PPD Renovates: Master Bathroom Reveal

Today, it's all about our master bathroom. Who's excited?! 

True story: the very first thing I chose when we started our renovation was our master bathroom marble. It was quite the ordeal to get it completed, and I would never recommend the company we purchased it from, but it was worth the headache. It's called Alabama White and is from a quarry Sylacauga, Alabama. It is almost entirely white with little to no grey veining, and I love it.

There are a few other things I love about our master bath starting with the navy cabinets. The color is Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore, and we paired them with brass pulls from Restoration Hardware. I am a big fan of mixing metals (and mixing patterns and furniture in general), so we chose polished nickel for the rest of our finishes throughout the room. 

I think it's so important to try to mix and match different patterns, colors, and metals. I realize this is not for everyone, and some people love a simple, monochromatic feel, but I think mixing these metals together really adds so much warmth and character to our space.

Our his/hers closets are directly across from our vanity. While the closets are pretty small, it's so nice for each of us to have our own space. I will say, the closets are far from finished, so no looksies at those today! 

I just added this awesome vintage handmade rug from India recently, and I think the colors in it play so well with the rest of the room, including my nudes by Kristin Blakeney. I had them framed with navy mats via Framebridge to match the cabinets. Love. (P.S. More on my experience with Framebridge later).

The freestanding tub was one of my must-have wish list items, and the light fixture from Serena and Lily really makes a statement in the tub / separate water closet area. This light fixture pretty much inspired all of the finishes in this room. I got it for Christmas at the beginning of our renovation, and it lived in a box in the tiny house we rented for 4 months until we finished. It's on a dimmer and is perfect for peaceful baths.

Our master shower is probably the most ostentatious seemingly ridiculous part of our house, but here's the deal: 

1. This room backs up to our guest room, so the space was originally drawn as a guest closet. We don't have kids and even if we did, no one needs a closet that big for anything. We've got plenty of storage, so we absorbed the space into our bathroom for our shower.

2. Nothing makes me happier in this room than the fact that visitors can't see any of our unsightly towels, washcloths, or robes. Everything is tucked near the shower for easy access and stays tidy and out of sight!

Also, I don't have pics of this space because who wants to see that anyway? ;)

That's it! Of course I could use window treatments, fresh flowers, etc. but this is what I see every day. Let me know if you have any questions about anything you see! 

2017 in Review: My Favorite Posts of the Year

At the start of the new year, I do a round-up of my favorite posts of the year. These are sometimes my most popular posts, sometimes my least popular posts, or sometimes just posts that I want to include. It's always fun to look back and see the different tips, tricks, and stories I've told, and I am always reminded of the great things that I've accomplished in a year. 

2017 brought one huge change for us: we renovated our home. It's hard to imagine that at the beginning of 2017, we did not have a roof, but by the end of the year, we not only have a roof, walls, floors, and decor, but we also hosted family here for Christmas. It truly is crazy what happens in a year. 

As I move into 2018, I'm reflecting on the past year both personally and for the blog. I am hoping to bring content that is worth-while and not what every other blogger is doing because frankly, I'm sick of reading the same stuff over and over. I'm determined to only share when I feel like I have something to say. I am also determined to share more personal posts that don't gloss over the important things happening in the world around us. 

Personally, I'm sure like most of you, I'm hoping to consider self care. I know that's such a buzzy word right now, but it is what it is, and it is something I need to pay attention to. And self care doesn't just mean diet/exercise. I want to read more. I want to say no more. I want to sleep better. I want to get back to my daily scripture reading. I want to see my friends more. I want to travel more. Basically, I want to do what I want to do, not what I feel obligated to do. 

I'll let you know how it goes. 

In the meantime, here are my favorite posts of 2017. Enjoy them and cheers to the New Year! 

