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Signature Style- Casual Chic Dresses

April 13, 2023 By kimwheeler 39 Comments

It’s time for May’s Signature Style with Cindy. This month we are talking about dresses. I am sharing the dresses I wear over and over and my favorite casual chic dress brands. Cindy is doing wedding dressing ideas and looks. We both are doing posts readers have requested!

You know how I feel about buying less and better? Well this post is all about those dresses that are the workhorses of your closet. You should have some great go-to dresses for the warmer months that are easy to throw on, feel great and give you a polished look with little effort.

The dresses that I reach for over and over again, are nicer pieces that last for years. These are dresses I can fancy up or dress down and that can work for days, nights and holidays away.

Some of my favorite dress brands:

Jenni Kayne

A So Cal based brand, Jenni has simple, classics that embody the easy California lifestyle. The Leopard T-Shirt Dress is a top seller and a bit pricey, but I have had mine for almost three years and still adore it and it has many years to go! It’s made of a viscose that skims the body and feels great on. I wear it with jackets in colder months and slides and my hair up in summer.

Five ways I have worn this dress..

This leopard fabric also comes in a slip dress that can be layered with a sweater or jacket. Their new linen T-Shirt dress in black, is another classic that will be great for travel and they also have jersey version.

All the great dresses at Jenni Kayne here.

Rails

I love Rails, a California company and have followed them as they have expanded. I love visiting them at the new Palo Alto and also SF Hayes Valley branch. They also can be found in many department stores. I have four of their dresses- all which are very easy and I wore a ton last summer. The cotton ones usually have a built-in bottom slip that makes them a breeze to just throw on and go. The dresses are normal lengths and sizing despite online pics of super short dresses ( so annoying, I mean why?)

The Tara is an easy dress for everyday and a lovely go-to on hot summer days with a pair of flip flops and a straw bag! I bought the black as I thought it could work for travel and dinners out too..

I also love the Jasmine, which I have in white.. Now comes in a lot of pretty options and this is a good one for evenings and the transition seasons. This floral version left is on my want list.. (Notice the difference in lengths vs. the online pics?) I am 5’4 and these models must be 5’11.

I also have the Zana dress in the ditzy floral.. I loved the striped Inez dress which I tried on, but didn’t buy.. These dresses are light and easy to wear.

My most worn dress of theirs is probably the Angelina Dress. This was my summer number one.. So light and easy and casual.. Last time I wore it at Filoli with a white denim jacket. (If you need a white denim jacket a cute one here and here.)

I take medium in all their dresses. Similar styles in a longer lengths are the Amelia, the Constantine Dress, and the Kiki Dress.

I also like new Nadia dress a flattering tie front look that in come in a blue stripe poplin, white and this pretty flax gauze…More of their new season here.

Frank & Eileen

Named for the founder’s Irish grandparents, Frank & Eileen began in 2009 in an effort to create beautiful shirts for women. It has remained a 100% ethical and sustainable brand as it has grown- with clothes being manufactured in California and Italy. All of the fabric is sourced down to the orgins and the company is also 100% women owned and run.

They make a small collection, but what they have is lovely. The shirt dresses have a cult following and I have the Mary Dress in distressed vintage wash, but it comes in eleven more shades and washes! I wear this dress so much in spring and summer with a pair of slides and a straw bag. It isn’t tight, but it also isn’t frumpy and is on the shorter side. This dress has little folds that give it lived-in look, doesn’t wrinkle and is a packing dream. ( My little bag here.)

They have the same style in a long Rory dress which I would love to own. They have denim, linen and voile versions and many solids and fun prints.. SO cute worn with pants too..

They also have the Nicole dress in jersey cotton or a fleece that would be perfect for casual days, beach trips and just about anything..

Faherty

Faherty is another American brand that I adore. The fabrics and quality are excellent.

I have this Gemina stripe dress and love it. They have a version of mine here and it also comes in a floral and a pretty blue. This dress is flattering. Here I dressed it up with some pearls on a cord and a sandals for a summer day in Santa Cruz.. ( Similar pearl necklace here.)

Their Isha Dress has been a perennial number one best seller for them and is a summer classic..and I want one! Maybe this summer. ….This dress also comes in a midi length now too.. Their new Dream Dress , on right, is also a beauty and would be so right for California in summertime!

Tory Burch

Another with well made dresses is Tory Burch. I love her T-shirt dresses and bought this one a few years ago. I see they brought it back in a darker color. I always get compliments on this. I think her clothes are made to flatter and are under the radar gems.

All Tory Burch T-shirt dresses here. There are some very cool ones right now…more online.

I hope this got you thinking more about what sort of dresses might be great addition to your closet and that you can wear for years and make getting dressed easier! Please share below if you have favorite dress brands that you rely on. I’d love to know.

If you missed April’s Signature Style, it was about resort dressing, and what you need for a getaway or vacation trip! I shared cute dresses, outfit ideas and packing tips.

Now stop by Cindy’s blog to see what she is sharing. This month she has wedding dressing and tips and ideas. I am sure many of you have events coming up this summer…

Cindy Hattersley Design

Thanks for being here!

Kim

If you’d like to get an email when I publish, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

Signature Style- Resort Looks and Packing Tips

March 16, 2023 By kimwheeler 33 Comments

On this Signature Style- What you need for a getaway or resort trip! Some cute dresses, outfit ideas and packing tips.

