When searching for baby tools and items as a new parent, it is a breeze to find intricate designs, bright colors, and adorable animal prints. But as these tools become part of your daily life and home decor, sometimes it's nice to keep things clean and simple. Enter: Baby Tools in neutral colors! Here are some of my favorites…
Read MoreI hope you enjoyed my last post, Nursery in the Nest, for an overview of our baby's nursery. Now on to the details!...
Read MoreAfter a recent stroll through a California forest, I was inspired to create faux mushrooms and nestle them into moss for autumnal house decor. I remembered doing paper mache as a child and creating anything my heart desired -- rabbits, monkeys, boats, etc. So I thought, why not paper mache mushrooms? It's been several years since my paper mache days, but the project was just as fun as I remembered, and the mushrooms turned out cuter than I had imagined!
Read MoreFall is officially here! To get yourself into a fall state of mind, choose foods and objects with autumnal colors, such as plum purples, vibrant oranges, rich browns, and muted greens.
Read MoreIt was love at first sight when I found this gorgeous gilt gold chandelier dripping with crystals, and I knew it had to be mine. A relic of a french chateau, it now adorns our master bedroom, its curled structure giving it a sweet whimsical quality.
Read MoreThere is perhaps nothing more gratifying than enjoying the bounties of a backyard or garden in summer. With lemon, orange, and pineapple guava trees in their ripened conditions, I decided to create a simple summer fruit bowl and use it as a centerpiece on the backyard coffee table. It took about seven minutes to create and is a delight to see and eat!
Read MoreWhile visiting one of my favorite home decor stores in Dallas called Vintage Living, I was floored by these exquisite crystal chandeliers and sconces and was delighted to be able to photograph them for Nora's Nest. These one-of-a-kind pieces usually come from French chateaus, their rarity and beauty making them pieces fairytales are made of!
Read MoreSpringtime is around the corner. Want to add some pop to your garden? Nestle pots and planters made of different colors, shapes, and materials throughout your outdoor space. You can find red vintage pots from flea markets or bright blue glazed pots at retail stores like Anthropologie. Want to make your own? Glue clam shells to your planter in a scalloped fashion, and you have a garden masterpiece!
Read MoreTo me, a piece of coral is nature's most beautiful sculpture, which might explain my obsession with and the abundance of coral in my home. I began collecting specimens about four years ago, and my love for them only grows with each vignette, each display, and each photograph they help to create. Here are some of my most beautiful and prized possessions:
Read MoreI've always thought that a bed should resemble a cloud -- soft, fluffy, and floating on air. When it came time to choose bedding for our home, the bedding I found that most captures this floating cloud look and feel was soft linen from Bella Notte, Restoration Hardware, and ABC Carpet and Home. These are my favorite inspirational photos.
Read MoreAloha from Hawaii! My husband and I are living it up in Kauai right now, drinking pina-coladas and getting caught in the rain. The last time we were on the island, it was our honeymoon, and we (ahem…I) purchased a few things for our new home that we could treasure from our blissful trip. Among those home goods were these delightfully happy pillows from Yellowfish Trading Company, located in a land called Hanalei.
Read MoreHappy New Year 2014! Out with the new, and in with the old, I say -- with gorgeous antiques, that is! I recently discovered this white Italian bead mirror (above) at one of my favorite antique stores in Los Angeles, The Mart Collective. This mirror is one of the many treasures I've taken home from The Mart Collective, a design-lovers' dreamland featuring vintage and antique pieces from dozens of vendors. I'm obsessed with the variety, the beautiful presentation, and lovely owners and staff.
Read MoreI'll be honest: When it comes to vintage Christmas ornaments, I've been both naughty and nice this year. My obsession with these ornaments coaxed me into buying them throughout the year (the naughty side), but the obsession also gives me a collection large enough to spread holiday cheer throughout the home (the nice side). In addition to the Christmas tree, I've adorned manzanita branches, clam shells, and chandeliers with these lovely treasures in every room. So what if I've been a little naughty? I think it's worth it! Spread the cheer in your home this year!
Read MoreFour years ago today, I married my husband in a winter wonderland wedding. My family, husband-to-be, and I worked for months to glitter five-thousand pinecones, creating Christmas tree ornaments, pinecone wreaths, and table accoutrements for the wedding day. Today, many of the beautiful pinecones adorn our home for Christmas decor, their presence always reminding me of our sparkling, magical moment. Happy 4th Anniversary, Padraic, my love!
Read MoreIf you enjoyed the handmade paper mache (or papier-mâché) mushrooms featured in my last post, Paper Mache Mushrooms, here are DIY step-by-step directions to make your own!
Read MoreHalloween is drawing near, and what's Halloween without a few skeletons? You can find beautiful paper mache skeletons in arts and crafts markets, clay skeleton heads glowing from a candle within, or even create your own! Arrange them to sit on your mantle, glow on a foyer table, or wait on the front porch to greet trick-or-treaters -- they'll be happily spooked for sure.
Read MoreA floral arrangement can freshen any room and brighten anyone’s day, but the uniqueness of its vessel can turn an ordinary arrangement into an extraordinary one. A unique vase can do it all: display a lovely bouquet of roses, present a bleached manzanita branch in a dramatic fashion, or stand alone as a piece of artwork on a mantle or foyer table. When it comes to vases, choose the special vessel.
Read MoreSummer may be waning, but enjoying the outdoors isn’t over yet. To make the most of these final summer afternoons, bring a pitcher of your favorite cool beverage outside and serve in pretty clear glasses. Pair with a refreshing watermelon salad sprinkled with feta cheese, mint, olive oil and vinegar. Stay until the sun sets. Come wintertime, you’ll be glad you did.
Read MoreWho doesn’t love a friendly frog in their garden? Tucked away in greenery, vintage frogs bring humor and magic into the garden in an unexpected way. Their muted greens, grays, blues, and browns are a perfect camouflage for their surroundings, keeping ornamentation in the garden subtle but enchanting. If you happen to spot one, your day will be lucky for sure.
Read MoreNature photography is a lovely way to let the outdoors in to your home — without the dirt or bugs! Although I like to keep neutral color photographs in my home for most of the year, I know that different seasons and holidays will bring changes in whims and moods. That’s when I bring in the bold colored nature photography. By temporarily replacing the neutral, every day photos with vibrant yellows in the summer, soft pinks in the spring, bold blues in the winter, or glowy oranges in the fall, I can keep my nest feeling fresh, seasonal, and beautiful.
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