FRIDAY 5 | Fall Favorites + Staples For Home or Personal Wardrobe

I thought it was so cute, yesterday on my IG feed someone suggested I do OOTD posts. I don’t think I will be doing them consistently any time soon but there’s no doubt that I love creating not just in homes but on my own body with my clothing.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come more and more out of my shell and branched out quite a lot more in my wardrobe to reflect more of personality and mood and it feels great!

Today for Friday (ish), I’m sharing some of my favorite home + wardrobe picks for the fall. I couldn’t just pick 5 today so there’s an extra there just for you.

(Just click on the images below to shop the products listed)

COATS + SWEATERS

This coat’s from Aritzia and it’s one of my favorite places to shop for staples in my wardrobe. The past two years, each fall/winter, I’ve invested in their coats, jackets and sweaters and they are worth their weight in gold. While they offer items a little more on the pricey end of things, but you just can’t beat the quality. This ‘cocoon coat’ is on my list for the season and this color is one of my faves. Gimme all the coppers and golds and blushes and mints and yellows. Yes, all of that.

Aritzia Coccoon Coat

SHOES

These sneakers are a steal at only 37.97 from nike.com. On top of the fact that they are unisex they are on super sale so if you want them, go get them. They will surely be gone quickly. They come in the color below in addition to white and black but I love a good athleisure shoe to pair up or down with an outfit. I can see these going into the fall with cropped slacks/pants or jeans, with a fun skirt or dressed all the way down with your favorite leggings or joggers. Colors like this are what I consider neutral (just as neutral as a camel or a white) and I’d wear them with almost any solid.

Nike.com CC One Star Gum Low Top

HATS

Give them ALL to me. This hat is from Brixton and if you follow me on Instagram you saw and maybe even commented on the one I wore a couple of times this week in my stories and on my feed. Guys. Get this. You will NOT regret it. Promise. Here in the PNW these are like umbrellas because no one uses them anyhow around here. Also, I love how brimmed hats add a bit of personality to just about any outfit. Also guys, the one I have is a men’s small. Secret’s out. But, I LOVE it. It also comes in an XS but I like the wiggle room I have in the small. Sizing charts are available via the link.

Brixton Mens’ Wide Brim Hat

STATEMENT RINGS

And as many as possible. Since it’s a trendy item, get them cheap. I’ve curated a whole list of items that I’m loving for your choosing over on Amazon as part of my shopping suggestions for each of you and some of my faves. I know so many of us still have a love-hate relationship with this company but they offer such a great variety and access to products and brands so many of us would never be able to shop or visit. And, of course, there’s the prices. Well, for things like this, you just can’t beat them.

Men’s Black Stainless Tiger Ring (sz7)

PILLOWS + THROWS

For me and I’m sure for you, fall is all about cozy. I love to switch out things in our home in this season. It’s one of the easy ways to refresh and give your space a completely different feel. This pillow is kind of awesome. It’s not what you’d typically think about for fall maybe since it’s not fuzzy or fluffy but it is one that you can carry throughout the season and for that, it’s a win for me.

Stone + Beam Pillow

CANDLES

I think this one’s a no-brainer. Fall = candles. This one’s been a fave for a few years for me and it always seems to deliver. If you’re familiar with Illume you know they offer great, high quality candles that last and give your home the aromas of heaven. I'm not a big pumpkin scent fan but I love just about anything woodsy or smokey. This candle scent has all of that packed into one nice, neat little package and the price is right.

Illume Woodfire Candle

RUGS

Am I the only rug hoarder? I know I can’t be! Not around here. I LOVE rugs and each season means changing them out to create a cozy or less cluttered feel in our space depending on whether it’s winter, spring, summer or fall. This one from Safavieh is a great option. It’s natural wool (which will mean some shedding) but you’l be hard-pressed to find one more plush. I tend to go for neutrals mostly but there are just so many great options out there.

Safavieh Wool Rug

Those are my items for this week but let’s be honest, we’re really never satisfied with only FIVE things guys, right? Okay, maybe I will speak for myself. I love shopping and sometimes just window shopping. I love even imagining all the possibilities in my wardrobe and my home. Where are some of your favorite places to shop or what are some of your favorite things this fall. Share them in the comment section below!

*Some of these products are affiliate links via Amazon. If you choose to buy, I will receive a small percentage in credit from Amazon, Inc.

GALLERY WALL INSPO + MY DILEMMA

Photography | Ryan Flynn Photo for Glitter Guide

Styling | Restoration House

We live in a rental. We can't touch anything in the home we live in. No new flooring, no new cabinetry, no new wall colors-nothing. Now, if you're reading this and you're a creative like me who loves changing the aforementioned more than you change your unmentionables then you understand my plight. Couple that with an architectural design that isn't exactly my own and it COULD be a recipe for disaster. 