It’s hard to believe it’s that time again for Signature Style with Cindy. Sorry for the delay in this post. The storm left me without internet. I hope you all have been faring okay. Given our never ending bad weather here in California, any of us are trying to plan an escape to the sun!

I was lucky last week to get a little escape with a three day trip to the desert to see the BNP Tennis Tournament in Indian Wells. Flying into Palm Spring looked like we were landing in Siberia, but on the ground it was a balmy 76 ! It felt great to be in the sun.

One of my biggest issues on these resort trips or quick getaways is how to pack smarter. I want so to not be burdened by a heavy case and too many choices.

On last weekend’s tennis trip I brought my Longchamp carry-on with a small crossbody, light scarf, comfy sandals and a tennis themed read… With a small suitcase of course! These Tory Burch Cloud Sandals are a favorite I have in two colors.

How to pack smarter:

Think outfits not pieces. Only pack outfits for each day. If you’re going out at night that could be two outfits a day. That way you won’t pack extra random things.
Use items for more than one thing. For example-have at least one dress that can work as a coverup, and use a scarf for sun as well as warmth on the plane, have a light jacket that can work over a dress as well as with shorts and on the plane..
Wear shorts/pants more than once and just change up tops.
Bring sandals and sneakers that work for dresses as well with shorts for treks out..i.e. not your beat up jogging shoes.. (Unless you plan on running on your trip.)
Wear a dress on repeat and just change up the look with accessories or scarves or a jacket.
Stick to a color palette. If you pack all blues for example, or black and white, you can mix things easier and shoes and accessories work with everything.

You do not need more than one sweatshirt, leggings, tank, white T. Just re-wear and make your life easier. Get creative. My friend Bari and I were laughing on this trip because we were saying why did we feel the need to bring multiple sweatshirts? Like who was going to notice we wore something twice? Don’t do it. Minimal is freeing and gives you less to manage . I promise you will thank me.

My Resort/ Getaway Packing List

We don’t need much on warm holidays away. Remember you don’t even need a day outfit on days by the pool or beach. You will likely live in a swimsuit and a coverup, which you can even wear to breakfast, so make sure you have at least one good swimsuit you feel great in! That is the most essential on these trips.

Swimsuit or two that flatters, fits and feels good to be active in.
A cute coverup. If you bring multiples make sure at least one can double as a dress too.
A hat that travels well. I love this hat and also a baseball cap for hikes/walks. I like this one.
Sandal or flip flop (I love these Ola Kai) for the beach/pool, sneakers, and a fancier flat sandal.
Bag for the pool/beach ( can also be a basket you use for carry-on), crossbody for night and days out.
Sunglasses and possibly sunglass readers (cute ones here.)
Light jacket – my favorite here I adore.
Shorts for days
Cute tops in light fabrics
Dresses for hot days or nights out.
White pants. ( I rarely wear these, but nice to have options if they weather turns cool.)
Sunscreens. I love this, and this.
I wear a light pant or jean on flight with my sneakers and light jacket.

Key Pieces

This linen jacket is one hardworking piece I have taken all over the place and is my first go-to on a warm weather trip. I just took it to the desert and it’s great for the plane too. I find the linen to be soft and a few wrinkles never make this look bad. I wear it over dresses as well as with shorts and pants. Cindy also has this.. You need something like this in your closet. Love the raw edges.

Blazer with shorts

I started pairing a linen blazer I have with shorts, and wore that during our tennis tournament with sneakers. It’s a look I am seeing all over and a fresh look for spring and summer too. Look for a light jacket. I wore it on the plane with jeans and a sweater wrapped around my neck for warmth. Some easy linen blazers here , here, and here and here. Some cute shorts in new lengths here and here and here.

This cute short and jacket look has a lot of possibilities day to night..

Sandals

I love these Birkenstocks to go with shorts to dresses..and these Roxanne flats are nice for evenings and come in many colors, but I love this teal.. and the classic TB flip flop in black ( or gold) is fancy enough for evenings and will look good for years.

Dresses/coverups..

I love having a few dresses on a getaway. I will use them for both coverups and to go out in.

I bought this Juliet Dunn dress I had my eye since last year on from My Theresa (first time ordering from them.) This dress is an eternal best seller as it works on a lot of body types. It comes with a nice slip that you can wear or not if you use as a coverup. I think this will be great for dinners or a warm weather trip and summer – if it ever happens!

They also have an option in this darker color and these darling dresses. Especially love the ones with ric rac trim! These aren’t inexpensive, but are special pieces. I saw a gal with one of the coverups in Hawaii and I fell in love with it. You could also search for them on sale and that is how I found mine.

The dress on the left is a Faherty cotton dress. It’s a small American made brand that I love and their dresses are excellent quality. I have two and this blue one I bought last year. I do see it now on sale in a pretty peach. The pink is a dress by dBa and it’s a shirt dress that I will use by the pool, also sold out in this print- but similar are here. ( Sorry for the indoor photos because well non-stop rain here!)

Elan makes the cutest coverups and prices are good. I have this black one, which I wear so much from a prior season.

Elan has more coverups here . I especially like this blue one, this one in white , and the yellow

Other long ones I like -this beauty by Johnny Was, and this cool Missoni looking stripe…

This gauze option by Anthro is perfect in a pretty green and a black. You could pair this dress with a mid length cotton slip and wear it to dinner too, double duty and less to bring!

