Main navigation

Northern California Style

Northern California Style

Serena and Lily,

Loving Rattan and Serena & Lily

By 10 Comments

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

Links on this post may sometimes generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog. Serena & Lily is a partner in this post, but all opinions and writing are my own.

Staying Cozy With Serena & Lily Pajamas

By 12 Comments

January felt long, however a heap of cleaning and purging got done here. I feel like I am beginning the year with less which feels great. In 2020 I am committed to choosing better quality things when I bring stuff into the house. In purging, I decided to get myself some nicer pajamas and clear out all the sad bits that have been taking up what should be a pretty PJ drawer. So I was a happily surprised when Serena & Lily offered to send me a set of their Pajamas. Quality items like linen pajamas are what I want to add to my life. Serena & Lily’s motto is living well begins at home.

I chose the Positano Linen Pajamas as I know how long linen lasts and how wonderfully soft it gets the more years you have it. The Wild Rose color was my first choice- so lovely. They are woven in Portugal with eco-friendly European linen. I love the details like the pant pockets (have to have those), and the pretty edging, and buttons.

So far I’ve been lounging more than usual in the new year. I like to hang out and work, read and plan meals and stuff on my bed when I don’t have to dash off somewhere. These pajamas are cute as much as they are comfy so I feel presentable if anyone comes to the door too. (A S&L favorite above – Jetty pillow cover.)

My usual morning look – my readers, pony tail and almond butter toast. LOL.

Linen is often thought of as a warm weather fabric, but it’s actually cozy and warmer than cotton, and also is light and breathable in summer too.

So many cute quality pajamas and luxe robes to choose from at Serena & Lily…

I honestly love everything in the pajama category especially the Porto Linen Stripes in a flax or blue chambray. Also cute are the Cavallo White Linen Pajamas which have a timeless chic feel and remind me of Diane Keaton who always is in white luxurious pajamas in her films. And the Positano Linen Robes are another classic choice in a pretty collection of seven colors for year round chic!

I purged the linen closet as well this month and ordered the Positano Linen Sheets in the same pretty shade for our bed. This is my first set of linen sheets and they feel much warmer and softer than my percale ones, which was unexpected!

The sheets come also in a French Blue, Indigo and a soft Eucalyptus. The linen gives it a undone look to the bed that fits the California casual look.

Speaking of California style, I have a few new Serena & Lily additions to the house since fall and I haven’t shared on the blog yet…

I finally chose a table for the entry! The Blake Raffia Console Table fits perfect in my little entry space and with the woven raffia it has that natural vibe. I chose the natural color, but it also come in a pretty grey and a navy that are also gorgeous like below…

I love the two levels on this table for trays and books. The raffia reminds me of Hawaii.

I still want to wallpaper the entry, but with my Carson Bench, below on one side, the console and my pretty light -this little space is almost finished.

Love my Capiz Scalloped Chandelier !

I also just added the coolest chair. I knew as soon as I saw the Edgewater Lounge Chair, it was my style. It’s the most comfy chair in the house and since everyone wants to claim it, I ordered another.

The seat is very big and and I can really curl up in it. My pillows here are the Addie Stripe in the foreground and the Winter Beach Pillow Cover in the back.

I think I may move both of the chairs in my new media room, but this one sure makes this room look cute and is easy to move wherever we want it. Right now we are loving it by the fire.

I finally chose a new rug for the laundry room. The tile is a very strong statement and so I wasn’t sure if a rug would look good here, but it’s been chilly on the feet and I want one for when I’m folding laundry, wrapping and other tasks. I finally decided on the South Shore Rug in Oyster. It works with the tones in here, is made of recycled plastic, is water and UV resistant, so perfect for the busy laundry area and super soft underfoot.

I’m in my new PJs here. The cute Teak Step Stool from S&L is still used so much by us all and is great for me in this space with all the tall shelves.

Connected to this laundry space is the pool bath that I finally am putting the finishing touches on. The Montara Mirror in the medium size was a perfect accent with some tropical flair.

I love it with the tiles. A little natural element with the modern.

Below you can see this Montara Mirror in white, on their site with the same Blake Console table I have in the entry, but in grey. So pretty! The mirror comes in three sizes and also in a navy color.

I’ll share the whole pool bath soon in another post.

I’ve been slowly cranking away on the Hawaii post and I’ve also been posting stories on Instagram where I can share more in an easier way. Last week it was a Santa Cruz getaway and our family’s most favorite recipe, so follow along on my NorthernCalStyle Instagram please and we can chat more!

I wish you all a cozy weekend and some pajama time.

xo Kim

Thank you to Serena & Lily for sponsoring this Northern California Style post. All opinions and writing are all my own as always.

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

By 6 Comments

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

Life at My New Kitchen Counter with Serena & Lily

By 32 Comments

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

Copyright © 2021 · Northern California Style· Blog Design by Little Blue Deer