We rang in the new year with one of our very favorite companies, Arhaus! It was a blast getting to decorate with the most beautiful furniture and accessories!
A little behind the scenes: Many of you know we moved into our home a little over a month ago and it’s been an adventure! Aside from doing all the not so fun stuff (like installing light fixtures and having to move huge plaster pendants so the light fixture is actually centered on the table! 😘) we’re finally onto the fun part, the decorating!! The painting is next on our to do list so don’t mind the ceiling where to pendant used to be! Hey, imperfectly perfects our thang around here so I’m rolling with it!
A picture of the vintage pendant we had to carefully take down in order to center it on the table…
I then decided that instead of going through the walls and tearing up the ceiling to swag our chandelier even though it would hit outside the pendant. I actually love the way it turned out! Such a pleasant quirky surprise!
(Yes, this is the same chandelier from our old place, it looks right at home here doesn’t it?!)
Before I even knew this home would be ours I had the honor of being invited to Arhaus’ headquarters to watch the Bell’Arte team handprint this gorgeous dining room table of ours!! It was such an amazing experience!! I will be dedicating a blog post just to that trip and the Bell’Arte table soon, so stay tuned!
For now I wanted to show you how our amazing Bell’Arte table, our elegant bowls and comfy Arhaus dining chairs, these stunning icy blue vases and sparkly candle holders stole the show as we toasted with these beautiful and whimsical champagne glasses!
I can’t wait to show you what else we have headed your way this year! We’re so grateful to have you here, friends! Would love to hear what you would like to see more of from us in 2019 below. ❤️
There’s snow on the ground outside, twinkling trees inside and She and Him’s Christmas album on repeat … which can only mean one thing, it’s the most wonderful time of the year!! It’s not only the Christmas season but it’s JenniferRizzoDesignCompanys annual Holiday Housewalk!! As a blogger I look forward to this time of year the entire year! Not kidding! Heck, even before I became a blogger I would sit endlessly by the computer drooling over the inspiration from this tour. To be a part of it will always be surreal!!
On that note, I am super duper excited to have you here! The Holiday House Walk is one of my A special thank you to our tour organizer, who happens to be an amazing blogger and friend herself, jenniferrizzodesigncompany! If you’re not already following, you must! She’s incredible! (And so talented!! Her company the Collective lead the wreath making party I hosted at Arhaus a few weeks ago!! More on that soon!)
If you’re joining in, from Daniele’s incredible home over at Finding Silver Pennies, welcome! I know you received tons of inspiration there! Such talent! And if you are visiting the tour for the first time, you can start from the beginning here, jenniferrizzodesigncompany, everyone’s homes this year are so insanely festive and beautiful!
As you may know of you follow us along on Instagram, we moved into our new home a little over a week ago! We are thrilled and so excited to start transforming our 1850’s Victorian into our own! Here’s a sneak peek of the one room we have decorated for the season so far, stay tuned for more on that! 🙂
That said before we moved we wanted to capture Christmas one last time in our beloved first home. This home was so good to us, and we will miss it!! After all, it was our babies first home, my husband and my first big investment and the home that kick-started KindredVintage! I knew I wanted to take some holiday photos there one last time! So in typical Susan fashion, a week before we moved out, MollyGrace came to capture our family in front of the cozy tree as boxes were piled up in the rest of the house! Haha The magic of angling your camera right is everything! 😉 I met Molly through the awesome world of social media! She messaged me to work together and as fate would have it we had these photos to snap! So it all worked out! So wonderful right?! She did an amazing job!
(The girls adorable dolls are from Merrilee Liddard and their sweet matching dresses are from Ira loves Mae. Linked below.)
This year we teamed up with the AMAZING people at Arhaus to deck the halls! Guys, I cannot express enough what a pleasure it has been to work with this company! The people behind the scenes at this family owned business are just as terrific as their products!!
It was such a treat being able to decorate with them, some of my favorites, the faux fur stockings hung by the fire, this faux fur tree skirt, the branch candelabra, the sparkly ornaments on our tree and the huge six wick candle that smells like you’re walking through a pine tree filled forest are all from them! I’ll make sure to include links at the bottom of this post!