As they say, 'necessity is the mother of invention' and Lord knows that necessity has "mothered", "fathered", "uncle'd" and "aunt'd" my desire to have the home we want over the years and taught me how to turn obstacle into opportunity over and over again. After all, it's the whole reason Restoration House exists. 

What does all of this have to do with gallery wall, you ask? I am glad you asked. The one thing I can do in this space and others we have lived in is hang things on the wall and one thing I have been obsessed with over the years is gallery walls. Have I actually given into that obsession? No. 

It's complicated, really. Well, maybe not. The truth is...I have been afraid. Yes, it's true. While I can commit to many things in my life I always find it most difficult to commit to many things when it comes to our home. Whether it's the next piece of furniture we will invest in or light fixtures, I just can't seem to commit, guys. 

A few weeks ago, however, something changed. I discovered this newly found freedom to gather some of our photos, thrift and DIY others and begin the journey of continuing to turn this home, regardless of how temporary, into more of the home we want it to be. 

My hope is that you can turn away after reading this post with more confidence to start your own wall of art and give it the personal touch it needs to uniquely represent your life and, more importantly, your home. 

WHAT IS A GALLERY WALL + WHAT TYPES ARE THERE?

A gallery wall is a collection of photos or images displayed on one’s walls to highlight special interests from family members to favorite foods. They run the gamut and can be used creatively to express another dimension of a homeowner’s personality or bring out the character in a specific space in a home or a person’s life.

There are lots of different kinds of gallery walls but I’ve divided them into two main categories and within those two, a few different styles can be expressed as you will see below.

For the sake of space and time here, I’ve decided to talk today about the asymmetrical and symmetrical in relation to the alignment of frames on the wall.

I typically lean more toward a symmetrical and “even” way of displaying not just frames but just about everything in my house. I have a need to feel balance and symmetry in just about every part of my home. It just makes me feel grounded and, overall,  good.

WHO NEEDS A GALLERY WALL ANYHOW?

Well, technically no one does but what it does in a home is pretty darn amazing. Gallery walls allow for you, as a homeowner and your own personal designer, to reflect and express yourself through the walls of your home. It also allows that expression to be temporary vs. more permanent things like paint color and furniture. I liken this, while perhaps a bit more committal, to things like throw pillows, shelf decor and accessories or accent throws. If you don’t like the way it looks or the pics are too old you just take them down or exchange them for something new or that you like better. Easy peasy.

Except, for me, it’s not been very easy peasy at all. This is where the whole “dilemma” part creeps in and where my Type A brain begins to beg me to make a decision and break things down a bit more so that I can actually take action.

So with that in mind, first up, ASYMETRICAL:

BOHO ECLECTIC via Pottery Barn

What I love about this style and the ones I will share throughout this post is that no matter what your personal style may be, you can choose to go with either way of displaying your artwork and photography. For this boho themed space, I love how the wall of frames seems to pull everything together to make it feel more cohesive.

VINTAGE MODERN via Emily Henderson

Raise your hand if this one is just your fave. Even though the frames have been displayed asymmetrically, the consistent imagery in each of the frames once again gives it a cohesive feel. There’s no doubt that Emily knows just what she is doing here but I love that it’s approachable and something that just about anyone could pull off. How does this translate in your home? Do you love paint by number images or paintings or do you love sunset paintings? Use those as a catalyst to created a themed wall similar to this one.

BLACK + WHITE + ECLECTIC

Okay so I love the calm, cool and clean vibes this one gives. I also love the unique and vintage art that this homeowner uses in the space and that one piece is used a focal to draw the eye in, then move around the display. Because of the choice in colors, there’s also no competition. One isn’t fighting for the attention fo the other, they each complement each other well and I really like that a lot.

Now, for SYMMETRICAL:

MODERN + RUSTIC

Via Blogger Lena Terlutter

I’m all about the simplicity of this wall and the black and white really does it for me in the sense that, for my eyes, I don’t have to feel like they are all over the place. For my color-loving friends out there, this wouldn’t work for you but I think it’s a great option for people like me who have a hard time deciding what gets to stay in the runnings and what needs to go. In this case, EVERYTHING stays and I like that.

CLASSIC + REFINED

Via Apartment Therapy

So, I bet I know what you’re thinking here-that this is not symmetrical. I actually consider this a bit of both and so, in that, the best of both worlds. While the frames are not the same size, the entry of the floating shelves give the illusion that they are. They are all on the same playing field and it kind of tricks the eye into thinking they are the same when they really aren’t. This option is actually one of my most favorites. I love that you can get the feel of both with this option.