I need another coverup like a hole in the head, but I just ordered this floral coverup at J. Crew I had my eye on. They also have it in solids and gingham. Super cute styling with the side ties. Both 25% off now.

Swimsuits

Swimsuits can be a challenge. I have found J. Crew ones to be excellent quality for the price and love the half shoulder versions. This suit flatters, and is still sexy and not frumpy. I have this in Safari and and love the stripe and other solid colors. I also have this version with a shoulder bow too. The half shoulder is super cute with a long skirt or long pants or cute shorts.

This is also adorbs in the floral .. If you need one, I love this rash guard with the tassel in black or navy..

Beach totes/ evening bags

The other thing you need is a good tote, that you can take on a trip and use by the pool/beach. I love the look of this bronze braided one .

You can’t beat this for $58 and it’s a classic you can tie a scarf on or a tassel.

I also have this honey pot from Claire V..I use it at night and added a strap from another bag to make it a crossbody for day. J Crew now has a cute similar bag too.

I have the medium Market tote by Mersea that I LOVE. It’s a bit stiffer to travel with but good for a weekend away you drive to- or perhaps get the larger size and use as a carry-on, or the extra small for evenings. They also have this adorable Ciao version now. See them all here

Another option is a small bag for evenings… a small crossbody or perhaps a woven clutch like this cute option. My original one is (also J. Crew 10 years old), and I still use it! Get a decent one and it’s a good addition to the closet.

Don’t forget sunglass readers. Those are so nice to have if you are sitting reading buy the pool or beach. I love these by Caddis. The pink is darling. They also have more here and here.

I hope this has given you a few ideas and inspiration. Great places for resort clothes are Tuckernuck, and Tommy Bahama, as well as Mersea which has a new travel collection. Play around with last summer’s coverups and shorts and see what still works and what you need before you shop. You may be surprised what you have in the closet after this long winter. I had forgotten about a few things.

I hope you have some sunshine in your future!

If you missed February’s Signature Style, I shared how French women wear red and how you can adding to your wardrobe can give you a little bit of chic and brighten up your darks this time of year.

Please pop by Cindy’s blog to see what she is sharing…

Cindy Hattersley Design

Thanks for being here!

Kim

I also have posts on what to pack for Hawaii , what to bring to Bora Bora, the BNP Indian Wells Tennis Tournament, and Carmel/Monterey.

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Signature Style- How French Women Wear Red

February 8, 2023 By kimwheeler 38 Comments

It’s time for the monthly style report with Cindy! Since it’s February we are talking about color -specifically red. Red can add some French chic to your look and brighten up your wardrobe this time of year…

Start by looking at your closet! I have red things, but I forget to wear them. If you get them all together you can look the options. What are other ways to wear these things? How can I use them to punch up my neutrals a bit? Can you use a sweater as a scarf? Can you layer a red dress with a sweater or over jeans? Even just a red t-shirt can add a little sass to you winter every day items.

For the sake of fashion science, I thought I’d play with my red pieces. I wore my red sweater as a scarf over a pink sweater and khaki pants (just bought these at Anthro), and pink Vans.. I also paired it with my camel coat for a day in San Francisco with the family.

When I think of red clothes, I always think of the French, Parisians most notably. The French use red as a sort of punctuation to their look with red scarves, shoes, hats, and coats. They love to go natural with makeup, but you will see them sport a red lip or a red nail.

I am always enchanted by how they use just one red item to really make an outfit. I tried it with a pair of poppy red suede heels that have been gathering dust the last few years… I put them with a pair of slightly baggy jeans with a casual cuff roll, then a black turtleneck and my dressier Veronica Beard jacket.

Just the addition of the shoe made this whole look feel Parisian. I will try this with jeans and a sweater too. You can do this with any heel, but the red just sort of look very on purpose and fashionable.

We all could use a red shoe in the closet!

Three Ways to Wear Red Like the French…

My favorite way- in a shoe. Walk anywhere in Paris and you will see looks popped with red shoes. Red boots with a neutral look is so chic. I love strappy flat red sandal with jeans. Red sneakers are always adorable, especially with a skirt. So many ways to have fun with red footwear..
Bring in red accessories like a cashmere scarf, a red handbag or backpack, a vintage red rhinestone pin or beads. I love a red beret or brimmed felt hat. Don’t forget red lipstick ( I like this and this) and a pretty red pedicure or manicure always looks chic.
A red coat – whether wool, a puffer or a trench, you see them all over France.

Colors to wear with red…

One of my favorite looks is red with tan or camel. Something about that combination is so classic and also why a leopard print can look fantastic paired with it.

Pink and lavender are unexpected partners for red and fun. So is orange.

Another lovely combination is aqua or teal with red.

A soft baby blue can also look great as does cream..

Let’s look at some sartorial red chic for inspiration…

Red pieces to consider..

I hope this post encourages you to add some red to your life! Be experimental and try some red pieces on next time you shop! Don’t overlook those red handbags and shoes as they can make your closet basics look way cooler and chic.

If you missed January’s Signature Style, it was all about on leisure and comfort wear. I shared my favorite workout pieces, cozy go-tos and pjs I love.

…Now please pop by Cindy’s blog to see what she is sharing…

Cindy Hattersley Design

Thanks for being here!

Kim

Photos via my Pinterest. You can follow my Seeing Red Board with links to all the images.

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Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

Spring Colors, White Jeans, and Skin Cleansers

January 28, 2023 By kimwheeler 45 Comments

On this post..spring colors that are trending in home and fashion, white jeans to add a lift to your winter staples, skin cleansers you might need and more..

