A couple of weeks ago, I ordered ten fabric samples for the recliner that I want to order for the reading corner in our bedroom, and those samples finally arrived a couple of days ago. And you know what? All ten are beautiful! But there were a couple I could rule out immediately, and then some others that were fairly easy to rule out for various reasons.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, let’s go back to the mockup I did of the bedroom so we can all be reminded of the end goal for this room. And once again, I’ll remind you that the wood bed frame in this mockup isn’t what I envision our bed frame looking like. I just needed a quick and easy copy-and-paste bed frame from that specific angle, and that’s the best I could find.
So yesterday, I laid out all of the selections I have so far for the room on my work table in the studio — the rug on the top left, the headboard fabric on the top right, the velvet drapery fabric on the bottom left, and the grasscloth wallpaper on the bottom right.
The other three fabrics are samples of accent fabric I may use for various things like pillows on the bed, although I may not use those exact fabrics. I haven’t made final decisions on accent fabrics yet, and I’d certainly want to add a teal to those colors to bring the teal onto the bed as well.
And here are those selections with the ten fabric samples that I ordered for the recliner. From left to right starting on the top row those are: celadon, platinum, spa, scuba, terracotta, peacock, blanc, mink, bloom, and coral.
I immediately ruled out the darkest and the lightest samples. The peacock is a really dark teal, but I think I have enough teal. The blanc, while beautiful, would disappear against white wainscoting. I’d also be afraid of having something so light in color that would show dirt and stains easily.
So right off, I was able to narrow it down to eight samples.
I went back to the Interior Define website to view all eight of those colors on the Jude recliner that I plan to purchase (affiliate link). Here they are in order as they’re shown above.
Again, I have to remember that the recliner will go against the creamy white wainscoting with the teal grasscloth on the top portion of the wall. So the color I choose will need to contrast nicely with the creamy white and not the teal. With that in mind, I ruled out several more. Spa is too light. Suba is too much teal. Terracotta is too dark for my taste. Mink is too blah. And bloom is too pink.
That left me with three — celadon, platinum, and coral.
You can let me know what you think, but of those three, there seems to be a clear winner to me.
The celadon is actually the color I was rooting for the whole time. I was really hoping the green would complement the other greens nicely, and I think it does.
So I think I have a winner, right?
UPDATE: Since I don’t have a mockup of the reading corner in our bedroom, I decided to copy and paste the recliner in the coral and celadon onto the mockup I have of the headboard wall. Of course, that’s not where the recliner will go, and the scale is completely off. But at least it gives an idea of how each one would look with the selections I’ve already made.
Here’s the celadon…
And here’s the coral…
The chair won’t actually be sitting on the rug, although it may touch the rug just a bit. And now, after seeing these, I’m torn. I like both of them equally, I think. I might actually be leaning slightly towards the coral. Ugh!
The A2D Daily update for today:
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
Sanya Richards-Ross, the Olympic gold medalist and former Real Housewives of Atlanta star, has joyfully announced that she and her husband, former NFL player Aaron Ross, are expecting their third child. The couple shared the exciting news on February 22, 2025, coinciding with Sanya’s 41st birthday and their 15th wedding anniversary.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Sanya showcased her baby bump in a stunning gold ensemble, expressing her surprise and happiness: “40 + 1 😯🧘🏾♀️💙💌. I knew this birthday would be special, but this was A LOT more than I could have imagined.” She added, “I’m about to be a Mommi of THREEEEEE AHHHHHHH!!!!”
The news was met with an outpouring of love and congratulations from fans, friends, and fellow RHOA stars, who have followed Sanya’s journey both as an athlete and a reality TV personality.
This pregnancy marks another milestone for the couple, who welcomed their second child, a son, in December 2023. Their path to parenthood has been filled with both joy and challenges, as Sanya has previously opened up about experiencing a miscarriage before the birth of their second child. By sharing her journey, she has offered support and encouragement to other women facing similar difficulties.
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Sanya and Aaron, who have been married since 2010, continue to inspire with their unwavering love and dedication to their growing family. As they prepare to welcome their third child, the Ross family embraces this new chapter with gratitude and excitement.
Congratulations to Sanya, Aaron, and their expanding family!
In my quest this year to find a place for everything, I wanted to find some bigger planter pots so I can use them for greenery and flowers around the house. I sometimes buy plants and then they just sit around without a pot looking forlorn and forgotten. 🙁
I had some gift cards so I was pleased to find a really pretty set of blue and white planter pots that I hadn’t seen before on Amazon. They seemed seemed promising, so I ordered to take a look!
