A couple weeks ago on instagram, I mentioned the fun new project that I have planned with a BTC version of a porch swing.

I have quite literally been dreaming of a porch swing/balcony sofa for at least 2 years now. We don’t exactly have the biggest balcony and it doesn’t have any hooks nor can we drill into the ceiling because that is technically owned by the unit above ours. So after many hours of googling a solution that may be on the market, I have decided to instead build a custom seat just for us. Here are my requirements:
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1. Comfortable
2. Tall enough to see over the railing when sitting (but still safe height)
3. Cute and modern look
4. Relatively easy to build
5. Still able to fit the rest of the balcony furniture on the deck (this part may prove to be the trickiest)

 
I drew up the plans for the glider bench and I’m pretty excited for how it will turn out. I’m still debating on whether or not to make it a glider chair. I like the idea of it rocking but the foundation will take up space that we could use for storage instead. I’d love to hear what you guys think. Glider or no glider?
 
As I got into the design of the chair, I realized lots of other ways I could refresh the balcony at the same time. 
Here are a few places I’ve been getting inspiration from. 

Sooo which one do you like better? Comment below or  click here and come weigh in on instagram . Can't wait to see what you think and thanks for following along! I'm so glad you are here. Make sure to  subscribe  so you never miss a post or giveaway! ​​

​This post has honestly been a long time coming! And the reason for that is the foundational mission of Beyond the Clock which is to style with time. I have had a vision for our master bedroom for probably almost 3 years. It took savings and slowly moving things around, upgrading furniture pieces and styling with the perfect details that I gathered throughout the years.
 
I know a lot of you followed along the way as I put these together and now is the big reveal of the full master bedroom transformation!
 
The thing is, as much as we would all love to click our heels together and transform a room instantly, one of the best things about styling a room is seeing how things come together. It helps both on a budget perspective, but also as an organic way for things to fit together and evolve as your day to day changes as well.
 
When I first began getting inspiration for the room, we had an office. Shortly into starting the room, we changed that into a guest room and had to find a place for some of the office furniture. With a bit of rearranging, we brought the bookshelf into our room since we don’t really watch TV there and then moved the TV stand to the living room. It ended up being a great way to refresh all 3 rooms and make good use of the space for how we were using it.
 
So here is the big reveal, all items and DIY upgraded projects linked. My curtains and rug are family heirlooms but I linked similar ones for you guys. 

Thank you for stopping by the blog today! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Make sure to CLICK HERE and subscribe so you never miss a post or giveaway!

UPDATED: Style with Time - Bedroom, the complete guide for styling a room overtime to fit your style and budget. 

(We had the best time last week hosting family for the holiday weekend. We spent tons of hours at the pool (with plenty of sunscreen and my new DIY Day hat!) and enjoyed so many delicious meals, drinks and laughs together. 

Brad and I are often hosting friends and family and so we have a great little routine for prepping the house and guest rooms to ensure our visitors have the best stay. Today, I'm sharing some of my guest prep secrets (post the obvious clean house and clean sheets) so that they feel comfortable, at home, and even a bit pampered as they arrive. 

Some fresh flowers or branches bring such an organic and natural feel to the space. I think of it like adding jewelry to your outfit, but for your room. A little accessory that goes a long way. The green stems I have pictured have lasted for over 3 months from Trader Joe's and I've only changed the water once so it's a really low cost way to make a big impact. 

Weather you go with a couple of oversized pillows or a cascade of throw pillows, adding pillows brings in some character and tons of comfort. I found these jumbo ones for such a deal at Home Goods. I'm so obsessed with pillows, I think overtime I'll add a few more. I may get a smaller one that I can easily change with the seasons or feel of the room. 

Lay out towels on the bed (bath and pool towels if applicable), ensure the bathroom is stocked with extra toiletries and plenty of toilet paper and clean out all the trash cans. There is nothing worse than being a guest at someone's house and realizing at the last minute you forgot shampoo or even worse, finishing a roll of toilet paper and having no idea where to find another. Keeping everything in the guest area stocked make it easy for your visitors. As an extra bonus, head over to your local CVS or Walgreens and get a few travel sized goodies that you can keep in the bathroom. You can also get these in bulk on Amazon and keep them on hand for your next guests. 

This is something my mom still does for us when we come visit and it always makes us feel so special! Stock a basket with water bottles, snacks, sweet treats, and more. You can be creative and play it up based on your guests and what they like. In this batch, I included some of their favorite snacks and magazines for pool reading. I knew my sister and brother in-law were going to be on east coast hours so got them some energy material if needed too. 

I always have so much fun prepping for guests and finding little ways to make their stay a bit more memorable. Sometimes I do it through the activities planned, other times through the meals we have, but always through the first impression as they walk into their rooms. 

I'd love to hear how you prep for your guests too, what are some of your favorite things to do or decor to add to the rooms?

Jessica

When it comes to flowers, there are about a million combinations between vase height, vase color, opacity, texture, shape, the list could go on.  Then, once you start thinking about what flowers to add, you can start feeling a bit overwhelmed pretty quickly. Below are some of my go-to combinations for flowers and vases, especially for all the gorgeous spring florals. 

With a wide base that narrows towards the neck to keep blooms bunched together, these vases normally come with a "wow" factor of their own. I like to combine them with single stems with multiple blooms or make a statement with a large bouquet of Gypsophila. These ones are also gorgeous on their own as a statement on an entryway table or bookshelf. 

Bud vases can vary in size, I'm a big fan of the little ones that are perfect for displaying single large blooms like daisies, or stock. The best part, is you can get a few in a line or varying heights together to bring a complete look together with the same flower in each. 

I grew up with these ones all over the house. My mom loved to fill her flared vases with roses, alstroemeria or tulips.  flared vase is thinner at the base and flares out towards the neck.. (So, the opposite of a narrow neck vase.) 

 This one is probably one of my favorite types of vases. It's forgiving to whatever type of flower or bouquet you are filling it with, giving plenty of space for all the stems as well as the flowers to have their own space. These vases are also perfect for greenery displays such as palms or eucalyptus leaves. 

Vases are so much fun to add a focal point to any room with both the vase and the florals they hold. I hope these examples above help, but if all else fails, this is the simple rule I like to use... the bigger the bouquet, the wider the vase (cylinder or flare). If you have simple stems you want to highlight, bud or narrow neck vases are the way to go. Hope you treat yourself to a new vase this spring! 

Jessica