results for Two unabashed romantics, Capucine and David Gooding founded Juliska in 2001 with a collection of 40 historic Bohemian glasses – since then the company has blossomed to one of the leading home brands in America. Juliska is not about trends; it’s about loving life and living well. Juliska today is made up of an inspired group of individuals committed to providing beautiful things for the home. We are inspired by the gathering of family and loved ones over food, passionate artisans, and centuries of European design.

The Envelop Sectional of My Dreams

And just like that our living room is finally complete
Filed Under > Living

Envelop Sectional c/o, Art, Draperies c/o, Blinds, Rug c/o, Chandelier c/o, Floor Lamp, Coffee Table, Tray, Candle, Calligraphy BrushesLarge Bowl c/o, Blessing Beads (call the store for availability)

If you remember correctly, my last One Room Challenge was left incomplete.  The reason; the envelop sectional I’d been dreaming of for months, that was the perfect fit for the room would not be able to arrive in time.  Well friends, I’m hear to say the wait was well worth it.

Technically my Bassett Envelop Sectional arrived about a week after the ORC wrapped. But by that point the holidays were in full swing and between WOMH, hosting friends and family and all the Christmas decor there was no way I was going to be able to do it justice by having it photographed for the Blog then, so here we are.

Having lived with this sectional since November I feel I can better share why it’s truly the perfect fit for me.  A few things I really love about this Envelop Sectional;  it’s BEYOND comfy.  Like it’s name, it really does envelop you. The frame is fully encased in foam for extra softness, and the seat toppers and back pillows are a blend of down which mimics my bed pillows perfectly.  And they’re removable which makes them much easier to clean.

Second, the Envelop Sectional is modular.  Meaning you can move the pieces, at any time, to create the sectional of your dreams.  I like to move the center pieces in to create almost a full square during movie night, and then move them out during every day.

Third, I loved the overall modern, yet cozy look and I really really love the light Bone color.  A lot of lighter fabrics tend to come off too warm which is a big turn off for me.  But, this Bone coloring was cool without being cold, and just made the whole room feel bigger, lighter and more airy.

I know, I know when talking about the light bone color the next thing I’m bound to hear is, “oooooh it’s so beautiful, but I could never get a sofa that that’s light, it would get ruined”.  So let’s talk about this.

First things first, this is our only living area in our home, which means this sectional is VERY lived on. While light in color, the Bone fabric is a performance grade fabric meaning its more stain resistant than most. Bassett also has amazing warranty policies that I implore you to check out and should put your mind a bit more at ease. I do take some precautions by laying Addison’s blanket down during the day, though she still finds her way on to every pillow and cushion.  And I’m extra careful when eating and drinking red wine on the sofa. But other than that, I don’t do much else to ensure the sectional stays stain free.

My main thought on this point though is you should always design your home based on what makes you happy. Decor that you love, and that you will absolutely live on and in. For me, I didn’t want anything dark which means my only option is a lighter fabric.  Embracing the fact that stains are inevitably going to happen is something I had to let go of in order to make my home feel the way I yearned for.  Besides, cushions can be flipped.  And the cushions, as mentioned above can be removed and professionally cleaned! 

So with this space finally being complete I can honestly say I’ve never loved my home more.  Just by transforming this one room, the whole home feels lighter and calmer.  And with this challenge I feel like I’ve finally pinned down the design that makes me the happiest.  Truly, MKR

 


 

Photography, Rustic White

Life Skills: 3 Things To Consider When Making A Major Financial Decision

Learning how to finance your dream car with Capital One
Filed Under > Life Skills

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One of my favorite things about having my WOM family is experiencing the girls’ milestones with them; it’s fun to feel the feels all over again.  Whether they’re getting out of grad school, going through the angst of love, traveling abroad or simply saving for the future, seeing them grow is a reward all in of itself.  Like any boss or mentor, I find myself playing the role as sounding board for a handful of hopes and fears, and I try to give my two-cents and advice whenever I can. 

So when Capital One reached out, wanting to talk navigating the financial side of car buying, my ears perked up with Kat in mind.  Sure, auto loans are something we all get to know at some point or other when buying a new car, but I knew they’d especially be important to Kat right now. As WOM’s Editorial Director, she’s in her late twenties and has recently found herself with her first car out of college, totally paid-off. The first go-around, she had her mom to help her navigate the steps and jargon.  And this go-around, she wants to take the process into her own hands, but she’s hesitant on how to move forward.  And I mean hesitant; we’ve been talking about it for almost a year now.

I was quick to understand though; car buying can be really stressful.  In a decision where you should feel 100% in control, you usually don’t.  And I know I certainly felt my hands were tied many times when discussing my options for the loan pay-off.  So that’s why I was intrigued to read that Capital One offers an Auto Navigator tool that lets you “test drive” all of the different options for your loan; make and model, term length and most importantly…price. 

I did a little digging before sharing with Kat; my father and the Mr. have both taught me something about car buying, and research ahead of time is ALWAYS key.  I was pleased to find that you can use the free Auto Navigator tool on your laptop or phone (in your pajamas at home in peace) to search for your dream car based on payment and APR info.  And to get started and pre-qualified, you won’t get dinged on your credit score (which is always a good thing). My favorite part is that you can modify and personalize the financing terms before you even get to the dealership…because, seriously, who likes to negotiate that kind of stuff at the dealership?  But why I really love this tool, is the before you even get there part I just mentioned.  Because if you’re anything like me (hands up) you may let common sense escape you when the prospect of something bright and shiny is on the horizon.

Along with the Auto Navigator tool, I felt we would be amiss if we didn’t share a few other practical tips when looking to make this, or any major financial decision.

One.  First things first; before making any financial decision, have an honest conversation with yourself about your personal financial situation.  Understand how much you truly can afford in a monthly payment and how that monthly payment will realistically fit in with your other bills.

Two. Do your research, especially if you’re buying used.  For a new car, price out your car with all of the bells and whistles, and make sure to ask at least three dealers for the the best price they can give you.  For a used car, make sure you understand through research any issues your car type has had in the past and do some digging for fair market value numbers.  Also, if buying used, stay away from any cars with CVT; continuously variable transmission.  According to numerous manufacturers and experts in their field, this is a system that can be faulty and may lead to trouble down the road.

Three.  Lastly, remember that car dealerships are a business, and they need to make a profit to survive.  Don’t be afraid to negotiate, but if you get a fair deal for the car you love, then go with it.  

Tell me friends, are any of you in the same boat? Have you had a great experience with financing your dream car?  We’d love to know!  Truly, MKR

Photography, Kathryn McCrary for Waiting on Martha | This post is in collaboration with Capital One, a brand we love and adore.  All opinions are 100% our own. 

A Weekend in the English Countryside with Farrow & Ball

Visiting Dean's Court & Stepping Inside the iconic Farrow & Ball's homeland
Filed Under > Travel

Seeing London with @farrowball via @waitingonmarthaSeeing London with @farrowball via @waitingonmartha@farrowball wallpaper via @waitingonmartha@farrowball paint via @waitingonmarthaSeeing England via @waitingonmartha @farrowball #travel #england #dorsetSeeing England via @waitingonmartha @farrowball #travel #england Seeing England via @waitingonmartha @farrowball #travel #englandLondon details via @waitingonmartha @farrowball #travel #england Seeing England via @waitingonmartha @farrowball #travel #englandTouring @FarrowBall with @waitingonmarthaTraditional desk details spotted at @farrowball via @waitingonmartha Seeing England via @waitingonmartha @farrowball #travel #england #dorset 

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting England for the launch of Farrow & Ball‘s latest (and I’d say most gorgeous) wallpaper line.  I had spent a few weeks in London and the surrounding English countryside before (in my college days), but I was eager to escape the Georgia heat and return, this time with fall in the air and design on my mind.  And F&B‘s invitation to celebrate its 70th anniversary gave me the perfect excuse to jump the pond.

With it’s unparalleled paint and beautiful wallpaper designs, F&B has always been an iconic brand and mainstay for us here in the design industry (and beyond).  So I was delighted at the opportunity to step into F&B‘s world and experience where it all began and learn just what makes Farrow & Ball truly the best of the best.  

The history proved to be fascinating; F&B was founded in 1946 by John Farrow and Richard Ball, two true paint pioneers.  They met working at a local clay pit, then went on to build their first factory in Dorset.  From there, the brand began its bespoke offering of beautiful paints and a hand-crafted wallpaper line.  In the 60s, the duo sold the company to Norman Chappell (yes, THE Chappell of Chappell Green), and the company was moved to Wimborne, where it currently resides, and where my story begins.  

Arriving to Heathrow, a bit jet lagged but excited, the Mr. and I quickly jumped in our car navigating the English roundabouts and wrong-side-of-the-road driving to arrive in Wimborne in just about two hours.  We walked around town, ate fish and chips, but called it an early evening as the next day I’d be joining F&B at the stunning Dean’s Court.

Dean’s Court, with a 1,300-year story, is a beautiful, traditional manor house that boasts gorgeous grounds and 13 acres that have been at the center of a rural English community for centuries. It’s even been in the same Hanham family for nearly 500 years, with the current Hanham descendants still living in it!  Fortunately for us, the estate is open to the public through tours and events, as well as through private weddings and events. During our morning at Dean’s Court, we noshed on scones, were introduced to F&B’s latest wallpaper line, and toured the manor, getting lost in its history.  I was immediately taken with the perfectly manicured lawns and the feeling like I was walking inside history at every step.  

After a lovely lunch in town, we headed down the road to where the magic happens; Farrow & Ball headquarters.  We made lampshades with the gorgeous wallpaper, and watched F&B’s custom paint and wallpaper process.  A process that I was thoroughly fascinated by.  Hopefully you were following along on Snapchat and Instagram while I was there, because I shared behind-the-scenes footage of F&B’s process when creating its paint and hand-crafted wallpaper.  The paint process was top notch of course, but the wallpaper was truly mind blowing.  F&B hand-stamps all of its wallpaper, using just three colors.  The paper is first painted with F&B paint, then stamped with a traditional block and trough method (versus your typical ink printing).  Each print has texture to the touch, turning each wallpaper design into an individual work of art in that sense.  The result is simply breath taking.

I walked away from the trip appreciating the by-hand process and procedure behind everything that F&B makes.  While the brand periodically releases new paint and wallpaper collections with limited edition colors, you have to wait every two or three years!  If you remember Chappell Green, you’ll recall that it was an extremely stunning, extremely popular limited edition paint color.  I was crazy about the color when it was released, but grew worried that I couldn’t get it once it was pulled.  BUT what I learned on my trip was that F&B allows you to directly order previous selections through them with the serial number and color code.  So you can rest assured that you’ll always have access to your signature shade when needed years and years from now.  Talk about dedication to the craft and to the design!  Truly, MKR

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Fireplace: Hague Blue | Kitchen walls: Strong White | Kitchen shelving: Lamp Room Gray | Purples: Calluna | Blues:  Arsenic

All images are original to Waiting on Martha.  

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