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Neutral Living Room Decor

living room decor

Neutral Living Room Decor

There are very few spaces in our home that I feel are “finished”, but the living room is just about there. While everything is always a bit of a work in progress, this space is starting to feel complete.

Neutrals don’t have to be boring. When you add in fun art, tons of varying textures, and different materials. We wanted a light and bright space that also felt very cozy and inviting. We live a lot of life in here in this space.

The rug is this one HERE. We wanted something large enough to fill the whole space and durable. While the jute is not the softest option, it’s heavy duty for our two toddler boys. The texture that this brings to the room is great as well.

Our couches are the Restoration Hardware Maxwell in Belgian linen. We have had them for years and they’ve held up well. We wash the covers fairly frequently. The trick is to spray any stains and wash on delicate and cold. Before the covers are totally dry, put them back on. You can have a fan on them to speed the drying process. (Never put in dryer…)

The couches were a bit of a splurge, but if you love the look of Restoration Hardware for less I have a full blog post on that HERE.

These white chairs are a Restoration Hardware look for less option. They are these HERE. These cushion covers can be washed as well. Many think I’m crazy for having these with kids, but we really haven’t had a problem with them. We use this stain remover and it’s great. I also hang a throw blanket on the back and a pillow on the front of each chair.

It took multiple attempts to get artwork that we really loved in the space. Oversized art makes such a statement for any room. The doves to me mean peace. I love the idea of having that in living area of our home. These were purchased from Perigold and the artist name is Thom Filicia.

Baskets are a great way to hold blankets, pillows or in our case they hide the toys. These HERE from Target come in two sizes and look identical to our Pottery Barn ones.

Another way I made a statement in this space were with oversized throw pillows. These pillows were a splurge, but made such a difference. They are HUGE and bring in a great texture. You can find them HERE.

We needed to add in a bit of storage in the space and this accent cabinet has been perfect.

A favorite piece in the room is this mirror. It’s the popular Anthropologie version which is another splurge, but I’ve found a mirror that looks almost identical for under $100. You can find that one HERE.

When it came to the coffee table I knew I needed something that would be kid friendly for our two wild toddlers. This soft ottoman has been super durable and great for the kids. My dad built a simple waterfall edge to the specifications of the ottoman to provide a space for some added decor.

Personalized touches in a space are what makes a home feel like home. George went to an art class with a Nashville based artist, Sydney Clawson, and made an abstract piece. I had the piece framed and wanted a really special way to showcase that. This gallery art easel makes such a statement for a great price. They have a smaller version that can go on top of a table as well.

You can shop the furniture and home decor accessories below:

Lifestyle

10 February Finds

10 february finds

10 February Finds

** Click on any of the below images to shop. **

1. Silk Mask- Comes in different prints. If you have had issues with “mask-ne” this will help. Prevents against breakouts and is comfortable to wear.

2. Heathered Cashmere Sheet Set- I’ve become a bit of a sheet snob and these are just SO good. They are cozy and hold up so well. You can also use the following discount code for $25 off their site: ashley25

3. White Sneakers- Love that white sneakers are trending. These are a comfortable pair that have such a cool look to them.

4. Shoulder Pleat Jumpsuit- Spring is on the horizon! If you are looking for a few staple pieces for the upcoming season.. this is it! The shoulder detailing is so unique, it’s comfortable and a neutral color. Triple win! It’s a piece you can dress up or down and can get a lot of wear out of.

5. Leopard Dress- This dress is under $30, but has such a high-end look/feel to it. It’d make a cute cover up this summer or perfect with over knee boots and a leather jacket to still wear this winter.

6. Braided Sandal- These come in both black and a nude color. They remind me of Bottega, but are affordable! Perfect throw on and go pair for this spring/summer season.

7. Summer Friday’s Gel Cream- I snatched this up as soon as they released it and it’s totally worth the hype! It’s an amazing hydrator, oil-free and gives that “dewey” look.

