A One King's Lane Sale not to be Missed!

As I've mentioned once, or twice, or maybe even twelve times, I am knee-deep in the home decor world these days. I have learned to bargain hunt, to never trust the first price I come across, and to really search high and low for the best products out there. One site I keep returning to time and time again is One King's Lane.

Let me preface this post by saying that One King's Lane tends to be a little pricier than the typical discount sites, but they also tend to carry higher end brands which means while you might be paying a tad more, you're getting a fantastic deal. Yay!

Today and tomorrow, One King's Lane is running a 20% off sale with the code OKLSHARE20. While there are some exclusions...including the lamps I was planning to buy...I digress...tons and tons of their items are on sale. I love One King's Lane for their curated, high quality goods that really fit into many different home styles. I am always drawn to their French influences, but you can find amazing art and gorgeous knick-knacks too. If you have bookshelves or coffee tables to style, now is your chance to stock up! Below are a few of my favorite OKL items.

How to make your spaces POP!

When it comes to interiors, there are some things that I'm really good at. I love choosing lighting and hardware. I can put different pieces of art together. I've even started understanding pattern play a little bit too. However, there's one thing that I really struggle with: styling surfaces. Our coffee table is basically a holding spot for magazines, remotes, and a lone candle. It's not exactly magazine worthy. 

Recently, we purchased a large sideboard to go underneath our television in our master bedroom. Yes, I know a sideboard traditionally goes in a dining room, but this one provided us with the storage we needed as well as the look we were going for in our master, so into the bedroom it went! And I kind of love it there.

Here's the problem: it's a LARGE sideboard and there is a lot of surface area. On one hand, that's great for storage because that means there are deep cabinets and enormous drawers. On the other hand, the top of it looks really empty. Even though we've only had the piece for a few weeks, it was starting to drive me slightly crazy as to what I could put on top of it. 

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I love *things*. I have a lot of books, a lot of trinkets, and a lot of little memories that I can't part with. However, when thinking about our dresser (aka. the sideboard), I wanted to make sure I didn't clutter it. I wanted useful items that filled the space while serving dual purposes, but I had no idea where to start, so I turned to SwatchPop! for help.

SwatchPop! is an online interior design service where design professionals are at your fingertips. Here's how it works: start by creating a profile and filling-out a detailed survey about your design likes and dislikes and the stores you regularly shop. The more specific you can be here, the better! Next, choose your pops. In my case, I wanted to style my dresser as well as another little nook nearby for a total of 3 pops (1 pop for the dresser styling, 2 pops for nook furniture and wall decor).

Then, you tell your designer (who you'll soon meet!) what your needs are as well as a little bit about your style. This is your opportunity to share inspiration photos, measurements, and your budget. Again, be as specific as you can! Finally, chat with your designer and let the magic happen. Within a few days, you'll be on your way to a newly designed space!

I loved hearing from my designer (almost daily for a week) and seeing progress along the way. I truly felt as though she got to know me and my style which meant that the process was a quick one. Within a week, I had renderings of my space along with a product list of where to find the same items (and even alternates if things were not affordable or unavailable). 

Perhaps the best part was the affordability of everything! Your first pop is $49.95 and each pop after is $29.95. So let's say that you need furniture ($49.95), wall decor ($29.95), and rug help ($29.95). You can get an entire room designed for $110! Even better? SwatchPop gave me a code for anyone who wants to try the service. Just type in PolkaDots to receive 10% off. Woot! 

I truly loved the experience of SwatchPop! and I'll definitely be using their services again in the future. Stay tuned in the coming weeks to see the dresser and nook project come to life! 

Thanks so much to SwatchPop! for the complimentary services. All opinions (and excitement) are my own! 

PPD Renovates: We Have a Roof!

Before

We've officially been under construction on our home renovation for just over a month. Construction started on November 21, so we've come quite a long way in a short amount of time...which is a good thing! We're very satisfied with our team so far, and things are moving along with the project. 

Not going to lie, after a long, drought-ridden fall, as soon as we took our roof off, and I mean AS SOON AS we took our roof off, the rain came down. In those weeks, we had many nights waking up wondering if our floors and ceilings were being drenched in water. Luckily, we had very little water damage, and now that we have a roof and almost all of our windows, we shouldn't have anymore sleepless nights. 

Roof off! This lasted for a few weeks and was basically just complete stress. 

The very beginning of framing. You can see the original wood siding underneath our blue. 