CLEAN + SIMPLE

Via Chris Loves Juila

Okay, so I’m fickle. Sue me. But, this one is a fave as well. I love this because it’s not fussy, would take about 10 minutes to hang and it’s personal. Speaking of approachable, you won’t get more approachable if you choose to go this route and quite honestly, this is probably the road I will choose to go down. I just love the idea of blowing up big photos of our kids or fam and putting them up on our walls. She used engineer prints for this project which is pretty inexpensive and didn’t even spend a ton on her frames. Saving money? Sign me up for that any day. Also makes hubby happy so there’s that.

3 WAYS I AM (doing my bestest) MAKING A DECISION ON HANGING MY GALLERY WALL:

1. Embrace your personal style. In order to do this I guess you need to decide what your personal style is. Spoiler: It doesn’t have to fit into any trendy box. You can even make it up. If you want to call your style “hodgepodge”, then so be it. Let your wall reflect that and roll with it in confidence. If you love it, chances are, everyone else will as well.

2. Don’t feel the pressure to complete it all at once. I think this is definitely something I need to tell myself over and over again. It’s okay to start with a couple of things you like and build from it. Remember that your home is a story collected over time. A novel. Not Cliff’s Notes, express version of your life. It’s okay to take your time.

3. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing. Okay so I understand this one may be a bit confusing since I shared images here and some pretty amazing designers and their way of doing things but that’s just it—we all have our way of doing things. And while I know this sounds eerily close to number one perhaps it bears repeating. I’m definitely talking about design here but I’m pretty sure we could all take this and run full speed ahead into this idea with most other areas of our lives as well. At the end of the day, whether you’re more of a symmetrical girl or like things a little less straight up, just remember to do you. There are lots of areas in your life where considering what someone else would do would be appropriate. This is your home so this isn’t one of those areas. Just have fun with it!
   

I haven’t come up with a final decision of course but I bet you guys can guess what I’m gonna do. Which of these is YOUR fave? Have you hung pics up for a gallery wall? If so, how in the world did you decide? Would you consider yourself more the symmetrical or the asymmetrical type? Or do you have a way all your own? Do tell.

Until next time, friends,

-K

FRIDAY 5 : LIGHTING : SCONCES

I've been on the search for the perfect sconces for our walls in our little cottage and since we are renters with definite restrictions, I’ll be needing a plug-in option vs. hardwire. 

Here are a few options varying in price range and why I love them. I am looking to place some lights on each side of our sofa but these would work great in a bedroom as side table lighting, in the office or any room/space you choose. 

View fullsize

via amazon

Love these from @cocokelley from her #oneroomchallenge makeoever.

Photography | Dorothy Brand

WHAT I LOVE: The Price. The style.
WHAT I’M NOT SO SURE ABOUT: The finish. I want a true brass and I’m not so sure this fits that criteria. This pair has a brass finish. Still in the runnings though.

via CB2

The Mantis showing off in the living room of blogger Victoria Smith for Refinery29.

Photography | Laure Joliet

WHAT I LOVE: The shape. The style. How clean and simple it is.

WHAT I’M NOT SO SURE ABOUT: If they will fit the space I need them for (flanking our sofa) and if they will be a little too functional. Also, the price. I will need to purchase two.

via cedar + moss

Design by | Hudson Interior Designs

Photography | Micheal J Lee Photography

WHAT I LOVE: The finishes and the quality that Cedar and Moss brings to all of their products.

WHAT I’M NOT SO SURE ABOUT: May be a bit too mid century in style for our home and my personal style. While I can admire midcentury, it’s not a period that weighs heavily in our current space and I’m not sure I want it to right now.

via poly + bark

(Currently SOLD OUT. Different, but one I like equally linked.)

WHAT I LOVE: THE PRICE!!! Pretty much everything that Poly and Bark has to offer but aside from that, I love how simple these are and how timeless they could be. I also love how the style nods to the traditional but also honors current modern trends in lighting as well.

WHAT I’M NOT SURE ABOUT: The scale and if two flanking the sofa will complement the overall scale of the sofa and room in general.

via cedar + moss

This shows the pendant version instead of the sconce but I do so love the way it effortless steals the show here in Jen of The Effortless Chic bathroom redo.

WHAT I LOVE: THE COLOR! The craftsmanship. The style + shape.

WHAT I’M NOT SURE ABOUT: The COLOR! But, I change things a lot and even though this is technically a neutral I’m just not sure that it will fit for the long haul.

So, those are my top five picks for lighting, guys. I'm leaning more toward black ones in our space but till can't decide between that finish or brass. What's your fave? Are you making any lighting decisions at home and if so, how are you choosing your favorite for your space? Inquiring minds (me) wanna know. Join the convo monthly below AND hop on over to my Instagram feed to chat with the rest of our friends about cool lighting options and making final design decisions in our own homes. Why is it so dang hard?

Now, it’s time to weigh in. Comment below and let me know your thoughts and which one you like best!

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