Shop The Post: wallpaper c/o Serena & Lily // rug // art // basket // towels c/o // toddler yellow rainboots // wall racks (pictured below)
I just got back from Nantucket and it feels so good to be home! I have a few things in store for you this week. Including a “Garden Party” collage – with lots of cute stuff from Shopbop {have you seen their newest arrivals yet?!}, The Avenue and the new Julia Berolzheimer x Amanda Lindroth Collaboration.
But in the meantime…if you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like working with an interior designer, this is a great peek behind the curtain.
So clearly my blog has gone full time home design lately. And the star is designer Melissa Mahoney! You can find all her fabulous tips here btw. But based on feedback… you love it! And so DO I.
But don’t worry – we’ll be back to our normal programming of entertaining soon! It’s just with the quarantine – not many of us are hosting parties.
Why You Should Start With Your Entryway
First off…that’s Melissa above in the purple shirt. Tell me she isn’t just the cutest thing!
So when I began the process of updating our home with her, there were so many things I wanted to do – but not an inkling of where to begin.
My mind was alllll over the place on what to do first…how about the living room? It’s the most used space in the house! Or perhaps the dining room? It’s been in limbo forever. Or maybe the bathroom? Quite frankly…it’s embarrassing.
But Melissa broke it down in a way that made sense and more approachable.
She suggested we start with the vestibule – our tiny entryway that’s slightly larger than a phone booth.
Reason being it’s….
- the first thing guests see
- sets the tone for the rest of your home. {like an appetizer before the main course!}
- you should always lead with a great first impression
- BONUS: it can be seen from multiple vantage points.
- best of all, for us it’s quite small so it felt easy to tackle!
The REALL Value Of An Interior Designer
Above is the design plan Melissa put together for us! Isn’t it just darling?
NOW what you CANNOT tell from this design is that EVERYTHING above has been carefully measured, researched and selected to fit exactly in our vestibule and look good TOGETHER. Which when you think about it – is SO HARD. It took hours just to design this tiny nugget of a space.
She EVEN selected a mat that she knew wouldn’t scrunch up and fit under the door when it opened. It’s the tiny things.
So THAT is the value in working with Melissa.
Serena & Lily Wallpaper
The most impactful change {and the first thing that had to be done} was the Serena & Lily wallpaper in navy Oxford Stripe {comes in a gray color too}! Several of my friends have used Serena & Lily wallpaper throughout their homes and it’s just SO fresh and fun.
The description on their website is quite on point, I’m sharing it word for word:
We loved this classic line work so much on our Oxford Stripe bedding {which we have too!} that we’re calling our walls to attention with its nautical uniformity, too. Try it to liven up the room or as a grounding statement to organic curves. The crisp look is such a great counterpoint to a casual vibe.
It’s difficult to see but there’s a slight texture to it – the secret sauce to making a room feel extra rich and interesting!
If you want to freshen up your home but not take on a huge project – I highly suggest wallpapering a small space. It gives a big punch with little effort. Some ideas are your entryway, a powder room, a hallway or even a closet!
Some of my other favorite wallpapers are this palm leaf, this coral pattern and this stunning vintage tile pattern.
I love how it’s turned out so far! We added this mat, temporarily rolled up some beach towels for a pop of color and hung up our art. PRO TIP: Melissa suggested hanging it up using commander strips so we didn’t have to leave it bare but also not puncture the wallpaper. And although not pictured, this door stopper gets used ALL the time!
Next Steps
Now we’re just waiting on our MacKenzie-Childs bench (should be arriving any day!}. Once that’s in place, we’ll be able to install the coat racks and reposition the art.
So what do you think? I hope this inspired you to add a little character to a nook in your own home. I cannot suggest Serena and Lily enough! They are always a home run. P.S. They’re having a HUGE pillows and throws tent sale with FREE shipping! We actually have a ton of their pillow covers (like this one, this one, and this one) and they are BEAUTIFUL.
Photos by Chicago Andrea Creative
A huge thank you to Serena & Lily for collaborating on this post!
