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Holiday Appetizers

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Need festive food for a gathering or upcoming party? Ready to try something new? Well you came to the right spot! Today I am joining a talented group of bloggers in a holiday appetizer roundup. Everyone is sharing something they love for this time of year. I am sharing my simple way to make pretty cheese board.

I find these boards are so popular that you can rely on them to fill most of your appetizer requirements for a gathering. It’s even better if you have a nice board to display it on.

I recently purchased this one from Crate & Barrel above, but I have my eye on these darling ones from Serena & Lily.. I like the leather straps to tote them and the whale spreaders!

I also like this one from Pottery Barn…

Having a good platter is half the battle.

Cheese boards are fun because you can make them seasonal. There is an easy equation to keep it simple- three cheeses, three fruits, and three kinds of crackers. I arrange those in a free-form fashion and fill in with whatever other nuts or salty treats I have on hand. Another touch that will make your cheese board popular is breaking up one or two dark chocolate bars and adding them in by the fruit. I copied this from an appetizer board at a tennis lunch and it’s been a hit every time I since.

The board on top photo was from my Blogger’s Lunch I hosted and it was in fall, so I used apples, pears, persimmons, walnuts and figs. I try and add three cheeses- one soft like a brie, a gouda or a manchego which are firmer, and a goat cheese which I like to drizzle honey and sprinkle almonds or pecans on. Mini apples are in the store now and look cute as a garnish on a fall board if you find them.

In summer I choose things like berries, peaches and apricots, the same cheeses and a little edible flower or two. Sprigs of fresh mint can look and smell pretty with the berries and the same cheeses and crackers.

In winter I like a pomegranate split on the board and the seeds sprinkled on top of a drizzle of honey on the goat cheese. Fruit is harder to come by so dried figs – the Turkish kind, can look pretty sliced in half, and of course citrus should be on a winter board. Clementines are very cute cut in little wedges or peeled and broken up next to dark chocolate. Candied nuts are a holiday touch you can add on a December board.

My go-to crackers are the unbeatable Rainforest Crisps, Trader Joes Pita Crackers, and any long Italian cracker. I also like to add Mary’s Classic Crackers as they are gluten free.

My formula is pretty simple and if you do these frequently it is easy to stock the basics in the pantry and pull one together on the fly. I worry often about them being neat, but sometimes just mounding them up and letting it all organically kind of fall together can look just as pretty, so don’t overthink it and have fun!

Now for more good ideas please stop by lovely partners in this and see what they have in store for you for holiday appetizers….

This is a link to each person’s blog and after their Instagrams so you can follow them there as well..

Melaine My Sweet Savannah @mysweetsavannah

Sheri Sheri Silver @sherisilver

StefanieBeautiful Living with Stefanie Wall @beautiful_living_wtih_stefanie

Mary Ann Classic Casual Home @classiccasualhome 

Cindy Rough Luxe Lifestyle @cindyhattersley 

Annie Most Lovely Things @most_lovely_things

I would love for you to share below in comments if you have a favorite appetizer for holiday get-togethers.

Cheers!

Kim

Cyber Monday Gift Ideas

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It’s been particularly wet and nasty here in California. The idea of getting to the mall sounds a lot less appealing than sitting by the fire with my cats and a cup of hot tea perusing the Cyber Monday deals on my laptop!!

I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving. We did and I’m working on a little recap of a busy week. During the blustery weekend my co-worker kitty and I found a little time to round up some gift ideas for you to get a jump on the shopping. Some of the Black Friday Picks I just wrote about are still going, so check that post if you missed it.

Most of these sales I am listing are for Monday only, but some go for the whole week or longer, so read the details on the site.

I am happy to tell you the Serena & Lily Thank You Event is being extended until 12/3 and now including sale items! This is their biggest sale of the year, so check out my dedicated post to what to buy for the home and for gifts during this event! Everything you love is 25% off right now.

A few more below..

My current favorites for holiday gifts and home.. Top to bottom, left to right:

1 Henley Wool Throw/ 2 Dip-Dyed Cake Stands /3 Coastal Christmas Candle /4 Amelia Rug /5-Beachside Bowls /6 Dalton Flannel Robe & Milo Alpaca Throw/7 Edgewater Lounge Chair /8 Lakeview Rug /9 Hattie Table Lamp

Trina Turk, my favorite California designer is having 30% off site wide, and more on specially selected items- like sweaters and coats. This Liza dress, is 40% off…and so cute for any upcoming holiday parties.

This Suez sweater is 30% off too. Love it for Christmas.