8. Equilibria CBD Daily Drops- I opened up over on Instagram Stories about my stuggle with anxiety lately. This by women, for women owned CBD company has truly been incredible. I take a combo of the soft gels (slow release) and the daily drops (more instant). The daily drops have really helped me to calm down and fall asleep. The have a dosage specialist you can talk to if you are unsure of what to order. It’s been so helpful and I wanted to pass it on to anyone else who it could possibly help as well. The discount code for this one is: beausandashley

9. Grey Marble Tray- This has the look of home decor pieces I’ve been seeing on the designer sites, but it’s under $30. Perfect as a soap/lotion holder in a bathroom or to stack a candle on as a decor piece.

10. Ruffled Marble Bowl- This comes in three different size options. I have the largest size option as a decorative piece in our entryway. I’ve loved it so much that I wanted to order the other sizes as well, but it’s been sold out for months. If you love this one be sure to grab since they sell out quickly. The smallest version is the perfect size to keep on your nightstand as a ring/jewelry holder. Beautiful piece that’s also great quality.

Fashion

A Week’s Worth Of Winter Outfit Inspo With Leggings

a week of winter outfit inspo with leggigns

A Week’s Worth Of Winter Outfit Inspo With Leggings

Bag: Zara

Lifestyle

2020 Best Sellers: Reader Favorites

2020 best sellers

2020 Best Sellers: Reader Favorites

Amazon Favorites:

Salad Chopper & Blade- Makes the perfect chopped salad!

Glass Tumbler & BPA Free Straw- There’s something about a good glass that makes you drink more water. I love the silicone slip on this one. It’s under $20 and something I use everyday.

Stain Remover- There’s a reason this stuff has such a loyal following and tons of great reviews. It’s the reason I’m able to have white furniture with two toddlers.

Restoration Hardware Dupes:

These are always top sellers. If you want to see a full line up of Restoration Hardware look for less items, you can check out this blog post HERE!

Console Table- Looks just like the RH version for 1/3 of the price. Love the way it looks with two stools underneath and a piece of artwork above. Throw a few coffee table books and a decorative bowl on and it’ll be perfect!

Swivel Armchairs- We have these and love these. They are really comfortable. The back cushion and bottom cushion can be washed. (Don’t dry!)

Home Decor:

Rug Runner- We have this as our kitchen runner and absolutely love it. Comes in several different sizes. It’s sold out multiple times this year, but is currently in stock!

Books By Color- This is how we built the ombre bookshelves in our office. There are several different color variants available. You measure the shelf you are wanting to do and they sell these by the foot.

Face Masks- 3 For $12 and breathable.

Wine Chiller- Ya’ll are my kind of people when a wine chiller is a top seller! Ha! This makes the perfect gift and works really well!

Faux Shearling Slides- Go a 1/2 size up in these. They look so much like the popular Jenni Kayne version for 1/4 of the price. I wear mine non stop.

Best Toddler PJ’s/Base Set- We have these in several colors for the boys. They can be pajamas or I like to put a denim jacket, boots and hat with them as a top/bottom as well.

Sweater Romper- This has been such a hit because it’s so cozy, but can thick enough to be worn out of the house as well. I love wearing it with some sneakers and a jacket over as well. Would be cute with tights and boots as well.

Le Labo Dupes:

No surprise that the best sellers of the year were Le Labo Santal Dupes. The essential oil by Le Labo is $144 and this one is $25. It makes your house smell amazing! The candle has a wooden wick so you get that nice crackling sound. I took the sticker off to make it look more high end.

You can find the essential oil HERE and the candle HERE.

OTHER BEST SELLERS THIS YEAR:

Lifestyle

Trey’s Recipe: Meatballs Over Creamy Polenta

meatballs with polenta

Trey’s Recipe: Meatballs Over Creamy Polenta

creamy polenta with meatballs

meatballs with polenta

meatballs with polenta

We had our first snow in Nashville the other day and while the fireplace was crackling and we were warm inside we decided to make a super “cozy meal.” Trey came up with this meatballs over creamy polenta and we topped it with pesto and mozzarella. It was absolutely delicious and looked super festive!

