#serenaandlily

My New Office, Puffy Purses & Weekend Meanderings

February 18, 2022 By kimwheeler 31 Comments

Hello and happy weekend. It’s our weekend round-up time with Juliet and Elizabeth and I’m sharing a few things that popped on my radar this week..

My little office space is finally done and thought I’d share. After a wait, my desk chair arrived and the whole thing came together pretty easily once I made the decision to make this small space my own. I had originally wanted this space, which was our former kitchen, to be a small conversation or game spot for my kids, but that really didn’t happen. Since it’s been sitting here kind of unused, except for when I popped in here and read, it really became the perfect spot for a small study. My friend April suggested it, and once it was in my brain, it took off from there.

It kind of began with the rattan bookshelf from Serena & Lily which fit in a small niche here, and then this rug, ordered last year, seemed perfect and whimsical. After Christmas, I finally went for it and bought a desk and a chair. All my personal favorite furniture pieces are in here -a cool piece of art, a couple of swivel chairs, a white lamp I love, and a rattan chair with a cozy throw so my co-worker, Ms Cat, can snuggle nearby. I have a little succulent plant in a white pot, a vase that holds my pencils and pens, and a tray for odds and ends. My shelf has some of my Domino magazine collection, rope baskets to hold cords, etc, and some of my favorite design books. I also have a pouf to rest my feet up on if I want!

My glass desk I chose to keep the area light and as it’s in front of my French doors. I wanted this one from Williams Sonoma, but after seeing the reviews and photos of this one from Living Spaces, I chose it for the slightly smaller size and quite a price difference. They also have a nearly identical one on Wayfair in two sizes. I was very happy with the heavy glass and sturdy frame. My desk chair was also pretty affordable and on sale now and I liked the sherpa look in here with my mix. It’s adjustable height and for me is perfect for support and sitting working many hours.

These are some of the pieces that I used in my office and I tried to add similar choices in other price points..

Clockwise from top left: Love this white lamp , white rope baskets (on sale), Serena & Lily denim rug (similar to mine), and this denim rug, another flatweave denim option, my Balboa bookshelf, this cane bookshelf, and this Pacific Bookcase, Studio McGee boucle pillow, and swivel chair (similar), Anthro vase/pencil cup.

It seems like this week flew by… and our kayak trip to Sausalito last weekend turned out to be a lot of fun. We just kind of meandered along the harbor and went down the house boat ‘streets’ which was great house gawking. Only a sea lion came near and most boats were out in the boat lane. Afterwards we had lunch at a darling spot called Le Garage right at the harbor and it was French bistro food with very a fun vibe, views of the boats, great music and people watching.

After lunch, we drove through Sausalito and it was bustling on a sunny February day. We vowed to go back soon and check out all the little spots with views of the city. If you haven’t been to Sausalito in a while, this is a lovely time of year to go. You can combine it with a kayak or a stroll across the Golden Gate and make a day of it. More photos are on my Instagram.

A story of a local Eichler remodel made its way into Elle Decor this week and this home is a beauty. Built in 1971 for a Stanford professor who was a friend of Eichler, it’s been updated by a new family with four young girls using the spaces in new ways, fresh colors and a mix of patterns and textures. It is so uplifting!

I think this sort of happy, eclectic interior is something we will be seeing a lot more of. People are in their homes much more now and we want light, bright and joyful, don’t you think? I’m sure the kids growing up here are loving it. The mom also sounds very cool and someone who just got a more unisex shoe- the ballet flat, added to the Emoji spectrum, so it’s not just a stiletto for women. I applaud that. The whole story and photos here. The interior was done by the talented Jessica Davis. You can follow her also on Instagram here.

As for fashion, I’ve been obsessing now on puffy bags-quilted ones particularly. I found this quilted tote at Bloomingdales and loved the shape and lightness. I didn’t know it was a dupe of a very expensive Khaite bag! Here I am wearing it -(used my son’s room.)

It also comes in a cream and a smaller cross-body version and other colors. I don’t know how to describe why it’s so appealing, but it has something of a generic chicness to it that I dig and I am tempted to get another.

This is the Khaite bag, nearly identical except it’s leather and this is vegan ‘leather.’

It’s also $2,300 vs $98.

I also noticed Frances Valentine has a version of a quilted ‘puffer’ bag too, and it’s quite cute.

I think these lightweight and easy bags will get even more popular as they feel like nothing to carry and a kind of label-less which I think people want more and more as the designer bag market is so over saturated.

Do you watch Vogue’s Beauty Videos? I love them and was excited to see Brooke Shields, who is also 56, on this week. She’s very real and it’s nice seeing people without their makeup. I can feel better about all my spots and blotches and I like her tips ..

I worked for 6 years in cosmetics at Nordstrom back when I was going to school and I still am a bit obsessed with skincare and makeup. I’m wondering if you all would be interested in some of my favorite skincare and makeup things if I do a post? I eventually left that job to do an advertising position, but continued to freelance and do makeup for weddings and a few events for a while. It was a fun time in my 20’s and I met so many cool people and learned loads about skincare and makeup… Perhaps more stories for another day!

Now please go see what great ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you this week..

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Have a beautiful weekend!

x Kim

You might also like : Signature Style: Leopard in the Wardrobe, our Signature Style post for the month was last Tuesday and a lot of fun.

If you’d like to get an email when I post, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month! Thank you so much, as Bloglovin seems to have stopped working and I no longer post as much on Facebook and plan to do less there.

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Last Minute Books and Other Good Things

December 21, 2021 By kimwheeler 3 Comments

I know I am still sending a few last minute things that fell off my radar … I was surprised how many books can still be delivered before December 25 if you order today. I thought I’d do a roundup of my faves and a few new good ones that I want too!

Also, if you’ve got your head down and missed it, today is the last day for the additional 15% off the Sale items at Serena & Lily and two things I love are on it, this Tivoli Pillow Cover, just $79 plus the additional, and the Norfolk Bath Towels, which are beautiful quality and now $14-$29 and additional discount..Other good things to grab are the Cobble Hill Pillow and my Blake Console is too. Use the code CELEBRATE If you order by today you can get this FEDEX’ by the 24th, but I suspect most people would be buying for themselves.

Now onto the books.. I’m trying this boutique widget to make it easier for you to just click on the item. Let me know how this goes. And please below add any good book recommendations you have loved this year. I’ve added a lot of cookbooks as they are my favorites..

I hope things are going well this week. I’m running out to grab a few last things before rain begins here for a while.

I’ll be back soon with a Christmas or New Year’s dinner post idea for you!

Have a great day,

Kim

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Friday Finds

October 1, 2021 By kimwheeler 25 Comments

Happy October! Today just a quick post to share a few good finds I’ve had on my radar and mentioned on the gram in the past week. I haven’t done one of these for a while, so I thought I’d cull everything together in one crazy post!

So far I’ve only filled my Centerpiece Bowl from Crate & Barrel with gourds and little pumpkins on the island. Last year I had these guys in another wooden bowl.. I guess I sort of go with a similar theme, wooden containers always!

I’m getting excited for fall clothes and just bought this shirtdress at J.Crew. It’s now on sale which I missed. I love how they styled it here.. ( hard to see, but it has pin tucks.) I’ll report back when I receive it… I also bought this necklace…

In the interim, these corduroy shorts by Carve have been my go-to. Love them for fall days with sweaters and sweatshirts. I like the mid-rise and 4 inch inseam. They have a retro vibe and comfort I really love. I bought mine at REI, but I don’t see them there anymore, but they can also be found here at Amazon.

There are so many pretty colors I may get another pair. I like the thyme and tan and cinnamon shades. You can also buy them here at Title Nine where they also come in a longer 10 inch inseam.

I wore the shorts for day all over Tahoe last weekend. It was so nice to be back there again after two months of scary fires and smoky weather. It’s a beautiful time to go to Tahoe and they need the tourists badly. We did some bike rides and picnics and just enjoyed fall walks.

I wore the shorts with my Frame scalloped black sweatshirt – one of my favorite things.

Frame has a beautiful fall collection this year. Everything is chic, casual, and modern. The whole collection here. I want to add a few more pieces to my wardrobe. They are a bit more pricey, but beautifully made and classics with a twist.

While I was in Tahoe, I found these cute mugs for the cabin. I adore the Swiss Cross pattern for mountain homes and these mugs were at a shop in Truckee and , but can also be bought here.

Looking for them online, I found this cozy Swiss Cross throw I will get for the bottom of the guy’s beds at the cabin.. or maybe here at home. They are highly rated and come in a grey too. It’s a great look folded on a the end of a bed or on the arm of a couch.

Amazon does SOMETIMES have good things and occasionally I find stuff. Two other things I’ve loved from there lately..

One is these wooden beads that popped up when I was buying some floor cleaner! They looked nice and so I figured why not? They are surprisingly even cuter in person and I have them on a book stack in the media room..

My other new obsession from Amazon is this soap called Hand Ritual. Made in the CALIFORNIA! The bottles look great, smells light and lovely and my hands feel soft. My designer Debbie who did the space planning for the home brought the soap over when she took photos of the house and I was hooked. It’s also vegan, plant based and cruelty free. Looks cool in the guy’s bathroom..

I finally bought this book – Danielle Rollin’s A Home for All Seasons. I was looking for a book to inspire me with the holidays coming and this is a great one. Clearly most of us don’t have the funds she does to entertain, but I am finding the way she lives- the beautiful organization of the pantry and linen closet, along with the beautiful desk and stationery and pens something we could all do in our own way. Why not make every space lovely? This gets me motivated to make my house just as organized and pretty.

Don’t forget if you have been waiting on any Serena & Lily purchases they are having their big fall sale now, until October 5th. They are having 20% off most everything. I am buying a few more of their gorgeous towels. I have loved the softness, and quality so much! Two years later they are still soft and not fraying one bit. Use the code NEWSEASON until October 5th.

Have you all been watching more shows? Max and I have been getting into more since fall has come. We broke down and got Apple TV and it’s been worth it for Ted Lasso alone. That show has to be the most uplifting program I’ve ever watched – and who doesn’t need that now? I’m just trying to figure out how to get my dad to be able to watch it also. The Morning Show we have started and while not as upbeat, it’s full of good acting and fab homes and the wardrobes of Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon which I’m loving.

Remember this sweater from my jean posts? Well Mary Ann from Classic Casual Home just bought it in petite and she looks great in it with boots. I think it’s appealing with the flowers. It’s rare to see a nice cashmere sweater with a good print. A few other friends have bought it too. I just wanted to share cute Mary Ann’s way of wearing it. She bought it in a petite and it comes in plus and regular too.

I am sorry I’ve been slow posting the last month. I have been easing into fall, but have two posts coming in the next weeks- a cozy home collaboration and talking about leather- or faux leather, for Signature Style so stay tuned.

Have a beautiful autumn weekend !

Kim

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Loving Rattan and Serena & Lily

June 29, 2021 By kimwheeler 10 Comments

I am resharing this post from last fall… If you’re just popping by now in May 2022, use the code GOFORIT with any of these links for the Serena & Lily Sale until 5/31/2022. It’s a great time to get their beautiful things.

I just ordered the Balboa Bookshelf I’ve been dreaming about from Serena & Lily . I won’t get it for a while, but I’m excited to add another rattan piece to my home. I realized I’ve collected many beautiful pieces from Serena & Lily and most of them are rattan!

I can’t wait to style this bookshelf which is going in a niche in my media room, off our our pool deck. I think this has a California feel and will be perfect for the space don’t you?

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..I just bought and inhaled 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.

Inspired by this book, I thought I’d share the rattan pieces I own from Serena & Lily and a few others I think are fantastic. I’ll start with what I have in my home..

The Balboa Counter Stool is rattan built on a mahogany frame with brass accents. Ours are going on two years and with boys and a lot of use, not a strand has even been loose on them. They are comfy and I love the light grey in my home as a contrast to the wood tones.

I also love it 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, which was a bit bland before.

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!)

This is the room where my new bookshelf will go. I think with the chairs and the rug it will be a beachy feel. ( My denim rug is from another season, but this is close and also denim.

Serena & Lily has a lot of lovely choices in rattan chairs. Let’s look at my current favorites..

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.

And then there is this Venice Rattan Chair which is most affordable of the chairs and so cute in a pair..

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. I have one outside my door and one in my entry. The rattan 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…

How about a chic table for living room, hallway or bedside? I am very obsessed with the Scallop Side Table.

The Flynn Wall Sconce also adds charm to a bedside or a reading spot.

I have been cyber stalking the Santa Barbara Taper Pendant for my kitchen island. 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.

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 Summerwood Basket is especially lovely for extra towels or to hold a plant.

The Rattan Magazine Holder is a cool item. I could really use this. My mother had one back in the 70’s and I haven’t seen such a cute one until now..

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.

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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Fun Things -Plus The Serena & Lily Summer Sale

May 27, 2021 By kimwheeler 6 Comments

Just a quick post with a few fun things.. First, I wanted to let everyone know starting today, Serena & Lily has 20% off everything at The Summer Event. This will be the biggest sale of the season. Use code DIVEIN for 20% off from 5/27 – 6/1. I know a few of you sent me notes about ordering things I have in my house like the barstools and rug, and also my outdoor furniture. This is a great time to pick an item up on sale! A few of the fun summer things..I am going to order this bookcase I have been thinking about.

The La Jolla Basket is one of my favorite S&L things and is cute in a bath for towels and laundry or to hold kid’s toys. I have mine in my new closet and I love how it looks and hides the laundry.
The Palm Pillow Cover for outdoors is in four colors and is water and UV resistant to last many seasons. I love the navy and light blue in this, but the green and sand colors look very Palm Beachy and chic.
I have this Pacifica Lounger in and the matching sofa (8.) in the unbleached Driftwood color and love them. They are made of a resin that looks like wicker and is so strong. After almost two years, mine still look like new.
The Mallorca Beach Towels remind me of my trip to Sorrento where the hotels all have lovely striped beach towels! These come in a Turkish Cotton and 6 colors with a pretty fringe. I’d love to have a stack on my deck!
The Sunbrella Lido Pillow comes in three sizes and many colors. Love the colored piping and button detail..
Campagna Beach Towels come in round or rectangle and so lovely!
The Teak Beach Chair comes in three adorable fabrics and is a backpack style for easy toting around. For little adventures or even on your deck

Everything on the sale you can view at Serena & Lily. Sale ends June 1st.

Speaking of Sorrento..

Are you missing travel? After a more than a year of home time, I’ve really got the travel bug. We are planning a family summer trip, but not abroad. Pictures of our summer trip to Positano and Sorrento recently came up on my photos and I was feeling wistful for all the beauty there. I thought maybe others would enjoy the pretty hotel in Sorrento and its blue aesthetic and get ideas for future travel plans..I shared it on my Instagram this week and saved it on the highlights if you want to see more and get the particulars. Here’s hoping we will all travel more soon…

If France is on your list, Conde Nast Traveller just published its Prettiest Towns in Provence . I’ve been to a few on this list, like Eze, L’Isle Sur La Sorgue and Aix, but there are a lot on this list I had never heard of. Definitely one to bookmark and use to plan future adventures.

They also have a great guide- A Road Trip Through Provence’s Lavender Fields. Just wonderful to see, even if you have no trip planned.

All these Provence photos Conde Nast.

One thing we can all use for travel is a sun hat that folds. I just bought this canvas hat at Anthropologie and it is flattering too.. Frances Valentine has the identical hat for a lot more. This is a good price -$38.

Anthro also has the CUTEST fringe tote which I am still thinking of..Love the braided straps. What a fun travel tote and also beach/pool bag when you arrive!

Because I haven’t been doing my usual tennis and walking due to my toe injury, I am obviously feeling a bit heavier, so started to eat cleaner. I’m on my third day of no sugar and it’s been fine. I’m trying to stay away from refined carbs and bread too. I was stuck for what to make for dinners and remembered these grain bowls with hummus we did last summer…

I start with dollop of hummus in each, and add chickpeas, walnuts, avocado slices, romaine spears, tomatoes, sliced bell peppers and quinoa- ( I use Whole Foods frozen). The guys like shredded chicken added to theirs too. I give each a few turns of fresh pepper and some crunchy sea salt and drizzle with some olive oil. Pretty easy and filling too.

I’m looking for more clean recipes so I’ll share any good ones I get. I also made this PF Chang’s Lettuce Cups from Damn Delicious on Monday and that one is definitely going on the rotation- so good and pretty healthy too. ( I forgot to take photos- next time!) Please share any great sites or recipes you love for clean eating if you care to in comments! I find it so helpful to hear what others are doing too.

Well, that’s it friends. Wishing you some fun for the long weekend

Kim

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All photos property of Northern California Style unless stated.

Good Things This Weekend

March 13, 2021 By kimwheeler 13 Comments

Can you guys believe we have been in this pandemic for a whole year now? I remember the exact moment it sunk in that it might be a lot more than a few weeks at home. We were having one of our pantry dinners we so diligently turned out for weeks on end, and Max said, ‘You know it’s more likely we will still be in this until August or more.’ That seemed so scary to me and here we are a year later.. A year that has changed everyone in some way or another. I do feel hopeful though, especially this weekend I noticed so many seniors eating outdoors and doing things. It made me a bit emotional seeing so many of them having fun after this past year.

Anyway, without going on, I have a few things to share this week. I’ve come to realize now I am living in sweatshirts.. The ruffled ones specifically. Guess that’s my flair right now. It’s been chilly and wet and there are a few good ones from Target that are cuter than a lot more expensive ones out there. This is my most favorite..

There’s very few sizes left in my color, but there is other colors in most sizes and a few other colors..

(UPDATE: This sweatshirt already sold out online in most colors since I wrote this a day ago! Darn I hate when that happens…You may have luck finding it in the store as it is now a sale item. I did find other ruffled sweatshirts from Rebecca Minkoff, also this one at Nordys, this at The Loft, and this in black. )

I also own this one below, which one of my sons said looks like Moira from Schitt’s Creek, which I consider a compliment!

I usually wear it with jeans, and black tennis shoes, but the jogger pants with the ruffle pockets do make a cute look.

They also have this ruffled version..

I’m also crazy about J.Crew’s new sweats. I already own two of the Vintage Cotton Terry Sweatshirts and they are super soft. The matching pants are flattering and slim fitting, but run large so you need to size down one size to get that look.

They have a lot of tennis themed things, which I am nuts about and this new addition with little racquets.

I just saw a woman at the grocery in head to toe cream/beige sweats and these sneakers..

It just looked really cute all one tone and luxe for sweats.

Other odd stuff that’s been occupying my headspace is this chicken pot pie recipe we made last week that was seriously amazing. It was maybe the addition of cognac to it? We did one change omitting pearl onions, which we could not find. The recipe is from the website, Once Upon a Chef and Jenn Segel’s recipes are so far 10/10 for everything we have tried. (This recipe can also be made with mushrooms instead of chicken and oat milk. In the recipe comments many have done that. )

I also have her potato leek soup on my regular rotation. The pot pie recipe is just the thing for the cool and wet days we’ve been having.

We just baked ours in these cute stackable porcelain bowls from Crate & Barrel, because our ramekins were too small. These bowls are fantastic for storage as they stack and they can go in the oven up to 350 We did them at a bit above that though the recipe calls for 425 and it was perfect.

Lastly, I wanted to share with you that Serena & Lily is having their Spring Design Event with 20% off sitewide, using code NEWLEAF. If there is something you had your eye on, this is the time to get it as sales are just a few times a year. You know I love their things and already have one of their new Alamere Rug in runner size in my cart. I think it will be great in our hallway… I love the shades of this rug.

Other favorite rugs are the Porter Denim & Suede Rug, the South Shore Rug, I have in my bath, the Stella Rug in our dining room, the new Ashbury Moroccan Style Rug is also beautiful- and the new Valmere Rug – both so cool.

The Montana Mirror in my pool bath/powder room is gem and a few people have asked about it after seeing the bath on Cindy Hattersley’s blog last week, where she was so kind to feature my home.

It’s a beautifully made piece. I have the medium in natural, but it also comes in white or in natural with navy stripes, and more sizes.

You may need towels like I did and the Fouta Striped towels ( I have the hand towel above), are seriously the nicest quality and come in other tones as well.

The Healdsburg Towels are in my main bathroom and still feeling soft and looking great a year on..

Anyway, so much to love from them! The lamps are gorgeous too and there are beautiful pillows as always…and bedding! The Sale ends on 3/16.

My Mattituck Armchair and Avery Throw– also on the Serena sale.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’ve done a few updates to the old website. The blog turns 10 this year and I am working on changing up things a bit. You’ll notice I added a few pages at top, My California Closet which has things I wear and have in my beauty drawers and in my closet. The house link has a few drop-downs which I am still working on. The Shop My Home, will have things I have used in my home like rugs, lamps, dishes, etc – and also California inspired picks. Another, Our California Remodel, will be information about the remodel, as so many inquire about materials, flooring, paint and floors. The Lake Tahoe Cabin Style will be cabin inspired items I am using in my Tahoe place or that could work in a more rustic setting, and Books I Adore will be many my favorite books or new ones that are on my radar…So stay tuned and hopefully they will all be finished soon.

Thanks for being here and I hope you enjoy the weekend- even though we lost an hour!

Kim

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My Black Friday Picks and Holiday Gift Ideas

November 27, 2020 By kimwheeler 4 Comments

I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving. We had a small one with my dad in the yard and though it was small, it was still nice. I know this year is an exceptional one. Most people will try to do as much shopping for the holidays this pandemic year online from their homes. I also encourage everyone to shop small in your own town, instead of the mall, so these small businesses can survive. Many have curbside pickup and personal shopping hours. I will share some more of them on my Instagram stories during this next month.

The fact is, the less we are in crowds and with people, the safer we all stay right now. I have already told my family that we are doing less which helps. Expectations have to be lowered this year. Focus on better made items and buy fewer. It’s better for the planet and all of us. How are you all approaching this holiday season with the pandemic? Have you also been thinking smaller this year? I think in 2020 we can all give ourselves a pass on going all out as we might usually right? It’s the one upside maybe of this whole year!

In the better and less, and shopping from home theme, I have a few Black Friday shopping deals for you to check out and some gift ideas too. Sorry this is coming late on Friday, but many of these last through the weekend. Check to be sure.

Of course I have to share my favorite Serena & Lily which is having their best sale of the year, 20% off everything- INCLUDING SALE ITEMS! This never happens so check it out if you have been needing a nice item for the home… something I consider a gift for myself. I would often prefer that over a lot of smaller gifts, and something like a lovely lamp or throw lasts years and decades. Use the code TOGETHER to get 20% off – plus FREE SHIPPING!

My favorite S&L items: -The Porto Linen Pajamas are stylish and cool in summer and very warm in winter too. – I love the look of these Wood and Marble coasters, the Dot Baskets, the Tahoma Pillow Cover, and the Blantyre Alpaca Throw are just a few on my own wishlist. It’s also a great time to pick up one of their beautiful rugs or lamps for your home that will last years or a chair like my Edgewater Lounge Chair so many of you have asked about! Free shipping ends on 11/30 and the sale goes until December 2.

Tory Burch is having a 30% off this weekend (use code THANKS), on selected items some of her classics which always look chic or dated including her Simone Cardigan wool cardigan which comes in the prettiest colors. I love this layered for winter, worn backwards for evening or even over the shoulders with a sundress when warm days are here again. This will last you and upgrade your whole outfit.

Also on this sale is these marked down Brooke Ankle Boots in black leather and a pretty suede.

Some cute heeled boots on sale too, but lately all I buy is comfort shoes and flats. Another great buy is the tall Miller Lug Sole Boot– darling with leggings and big sweaters! Markdowns have the an additional 30% off reflected when you check out. These things go fast so don’t wait too long. Ends on 11/30.

Anthropologie has so much to love and is offering 30% off everything this weekend only with free shipping on items over $50. Standouts are this Nancy Eyelash Cardigan made in California, the Eleanor Velvet Tunic Dress, the Love Textured Sweater, this Sundry Vera Lounger Set (comes with matching scrunchie!) also made in California, these Florence Balducci Flannel PJ top and pants, these darling Elephant Pjs and these Sorel Mail Run Slippers.

For the guys in my life, Nordstrom is my go to for the hubs, my dad, and sons. A few ideas for the men in your life.. marked down right now are the Nordstrom Brand Quarter Zip on sale now $44 dollars, this green cotton/cashmere version in 6 colors, the Marc New York puffer for the cold (I’m thinking my Univ of Utah kid will need this), and this water-resistant puffer in oxblood and in black, these Adidas Soccer pants my younger guys love, and a hoodie in three colors for the younger men, and the Faherty Baja Beach Hoodie, which is a great quality brand.

Also good gift ideas that aren’t on sale, but go fast this time of year, are the men’s UGG robes (my husband loves his), and these Barefoot Dream’s full-length zip up robes for women. I have that on my own list!

Trina Turk has 25% off full price, 45% off certain styles, and 35% off sale. Love this cheeky champagne sweater, the Palm Springs Merino Crew Neck, this coat, and their Birkenstocks are an extra 25% off -something you never see.

Other sales to check out this weekend…

Bloomingdales– 25% off most things this weekend (exclusions apply) and an extra 50% off clearance. Uggs Short Zip Booties are the Deal of the Day at $109.

J.Crew is having 50% off all styles and 60% off sale items. Use code FRIDAY.

Madewell is having 50% off selected styles.

Athleta is having $20 off tights and also 20% off your purchase until 11/29.

Lou & Grey has 50% off everything plus free shipping. Use code BESTWEEK. I love their sweats and soft clothing!

Loft- the parent company of Lou & Grey has the same 50% off offer and free shipping with BESTWEEK.

Banana Republic has 50% off everything no code needed. I especially love this cute fuzzy beanie that’s 50% off now. Sale ends 11/28.

Williams-Sonoma is having 50% off many items and other great specials throughout the weekend. They aren’t on sale, but their gorgeous frames are always a great gift for a special anniversary, house warming, marriage or birthday. Some of their pretty rugs are marked down and I just spotted this amazing Breville/nespresso Espresso machine half off- a fantastic deal.

I’ll add more shopping ideas as I see them this weekend and in the next few weeks.

I hope you all have a lovely Thanksgiving weekend and use the extra days for some quality time- whether it be a walk, reading a book, time with family or dear friends, or just a few moments of zen.

Take care!

Kim

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Serena & Lily Favorites

October 19, 2020 By kimwheeler 12 Comments

Hello lovely friends. How have you all been? We are starting another warm week here in Northern Cal, but I’ve been thinking about sprucing up the house now that cooler days are coming.

Since so many of you have commented on my Serena & Lily pieces I have in the house, on Instagram, I wanted to share the source for some of them and more photos.

I have a a lamp and a rug for my family room on my list. I really am in love with my Serena & Lily rugs (so is the cat with our denim rug – similar one here), which make each space in the house stand out. You definitely get what you pay for with rugs. One rug I bought elsewhere when we moved in has already begun to fall apart. I truly am believing the better quality we can buy, we save money in the long run.

Here’s a few of my Serena & Lily picks that I think are lovely..

The runners are wonderful and I LOVE these three for the well wearing materials and look…

Ryder Denim Runner, Porter Denim Runner, Metallic Suede Runner.

Good lamps are something I am slowly adding to my home and S&L has many gorgeous ones to choose from.

I need a lamp for my bedside tables and I like that the new Freeport Bedside Lamp has a three-way switch and also a diffused shade. I like not having a bulb shining down at you when you read. It’s those little details and the quality of the materials that make their pieces stand out. The rattan and marble base of this lamp has a very California feel.

I also want a lamp for my entry table that would add a hit of style when you walk into the house. I think you can have some fun with lamps and consider them as pretty accessories that add chic to your decor as well as nice ambient light. These are a few standout pieces that will make a statement..

Artichoke Lamp, Hattie Lamp, Cove Table Lamp.

If you are defaulting to those canned lights for your primary lighting, lamps can change the look of your rooms, your own mood, and whole feel of your home. Those easy flip on overhead lights lights can make your home have all the intimacy of a surgery room! We use the overhead lights only when working on projects or we’ve lost something on the floor. I seriously feel like I am being interrogated with them on. Does anyone else agree? A home needs ambient lighting to give a cozy feel.

There is nothing as pretty or as cozy as a home with soft lamps throughout and some mix of hanging lighting. My grandparents had a beautiful home filled with soft glowing lamps. As a girl, I loved those lamps- some gold, some very mod and 60’s inspired, but each room had a warm and cozy vibe. Once you get your ambient lighting, the trick now is to find alternative bulbs that mimic the incandescent or use artsy Edison bulbs so you don’t get an overly lit feeling that comes from CFLs.

If you have no great lamps and need to start somewhere these are some beautiful basics that will look good for a few decades. Isn’t that how long we usually use them? Lamps are such a great bang for the buck.

Georgia Table Lamp, Hastings Table Lamp, Bari Table Lamp.

I know a few of you have asked about my rattan chairs that I have in the home. Recently we had a gas leak (all okay thankfully), and the PG&E guy asked the name of these chairs and how he could buy them. My husband said that’s a first!

My Edgewater Chairs I have moved to this space in front of the couch in the entry and it’s made a good spot for crashing, doing a bit of laptop work, or reading a book. I think they give a certain vibe when you walk into the house- it’s California and a little vintage casual.

I also have had a lot of people ask about these Mattituck Chairs. We love these in our little den/media area. I am thinking of moving one to the bedroom as they are so pretty with the brass trim. The throw is their Avery Alpaca Throw -so soft and cozy.

Serena & Lily has some new throws and they are beautiful. I love this Blantyre Alpaca Throw in Lavender. This would be gorgeous on a bed or in a room with grey. It also comes in a coastal blue and fog tones.

They also have some cool new bedding if you need a bedroom refresh. I like this Sutter Linen Quilt in Sky.

I am becoming a huge linen fan as I never get too hot or cold with the linen sheets and blanket that are my favorites now. I love these Cavallo Linen Sheets too. Each wash they get softer and more wonderful.

In the new and cute category is also the Stone Harbor Duvet and Shams..

The Driftwood Quilt is velvet on one side, linen on the other and also comes in a deep sapphire blue. Love this lavender color..

New for fall and beautiful is this Roxbury Velvet Pillow Cover (also in fog, lavender and coastal blue)…

This Hillview Pillow Cover (also in sand and fog)..

I am already dreaming of a new bed with all of this..but I didn’t show you the Tahoma Pillow Cover..

And lastly the Ridge Striped Cover – also in other pretty shades.

All the new lovely pillows here.

Other things that stand out are these Big Sur Baskets..

This new Gardenside Grasscloth wallpaper is gorgeous..

I could go on…There was just much to share and this is just a tiny bit of their excellent fall collection!

Hope you are inspired as I am by all the beauty they offer.

Kim

P.S. Okay last one..I wanted to add their new Balboa Bench. This is the same material as my barstools and I wish I had a place for this in my house. Isn’t this whole look wonderful? I love the fern too!

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My California Room- Before & After

July 23, 2020 By kimwheeler 20 Comments

This is a story of an unformed and anonymous space, that I dreamed could be a cool room… It was once my old kitchen and was left behind in the remodel and reconfiguration of the house. Initially, we imagined it as a space that could have sliding glass door, so it could be a private office or a den. However, as the renovation came closer to completion, we began to realize what was drawn on paper was really not as large as it seemed, and the glass door idea was not going to be worth doing for such a narrow space.

Before- the room right after the remodel. We were trying to see how my semi-circular couch could fit in here. It didn’t work.

I decided the best thing to do would be to leave it open, forget the glass walls and have it serve as a space for the guys to watch shows or do gaming. It could also be a spot to play family games or read or work on a laptop, when we want a cozier space.

You see part of the space is the walkway in from the garage and so there wasn’t much left to call an official ‘room.’ I love skylight we added here.

For perspective, the original kitchen was an 1980’s addition with greenhouse windows and a slanted roof. I loved the light in this space, but the single pane widows were deteriorating and California kitchens aren’t really the climate for a full ceiling of skylights…

To better use the space, the kitchen was moved to the center of the house and this area became the extra den/media space. The ceilings were raised to meet the rest of the roofline and the entry/ walkway from the laundry was relocated – marked above, and the X is the skylight. The rest of the area became the leftover room in the top photo.

To open up this tight space, we swapped out the window for French doors. Now we open up this room when we want to use the pool area for entertaining and also acts as a kind of adjunct lounge for when we hang or entertain around the pool. The view out to the pool visibly enlarges the space, a great trick.

Once the French doors were installed it became clear to me this room was going to have to have a water theme. It made sense to create a ‘California Room.’ If you Google California Room, it says it is an indoor-outdoor living space- a relative of the sunroom, but with open air. That is exactly what I was hoping for so I call it our California Room, plus it sounds way cooler than a den/media room!

I had two Serena & Lily chairs I had been saving just for this room. I built the space around these and the rug. These Mattituck Armchairs have the prettiest details – caned back and brass accents. They seem like the perfect chairs for a California home. (My throw here is Serena & Lily’s Avery Alpaca.)

This is how the space looks currently with my chairs and the new rug which I am obsessed with!

I was fortunate to find a nearly matching ottoman to the chairs at a local Homegoods. A total lucky find. I also added my vintage tennis racquets which feel kind of fun in here.

This part of the wall has a recessed space where I will be adding a bookshelf.

I also bought two upholstered chairs that swivel, found at my local Harvest home store in Los Gatos.

Our acrylic table fit in here perfectly to hold my turntable under the television. The basket below holds the guy’s gaming things and we just stacked our vinyl albums under the table…

I had an old marble table that I used between the chairs.

Our vintage glass console in the walkway is a good catchall for keys and sunglasses as we mostly leave and enter through the garage.

I’m still trying to figure out the perfect mix of pictures and objects for this wall. I think once I have the bookshelf it will come together..

To finish this space, I still need a coffee table and the book shelf. This rattan bookshelf is on the top on my list. I can imagine the styling possibilities and space for my books!

I tried to think like a designer and created an inspiration board with a few other things that might work to pull this little space together. Here is my idea board for the room and I hope to add these bits as it evolves..I began with the chairs and my rug…

Items from above:

The Marco Rug (on sale now!), was my jumping off point for the color scheme with it’s ocean hues. It’s fun, beachy, a little Boho and would be the perfect flooring for a room that people might enter with wet feet. It’s recycled denim which is super cool too. The Ryder denim/wool rug is another great option in this tone so cute!

I love to mix in some navy as a little punctuation in this space with the carpet. This is especially a cute item -the new navy Ibiza Pillow Cover.

We will need a table in here for games and to hold drinks and The Market Coffee Table is the perfect table for a California Room as I can move it outdoors when I want to expand the room to the pool deck. I like that it’s lightweight and small in size so it doesn’t overwhelm the room. More than anything though, it brings me back to happy Hawaiian vacations when I look at it!

I envisioned a chunky white lamp for the entry table here and this lamp fits the bill and has a coastal feel, but is still a classic to have for a long time. Good lamps are such a great investment. Don’t we always keep them for decades?? I know I do.

I love these navy stripe baskets in varying sizes to hold throws for chilly nights when we open the French doors and for getting cozy while watching shows. They come in three sizes and also in an Indigo Black. I am a sucker for anything with stripes.

On the stripe theme, I love these frosted glass vases that remind me of beach glass. They would be cute with cuttings from the yard and could double as hurricane vases on the coffee table for alfresco evenings.

This Palomino Alpaca navy throw has been on my wish list for a while. My Serena & Lily throws are some of my favorite houses items. This blue stripe baby alpaca throw is lighter and would also be a cool addition to the beach vibe in here!

I had the walls prepped in this room for wallpaper and this Owens Wallpaper in sand color seems just right for this coastal theme room.. plus the stripe thing.. I love it!

Serena & Lily just began carrying these cute Campania Beach Towels and I am thinking of getting a few for just outside the French Doors in a basket.

They come in a pretty navy too.

Serena & Lily is having their Summer Tent Sale right now! It’s a great time to get some of their beautiful things at a discount. I bought my Marco rug during this sale – at a big savings, so it’s worth watching this sale to what gets listed. Things do get added so I check often. I love the quality of their products, so I am always thrilled to get one of their lovely things on sale.

Thanks for following along and all your kind words about the house updates. You all have made me feel so good about it. It’s a lot of decisions and still I am working away. I hope to do a video walk through of the house very soon. The master bath video is on my Instagram. Please follow there for more regular updates and videos if you are interested in the house remodel.

Thanks to Serena & Lily for help with this design project and the beautiful Mattituck Chairs for this room. I am honored to be a design partner with them. Some links on this post may generate a commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

Kim

P.S. Look – this room is already being used a lot with the husband working from home… another good reason to make it inviting and comfy!

Outdoor Living With Style – 9 Bloggers Share Their Spaces

June 18, 2020 By kimwheeler 26 Comments

Today I’m joining eight other bloggers and sharing my outdoor space with you. In the past few months, I’ve felt very fortunate to have it as it has become an extension of the house during the pandemic with both adult boys home and my husband working here also!

In the evenings, it’s been great to get outside after being in and working all day. We really use the extra space to for all of us to spread out right now. With four adults in one house, we need it. I’ve tried to create a few cozy spots so there is always a place to hang out and work, do a call, or just chill out here.

If you have visited here before, you know we just remodeled our 1965 home after being here for ten years. When we remodeled, I wanted to extend the living space with fold away doors to the back and French doors and a patio in front. These things have made the house more spacious though we didn’t really add any square feet. Our yard is tight with a pool that wraps around the yard and a funky lap lane… And a LOT of brick. Replacing it would be a small fortune so we’ve chosen to love it and its old school look. I like it with the new white stucco of the house even more now.

The yard is divided with an Ipe deck in the center that feels like it floats above the pool. It’s tight though and our main door to the yard was previously through the dining room, not ideal. We changed how the house flowed so we could see the pool and instead come out to the deck from the living room via a folding door. We now see the yard in a way that makes it seem much more expansive and makes the house feel larger too.

The yard once was surrounded by a wall of green – A new owner on the left took the hedge down and the fence needed replacing in the upper yard, so it all was taken out right before the remodel two years ago along with all the mature plants. We started fresh almost, so I am waiting for both fences to be someday again be covered by vines, creeping fig and citrus, but it’s slow going and looks so bare to me right now.

The set above is the Pacifica Serena & Lily couch and chairs in driftwood color. We always knew we wanted a sofa out here and we are very happy with this with the two chairs. It’s an easy brush off Sunbrella fabric and the woven white driftwood color surprisingly doesn’t show dirt. I do like to cover it when we are getting a lot of wind and fall leaves though.

Our round table is from my neighbor Graces’s estate sale. It’s an indoor marble table and so I cover it during rainy days, but it has been perfect out here with this set! We can do a whole lot of appetizers on this baby.

I recently changed all the cushions to black and white to keep things consistent with the house. The two with graphic leave motif pillows are from my January Hawaii trip to the Big Island and one of my favorite shops, SoHa Living.

Below is my rickety teak table I’ve had way too long. It is due to be replaced, but I found these white metal chairs last year and they kind of pulled the yard together, so we are making it work. I will sometimes use a tablecloth or runner to dress it up a bit when we dine out here.

Once we moved in, we removed all the old terra-cotta and colored pots and added these resin/ceramic ones with boxwood. Here in a photo from my Instagram stories..

I have this old bar stand I turned into my herb garden/potting table. I’m hoping to move this to the side yard when I get the French teak console table of my dreams from RH someday…

Our vegetable garden that I wrote about in this post is going great! My oldest son Jackson does most of the work on it with my dad. They are garden nerds. I’m so excited we just got our first heirloom tomato! This year we have tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, peppers and cantaloupe. We are so fortunate that my dad starts all the tomatoes himself by seed, and they are really good.

Our front is another outdoor space we use so much now that we remodeled and added a patio. I always wanted an area that we could hang out in front, chat with neighbors and enjoy the sunset view. This is another thing that has made our home feel so much bigger. The wall serves as extra seating and I still may order some bigger chairs, but for now it’s enough to eat lunch out here and hang with the cat during the winter months. With the western exposure, the front patio is a bit warm to use during the summer except at sunset and in evenings, but it’s super in the winter as it stays protected and warm. We love having coffee out here in winter and wine at night with friends in summer. If we open the French doors, the patio serves as a great spot for guests to grab some air and more seating when entertaining inside. (Will that will ever happen again?!!)

Last winter having my coffee with the cat..

Now we’ve placed pillows on the wall like a Greek hotel LOL.

We did native plants and decomposed granite in this front landscape. I used French Provencal gardens as my inspiration. I especially love the two non-fruiting olive trees and the agaves. Right now it’s busy with all the lavenders blooming we have butterflies, bees and birds all day. It’s very low maintenance, organic and pesticide free. All I have to do is occasionally weed so we don’t miss our old grass at all. It’s becoming more and more filled in as the bushes spread out and take up space.

I hope this wasn’t too rambling, but I did want to share how we made our smallish home feel a lot bigger by creating indoor/outdoor spots.

Here’s a few links to get the same look if you are interested:

I love these Quinn Stoneware pots at Pottery Barn. Right now they are living up to their name with a great assortment of modern and simple pots for inside and outside.

This black outdoor pillow from Target is my style. I think it’s hard to find outdoor pillows in black and white so I grab them when I find them.

The Target collab with Joanna Gaines is so good now in terms of quality and design! This pretty stripe throw is a great price at $29 and I don’t mind it being outside at that price. I like to have a big basket of throws for cool evenings. ( The table runner on my outdoor teak table is oversized and also well made thick linen from them!)

I don’t do melamine and instead prefer to use my everyday when entertaining outside. Theses stoneware plates are strong enough to hold up to outdoor use and dishwashing by young men too.

A few years ago I replaced my motley group of umbrellas with three Ballard Design Auto-Tilt Sunbrella 11 foot umbrellas with black poles in the black/sand combo. I also bought the 50 pound extra weight to prevent them from falling over in storms. It’s been three years and they are still looking like new and working great. Excellent quality.

I also need to order an outdoor rug for the deck and I love the Seaview Rug from Serena & Lily. I already have it in my kitchen and it’s indestructible. The new rose color would be pretty out here.

Now please go enjoy all these amazing women and their versions of outdoor living. I am excited as I always learn so much from everyone’s blogs and ideas..
ROUGH LUXE
CLASSIC CASUAL HOME
MOST LOVELY THINGS
EDB DESIGNS
KELLEY & CO HOME
MODERN GLAM
SHABBYFUFU

Also joining us in this collaboration is the talented Brooke Giannetti! She is author of the beautiful Patina Farm series of books about the oasis she and her husband Steve have created in Ojai, one of the most beautiful towns in California. Their home is so lovely and inspiring the way in brings the outdoors in!