Easy Summer Uniform

top // earrings // denim // espadrille // hobo bag // cuff bracelet // birthstone bracelet

My favorite kind of outfits are the kind you can pull together in a pinch. A breezy summer top with a good fitting pair of jeans is basically my favorite thing to wear. I can't resist the fun tassel detail on the shoulders of this top! White tops are a staple in my closet. Pair them with neutrals and a burst of color in your jewelry and you are all set! Both bracelets come in a multitude of colors- and the chain bracelet being a birthstone bracelet makes it especially fun! PS- the jeans, the espadrilles, turquoise bracelet and bag are all on big sale!!! This would make the cutest, well put together outfit for a cook out this weekend...just sayin'! 

My Lilly Favorites

For a few years I wasn't really feeling the Lilly Pulitzer vibe. I don't know why?! I am a big fan again and have found several things I love this year. Maybe having a little baby girl who is dressed so sweet all the time has brought back my love for feminine colors and patterns?!

Stephen got me this colby romper before our trip to Amelia Island this March. It's been pretty popular and selling out most places. I understand why because it is hands down one of my favorite pieces they've designed in a long time! It can dress up or down really easily. This night in Florida I wore it with Tory Burch sandals for drinks by the pool and then to dinner. A few weeks ago I wore it to my sister's engagement party downtown with heels!

I also found this swing dress that I wore to Steph's bridal shower. I loved the bright colors and it's a style that leans more casual- meaning I will wear it a whole lot!

I also love this fun coverup. It is so incredibly light and breezy, which is necessary in our hot and humid climate. Having a ton of colors makes it match up with a lot of swimsuits and of course I adore that tassel fringe!! Find my sunglasses here.

A few other notables: I bought my first Essie top last summer and hands down, it is one of my favorite tops they make! I love this pattern for this summer. I haven't tried the Essie dress but would love it in this pattern. Try the top, you will love it!!

Oh, and last but not least...I feel like I hit the jackpot yesterday because I found this coverup on sale for 50% off at our Belk! It isn't on sale online but hurry to your Belk to see if they've marked it down for you too!

One Room Challenge REVEAL Blue and White Dining Room

Well, here we are! Week Six of the One Room Challenge and I couldn't be happier to cross this one off my list. Thank you so much, if you are just now reading or if you have been following along this whole time. If you want a quick recap here are the following links: 

Week One- Plan
Week Two - Drapes and Paint Swatches
Week Three - Painted Room and DIY Chandelier Update
Week Four- New Accessories
Week Five- Pulling It All Together

Otherwise, to catch you up in light speed form, I just made over our dining room! We are new home owners to an older colonial home we are so proud to call it home. There are so many beautiful aspects of our "new" old home and we are really enjoying making it ours. My style is a mix of traditional and modern, with southern influences while keeping my young family in mind. Oh, and I can't turn down a healthy dose of blue and white. 

We will cut to the chase and get to the good stuff- the photos! 

That dentil moulding took hours upon hours of painting but it sure does look amazing.

I have been painting a lot lately and taking some classes, which has been so fun and my choice of activity during free time. I already have some new things lined up to be working on that I can't wait! Also, my handy husband built the frame and I painted it gold.

I found this bamboo console at Winston's Collection on instagram and they lacquered and delivered it right to my dining room. It is such a fun little piece and I love it with the mirror that I have had for ages. I have been wanting to do a plate wall for so long and I finally have it! I just used some of my antique Blue Willow collection (new) and Spode Blue Room.

You might notice the piece of furniture below is different than what I planned on using. I painted that bamboo chest white, cleaned up the hardware...and it still wasn't working. It really was too small for the room. The piece seen below was in our living room so I swapped them. I'm not totally sure it will stay because I would still like something a bit larger, but it works for now! I put some more of my blue and white in it for a punch of color.

Anyone else's husband obsessed with Blantons? I have to say, what a cool bottle.

I couldn't resist this tiny artwork by TomTom! We just got a shipment of his in our shop and I am the proud new owner of his beautiful little artwork.

You can find the plate hangers I used here. Super easy. Also, I ordered these white linen shades for the chandelier and I love how they transformed it even more. If you are new here, I really wanted to save this brass chandelier :)

I have been collecting blue and white for years and am still adding pieces whenever I come across them. I added the Blessing Beads to make our collection even more personal.

The drapes are my babies, literally. I love, love, love looking at this fabric. They make this room really pop and I'm so glad I stepped out of my solid fabric drapery rut! Also the color of the walls is Lily White by Benjamin Moore. This is probably the truest representation of the color, It was a little grey outside on photoshoot day and think it swayed the color a bit. It is a beautiful blue with a hint of grey.

I love a little whimsy in every room in our house to keep things fun and light. How cute are these cocktail napkins?

Thank you again for joining me. I'm excited to check this one off my list! 

I'm looking forward to catching up with the the linkers here and the featured designers here! There is so much good to be seen I encourage you all to check it out! Big thanks to Linda with the Calling It Home for putting this all together.

Linkable sources: I will be updating these throughout the day!
Lamp
Crystals on Chandelier and here
Chandelier Shades
Plate Hangers (invisible!)
Marble Cutting Board
Marble Wine Cooler
Marble Cheese Knives
Bamboo Console
Wine Glasses
Blessing Beads
Stir Sticks
Embroidered Cocktail Napkins
Bow Wine Stopper
Small Bar Artwork
Drapery Fabric
Drapery Hardware
Original Large Artwork by myself- email for inquiries
Chair Fabric

One Room Challenge: Week Five Blue and White Dining Room

Welcome back for week FIVE of the One Room Challenge! We are so close to the finish line and I have to say I can't wait. If I'm being honest I'm ready for nothing on my to do list but fun stuff! Nevertheless, I will finish up this room and be glad that I did it. No one ever said it was going to be easy right?! If you are new here, thanks for stopping by. I am Katie, wife, mom of two, living in the cutest little area of the NC coast. For this challenge, I am making over our dining room in a fresh blue and white design...if you want to catch up, see the links below!

Week One- Plan
Week Two - Drapes and Paint Swatches
Week Three - Painted Room and DIY Chandelier Update
Week Four- New Accessories

This update will be short and sweet- I've got things to do people! Let's refer back to the punch list:

-Caulk and paint trim (a doozie...dentil moulding) in progress
-New window shades (these are terrible mini blinds)
-Hang new drapes!
-Paint walls
-Paint nightstand-ish piece of furniture - in progress
-Update chandelier
-Fix the table/lamp/art situation- in progress
-Flank china cabinet with mirrors? - in progress
-Remove door to room - (trying to decide to do this or not because we need it for a baby on the move)

So this week, I started painting the bachelor's chest and it is already looking oh-so-fine. It is primed and sanded, ready for it's final coats of paint. I had a little time yesterday to shine up the hardware with some Brasso. I love watching this stuff work its magic on old brass hardware! The other option would have been to simply spray paint them gold, but I love the patina and nothing is better than the real thing.

Hardware is pre-Brasso...

I also mulled over my fabric decision for the dining room chair covers. I just couldn't justify spending hundreds of dollars on chair fabric that will likely take a beating. It also made me think about this room and what it's purpose is in our house, which leads me into a whole new topic. Yes, it is a formal dining room but we are generally not really formal people. We are at the beach and everything is a little more laid back here. I want this room to be one we feel comfortable in when we have a few more people joining us for dinner, with high chairs pulled up and water bottles instead of stemware scattered across the table. Most likely there will be a baby feeding a dog her food from the table at some point during that meal. I want it to be a fun space! This is the best part about the One Room Challenge- you don't have time to push things out of your mind- you are forced to make decisions, which is a good thing for me! So- I found this fabric and I am totally loving it. I also envisioned a slightly preppy room when I had this design in mind. Who better than Kate Spade to pull it all together. I will be covering the four side chairs and keeping the arm chairs as is with white slipcovers.

Next up, I am totally in limbo on my art choice. I am worried the bird art (seen here) is slightly too big and a little too vintage for the room. I might paint something myself this weekend. Totally going to be a last minute decision and I can't wait to see what I end up with!!

I haven't touched on the mirrors flanking the china cabinet on the punch list. I mulled that over too and I am thinking about incorporating some of my dishes into a plate wall. TBD. Again, can't wait to see where it all ends up.

By the way, I just want to mention that your comments, messages, emails...they all make such a difference. I really, truly appreciate all of them as a little nod of encouragement. This week has been pretty stressful (outside of the ORC as well) and little messages really make a difference- so thank you! That is all for me this week. See you next week for some fun at the big reveal!

Linkers are here and featured designers are here!