These three pots come in a set and are quite lovely! They are bigger than this other set I bought a few years ago so they are perfect for what I needed. These pots have drainage holes so I can plant directly into the pot (which I haven’t done yet).
One of the planter pots is surprisingly large, so I think it will be so fun to use it for spring bulbs on my rattan cart in the kitchen. For now I just set a colorful bouquet in it — it reminds me how much I love seeing pretty flowers in the kitchen! Soon spring will come.
Robert Charles Albon visited Wales in 2023 and posted this photo on Instagram: “Joe Donor in Wales… do you need help with a baby? Send a message”
A sperm donor who claims to have fathered more than 180 children has been used by a judge to warn of the dangers of unregulated sperm donation.
Robert Charles Albon, who calls himself Joe Donor, claims to have fathered children all over the world from China to Australia after advertising online.
But using him as a donor turned into a “horror story” for a couple after he took them to court as he wanted parental rights over their child.
Mr Albon declined to comment.
It is extremely rare for a parent in a family court case about children to be publicly identified but the family court judge said it was in the public interest in naming Mr Albon.
In his judgement, Jonathan Furness KC said he wanted to protect women from the possible consequences of unregulated sperm donorship and from using Mr Albon.
The baby in this case was conceived by syringe injection to a same-sex couple, although Mr Albon claimed to have had secret sex with the biological mother in the back of a car. That’s a claim rejected by the judge.
Cardiff Family Court heard that Mr Albon, who is in his 50s, was a “stranger” to the child and has only met them for 10 minutes when a few weeks old for a “one-off” photo.
Mr Albon applied to the court for parental responsibility, to be named on the birth certificate and changes to the child’s name.
Instagram | Robert Charles Albon
Robert Charles Albon claims on social media to have been present at some of the children’s births
Mr Albon wanted the child’s non-biological mother to be called “auntie” rather than mother, despite the fact she had acted as a parent from birth.
Both mothers said the stress from the legal proceedings – which took more than two years – had been cited as a factor in the break down of their relationship.
The court heard the biological mother suffered from anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts made worse by the case.
The judgement – made in 2023, but only just published – said Mr Albon claimed he wanted to “protect the welfare” of the child when he was actually “wholly self-centred”.
Judge Furness concluded: “They chose a sperm donor who advertised that he would leave it up to the mother as to whether there should be any contact.
“There was evidence from his own social media material that Albon has indicated that to be the position.”
The court found Mr Albon, who is originally from the United States but has been living in north-east England, started the family proceedings to support his immigration position to stay in the UK. That is something he denies.
“In reality he is a man who seeks to control,” added Judge Furness.
WATCH: BBC reporter Gemma Dunstan explains how sperm donation works – and whether it is legal
“Women and children appear to be almost a commodity to him as he sets about increasing the number of his children around the globe – China, USA, Argentina, Australia and UK to name just some of the countries where he has fathered children.”
The judge in this case found “no positive welfare benefit in changing the child’s name” and that direct contact between him and the child would not be in the child’s best interests.
Neither mother opposed “letterbox contact” so Mr Albon can send an annual card or email to be retained for when the child is of an age to understand who it is from.
Mr Albon advertises on social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram and donates through various methods including artificial insemination and more natural methods like sexual intercourse.
In an interview with The Sun last August, he said: “I’ve had about 180 live births and I’ve met about 60 of them.”
“I might never see a lot of them, this has to do with the child’s mothers relationship… it’s my preference to have some sort of relationship.”
The non-biological mother said Mr Albon’s insistence of having parental rights had been a “nightmare and a horror story”.
“She believes that the world needs to know of the risks associated with unregulated sperm donation,” said Judge Furness.
“The public and vulnerable women seeking to get pregnant should know that is the case and they risk a similar ‘horror story’.”
The judge said he wanted “to protect women from the potential consequences of unregulated sperm donorship, generally, but also from Joe Donor himself”.
“He is a man who intends to continue donating sperm and vulnerable women who are interested in such services should fully understand the risks of becoming involved with him,” he added.
Family Court proceedings, like those at Cardiff Family Court, are private although under a recent change in court rules, certain information can be reported.
The way he was giving sperm was unregulated as it was not through a licensed clinic, with no limits on the number of children, mandatory health checks or protection from legal rights as a parent.
