hello + horchow mega sale + what i love

I've been busy building an ark in Charleston. Not really, but I probably should. It has rained and rained. And yes, we are still having 14 hour work + commute days between Beaufort and Charleston. Our home closing is still set for October 15th and I literally could not be more excited to not have my days spread so thin. Oh, and excited about the house, but that's a given. It's so funny how you pin and pin and pin home design ideas, but when it comes time to actually put those ideas to action, you completely lose sight of any decision-making bone in your body. At least that's how I feel right now.

Can't even decide on paint colors. I love white and super light gray walls, but I'm also majorly crushing on richer, earthy grays. I think I just need to get in the house before I will be able to make any decisions whatsoever.

One thing I do know is that Horchow is having an amazing sale and I'd hate for any of you decor-obsessed ladies to miss out on the deals. Horchow is one of my favorite places to shop online for home decor. This company is owned by Neiman Marcus, so you'll see a lot of the same products at both stores. They are having an amazing sale right now where you can save 20-40% off certain items. I, of course, went straight to the items that are 40% off and this is what I found.... (note, most of these items are sold at Neiman Marcus for full price right now, so grab them on sale while you can!).

This beautiful lamp is 40% off (Discount ends tonight!). Don't get me wrong, it's still a pretty penny. But it makes such a statement and would be a great investment. I'm obsessed with the blue + gold and the texture.

This pendant is so beautiful.

 

This roll arm sofa... yep, also 40% off. These deals, y'all. So, so good.

 

Ah! And this white + gold abstract. I would love to put this behind my dining room sideboard.

Here are a few more of my absolute favorites, but you should go ahead and shop the entire 40% off sale here. Don't forget, it ends at midnight!

current favorites

1. Cle de Peau Beaute Eye Color Quad in "Baby Universe": This is by far the most beautiful set of eye shadows I own. The colors are incredibly unique (I don't have anything else like it.) and would flatter any skin tone. What I love most about this set is the lighter colors are perfect for day, but it's easy to turn any eye look into a more dramatic one with the two darker colors included in the palette. The pigments are rich and the texture of these shadows is unreal! Saying they are "silky" just doesn't do it justice. I also love the quad in "Silver Eclipse" if you like cooler tones. Side note: The beautiful compact case is sold separately.

2. This myrtle wreath is perfect. I don't know the source, but I may take a stab at a DIY version.

3. Horchow Geometric Pendant Light: I don't own this, but I've been eyeing it like crazy. Love the mix of metal and fabric and I bet it creates the most beautiful glow on walls.

4. Want to know about the best curling rod ever? Seriously ever. The Sultra The Bombshell 1" Curling Rod.

5. Brandon and I switched to silk pillowcases because of the many benefits they offer. We each have a restoreSILK pillow case in "Whisper White." Now he wants silk sheets, I kid you not. We'll stick with cotton sheets, but this pillow case is amazing. It's made of 100% mulberry silk and I absolutely cannot wait to lay my head on it every night.

6. This leather moto jacket is gorgeous. Enough said. The reviews are stellar and the price isn't half bad considering it's real leather.

Holy City Chic is coming.... soon! Sorry for the delay. I'm apparently not as tech-savvy as I thought. The website will be holycitychic.com.

playing with pattern

I tend to be more simplistic when it comes to my decor style. Our bed linens are all white. I only have natural sisal rugs in our home. Our walls are mostly bare and our towels are nothing but white. But more and more, I find myself gravitating towards color and pattern. I've learned that, when incorporated carefully, fun patterns can look just as clean and crisp as stark neutral palettes. Here are a few examples of how pattern can be used in simple ways...

I'm loving these little pops of pattern...

(image sources: 1, 2, 3)

shelf styling refresh 101

Before I say anything at all, the photos in this feature should have a dining room table in them, but I sold ours and we are still on the hunt for a new one, so that's why it's so empty! 

