of 2) | 3. Oversized High-Back HIPS Outdoor Rocking Chair All-Weather Patio Porch Rocker

Outdoor rocking chairs are a little overlooked in my opinion (or maybe that’s because I’ve never lived in a place with large porches?), so let’s change that now! If you have a porch, I think legally you are required to have at least one rocking chair:) #2 and #3 feel beautifully nostalgic and classic, while #1 is an elegant modern take. They all come in other colorway options and are really affordable. So if any of you get these, please invite me over! I’ll bring the cold lemonade.

1. Jivera Lounge Chair | 2. Donnie Reclining Acacia Wood Outdoor Chaise Lounge | 3. Kingsteignt Outdoor Chaise Lounge (Set of 2) | 4. Faunce Outdoor Eucalyptus Wood Chaise Lounge

This one is a bit more personal to me, as I mentioned at the top of the post. While I love the look of the vintage 1950s metal chaise lounge I bought for my balcony back in 2021, it’s not really the most comfortable, and the back can’t adjust. It’s a real bummer when I want to lay out! It also means I’ve hardly used it… I think it’s time for a more modern upgrade. If you are like me, Wayfair has so many options, so these are just four that I really liked. #1 and #4 would work best for the style of my balcony, but wow, is #2 what luxury spa hotel dreams are made out of! But I do love that #3 doesn’t require a cushion.

1. Brayson Acacia Outdoor Lounge Chair (Set of 2) | 2. Farrah Outdoor Armless Lounge Chair (Set of 2) | 3. Cherri Teak Outdoor Lounge Chair (Set of 2) | 4. Huron Outdoor Pp Club Chair (Set of 2)

Now, especially those with small outdoor spaces, a lounge chair or two is maybe all you need (or can fit). I love all of these sets. How great is the contrast piping on the cushions of #1? This set is also offered in two other light color options. If you don’t want to worry about cushions at all, #2 are the perfect ones to simply hose down when they are getting a little dirty, with very little dry time needed:) #3 and #4 have those great spindle lines to create some visual interest while providing a nice place to have a chilled glass of wine. Can you tell I’m ready to be outside this weekend? Ha.

1. Alyisa Rectangular Eucalyptus Extendable Outdoor Dining Table | 2. Patio Dining Table With Umbrella Hole and Aluminum Frame | 3. Ammelie Rectangular Aluminum Outdoor Patio Dining Table | 4. Extendable Oval Acacia Outdoor Dining Table

Eating outside might be my favorite part of warm (or hot:)) weather. A dining table is very helpful in facilitating that! If you want more of a modern farmhouse feel, I love #1 and #4, which are both extendable. For a middle ground between farmhouse and modern, #2 is great AND has a hole for an umbrella. Finally, #3 is perfect for a modern style and super durability!

1. Outdoor Wicker Dining Chairs (Set of 2) | 2. Celeste Outdoor Wicker Dining Chair (Set of 2) | 3. Outdoor Patio Dining Chairs (Set of 4) | 4. Myriam Metal-Frame Powder-Coated Steel Patio Dining Chair (Set of 2)

With dining tables comes the need for dining chairs, duh. How pretty are all of these? The natural materials of #1 and #2 will add so much organic texture to your space. We love a piece that does a lot of visual heavy lifting. #3 is awesome for its great modern look and durable material, but also that they so easily stack together. If you are a big party thrower, these are perfect for you! #4 are modern traditional beauties. I love the spindles, the added details, and the sloped arms. Can’t lose with any of these.

1. Solar Powered Integrated LED Pathway Light Kit (Set of 16) | 2. Cedar Wood Garden Pathway For Outdoors Roll Out | 3. Ruane Manual Outdoor Lantern

For those that have their furniture locked in but could use some other refreshers, let’s talk walkways. We don’t really talk about walkways a lot, but they are pretty important to get right. No one wants to have a crash in the dark. These LED lights are great for grass, stairs, you name it. They also come in other colors. Maybe you just want a couple of pretty lanterns! This one is perfect and simple. But if you simply need a good and pretty pathway to help you and your guests around the yard, I think this cedar wood path is awesome.

1. Outdoor Cedar Shower Room | 2. Outdoor Sandbox with Adjustable Canopy

Did you know Wayfair has incredibly cool structures like these?? If you have or are building an outdoor shower, consider getting this cedar shower room! It’s beautiful and offers some privacy with a lock on the door. Or how sweet is this outdoor sandbox?! Those benches, the light blue scalloped canopy that’s adjustable…what more could you or your kids want?