Mr Albon has previously spoken about his motive for donating. He claimed he wanted to help create life and it was insulting when people said he only did it for sex. He said he did not make any money from it and was often lucky to break even on travel expenses.
Family Court proceedings are private although under a recent change in court rules in England and Wales, reporters can attend and report certain information.
Measures have been taken to ensure the child cannot be identified.
Unusually in this case, the guardian acting on behalf of the child made an application that this judgement should be published online and the father should be named.
It was argued that it is important that the public should be aware of the dangers of unofficial sperm donation. Both mothers agreed to publication.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said it was “always safer to have treatment with donor sperm” at clinics it licensed, “where there are laws and guidance to protect and support patients and donors”.
Clare Ettinghausen of the HFEA said licensed clinics were also expected to adhere to the “10 family limit”, restricting the number of families that can be created with a single donor.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, support and advice is available via the BBC Action Line.
Y’all, these last couple of days have been rough at the Linauer house, so I’ve gotten virtually nothing done on our bedroom suite. Sunday was Matt’s birthday. We were planning a fun day to celebrate Matt’s 51st birthday, but he had a horrible day. I mean, horrible. It was, by far, his worst day so far this year. (If you’re new around here, my husband has M.S., so he has good days and bad day, a some bad days are far worse than others.) It was one of those days where things started off great, but as the day went on, he got progressively weaker and weaker to the point that I feared he might end up in the hospital by the end of the day. Thankfully, that didn’t happen. But what that did mean is that I had to stick close by in case he needed anything.
But since it was his birthday, I had purchased a couple of treats for him. I didn’t buy a cake because I knew he wouldn’t eat much of it, and then I’d be obligated to eat the rest by myself. 😀 Because that’s what sugar addicts do. So instead, I bought him two of his favorite candies — peanut M&M’s (just a small, individual package that you get at the grocery store checkout) and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (and they only had the king size package with four cups in it). Since he doesn’t do well with lots of sugar, I was going to give him his choice between those two rather than giving him both to eat. And since he was getting a sweet treat, I also used that as an excuse to buy myself a sweet treat, so I bought a millionaire for myself. It just comes one to a package at HEB, so I thought I could handle that without losing control.
But I bought them early in the day when he was feeling pretty well. By the time dinner rolled around (I had made him homemade chili, which was his birthday request), he was feeling so awful and weak that he didn’t even want to eat chili, and he surely couldn’t eat anything with sugar in it. And I was feeling so stressed because of the horrible day that he was having, and the fear that we’d wind up at the hospital by day’s end.
So in my stress, and with that candy in the house that he wasn’t going to eat, I did what sugar addicts do. I sat at my desk and ATE ALL OF IT. I kid you not. I ate every last bit of that myself. A whole package of peanut M&M’s, a king size of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (four cups), and my millionaire. All in one sitting.
Y’all, I felt horrible. I mean, I felt physically terrible, and the effect was immediate. After going last year with eating virtually no sugar (that was my 2024 New Year’s resolution), and going this year with very little sugar, eating that much sugar in one sitting just about did me in. But I thought I could just go to bed and sleep off the negative effects and wake up to a bright new day yesterday morning.
Nope. The effects of that sugar were even worse yesterday morning. Do you remember when I had that sciatic nerve issue that put me out of commission for a week back in October 2023? It was back. I was in so much pain yesterday that just walking was difficult. Matt had a better day yesterday, but still not great. So all of that combined meant that I was pretty much out of commission for two days straight. It was such a stupid, short-sighted decision on my part to eat all of that sugar, and I paid the price. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes, right?
So instead of actually getting work done yesterday, I sat at my desk and did some mockups of our bedroom. 😀
I started with the mockup that I did way back. It’s funny to see how different my vision for our bedroom was back then.
And then I swapped everything out for the recent selections I’ve made.
Those aren’t the exact bedside tables I’ll be making, but the one I want to make didn’t have a front-facing picture that I could copy and paste into my mockup, so I used a similar one. And that bed frame is also not one that I’ll be using, but I just needed a bed to copy and paste in front of the headboard. But at least it gives the general overall feel of what I’m going for.
And then I started looking for table lamps that would go with the new selections. As I was scrolling through, they all seemed to look the same. Gourd lamps, modern lamps. Everything seemed to blur together. And then this one stopped me in my scroll. This was it! This was the one. It was perfect.