Coats are always fab at Trina and this Black Lace Trench is gorgeous and 40% off!

Athleta, is having 20% off with code BEMOVED. These cute leopard leggings I loved and tried on in our local store and shared on Instagram, are now on the sale as is this cute Transit Crew sweater with piping my friend Kim and I loved in black and grey.

This Metallic Bronze Down Jacket is also marked down today! This sale also works at the store today too, which is great if you can get to one. The new Los Gatos location, above is really pretty.

Minted, another Northern California company like Serena & Lily, has 25% off orders- and free shipping, including art, excluding tote bags. I love so much on their site, especially their cool and unique holiday cards, which I have ordered for 5 years now.

And how cute is something like this personalized stationery? I think something like this Painted Desert design below, is the nicest gift for a friend or family member, and the price is good, even better with a discount.

You can also do something cute like this collage for a grandparent! It’s pretty large -18 x 24. Minted’s photo calendars are a super gift too.

J.Crew is having a fantastic sale up to 55% off in some cases like this cute girl’s reversible jacket for $56 regular $128.

This jeweled button sweater is cute at $49 regular $118 and comes in 7 colors.

This Plush Sherpa Coat is also find at $98 regular $228.

More J.Crew on their site and also at my post I just did on holiday fashion– some of those things are on this sale!

Blue Mercury’s Cyber Monday is a $20 gift card for every $100 purchased and $50 for every $250. Lots of great gifts there like fragrance.. Joe Malone’s are always a hit.. This Wood Sage & Sea Salt is loved by many..

I also like their selection of Lafco candles, which come in the most beautiful scents and glass holders. The Sand & Dune is my favorite, but look at all the choices here. A super gift for hostess. The Ski House smells like winter!

Blue Mercury has all kinds of stocking stuffers, and travel and gift sets too.

Tory Burch is having 30% off anything over $250 and on most of her cute crossbodies and bags with code THANKS. I really love the design and colors of the Mcgraw bag right now..

This offer includes the adorable Tory Sport items in the sale, like this tennis bag below.

And also this ski sweater which is exclusive for Cyber Monday..

Nordstrom has a lot of exclusives for their Cyber Sale. One good deal is this Barefoot Dreams Cozy Cardigan for $73 originally $114, and it comes in 5 colors. These are so soft and are great for someone you want to stay cozy. Everyone loved this brand from college kids to grandmothers. Perfect for a day at the beach, as it is around the house.

These cute waterproof boots are $89 -regular $132 and come in black too. Perfect for running around or for the college kid or family member living in colder and wet climes.

This Kenneth Cole Coat comes in four pretty colors and regular $228 market to $139 for the sale.

These Monogram Scented candles at $19 from $28.

Bloomingdales has a Cyber Sale and most things are some percentage off. Check out their pajama department which is always good. This soft ensemble is a nice gift for a mother-in-law or sister, regular $90 on sale for $63.

..And this P.J. Salvage flannel set is just $46 down from $66. Check out all the Bloomies deals here.

Neimans also has a Cyber Monday thing going on- see all the offerings here.

Please share below if you know great find or deal on Cyber Monday!

Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving week and some downtime. I’m so thankful to all you readers and friends who have visited the blog over the years. Your comments and notes mean so much to me. Thank you!

I’ll be back with a Thanksgiving recap and some cool holiday ideas too.

Kim

Links on this post may sometimes generate commission. Thank you for supporting the blog.

Black Friday Picks

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Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving. We have family visiting and it was so nice to host now that the remodel is done. The day after we always go for a family hike or walk and never shopping. I do like to peruse the deals on Black Friday online though and last year actually got a few great things and a jump start on my Christmas shopping which was nice.

Many retailers began their sales early this year, so I’m linking to a few of my favorites and some of the best buys I like. These sale prices are varying- all are on Friday, some longer. My recommendation is to not hesitate if you like something, as things go pretty fast.

J.Crew is having a blow out 50% off most things on site. This jeweled button popover is just one of a ton of darling things at this fantastic sale.

This ruffle neck sweater (so many colors) is another cute item. Use code FRIDAY at checkout. The men’s area is loaded with cute sweaters for gifting too. Many cute J.Crew items from this post may be on the sale.

Serena & Lily is having their Thank You Event and on this blog post I shared some of the best things and my own purchases.

I have my eyes on is their gorgeous pillows– especially this Bayview Pillow.

Lamps are a good home investment and they have the prettiest collection. I’m loving this Bari Lamp so much!

Other good buys on this sale from them are (below from left), the Seaview Rug, the Henley Wool Throw, the Dalton Flannel Robe the Healdsburg Bath Towels and the darling Bedford Tray– all these and everything you love from Serena & Lily is 25% off with code Thankful right now!

Madewell is having 30% off your purchase with code GIFTWELL. This Mercer sweater is darling in all its shades- a best seller.

It’s a great chance to pick up a pair of their amazing denim! The Cali-demi boot jeans are so flattering.

Trina Turk is also having 25% off on Black Friday. I’m loving this Boscage leatherette dress.

Trina Turk is a super place to get a special occasion holiday dress or top during the sale. Check out their collection of cocktail looks.

Neimans has a few gems, especially in the handbags…

This Tory Burch clutch is so chic for evenings and for travel. It’s marked down to $166 for Black Friday Sale and for every $200 spent you get $50 off including beauty items, so you could add a fragrance or a regular item you buy during this time and get another $50 off!!

This Coach 1941 bag is $120 off at $375. Love the style and the crossbody strap.

This Rebecca Minkoff Suede Tote is the prettiest blue and $203.

Neiman’s Mens Black Friday Sale here.

Nordstrom has some terrific buys on their sale:

This Avec La Filles Moto Coat is adorable with the details and a nice closet addition for $219- 30% off.

This Barbour Plaid Scarf is 50% off at $34! So cute for a guy or gal.

I think Ugg Slippers are one of the nicest gifts that last forever and right now this cute style is 30% off at $69 and comes in tan also.

This pink is pretty cute too, especially for young gals you might need to buy for, and it comes in an orange version also.

This Soft & Cozy Pj set comes in a bunch of cute colors for $49.

Love this Madewell sweater in all its colors- regular $98 it is $58 right now..Cute for a sister, mom or friend.

These Ugg Jogging pants are nice for hibernating at home this winter. Love this color and they are $52 – 40% off.

Gorjana Necklaces are nice and this pendant is 50% off at $34.

Something about this Ted Baker Stripe Sweater is really attractive and it’s marked down 40% to $92.

Love this Baja Poncho Hoodie for the special beach bum in your life by the wonderful brand Faherty, now marked down to $112 from $188.

For the young guys in your life this RVCA Packaway II Hooded Anorak is perfect for throwing in a backpack, but ready to repel rain and wind and is just $39 right now marked down 40%.

I like to get my husband a Bonobos Shirt every Christmas as they fit him so well and he likes the whimsical designs. This Slim Fit Dinosaur Shirt is 30% off at $54 and that is a great price for the quality of these shirts.

Bonobos also makes this slim fit t-shirt with ski jumpers $40, 30% off. I know my sons would love it.

This Vince Classic Fit Stripe T is also a good deal at $65 it’s a 40% savings.

More of the Black Friday and Cyber Sale at Nordstrom here.

Nordstrom is also having their Buy 3 get 1 Free Mascara Event on Saturday the 30th. Pick any 3 mascara, any brands and get the third one deducted off the bill. All the Mascaras here.

Another approach to Black Friday is where a company decides to give to a charity instead of give you a price break. I love that Everlane is giving $10 for every purchase on Black Friday. Since 2014, Everlane has raised over $800,000 for initiatives that help improve the lives of factory workers and clean up the environment. This year they are donating to Oceana to help end single use plastic.

Their Square Silk Shirt is a classic and beautifully made.

I also love this lightweight jacket which comes in many pretty colors. The unique pockets and oversize design is nice.

Their Mac Coat is another great item in other pretty colors as well as this fun blue check.

Go to Everlane’s site to read more about their giving. Their men’s gift guide has sustainable cashmere and jackets as well.

I hope these give you a few ideas and a head start on your holiday shopping! I know things can go fast, so I’ll check back and make sure items are still available. Most of these sales, are for the weekend, but some are just Friday, so check that.

I’ll be back with Cyber Monday post and a Thanksgiving recap! Wishing you some quality time this weekend with nature, family and friends.

Kim

My Holiday Gift and Home Picks From Serena & Lily’s Thank You Event

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Today starts The Thank You Event at Serena & Lily with 25% off and as a partner in design with them, I want to share my picks for holiday gifts and a few of my own things I’ve chosen to get the casa Christmas ready! This event runs November 26- December 3, so you can get a jump on your present shopping and the house spruced up early.

This is the latest Serena & Lily addition to the remodel, our new backyard furniture. I know we are going into winter, but as Californians we use our yard most of the year and I wanted to get this Pacifica Sofa for a long time. We finally bought it during the last sale plus two of the Pacifica Lounge Chairs.

What do you think? I am loving the quality of this furniture and the yard is feeling like another room with that indoor/outdoor vibe! I just need to get one of those heaters for evenings.

Two years ago we sat in the backyard on Thanksgiving. Not sure if we will be doing so this year with rain in the forecast. I’ve had my grey striped Avery Alpaca Throw out here on the deck for the chillier nights!

That Avery throw is one of my most favorite things and would make a kind gift for a special someone- or for yourself for the winter.

Throws are something I always love to receive and I have gifted many over the years. Check out the Serena & Lily throw collection during this event as there is something for everyone. There is nothing nicer to have with you on the couch at night than a luxe throw and they look so good as an accent or a pop of color.

A bench is always a welcoming item if you are having holiday parties and guests. Recently I added the Carson Bench to my entry. Its unique design was based on a bench found at a Paris flea market and it has a vintage look. I’m in love with this piece, how beautifully it’s woven, and the dark stripes. It is a great space to drop my handbag and for everyone coming and going to gather shoes, etc. We mostly don’t wear shoes in the house, so having a bench or seat is really essential in the entry! I am having fun playing with the pillows on this bench. I already had this Thanksgiving one and I love my Winter Beach Pillow’s Bohemian look. I plan on pairing it with something red for December.

Serena & Lily also makes a few other great rattan benches and the Sunwashed Riviera bench was another I considered, especially in this pretty mist color.

I think an entry needs a mirror and I’m crazy about the Cayman Mirror..

I also just ordered this cool one for my pool bath. If you have been following along my remodel saga, this small bath is finally finished, except for the mirror. The Montara Mirror has many sizes and I like the beachy rattan for a pool bath vibe. I’m excited to finally have it together for the holidays because this is also our powder room most of the year. I’ll share a picture of it as soon as the mirror is hung!

This is a snap of the pool bath.. Don’t you think the rattan will be good with this? Just a sneak peek. More to come..

Always a great choice during sales and the Thank You Event is a rug and if you read this post on rugs, you know I just added this Stella Rug, which I am so loving and it completes the dining room.. My Mailbu Chandelier helps make this probably my favorite space in the house.

My friend Debbie who writes Debbscorner on Instagram is renovating her Berkeley home and just got the Stella rug in the runner version and sent me the photo. I love it!

Debbie also just finished a guest room and choose these Serena & Lily linens. What a nice mix of the soft blue Cavallo Linen sheets and the grey dotted pillow! Thank you Debbie for letting me share. You chose some lovely things.

Some of you may be freshening up a guest room like Debbie, so bedding and linens are another smart buy during the sale. These Classic Ring Sheets are their newest and would also chic in a guest room.

Also in my cart this week is The Ryder Denim Rug. It’s got that very California casual feel with its mix of denim and wool. It will be good for our media room which I am setting up as a space for my turntable and record collection, books and reading and also as a space for the guys to hang out and for us all to do board games. French doors in that space open to the pool, so a durable as well as cute is important in a rug here.

Mary Ann Pickett, my friend is an interior designer who writes Classic Casual Home has the runner version in her stylish San Francisco home office. I LOVE this space she created. She also has the most amazing views. More of Mary Ann’s gorgeous home on this post.

Isn’t that lamp cute? She also got that at Serena & Lily.. The Flynn Table Lamp also comes with a wicker shade if you prefer.

Check out the S&L lighting during the sale. Their table lamp collection is especially cool. Lamps are just one of those things people keep for decades so they are worth spending a little more on and they can really make things look upscale. Like good accessories, a few nice ones make everything look better.

My current favorite is this Halsey Table Lamp with its bamboo shape and Hawaiian vibe. I would love it in the media room. Stay tuned..

Everyone is busy this holiday week, but if you need anything for the holidays take a few minutes to check out the Thank You Event as things can go fast sometimes.

Some great picks from this sale event for the holiday home and gifts…

  1. These Salento Linen Napkins are so beautiful and also come in navy, flax and white in sets of 4, 8 or 12. What a kind gift tied and so cute with the prettiest tassels. I love the sky color.
  2. You are all set to style your holiday drink station with the South Seas Bar Cart. I love that you can roll it outside in the summer and use it in between for photos and books.
  3. These Wood and Marble Servers are gorgeous and are the perfect hostess gift for someone who entertains. They have that California vibe and I’d love to add these to my special pieces to my entertaining bits!
  4. These Beachside Serving Boards are the perfect size for an expansive holiday cheese board or just cool on the backsplash.
  5. The cute Whale Spreaders are darling for the cheese board or a fun hostess gift with a bottle of wine.
  6. I love that the Pinecone Wreath can be used year after year and with it’s luxe velvet bow, is so classic and pretty for Christmas. It would be lovely on a colorful front door or on a French Door or window.
  7. The Westwind Toile Trays have been on my radar for some time with their soft blue and darling design made of birch. I kind of think they are perfect for the bedside to corral things and protect a side table.
  8. A sweet gift for friends or to make your house smell like the holidays, the Christmas Coastal Candle was made in South Carolina of soy and smells like pine, douglas fir, cinnamon, clove, woody cedar and lasts up to 50 hours. The Blue Jeans, White Shirt candle would be just the thing for a few California girlfriends I can think of.
  9. The Dalton Flannel Pajamas are on my own Christmas list and come in chambray and fog colors and are made of eco- friendly cotton in Portugal for snuggly nights.
  10. For the beach house vibe, the Henley Wool Throw is it. Made by hand in Peru, it will be something everyone fights over on cozy winter nights.
  11. For the world traveler in your life, Holiday is a beautiful tribute to the vintage Holiday magazine that was published from 1946-1977. If you are like me and adore vintage fashion, travel and photography, this book is a gem!
  12. Serena & Lily’s La Jolla Baskets are always a great thing to get during sales as they are one of their signature items and you cannot find similar baskets made as beautifully. They are so cute for blankets in the family room, laundry, toys and shoes by the entry. I can think of so many ways to use these!
  13. The Dip Dyed Stools are another S&L signature and have been popping up everywhere as plant stand which looks so cute with ferns. I would use mine in the bath to hold towels and soaps. Love the grey and navy colors too.

Exclusions on this sale are items in the sale section, gift certificates, art, and Limited-Edition PUBLIC® C7 Bike.

The code for this sale is THANKFUL.

I hope you find things to help with your gift shopping and holiday home prep here. Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving week!

Kim

Marlo posing with my Addie Striped Pillow on our new sofa!

I wrote this post in partnership with Serena & Lily. Links may generate commission. Thank you for supporting the blog.

My New Serena & Lily Rug

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It’s that time of year when many of us are motivated to spruce up the house for guests with the upcoming holidays and a new rug is one of the easiest ways to do that. I just added a Serena & Lily rug to my dining room and I think it makes the space.

This is my new Stella Rug, which I am thrilled about. I love the tones and its graphic design for my house. It just pulled everything together- the neutrals and the greys in here, and I like the modern look. I also love the New Zealand wool it’s made of, which is so soft underfoot.

This Stella rug is hand-tufted so it has an artisan feel as each one is slightly different. It’s also Oeko-Tex certified which means it’s free of harmful chemicals. I love that. It also comes in a gorgeous navy.

This is the one thing I needed to cozy up the open space together and make the dining room feel more elegant. I’m still in love with my Malibu Chandelier! I think that is the best purchase I made for the remodel as it sets the vibe for the house with it’s California look.

Well the cats certainly love the rug.. Not sure if I’m thrilled about that! Up close you can see, the rug is so lovely. It has small dots in a lighter cream, and another kind of weave in the zig-zags. Photos don’t do it justice. It’s literally the nicest rug I’ve ever owned.

A larger shot of the whole space. The Balboa Counter Stools have been great and are wearing beautifully, though in constant use! You can see I still have bare walls.. I am working on that. About one thing a week is getting done..

I recently added this Carson Bench I had my eye on. It fit perfectly in our entry space. I am crazy about the weaving on this bench. Everyone stops here to put their shoes on so it’s been most convenient as well as cute!

I still need to figure the wall space. I hope to wallpaper this entry area, and possibly add a large round mirror above the bench.

The Winter Beach Pillow is nice here. Both have that natural vibe.

My Seaview Runner is still looking spiffy and if you get one thing from the rug sale- this is such a good value with it’s stain and water resistance.

Other chic rugs to take a peek at during this sale ..

This Jute Border Rug..really affordable and durable for a family room area or an entry, or I was thinking it could be cute in one of the boy’s bedrooms. It also comes in an ivory stripe and a denim.

The Casco Wool Rug is heathered and would be a nice option for a family space as it won’t show wear as much. I love this blue, but there is also a beautiful fog color.

The Lakeview Rug is also cool..

The Ryder denim & wool rug is another I’ve had my eye on for a bedroom or a runner. .. I love it in this dining space on the Serena & Lily site.

All of Serena & Lily’s beautiful rug collection can be found here. I can tell you anything you buy from them is exceptional quality. I’ve been so happy to share about this Northern California company and be a partner in design with them.

P.S. I just noticed they added a lot of pretty new pieces to their site that I am drooling over like this Wooster Console..

And this Edgewater Lounge Chair! OMG I can think of so many places this would look cool..

I hope you find just the thing for your own space. Anything you buy through links on my posts help support this blog. Thank you so much!

Kim

My New Pillows and Things to Love from Serena & Lily’s Friends & Family Sale

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I know so many of you have asked more about Serena & Lily since I wrote my post about my new kitchen. I’m so glad you all also love their things! Serena & Lily is known for their high quality bedding and specially made lighting, furniture and unique home accents. They exude California coastal style and now you have a chance to get some of that California chic at a discount. Beginning today, October 2- 14, they are having their Friends & Family Sale with 20% off nearly everything if you use code BEOURGUEST at checkout.

This is a great time to get a few new items to refresh the house for the upcoming holiday season. I just added a new mix of Serena & Lily pillows and a beautiful alpaca throw to my white couch. In keeping with the neutrals in the house, I chose greys and beiges, but picked pillows with some texture and patterns. I have never had such beautifully made pillows before. Each one is like a little work of art, so lovely.

The tassels, fringe and woven bits are gorgeous. I now see the difference between high quality pillows like these and what you can find for $20. These lovelies give my white couch and the whole room a bit more luxe feel and upgraded look!

I’m having fun deciding how to best arrange my pillowscape! I might later use the white pillows in the bedroom and keep the grey tones on the couch. They all work well with the mist color of my new Balboa Counter Stools.

I brought the grey wool Amalie pillow out by the pool and used my pretty new Avery Alpaca throw to keep an early evening chill off. It’s made of baby alpaca, which is warmer than other wools and softer than cashmere. You have choices with this throw as one side has windowpane checks and the other a border stripe. I’ve been taking it with me all over the house since it turned cool in the evenings and mornings. I may make it my personal blankie and I don’t want to share!

Below are some of my favorites from the Serena & Lily sale and a few I have on my wish list..

Left to right and top to bottom:

I hope you find something to love here. This is a good opportunity to try Serena & Lily’s beautiful California style products during the sale. Don’t forget to use code BEOURGUEST when checking out to get the 20% off. Exclusions apply to final sale, art, gift certificates and bikes.

This post was a collaboration with Serena & Lily. Opinions, photos and writing are my own and some links may generate commission which helps support this blog. Thank you!

Kim

Monday Musings – My New Yard, Pumpkins and Dining Room

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How was your weekend? We got a little hint of the chill of fall and it was so nice. I even bought a cozy dark green sweater and got my boots out of the back of the closet! Thanks everyone for the lovely comments about the new kitchen. We are STILL wrapping it up here. Got both the back and the front yards finished this week and the garage all redone- cabinets and an epoxy floor. More faucets and electrical that were backordered going in this week…Then possibly final inspection. Whew…I just want to be done.

My new house numbers are up. My builder Mike McCloud, put them in for me Friday and they are Neutra Modern House Numbers. I first had some others bought locally and Mike said, no look for something extends out of the house a bit and is heavier. I did so and these are hugely nicer than anything else I have seen. They come with very specific instructions on how to space them. I went with uneven spacing, what do you think? The four is slightly farther out than the rest which they recommend.

I love that it’s October- well almost, so bring on the pumpkins! My lovely landscape designer Carla Olivet brought me our first pumpkin of the season. The orange contrasts nicely with the blue of the new door. Thank you Carla!

Right now our local flower inspiration spot, Bunches has the most gorgeous assortment of pumpkins. I like to buy one or two special ones to keep on my table until Thanksgiving. Take a stroll through there if you want inspiration.

I love having a black table at Halloween as pumpkins look great on it. My Malibu Chandelier from Serena & Lily is really my style- with the beads and the woven elements and probably my most favorite thing I chose for the house. I think it makes the dining room with the wood and mirrored bar. Their chandeliers are very modern and fun while still giving a bit of elegance. More beautiful Serena & Lily pillows I choose on another post later this week..

What do you think of my smoky mirrored backsplash? If you remember, from previous posts, I choose this as kind of an homage to my parent’s 1970’s house. Both Max’s parents and mine, and probably yours, had a wall of these smoky mirror tiles when we were growing up. When I saw this in a tile form, I thought it would be a great light reflector for the bar with all the glass and give it that 70’s in California feel.

My friend Ani surprised me with these beautiful Waterfall Champagne Coupes from Anthro as a housewarming present. I had coupes on the brain after loving them on my London trip! I can’t wait to have some friends over and have bubbles!

I was slightly concerned this mirrored tile might be too busy, but it turned out better than expected. The tile is called Yesterday’s Glass and it’s by Jeffery Court. If you are in the Bay Area I got it at Tile Fantastic.

Speaking of Carla, she helped me realize my dream of a French Mediterranean type of landscape with a combo of boxwoods, olives, cypresses, and small bushes that attract bees and hummers. I LOVE the DG or decomposed granite that was added and pressed on top. They have this all over France and I always knew I wanted it, though you see it less here in California.

We used two larger olive trees and added three new large cypress to match my neighbor’s tall ones and fill in a spot where we took out an ancient juniper I hated. Most of the other plants grow into small bushes and are low maintenance like lavender, Wheeler’s Dwarf (a namesake plant!), Meerlo lavender, lomandra, westringia, and Little Ollies with some agaves in front of the walls. Now we just have to wait for all these babies to fill in and spread out over the fall and winter. It looks like there is not enough, but they need room to grow and take off. I want this not to be crowded when that happens. We tried to go with plants in groups of threes and just a few varietals repeated so the yard wouldn’t look busy. Hoping it will someday grow into something like this…

I cannot say enough about the guys who spent two weeks here transforming my derelict front yard back to life.. The Garden Group is a small local business run by a talented guy Cristobal Torres. Cris comes every day and checks everything with his hard working team and gives ideas along the way about lighting, plants and suggestions about what might look good and even what you might get rid of..

I had years of backyard clutter. You know how it just adds up after a while? Cris and Carla said, ‘Kim maybe it’s time to say goodbye to some of it.’ You just don’t notice it after being in a space so long. Since this house is now on the more modern side and I’m starting fresh, I agreed. I did the Marie Kondo thing and said thank you to the many terra-cotta pots of geraniums, the multiple teak and wrought iron benches that came with the house, the wonky garden ornaments, (okay I kept a stone turtle from my dad), and more. Today I am the owner of modern pots! Aren’t these lovely? Got them at Pottery Planet in Los Gatos. I don’t even know who I am anymore. Change is feeling good! I have to thank my friend Jen for the inspiration as she’s done this in her yard and it’s so nice.

I’m kinda loving them! Still deciding on what to have planted in them.

This is view to the back. The whole expanse above the pool was redone with creeping fig along back which should grow to cover the new fence that went in last fall plus more plants like in front and some mini cypress called Tiny Towers for height. You can see we raised the fence on the left and expanded the upper patio so more space up there could be utilized for hanging out. As we have a pool that wraps around the yard with a lap lane, space is at a premium back here. I’m eventually moving these wicker lounges to the upper part and want get a cool sectional or sofa out here. I hope the citrus and creeping fig to cover the fence and make a tall green wall.- Stay tuned. It’s a work in progress. Lights are going back here and a few in the front on the path and my olive trees.

One thing we really are loving is these modern Matthis outdoor lights. Not sure if I mentioned these before, but they give the nicest pool of light. Soft, but enough to light the area without being invasive. They are dark sky compliant which I wrote a post about, and is what you want in outdoor lights for your health and for the aesthetic reasons too..

They just look so good -and don’t shine into your neighbor’s house and give a lovely atmosphere. I have 6 in my back because of city regulations by doors and they give the perfect amount of light.

By the way, I’m going to list all the paint colors, materials and more about the baths, master bedroom and family room in an upcoming post, so thanks for asking. The London Trip Part 2 is still in the pipeline and other good things this week- specifically some more pretty things I choose from Serena & Lily that I can’t wait to show you.

Well I better get out of my pajamas..more plumbers are on the way! Hope you are enjoying the change in weather and have a good week!

Kim

P.S. Special shout out to sweet Lisa, a darling reader who lives in Tahoe and recognized me shopping at the The Rack last week. Lisa did you guys get snow up there already? I saw some beautiful photos of Lake Tahoe this weekend and it looked magical. xo

Life at My New Kitchen Counter with Serena & Lily

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I’m so excited to share our home remodel with you guys and I thought I’d begin with my favorite space, the kitchen. It’s finally fall this week and I’m ready for baking and warm comfort foods! Do you all feel the same? It makes me so happy right now to spend time in here.

When I was planning this house, I used a binder to collect all my dream images, and in that were Serena & Lily catalogs that I used for inspiration. I bought some of my favorite pieces for the house from Serena & Lily, my Malibu Chandelier in my dining room, and my Capiz Scalloped Light in my entry. I am in love with both and they have made the spaces in this home look modern and stylish.

Everything they do is very light and pretty and has a California casual aesthetic, which, if you’re a frequent reader of my blog, you know I adore. I had to read my email twice when they asked me to partner on a post about Life at The Kitchen Counter. I rarely do partnerships, but this is a company I have loved for a long time. They are based in Northern California, Sausalito in fact. Their products have turned out to be the best quality pieces I chose for this remodel.

Since everyone gravitates around the kitchen, having a big island has always been a dream for me. I wanted to have room for us to spread out and for the seating to be comfy as well as stylish. I found both in these Balboa Counter Stools from Serena & Lily. The mix of the grey rattan with the brass accents is so elegant!

In the kitchen, as in the whole house, I went with my favorite materials -woods, natural stones and variations on white and grey. It’s livened up by the brass accents on these stools and my dark gold drawer pulls and knobs. The bits of gold are like jewelry for the room and give it a touch of glam and fun.

Worry not that I’ve chosen white cushions and have boys in the house! The white basketweave chair pads are made of Perennials, a stain resistant fabric that repels water and resists fading. They look chic, but they are also comfy and the guys have been hanging here and I am okay with their tacos etc… Everything just brushes right off! How cool is that?

Known for their fresh take on casual dining and home, Serena & Lily were the perfect choice for the look I was going for. They embody the California lifestyle very well with materials that are luxe and casual chic, yet never stiff or formal. Inviting is how everything feels and looks.

This Serena & Lily’s Seaview Rug is my other favorite thing in the kitchen. I wanted a long runner for the kitchen, something cool with a pattern, but that would wear well. This rug is made of recycled plastic and is water and UV resistant, yet feels like an expensive wool rug underfoot. It’s nice that you can spot clean it and also hose it off outside if you need to! Helpful with all these young guys who like to cook. So far everyone’s a fan, including the cats, who we have to step around when cooking dinner.

I like that you can flip this rug and use the other side at some point. I think this affordable rug was a smart investment and I am going to order another for our hallway.

This is the grey color of the Seaview Runner which is 2.6 x 10 feet. I also love the Turnstone Rug made of the same material.

For an open light feeling I went with open shelving on the uppers and have some of my pottery pieces from my trip to Positano here. Next to the stove I placed this cute ceramic Spinnaker Tray with rattan handles. It plays well with my mix of materials and I love that it reminds me of Hawaii with its tropical look.

The tray is handy next to the stove and holds my olive wood spoons from my travels and today these pretty Brela Napkins. I also use the tray on the island to hold more cloth napkins and bites when entertaining like below.

I am kind of a tray addict as they are a chic way of displaying your things, while keeping areas tidy. Serena & Lily has the most wonderful selection of trays in many colors and materials. This Spinnaker Tray also comes in Navy. My other favorites are this gorgeous Stonington fossilized clam shell tray (would be stunning on a bar), this Leila Bone Round tray is elegant for a bathroom or vanity counter, and I am in love with this set of three Marine Trays made of enamel and brass, so cool for a coffee table. I also have a crush on this wicker Bedford Tray and want it for an outdoor bar I hope to set up soon.

Isn’t this a fun way to set up a casual entertaining? Have everyone grab their items from a tray.

We’re loving our island for most of our meals now. I feel bad for the dining room, but it’s just so easy to cook here and set a cute meal quickly. I’ve been using cloth napkins exclusively now for years and I would never go back. They give meals a quality that paper napkins just can’t. I do one load of cloth napkins a week and never iron them, just fold them when warm.

Do you use a step-stool in the kitchen? My friend Erin came by and saw my new Teak Step Stool and flipped out about how cute it was. I think the wood and white is darling. Being on the shorter side, I’ve used it a ton already for my high cabinets and to get to my top open shelves. It’s sturdy enough that Max has has been using it for putting up bulbs and things. It is super durable teak and would be cute in a kid’s bath at the sink as well. Everyone can use one of these!

I hope you are loving the change of season as much as I am. Do you find yourself at the kitchen more as the weather turns cooler? I sure do. I’m looking forward to making soups and baking, pumpkins, pear tarts, and all the goodness that is coming. I hope this gives you a little glimpse into my new kitchen and some autumn inspiration!

Thank you to Serena & Lily for collaborating on this post and helping to sponsor the blog. As always, all opinions, writing, photos and mini-pumpkins on this blog are exclusively my own. 😉

Kim

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