I love cooking in our Mackenzie-Childs cookware because they can go straight from stovetop to dining table. They are as functional as they are beautiful. For this we used the Courtly Check 3qt. Pan.

Trey’s Creamy Polenta With Meatballs

Creamy Polenta

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons salted butter

1 tablespoon fresh oregano, minced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced

4 cups chicken stock

2 cups coarse-ground cornmeal

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup ricotta

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Heat the butter on medium-high heat. Add the oregano, garlic and onions. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Pour in the chicken stock along with 1 cup of water and bring to a boil. Add the cornmeal while whisking and avoid it clumping up. Cook, stirring frequently, until thick, (about 20 minutes)  Stir in the cream, ricotta and Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and set aside off the heat.

Meatballs

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 pounds 80% lean ground beef

1 cup ricotta cheese

2 large eggs

1 cup breadcrumbs

1/4 cup chopped parsley

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground fennel seed

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Directions:

Heat the oven to 450℉.  Drizzle the oil into a 9 x 13″ baking dish and rub to coat the entire surface.
Combine the ground beef, ricotta, eggs, bread crumbs, parsley, oregano, salt, red pepper flakes, and fennel in a large bowl and mix with your hands until everything is entirely incorporated.
Roll the mixture into round 1 1/2 – 2″ round, golf-ball sized meatballs (a #24 cookie scoop works perfectly for measuring this amount if you happen to have one handy).  Place the balls in the prepared baking dish, being careful to line them up snugly and in even rows to form a grid.  The meatballs should be touching one another.
Roast for 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are firm and cooked through.  When they are fully cooked remove them from the oven and drain any excess grease from the dish.

Mix meatballs in with your favorite marinara sauce and put back in over for 15 minutes.

Add meatballs over the polenta. Top meatball/polenta combo with a bit of pesto, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil. Cook on low until mozzarella has melted, serve! Enjoy.

Lifestyle

Nashville Holiday Gift Guide With the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

country music hall of fame

Nashville Holiday Gift Guide With the Country Music Hall of Fame and Musuem

Shop any of the items by clicking on the coordinating number….1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6/ 7/ 8/ 9

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum holds such a special place in my heart. Trey and I were engaged on the rooftop, were married in the Rotunda and celebrated our reception in the hall. This year has been so difficult on the music industry and it’s the perfect time to holiday shop from Circa: The Museum Store and Hatch Show Print. In doing so you can show support to the museum’s mission to preserve and interpret the evolving history and traditions of country music and Hatch Show Print’s mission through preservation through production.

Hatch Show Print is a more than 140-year-old letterpress poster and design shop. It’s one of the oldest letterpress print shops in the United States. So many of country and rock and rolls great’s relied on Hatch Show Print to create their show posters. Today, they creates and print 500 to 600 poster jobs every year for clients ranging from Mumford & Sons and Willie Nelson to brands such as Fossil, Taschen and the U.S. Postal Service. Fun fact… they created the Save The Dates for our wedding. We had it printed in poster size and had our guests sign it in lieu of a traditional guest book.

I’ve highlighted some of my favorites from Circa and Hatch Show Print to make it extra easy to shop. From the cutest baby onesie to a beautiful cream colored guitar (that’s only $299!) .. there’s something for everyone on your list!

In addition to the unique gifts found at Circa: The Museum Store and Hatch Show Print, you can also purchase classic restrikes of historic blocks that hang on the walls of Hatch Show Print’s Haley Gallery.

You can check out the museum shop HERE and Hatch Show Print store HERE.. You can also use discount code: ASHLEY15 for 15% off your purchase. Orders must be placed by December 11th to arrive by Christmas. Local pickup available as well.