Something I love to do is to re-style my shelves and various vignettes throughout our home. I do it all the time. It's like I have home decor ADD. I get restless when I see decor styled one particular way for too long. So you can imagine the anxiety that this giant wall of shelves has brought me. I have a love/hate relationship with them. I love built-ins, but that's a lot of shelves to style and the fact that it's divided into cubes makes it awkward sometimes. If I'm not careful when styling, the shelves start to look like a grid since it's a whole bunch of square spaces. Every little cubby needs to be different than it's neighbor. The struggle is real.

When restyling a shelf, your nightstand, or any type of decor grouping, there's no need to go out and purchase all new things. You can get a new look by just rearranging. That said, whenever I'm in Homegoods or TJ Maxx and I see a fabulous decor object, I snag it without even thinking. That's my absolute favorite place to find little treasures for great prices. In fact, probably almost half of the things seen in these photos are from one of those stores!

I always start by removing everything away from a space so that I'm starting with a blank canvas. So I cleared these shelves and thought long and hard about cleaning them (what better time?)...

...but instead I lit a candle, turned on Lorde Pandora (Brandon said it sounded like he was shopping in Urban Outfitters), and got to work.

I always start by working the area as a whole. In other words, I don't work little section by little section, moving forward when each part is complete. Instead, I add an object here and an object there, all across the entire area. This ensures that there will be cohesion throughout the entire space being styled.

Oh look, there's the Winster!

And just when you think you're getting close to being finished...

...things change. Keep moving around decor pieces until you're satisfied. At this point, it may require a new Pandora station.

Et voilà!

A very subtle change. Just the slightest bit more put together, cohesive, and tidy.

A few final thoughts in this (very elementary) 101 session...

Little gold accents are always a good idea. They are great book-toppers and perfect displayed on their own, as well! I got my brass urchin from a small shop in Beaufort (it was the last one!), but Target has something similar and for a steal.

 Books are a great way to bring in little touches of color without being too, well, colorful. I buy all of my coffee table books from Amazon because you can snag them brand new for 20-50% off of cover price.

Some books like to be stacked horizontally, some like to stand up side by side. Mix it up. On that same note... vary the height of all objects, books or not. It adds dimension.

Stick to a theme. Place objects of similar style, shape, and/or color together in groups of three or five. Oh, and when you find a great blue and white vase, just buy it. Don't ask questions. Just do it.

Vary the textures of your objects. Create an unexpected element by mixing hard and shiny accessories with rough and natural ones.

lust list // serena & lily sale

Anytime Serena & Lily has a discount code, my mind starts wondering off into Never Ever Land ...the Land of Interior Dreams. No, but seriously, I start daydreaming about my future home and how each room could be so expertly decorated. If only I had unlimited funds to really splurge! But hey, that's what discount codes are for, right? Save up to $250 off with code SUNNYDAYS, now through July 8th. Here's what I have my eye on...

Oh yeah, this graphic is clickable! Just hover your mouse over each item and click the black box to be directed to the product page.

good stuff

Over the weekend, I had a nice little visit with my friend, Target. You know how you go in there for one thing (or for nothing at all, let's be serious) and walk out with a buggy full of things you suddenly need. Target's the best for that. They've got good stuff all around right now and here are the highlights from my trip.

A candle that smells exactly like my absolute favorite, NEST Bamboo. Except, this one is a tiiiny fraction of the price. It's my new best friend.

This palm leaf bikini is perfection.

You know the Russell + Hazel Acrylic File Boxthat everyone is crazy about? It's beautiful, but seeing as how I don't even have files to put in a file box, I just can't justify $75. Enter this fine specimen...yeah, it was $7.99. (I can't find a link, but it's with all the other desktop organizers in the store.)

Gold push pins and gold scissors. Yes and yes.

...and perhaps my favorite - these comfy pajamas. The best part is that they are super lightweight, so they aren't a pain to wear in the summertime. Oh, and the set is on sale for $21!