Of course it was. It’s $989! I swear to you that I don’t do it on purpose. I don’t intentionally seek out the expensive stuff. It just always seems to happen that the things I like the most are expensive and out of my price range. There’s no way I could justify spending almost $1000 each for two table lamps. But oh my goodness, it’s so pretty, and so perfect. Don’t think for a second that I’m not already planning how I could DIY such a lamp. I don’t think it would be difficult. Just look how perfect these are for our bedroom.
I also found this beautiful art glass lamp. This one was much more my price range at $129 each. While I love the art glass look, I don’t think this will work because (1) I want gold accents, and (2) I think the color will get lost against the dark teal of the walls and curtains. But I do love a unique art glass lamp.
As much as I like those, I do think they get lost, just as I suspected.
As far as price goes, these lamps are even better. These are $140 for a set of two! I do love that sea glass look, and there’s a lot of this light blue-green color in the headboard fabric and also in the rug.
I think these look really pretty, and they do stand out against the teal. But they do seem to get lost with the bold colors.
And finally, these pretty lamps also come as a set of two for $340.
I really like these, too. They can also hold their own against all of that teal, and they’re a bit bolder in style, so they don’t seem to get lost like the sea glass lamps.
But my favorite is the orange. I love that it seems to bring balance to the overall design, bringing that color from the rug and the accents in the headboard.
But there’s no way I’ll be spending $2000 on a couple of table lamps for our bedroom. So I’m going to have to find a way to get that look on a budget. Perhaps I can start with a trip to a thrift store and see if they have something similarly shaped that I can paint and transform.
Anyway, no more sugar for me. I have learned that lesson the hard way. Yesterday was painful and miserable. I fasted yesterday in an effort to purge all of that sugar from my system, and I woke up this morning feeling good. The pain in my hip is gone, and I’m ready for a productive day. I hope I’ll remember yesterday’s misery the next time I’m tempted to gorge myself on sugar.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
The US Open is moving its mixed doubles event a week before the tournament begins, hoping a revamped format and a $1 million prize will persuade top singles players to chase a Grand Slam doubles title.
This year’s event – live on Sky Sports – will feature 16 teams competing over two days in shorter matches.
Tournament organisers believe that can attract the sport’s biggest stars, many of whom have long passed on doubles to keep themselves fresh for singles.
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Watch Victoria Azarenka accidentally hit her overhead smash straight at her doubles partner Beatriz Haddad Maia!
The plan calls for mixed doubles to be contested on August 19-20, during the week when the qualifying rounds for men’s and women’s singles are being held with the main draw in singles beginning on August 24.
“What I would say is the reason behind this is to appeal to more fans and grow the fan base around the world,” said Lew Sherr, executive director and CEO of the US Tennis Association. “But the way to do that is to have the biggest names in the sport participating in doubles, and to showcase them teaming up and playing in a different format, we think is exciting. In fact, we know it’s exciting.”
The early round matches will be best-of-three sets played to just four games, with a deciding point played at deuce.
Tie-breakers would be at 4-4 – rather than 6-6 in a regular match – and a 10-point match tie-breaker would be played if the teams split sets, rather than a third set.
Only the final will closely resemble a Grand Slam match, a best-of-three sets played to six games with no-ad scoring, tie-breakers at 6-6 and a 10-point match tie-breaker.
Eight teams will earn direct entry by their combined singles rankings, with eight other teams given wild cards into the field.
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Coco Gauff started celebrating too early with doubles partner Jessica Pegula during their match at the US Open…
There is a fear the new event will squeeze out doubles specialists who count on Grand Slam paycheques and now lose access to one of them.
To compensate for that, Sherr said the prize money that was allocated to the 32-team mixed doubles tournament at last year’s US Open would be redirected toward men’s and women’s doubles.
“Yes, there’s some that will be disappointed that they won’t have the opportunity to compete in this event,” Sherr said.
“On the other side, we know that there’s a huge opportunity to create more interest globally in doubles and there may be a cascading effect here, that the mixed creates a bigger spotlight on the men’s and women’s doubles when we get into that portion of the tournament.
“We’ll have to see how that plays out, but we do know that our mixed competition historically has been competing with the men’s and women’s singles, and so the fields have suffered and the attention has suffered. This is a chance to give it a massive spotlight over two nights.”
Watch the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as the US Open in New York, live on Sky Sports in 2025 or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.