January: 5 Reasons Why Bachelorette Parties are Better in your 30s

February: How to Wear Joggers in Public

March: My Current Favorite Podcasts

April: 5 Favorite Online Home Stores

May: PPD Renovates: The Outside is DONE

June: Genius Trick to Revolutionize Summer Beverages

July: 30A Hidden Gems

August: How to Make an IG Stories Graphic

September: Fall Style + Closet Overhaul

October: A Personal, Political, & Perhaps Unpopular Post

November: Caramel Baked Apples

December: Christmas Home Tour

Christmas Home Tour Part I

I just love this time of year, don't y'all? This year is perhaps a little more exciting for me than previous years because it's the first year in our house for the holidays since we renovated. Not only does that mean we're working with different room layouts and color schemes, but we're also working with some new places to set-up our decor. It has been super fun but not without a few challenges. 

In fact, we kicked off the season back in October when we bought our faux tree from Home Depot. During our renovation, we tossed our other trees (yes, I have multiple), so I wanted to be on top of things. I insisted that we grab it before they all sold out. Last week when we went to put it up, we discovered that it was enormous...as in, it took up our entire dining room. I was not only disappointed but concerned because the tree selection goes downhill fast. Thankfully, I was able to find a suitable replacement, for $100 less that I might like 100x better. Win win! 

Of course, I've added a few new items - mostly tree decor like navy striped ribbon & faux magnolias (which are a little trick... ;) - but I've also just enjoyed using what we already have in a new way. In today's post, you'll get a peek at our holiday decor, but you'll also get to see a few of the other rooms in the house that I've almost completed. There's a pinch of Christmas in just about every space, and I hope the tour helps you get a better idea of the house in general. Enjoy!

Confession: my living room/dining room is far from done. We're missing an additional rug under the dining table (eventually going for a layered look!). We definitely need some art above the dining room tables. I have about 8 pillows picked out for our sectional that I haven't had the funds to buy yet. But, I love how FULL the room looks right now. 

I went with a navy, white, red, silver, and gold theme this year. Mostly because that's what I had. Both garlands are from Frontgate, and the one over the mantle is battery operated on a timer, so I never have to turn it off or on. Brilliant. 

My mom and grandmother started a Department 56 Dickens Christmas Village for me when I was in college, and then my MIL generously gifted me a few more pieces a few years ago. I was an English major in college, and A Christmas Carol is one of my all-time favorite stories. This village is a little homage to my love for reading. I hope to keep expanding it over the years starting with pieces directly related to the story. 

Also seen in the living room is my Fontanini nativity set, my wedding gift from my grandmother. I have a special affinity for nativities, and I am hoping to start a collection of those as well. You'll see my second nativity later in the tour. 

The dining room is next. I have big plans for my dining room table, but since I work there every day (long story), I have to keep it functional. The mercury glass trees are from Target many years ago, and I sprinkled in a few votives and some scraps that fell off of our Christmas card garland. 

For our Christmas cards this year, I hung garland around the door to our kitchen. As we get a card, I'm punching it with a hole and tying it to the garland with navy blue satin ribbon. I'll keep the ribbon to reuse next year and get new fresh garland. I'm pretty proud of myself. 

The bar cart gets festive, too...because where else in your home is more worthy than some Christmas spirit than the bar?! The red Santa wine glasses were a gift from an annual Christmas swap from my friends from teaching. We do it every year, and I'm so glad I snagged these a few years ago! I also have a pretty dish from Vietri from my MIL along with some cute cocktail napkins and a felt tree. 

Since this is getting a little long-winded, I'm going to break the tour in half. Come back later to see the upstairs! 

Being playful and taking risks in decor

Let's get something out of the way: renovating a house is hard, but do you know what's even harder? Filling it with furniture and decor. For one thing, it's not exactly easy on the budget to buy items for rooms that never existed before. For another, it's just plain challenging to make decisions. Like I mentioned on Wednesday, one of the things that has really helped me is keeping my 5 words in mind. Another helpful tip I try to remember? Not to take myself (or my home) too seriously. 