Well this has been a sad in California with two terrible shootings. So many innocent people living their lives, dancing with their friends, celebrating, and others just trying to make ends meet. All were at the mercy of unhappy or unstable people with access to guns.

The need for the assault weapon ban is urgent. When we let the assault weapon ban expire, mass shooting rose 245% in America. I don’t give up hope we can do this and it’s going to take reeducating our nation and pointing out that the majority of countries in this world, live with sane gun regulations and have gun deaths in the single digits each year. We need to prioritize human lives over guns. It’s that simple.

Gabrielle Blair, has written some common sense posts it, and I recommend her thoughts. We must imagine and do the hard work to create a life in America with less guns because if we keep going as we are, we are doomed.

White jeans to give your winter wardrobe a boost

I found my basket of white jeans on the closet floor this week and thought I’d start wearing them with chunky sweaters and jackets. Just about now, white jeans are a mood lifter and just what we need to give the warm winter staples a punch. You’ll find adding a white jean to your black sweaters super chic and neutrals like greys, camels, and beiges looks very luxe and transitional for the seasons.

Get your white denim out and try mixing it up. I’ve seen very cute looks with white jeans, winter boots and puffer jackets too..

When I shared the photo on Instagram, a few people wanted suggestions for good white jeans. I suggest a thicker cotton and straight leg, not a skinny. Mine are these (very few left), but another option with zip fly are these from J.Crew . Other options are these from Paige, these from Mother always rated highly, and these from AGOLDE, and these in off-white, and these Gap jeans are a great price.

2023 Spring Color Story

This week on our Instagram LIVE with Juliet, we discussed the 2023 color trends, and for spring the colors are most definitely skewing towards pastels, think Easter colors, with a twist. Pinks have a purply or magenta hue, there is a lot of lavender, soft pistachio greens ( you could call it celery if you prefer) and baby duck yellows. This seems to be the case with interiors as well as clothes. You will see these tones in home decor, usually as a punctuating factor in a neutral rooms and with bits of dark blues, Kelly greens, and magenta thrown in there.

This is just a sampling of the this trend in my mail this week..

2023 color story — By the way, I loved the Mothers & Sons article and photos in Town & Country and Viola Davis’s home AD is beautiful..as is she. Love the yellow on her! Yes I still subscribe to a few magazines!

I am noticing a lot of yellow+magneta ( kind of fresh), baby blue+mauve ( the 80’s forever ), and the celery thrown in with all these tones..(Max once dubbed this color ‘Shamrock Shake’ which forever wrecked the way I felt about a Sage wall, but I digress.)

I have added a few pieces in pastel to my neutral coffee table with a book, a box for my remotes, and a pretty candle..

coffee table styling with Serena & Lily tray and grasscloth box — The tray from Serena & Lily on sale now. Box and pot found recently at Homegoods. Book is Vibrant interiors

Spring Color Trends in Fashion..

This color story continues with retailers. J. Crew got on this trend tout sweet and has many pretty options and even t-shirts, should you only wish to dip your toe in this pastel kaliedescope. Did you know the term, ‘tout sweet’ evolved from American soldiers mangling the French ‘tout de suite’, which means immediately, during WWI? Sort of interesting! …AND back to the subject.

I made a collage of these trending tones and the point isn’t to wear them all together, well you could, but more to inspire you to add a piece in these shades to your spring look..It just takes a new shoe, a top or a bag to mix with what you already own..and if you own any of these colors, get them back out!

I love the Lady jacket in denim, Nicole Wittenberg Sweet William T-shirt, and this stripe shirt is giving me vintage Esprit vibes, pink loafers, pink cashmere sweater (wonderful to wear as a scarf too), Tevas in sherbert tones, jeans from J. Crew, Gucci Violet Sunglasses, and the prettiest spring green crossbody bucket from Tory Burch.

Skincare Part II – Cleansers

Last week I shares my skincare faves and neglected to share my cleansing routine, which is really the most important thing and can improve your skin perhaps more than any cream. I have to be honest, I get lazy during the cold months and sometimes don’t wash efficiently at night. After the holidays I stepped up my cleansing by adding this organic Klorane micellular cleanser which removes all my makeup easily before my regular cleanser. It also helps my cleanser be more effective.

I clean with this gel to oil cleanser which I love for these drier months, from Shiseido’s Clean and natural Waso line. I also added a toner. I’ve been sans toner for a long time, but I kept reading how important this step is to remove the residue and set the skin up for your night routine. I choose this Indie Lee Toner with Co-q10 and hyaluronic acid, which is also clean with no toxic ingredients.. Just the addition of these two steps improved my skin visibly in less than a week! My skin looks clearer and much brighter. Step up your cleansing and you will see changes. A good habit to begin in the new year.

The Sea Glass House

I will be bringing back my house of the week soon, but real estate listings have been lean. I did notice one of my favorite houses on the scenic drive around Carmel Beach is up for sale. You can see all the details on Sea Glass here. Who wouldn’t mind living in this glass house?

Kitchen in Carmel California beach house

Other things..

First Lady Jill Biden’s beautiful inaugural ensembles were added to the Smithsonian’s First Ladies exhibit this week. I loved her dresses, especially the white by Gabriel Hurst. Included were all had custom masks, as it took place in the middle of the pandemic. She is the only First Lady to ever have those. I wonder what we will think when we look back one day…and what we lived through and are still emerging from..Read more about Dr Biden’s dresses and the ceremony here.

Without wading too much into the Prince Harry debate, as I know it’s quite charged, I listened to his memoir, and there are a million articles and opinion pieces on it all, but I felt this piece in NYTimes really said something none of the others did and I quite liked it.

Cindy had a very stylish California girl on her Ageless style this week. Wren is a friend I have made through Instagram, and a very sweet person who lives in SLO ( San Louis Obispo), and has fantastic casual chic. I think you’ll love this post on her!

white and cream ensemble on Californian women, Wren.

Next week I’ll be joining a few others on Thursday with fun Valentine’s Day ideas.. so if you aren’t subscribed, you can below!

If you missed last week’s post – I shared ideas for a dining room refresh, San Francisco houses, skincare I am loving, and more..

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Kim

Please visit my pals Elizabeth and Juliet’s lovely blogs..

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

If you’d like to get an email when I publish, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

Serena & Lily in My Home & Rattan Style

June 29, 2021 By kimwheeler 10 Comments

Sharing my favorites in my home from Serena & Lily and how rattan pieces are perfect for California. They give a beachy vibe and rattan is sustainable as well as a beautiful.

It’s a great time to buy Serena & Lily’s beautiful things for home and I am lucky to have a few of them so I thought I’d share. I love the coastal vibe they bring to my home. Being a native Californian, we grew up with a lot of wicker and rattan and I love it.

In 2022 I ordered the Balboa Bookshelf I had been dreaming about from Serena & Lilly. This is my office on the right… I think this bookshelf has some many possibilities, in a dining room, a bedroom, it’s just so pretty and well made.

The Serena & Lily Balboa bookshelf in an office.

I have this in my office off the pool area. It is behind my desk and I love the rattan with my glass desk. I think this has a California feeling and it’s been fun styling it.

What makes rattan so appealing?

To me, rattan has a resort feel and a California vibe. The rattan pieces we own have added that fun touch to the house and been durable and versatile. I do love changing things up in the house occasionally and they are easy to move, and work in all my rooms too.

For more rattan beauty, look no further than this fabulous book-Rattan ,about the longevity and charm of rattan furniture and the craft of it. Rattan is a wonderful sustainable product that is actually a vine. It has always been synonymous with resorts and far-flung travel. It has also been in many country homes and estates, especially in Britain. When you choose a rattan piece, it won’t be something that has to decompose or be thrown out. The world is full of rattan pieces that have stood the test of time and still look beautiful.

Some of my favorite rattan pieces from Serena & Lily I have mixed into my home..

The Balboa Counter Stool is rattan built on a mahogany frame with brass accents. Ours are going on almost four years and with boys and a lot of use, they are wearing wonderfully. They are comfy and I love the light grey in my home as a contrast to the wood tones.

Balboa Counter stools in mist from Serena & Lily in a white kitchen

Last year I switched out my pendants and I just love the look of these small Headlands Pendants. I have the small and I think they are excellent quality and a good price compared to what I replaced.

Serena & Lily Headlands in natural pendants in a white kitchen

I also love the barstools in the natural color in a white kitchen like below..

Rattan chairs for the family or living room are a nice way to add some style and also lightness to a room of upholstered furniture. We have two Edgewater Lounge Chairs in my main living space across from our sectional. They are comfy and inviting and everyone wants them when we watch shows. I feel like they add instant style to this room, and a vintage California feel.

I have styled them a few different ways and moved them around. They are light which is nice..

The Edgwater lounge chair in a family room.

Serena & Lily Edgwater lounge chair in a pair

We also love the Mattituck Armchair which strikes a more elegant note with it’s brass details and caned back… (Our cat Marlo agrees and so I let her stay in the picture!)

I like the mix the chairs and the denim rug has a beachy feel. My denim rug is from another season, but this is close.

Serena & Lily has a lot of lovely choices in rattan chairs.

How cool is their Nest Chair made with hand bent rattan? Sweet for reading time with small ones or just to cozy up yourself with an ice tea and a great book? It has that instant relax vibe for a bedroom or family space.

The Yarmouth Swivel Chair is the newest chair and it’s a beauty.. Like the classics in the Rattan book, you can see some serious craftsmanship in this.

Another idea -consider one of Serena & Lily’s coffee tables. to give an oceanside vibe to your home.

Clockwise from top left..the Anguilla Coffee Table, the South Seas Coffee Table, the Balboa Coffee Table, and the Cape Coffee Table . Oh the styling possibilities!

Other lovelies in rattan to consider..

A bench in the entry of your home is not only stylish, but smart for getting your shoes on and holding packages and bags for yourself or visitors. In my entry I have the Carson Bench which I love.. so does my cat!

Serena & Lily Carson Bench in natural in an entry.

In this same space I have the Capiz 20 inch pendant that has a pretty feel to this small entry.

serena & Lily small capiz pendant in an entry

I also love the Shore Bench is such a pretty design and has possibilities like the end of a bed or in a den too..

And with entries, you always need a mirror to check yourself!! There are a lot of rattan mirrors at S&L here. My Montara Mirror in our pool bath/powder room can also work in a bedroom or hallway..

I love the nautical feel of this one particularly. Montara also comes in a cute white or with navy accents and in three sizes. Mine here is a medium in natural…

Serena & Lily Montara Mirror in a powder room

Serena & Lily Montara Mirror in a pool bath

How about a chic table for living room, hallway or bedside? I am very obsessed with the Scallop Side Table. And the Flynn Wall Sconce also adds charm to a bedside or a reading spot.

