Today is the day of unpacking. And not just suitcases. I’m unpacking an entire home. We moved into our new place just three days — yes, it was crazy — before leaving for Croatia. So we only had time to dump the boxes and run.
Now that we’re back, it’s time to figure out how we’re going to organize everything, most importantly, our closets. Like most people, we’re not blessed with a huge, walk-in closet. Instead, we have two standard closets. Thankfully one runs the entire length of the room. But still, as I look at our boxes and boxes — plus two racks — of clothes, I can’t help but wonder, “How is it all going to fit?”
Better yet, “How’s it all going to fit without looking like a tag sale explosion?”
The ideal is to have a beautiful closet that looks like a perfectly organized jewel box every time you open it. The reality is everything you own must fit. Making them both happen? A challenge. A huge challenge. And I’m guessing you know what I’m talking about. We’ve all been there.
With school in full swing for most kids, I can’t help but think about the most iconic classroom item: the chalkboard. Since the invention of chalkboard paint, the use of chalkboard in the home has exploded. And while it gives any room an undoubtedly cool, vintage vibe, every time I see one I can’t help but wonder are they all that practical.
More often than not, it seems chalkboards are only used for the first week or so — if that — and then never used again. So here’s a rundown of the common ways chalkboards are used in the home, along with whether or not they’re a good fit.
One of the most fascinating parts of decorating is discovering how other people live. Case in point: photos. Some people find displaying personal photos completely distasteful. Others find it an absolute must. And there really doesn’t seem to be much grey area.
Why the strong reaction? I’m not 100% sure. But I have a guess.
I think it’s three fold. The first part being what type of person you are. Those who are auditory or kinesthetic learners typically don’t put as much sentimental value into photos. So they don’t feel the need to have them around. Whereas, those who are visual receive a great deal of comfort and happiness from seeing their personal photos on a daily basis.
Of course, that alone doesn’t determine if you display tons of photos. If you’re an extremely private person, chances are you won’t deck your home out in personal photos. Just as if you’re an extremely conscientious person who decorates for others instead of yourself, you’re not likely to plaster personal photos on your wall because you don’t want to make anyone feel as though they’re unwelcome or have them think you’re bragging.
Where do I fall? I came from a home completely sans of any type of photo display. Not even a photo album. When asked about it, my mom always said she didn’t need photos. The people she cared most about she saw all the time. So the idea of having personal photos in my home is completely foreign to me.
But Brent came from a home decked out in personal photos. So I’ve decided to branch out and try adding a personal photo or two to our new home. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that there are so many fun and beautiful picture frames from which to choose.
There’s nothing like an indoor tree in a room. It immediately brings the outside in making the room feel fresher and more alive. Not to mention, it does a great job filling awkward, empty spaces, which I’ve got.
Our new living room has a big, empty, dead corner, and I’ve been playing with the idea of sticking an indoor tree in it to fill the space and add some life. Given the room gets tons of light and Brent has a remarkably green thumb — meaning the tree will survive — the only question left is: What type?
The number of options of indoor trees is so dizzying it’s a good thing we’re not up in one. Fortunately, the types of indoor trees most often used can be broken down into five categories. See them all below.
There’s no gift I find more valuable or meaningful than a thoughtful, handwritten letter. Maybe it’s because I’m a writer, which is still hard for me to fathom. Maybe it’s because I like having something tangible I can go back to and remember how things were. Or maybe it’s because I find nothing more important than connecting and letting the people you love know exactly how you feel.
Whatever it is I love letters. Especially giving them, and for our wedding day, I figured our standard fare of scratching notes on random printer paper just wasn’t going to cut it. So I set out to find a set of beautiful stationery, and luckily, stumbled upon something much, much better. These gorgeous, fine writing papers. Stunningly beautiful in their simplicity, these papers let your words take center stage.
1. Handmade in Prague, Jan Petr Obr stationery is hand engraved and printed using the classical European paper making process that dates back to the 16th century.
2. Used by most royal courts in Europe, G. Lalo stationery originated in Paris as a handmade paper. While no longer handmade, G. Lalo paper is still created using traditional techniques. As a result, the paper maintains a handmade look while also appearing refined. Out of the three papers, it has the cleanest edge and most modern look.
3. Handmade in one of Europe’s most renowned paper-making centers, Amalfi, Italy, Amatruda stationery is crafted using the family’s manufacturing technique that originated in 1380. This is the paper I chose, and when it arrived, I literally caught my breath. It was even more beautiful than I’d imagined. Any letter you write on this paper will instantly feel more epic and romantic. As if it came from another time.