Being playful with decor is super important to me. I like to think that I am fun, and so I want my home to represent that. I love mixing patterns and colors. Navy blue next to kelly green? Yes, please! A splash or four of pink? Of course! I love mixing furniture from different eras. French provincial chairs? Yep. Jenny Linds spool bed? Be still my heart. 

While none of our rooms are finished, or are anywhere close to being finished, I think you can really see what I mean in our downstairs guest room. This room used to be our bedroom, and it has had quite a transformation. Take a look at the before: 

Since this room isn't done (please ignore the lack of rug), we'll call this the "during" phase: 

We inherited the antique bed from Hunter's grandmother. It was that typical mid-century yellow wood, but my mother in law painted it a glossy jet black. The plates are another antique gift from my husband's family. The typewriter is from my grandparents. It belonged to my grandmother. It's super heavy and rusty, but it's such a neat piece to have, especially since I make my living as a writer. The trunk is full of Hunter's childhood baseball cards. And my favorite addition is the emerald Robert Abbey Delta lamp. The modern shape goes totally against the other antique decor, but it works! Not only is it the right scale for the height of the bed, but the punchy color is unexpected yet playful. And ding ding ding! Playful is one of my house words. 

We still need a rug and the fabric that will actually be used in Euro shams is unreal and will really make this room complete, but for now, this room is exactly where I want it to be. Unexpected and playful with a few timeless pieces thrown in. 

How to choose 5 "words" to drive your decor style

While we were renovating, I kept several words in mind to help keep me on the right path. It can be incredibly overwhelming to choose finishes, fixtures, paint colors, and all the other home fixings, but by keeping those words in mind, I was able to narrow selections a lot easier. 

I actually started this post intending to go one direction, but when I thought about how I used those words to drive my design choices, I thought the concept might help some of you. Here's how I developed my own set of words (and how you can develop yours too!):

1. Start by going through all of your inspiration images. Yes, all of them. That means pouring over your Pinterest boards, the magazines you've been hoarding, and those saved images on Instagram. 

2. As you scroll through different rooms, write down what you like about them. Here's an example of a room I love from BHG: 

What words would you use to describe it? For me, words like classic, timeless, colorful, serene, preppy, French, and fun all come to mind. Essentially, do this step for several rooms/photos that you love. Write down as many words as you can. 

3. Next, go through your list of words, and circle the words that pop up again and again. If you wrote it down more than 2-3 times, circle it darker (or highlight it or make a new list). 

4. Finally, narrow down your words to your top 5. Make sure these words are not only the ones that were the most prominent, but are also the ones that speak to you! No use having words on there that don't actually describe what you like. Want to know what mine were?

- Playful

- Southern

- Charming 

- Classic

- Timeless 

5. Keep these words somewhere safe. Mine are on my phone in a note called "Words to Describe the House" - no secrets here. ;) 

As I chose hardware, fixtures, tile, and even paint colors, I kept coming back to these words. Now that I've shifted my focus from finishes to decor, I'm doing the same thing. Each decision that I make, I pull my list out. Does the lamp, rug, artwork or piece of furniture fit into one (or all) of those words? If not, I leave it behind. Sure, I can still love it, but I know that it's not necessarily the right fit right now. Not only does this keep my house consistent, but it keeps me focused! Plus, when I speak with store associates or design professionals, I can easily describe what I'm looking for. 

Give it a try, and let me know if you do! I'd love to hear your words. 

A little facelift and feeling fancy free

after - living room & fireplace

before - living room and fireplace

Every now and then, I catch myself forgetting that our home is different than it used to be. In fact, in my mind, I think I still picture it as the little blue house with very little curb appeal (but a whole lot of potential). Even though we have so much more space now, almost every nook of the house has been touched in some way whether through a complete transformation, like our living room, or just a little paint to bring it up to speed, like our kitchen. 