I also adore Santa Barbara Taper Pendant . This is pedant comes in two sizes and I do love it next to a bedside as they show.

And the Westbrooke Pendant with a rattan ring on the pretty chain is another appealing option.

Then there are so many lovely basics like the Riviera Counter Stool that would look great indoors or even in a patio bar and is on the lower end price point.

Serena & Lily Riviera counter Stool natural

The Freeport Lamp is another classic of theirs I want to add to our guest bedroom/office.

If you only just start with some pretty baskets, you can still beach house feeling. The La Jolla baskets are darling and I have a small one in my closet for laundry. Would also be cute for shoes in an entry or to store blankets.. All their collection of cute baskets here.

One more adorable thing in rattan are the Carmel Candlesticks.. I just think these are so perfect for a summer dining table or on a fireplace mantel.

Serena & Lily Carmel Candlestick on table

The trays are another cute way to add some natural feel to your mix and the Beaufort Tray was on my radar for a while before I bought it.. It works so well on a coffee table as I have it or an island..

serena & lily Beaufort tray styled on a coffee table

If you are looking for a good rug I also have three wonderful rugs from S&L. The Stella is in my main room and is a super soft wool we love.

Serena & Lily Stella rug in cream in a living room

Serena & Lily Stella rug in cream in a living room up close.

The Alamere rug is in my dining room and is part jute and wearing beautifully. I love the look!

serena & Lily Alamere Rug in a dining room up close

serena & Lily Alamere Rug in a dining room

I also have two Seaview runners in grey the kitchen made of recycled bottles and are very durable.

Serena & Lily Grey Seaview runners in a kitchen

Lastly, I almost forgot my favorite S&L thing is the Malibu Chandelier. I saved for this and this was the first thing I bought for the house when we remodeled.. I still am in love with the look of the beads and woven threads with the tassel.

Serena & Lily malibu chandelier in a dining room

I hope you were inspired a little to add in some rattan to your home. I do love it’s beauty and how sustainable it is. I know that the that the rattan pieces are beautifully made from Serena & Lily and some will likely be collectibles too.

Kim

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Summer Picnic Ideas

June 3, 2021 By kimwheeler 17 Comments

Last year was hard, but we are beginning to see some good trends that emerged out of the chaos. One thing that my family and many others rediscovered, is the joy of picnics! We have had a lot of them in the past year, so I was excited when I was asked to join a few other bloggers to share some inspiration for picnics!

At the beginning of the pandemic our family did some car picnics at the beach which was old school fun.. Then last summer, my neighbor Kim started a fun idea of meeting for dinners on the town park square with chairs and a little table. We enjoyed that so much we did it with our own kids, bringing some drinks and appetizers and everyone picking up the takeout food they want, then chatting after on a summer evening.

We have realized that we almost enjoy this more than dining out in restaurants in many cases. As we’ve had more outdoor meals last year than ever before, I’ve stocked my kitchen with a few more portable containers, but for the most part we take real napkins, and silverware -and those tablecloths that are going unused, make great picnic blankets if they are sturdy cotton. So do throws and blankets. It’s fun to cull some things together and make a pretty coordinating mix with cloth napkins, a blanket and toss them in a basket or large straw tote and go. I like to roll the silverware in the napkins. Sometimes I tie them, sometimes I don’t. I repurposed nice glass bottles for waters.. You can get creative. The most important thing is to make it easy and fun.

For my picnic meal, I made a pesto pasta salad, Pink Lady Apple, cheddar and turkey baguette sandwiches, homemade chocolate chip cookies and some bought Have a Chips, strawberries and a variety of waters. I wish I had a more picturesque view, but we just had ours in the yard. It was a nice thing to do on a Saturday, which we usually wouldn’t bother with. Everyone came out and ate, unlike our usual, do your own thing lunches.

For the sandwiches, I found small single baguettes that worked great. They are cute if you wrap them in parchment paper to keep them together with a small bit of twine. Both my husband and I agreed that in the future we would probably enjoy the sandwich more with a nutty whole wheat bread. With the thin slices of pink lady apple, English cheddar and some crunchy lettuce, the wheat bread would have added just the right texture and crunch. Of course the sons preferred the baguette and they look cuter. ( I ate mine open faced as I am trying to eat less breads.)

For the pasta, it’s pretty simple. I changed the recipe up to use chickpea pasta, my first time trying it. Everyone liked it. It does look a little darker and is a bit drier and crumblier in texture than usual pasta, but works just great and in this kind of recipe, you wouldn’t really notice the change. It was actually a suggestion from my younger son Griffin, who came home from college a fan of this pasta. His roommate cooks and is gluten-free. They like the Banza brand best, (found here. )Chickpea pasta has nearly double the protein and fiber and almost half the carbs of usual pasta and it is gluten-free and low glycemic.. So much better for us!

Summer Pesto Pasta Salad

1 box of chickpea pasta

2-3 cups of fresh tomatoes of varying sizes. (I did part cherry tomatoes cut in half and some heirloom cut into small sized pieces)

I container of small fresh ciliegine mozzarella balls.

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons of fresh pesto

1/2 cup basil leaves

Shaved Parmesan to garnish.

