Briar's Nursery Tour

My new favorite room in the house is officially Briar's nursery!  I had so much fun designing this space during my pregnancy.  This room started out as a challenge because it has the strangest layout, windows that aren't centered on the wall, two doors, black wall sconces that I can't take down (renting!), and windows that swing in.  Not to mention a funky window air conditioning unit that I just had to work around! Also, the room needed to double as not only B's room, but also our guest room because we always have family visiting and they need a place to sleep too! I fell in love with a rug I knew I had to have and started from there.  Also, We needed to reuse Marlowe's old crib, her changing table, and her glider chair so I had some place to start! My plan was to do some sort of floral wall, include blush and emerald green tones while weaving natural wood tones throughout.

Initially I really wanted a peel and stick wallpaper for her room, but kept running into the issue of price! All the wallpaper I found and loved would have cost me $500 plus just to do one wall and there was no way that I would spend that on a rental. It had to be peel and stick so that it easily comes off whenever we move.  I searched Amazon one day and found this black and white wallpaper and fell in love, and I loved it even more once we put it up.  Better yet, the price was unbeatable. 

The "briar" sign above her crib was custom made for me by the same person that did Marlowe's round name sign over at Once Upon an Pine!  This wasn't listed in her shop, but I had an idea and sent her my design and she happily made it come to life! 

The pom pom mobile was a little project I made myself! I couldn't find any mobile I loved at a reasonable price, so I just made my own.  I posted the tutorial in my stories awhile back but plan on posting it here eventually too.  Also had to throw a little stuffed horse in her crib!

Then I decided to redo an old white laminate dresser and paint it blush with some fun knobs.  If you follow me on insta then you saw the process in my stories and I'm happy to report that it still hasn't chipped and is holding up well! The mirror above the pink dresser is super old but it was from Home Goods. The art framing the mirror above the dresser is another favorite of mine!  I designed the "Here Comes the Sun" print myself and just had it printed at Office Depot.  I walked down the aisle to that song and every time it plays Kyle gets a big smile on his face, so it somehow seemed fitting in here.  The rainbow and the sun art were downloadable prints from Etsy that I just printed and framed in my favorite natural wood Ikea frames.   

The rug was from Rugs USA and I got it for a steal on Black Friday! It has so much texture and reminds me of something you'd see in Anthro.  And the foot rest was another total steal from Home Goods.  It didn't have a tag on it, but was in the clearance section, so I took it to the register thinking it would be around 60 bucks like all the other ones in the store and the employee gave it to me for 20! Can't beat that.

The twin bed is actually a trundle!  So when people come and stay with us, we can roll out the mattress underneath and then we have two twin mattresses. I wanted it to look like a daybed with lots of pillows so it looks cozy.  The little wooden stool was a find from Ross and serves both as a little nightstand for guests, and as a step stool for when Marlowe helps us change B's diaper. 

The  horse art above the bed I bought on Etsy and had it printed at Office Depot for a total of 7 bucks! I grew up loving and riding horses and when I thought of Briar's name, it just felt like a horse needed to be in there! 

The corner changing table (that I swear is a must) is also reused from Marlowe, but this time I changed up the baskets. Above it I hung a wooden peg hook to use for her bows.  I just put my favorites out on the hooks, and keep the others in a drawer! I also found this rainbow loom at Target for 6 bucks and had to add it in here.

The baskets on the floor serve as a dirty clothes hamper, and a place to store the throw pillows, but mostly they help to disguise the air conditioner unit that has to stay there.   I always find my baskets at stores like TJ Maxx or Home Goods. 

Because of lack of closet space, we needed another chest of drawers for Briar's clothes, toys, and for guests.  This raw wood dresser works beautifully in the space and helped me work in the natural tones I wanted.  I found the "bambi" print (or so I call it) above it at Home Goods!

I doubled up the curtains to give it a layered look.  The  blush curtains are actually blackout which is crucial for nap time! 

I just really love how this space turned out and I hope you love it as much as I do! Now if only Kyle will let me redo every other room in the house...

