Wallpaper Mural Love

Hello lovelies!  Like many of you, we have been home A LOT this year so I've been making little updates along the way.  Things I always thought about doing, I've finally made time to get to.  I had been lusting after this very specific monochrome wall mural for years. Aside from just liking it's look, it also  reminded me of the "relaxation room" in the Four Seasons in Paris. And you know how I am with travel memories.

Admitedly, I was very reluctant because I am traumatized by my experiences removing wallpaper from other homes.  In particular one room that I had to peel off the wallpaper in one centimeter scraps until my fingers were worn down to nubbins.  Did not want to ever do that again!  But finally I got over my fear and went for it.

The reviews on this paper indicated it would be easy to DIY but because it was a mural as opposed to a repeating pattern, I knew that if I made even one little mistake or tear to this paper, I would have ruined the entire thing so I hired someone to hang it.  I got lucky and found someone great by accident and he did an amazing job (for my local friends, I'm happy to share his info if you need wallpaper hung!).  He also told me that if I ever wanted to remove it, it would be very easy to do without damaging the walls.

Not gonna lie - I absolutely love it!  I know its not for everyone but this is just what this room needed. It just adds so much character and whimsy to this space. I keep walking in here to check it out. Why didn't I do this years ago? 

For those of you on TikTok, please come join me over there. It's my addiction.

@brooklynlimestone

Amping up the drama in the dining room. #wallpaper #homedecor #homeblogger

♬ original sound - Molly Åstradsson

Dining Room Details: End chairs: Limari Side Chairs: World Market Mural: Anthropologie Magnetic Chalkboard: Versachalk Drapery: Amazon Table: Restoration Hardware Paint color: Benjamin Moore Woodland Snow

Nightstand turned into a Mini Dining Room Sideboard

Anyone else living in an old home knows it's a constant battle to find storage for all of the things we need for modern living that our Victorian friends seemed to manage without. Especially now with little kids, the storage space we built during our renovation just never seems enough.  So when said goodbye to our high chair, that spot seemed like the perfect spot for a small sideboard to hold all those little odds and ends that you need for diner parties.

The only problem was that spot on the wall was quite narrow so something ready made just did not exist. So instead of a traditional sideboard, I had to get creative with what would fit in that spot.



Off I went to Lowe's, my go to source for all things DIY.  Not surprisingly, they are also a great source of storage and organizational products (I could spend all day just in that aisle alone). They have everything from bins to pegboards to hooks to closet systems so I knew they would have a solution.


Turns out a small chest or in this case, this beautiful Chevron nightstand was the perfect fit. (I was really hoping this beautiful curved pine chest would fit but alas my wall was too narrow.) Aside from being the exact width I needed and visually lovely, it also has two built-in USB ports on the back which was a total surprise.  I can create a nice charging station right here down the road.

My first step in turning this nightstand into a dining room storage piece was lining each drawer with shelf paper.  I used Duck shelf liner in their 'Grey Gate' pattern - one roll was more than enough. Aside from just looking a little cuter, the plastic lining helps things stay in place when opening and closing the drawers.  Once that was in place I turned to my new obsession; bamboo drawer organizers. Specifically I used these three sizes: 15x6 , 9x3 and 9x6. They turned this open drawer into a custom space for every little small item I use for dinner parties including fancy cutlery, cheese markers, votives, napkin rings, appetizer knives and a corkscrew.  The stackable nature of these trays makes the most of every inch.  It also makes finding these items and putting them away a breeze.  The only problem with them is once you get a few, you will want to fill every drawer in your house with them. It's completely addictive.



The second drawer I used for my linens and placemats as well as some of my favorite wood slice trays. Amazing what can fit into a tiny space when well organized. I thought I might need some of these drawer dividers (which I'm also obsessed with) but everything fit perfectly without me lifting a finger so score!



And finally I saved the third drawer for appetizer plates and serving dishes.  Things I didn't use everyday but wanted to have easy reach to.  I could have stuffed this drawer with a lot more but by purging a bit, I was able to store my favorites safely and with plenty of space.  The shelf paper really helps here keeping each little dish in their place without any extra effort.




Even though this chest is relatively small, it has made setting up for guests so much easier and has freed up some precious room in my cabinets that help me stay organized day to day.





Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Lowes but all opinions expressed are my own.  Thanks to wonderful sponsors like these for supporting my projects.

Slow Christmas Decorating

This year we are decking the halls much more slowly than year's past but I'm finally getting this Chrismas Living Room done. (I'm calling it the slow decorating movement!) Mostly because we have an active one-year old that likes to sneak away and pull down whatever off limits new decor item mommy has just put up. When we only had one child, this wasn't really an issue. With two it's a whole different kind of problem. But we are making merry in small doses. I plan on doing more as well but I like to pretend I live in the moment and will hold off on a Christmas bonanza until at least December 1. Deal?