The truth is, we loved our little cottage before it was renovated. We didn't have a ton of extra space (and we definitely needed another bathroom), but it was quaint, cozy, and charming. As we've wrapped up construction and started focusing on furniture placement and other decor, I really wanted to maintain that same feeling. After all, at its core, our home is still the same home it was before. It just got rebranded. 

Think about it like this: rebranding is something that happens through the years for many businesses. If you've noticed, many of the chain restaurants of our childhood look totally different (and way cooler?) now. Other brands have done the same. Recently, Southern Breeze Sweet Tea got a little facelift of their own. They updated their packaging, swapped some colors, and even created a new tagline. Like our home, Southern Breeze is still the same awesome, zero calorie, guilt-free sweet tea it was before. It simply got a little exterior update. Like a new manicure or a new pair of earrings, sometimes, you just need a little update to feel more like yourself.

For our own living room makeover, we really focused on making our fireplace the star of the show. It took us a loooong time to choose the pretty pink brick that we finally settled on. I think we must have looked at at least 30 samples of brick! My favorite part of construction was choosing our lighting fixtures. The sconces above our mantle by Hudson Valley flank one of our largest piece of art in our collection, a landscape by Atlanta-based artist, Winston Wiant. Our bookshelves hold our electronics like our t.v. (don't worry, we're getting a bigger one eventually), and our record player and speakers. We've love having the record player when we have friends over for afternoon chats (with sweet tea & snacks, of course) or on Friday night happy hours. Ultimately, we'll trade our sectional for a sofa with two swivel gliders, but for now, I'm enjoying our cozy space. 

Stay tuned to my Instagram for more house updates and sneak peeks of all of the changes and facelifts we're doing around here. Our living room is only the beginning! 

Thanks to Southern Breeze Sweet Tea for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own. 

PPD Renovates: The outside is DONE

I mentioned a few days ago that we finally moved into our house. Our official move-in date was April 22 which means that as of today, we've been in our house for about three weeks. We spent the first two weeks battling boxes, trying to figure out where furniture was going to live, and what we needed to wrap-up. That meant someone knocking on the door almost daily trying to finish the job.

Before

After

While the inside of our house is far from finished, the outside of our house is actually done! It's crazy to think that just five months ago, we had very different curb appeal (although it wasn't very appealing). Now we have grass (first time ever), gorgeous plants like hydrangeas, Boston ivy, and ferns, and a stoop that seriously makes me so happy. That pink brick is perfection against Farrow & Ball's Purbeck Stone. 

Our front door is custom, and while that sounds fancy pants/expensive, it was actually more cost effective to have our door custom-made than to buy it from the lumbar yard. Trust me, I was shocked, too. Since we have a door with glass, I won't get to have a fun door knocker, so we decided to make a statement with our hardware. I love the Baldwin Nashville more than I ever thought I would. It really partners well with our gas lanterns which are made by a company out of Fairhope, Alabama - just over the bay from Mobile which I think is so cool.

Of course, I had to add a cute doormat. I'm pretty sure I'll be swapping these out regularly, but I think this pineapple one was a great starting point. I've rounded-up a few of my other favorite welcome mats below! 

Stay tuned for even more house updates, and if you can't wait for a blog post, I'm giving lots of them on IG stories, so follow along there! 

5 Favorite Online Home Stores

Now that the renovation is finally starting to wrap-up, I am busy researching my little heart out for decor, especially for our guest bedrooms. Admittedly, we're going to have three of them, and beyond the bed itself, we don't have much of anything. We'll need mattresses, bedding, and even decor. 

I've been scouring the web trying to find different home stores. Not just ones that are unique, but ones that not everyone shops at. It's hard to explain, but I want to be excited about each item I put in my house. Hence why I'm so hell-bent on treasure hunting instead of big box shopping. 

Plus, I get to discover some fantastic small businesses which is always fun for me! I'm loving the ease of online browsing, and even though I haven't bought anything yet, I'm sure I will soon! Here are 5 of my favorite online home stores.