Since I am such a type-A planner, I've had all of our material selections ready to go for months. This was especially helpful for both our plumber and our electrician. It's crazy that all of the electrical work happens during framing, so having my lighting ordered weeks in advance allowed us to  know exactly what height to hang things like sconces. Plus, I loved choosing lighting. I'm pretty obsessed with the sconces for our dining room, but the master bath and powder room ones have my heart, too. 

Starting to look more like a house again!

Other than lighting, we've spent a lot of time choosing brick and thinking about our paint colors. I met with a paint specialist last week to help us wrap our heads around it. I really want to have different paint colors throughout the house, but I want them to work together seamlessly. I'm not sure if you've ever looked, but there are thousands of paint colors out there, and unlike lighting and tile stores, paint reps don't exist. Having an expert is going to be so helpful! 

As of Saturday, December 31, 2016, we have a roof, shingles, windows (!!!) and all kinds of newness on the inside. 

As far as the exterior goes, we still have siding to add, a brick fireplace & stoop, expanding the stoop, and moving the front door. The new front door will be directly under that middle window and will finally give me the symmetry I've been craving. We're hoping to have drywall up in the next few weeks which means another update will be coming your way soon!  In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions about renovation/adding-on to your home. I'm becoming an expert slowly but surely! 

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

No, I'm not talking about a puppy...although mine has most definitely been the gift that keeps on giving. Instead, I'm talking about linens. Before you click away, hear me out: how often do you buy yourself new sheets, blankets, or towels? If you're like me, chances are you don't buy yourself these things often, and if we're spirit animals, you never buy yourself linens. Linens just get pushed way down on my priority list of things to buy. I always justify purchasing something else instead. But think about it: we use linens every single day which is why they make a great gift. I still remember the people who gifted us our first towels for our wedding (hey Lindsay & Erin), and I definitely know who gave us a set of sheets. 

The holidays are a great time to snap up linens for others. One of my favorite places to shop for linens is WestPoint Home. It might actually be the one place I consider myself as a lifetime shopper. When I was little, there was a WestPoint Home store near the Alabama/Georgia state line. It had a beautiful fountain outside of it which I referred to as the "dancing water." It was always a landmark for our trips to and from Mobile. 

WestPoint Home has recently opened a new store at the North Georgia Premium Outlets, and they're celebrating their grand opening tomorrow. During the grand opening event, you can receive free monogramming on personalizable items which make it a prime opportunity for shopping for gifts. I took a word of advice from myself and stepped-up the fun factor by getting our house number monogrammed on towels. These will be right at home in our new Jack and Jill bath. 

Let me know if you find yourself at the WestPoint Home opening tomorrow - and let me know what you get!

I received the towels seen here in exchange for this post. 

Prepping Your Guest Room

With the dawn of summer comes the dawn of summer guests. Even though our house is small (but mighty!), we're lucky to have space for family and friends to stay when they visit. Because our guest room houses my closet and my overflow drawer items, it's important that the space feels like an inviting, comfortable place for guests as well as functional space for me. Over the years, I've dramatically changed this room, one little item at a time to make it light and airy while remaining sweet and cozy. 

If your guest room has to be a space for you as well as your guests, I wanted to offer a few tips to get it in tip top shape. As you prep for your own guests this summer, keep these things in mind:

Bedding will make or break a guest's stay. Seriously. I would be lying if I said that I had considered this before. If I am being totally honest, I only recently decided it was time for our guest room to have some great sheets. Before just a few weeks ago, our guests cozied up under big box sheets, and while cute, these aren't exactly the most comfy. Perfect Linens saved the day with their Second Skin sheets. These 400 thread count, Egyptian cotton sheets are airy without clinging. And can we talk about the gorgeous embroidery? I chose Fern Green to match some of the other elements in our guest room, but I'm eying some of Perfect Linens' other color ways for my own room...like these scallops? Yes, please! What I love about Perfect Linens is that they are the sheet experts - they're the only website that sells only sheets, and there is research behind their brand including objective tests and fabric analysis. Talk about commitment to quality! And guys, they're incredibly soft. I can't wait to hear my guests' rave reviews! 

Note: Perfect Linens is offering 15% off of any of their sheets! Use the code PolkaDots15. 

Make room in the closet. Okay, so maybe you don't use your closet for overflow clothing like me, but I would bet that you use it for some sort of storage. Be courteous and make room in the closet for your guests to hang their clothes. Another great touch? Leave a few empty hangers front and center. It screams "use me!" 