2 cloves garlic cut in half

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Pepper to taste

Combine cut tomatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, pesto and garlic in a bowl, stir and cover in refrigerator. You can leave this overnight, but at least 30 minutes is nice. Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water to directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Remove the garlic from the mixture and toss with the pasta. Garnish with basil and top each jar with shaved parmesan. I used a kind of shell pasta, but the original recipe, adapted and changed from an old Domino Magazine, called for casarecce pasta can be found in a chickpea version here.

Hope you got a little inspired to do more picnics! Please stop by these talented blogs and see what they have for picnic ideas and recipes for us…

Annie Most Lovely Things
Cindy Cindy Hattersley Design
Mary Ann Classic Casual Home
Sheri Sheri Silver
Melaine My Sweet Savannah
Lisa Shine Your Light
Elizabeth Pinecones and Acorns

I hope your summer is getting off to a fun start!

Kim

Fun Kitchen Styling Tips!

February 10, 2021 By kimwheeler 33 Comments

Today I am joining a talented group to share some ideas for styling your kitchen space. Most of us have had a LOT of time at home and the new year is a great time to change things up. Have you had the same things on the counter for the last month, years- or more? Well maybe it’s time for a lift…

My Top Tips for Styling the Kitchen..

Declutter. You need visual calm and that means less. Store oils, spices, etc out of sight if you can.
Choose 2-3 colors and repeat them in the accessories in this space.
If you’re going to have a lot of things- i.e plants, cookbooks- try to group them together.
Use unusual and pretty catchalls or baskets to bring a little style to utilitarian items.
Replace kitchen towels often, and try to stay in a color way or two.
Add a piece of art to the kitchen to bring a homey feel, less scullery.
A small counter lamp adds a warmth and an ambiance to the kitchen overhead lights just can’t.

First of all, do you have a lot of clutter? Things that you use daily, but you have them on the counter? Try putting some of them away for a while, for some visual calm. Yes I use my olive oils and salts daily, but they are in the cabinet. Less clutter means more zen and less to manage/dust too. If you need those within reach, maybe rearrange cabinets and drawers? The new year is a good time to clean each drawer out, throw away things that haven’t been used in the past few years, (egg slicer I’m looking at you,) and generally rethink the space usage in your kitchen. There are no musts, only possibilities. We get stuck in ruts. Break out and reconfigure the kitchen drawers. You can change!

Start with what inspires you and add it to the kitchen. Maybe it starts with something pretty you see you adore. I fell in love with this vase, brought it home then searched my cabinets and pulled out a cheese board with grey-blue tones, towels in the same color and a pitcher with blue to give the kitchen some cohesiveness. The vase gave me my starting point and got me excited to change things up.

Cookbooks are great and I have a lot, but I usually have just a few out I am currently into. They are good to give height to things with open shelving too. You can place a bowl on them like I did here with an easy air plant, or lemons or a clipping from your yard.

I have a big serving board that is hard to store, so my solution is to keep it on the island. It makes the plant and a bowl with some citrus have more impact and height. The ceramic bowl is a special gift from a dear friend. I think styling the center of an island is tricky. People tend to have large things in the center, but as we eat on here a lot, I like to have something that’s moveable.

I like plants for the natural element.This asparagus fern is what I have now with a pot from my local OSH store. Below I had a plant from a shop in Santa Cruz previously.

I have my utensils corralled in this container from Target. Many of these are olive wood spoons from trips in France and are dear to me. I think finding a unique crock is a way to show some flair in the kitchen. Last year I was using a large black lantern from Crate & Barrel. I have also used pots from the garden section, baskets, garden urns and silver pieces. Whatever holds what you’ve got and works with your decor. I have even seen small waste baskets that could work too. Get creative!

On the open shelving I have plates from the Joanna Gaines collection from Target in black and off white and a set of nested baskets I use frequently for serving bread, etc. The plant picture I think keeps the California feel.

I just added the faux plant to fill in space at the top left where nothing else would work. I am generally not a faux plant person, and intended to rip the plant out and just keep the pot, but it seems to look kind of cute here so I left it. Faux plants are great in those spots with little sun and are hard to reach.

My corner sink has a space for plants and they love the light here and extra splashes of water! I tried to keep them in white and light colored pots to unify the space and make it visually cleaner.

I’ve been using this basket for our paper towels since the day one accidentally fell in there and fit perfectly!

On the other perimeter counter I have a Serena & Lily tray with towels and lemons, a bust planter from Anthropologie and my lamp. I sometimes move this tray to the top of the stove.. It’s another space we don’t utilize and it can look cute with a tray and a vase of flowers even. Just remember not to use them on a warm stove!

UPDATE: I found a source for these cute towels that were a gift from Ireland. They are by Ulster Weavers and can be bought in the U.S. at British Importer, The Bee’s Knees . Ulster Weavers has a shop on Amazon, but currently the towels are not in stock, yet they have a matching tea cozy.

A small counter lamp adds warmth to the kitchen. When the cooking and cleanup are done, this light is on and the overheads are off. I can’t stand the surgery bright cap lights on, and they destroy any ambiance in the house in the evening too. They are great for tasks and that’s about it. In the early mornings it’s nice to have the warm light and in these dark afternoons as well.. Look for a one that can fit on the counter and find a lower warm wattage bulb to bring a cozy feel to your space. Lots of great small lamps here.

I have tried to generally stay in the same blue-grey and chartreuse type tones with the kitchen towels. I go with the Marie Kondo stacking method when I am motivated!