XOXO,

Emily

Ready for Christmas!

Thought I'd share our living room decorated for Christmas!  Last Christmas, Marlowe was almost 1.5 years old and absolutely destroyed our tree within 5 minutes of it being done, but this year she is finally old enough to where she can listen much better!  I'm realizing next year we will have a 9 month old baby in the house that will be crawling and pulling on ornaments, so I'm taking full advantage of having a pretty tree (and sharing it with you) this year. 

I've also realized that my tree doesn't have to be the same EVERY year.  That gets old, and boring, so I try to decorate it a bit differently every time. Last year my tree was all green and white ornaments, and this year I found a blush stocking I loved for Marlowe so I thought I'd add that color into the tree.  I omitted the green this year, and just mixed blush, red, gold and a few white ornaments.  If you can believe it, I didn't buy any new ornaments.  I just used what I already had and only bought a strand of blush crinkle ribbon to mix in that color better.  The point is to make your space something you love, that you'll want to cozy up on the couch and look at.

I'm linking some similar decor items at the bottom of this post!

Our Christmas tree is old, and was passed down from my mom but still works great!  I really wanted a flocked tree but that wasn't in the budget for Christmas so I just went with what we have.  This year I put my tree in a basket rather than sitting it on the floor.  This seems to be a trend for the year and I wanted to try it out! I found the round basket at Ross for $14.99 and will be putting it in the baby's nursery after the holiday season is over.  If you don't have a basket and are tired of your tree skirt, then take a textured blanket and wrap it around the base instead!  This has always worked for me in years past!

The blush pink stocking was my inspiration!  Found it at Marshall's for $8!  The Letterboard on the mantle is pretty much always up there, but I swapped out the quote for one of my favs. 

I didn't feel like using my usual star Christmas tree topper this year because it always falls over or looks lopsided which annoys me.  So, I was inspired by something I saw in Anthropologie and took some wool yarn I had, and braided a few strands together to tie a little bow at the top.  I stuck the "N" for Noble ornament at the top and voila, my makeshift tree topper.  I love it.  I tried 3 other pieces of ribbon on it first and just didn't like the feel, so keep trying new things until something speaks to you!

I feel like the wool goes great with the wooden beaded garland and combines some fun textures!

The felt garland I've had for years, and have only ever used it once (last year in Marlowe's room). It has navy and some pink mixed in it and has never matched anything I've done in the past.  But this year...I have a navy fireplace so I knew it would be perfect wrapped with some garland!  This is a $4 strand of green garland from Target, and then I weaved in some battery operated twinkle lights that give it the perfect glow. 

I swapped out the family pictures on the mantle for the season! I added our Christmas card picture from last year on the left and I'm wondering why I don't have that framed anywhere else in the house because it's a very rare good family picture of us! The black and white tree sketch on the right I doodled up the other day.  I sketched something on the iPad, using my apple pencil, then just printed it out.  It's perfect, and I love that it didn't cost me a dime. If you'd like a copy let me know!

I choose not to use a stocking holder on the mantle because they are super dangerous with little kids around! They can easily pull one down and it fall on their head, so I just used clear command hooks instead.  You could also use a tack! Notice Mowgli's pawprint stocking up there! He always gets one full of bones!

This little stool warms up the space a bit.  I added a couple of Marlowe's Christmas books and a plastic lantern that she plays with all the time!  This way, Marlowe has something to touch instead of the tree. 

This year I added one strand of big outdoor bulbs (the kind you'd string across your patio) in addition to the little white lights.  If you look closely you can see the bigger bulbs in there, it brightens up the tree and is just something different!

I didn't do much on our dining room table because I like to keep it clean.  I swapped out the Eucalyptus leaves in the vase with some old faux Christmas greens and then added some twinkle lights inside the jar! They are battery operated and I love turning them on the the evening! They are going all over my house this Christmas in various jars and around garland because I just love that you don't have to plug it in!

Here's some links to some similar items below! Hope I inspired you to do something different this season!