** Thank you to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions and thoughts are my own. **

Home

Neutral Holiday Decor With Wayfair

holiday decor

** Thank you to Wayfair for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. **

neutral christmas decor

neutral holiday decor

neutral holiday decor

There’s nothing like the glow of a Christmas tree to make your home feel cozy and special. We decided to keep decorating minimal this year and use lots of neutral pieces, but keep it cozy with tons of textures and lights.

We went with a flocked tree that is a bit more slim to fit in our space. The flocking on this one HERE. is so thick and great quality. It keeps the tree having more of an overall white look which I adore. You can shop all of Wayfair’s wide selection of Christmas trees on sale, HERE!

Throughout the house I used lots of candles, pinecones and fur throw blankets/pillows. We also used birch wood on the fireplace and in baskets to bring in that winter feel and add texture.

This cabinet in our living room provides extra storage, but has also become the perfect place to add in decor items. Adding a wreath on your mirror always makes a beautiful statement.

Wayfair has a huge selection of HOLIDAY DECOR at really great price points. Happy decorating!

Lifestyle

Holiday Gift Guides

holiday gift guides

There’s something so special about getting the loved ones in your life that perfect gift! I’m here to help with finding that and save you time from scrolling site after site. Please click on any of the below items to shop them.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14

Home

How To Make Your Thanksgiving Feel Special With MacKenzie-Childs

How To Make Your Thanksgiving Feel Special With MacKenzie-Childs

mackenzie-childs

Whew, 2020 has really put some perspective on this upcoming holiday season. I’m even more grateful for friends, family and our health. While we might not be celebrating in large groups, we can still make an intimate fall or Thanksgiving dinner feel special.

Ya’ll have heard me brag on MacKenzie-Childs before, but after doing a retreat with them a few months ago, my love and appreciation of their brand has grown even more. They are all about the joy and memories that their pieces provoke more than the pieces themselves.

The time and love that goes into each piece is next level. On average, a single piece is touched by the hands of up to 11 different artisans and takes up to two weeks to make. You can feel the specialness and they are the types of pieces that are passed down from generation to generation.

I set this beautiful fall tablescape using the dinner plates, salad plates and bowls from the Sweetbriar Collection. These can be mixed and matched for any different occasion. I added in flatware, wine glasses and serving pieces from the Courtly Check collection. These are all versatile pieces that can go with anything. I have mixed and matched them with lots of different options and they just work with everything!

TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR HOLIDAY SPECIAL THIS YEAR:

**While speaking with Rebecca, a lifestyle guru and designer behind MacKenzie-Childs, she gave us some advice on taking your hosting skills to the next level. I wanted to pass some of her wisdom on to you.**

It’s all in the ambiance. Light some candles. Dim your overhead light if possible.

Music! It makes the biggest difference. Some light music, so conversations can still be heard, is perfect.

3. Florals. Even just a few from the grocery store will elevate your table. Don’t be afraid to show them in unconventional ways. The Courtly Check Pitcher makes a wonderful vase!

4. A speciality drink. You can find my recipe for Apple Pie Sangria HERE.

5. Make the space feel cozy. I’ve added in throw blankets on the back of our chairs to help guests feel the coziness.

Lifestyle

Cocoa & Cookies Treat Board

cocoa and cookies

One of our favorite traditions in our family is watching Christmas movies with a Cocoa & Cookies treat board. You are sure to be the hit of any holiday gathering when you bring one of these! They are very simple to make. (I purchased everything this year.. no baking required!)

If you love to entertain… this MacKenzie-Childs Party Tray is a must have. It’s extra large and really durable. I love that it has handles so that it is easily portable as well. It worked perfectly paired with the coordinating mugs .

INGREDIENT IDEAS FOR YOUR BOARD:

* Brown Sugar
* Whipped Cream
* Brownies (cut into cubes)
* Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies
* Mini Marshmallows
* Fresh Mint
* Cinnamon Sticks
* Chocolate Stir Sticks
* Snowflake Marshmallows
* Snowmen Marshmallows
* Truffles (White chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate. I used Lindt brand.)
* Gingerbread Man Mug Topper
* Grated Chocolate

Shop The Board Below: