Kitchen & Dining Room Spring Tour

It's peony season! Yay! And that is really the only thing that gets me through the month of April because this girl hates rain (I do try not to be bitter about it nearly ruining my wedding or anything...but really it's not my BFF). "April showers bring may flowers", I sound like a lunatic muttering this to B on the way top the bus stop with the umbrella over head each morning:)

Every time I see peonies in the florist section at Whole Foods, I run over to them and hug them like they are the last flowers on the planet. I throw them in the shopping cart and every single time Matt smirks and says "Do you really need those Erin?" The answer is YES I NEEEEED them. I need them...more than groceries, more than coffee, more than the babies food (okay maybe not that)....but really I NEED those peonies. I do. And so he humors me. During this season our grocery bill goes up by $20 each week until that sad day them there are no more peonies.

But today's post is not about peonies, it's about my kitchen/dining room and Spring cleaning. As you guys know I have a house filled with boys (a dog boy, two little boys, a husband boy)...and things get really messy. Most of the mess is actually mine though so I can't blame the little ones. There is always stuff errrrrrywhere. Shoes, paperwork, kids art, random toys, chargers, backpacks. It is a disaster and during the weeks I have taken off this Spring I started to really think about how to organize all the clutter. I am going to share some of the things that work for my family to keep everything under control so it doesn't look like a toy store exploded.

Here are my stop 5 tips for storage of day to day necessities when you have kids.

1) Lots of Baskets - to store everything (backpack and lunch boxes!)
2) A Work Table - Put a desk, secretary or console in reach as a staging area (to handle bills, kids school forms etc)
3) Boxes and shelves! Shelves can look pretty and store daily essentials. The ones on my bookcase are loaded with crayons, work books, scissors and other kid supplies so the dining room can double as a craft and homework space
4) Ottomans and Garden Stools - If you have an entry way you might not need this. But for those of us tight on space (we have no real entry way in our home) stools and ottomans are great docking stations for purses, backpacks and sunglasses.
5) Wall Storage - We have a wall file system that we use for incoming mail. It's a great place to keep bills and stuff until we are ready to go through them all at the end of the week.

Dining Room Tour

Table: Crate & Barrel
Bookcase: PBteen
Chairs: Serena and Lily
Desk/Vanity: West Elm
Fiddle Lead Fig: Home Depot

Kitchen Tour

Counters: Carrara Marble (honed)
Pendants: West Elm
Island: Home Decorators
Bar Stools, Canisters and Cutting Boards: Homegoods
Kitchen Towels: William Sonoma
Paint: Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist

Raffia Furniture

I LOVE the texture of raffia furniture! I just love it so much and hoping to add a piece in raffia to my living room soon and below are a few of my favorites.

I have a white parson card table that I bought from a friend & am strongly considering covering in raffia fabric to breath some new life into the table and make a little game area for the boys.


Inspiration Table

Or maybe I could cut the legs on the table and turn it into a coffee table?

Blake Raffia Rectangular

I also love the idea of a raffia console.


 Blake Raffia Console

Adele Sideboard 

Mirrors Galore

I've had a quatrefoil mirror from Home Depot above my console table in the living room for years now and I think it was maybe $30.00. Mine looks similar to this one. It was a steal and I painted it white for a higher end look which got even more years out of it. It's time for a change people. I need a grown up mirror with a grown up price tag. I change my mind dialy about the style so I haven't pulled the trigger on a new one just yet. Here is a round up of some of my favorite mirrors on the market right now. If you have any favorites let me know! That may help me decide, or make me even more indecisive. Who knows:)

The Ballard Designs Atoll Mirror is pretty rad. Especially with a bamboo console under it.

Atoll Mirror

Wisteria has this pretty pagoda mirror that makes my heart skip a beat. But boy is it crazy expensive.

Wisteria Pagoda Mirror

Pottery Barn is doing mirrors right lately. And here are two of my faux bamboo-y favorites.

Jasmine Bamboo Mirror

Avery Mirror

This mirror from Serena and Lily is one of my absolute favorites. I love the white one, but the black one adds so much dimension to a space it's striking and bold. Love.

Ojai Mirror

Coastal Style

I'm noticing a lot of California inspired design lately. Mostly I would say, a traditional coastal look is incredibly popular right now. Look at designers like Studio McGee and Becki Owens (and shops like Serena and Lily) and you will see so much of this look happening. It isn't quite my style (because I like bold for myself personally!) but I love how light and bright this style can be and I also dig the casual vibe it creates. And I love beach accents in any room because they bring so much texture and who doesn't love the beach (well besides my dad of course)?

Studio McGee

Becki Owens

Serena and Lily

I decided to try a mood board based on this beach traditional feel. So much to love - blush tones, indigo, leather, spindle wood, raffia accents (and you might notice I manged to sneak some buffalo check in there - I can't stop!). Soon I would absolutely love to try this look out in someone else's home! My sister's new house in Washington state will be a perfect candidate for a refresh using this style. Her new home is classic and right on the water. I can't wait to help her turn her new house into a home for her two boys!

Coastal Vibe by gracefulwhimsy featuring white accent pillows

Kid Friendly Decor - Holiday Living Room Tour

This year is so much different than last year in terms of our lifestyle and therefore, our decorating style has evolved too. Having a new little in the house (monster baby!) everything has to be softer, less breakable and kid-friendly. So this year I have done things I never thought I would do (like getting our first ever faux tree). I opted for plastic (glass look) ornaments hung with string rather than hooks and felt animals. The garland is a feather boa! I love the soft snow-like look it creates. I loved the feather boa so much on the tree I used one of the mantle too instead of the usual boxwood garland I have used the past couple years.