[unpaid/purchase/affiliate] As soon as I spotted this pair of jeans on GAP they were in my basket! I love a good pair of skinny jeans (yes, I know…but I can’t give them up completely) and occasionally slip into flare jeans but what I can’t wear, and never have been able to wear, is straights. They don’t suit my body shape at all and feel all wrong, leading to what I can only describe as full blown jeans-envy when I see someone effortlessly slip into a pair of straight Levis and look sensational. I’m 5ft3ins with a long back (which is another way of saying short legs) so I really like to square off my top half for balance, hence my love of boxy cut tops. The GAP Ultra Soft Wide Leg jeans are so nicely shaped that they reproportion, as much as any pair of trousers can, my body. I’m wearing some clompy sandals in the pictures but ideally, I want to wear them with trainers so I’m having an internal debate about whether to have just a tiny bit taken off the hem.
These were taken first thing in the morning so please forgive the nil effort face! I just love the way they hang.
I’ve just grabbed a couple of things from my floordrobe (pile cropped out but isn’t it annoying that even in full adulthood, you have to tidy your own bedroom) to show you different options but one that I think is worth considering is a white shirt and black jacket if you want to style up rather than down. A few long necklaces over the shirt, a pair of sunglasses, couple of bangles and you have a super stylish look.
Funny how I find a picture of the whole of me so mortifying but don’t even flinch when it’s just my face! If you’re a tall gal, I don’t think these will be of any use to you – anything over 5ft6ins will find them a bit short I think. And, annoyingly, these are listing as only XS and S left HERE. I am in a M which is a perfect fit for my size 12. However, there are a couple of very similar styles still fully in stock at the time of writing …
This pair, in GAP’s softest denim, has the same easy wear feel that exudes casual confidence. Actually, I really weighed up between the two because I love the drawstring on this pair. They’re £50 HERE.
And then, there are the Blue Mid Waisted Ultrasoft Baggy Jeans that have exactly the same vibe but a fly and zip instead of pull on. The inclusion of 40% Lyocell is what makes them drape softly and give gentle stretch. They’re £55 HERE. These are the closest in terms of fabric and drape to mine.
You know those “if you give a mouse a cookie” projects that lead to many more? Well this mudroom is the reason we renovated our main floor, added a new kitchen and then came back around and did a makeover in this room, too HA!
That makes us sound ridiculous, but I’m glad we did the renovation. LOL! Many cookies later, here we are. I’ll add links to the whole renovation at the end of this post, but today I want to talk specifically about the mudroom makeover project, why it all started here, what we did and (didn’t do) in this space and why.
While we definitely made some cosmetic changes, we also used what we had!
Believe it or not, our renovation project started TWO YEARS ago (my how time flies!). We just hung the light in this room a couple of months ago, so it all takes time. I have even more ideas for this space but we will save those for the future. We love how it is now.
Also I never know what to call this room. Mudroom? It’s also a pantry. The dog’s feeding station. A hallway. There’s got to be a more charming word than mudroom! Please help me find something more inspiring! I’m jealous of those who have butler’s pantries but I’m very grateful to have a mudroom :).
Disclaimer: I decided to include a few photos in this post that I had shown in our Christmas tour, too, but rest assured we don’t keep Christmas decor up all year. 🙂
Mudroom Makeover Projects
Removing the exterior door
This mudroom wall previously led to our backyard, but we had to close up the doorway to make room for the Tiny Cottage (which is now where my parents live!).
Here’s a couple of photos of how it looked like “before”.
I was a little sad to lose the door because of the natural light the window brought in, but it was a small sacrifice for the Tiny Cottage.
The need to remove that door is when and why our whole main floor renovation started.
Since we were losing the door to the backyard, we needed a new exterior door to be able to access the backyard.
And as long as we are adding a new door ….
Many cookies later, we have lovely French doors in a new kitchen that lead to the backyard.
Ha! It is true, we could’ve added new doors without a new kitchen and it would’ve been fabulous, too. I had a lot of ideas for that! But I thought it all through carefully and there really were many good reasons to renovate as we did (which I’ve shared in the past).
So here we are. I have no regrets.
Isn’t it wild though how projects can snowball?
Kitchen Details // The mudroom entrance is between the fridge and cabinets in the center of this photo
Mudroom Layout
While the door removal did in fact lead to the entire main floor renovation and then we returned to this room and made cosmetic changes to flow with the rest of the projects 🙂 we didn’t change the layout of this room at all. Just patched up the hole where the door was! 🙂
This little room is right off our kitchen. It leads to the garage and the Tiny Cottage as well as the whale powder room. It’s a little hub, almost a hallway!