1. Big Joe Pool Noodle | 2. 9 ft. Coastal Space-Saving Half Patio Umbrella with Scalloped Fringe

Do you have a pool or access to a pool? I think we all need this pool noodle! I tend to prefer a noodle to an inner tube, but that’s just a personal preference:) I love the cabana stripe, but the watermelon one is very cute too. And when you can add fringe, you should, right? This is a half patio umbrella (great for a small space), and that stripe, color, and fringe are all perfect. There are many other full patio options for larger sizes on the site. Add a stripe to your outdoor space, and I promise it will instantly look and feel more fun.

If this was the push you needed to give a little spruce to your outdoor space for maximum summer enjoyment, then we’re happy to help! But just remember, Wayfair’s Black Friday in July sale is only happening until 7/27, where you can save up to 80% off and get sitewide free shipping. Happy summer refreshing, everyone.

Love you, mean it.

*Thank you to Wayfair for partnering with us on this blog post.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Some Farmhouse Pool Updates With Wayfair

We’ve got a purple tween girl bedroom, folks. And my very strongly opinionated daughter and I are having so much fun designing it together. In case you are just joining us, my 10-year-old (going on 16) felt that the butterfly wallpaper we chose when she was 6 didn’t represent her style anymore (to say the least). She has begged and begged in a non-bratty way for us to change it. She loves design and style and wants her room to look like her. Luckily for her, no one understands that more than me, and any chance to spend time with her I’ll take. Of course, the strict “purple and white” color palette was not where I was headed, but challenge accepted.

After attempting to make her wait til 13 to change the wallpaper, many of you (likely moms with daughters) asked gently why wait? I think we all know I was doing it because I felt shame that we had chosen a not-so-timeless wallpaper, but punishing my daughter for my short-sightedness is even dumber. It’s a sunk cost at this point, and as you put it, having her feel at home longer in her room, especially during the teen years, is a good thing. So with a paint partnership offer, it felt like the right time to do it, and my God she is sooooo happy.

We chose the color together, wanting it to look good with her doors and carpet (listen, we can repaint the doors but they were just professionally painted 4 years ago with thick, perfect enamel paint, and I’m just really trying to avoid it). She wanted bright purple; I wanted something more subtle, knowing that even a light color gets very intense when it’s on all four walls. We chose Grape Mist by Sherwin-Williams, which is subtle but still def reads as purple.

Here she is, folks! We put up beadboard panels to add interest (and because the wallpaper was NOT coming off easily, like at all – I don’t think the installer primed). Then she and I (and Gretchen and Elliot’s friend Olivia) painted it in one day. While I’m not 100% opposed to painting the trim, doors, and ceiling, I have a feeling that in 4 years she might want the purple to change, and like I said, the trim work was professionally painted when we renovated. Learn from my mistake – if you and your kid are into design, just play with paint colors, not a real wallpaper pattern. I have zero expectations that she is going to keep this color for the rest of her teen years, but that’s fine! It took us one day to prep and paint, and any excuse to spend time with her during work hours is cherished.

She loves it so much, and it really does feel calm and fresh. The afternoon light makes it look more intense, but still pretty. I’m SO glad that we didn’t go for anything more saturated. She almost convinced me, but we are both glad that I didn’t let her win that one.

Wait, What Happened To Her Bed?

The original Jenny Lind full bed that I got on FBMP was given to a neighbor who wanted it when I listed it back on FBMP. It squeaked and creaked and drove me nuts. We also like having a queen in here to use as an extra guest room (or all the many, many nights that I accidentally fall asleep in here snuggling). So we ordered a green velvet upholstered bed from Article, which looked great with the previous wallpaper, but she doesn’t want green and purple together in here, so she and my son swapped beds. She took his vintage boro fabric-covered Ikea hacked bed, and he got her perfect green velvet bed, which he loves. So I carefully took off my precious fabric and have draped this piece of white linen for now over the headboard. That way we can get a sense of what this “white and purple” color palette will look like. I’m trying to convince her to go fabric shopping with me to find a pattern for the headboard, but she only wants white or purple, no pattern, so if that remains the case, then I’ll likely order a new bed and list this one on FBMP or grab my staple gun and make this one official. This is where I get confused whether I should just be a regular mom (and grab the staple gun) or a career internet designer that needs to show off a really well-designed room (and get a great bed that will look a lot better than a DIY’d one). One is easier and cheaper, the other is better for my business. We’ll see

Creating A Vanity Area

The one thing she really wanted was a vanity, even though she doesn’t wear makeup yet. I think it’s what it represents. I bought this pretty timeless desk from West Elm in my attempt to not need to buy her the janky makeup vanity off Amazon that she wants that I know will fall apart. She put her full-length mirror behind it for now, but I’m obviously shopping for a mirror and lighting that reads vanity enough for her. I brought up my corner chair and ottoman, which I thought looked pretty great up here (but looks better in our room), but it’s too “brown” for her, which I get. Also, she has so many sleepovers in here (there is usually an IKEA twin mattress on the floor), so I’m going to get a sleeper chair for the corner instead (I just ordered this one, so stay tuned for the review).