Ok now onto my vision behind our space! I always aim to achieve cozy and comfortable rooms. A home filled with texture and warmth. Somewhere that feels loved and lived in because after all it’s HOME that’s the most important part. I LOVE a home where you can sit anywhere, touch anything, relax and be yourself if you’re 70 or 7! Kids live here, they shouldn’t have to tip toe around! Another thing I touched briefly on, TEXTURE! It’s so important to me. From the brick and stone fireplace, to the faux fur, cozy knitted blankets, worn leather couch, velvety smooth chairs, plush shimmery rug, to the sparkle of the vintage mirror… texture is my thang! Don’t be afraid to mix and match things you love, my motto if you love them all it will not only come together, but it will shine, and most importantly it will be YOURS and stand out front the rest!
Speaking of texture, we were able to capture our beloved dining room one last time again! We found this farmhouse table years ago at a barn-sale! I sanded down the old paint which gave it this chippy, worn look. It’s imperfectly perfect and I love it! I paired it with just the opposite, some sparkle and glam from Arhaus! I love the way these dishes, champagne flutes, coasters and gold ware pop against the ages wooden table. Ahhh, it makes me so happy to see the two working together! Kind of cheesy I know, but that’s okay this the stuff I crave! Ha!
Now for the most important part of our home, our family!! Thank you to God for these three gorgeous souls, they’re my world. No matter what the address, home wouldn’t be home without them!
This mantel art by my sweet and super talented friend Lindsay over at Lindsay Letters truly makes the room come to life!! I love everything Lindsay creates, and when I say that I am NOT exaggerating. She’s that good! Not only is her Christmas collection insanely gorgeous, all of it is! You must check her out, you’ll thank me later! 😉
Thank you all so much for being here! It means so much to have you!! Wishing you the happiest of all Holiday seasons, Merry Christmas!
A few weeks ago I got an invitation that made one of my biggest dreams come true… We’re going to the Silobration at Magnolia!!!! From what I’ve learned, it’s the adult Disneyworld. And anyone who knows me knows how much I love the magic of Disney. This is beyond my wildest dreams. Even as I’m write down this post to try and express myself, that I get to visit Magnolia Market and I get to meet the makers of my favorite paint line too. (Seriously, I have covered my house in Magnolia brand paint by Kilz. These are just three examples. I could go on…) 🙂
Another thing that I’m really excited about is that I get to bring my beautiful momma. And the best part… it’s her birthday. She says she likes to celebrate her 39th again because she stopped counting before she got to 40. My wonderful husband offered to watch the kiddos since a weekend of shopping isn’t really his thing anyways. 🙂 I’m really looking forward to seeing all the wonderful vendors and trying all the amazing food that will be there!
Do you think they built these to look shabby chic?? Asking for a friend. 😉
Alright guys, this is going to be a shorter post since I still need to pack. (My husband will never know why I wait to the last minute). But I will absolutely be blogging about the trip right after I get home and will fill you guys in on what I am sure to be amazing details! And you better believe that if I get to meet Chip and Joanna I’ll be screaming it to the world!!!
A few weekends ago I experienced something I only thought existed on the video displayed on Google’s career page. Go to it. On there, you’ll virtually experience the supposed joy that comes with employment at our friendly overlord. Creating apps, exploring data queries, and everything our technologically overloaded minds believe we should want in a job. But I, the constant cynic, question the love one can have typing code for hours at a time – even despite the 15 minute ping pong breaks. How can anyone enjoy work or at least care so about their professional outputs that much? But contrary to my tendency to stubbornly believe I am right, my mind has been changed. I am now convinced that at least one company has achieved a shared passion for producing the finest product possible. Arhaus, pronounced “Our House” (a twist on German spelling that I can only assume is a joke played on pompous know-it-alls like myself who think it should be said “Are Haas”) is definitely one of those passion brands.
I’ve only ever viewed passion brands from a consumer’s perspective. Women who would only wear clothes from Nordstrom. Baseball players who only use Rawlings gloves. Groceries bought only from Whole Foods or dads that only drive Fords. Conceptually that makes sense to me. I imagine people arguing “why mess up a good thing?”. And yes I will pay more for quality so I get it. But I never knew that producers of those goods and services could care about their effort as much as the buyer. With a little bit of luck, I got to experience that passion firsthand by tagging along after my semi-famous wife on her visit to the Arhaus headquarters.
We arrived at the sprawling complex just outside Cleveland at 9:30 a.m. rushed and harried from too much driving and too little sleep. The building is new, clean, and exactly what’d you’d expect of a large warehouse in the suburban outskirts. Compared to the stores that are often situated in cool old buildings, this space was functional over hip. But as it is utilized for operations only and not open to the public, its non-adherence to Arhaus’ traditional awesomeness can be understood. With nervous jitters and sleep deprived grogginess, we entered the section of the building through its faux store entrance. We were welcomed by the friendly receptionist who advised our host for the day, Lauren, would be right with us. Two minutes later Lauren arrives and jubilantly hugged SQ – ice immediately broken, warm feelings all around.
Lauren took us to a presentation the company was hosting. All the store managers from the roughly 70 retail locations were at HQ to view part of the operations behind the pieces they sell. And what a presentation it was! Normally I would expect a factory to stamp, press, and assemble furniture as fast and as cheaply as possible – woe to the poor line worker who couldn’t move her hand fast enough and now the dootegahagan chair has a little extra cushioning. But instead there was an Italian artist hand-painting a faux granite tabletop with a chicken feather. I spoke with the very Italian sales rep and asked what seemed to me a perfectly logical and in depth question, “why a feather”? I have to give him credit as it must have taken a lot of self-control to not make me feel dumb because the answer to him was so painfully obvious. He said, “because that’s what makes it look like granite”.
As we continued watching the masters do their work, another photographer attending the event started talking to us about what he had seen the artists do. He explained that what impressed him the most was on the day before we arrived he watched one of them paint a perfectly straight line on the side of a wardrobe. As a semi-skilled painter myself I attempted this on a piece of paper with a pen. My two inch atrocity of a “line” makes me question my self-proclaimed “semi-skilled” status. Worse yet, the artist’s line was four feet long, painted with a brush, and applied vertically.
The presentation wrapped up and Lauren cheerfully introduced us to several people, all of whom were bright, kind, and astute enough that my hope for mankind’s future was reassured. One of the people we met was Maria Smith. She is the type of manager that other managers should study. They should try to learn how she exerts confidence warmly, shares ideas positively, and how she makes you want to hug her just to thank her for the next nice thing she’ll do for you. Maria provided SQ and me an overview of the store and brand and truly listened to Susan when she explained what Lauren and she were working on. As the tag-a-long interloper I simply sat back and enjoyed watching passionate collaboration in real time. The three spoke as if they were long-term partners harmoniously solving a daunting problem until Maria had to leave to, no doubt, harmoniously solve other daunting problems.
As SQ and I were functioning on four hours of sleep, we next went to refuel on exquisite coffee brewed in a machine that, although it had only one lever, we required the assistance of the staff to operate. I paired my coffee with a chicken and bacon sandwich on sourdough that I can only describe as perfect. Graciously John Reed, the CEO, subsidizes the organic and locally produced food so the cost was quite minimal. We sat outside on the patio furniture behind the office. Obviously, this being Arhaus, the lunch area was decked out. (Pun fully intended) Huge patio sets with 10X10 umbrellas adorned the area. We were the first to eat and a good thing too because the area quickly filled up with people genuinely enjoying their lunch break. When was the last time you ate your work lunch outside on a nice summer day? I’m not sure I ever have.
The three of us talked for at least an hour. We learned about Arhaus some more, but we also heard stories about the people that work there and that is what I found to be the most interesting. John Reed is one of those magical unicorn type of executives that actually gets to know his employees. Lauren detailed how when she was first hired she walked around the factory with him and was incredibly impressed by how he knew everyone’s name and details about their families. And John was just the start of the awesome stories of Arhaus employees going above and beyond. Lauren explained in detail how the company allows, even promotes, leveraging Arhaus’ assets in support of people and the planet and we got to learn about these amazing and generous efforts the employees have made when we visited the warehouse after lunch.
Lauren described the warehouse as 10 football fields large, which is impressive in itself; however, she forgot to say that it was at least 50 feet high and the amount of furniture stored in there was simply startling. I lost count but I’d guess at least 100 football field long shelves that were ten feet wide and 40 feet high were neatly packed to the brim. Among all these shelves were bee-like pickers swarming around on two-ton forklifts, picking out pieces to be loaded into trucks. Walking up to meet our clearly out of place group was Jamil Reglus, a soft-talking, calming influence that conveyed a very strong sense of having everything under control.
Jamil is a warehouse manager that clearly knows his job very well. He indulged me in my never ending quest to fill my brain with inconsequential information. We discussed how pickers used groves in the concrete floor to prevent them from knocking down the furniture, what the temperature of the warehouse was in winter and summer, and how this newly built, gigantic space was already too small for their needs. Lauren and Susan, clearly uninterested in our nerdy discussion, were walking ahead towards the fabric section where chairs were being effortlessly upholstered to precise standards.
It was in this upholstering section where I learned of two separate initiatives that Jamil and his co-worker, Mariam Massop, undertook, not under the direction of Arhaus leadership, but of their own volition that I thought were just both so brilliant. First, one of Jamil’s jobs is to find people to sew fabric for the furniture. Typically this would be done at the lowest cost facility – likely somewhere in a third world country. Not only would this perpetuate a horrible cycle of taking advantage of the impoverished, it would also come with steep environmental consequences associated with shipping tons of material back and forth. Instead of this, Jamil developed a program where he hired people from the local community, some of which had prior difficulties with finding employment for all the normal reasons people have difficulty finding jobs. But despite this and the fact the wages were above those that Arhaus could have secured, management saw the benefits to the community, the environment, and the overall local area economic improvements and chose the more sustainability option.
Sustainability was a constant theme that I learned about through my tour and my research of Arhaus. The second amazing example of leveraging Arhaus’ assets to promote sustainability was when I met Mariam. She is a grandmother first and most proudly. This was obvious to me as her personality zealously exuded a maternal warmth. We met her as she was showing off pictures of her recent volunteer work to a co-worker. She and her mom had reupholstered an entire recliner. On it, they had sewn the Browns helmet and the fabric was in the Browns’ colors. She estimated it took the two of them around 80 hours to finish. The best part was that they did all the work just to donate it to a local charity. But as amazing as that effort was, it wasn’t how she used Arhaus’ assets to help others. That effort involves her program to use all the fabric byproduct that would have been landfilled for charity sewing drives. The excess pieces are used to make quilts and other items to be used by the charity center or sold to raise revenue. How amazing is that?
After the tour of the warehouse, our day was wrapping up but not before Lauren kindly said ‘hi’ to at least the 50th employee that day. I knew she was a recent hire in the newly created role of social marketing manager so I asked if she had already met everyone. She replied, ‘no, I just think saying ‘hi ‘makes people happy’. Needless to write, it did. Her warmth was contagious and I saw that people genuinely liked her. It is little acts like saying ‘hi’ to people that make all the difference but when you couple the genuine geniality of a huge number of kind people with a CEO’s generously helping pay for a healthy lunch for everyone, and the obvious pride the Italian artists displayed of their work on furniture pieces that will last generations you garner a sense understanding about the place. You learn to see Arhaus is as a collection of people, enthusiastic about furniture, and life, and art, and all the pieces that make up our refuges from the outside world and lastly, you realize why Arhaus is a passion brand.
As you can tell from these images, Susan is the better photographer.
I stepped outside today and the weather was so brisk that I had to walk back inside and grab a sweater. This my friend, is my happy place. I grew up in the Midwest and have always appreciated everything our four seasons had to offer. Now that I’m an adult I’m still experiencing all of the seasons’ unique traits, but I’m only really enjoying a few and one of those by far is autumn!
I’ve joined several other bloggers today to share our autumn table scape. This is all put together by my talented friend Kristen from her Ella Claire blog. I really can’t wait to see what she’s put together. Every year I am so blown away by her talent and creativity!
This year, things are a bit different for me mentally when putting together this tablescape. As you may know, we’re prepping to move, aka preparing for the great unknown. 😉 We’re leaving behind a home we’ve loved for four years, our friends, neighbors, a life we’ve lived the past four years. A good life, filled with more happy times than not and memories we will hold onto forever. This home is what started Kindred Vintage and I am SO excited to show you what’s next!
Now all that said, my take on autumn decorating has been more natural, relaxed, and instinctive this time around. With the idea of leaving in mind, I created a table in which I close my eyes and see my dearest friends from our neighborhood gathered around. It isn’t elaborate. It isn’t fancy. It’s better than that. It is the summary of our time here in this home. Relaxed, gathered, and happy. It’s a place setting without the proper utensil alignment. It’s a long, worn, farmhouse table with one too many wine bottles. It’s a table where all those who have shown us love and friendship are gathered around. It is our home, our backyard, and it represents all those times and folks who we will miss.
We are the grab your plate, grab some grub, gather around, and fill your wine glass to the brim type of people. And we are so happy that this space held so many memories like that in which we will hold close to our hearts forever. Fall to me is coziness and relaxation, a big flannel blanket paired with a class of red wine, served with a side of warm croissants and of course endless laughs. Also, as my husband would be sure to point out, fall is also the best time of year for seasonal beer. 😉
We kept this year’s table scape very relaxed, laid back and natural to represent what our home has always been for us. Just real. Welcoming. And kind.
We’ll be moving on from this space but its legacy will always stay with us. Now don’t worry, KV isn’t going anywhere. What we blog about is not simply a place or a thing but rather a feeling and a lifestyle. It’s coming together as family, friends and like minded folks.