Good stuff, right? Oh, also - this waffle weave robe is pretty incredible, especially for the price (what a great bridesmaids gift idea!) And this workout pullover in grey came home with me. It rivals Lululemon for sure.

Target ...oh you.

desk decor du jour

Now that I have a new desk and will be working from home, the main lusts on my radar are office decor related. Even when I was a little girl, I was always a "school supplies" nerd and stocked up on as many pens and post-its that I could possibly convince my mom to buy me. Since I'll be spending a lot of time sitting at my desk, I definitely see the importance of having pretty things on it (like the items above!). Let me know if you have any chic desk decor favorites!

one. embossed python leather pen  

two. kate spade bow push pins

three. kate spade "how the devil are you?" note cards

seven. python leather ipad case 

four. kate spade business card holder

five. diptyque "mimosa" candle

six. russell + hazel acrylic clip board

seven. graphic image python ipad case

eight. hand forged scissors

nine. tory burch rae tray

ten. rifle paper co. "rapido" notepad

wish list worthy // lulu and georgia friends and fam

Good morning and happy weekend! Lulu & Georgia is having their friends & family sale and I just had to pick out a few of my favorites to share. Save 25% off your order with code FRIENDS&FAM. (Sale ends tonight!)

churchill chair

slade rug

frontier pillow

gold bamboo tray table

florence throw

keely floor lamp

wish list worthy // joss & main

I'm loving these new items at Joss & Main and thought you might like to know about them.  

Kind of wish I could live in the picture below, don't you?

faux dracaena plant  /  westford sofa  /  coffee table  /  derby nightstand 

joussard arm chair  /  rattan chair  /  starburst pendant  /  metaborite pendant

2-piece nesting table set  /  aros rug  /  dixon desk

a tour of our first home

I just realized I never shared many photos of our home in Charleston.  We lived in a condo that we absolutely loved.  It was the perfect place to get our start as a married couple.  We're now looking to buy a home in Beaufort.  While we're excited for more space and a yard, we will always miss this condo and the view we had there! 

Brandon and I share a very coastal, updated traditional, laid back, yet chic taste (ok, you got all that?).  Our home has (had?) a lot of earth tones, mixed with fresh, more modern pieces.

I love mingling classic southern pieces with feminine touches. 

Our dining table came with me from college.  I revamped it by staining it dark and adding two different chairs (the wicker ones).  If it's up to me, the first furniture purchase we will make once we move into our new home will be a big reclaimed table.  This one is small, but it worked for us.

I loved our gallery wall because it included meaningful pieces - a couple of engagement photos, a drawing of Tillman Hall on Clemson's campus, and two Rhett Gallery pieces (a painting of the Beaufort River and one of the sandbar during The Water Festival).

 

One of our favorite things is this antique bar which belonged to Brandon's grandfather.

The painting on the table below (of the Heron) is a finger painting done by my talented Aunt Mary Ann.  Yes, a finger painting.  Amazing, right?  Artistic ability runs in that side of the family and I'm amazed at their talent.

 

The book on the bottom, "The French Cat" is absolutely fantastic.  If you're a closet cat lover like me (not very "closet" anymore), then you need it.  There is a "French Dog" version too.  Love.  I snagged the William Shakespeare book at an estate sale for just a dollar or two.

Our master bedroom kind of got pieced together.  It was never quite done.  We bought the king bed and mattress when we got married, but truthfully, the bed is a little big for the room and a little big for the rest of the furniture we own.  That's a project I want to tackle sooner than later.  We need a bigger dresser and nightstands.  I want to use distressed white furniture in our room to contrast the dark bed.  Baby steps...

 

One of our nightstands has a framed drawing that my wedding gown designer did of my dress before it was created.  That's so special to me.  The painting next to it is a print of one of Claire Elsaesser's works.  She's amazing.

...and our guest room.  Not much going on there, but it gave a pretty soothing vibe.  

This is the view I already miss!

 

Goodbye, little condo!  You were good to us.