Decorating with Neutrals

If you had told me five years ago that I would be obsessed with neutrals than I would have laughed at you. At the time, I was all about lots of color (remember my previous post about every room a different color?) and collecting lots of cute stuff. Mind you, I wasn't into rainbow sherbet colors but I loved colors nonetheless. Even though I still love some vibrant colors, when it comes to interior design I have fallen in love with a simpler, and more timeless style. 

Neutrals don't have to be bland and boring. I love the simplicity and calmness they exude. If you are a lover of simple and clean palettes, like me, then here are some tips on keeping things cozy and interesting and reasons on why I love the style so much.

 I love that neutrals get the attention off of colors and allow you to mix different textures in your decorating scheme. I especially love linen and in the wintertime I can't get enough knits! Various materials add dimension and interest. They bring coziness and warmth to a space. You can also add texture with baskets, glassware, stoneware, and rugs. I have added a couple sneak photos of my newly renovated bedroom below. A special blog post on that is coming soon! 

Neutrals are classy and exude style. They can also be very luxurious.Who doesn't want to sink into a clean fresh bed of crisp white linens and cozy up by a fire in a huge grey wool throw? When thinking of creating a neutral space consider adding splashes of muted colors in with the mix. Add some grey, some tans, some browns. 

In the same thread of thinking, be sure to add some contrast to your look. I recently renovated my bedroom. Gone are the dark brown walls, the collection of gold framed wall art, and the bright yellow curtains. The finishing product was so drastic that I doubted myself and knew something wasn't quite right. I decided that it needed some darker tones to complement an all white bedroom. I have decided to switch out the white curtain rods and replace them with black iron curtain rods instead. I also decided to switch out my brass lamp and replace it with a black antique lamp. It created that distinction between all whites and creams so that they didn't all blend in together and I am now at peace with the new look. 

Those who follow my blog already know that I am in a love affair with the color white. White dishes, white cookware, white cabinets, white cups. They are so easy to match with gold, silver, brass and splashes of color. One of the reasons I love neutrals is because they go with everything! But if you ever need pops of color a plant is always a good idea. If you desire more color then add a vintage rug or some throw pillows. 

Neutrals really make your wood furniture pop! Against white walls, the grain in the wood shines so beautifully. I had forgotten how much I love our bed, dresser, and nightstand because they kind of got lost in the dark brown of my previous wall color. Use raw woods and various metals in decorating with simplistic style. It brings soul to all the airiness. 

I truly believe in making the home as lovely, cozy, and inviting as possible. Home is so much of what we are and how we feel and the way we style it is such a huge part of that. 

White-washed

I think those closest to me would say my current favorite color is white. White walls, white dresses, white mugs, white kitchenware, white bed linens.  I love the simplicity and clean look the crisp color conveys. There is something so feminine and angelic about a white lace dress. I like to think of white walls as a canvas on which the creative mind has no boundaries. You can either add splashes of color in rugs, artwork, or bold furniture, or you may choose to leave the room as minimalistic as possible.

I have read articles and followed people on Instagram that have painted their trim, walls, and ceilings all the same color throughout their home and pulled in color accents from furnishings or artwork. It gives a home a very clean, cohesive look. I have not yet gone to that extreme but I do love some good neutrals. My home is mainly made up of white, greys, a warm, coffee color for our den, and you guessed it, more white. I like having a continuous feel throughout the home.

When I first got married I picked out the colors for our newly renovated home. Every room was a different color and some were very bold choices. I chose anywhere from deep blue, to baby blue, to grey, to dark brown, to mustard yellow. It's funny now but the bolder choices were the ones I grew tired of the quickest. I would hit a wall when decorating because I always thought to myself, "Well, we can't buy that sofa because it wouldn't match my baby blue walls" or "that color would clash because it won't match my electric blue study". The only two original colors I have chosen to keep four years later is the coffee-colored den because it is my husband and I's favorite room to cozy up together at the end of the day. It complements the stones in the wall to wall fireplace and just has that wrap-your-arms-around cozy feel.The other color we have both chosen to keep is the light grey in our dining room and kitchen. It has been a favorite neutral for us. It is a good balance to bright white cabinets and soft linen tablecloths. I also love that I can bring in gold or silver or white accents at various times for whatever mood I am feeling without it clashing with the rest of my decor.

If bright and bold colors are your thing then go with it! I would just suggest choosing a color palette for your home and stick with it. You want colors that will complement each other and not distract. Draw color inspiration from a certain priceless possession weather it be a painting or a statement piece and pull color from that object. Lastly, be sure to choose a color you love! Nobody wants to paint every two or three years.

Enough of my home-designer-wannabe ramblings for now. I'm off for my second cup of coffee and to begin painting the master bedroom. I would ask you to guess the color but I think you already know what it is.

White Pumpkins & Lattes

It's here. That most wonderful time of the year. Bring out the flannels, booties, and over-sized sweaters. There's something very nostalgic about this season for me. Maybe it's because it reminds me of packing up the motor home and traveling through New England and Canada for weeks at a time with my family while Dad shadowed various pulpits. Or maybe it's the memories of hayrides and corn mazes that I shared with childhood friends. Or perhaps it's when I finally realized I was falling in love. Maybe it's my lovely November wedding I shared with that same man on the lawn in front of that antebellum home.

This morning I made myself a pumpkin pie latte sprinkled with cinnamon while I read on the couch. It's moments like these that I sit and thank God for His many blessings. I look forward to apple-picking, enjoying my mom's homemade wassail, catching old episodes of Felicity and Gilmore Girls, and camping with the family. It's moments like these that make that very special time of year so wonderful. 

New Morning

One of my favorite movies of all time is Gone With the Wind. Yeah, the ending is super depressing but that moment when Rhett leaves Scarlett on the doorstep after losing one of her best friends to death, recently losing a child, and now seeing her marriage slipping from her right when she finally realizes it's everything to her, courageously pronounce, "After all, tomorrow is another day!" is a pretty epic scene.

I like hope. I mean, without it, what would be the point of living, right? I like second chances because let's face it...we are all hopelessly flawed and human and sometimes really really mess up. I like hope because I can be a pretty pessimistic person. Sometimes I get tired of waiting on certain things to happen and just tend to throw in the towel and get super frustrated and think, "What's the point?".

I was reminded this morning from Lamentations 3:22-24, Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul. "Therefore I hope in him!" 

Today is a new day, a new beginning. Whatever you are going through right now, be assured that you have hope. Hope that He is there. He is our rock. And nothing that we encounter today will take Him by surprise. 

Therapy for our Hearts

I just wanted to take a moment here and be really honest. I struggle with anxiety. I have for years. Some months it's worse than others but it always seems to be there, lurking in the darkness, and it seizes opportunities to rear it's ugly head. At times I have anxiety just thinking of my struggle with anxiety. For some reason, usually fall triggers it again. Don't get me wrong, I am the same as every other white girl and love the season, but with the changing leaves and crisp weather comes a change in my moods. I understand that this is a struggle that is very real for a lot of women so I wanted to be raw and share my struggles in the hopes that it may encourage someone else out there. 

Currently I am reading You Can Change by Tim Chester. It has been so convicting but it's also been an encouraging read as well. I wanted to share some of my favorite paragraphs that I have read recently. They really uplifted me and reminded me to stop listening to my thoughts and speak truth to myself.

Chester writes, "Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, "Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?" We need to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Our problem, says Sinclair Ferguson, is that "we think with our feelings." We don't always feel joy in God, but by faith we can tell ourselves that he is our joy. When we find ourselves tempted to engage in sinful behavior, or when we find that our emotions are getting the better of us, we need to speak truth to our hearts. Say the truth to yourself repeatedly so that it sinks in: "God is all I need." Say it slowly: "God...is...all...I...need." Say it out loud. Say it back to him: "You are all I need." C.S. Lewis says, "The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job of each morning consists of shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in."

Chester goes on to add some key thoughts to remember:

1. God is great - so we do not have to be in control. 

2. God is glorious - so we do not have to fear others. 

3. God is good - so we do not have to look elsewhere.

4. God is gracious - so we do not have to prove ourselves. 

Some other books that have really lifted my heart in dark times outside Scripture, are The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges, Loving God with All Your Mind by Elizabeth George, and Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. I strongly recommend any and all of these books for anyone that struggles with anxiety and depression.

If you are battling with this very thing at the moment please know you are not alone. I am praying for you as you read this that God will draw very near to you in your dark season. There is hope and everything will be ok. I know at the moment when you are in it everything seems hopeless but that's a lie. So much of our struggle, yes yours and mine, has to do with the mind. That's why it's so pivotal that we stay connected in scripture and prayer. We need to be filling our minds with truth about God and truth about our ever-changing emotions and feelings.

Lastly, I leave you with one of my favorite verses. My mom would quote this to me time and time again when I would go to her for counsel and still does. I have even hung it in my bedroom so I can be reminded of it everyday.

Books & Beignets

Several months ago my good friend, Sarah, and I decided to be adventurous and take a road trip to New Orleans. Neither of us had ever been before so we thought it would be a fun experience for us to have together. We both did some research but mainly asked friends and family who had visited the city before where and what they would recommend seeing, eating, and doing. Before embarking on our journey, we both came up with an itinerary of things to do. It's funny now looking back because we totally threw that out the window when we arrived. We joked that all we did that weekend was eat, gaze at buildings, shop, and eat some more. 

After arriving at our hotel, and no, that's not it. That is St. Louis Cathedral. Pretty magnificent, huh? Anyway, after arriving at our hotel, we grabbed some lunch at Huck Finn's Cafe. After lunch, we strolled down Magazine Street (a shopaholic's dream!) and stumbled upon Jackson Square. It was such a muggy day so Sarah and I entered the cathedral to cool off. It was such an amazing place! 

I loved all the architectural detail. 

Next stop: Faulkner House Books. This was my favorite shop in NOLA. I love books period. But books old and new nestled in a tiny space on floor-to-ceiling bookshelves are my favorite. Sarah and I took our time browsing the shelves. Such a charming place. The shop manager, a little elderly lady, was so kind and helpful and answered our many questions. 

I spotted a book I had heard of and it sparked my interest when the shopkeeper told me she had read it and loved it. Sarah told me she had seen the film version and that I needed to watch it. That evening at our hotel we rented it online and watched it together on my laptop and Sarah was right. It was a classic. Loved it! Of course, the next day I just had to return to the bookshop and snag that adorable copy with bees on the cover nonetheless! It was fate. The book? Far From the Madding Crowd. 

The outside of Faulkner House Books. 

Here are Sarah and I on the street car touring the city! 

Sunday morning we took the street car to City Park. They had such lovely walkways and

 the most beautiful Spanish moss trees. 

This place was such a treat! They had amazing beignets (which quickly became our favorite thing and a staple order at about every restaurant we visited) and wonderful frozen cafe au laits! 

This is a row of houses in the Garden District. Sarah and I tried to tour the Lafayette Cemetery but got caught in a downpour. I just happened to have left my umbrella at the hotel. Good times. 

One of our favorite things to do was to browse shops in the French Quarter. This little shop was so fascinating! Everything they sold was made of cork! Such an interesting place. 

I thought I loved plants until I spotted this home! 

Our last morning in the city, Sarah and I visited this bookstore called Crescent City Books. 

We then went next door to the sweetest little vintage shop called The Revival Outpost. 

I scored a lovely vintage dress with cross-stitched designed flowers on it. I can't wait 

to pair it with tall boots and a cardigan this fall. 

New Orleans was such an unforgettable adventure with a precious friend that I will treasure always. We had many laughs, like the time we wondered accidentally onto Bourbon Street and asked a bartender where the nearest coffee shop was located. I love that Sarah and I could joke about how we are old ladies at heart and instead of staying out late into the night we could be found curled up in bed watching movies on my laptop. I do believe we made a record of the most beignets a person can consume in three days and I also believe we hit every bookstore in the French Quarter. 

Here are a few little treasures I brought home with me from our visit to the Big Easy. I scooped up a lovely vintage-inspired scarf from Urban Outfitters and a couple hand-rolled cigars from The Cigar Factory. Sarah and I observed as two men who had rolled cigars for over 20 years, rolled tobacco leaves and molded them into one cigar after another. It was such a fascinating experience to watch them! I had to bring one home for Josh and myself. We occasionally enjoy one together on our patio at night while sharing our days with each other. 

  I hope you enjoyed looking at my photos from our trip and listening to me share a few of 

our experiences. Thank you, Sarah, for taking this journey with me!I hope you enjoyed it as
much as I did. 

Colored Pages

It's fascinating to see a page come to life after a few brushes of color isn't it? I can't remember where I first saw these incredible coloring books, perhaps it was in an Anthropologie store or online somewhere, but I was immediately captivated. Coloring was one of my favorite pastimes 
as a child so when I discovered these adult coloring books I thought I had struck gold.
A few weeks ago I broke down and purchased my first one, Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book. I searched long and hard online to find what would be the best options
when it came to tools. Hands down, Prismacolor colored pencils won me over. 

Near the end of this post I will provide a list of tools I use to bring these pages to life.  

Apparently, after purchasing this book, I discovered that adult coloring books are a huge thing right now. Perhaps they're nostalgic for some and for many, they are great stress-relievers and a way for people to unwind after a long day at work. I came across an interesting article that was published in The New Yorker just last month and I have included a segment of it here: 

"In 2011, the British publishing house Laurence King asked Johanna Basford, a Scottish artist and commercial illustrator specializing in hand-drawn black-and-white patterns for wine labels and perfume vials, to draw a children’s coloring book. Basford suggested instead that she draw one for adults. For years, she told her publishers, her clients had loved to color in her black-and-white patterns. The publishers were convinced, and ultimately ordered an initial print run for “Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book” of thirteen thousand copies. Since the book’s release, in 2013, it has sold about two million copies worldwide; for a time earlier this year, “Secret Garden” and a follow-up, “Enchanted Forest: An Inky Quest and Coloring Book,” were the two best-selling books on Amazon. “If someone saw you coloring in one of my books, they wouldn’t give you a weird look, because it’s the same kind of artwork you would see on a champagne bottle,” Basford told me. “The artwork itself is sophisticated––not like a car or a 
bunny with a bow in its hair.”

After flipping through the pages of the Secret Garden, I quickly got online and swiped it's twin up too: Enchanted Forest: An Inky Quest and Coloring Book.

The reviews online were so good for these pencils I just knew I had to have my own set. I read serious art students and tattoo artists use Prismacolor for their sketches. I guarantee, you will 

never go back to Crayola again. I could color with these little guys all day. 

Each page is more enchanting than the last!

                 Of course, use the tools best suited for you. But if you like the look of my pages than 

I have provided a list of tools here: 

• Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book
• Enchanted Forest: An Inky Quest and Coloring Book
• Prismacolor colored pencils
• Pilot G2 premium fine point gel ink pens
• Prismacolor Premier pencil sharpener
• Prismacolor Magic Rub eraser

I have enjoyed filling these wonderful books with color! It has been so relaxing for me. It is a great way for me to escape and allow my mind to rest. I do enjoying listening to audio books, 

podcasts, or music while I leisurely color. Just the other day I was able to 

listen to 24 books of Genesis in one sitting! 

I hope you find yourself picking up your own copy of these magical books and discovering many hours of enjoyment in them as I have. Happy coloring!