Lulu & Georgia: Lulu & Georgia has long been one of my favorite places to browse, and now that I have a few more rooms to fill, I'm looking forward to actually making some purchases. I've always loved their lighting the most, so I've got my eye on a few table lamps. What table lamp doesn't need tassels? 

Serena & Lily: Oh, Serena and Lily, how do I love thee? I already own the Capiz Scalloped pendant (going over my new tub!!), and there are so many other things I'd like to make mine, too. Like an upholstered chair or two. 

Simons: This store has some really beautiful options for duvet covers. I love the idea of having one folded at the foot of the beds. The scallop duvet is most definitely one of my favorites, but I can't help but love the gold ribbons cover either. Gimme all the gold. 

Dear Keaton: Dear Keaton is a local Atlanta business, but since they're online, everyone can get in on the action! I love that Dear Keaton's items feel collected over time, and you know I love that. Their mirrors are gorgeous and their pillow collection is unmatched.

Belle Botanica: With tons of walls to fill, I've been on the lookout for collections that are essentially already done for me. Belle Botanica is basically THE jackpot. I'm pretty sure I'll be adding a set of hummingbirds to my dining room, but I've been torn between those and their French Camellias. Camellias are special to me, and I know I'd enjoy looking at these every day. 

Making Big Home Purchases without Going Crazy

Our new chandelier from The Big Chandelier. It was found at a warehouse in Belgium and is estimated to be from the mid 20th century.  

One of the things I didn't think too much about when we embarked on the renovation was the concept that I'd actually have to fill the spaces we were creating. Obviously some thought went into it, but I'm not sure it totally sank in. Thankfully, I've spent a lot of time over the years perusing antique stores because it's one of my absolute favorite ways to kill a little time. It also happens to be a great way to save money when making big home purchases. 

For some, antique stores can be dingy, scary places, but for me, they're enormous warehouses full of treasures. Not only is the quality found in antique furniture so much better than today's big box stores, but the charm and character is there too. Not to mention, prices are typically similar or in some cases, better. And as an added bonus, I'm doing my part to upcycle. 

So, how have I made big home purchases without going crazy? Treating each one like its own little mission. Something that's important to me is creating a home that feels collected over time. I want to truly fall in love with every big ticket item I bring in - whether that's a pair of wingback chairs or a console table. And that means everything that I buy is an adventure. 

I always have a running list of things I need in the back of my head, and trust me, that list is very very long. When I am out and about, and I pop into an antique store, I browse every booth (sometimes twice) and keep that list in mind. I never leave my house thinking, "Today, I am going to find dining room chairs," because that's just not how it works. Instead, I clear my mind and simply look for things I love. And the hardest part? If I find something I love, I leave it behind. I might put a hold tag on it, but I don't buy things immediately at antique stores because you can't take them back.

Loved these dressers from Scott's Antique Market, but I wasn't quite ready to make any purchases just yet. 

Instead, I go home, probably send a pic or two to a friend, and do a little research. Since I'm no antique expert, I'm never quite sure if a price I'm seeing is the best price there is. For example, I found these amazing velvet & nailhead Louis XVI chairs. The price seemed pretty amazing, but if you don't know, dining room chairs are not cheap...like at all...so it was still a big 'ole number. I jumped on the computer to see what new chairs in the same style would cost. I found World Market lookalikes (but without nailheads) that were still more per chair than the antique ones. Done and done. 

This is all not to say that I'll strictly be buying antiques for our home because that would 1) be crazy 2) be a lot of antiques and 3) take forever, but it is a glimpse into my thought-process. I've always heard that every room needs at least one antique, and I whole-heartedly agree.  Just remember when you commit to antiques, you're committing to some wear and tear, too, but in my opinion, that's what makes them all the more intriguing.

Where are your favorite places to treasure-hunt for big ticket purchases?