Add the finishing touches. I wish I had my act together enough to put together a fantastic welcome tray full of flowers, snacks, and other essentials, but since I don't,  I have to improvise. I do like to add a little something special before guests arrive. This Diptyque candle was gifted to me (real blogger status), and I love the scent and how it looks on the night stand - which doubles as a trunk for storage. I'll leave a cute box of matches, too. Add an extra blanket and pillow along with towels, so guests have everything they need for a great night's rest. 

What are your guest room prep tips?

This post is in partnership with Perfect Linens. All opinions are my own.

My Lulie Wallace Original

Before I bought my wedding dress, before I went engagement ring shopping, before I even knew what kind of flowers I wanted to carry down the aisle, I knew that when all was said and done, I would have a Lulie Wallace painting hanging in my home. And not just any Lulie Wallace painting; it would be a custom canvas of my bouquet. Call me crazy, but I may or may not have chosen a few specific flowers knowing that one day they would be transformed into art...what? That's not normal?

I thought I would have to wait years before I would be able to get a custom Lulie, but Hunter surprised me with a painting for Christmas...and I have it to share with you today! Let's start with the inspiration behind the painting. Pay attention to that big peony as well as the hydrangeas...

And now, the finished canvas: 

I love that it's just abstract enough to capture the essence of Lulie's work, but you can definitely see that it's my bouquet. It's perfection! 

disclosure: this post was sponsored by Anjolee jewelry

Life's Little Details

This is my final semester of my Ed.S. degree, and one of my classes is digital photography. I have been practicing with my camera taking pictures all over the house this week. I'm not sure I'm getting any better, but I am noticing little details here and there around our home. Since I haven't talked about a house update in quite sometime, I thought I'd show you some of the pictures I've been taking to give you a glimpse!

1:: Flowers just outside our front windows that I never noticed until a few days ago. 

2:: Saving my mags for our trip to the beach. Have I mentioned that we're leaving on Saturday? No? ;) I know, I know, but I can't stop thinking about it!

3:: Anthro ikat bowl and Design Darling matches. 

4:: One of many antique items I have stocked on my built-ins. I played with this phone at my grandparent's house, they gifted it to me in college, and it sits in my home now. I love that it has their phone number on it (sans area code, of course!). 

5:: Some of my favorite perfumes that I sometimes forget to wear. Recently I've been addicted to Twirl, but there isn't anything like an old favorite.

Perfectly Paired Prints III

Cocktail week was such a fun topic that I can't let it go just yet. So, I'm giving y'all one more day of it! There is nothing I love more than a themed gift. With Mother's Day on the horizon, graduation parties galore, and wedding season in full swing, we're all in the market for some easy gift ideas. 

Amanda Helmer of Amanda Catherine Designs recently released a new collection of her prints: The Bar Cart Collection! Here are a few ideas for pairing one of her prints with a bar accessories to create the perfect gift:

ACD Make Mine a Double + C.WONDER enamel bar set 

ACD Saturday Mornings + ANTHROPOLOGIE dotted napkins 

ACD She loves + C.WONDER gold chevron glasses

 

Stocking Stuffer Guide: For Them

The holidays are typically a time of laughter, food, friendship, and...house guests. Whether you're entertaining friends, family, or both this season, make you guests feel a part of your home by creating a stocking especially for them. Place it with yours on Christmas morning or put it in their room to welcome them. Add a few local products from your town and fill it up with other fun things they might enjoy. I hope you've gotten some great ideas for stocking stuffers over the past few weeks. I've loved putting the guides together!

JONATHAN ADLER coasters / ANTHROPOLOGIE candle / C.WONDER speaker 

C.WONDER ornament / SWEETTEETH chocolate sauce / C.WONDER cheese picks

Books by Bloggers

One of the most empowering things about this Blogworld is the recurring theme that if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish it. I am continually impressed by the entrepreneuresses, small businesses, and now, authors. I want to put one of each of these books on my shelf - and I love that each one sold supports someone who took a moment, reflected, and decided to pursue his/her dreams.

1. Cupcakes and Cashmere / 2. Blog, Inc. / 3. Young House Love

 4. Good Bones, Great Pieces / 5. Design Sponge

P.S. I just signed up for Allison's Christmas City Blog Swap. I am SO excited for this one. Check it out!

Happy Halloween!

First of all, Happy Halloween!!