I will admit that during our renovation I came up with many more ideas for how to “improve” this Tiny Mudroom by renovating the space more extensively. Ha! That’s what I do. I dream of ideas. It is fun for me to dream, plus “as long as you’re doing XYZ” it really does make sense to be sure you aren’t “missing an opportunity” to improve it “while the contractors are there anyway.”
But in the end I confirmed that the existing layout of the mudroom worked for us and is all we needed anyway! Phew.
This is why I suggest you always live in a space FIRST before you renovate. That way you know how your home functions.
The mudroom entrance is between the fridge and cabinets in the center of this photo
The mudroom is the only room on the main floor that you can tuck anything away in, so even though it’s tiny, I love the closet and open floor space here.
With that said, I didn’t want us to treat it as a storage room, even though sometimes it is handy as a temporary landing spot like Christmas decor or other stuff that is heading to the garage.
To avoid the whole room becoming a permanent clutter magnet, we made it all cute and each part of it is functional for every day life.
Give spaces clear purposes and make them cute. That is the secret — it works for us every time.
So now that you know how we got here 🙂 I’ll share the distinct purposes of this space and the cosmetic makeovers we did!
Flooring
We switched out flooring throughout the house during the renovation so we carried the same White Oak (engineered hardwood) right on into the mudroom and the pantry closet. This makes me happy –I love how clean it feels! In a small space, carrying the flooring all the way through can make a difference. But it sometimes it makes sense to switch only one space. If you can do so at a logical spot, you can even make it more charming like adding tile to meet up to wood.
Here’s when the mudroom flooring came out, before the door was removed!
Paint
Since we were painting the entire main floor, and we had to paint the wall and beadboard after it had been repaired, we decided it made sense to paint the whole room :). We did a reverse trim color so the wood is now all in a pretty shade of blue (Smoke Benjamin Moore) and the walls are the creamy white color of our kitchen (Classic Light Buff Sherwin Williams). I’m glad we did it this way. I loved how it was too, but it feels cheery and fun to walk in to this little space now and makes it feel special.
Pantry Closet
The pantry closet was already here and functional with solid shelving, so we left it as is — except for the paint! We’ll probably add some hooks, but the shelves are perfect for a pantry or whatever we decide to use it for in the future (I still have ideas ha!).
The Lazy Susans we had bought to help with organization in the previous kitchen before the renovation but they came in handy here! It’s nice to be able to spin them around so you can see everything and it makes it easier to keep it organized.
I’m considering some sort of baskets for the floor of the closet, but I do like having the option of the floor being clear so we have someplace to to stash all the random things we don’t have a spot for during a party or anytime. Plus it looks nice (if we would be able to keep it clear ha, that’s the question).
Use What You Have Dog Feeding Station
The main purpose of this room is it’s a place to feed the dogs. So basically it’s the dogs room. We even kept Finnegan’s crate in here when he first came to us (but now he’s upstairs).
You know those fancy dog feeding stations you see on Pinterest or Instagram with built in faucets?
We don’t have anything like that. 🙂
We used what we had (the built in bench) and made it work for us.
With a puppy and a “senior” dog they each have different food. We decided to use the existing mudroom bench (which we don’t need to sit on) as a convenient dog food station. There is storage under the bench top which we use for extra items we don’t need very often.
My husband feeds the dogs and prefers easy access to their food and bowls. So rather than put it all in the closet or kitchen, he wants it right here.
I suggest whenever possible, design spaces according to what works for the people who use it the most.
I try to show the practical ways we actually use our home, so this is how we made the most of what we had here (the existing storage bench) and made it into a system that works for our chief dog feeder.
Baskets
We decided to put the jars into these baskets because it gave a little extra storage to tuck in the dog bowls. Plus I didn’t want Finnegan to knock the jars down since the jars can be slippery and he was so curious about them!
Now the baskets keep everything together and in place and add a nice texture to the room, too.
Hooks
I’m a big fan of hooks. There were already hooks in this spot but we had these whale tail hooks that we brought from our last home so we just swapped them for hooks that are a little quirky but a fun nod to our coastal home. Plus they are a little connection to the whale wallpaper that was already here in the adjoining powder room.
