Details from the Designer - Vol. 8

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Happy start of February, a few days late! I’ve officially missed my goal of having a new blog post ready for you on the first of every month. In my defense, January was the sickest my family has been in a long, long time. Maybe ever. We had a bunch of the stomach bug, conveniently spread out of the course of 2 weeks. We had strep throat. We had common colds with some uncommon side effects. The full smorgasbord.

With all that, I’m catching up on everything else. Work, laundry, etc. But, I have known for a while all the fun stuff I would be sharing this month. So, I’m excited to finally share it!

Styling Breakdown

We recently shared a reel on Instagram about a simple formula for styling your coffee table in a beautiful, functional way: Tray + coffee table book + pretty box for remotes + decorative object/plant. This works on round, rectangular, glass, wood, big, small, black, natural, etc. coffee tables. The key is to find add the colors and personality that work best for your home and family.

As a short cut to a finding a great coffee table book, we now have an Amazon Storefront with a huge section full of our favorites.

 

This is from our roslindale project that will be fully revealed this spring.

 

Source List

Fashion Find

I love this time of year for some great sweater sales. These sweater is in my Nordstrom basket at the moment.

 
 

I own this sweater in this color and I love it.

 
 

I just bought this sweater after seeing it featured on The Extra Petit blog (PS - I’m not extra petite…she is, but she shares clothes that work for everyone). Waiting for it to arrive and I’ll report back!

 
 

Keeping Myself Busy

I’m currently juggling way too many books: The Nightingale, The Meritocracy Trap, The Covenant of Water (this is on the back burner for now…so long…even though I’m listening). I finished the limited series BEEF on Netflix after watching The Golden Globes and seeing all the accolades. It was a lot of fun. Quick episodes, fast moving plot, twists and turns, funny. I’m now watching the limited series True Crime with Jodi Foster on Max. Only one episode in and I’m intrigued.

Local Fun

On Saturday, February 17th, The Merry Lion is having a big warehouse sale from 9 am - 12 pm. They are located at 6 Albion Street in Wakefield. All their adorable stuff will be up to 80% off. Fine Print: cash only, bring your own bag, all sales final. I’ll see you there!!!


 

Until March! Stay healthy!!!

- Leah

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Details from the Designer - Vol. 7

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Welcome to 2024! You, me, all of us - we’re here! We’ve officially stepped onto a blank canvas.

Choice and opportunity feel more abundant when there is a symbolic new chapter of life. So, lean in. From a home design perspective, make a thoughtful plan for a transformation that you truly need. Get out your pen and paper and map out what update you will make. The list should be short and achievable. You can always make another list!

For example - “Restyle my living room built-in”. Take measurements of the height and width of each shelf and put them in the Notes section of your phone to have them handy at all times. Buy yourself a mini tape measure (like this one) so you can be ready to check the size of a great basket or coffee table book when you spot it randomly in a store. Create a Pinterest Board of your inspiration so you can thoughtfully zone in on your style (i.e. light wood or dark wood, certain colors, metal finishes, a special object that inspires you, etc.). Make a shopping list: books, planters, baskets, decorative objects, frames, etc. And then schedule a few hours on your calendar to get it done. Don’t leave the execution phase to chance. Even if it’s 2…3…4…months from now, pull aside the time to make it happen:

  • 2-3 hours to shop for everything

  • 2-3 hours to try your hand at styling

  • 2-3 hours to return anything that didn’t work out

These hours/days may be all in one weekend or spread out of a few weekends, or even months. Just make sure you can return everything you don’t ultimately use before the return window lapses. Goals are great. But achievements need action plans. Whether it is a bathroom refresh (paint, new mirror and light fixture) or transitioning your toddler’s bedroom into a big kid bedroom or furnishing your patio. Plan an update that is going to make day-to-day life more beautiful, but also easier and happier.

Styling Breakdown

We are giving away the milk for free in today’s breakdown. It’s nearly everything in this vignetted from our Atkinson Project, not just the decor. To start, the wall colors are Swiss Coffee and Van Deusen Blue (both from Benjamin Moore).