The blog is evolving and is going to travel with us. We can’t wait to share what’s next. And on that note, we can’t express how grateful we are for the love you’ve shared with us on our previous tablescapes! Cheers to the future and the great unknown!
Now grab yourself a hot drink, be it a coffee, chai tea or hot cocoa and get your scroll on! These others bloggers are so incredibly talented, you are about to get your inspiration socks knocked right off of ya! 🙂
I would like for you to close your eyes for just a second. Now picture a world of vibrant colors and complete fantasy, one that includes cobblestone roads, plush green trees, and the most luscious flowers you’ve ever seen. I imagine that you’re pretty sure this is can only be a dream because nothing like this can really exist in real life but then you open your eyes and you discover that one woman has made this fantasy a reality. That woman is Courtney Allison, also known as the amazing talent behind the blog French Country Cottage, and seriously ladies and gents, she has captured and created the most magical world of whimsical beauty. To be where she was while snapping these photos would be a dream, but to see these photos in print, in a tangible book you can hold within your two hands and get lost in within your own home, well that my friends is a dream come true.
Styled by KindredVintage
Ladies and gentlemen there’s no exaggeration as to how I described Courtney’s work. I can guarantee you that the first time that you see the magic that she creates you’ll be forever changed… I was. Really though, she’s one of my biggest inspirations. I waited until the last second to open the package that arrived in the mail a month ago because I wanted to open it and type up my feelings at the same moment I first experienced them. This moment brings me back to the reason why I fell in love with interior design in the first place. I was at a coffee shop with my parents in my teen years and picked up a design book I got lost in and absolutely could not put it down. A few weeks later, my father surprised me with the book as a gift and it became the first fancy interior design book that I ever owned. I recall how proud I was to display that book on my coffee table when my hubbie and I were living in our first apartment in the city. I felt as if I brought a little bit of that magic into our home by simply owning it.
Now, as in right this moment, I am astounded and humbled to say that flipping through the pages of French Country Cottage, I was hit with those same awestricken, whimsical, bedazzled feelings. However, now as an adult, and someone who has also fallen into the interior design world, this book means so much more. I hold it within my hands and I can almost feel the beating of the heart who created this masterpiece. I can picture the hours poured into creation, from that initial spark of imagination to the final copy held within the authors hands. And this my friends, comes from not only realizing the dedication and hard work that went into this book, but also knowing that wonderful author in real life. Knowing what an amazing person she is and the love she has towards her creative passion. I am so honored to say that French Country Cottage is the book I’m going to display on my coffee table now … in my “grownup” home. It gives me even more of those strong feelings that I felt when I was young but now with a whole new perspective. I cherish every single page of the book because I can more readily recognize the talent that went into each and every page and the heart that is behind it but even more so, I know this book is filled with love from start to finish. Love and beauty. I am so happy to invite and welcome my guests to browse through just that within the magical pages of French Country Cottage, over a glass of wine within our home. (as I am running late, blow drying my hair and rushing to get ready in typical Susan fashion! But we’re not going to go there right now…) 😉
I’m so honored to call the author of this book my friend. Her work is truly breathtaking. I want to hop into every single picture and experience it for myself. I encourage you all to view this book one way or another simply because it’s a visual gift I would love for you to experience. I don’t know if my words can explain in full details of what I’m going to say. I think the only way for me to give this book enough justice is for you to go experience it yourself.
P.S. when I wrote that I just opened the book I really did. And my fabulous husband is sitting here documenting everything I say on the computer so that all feelings are raw and timely. Now go get this book!!!! 😉
P.P.S. Thank you so much Courtney, you are SUCH an inspiration friend!!! You can buy this amazing book right here!!! Enjoy! xoxo
If there’s one thing people know about me it’s that I love vintage. Period. Vintage homes. Vintage furniture. Vintage décor. Amongst those things, by far my most favorite thing to collect and decorate with are vintage mirrors. One of the reasons why I like decorating with mirrors is that they not only add visual interest to a space, they also reflect light. So for instance, the dining room in which I have my mirror gallery only has windows on one side. So the light comes in from only one direction, but when the light bounces off the mirror wall the room appears that much more bright and beautiful. I also love that mirrors gives the allusion that the room is bigger than it is by reflecting the room twice over.
But that written, one of the biggest challenges with vintage mirrors is that they can be in very bad shape. The quirks of the vintage mirrors I love, such as the distressed and timeworn look, but the fact that they can be missing backings or embellishments makes styling them a challenge. That’s why when I came across with the Amelie Wooden Arched Mirror from Arhaus I was immediately drawn to it. The mirror had all the character and charm of the vintage mirrors I so love but with modern day quality.