For now, all of her “stuff” is in the three baskets in the corner, and we are working together to figure out where she wants to put it (and purging what she doesn’t want anymore). It’s mostly dumplings (IYKYK), fake nail kits that she buys at the dollar store, and random stuff that she has barely even missed or looked for the last six weeks. She loves how clean and empty the room is without all her junk, so I think we might just clean out her closet and create more storage in there (which is where her clothes are; we have a great closet system). Both my kids read on Kindles (we got used to it through our longer trips), but both have their special knick-knacks, so we’ll likely put up shelving somewhere. She no longer wants to display her kid art and pottery that she makes (and Gretchen took her bulletin board back and is going to repurpose it).

The old scallop shelving that was here was designed really poorly (like where the holes are on the back make it almost impossible to screw into the wall – I do NOT recommend them) and things fell off all the time. Besides, on that wall (next to the closet) she wants one of those full-length storage mirrors that a friend of hers has (like this one) that she is begging for for her birthday or Christmas. But internally I’m also like, “girl, do you really need two vanity setups for makeup you don’t wear yet and fake nails that look like talons?” But that feels like a battle that I don’t need to wage, as literally all of her friends are into the same stuff, and it’s not that big of a deal. Besides, I get it – pretending to put on makeup and doing your hair and nails are fun and can be super creative. Anyway, I know all you parents of tween or teen girls right now can understand. She asked me for face moisturizer the other day, so I know it’s in the mail (proverbially, none yet). I’ve read about the Sephora tween craze and how Gen Alpha is starting their beauty routines so young – it’s pretty insane (to us). Obviously, I’m not thrilled about attention going towards beauty so young, but I’m also not about to damage our relationship by being super strict and forbidding something so innocuous (for now). We live in the world that we live in at this particular time. I am prioritizing our connection over restriction where appropriate (thank you to tween psychologist Lisa Damour for giving me that mantra) and saving all my battle strength for when she starts asking for social media.

I had to feature this super cute bedding for an Anthropologie partnership, and I like it in here, but my sweet client doesn’t agree. Her vision is so clear, you guys. She just wants purple and white and only purple and white. No accent color. No patterns. Nothing that feels old and vintage (apparently her generation is not into granny-core). In fact, last night we were watching Elle (the precursor to Legally Blonde), and when she got her new, only hot pink, white, and crystal room (set in the late 90s), Elliot turned to me and said, “ooh I want that but just purple and white!!” It was actually really helpful to have the visual.

Of course the challenge is that purple, white and gold can go gaudy and cheesy really fast. So she has agreed to add in wood elements (to “warm it up”, she says) and even some “texture”, but she doesn’t want it to “pop”. And I get it. She and I are so unbelievably alike that putting myself in her shoes is just so easy. I can see what she is doing – she is backlashing against a house that has a lot of patterns, color, and “old stuff”. She wants her room to feel sophisticated, “fancy”, fresh, simple, and still youthful but in a teen way.

I’m learning a lot, but this process won’t be fun if I engage in a power struggle, so I’m not (so much tongue holding). This is her room, not mine, and I only benefit from this if we have fun together. She knows very well how lucky she is and how unique it is that this is my job. She has learned to say “mama, that’s just not my style” when I show her something she doesn’t like and will totally compromise on some stuff (like the softer wall color – THANK GOD). My goal here is to have fun and bond and then hopefully have a room that both looks like her as well as, ahem, good design for my job (which is just our atypical family reality).

So I pulled together a mood board in Spoak so you can see where we are headed. Some of this we already have, but most are either in the works or just options we are toying with.

I’m still debating all of it. She has room for a long low bookcase next to her bed (that she wants to remain in the corner), but I fear it’s just going to be a junk collector. I actually designed the Mallory rug for RugsUSA for her since she loves purple, so it’s funny that I might buy it now to float in the middle (they are still selling it even though it’s technically not an EHD rug anymore). What isn’t on the moodboard is her collection of stuffies (she sleeps with 9 every night and counts them like children) and all her squooshies, labubus and dumplings And we’ll likely add a ton more posters on the walls as she gets more into different music or art.

Also not shown is my extreme excitement and joy to be able to spend time with her like this. She is such a ball of happiness and fun, and her enthusiasm is so infectious. She is high-key my favorite person to hang out with, and she currently says I’m hers, so since I know/fear that will change, I may milk this design process for a while… And by a while, I hope we’ll have it done by her birthday in October. xx

*Photos by Kaitlin Green