A Spring Spruce Up

stepping into spring with ebay

April 29, 2018

Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye

Filed Under > Get The Look

With pollen season in Atlanta officially behind us, I’m ready to throw open my doors and welcome spring with open arms. You see spring is my favorite season. There’s something just so fresh and renewing that comes with spring.

For me, along with welcoming warmer weather spring is also about spring cleaning and sprucing up my home. I spend at least three weekends going through my entire house and taking stock of what I have. Donating what I no longer love. Organizing what I do. And freshening up the spaces I live in most.

While this is a spring time ritual for me, this year it was fun to partner with Ebay to invite spring into my most lived in room during eBay’s”liven up your living room event.”

I love shopping with Ebay because I’m able to find those new, trending pieces I crave and also vintage pieces I love adding to my collection. Plus did you know that 68% of items on eBay ship for free?!?!

To freshen and lighten up my living room I added a few new items and switched up a few old. I folded up and put away my heavier blankets and throws until next season and replaced them with more appropriate ones like this and this. I also snagged a great seagrass basket to store them all in along with pillows at the edge of my sofa.

I updated my coffee table with a new vintage found vase from Italy filled with the mascot of spring, tulips. And while I wasn’t searching for him, I couldn’t turn down this brass turtle. I mean how adorable is he perched on my favorite coffee table books!

While I never believe you can have too much greenery, that thought never rings more true than in spring. So along with the tulips I added a topiary in a bright green vase. The combo really makes the room come alive, and topiaries are so easy to care for.

Lastly, I added a few additional calligraphy brushes to round out my collection and complete my coffee table. Which coincidentally I got from Ebay years ago.

These few simple changes really spruced up the space and made it feel like spring had arrived both inside and out. Truly, MKR

This post is in collaboration with Ebay, a brand I love and adore. All opinions are 100% my own. | Photography Rustic White Interiors

How To: Bathroom Organization

January 20, 2015

Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye

Filed Under > MKR's Home Tour

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My bathroom is one of the spaces I spend the most time in, and it’s also a space that’s a cluttered hot-mess. And with a New Year upon us what better time than now to organize, de-clutter, simplify, and transform my bathroom into the sanctuary I dream of and need. So with a free weekend, and a little help from Pottery Barn I set out to give my master bath a mini makeover.

First, I had to focus on corralling the clutter. Like most of us I had beauty products rolling around in drawers, thrown in bags under the sink, and piling up on my counter. For an easy solution I turned everyday glass vessels into catchalls for beauty products, soaking salts, sea sponges and everything else I use on a daily basis. Plus they’re a gorgeous way to display all my favorite products, like the ESPA essentials I recently snagged from my day at the Mandarin Oriental Spa…so good.

Second, everything needed to be functional. For example, I love a good soak, but I never have my bath necessities within reaching distance when I need them. The Grant Floor Storage quickly solved that problem by allowing a movable system to store water, candles, and all the bubbles I need to relax. Plus the Grant’s arms allow a way to keep my bag off the floor and hang a hand towel or two. For towels I utilized the Benchwright basket in the corner of my bathtub, rolling the towels rather than folding, and threw in a few bottles of my favorite sparkling water.

Lastly, I needed an easy way to store and move laundry from the bathroom to the laundry room. Pottery Barn’s chrome portable hamper was an easy, and chic solution. And I love that the removable liner allows you to throw it right in with the laundry making sure your space stays as clean as can be.

The only challenge left? To see how long I can keep the bathroom looking this way. Truly, MKR

P.S. I’ll be tackling my linen closets and laundry room this week as well so stay tuned!

*This story is in collaboration with Pottery Barn, a brand I love and adore. Opinions are 100% my own. | Photography, Rustic White

5 Easy Gallery Wall Ideas

Secrets to Styling an Interesting, Eclectic Wall

May 29, 2015

Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye

Filed Under > Ideas & Inspiration

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The final reveal for the One Room Challenge unveiled a pretty major gallery wall with bright and funky vibes in the upstairs loft. And we can agree that with 24 total pieces and even some 3D items, this particular wall is not one for the faint of heart. I mixed and matched classic photographs and one-of-a-kind paintings by GRAY MALIN, BRITT BASS, MINTED, AND SALLY KING BENEDICT to tie in a personal feel to this vibrant, quirky room and absolutely loved the outcome. After creating this gallery wall, I can assure you that whether you’re designing one of this caliber or of a smaller scale, creating a collected and personal feel is easier than you think. The beauty of a gallery wall is that it can grow and evolve as you continue to find and add new pieces, so don’t get too hung up on making mistakes. And since we received so much feedback and inquiries about the wall, I wanted to share my quick and easy five gallery wall ideas for you all today. Simply click through the slideshow above to read more. Truly, MKR

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