-Em

    

Big Bulb Lights

Twinkle Lights

Felt Garland

Wooden Beaded Garland

Bottlebrush Trees

Round Basket for tree base (make sure you measure the diameter of your tree base first!)

Textured Blanket

Letterboard

Wooden Stool

25 Ikea Must Haves

Ikea Children's Latt Table and Chairs and Ikea Couch!

I have a love/hate relationship with Ikea.  I love going there for their prices because you just can't beat them!  I also don't like spending money on expensive furniture when it is just going to get ruined from a dog and a kid.  Plus, I get super bored of my decor quickly, so it's always nice to change things up for cheap!  The downside of Ikea is I almost always leave with a headache.  That store is a literal maze and I HATE the putting together part (or should I say Kyle hates the putting together part...ha!).  I finally figured out to go straight to the downstairs marketplace when I arrive and skip the showroom area...it makes the trip go so much faster!  Also, I highly suggest searching for "Ikea Hacks" on Pinterest...the things you can do with their furniture is pretty amazing. 

Here are the items I LOVE from Ikea!

Decor
These are my favorite decorative pieces from Ikea for their functionality, price, and modern design. 

Tejn Sheepskin Rug //14.99//
This is a small, stylish faux sheepskin that looks great just about anywhere.  Throw it over an armchair, over an ottoman, on top of a dresser (ours is on top of Marlowe's dresser!), or on top of another rug for that "layered rug" look that's in right now.

Alseda Stool //29.99//
These rattan stools are super stylish and functional.  They work well in pairs either side by side in front of a coffee table for the kids to sit on, or stacked on top of each other as an ottoman.  I also see lots of people put the sheepskin rug I linked above on top of it!

Fladis Seagrass Basket //12.99//
I love the functionality of Seagrass baskets.  They are great on top of a kitchen counter to hold all the junk you don't want to see, on the floor to hold blankets, in kids rooms for swaddles or bows, and even on the floor to hold an indoor plant.  Sometimes they are hard to find at Ikea because these baskets fold down flat and then you pull the handles to pop them open!

Ribba Frames //price varies//
These Ribba frames come in all different sizes and in either black or white.  They are super affordable and look amazing when used as a gallery wall.

Mosslanda Picture Ledge //6.99-9.99//
This picture ledge comes in black or white, and looks good just about anywhere.  There are two different sizes, and they look great with the Ribba frames I linked above. 

Matilda Sheer Curtains //19.99//
These white sheer curtains have lasted years in my guest bedroom.  I love Ikea curtains because they are all 98 inches long so you can take the curtain rod to the top of the wall and add height to any room.  I particularly like these curtains because they are light and airy, and make our guest room feel relaxing.

Duvet Covers and Pillowcases //19.99-39.99 depending on size!//
I linked the buffalo plaid duvet cover, but in general Ikea is the place to go for affordable bedding.  A king duvet set is only $39! 

Throw Pillow Covers and Inserts //6.99-14.99//
Ikea has the best throw pillows because you can unzip them and wash the cover!  Or if you are like me and like to change the covers seasonally, then you can find some simple solid covers and fun prints and patterns to go with any season while using the same pillow insert.


Kids
Ikea's kids department is pretty solid.  They stick to the essentials, and have had the same pieces in their collection for years because they are timeless.

Antilop High Chair //22.99//
Seriously the best high chair out there.  This is literally the EASIEST high chair to clean because there are no spots for food to get stuck in and the seat just wipes clean.  The tray pops off for cleaning, and did I mention it's only 22 bucks?

Kladdig Bib //5.99//
I love this bib because it covers Marlowe's clothes completely when I don't feel like undressing her.  It's also great for when we paint!

Mala Easel //19.99//
This is the cutest little easel for coloring at a perfect price.  Ikea also sells a large paper roll you can attach to it for things other than chalk.  It can be used in a classroom too or for party decor as a sign!

Latt Children's Table and Chairs //29.99//
This little table is adorable and the perfect height for toddlers.  There's also TONS of Ikea hacks for it on Pinterest where you can make it your own.  I personally like the natural wood look!  We keep ours in our living room, and then I take it outside to have lunch on, or craft because it's seriously so easy to move!