Frosted Let it Snow Living Room Christmas Vignette

frosted alpine tree | carved wood tree stand | gold wood bead garland | let it snow banner | console table | brass mirror Until then I did want to share a few little corners of this Christmas living room that are popping up. Starting with this frosted alpine tree and carved wood stand from Balsam Hill. I'm in love with it's sweet simplicity. I'm planning on moving it to another room when we put the big tree up, for now, it's the perfect accent in this corner. The tree is super light and the base is super heavy - making it a perfect foil for toddler pull-down experiments. I found this ice skating painting at a yard sale a few weeks ago. I was so excited about that I didn't even bother to try to negotiate - I knew it would be just the thing for holiday decor this year.

Flameless Candles Add a lot to Christmas Living Room and Dining Room Decor

Another thing I'm absolutely obsessed with this holiday season (I shouldn't even say holiday because I've been using them in different configurations since they arrived early November) are these miracle flameless candles.  It's hard to tell in a still photo but check out the video I posted on my instagram a few weeks back.  They look like the real deal and are 100% idiot proof.  They cast a beautiful glow.

Miracle Flame LED candles | Greenery Branches | Frosted Pine Cones | Chalkboard | Magnetic Letters | Drapes | Deer Head Magnet | Dining Chairs Who is with me on the slow decorating? I'm not quite ready to rush through to Christmas just yet but I do love the holiday spirit.  This weekend we had a great family meal in our Christmas Living Room and Dining Room, visited Santa (complete with crying baby captured on film), got started on Christmas cards and starting gift shopping at some local Brooklyn makers.  A great start to the holiday for us.  How do you feel about slowing it down?

Fun & Affordable Table Accents for your Thanksgiving Feast

I know, I know. You are expecting Christmas content right about now.  If you have been around for long you know I'm a bit of a naughty blogger.  I don't do holidays before I'm ready.  And while I'll have plenty of Christmas goodies when the time comes, I'm more in a Thanksgiving mood for now.

With that in mind, I thought I'd share some of my favorite table accents for your holiday feasts coming up.  These work well as hostess gifts too if you are lucky enough to have someone else doing the cooking.

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1. This would be great incorporated into a wreath or centerpiece or mantle.  I love the galvanized finish.  It would be even more fun if it had a hashtag in front of it but nothing is perfect :)
2. Aren't these paper placements darling?  They also have turkey ones but I'm loving the root vegetable variety.
3. I have this marble/wood cheeseboard in several sizes and use it ALL.THE.TIME.  Totally elevates even the cheapest costco cheese.
4. Copper flatware is just the perfect bling on an otherwise more rustic table without being too fancy.
5. These are actually dishtowels which i think work MUCH better than traditional napkins.  Buffalo check continues to be the hot holiday print and these are super affordable.
6. Ok, so you could DIY these little wood slice place card holders but for a little over a buck a piece, its hard to convince me to bring out the power tools.
7.  I have a similar set of candles and they are super versatile all year long.  The varied heights really make a statement and you can tuck just about anything green at the base it and looks well curated.

And if you want add something completely free, grab my free printable tags to use as placecards.

Hope that gets your creative fires going for Turkey Day.  What is your favorite piece to set the table with?

Fall Dining Room

Last week's cool weather totally got me in the fall mood.  Even though I don't decorate the house for fall generally (Halloween is enough of a handful for me!), sometimes the mood just strikes me to make a few seasonal changes.  Makes it a lot more fun to use a space when it has something new to look at, don't you think?

The centerpiece is an arrangement of craft pumpkins set on wood slice chargers, spotted feathers (raided from Aggie's art cart) are tucked into cotton stems.  The whole look is finished with chunky wood candle sticks and a ticking stripe runner.


Bring on the sweater weather! Who is with me?

Dining Room Refresh

Normally I like a big "pow" makeover.  I'm afraid this is more like a soft "piff" but I'm still pleased with how a few small, inexpensive changes made the room feel new again.

Pardon me for not setting the table for the shot.  I know that is what other bloggers do and I totally get it - it just feels a little empty without all the dishes laid out just so.  But I don't seem to have the free time I once had.  I wonder why? :)

Did you spot the new additions?  The sugar mold, chalkboard and curtains are all new.  I do want to eventually switch out the end chairs but I haven't found anything I just love yet (that will also stand the test of time with 2 little ones). I feel a little guilty replacing something perfectly functional but it has been 10 years so it feels time for something different. Any suggestions? I like having something a little different for the end seats.