The Amelie mirror comes in two sizes. A floor mirror that is full length (which is the one I’m share here) and the 28 inch size. I love them both equally for the purposes they serve individually. Floor length is both functional and beautiful. It alone captivates a room. You can also functionally use it to make sure your shoes match your shirt. J The smaller mirror you can use as a statement piece on a mantel or gallery wall serving as both art and glamor. I can tell you one thing that’s for sure, they’re both absolutely stunning.
Now for some super exciting news for you. I couldn’t be more thrilled to announce that we have teamed up with the wonderful people over at Arhaus to give away a 28 inch Amelie mirror to one lucky follower. All the details to enter are provided on our Instagram page. Simply click here!
If you’re anything like me, you love entertaining! Be it indoors, outdoors, or in a bubble! 😉
Yes, it may not be the norm, but this idea popped into my head one evening after attempting to eat dinner outdoors and getting attacked by pesky little misquotes! Ugh, they’re the worst!
So about this new space of ours, we teamed up with Tractor Supply Company to bring our vision to life and you guys, ekkkk I love it more than I dreamt that I would! This is the sunroom we used and I love it! It is technically a greenhouse/sunroom but that didn’t stop me from thinking outside the box! I laid eyes on it and instantly began to dream up all the various ways I could use it, and outdoor entertaining was on the top of that list! Here’s an evening shot of the space all lit up!
After a lot of patience, sweat and more patience my loving husband, Rob and my brother in law David, were able to get this bad boy up! It took an entire day of work, and a few more days of tweaking to get it just right. They ran into a few curveballs which took some creative thinking and problem solving but at the end of the day, its up and its wonderful!
This patio area sits slightly in front of our outdoor escape, where we have our lounge chairs, firepit, dartboard etc.
It has always just been a cracked slab of concrete that I wasn’t really sure what to do with. Click here to visit a blog post I shared a few years back, you can see this space before we did anything to it, and then again when I decided to stencil the entire area! Which I loved but I was ready for a new look! And I must add this, even though we mended the cracks the best we could and then they were disguised with the stencil, it was still a tripping hazard regardless of how beautiful it was. Therefore, we found ourselves lining the cracks with neon tape when hosting parties, which ultimately defeated the purpose a bit, ha! So when planning for that this time around I really wanted to solve the problem instead of mask it. Since pouring a new slab of concrete was too pricey, I came up with the idea to add the same stone around the structure as we have in the back hang out space. We lined the concrete with plastic edging, laid down some thick plastic, adding the stones around the bubble’s walls and ta-da, problem solved! And it looked great, too!
Now onto the fun stuff, decorating!! I knew I wanted to use the space for entertaining friends, and family so a table and chairs was first on my list of things I needed! I went into our garage and found this stunning wooden table that was sanded and ready to be painted and it was the perfect size! (A big perk of having a husband who enjoys refinishing the old furniture you collect!) We worked with Joss and Main to add these stunning outdoor chairs, and lighting and I love how it turned out!
I was under the impression the lighting only required a socket to light up, my error completely, but when I saw it had to be hardwired I had to think fast! I grabbed a mini chandelier I had on hand and took out the wiring on the wooden one. I then strung the small on through and presto, I had a working light! It is only used when we are actually entertaining, (in good, dry, weather) and we ran the electrical cord through the sunroof on top of the structure to the electrical in our garage. It worked out perfectly and gave our outdoor table a fancy facelift!
We added in this super cute sign from Sincerely Us shop and I love how it brought that cool summer vibe to the space! Isn’t it fun?!
Lastly, we used a variety of dishware that we had, some cute napkins, grabbed some candles, fresh flowers, and the mood was set for a relaxing evening in our twinkly little bubble!
This post is sponsored by World Market, all opinions are our own.
Ever since I can remember I have been a fan of World Market. I love the rustic old-world, bohemian vibe that wonderfully aligns with the style I love to decorate with. As you can imagine, we were beyond thrilled when we were contacted to showcase their Spring outdoor collection. It is such an honor to work with World Market to share this Spring and Summer’s patio reveal.
Three years ago we revamped this unused area behind our garage that was filled with weeds and mosquitoes and transformed the space into the most loved corner of our yard. We like to refer to this space our secret escape since it’s very private. With it being surrounded by three garages, privacy screens that my husband hacked (read more about the privacy screens he built a few years back here), and strategically placed bushes no one can get a clear look into our little hideout.