I have two Halloween treats for you today. First up, a spooky drink for adults and kids alike. Use champagne or prosecco for the grown-ups and sparkling grape juice for the youngsters. Here is what you'll need: 

- Red sugar sprinkles

- Strawberry syrup

- Bouncy eyeballs 

- Champagne flutes

- Bubbly 

1. Begin by preparing your "dunking" bowls. Add syrup and sugar just enough to cover the base of the bowl. 
2. Then, take your champagne flute, and dunk it in syrup. Turn it over and allow the syrup to drip down the outer edges of the glass (if it drips inside, that's okay, too - you'll just have a hint of strawberry in your drink). 
3. Next, lightly swirl the flute in the sugar. 
4. Add your eyeball. Then, let the glass chill in the refrigerator to solidify the syrup and sugar. 
5. Finally, add your bubbly of choice to create a simple yet spooky cocktail! 

Next up, imagine my delight when I found these carving kits catered to SEC & ACC hearts. Even if it might be too late for Halloween this year, I honestly think this would be so fun as part of Thanksgiving decor. Everyone watches football Thanksgiving weekend, anyway! Find yours below.

UGA / Auburn / Clemson / Tennessee

 South Carolina / Alabama / University of Florida

/ Kentucky

Pumpkins Three Ways

To get your home autumn-ready, use a few pumpkins here and there. Pumpkins are great for decorating because they can be used season-round, not just for Halloween. Bring them out at the end of September and leave them out until Thanksgiving. Try one of the DIY ideas below.

Start with one of these. Then...

preppy:

tape / paint

 

glam:

glue / glitter  

classic:

paint / chalk 

Fall Essentials at Terrain

Have you spent some time perusing through Anthropologie's sister store, Terrain? Their products are mainly for the home and garden, and I'm loving the rustic yet chic looks. I would definitely like to have any of these things in my home. What would you pick?

Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce / Pumpkin Crate / The Week-End Book 

 Fallen Branch Votives / Pumpkin Carving Set / Saffleflower Wreath

Run It

Our house is small. Not uncomfortably small, but not always conducive to more than one house guest at a time. We have one bathroom and two bedrooms, and between us and the dog, we're living comfortably compacted. However, we have no plans to move. Instead, our dream is to convert our attic into a master suite. We came pretty close to starting it last year, but decided to hold off a bit. The plan would include a stairway that would be visible as soon as you walked in the door. Knowing this, I am always on the lookout for cute stairs & entryways. Currently, I am absolutely loving patterned stair runners. Talk about instant charm & personality!

Gretchen O. Graphics + Interiors

Bear Hill Interiors

The Decorista

Virginia MacDonald for Style at Home

Aubrey + Lindsay

Would you dare to pattern your stairs?

Contrasting View Points

Reading design blogs has definitely opened my eyes and made me more adventurous. I see color differently and think of patterns that usually "don't go together" as matching and looking amazing. These same blogs also made me pay attention to detail - nailhead trim, a subtle greek key, and my current obsession: contrasting welt. Our living room chair is due for reupholstering soon, and I think this concept is in its future! Thoughts?

Sea Blue & Cream

White & Navy

Orange & Cream by Tobi Fairley

White & Lots of Options! 

Pink & Navy

What's your view on contrasting welt? A trend worth buying into?

DIY: Oversized Art

I've had this project completed for a while now, but when I saw Liz's post (a must read, btw) debating whether she should bite the bullet and blow-up an image of her own, I decided it was time to share it! When we began to revamp our kitchen, I knew the number one thing I wanted to do was replace the artwork that was hanging above the table. It was modern, full of earth tones, and just not me at all. One day, I stumbled upon this image from Design Darling (another must read) and knew that I had found the replacement art I was looking for!

I got to work researching and found InkShuffle via Camila's blog (again, a must read). InkShuffle is a company that will blow up your print and turn it into - get this - wallpaper! Even better, the wallpaper is removable, so it won't mess up your walls. You simply dunk the rolls in water to get them sticky enough to hang. I uploaded a picture from my study abroad weekend in Paris to the site, told them how large to make it, and received it in the mail about two weeks later (for only about $65!).

We decided to wallpaper the print to a piece of lightweight (but well sanded) plywood. Then, we built our own frame using pre-primed moulding and a piece of plastic glass. Here are a few during pictures:

The results are fabulous! See?

Before:

Photo courtesy of C.Joyner Interiors

After:

The best part is that the picture is such a conversation starter, and I love saying that I took it myself :) Bragging rights!

PS. All of the must read blogs I mentioned are on my blogroll to the right! Get to reading, girls!