These hooks are handy for so many things, but day to day we mostly use them to hang breadboards and baskets to hold the dog treats or any supplements for them, too.
It’s a convenient place to hang guest coats or tote bags, too, as needed.
Decorative Updates
Botanical artwork
We had the two large framed botanicals for years (originally from Ballard Designs, they don’t seem to have them anymore). I loved that they make a big statement here and add shades of green. They really make a fun statement and add more color and interest to this space.
The light fixture in the mudroom is new — it’s such a pretty shade of green (this light in rosemary mist color)! This was the last thing we added to the room. Changing light fixtures is something I like to do in almost every room when we move to a new home (over time) because it adds character and brings our own personality to the space.
Round Rug
I did get this darling new round rug (it is the same rug, but a different color than one my mom has in the Tiny Cottage…mine is Legacy Blue). It’s hard to find rugs that work in a small or different shaped room like this and really almost unnecessary, but round made the room feel cozy, brought the colors together, I can use it in the powder room, too.
Corkboard
We’ve had the big cork board for many years (I think I got it at HomeGoods) so at least for now, we use it here! It’s handy for organization. Using something we had gives us time to think about exactly what we want, too!
We’ve been making a few updates to our powder room, too. The whale paper will stay at least for awhile but we’re working on a few simple updates.
I’ll have more to share on that space soon.
So there you have it! The place and project that started it all. Like I said, we have no regrets. This is our “forever” home and we love it here. Plus it’s not a large home, so we want to make every space work well for us.
A place for everything and everything in its place!
That’s my phrase for the year and it’s been such an inspiration throughout our renovation over the past two years, too.
I have expensive taste. It never fails that if I have several items to choose from, with all of the prices hidden from sight, I’ll almost always choose the most expensive item. It happens over and over and over again. That’s one reason I started DIYing many years (okay…decades) ago. I decided that if I couldn’t afford the things I wanted, maybe I could make them for a fraction of the price.
And that’s where I’ve found myself in my search for the perfect chandelier to go above the island in my future walk-in closet. I know y’all are probably going to get sick of this closet (if you haven’t already) before I even get started on it. But I’ve never had a decent walk-in closet before, and I would be embarrassed to tell you how much time of each day I spend dreaming about and planning this closet. But as anxious and excited as I am to make this closet a reality, I won’t start on it until I have all of the details worked out, especially in regards to how the cabinets and drawers will be arranged. I’m almost have it, but I’m not quite there yet.
While I’m still working out those details, these fun, decorative touches, like mirrors, wallpaper, and lights, are fun to think about as well. I’ve already shown you the modified floor plan, but just in case you missed it, this will be the layout of the closet/laundry area.
And a couple of days ago, I showed you my final wallpaper selection, as well as the mirror I bought to go on the section that will be wallpapered. If you look at the floor plan above, the wallpaper and mirror will go in the middle section on the right side of the closet area, where I’ll have drawers up to about 34 inches, a countertop on top, and then an open area with the wallpaper and mirror. You can see more details of this wallpaper in this post, but here’s a look at both.
So with those selections made, I wanted to purchase a really pretty chandelier or pendant light to go above the center island. I really had no idea what I wanted, so I was pretty open-minded about it when I started my search. I started out looking for a simple but pretty chandelier. The first one I saved to my “walk-in closet chandelier options” file was this one from Wayfair (affiliate link).
It’s simple, pretty, transitional in style, and brass. It’s definitely my style for a general use kind of chandelier. But this closet is mostly going to be mine. This is an area where I can kind of have a little fun and do something not so “general use“, if you know what I mean. So I started looking for something geared a little more towards my very specific taste. I wanted something eye-catching, fun, and maybe floral-inspired (because, if you know me at all, you know I’d drench my whole house in flowers, birds, and trees, if left to my own devises).
This light has been around for many years, and I’ve loved it since the first time I saw it. But the one thing that has held me back from buying it (and I’ve considered it for many different uses over the years) is that I’m pretty IKEA used to sell this light or a similar version of it. And I don’t really want my closet to look like IKEA. I don’t have anything against IKEA. I just don’t want it to be an overtly IKEA closet. I do love that light, though. I’d love to find a use for it eventually, but just not front and center in my walk-in closet.
Sticking with that eye-catching floral theme, I also considered this beaded chandelier from Wayfair (affiliate link). It’s not exactly floral, but it reminds me of vines with berries. And it’s sparkly, which I love. And best of all, the price was really good at just under $140. Also, the beads are glass and not plastic. There are lots of photos uploaded by customers in their reviews, and it’s so pretty in all of them.
That light is like a Sputnik (which I love) covered in vines and berries (which I love). It’s the best of both worlds all in one light. I came very close to clicking that “Add To Cart” button on that one.
And then the last one I had saved in my “walk-in closet chandelier options” file was this chandelier from Wayfair.
Three things held me back from this one. First, I think the gold is a little too gold. Second, I think it’s too big for my walk-in closet. The island will only be 24 inches wide, and this light is almost 24 inches wide. I think it might be a bit much for that space. I want something eye-catching and unique but not overpowering. I think this one would be better suited above a dining table. And third, I HATE that kind of ceiling canopy. It’s just a personal preference, but I can’t stand the way those canopies look.
And then it happened. I found THE PERFECT light that not only suits my taste, but goes so well with the mirror and the wallpaper and the whole vision I have for that room. It’s perfect in every way…except for the price. This light from Wayfair is $2300 (affiliate link). I mean…of course it is. Because why wouldn’t the most perfect chandelier ever created to suit my taste be ridiculously out of my price range?
But once I laid eyes on the most perfect chandelier for my walk-in closet, nothing else would do. I’ve searched. I really did try to find something else that looks similar in my price range. Nothing of the sort exists. But now that I’ve seen this one, I know I won’t be satisfied with anything else.
So, does that mean I’ll be spending $2300 on a chandelier? Of course not. 😀 I think y’all know me better than that, and I think y’all know what this means. There is a DIY chandelier for my walk-in closet in my future. This is the vision. This is the goal. Now I just have to figure out how to get that look on a budget. I’m already devising a plan, and I won’t stop until I have something similar that fits my budget.
But I think I can make a flower chandelier in much less time. And I think it’ll be the perfect addition to this vision I have for this room.
Update: I should note that this won’t be the only light in the room. I’ll also be adding plenty of recessed lights and/or lighting on the cabinets.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
We took a road trip from St. Petersburg over the holiday and spent two weeks in Miami Beach for Christmas and New Years. So many of you love the beauty packing and travel makeup posts I thought it would a good time to share some thoughts about the Clear Medium Travel Case I picked up from Calpak over the holidays. (Shade I bought in all the cases is Caramel, but they have lots of options!)
I’ve purchased several cases from them over the years including the Small Clear Cosmetics Case and Clear Train Case and am completely obsessed. They have gone with me on many trips! Many of you asked for a comparison between the small and medium and also want to know which one I’d recommend. I finally bought the Medium one to try this last trip and can now compare the sizes. The Medium one was perfect to hold almost everything I needed for skincare and makeup.
I shared a look at everything that fit into the Medium Travel Case in this video here. Since we took a road trip and drove to our destination, I didn’t have to worry about any liquid limits but a lot of the skincare I brought were smaller/travel sizes.
Travel Skincare + Hair Care Picks
Skincare/Bodycare:
Hair:
Perfume:
Since it was winter time I didn’t really need dry shampoo or a lot of styling products for my hair. I did have some times I wish I had some hair spray or texturizer spray.
Travel Makeup Picks
Base Products:
Cheeks:
Eyes:
Lips:
Misc:
I packed brushes in a separate small makeup bag from Stephanie Johnson (mine is an older print/style but it’s the same size as this one). Also since we were going on an extended trip I bought full-sizes of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and sunscreen while in Miami since there are plenty of Sephora and Nordstrom stores around the city and also since Andrew and I share them.
I really like the size of the Medium Travel Case. It’s roomy enough to fit a TON of things inside although since it’s on the bigger side it will take up a lot of room in your suitcase or travel bag.
I did a poll on Instagram asking how you pack your makeup and skincare for travel and most of you end up putting things in multiple pouches to keep things organized. I ended up using everything I packed although I wish I had packed a loose powder with me for more options.
If you’re going on a shorter trip or want something smaller I still think both the Small Clear Cosmetics Case or Train Case are excellent picks. I’ve used the Small Case for about two years and it holds a lot! The Train Case is a newer style from last year and while it looks small I really love the height since it’s a bit taller and zippered compartment at the top to is very useful to hold smaller things.
Overall for a 2-week trip the Medium size was perfect. I am really amazed at how much it fit. Can’t believe everything on my list fit inside it? I don’t blame you! I couldn’t believe it either. You can watch the packing in action here.