As you may notice these screens are now black. One of the first things I decided on changing when we chose our new patio sets was the color of our privacy screens. Since the majority of the furniture is a whitewashed wood, which is in the brown color palette, I wanted the screens to provide contrast while at the same time letting the furniture shine.
To make the space even more cozy we covered up the two-foot gap on the bottom of the screens with an eight foot planter! Can you believe this was gifted to us by a local church that was updating their space and had no use for it anymore?!? When we got it, the planter was forest green so Rob painted it black to blend in and showcase the greenery we added. I love the natural boho background it provides our space.
It is our third season decorating this area and it’s so fun to try out new looks each time. (Take a look here to see the previous years. Year 1. Year 2) We still wanted to keep the vibe warm and cozy but also wanted to switch it up by making it a little less romantic and emphasizing the bohemian flare a little bit more. Although I have adored the finished look of years past I love pushing my creative comfort zone and watching our home evolve with each changing season. We’re really loving the new arrangement and how it allows for good intimate conversations.
A quick before picture for your reference:
After:
Our goal in designing the layout of the space is to have serve as an extension of our home by bringing the indoors outdoors. We love to entertain so the greatest amount of seating we could add into the area, without it looking crowded, was key. I love the idea of minimalism, but reality is that it isn’t totally for me. I’d like to say I am a good mix eclectic and romantic, but I feel strongly that a place should be both comfortable and uncrowded. I personally love a balance of the two styles, involving several different textures, colors and decorations. All these things have the power to transform it from feeling cold to warm almost instantly. One of the best attributes this enclosed space enables is that it provides intimacy and privacy naturally, so having seating for seven doesn’t seem overly crowded or out of the ordinary.
Even though the patio is not overly large we wanted to use the space with intention and separate the area out to accommodate different uses while hosting. We created the entertainment area using the Sevilla Outdoor Collection: (which is not only beautiful but is also extremely comfortable) complimented with this awesome wicker chair that can be easily spun around to roast a marshmallow at the fire pit. We also included an area where people can play darts and rest a cocktail. We bought these awesome outdoor wine glasses from World Market for just that and I love that they’re not only pretty but smartly made of plastic so they’re nearly indestructible.
I’m so pleased with how everything turned out mainly because it truly feels like an extension of our home. Would love to hear from you, what’s your favorite part about the space?
You can find amazing outdoor entertaining and decorating items by either shopping online or hopping on into one of their beautiful stores. For you convenience we provided links to all the items we incorporated into our patio space. Thank you World Market for sponsoring this post and thank you World Market in St. Charles, Illinois. You were wonderfully patient as I created a whole new outdoor display in the middle of your store. Literally you guys, I laid the rugs down and placed the pieces I was choosing from in various arrangements. All the while, the amazing managers gave me their ideas and encouragement.
Thank you for stopping by today!! I am so excited to share a company that has literally transformed our home, Romabio! Our home is made of solid brick, which is very beautiful but its natural color just wasn’t for us. It was dark and didn’t show off our 1920’s bungalow in all its glory. I started researching ways to brighten our home last summer. First I thought of painting it white, which was doable but not exactly the look I wanted since I loved the look of chippy- aged paint but I didn’t want to have to wait years to achieve it! Next, I looked into the German schmear technique and although it was super beautiful I read a lot of reviews that spoke of how time consuming and detail oriented the process was. This is when I stumbled upon the masonry limewash process, specifically Romabio!
Romabio Classico Limewash is unlike traditional paint mainly because you don’t have to fully commit to completely painted brick, and you still get to achieve that old world imperfectly perfect feel, which I personally love so much. Whitewashed brick has such a charming Old World feel with a freshly painted look, the best of both worlds! You can update your home while still keeping the warmth of the brick exposed. A win, win in my book!
I will be sharing more about the application process in a follow up blog post, but for now I want to answer a question I have gotten asked a lot. What color Romabio Classico Limewash did we use? Since Romabio has a variety of gorgeous colors it wasn’t an easy choice. We had a few samples sent over and tried them out in small patches on our garage. I wasn’t too worried about testing out the colors, since limewash is super easy to tweak, remove or adjust for up to 5 days after its applied. How awesome is that?! Here is a look at all of the limewash options below, can you guess which one we chose?
Avorio White
Bianco White
Cristallo White
Nube Gray
Riposo Beige
Toscana Beige
If you guessed Bianco, well then you were right! I went with the most crisp limewash shade offered and I do not regret it one bit! I love the way the dark brick peeks in from underneath the fresh white. It gives both an updated and an old look at the same time, like I said before it’s one of the best things about this product! I am thrilled with how it turned out!