Duktig Play Kitchen //79.99//
Marlowe has this kitchen at her grandma's house and loves it.  I LOVE the minimalist design, and the price.  Just like the table above, there are tons of Ikea hacks for this one too!  People go so far as to put backsplash, spray paint the sink, and use removable wallpaper for the counter.  Ikea also has tons of fabric play food to go with the kitchen. 

Sniglar Crib //79.99//
If you are on a budget for nursery items, this crib has everything you need.  It's modern, and the natural wood look is in right now!  Babies are in their crib for such a short period of time before they move to a toddler bed so there's no need to spend an arm and a leg.  Also check out Ikea's crib mattresses to go with it!

Minnen Extendable Bed //119.00//
You've probably seen this toddler bed all over Instagram and for good reason.  It is not only adorable and stylish but you can change the bed into 3 different sizes.  It can be the length of a crib size to a twin size mattress.

Bekvam Step Stool //19.99//
We have this step stool in every bathroom in our house because it's the only stool I could find that was tall enough for Marlowe to actually be able to reach the sinks in our house.  Plus it's only 20 bucks!  They also have it in natural wood, and black if that's more your taste!


Furniture
I could have posted a lot of things in this section, but I'm just sticking to what I own and love!

Kivik Sectional Couch //1,449.00//
If you have kids or dogs, you have to own a couch that you can wash!  Ikea couches are the best because you can unzip the cushion covers and throw them in the washing machine (just make sure you air dry them).  The couch I own is no longer sold, but I love the Kivik Sectional because you can shape it in multiple ways and they have several colors.

Hemnes Bedroom Set //69.00-249.00//
The amount of people I know that have the Hemnes bedroom set is pretty funny.  But, it's because it's hard to find a quality bedroom set for this price!  The drawers roll out super smoothly, and have a cute striped pattern in the inside.  They also sell a thin glass top cover you can put on each piece to protect it and allow you to set drinks on the top easily.  I linked the 8 drawer dresser above!

Lappljung Ruta Rug //99.00//
If you know anything about rugs, you'll know that its nearly impossible to fine a 7 x 10 rug for $99.  Except this one!  We have this low-pile rug in our loft and I love how it makes a bold statement.  I've seen others use it under their dining room table because it's flat and easy for chairs to pull in and out, in their living room, or even a baby's nursery!  The black and cream color make it super versatile to match any color scheme you are using in your home.

Stockholm Rattan Chair //229.00//
If you're in need of a good accent chair, this is it!  I love that it sits low, and can be used in any room! with a cute throw pillow. 


The Essentials
These are the items I almost always grab when I get to Ikea because they are SO cheap!

Bolman Toilet Bowl Brushes //0.99//
Yup, I just put a toilet bowl brush on my blog.  This is literally the first thing I throw in my cart at Ikea.  I usually buy 3 at a time because they are only 99 cents. 

Antagen Dish Brush //0.49//
The second thing I grab are these dish brushes!  They work well and are only 49 cents! Can't beat that!

Bevara Sealing Clips //2.99//
These are my FAVORITE chip clips ever.  They come in a pack of 30 in all different sizes.  Everyone asks me about these when they come over and so I had to share!  They are usually near the dishbrushes in the store and can be hard to spot if you don't know what you are looking for!

Tolsby Frame //0.99//
These little babies are 99 cents and are great for parties, your desk, or in classrooms!  They are super easy to spray paint too! They hold a picture on both sides and don't fall over like a lot of frames do.  I like to use them when I throw a party as a label for food items, directions for the sign in book etc.  In my classroom I used them for station directions because I could put instructions on the front and back. 

Fantastisk Paper Napkins //1.99//
I always grab a pack of napkins at Ikea! They have tons of colors and prints, and are great for dinner parties.

***Pictures are from the Ikea website. 


That's it! I would love to know what your Ikea faves are too!

Ikea Picture Ledge, Ribba Frames, and faux hanging plant in our loft!