My two rugs are the hardworking Serena & Lily Seaview Runners in grey. I just ordered the second one for the other side of the island. They clean so easily and take a lot of wear.

One other thing that makes things look cleaner is hiding outlet covers. I do so using vases, cutting boards, etc like below…

This was fun and I hope I didn’t drone on about the kitchen. I’m never sure if I am sharing too much or not enough! I am no expert, but I do enjoy making the space look nice. I am working on a separate page with all the house materials from the remodel coming soon to the blog!

If you have questions about today’s post, here a few of the things I used or are similar to my kitchen…

Lillian Medium Vase, Grey Seaview Runner, Spinnaker Tray, Balboa Counter Stools, Caravan Linen Tea Towels, Gold Utensil Holder, Stonewear Dinner Plates, Bust Planter, Amara Table Lamp , Footed planter ,Teak Spatula and Spoon Set, Ceramic Stoneware Bowl, Braided Handwoven Bread Basket,

More ideas for styling your kitchen today on these wonderful blogs..

CINDY HATTERSLEY DESIGN

Kim

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My Favorite Sheets, Duvets & More- Refreshing Your Bed

January 12, 2018 By kimwheeler 4 Comments

This post is all my favorite bedding.. I wrote this pre-pandemic, but I keep it updated as we are all always looking for good sheets and better sleep quality! We spend so many hours asleep, nicer bedding is one of the best investments in your quality of life.

Cleaning out the linen closet is something to do at least once a year and for me it’s usually around the fall, or the new year when things slow down and I notice the bedding needs some perking up. I did it in October this year when it started to turn cool and was time to put our down comforter back on the bed. I noticed our white sheets (I love white), looking a little sad and our comforter was also in bad shape. We had it at least a decade and it wasn’t so warm.

Love this idea on Pinterest with no link. I tried to do the same with my armoire. Don’t you love the pinboard on the doors too?

I also had my eye on a yummy duvet cover made by Pine Cone Hill that was on display at a local furniture shop. It was white and soft and had a nubby texture. I am all about making my bed more cozy and this felt amazing. I found it online and it’s called the Montauk Duvet Cover.

They had me at the name! After I finally decided to go for it the next thing was to get a better comforter or duvet insert itself. Pine Cone Hill had duvets in three weights- summer, fall and winter. I had no idea what would be best for Northern California and there was not much information about that in the reviews. I decided to go for the fall weight Savasana Duvet and it has been perfect. It’s light and yet this is the first winter we haven’t needed a blanket on the bed at all and it has been cold!

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am with this new Montauk cover and the comforter and I am wished I did it sooner. You are in your bed so many hours of your life, this is one place money is well spent. A good night’s sleep is everything!

If you read my post about the lovely Ojai home I stayed in, I may have mentioned the sheets. The beds were wonderful in that home and the owner had terrific sheets. When I returned home I started looking for percale sheet reviews online and based on the glowing reviews I ordered this percale set from Parachute..

I also got something similar to these Cloud Shams at Pottery Barn ( my original nearly identical and no longer available.)

They also have a matching Cloud Duvet Cover in many soft colors and it’s a bit more affordable than the Montauk.

Some of the other pretty colors of the PB Cloud..

Parachute also has a Cloud Cover Duvet set with shams…

Two years ago I splurged and bought Serena & Lily Linen sheets. We love them so much I bought another last year when they were 20% off. I find them so soft and especially warm in winter, though a lot of people love them for summer. They just get better with every wash. I lightly dry mine on medium and take out and smooth before they are fully dry and they look beautiful. These are my all time favorites.

For pillows I use two down alternative king size pillows for myself from Pottery Barn. I do wash them, but they need to be changed out after about 2 years or so.

During summer I replace the duvet with a light soft quilt over the sheets. I love it so much I leave it on the bed in winter now under the our duvet comforter in place of a blanket as it’s so soft.. It also makes it easy to make the bed- just smooth this over the sheets and it all looks perfect. This PB one is nearly identical to mine..

Going through the linen closet I realized we had sets of twin sheets for kids beds we do not have anymore and extra king sets that have seen better days. I donated several of the nice sets. Did you know blankets and towels are also welcome by most animal rescues and shelters? Some pet stores have a box to drop them in. Fabric can also be put in the recycling bin if too worn to donate.

Paring down the linen closet, wiping it clean with a natural lavender cleaning spray (I like this Mrs Meyers or the Method one) and then stacking the sheets by sizes and wrapping the sets together the Martha Stewart way with the cases over the sets makes it look and smell pretty.

It is nice to put soaps on the shelf or small lavender sachets in there. I also like pretty papers on the shelves. If your linen closet is jammed like mine was and you have no room, you might try using an armoire for your bedding or an extra chest. I did this a while back with an armoire that used to house a television. It has been a great space for the linens and I feel fancy when I open the doors and it smells dreamy.

About a year and a half ago we got a new Aireloom mattress which is from California, and we love it. They are often on sale at Bloomies as I linked above..It has helped my husband with his back issues so much and I rarely wake up sore anymore.

I can’t wait to jump into bed at night now with my comforter and sheets I feel like I’m sleeping on a cloud.

Do you have certain bed sheets or things you need to sleep well? I also have to have things totally dark and never ever run the heat at night…I also have to read before bed on my side and I usually conk out after a few paragraphs. I try to stay away from screens once I’m in bed.

Happy weekend,

Kim

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