If you have been following me on instagram, it is probably pretty apparent that I LOVE baskets. Woven grass baskets especially. Part of it, is because it reminds me of South Africa. I remember when I was younger, going to the South African markets and smelling woven grass for placements, coasters, nick nacks and any other creative use you can think of. Now when I put a fresh basket in my house, I get that smell and the memories of home. 

Another reason I love them, is because they are so darn cute and functional! I love that they can make a messy pile of blankets look effortlessly organized. Or, provide a soft organic touch to an otherwise hard materials space. Here are a few of my favorite uses for baskets and some of the best baskets I've found out there. 

Hope you got some good inspiration and can't wait to see how you use baskets in your home! 

Jessica

It's no secret that wallpaper is one of the trends everyone is loving right now. It's funny how trends come back around. The good news, is that there are so many options for wallpaper now, it doesn't have to look like the stuff you were ripping off from the 50's. Still, if you live in an apartment or rental, you may not think of wallpaper as an option to dress up your space. I recently added some framed wallpaper to our bedroom and it was such an easy and relatively inexpensive way to add a different type of wall art. Brad really wanted a white board for next to his desk, but it didn't really work with the overall look I was going for in the room. So instead, we got some wallpaper that tied in with the bedding, a great frame from Michael's and now he uses the glass as the whiteboard. It looks great and is perfect for his brainstorming. So today, I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite ways to use wallpaper without the commitment. 

Hope you are feeling inspired for a little wallpaper project. As always, I'd love to hear how you use wallpaper and what inspiration comes to life in your home! Feel free to share in the comments below or tag me on instagram! 

Jessica

Whether you are moving into a new place or getting that 'blah" feeling from an outdated room in your home, redecorating can quickly start to feel a bit overwhelming. You may have pages of pinterest boards saved with a mixture of styles and details you love and when you go to find them, you quickly stop and say wait how much is this going to cost?

From years of watching home reno shows like Fixer Upper or Flip or Flop!, we are quite comfortable with the fact that a gorgeous transformation takes just a few hours. In reality, the best way to really make your room come to life and depict your dreams, is to style it over time. This helps on both a cash flow perspective as well as making the those transformation feels last longer. With each little addition you make, you can experience the euphoria of making your house feel like the home you envision. 

So how do you style with time? 
This month, we are digging into the living room and how you can style a living room over time. If you are building from scratch, you can always start out with a few really cheap items from estate sales or Ikea just to get started, and then follow the guide below to quickly upgrade in the most efficient way getting the greatest impact for the lowest cost. 

FURNITURE 

• February - new furniture designs debut in spring, so retailers are clearing out old styles to make room.
• June, July - new styles introduced at April’s big trade shows are finally hitting the market, so last year’s models are super-discounted.

TELEVISIONS

• March - n​ew models are introduced at the International Consumer Electronics Show each January. Retailers clear out old inventory to make way for the latest items, which ship in March.
• November - televisions & other electronics – hit the stores during Black Friday and Cyber Monday for good deals on all sorts of electronics.

HOME DECOR ACCENTS

• July - from dishes to pillows to lamps….you’ll find lots of home decor on sale in the middle of wedding season.

PLANTS

• September - garden centers need to clear their inventory of summer plants, trees, and shrubs to create space for fall and holiday plants, so they slash prices. Independent nurseries tend to have bigger discounts than big-box stores.

FLOORING & CARPETING

• January - most people buy carpets at the end of the year in preparation for the holidays. Once January rolls around, prices go down.

Get the best Living Room Style with Time Guide to help plan all the pieces for your Living Room and best time of year to buy to make the most of your budget. 

Hope the guide helps you guys, and remember, all good things take time. (And if you ever need to bounce ideas off of someone, feel free to reach out here!)

Jessica

Adding greenery to a space can completely change the feel of the room. It gives it an organic feature and livens the space completely. However, if you are anything like me, keeping a plant alive outside where mother nature does half the work is hard enough, indoor plants barely stand a chance with me novice green thumb. 

So to help all of us out, I found the top 5 plants that survive well indoors, are easy to maintain yet pack a punch with their presence and enhance any space. 

I may be drawn to this one given that I'm from Seattle and the name is a cute nostalgic nod to my upbringing. Also known as Hawaiian schefflera, this fast-growing guy is easy to contain in size by clipping the top leaves, which also makes it a great contender for a lively indoor bonsai. 

These full but delicate plants would make the perfect compliment to an office or bathroom. They are one of the most low maintenance plants out there and are great for filling space with the added interest of the flower peaking out. 

The Fiddle-leaf fig is full, leafy and tall. It's great in the corner of a room to add height and dimension along with that organic touch. Think of it for a living room, bedroom or entryway. 

The bright variegated leaves of Dumb Canes bring a certain happiness to a room. They prefer low-light areas so are perfect for growing indoors. I love these for a nursery or kitchen.