Halls are Decked | Dining Room

Hard to believe Christmas is less than 2 weeks away. It happens every year but it all suddenly sneaks up on me and it's a mad dash to the finish but that's okay.  If Christmas music is playing, anything is possible!


You've already seen my antler advent calendar and mountain lodge sign so I thought I'd finally share how it all came together in the dining room.  I went with a little more low key approach this year (I usually like the hang something from the ceiling to make it extra dangerous to install. You're welcome health insurance!)

We host Christmas dinner so I like to make it festive but leave plenty of room to move around.  We still have to add our table extensions and more place settings but I'm looking forward to spending the holiday with our family and friends. I hope they enjoy the slightly different decor elements each year (although come on, I know they are much more interested in what we serve on those plates!)




I hope you don't mind that I took these photos at night.  Daylight photos would probably be nicer but now that the sun sets so early, there never seem to be enough daylight hours left.

I've got more goodies to share this week including more christmas decor and our mailings for this year.  Can't wait?  Check out last year's merrymaking...

Go Elf Yourself Christmas Cards  | Kraft Paper Christmas Tree 
DIY Lighted Reindeer Silhouette | Christmas Stoop | Noel Box 

Setting the Table to Entertain

If you follow me on instagram, you know I had a great time touring the NYC World Market store at their grand opening a few weeks ago.  (Have I mentioned how excited I am to have a World Market so close?  Woo-hoo) The NYC store is a scaled down version of their usual larger format with a focus on furniture and decorative items. Perfect for when you really love a piece online but just have to see it in person before you make the commitment.

So many things caught my eye but I was thinking of fall and all the entertaining it brings.  New dinnerware had been on my agenda for a while so when I spotted a stacks of their Muir plates and bowls - it was a love connection.  Creamy colored, organic shaped stoneware that is made in Portugal, you are coming home with me.

Any decent table setting needs layers so I added a few things to give it depth.  First these textured bowls that come in 4 different patterns and matched beautifully.  As a base, these wood slice chargers were perfect.  To finish the place setting, versatile cotton buffet napkins in Frost Gray would broke up the cream color. 

Last but not least I wanted an easy to put together centerpiece.  Starting with a grey striped runner and hand painted candleholders, it needed a little something more.  This wood gather sign in a rich red was just the thing. It's meant as a wall hanging but its large scale really worked on the table against the neutral colors.  

Voila!  A new tablescape that is ready for a autumn dinner party!  Now if only this weather would cooperate and I could put on a sweater.

disclosure:  This post was sponsored by World Market but all opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to World Market for including me in the celebration.

A moment of zen...

Pretty much every morning, I sit at this table to drink my wake up coffee in the early morning peace. This little dining room table garden is my view.  It's really no substitute for spring but I'm not complaining.



And yes, I have managed to keep these orchids alive by doing almost nothing to them for weeks.  How can I not love that?

Making The Dining Room Merry

The holiday spirit got crackling this weekend here in the form of a merrified dining room.  I'm going for a woodland cottage look this year with a scattering of interpretative Rudolphs all around the house.





My favorite new additions are these cast iron lanterns and flameless candles.  They look very festive surrounded by fresh greens but will be beautiful all year long.

The Baby It's Cold Outside Sign from last year's outdoor decor and the hot cocoa chalkboard from Aggie's first birthday party has been reused this year inside.

Fresh green wreaths and garlands are from Green Valley Christmas Trees.  I added my own reindeer horns out of craft paper along with a wooden red nose and ribbon scarf to make it a little more rudolph like.

Woodland Oak tree picks are in the arrangement on the wine rack and these Winter Frost jeweled spray picks hang from the chandelier for a little sparkle.

The pair of wooden reindeer are also new this year but I can't recall what store I found them at - all I remember was that they were 50% off.  Anyone recognize them?

And for anyone curious - the table and two end chairs are from Restoration Hardware and the round back chairs are from World Market.

Thanks to the lovely people at Balsam Hill and Green Valley Christmas Trees for some of the goodies seen here. We are teaming up with two great giveaways this month so keep an eye out!

Dining Room: Complete (for now)

It may have taken a while but I'm finally calling the dining room done!  Can you believe it?

I had been waiting to find just the right dining room chairs for quite a while now - everything was either too modern or too old fashioned or too expensive or too cheap looking.  Finally I found these louis xvi style chairs with a pop of bright blue upholstery on sale at World Market so I finally pulled the trigger.  Yea!

I would not normally get such a specific color for an upholstered item but there was something really charming about these. I couldn't stop thinking about them so here they are.

I'm calling it done for now. Quite a long way from where we started. For more before + afters check out the kitchen, master bathroom, office and man cave.  Or take a self guided tour here.