Next, everything else. This is a great storage solution for tight kids spaces because these wall mounted shelving units sit snug to the wall. They also feel airy compared to a classic bookshelf thanks to the light colors and the etagere style. We combined true storage decor (baskets, bins and pretty boxes) with actual decor (fake plants) with toys. Kid spaces don’t call for much on the personality building side of decor thanks to all those toys and books.

 
 

Source List:

Keeping Myself Busy

What have I been up to other than getting through the holidays? Hmmm. Not a ton. The one thing worth sharing is that I have been trying to improve my posture. I have always had pretty bad posture and it’s only gotten worse over the years. All the phone scrolling and work from home has my chin down and my neck/shoulders in pain.

I have followed Movement by David on Instagram for years. Mostly out of amazement by some of his reels and slightly because I’ve aspired to someday stretch more. I recently injured my leg (nothing a little physical therapy can’t handle), but it has me thinking about my flexibility in general. And I decided to get the Posture guide (it’s FREE). And it has been tremendously helpful. Actually blows my mind how difficult some of these simple stretches are and how effective they are in pulling my shoulders back.

Fashion Find

You may have seen this on our Instagram stories - Sarah (one of our Lead Designers) found us the best dupe of Krewe sunglasses (LINK here). I’m so happy with them. One of my best purchases of 2023.

 
 

Local Fun

January is a pretty sleepy month in the Boston area. Everyone is recovering from the holiday rush and contending with freezing temperatures. That said, I found a few fun things to get you through this winter month:

Madonna: The Celebration Tour concert at TD Bank North (Jan 8 and 9)

A Beatles Tribute Band is playing at the Wilbur Theatre (Jan 9)

Boston Wine & Food Festival (Jan 12)

Moulin Rouge musical is touring in Boston (Jan 16-20)

I hope you have a truly wonderful kick off to this new, fresh year. Whether it’s full of resolutions and transformations. Or, if it’s full of relaxation and downtime. I hope you are able to truly enjoy and set intentions for your year.

Until February!

Cheers, Leah

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Details from the Designer - Vol. 6

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December snuck up on me despite the fact that I had extra warning because Thanksgiving was so early. And, here we are. Ready or not! So, let’s pull out the tinsel and get the festivities started!

Styling Breakdown

 
 

For this month’s vignette, I have the foyer from our Boardman Project. This is a classic entry space in many, many homes. All you need is a small round table, beautiful/interesting/colorful art and some decor to bring it all together.

Source List:


Keeping Myself Busy

I started to watch Lessons in Chemistry the series on Apple TV after being obsessed with the book. I’m so-so about it. I think when you really love a book the show/movie is inevitably a let down because it can’t compete with your imagination.

My current book is Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and I’m really enjoying it. Not as much of a page turner for me as Lessons in Chemistry, but also such a different story and writing style. As tired as I am when I hit the pillow most nights, I force myself to read at least a few pages (it’s a thick book) and I’m about halfway through. I have a new reading light that has a slightly weird, mostly lovely yellow light option (easy on the eyes before bed) and it’s living up to the hype from the Amazon reviewers (over 5,000 five stars)

 
 

Last and most important - I’m trying to find a good meditation app. My previous app was free and it’s no longer available. If you have a recommendation, leave a comment or DM me!!!

Fashion Find

Sarah, one of our Design Leads, recently told me that she only paints her daughters’ nails with Expressie nail polish because it’s truly quick dry and relatively long lasting. And then I found it for a great price ($3.99) in three beautiful colors. So, stocking stuffers it is!

Local Fun

Way back in Volume 3 of Details from a Designer, I mentioned a kids clothing store (Lovestruck) in neighboring town, Reading. Across the street is another great store: Whitelam. It’s a bookstore with all the things you love about bookstores and shopping: small business, female owned, plenty of doodads and trinkets that are book-tangent, book signings, story time…AND, a book subscription. Which is officially one of the few gifts I have purchased for my kids so far. The reading and literature specialists at the store pick a book (or 2 books) a month based on your child’s age, interests and reading level. Then you stop by the bookstore once a month and grab the beautifully wrapped bundle.

Until next year!!!

Cheers, Leah

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