Our door was originally white with the dark brick and then I painted it navy. I never loved the look on our home but I made do with what we had. Once our home was limewashed we painted the door Wrought Iron black by Benjamin Moore. As for the cement steps, they were very stained and dingy so a few years ago we decided to paint them white with cement paint. We kept them this way up until a few weeks ago when we made the leap to paint them with black cement paint. I LOVE the contrast between the white house and the dark entryway! This look by far has been my favorite!
As I was snapping these pictures the sun was bouncing off our home after a rain shower. Our home seemed to be glowing, and as I snapped away a rainbow formed right next to me! I am telling myself it was a thank you sign from this old bungalow of ours! I just adore how far this old home has come with some imagination and a whole lot of love! (aka work! ha!)
Stay tuned for another blog post coming soon containing all the information about the application process itself! It was such a joy working with Romabio, if you are interested in lime washing anything from the exterior of your home to a fireplace I wouldn’t go anywhere else! And awesome news, you can grab this product at Home Depot! So very convenient!! Plus, one thing that makes my husband so happy is that the paint is organic and toxin-free. The helps keep the lawn and plants healthy and gives me peace of mind since when my girls are outside playing they aren’t inhaling any volatile organic compounds that are in nearly every other type of paint. Make sure to visit their website for additional product info and while you’re there, make sure to say hello to our girls who are pictured roasting marshmallows in front of our freshly lime washed garage last summer! 🙂 As for now, its off to ride bikes and hang enjoy the day! Thanks for stopping by!! xx
That said before we moved we wanted to capture Christmas one last time in our beloved first home. This home was so good to us, and we will miss it!! After all, it was our babies first home, my husband and my first big investment and the home that kick-started 
Ok now onto my vision behind our space! I always aim to achieve cozy and comfortable rooms. A home filled with texture and warmth. Somewhere that feels loved and lived in because after all it’s HOME that’s the most important part. I LOVE a home where you can sit anywhere, touch anything, relax and be yourself if you’re 70 or 7! Kids live here, they shouldn’t have to tip toe around! Another thing I touched briefly on, TEXTURE! It’s so important to me. From the brick and stone fireplace, to the faux fur, cozy knitted blankets, worn leather couch, velvety smooth chairs, plush shimmery rug, to the sparkle of the vintage mirror… texture is my thang! Don’t be afraid to mix and match things you love, my motto if you love them all it will not only come together, but it will shine, and most importantly it will be YOURS and stand out front the rest!
Speaking of texture, we were able to capture our beloved dining room one last time again! We found this farmhouse table years ago at a barn-sale! I sanded down the old paint which gave it this chippy, worn look. It’s imperfectly perfect and I love it! I paired it with just the opposite, some sparkle and glam from Arhaus! I love the way these dishes, champagne flutes, coasters and gold ware pop against the ages wooden table. Ahhh, it makes me so happy to see the two working together! Kind of cheesy I know, but that’s okay this the stuff I crave! Ha!
This year, things are a bit different for me mentally when putting together this tablescape. As you may know, we’re prepping to move, aka preparing for the great unknown. 😉 We’re leaving behind a home we’ve loved for four years, our friends, neighbors, a life we’ve lived the past four years. A good life, filled with more happy times than not and memories we will hold onto forever. This home is what started Kindred Vintage and I am SO excited to show you what’s next!
We kept this year’s table scape very relaxed, laid back and natural to represent what our home has always been for us. Just real. Welcoming. And kind.
But that written, one of the biggest challenges with vintage mirrors is that they can be in very bad shape. The quirks of the vintage mirrors I love, such as the distressed and timeworn look, but the fact that they can be missing backings or embellishments makes styling them a challenge. That’s why when I came across with the 
Now for some super exciting news for you. I couldn’t be more thrilled to announce that we have teamed up with the wonderful people over at Arhaus to give away a 28 inch Amelie mirror to one lucky follower. All the details to enter are provided on our Instagram page. Simply click 
Now onto the fun stuff, decorating!! I knew I wanted to use the space for entertaining friends, and family so a table and chairs was first on my list of things I needed! I went into our garage and found this stunning wooden table that was sanded and ready to be painted and it was the perfect size! (A big perk of having a husband who enjoys refinishing the old furniture you collect!) We worked with 
We added in this super cute sign from 
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AFTER ROMABIO LIMEWASH: