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5 Easy Home Decor Ideas for a Designer-Inspired Home

Curating a Stylish Home That's Personal (and Affordable) Is Easier than You Think
Filed Under > Ideas & Inspiration

A few weeks ago, I moved across town into an expansive townhouse with two of my best friends as roommates. The kicker though? I went from a modest 1,012-square-feet apartment to a (what I feel is) whopping 2,200.  Let’s just say we have some room to fill.  But since we’re all on reasonable budgets and keep reminding ourselves that this isn’t our “Forever Home,” we’re not making any drastic plans for the space.  

The fun part about all of this though, is the challenge to piece together a stylish home that still has that curated personal touch…without doing too much damage to our budding bank accounts.  Luckily I stare at a lot of gorgeous interiors all day to cull five easy home decor ideas to make our home have that designer feel. I’ve also been taking lots of notes on perfecting the art of the shelfie and styling a designer coffee table

As you’ll see in the slideshow above, it’s very doable to do it all without breaking the bank.  By focusing on five easy styling projects, we’ll be well on our way to completing our new abode, and just in time for us to host my birthday dinner!  Click on the image above to see my go-to resources for pulling it all together.  Cheers, Kat

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CURATE & EDIT THE STACK

CURATE & EDIT THE STACK

IT'S EASY TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF A GREAT STACK OF CURATED COFFEE TABLE BOOKS WHEN STYLING A COFFEE TABLE... JUST LOOK AT ANY DESIGNER LIVING ROOM. BUT THE KEY STEP IS THE EDITING. THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN GROUP CORRESPONDING COLORS AND THEMES, BUT REMEMBER TO PARE DOWN YOUR COLLECTION OFTEN AND SWAP SELECTIONS OUT FREQUENTLY TO KEEP THE SPACE REFRESHED AND INTERESTING.

VIA WAITING ON MARTHA
INVEST IN THE RIGHT RUG

INVEST IN THE RIGHT RUG

I'VE READ TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DECOR ITEMS NOT TO CHEAP OUT ON...YOU WANT TO HAVE IT FOR AWHILE. LUCKILY, ONE KINGS LANE FEATURES SOME DISCOUNTED GEMS, BUT I ALSO TURN TO WAYFAIR TO SCORE ON MORE AFFORDABLE, BUT STILL SOLID SAFEVIEH RUGS.

BUT IF YOU'RE REALLY LUCKY, YOU CAN PLACE THE WINNING BID ON VINTAGE PERSIAN RUGS FOUND ON THE ONLINE ESTATE SALE SITE, EVERYTHING BUT THE HOUSE. JUST KEEP YOUR SEARCH RELATIVELY CLOSE TO HOME, SHIPPING THOSE GUYS IS PRICEY!

ONE LAST THING: CHECK OUT OKL'S GUIDE TO PICKING THE RIGHT RUG SIZE BEFORE YOU PULL THE TRIGGER.

VIA MY DOMAINE
PERFECT THE SHELFIE

PERFECT THE SHELFIE

WITH THE RIGHT MIX OF STATEMENT BOOKENDS AND ECLECTIC DECOR, YOUR SHELVES CAN BE JUST AS STYLISH AS THEY ARE FUNCTIONAL. OUR FRIENDS AT ONE KINGS LANE PUT IT PERFECTLY: THINK OF BOOKENDS AS THE SMALL ACCENTS THAT "PACK A BIG PUNCH OF STYLE." THE GOOD NEWS? A LOT OF THEM CAN BE SCORED AT WELL UNDER $100.

VIA MY DOMAINE
DISPLAY THE ART YOU LOVE

DISPLAY THE ART YOU LOVE

THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR HANGING THAT MASS-PRODUCED GENERIC ART FOUND AT SO MANY HOME DECOR STORES. MY TRICK TO SCORING GREAT (AND AFFORDABLE ART): MINTED AND ONE KINGS LANE. MINTED OFFERS WONDERFUL CUSTOMIZABLE OPTIONS IN SIZE AND FRAMES, WHILE ONE KINGS LANE FEATURES MARKDOWNS ON PRINTS BY A FEW ARTISTS I'VE LOVED FOR YEARS.

VIA MY DOMAINE
OPT FOR BETTER LIGHTING

OPT FOR BETTER LIGHTING

NOTHING SEEMS MORE IMPERSONAL TO ME THAN A FLUORESCENT OVERHEAD LIGHT. CONSIDER STUNNING CUSTOMIZED LIGHTING OPTIONS SUCH AS A FLOOR LAMP, PENDANT OR CHANDELIER TO LIGHT UP THE SPACE.

BUT AS YOU'LL QUICKLY NOTE, LIGHT FIXTURES GET EXPENSIVE FAST, SO I LOVED SEEING THIS ROUNDUP OF AMAZING ETSY LIGHTING ON ELEMENTS OF STYLE THIS WEEK...A LITTLE MORE IN MY LEAGUE.

VIA DESIGN*SPONGE

Featured image, Jamie Hopper Photography for Waiting on Martha – “How to Style Your Coffee Table

Designing an Eclectic Entryway

Stunning Collections of Accents and Motifs Tie Together this Stylish, Yet Functional Entryway
Filed Under > MKR's Home Tour

Juju hat and ginger jars, home entryway inspiration via Waiting on MarthaEntryway styling ideas via Waiting on MarthaEntryway essentials: turkish rug, ginger jars and juju hat | Waiting on MarthaEntryway styling inspiration via Waiting on Martha Ginger jars and juju hat in the entryway | Waiting on Martha Ginger jar umbrella stand and entryway essentials via Waiting on Martha Entryway inspiration via Waiting on MarthaStyling the perfect entryway via Waiting on Martha

It’s always surprised me that the entryway is all too often overlooked when styling one’s home.  Being the first opportunity to impress guests, your entry way is a peek into your personal style and ultimately the place that welcomes you home, it becomes a pivotal space in your home’s design, and should be treated as such.

While I’ve welcomed a myriad of colors, prints and textiles into my entryway, I opted to keep the walls crisp with just a hint of purple/grey by using Behr’s Lilac Mist and bright white trim.  By doing so, I can maximize the natural light and let the rest of the vibrant decor shine.

Influences from far away lands— a feather juju hat, framed tribal garments, and ginger jars, and collected over the years and my deep crimson vintage Turkish rug—are bold, yet effortless, accents that work together to extend the personality of the rest of our home throughout the foyer.

An oversized mirror, bamboo chairs and small rattan stool are just as functional as they are stylish; a perfect time to touch up my pink pout, and a helpful place to set my purse. The chandelier and horse lamp serve as the “jewelry” of the space.  Lighting is my favorite way to infuse fun and personality into any space.  And I can’t talk about my entryway without addressing our leopard stair runner.  Leopard has been and always will be a neutral in my mind, so I was never fearful about making such a bold choice as I knew it would blend with everything. And I’m currently obsessing over the idea of an antelope stair runner as well. 

I know not every entryway lends itself to large statements and grand decor due to size. But with a carefully-curated collection of prints and designs, even the smallest of entryways can open up the home.  Truly, MKR

P.S. Check out our entryway essentials for more inspiration on styling your own iconic entryway. xo

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Photography, Rustic White

As Pictured:  Mirror  |  Chandelier (similar HERE)  |  Umbrella Stand  |  Ottoman (similar HERE & HERE)  |  Bag  |  Vintage Turkish Rug (similar HERE)  |  Bamboo Chairs  |  Pillows  |  Horse Lamp (similar HERE)  |  Juju Hat  |  Ginger Jars  |  Staffordshire Greyhound  |  Table Skirt (custom, similar HERE)

Serenbe Harvest…Part III

Filed Under > Entertaining


Sometimes on a shoot with so many moving pieces it’s just easiest to dress yourself and smile for the camera.  Or that’s what I at least thought.  The dressing myself part was pretty easy.  I say pretty easy because if you remember this shoot happened in June and trying to pull for fall in the middle of a Southern summer…well that was a challenge.  Luckily my go-to, Bloomingdales at Lenox solved that problem.  However, I will never be the “model” in a shoot I’m styling or running again.  Talk about craziness.  Complete and utter craziness.  Though I did get to wear the most gorgeous flower crown my Gertie Mae’s so technically it was worth it.  Happy Thursday Loves, I hope you’ve enjoyed my little welcome to fall (Part I, Part II, Video).  truly, MKR

P.S. We’re giving away a Zac by Zac Posen bag (up to a $450 retail value)…enter HERE.

It takes an army…

Concept & Styling:  Mandy Kellogg Rye of Waiting On Martha, Inc.

Photography:  Rustic White Photography

Florals:  Gertie Mae’s Florals 

Clothing & Jewelry:  Bloomingdales at Lenox  All Saints jacket  ||  BCBG Max Azria Dress  ||  Sam Edelman Boots  ||  Michael Kors & Kate Spade bracelets, Michael Kors ring

Blanket:  Hermes

Pillows:  Jonathan Adler initial pillows, Restoration Hardware faux fur pillows, One Kings Lane “Merlot” pillow

Location:  Serenbe

Makeup:  Brielle Brenner

Hair:  MichelleMcCoy of Vidal Sassoon

Nails:  Essie wicked + gold glitter polish on the party nail

 

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