I took a walk down memory lane and you know what the first dupe I shared was? It was a pair of Juicy Couture sweats (remember the velour sweats trend that tricked us into thinking we looked like J.Lo?) back in 2009. I shared my first West Elm Look for Less in 2011. I love finding a good deal but specifically, finding on-trend home items at a price that fits within my budget. Kirkland's Home has beautiful home finds at budget-friendly price points and they always have something new. You're not going to believe these Dupes! Keep reading to see a few look for less Crate & Barrel, Anthropologie, and Pottery Barn Dupes! Plus see the items I grabbed and how I styled them.

I've never gone back to see which items I shared that you guys have loved...until now! It was a really fun exercise and will be helpful for me to share things that resonate this year. I'm going to get right to it with the top 10 things you guys purchased (note, the Amazon data is not easily available but I did include the one item that shows up every time I get a report!)

Our sad little guest bath got a face lift just in time for guests! When I showed it to you last week, it looked like this:

 Thank you Walmart for sponsoring this post. All opinions are mine. 

You guys know I've been a long time fan of Walmart Home but it just keeps getting better. Recently they rolled out some fun summer-y finds featuring bright colors, patterns, and modern silhouettes. It's just so good and the prices can't be beat! I've rounded up some of my favorites for you below- starting at just $10!

If you follow on Instagram, you know I have the "magic" rug in our loft and, well, the magic has worn off. I'm ready for a change. That said, I have to add though that this rug has been so good to us and was GREAT for 4 years with 3 littles. It cleans up really well and goes with everything. So don't rule it out if you need a kid-friendly rug! I've been checking out Rugs USA (not sponsored) and found a variety of large-sized neutral area rugs. I shared them all on Like.To.Know.It but I hear some of you prefer round-ups on the blog so this one's for you! 

 

Recently, I was contacted by Triangle Home Design Decor Magazine to create a mood board of my living room for their August newsletter- but what I'm calling the aspirational version. I've created many "looks for less," but never have I created a "look for more." It was super fun and also um, I want it all. I shared some of my thoughts about decorating on a budget here, but to sum it up, designing one's home at all, is a luxury- even DIY. Owning power tools, buying materials- it's all something I don't take for granted. But I was happy to let my living room play dress up. Here she is:

Aperture Mirror

Belgian Track Arm Sofa

Live Edge Coffee Table (or this one)

Isobel Rattan Ottoman

Oakmont Hand-Knotted Rug

Artisan Earthenware Vase

Pinstripe Linen Pillow

Carson Carrington Gold Chandelier 

You can see my 'real' living room and sources here and the newsletter here!

Slowly but surely we're getting the first floor together. I don't know what's "normal," but our pace feels so slow, guys! I keep thinking of a proverb we received from an older African gentleman in our first year of marriage "Little by Little, the bird builds its nest"- in his language. So sweet and oft thought of when I'm getting impatient. We made a big step in the entry when we had a hall tree (locker? what do you call it?) built but then I painted it the 'wrong' color and proceeded to ignore it for 2 years. Ha! Well here are plans for a quick and easy entry refresh.

Hey friends! At last, I bring you the girls' shared bedroom! It's a little luxe, a little magical, and a little bit boho. I've been working on it for forever, changing my mind often, and teasing it for months. Ha! But I'm calling it done even with a few projects I want to tackle later. The girls are happy; I'm happy! So do you want to see it?

We finally stained our DIY pergola! It was always our intent to stain it, but once it was finished, we found ourselves just wanting to enjoy it! As the months passed, we noticed the wood splintering and getting gray/weathered and figured it was time. It was a big job best accomplished in the spring before temps hit the 100s (hello North Carolina summers) but if it hadn't been for quarantine, we might have continued putting it off (we're ambitious like that). After trying a million different samples, I have some things to say hence an entire post dedicated to it, plus I haven't shared any patio photos since last July so now is a good time for an update. But first, when you last saw our DIY modern pergola, it looked like this:

You guys! We made it! We've arrived at the end of the One Room Challenge! Air hugs and jazz hands all around! What an eventful 8 weeks (in more ways than one)! I'm excited to show you the final result of the past 8 weeks- and really 8 months since we first began discussing this project. Joe and I knew we needed a place for me to work, a place for a family computer, and though I hope not (please please please), a place for the kids to 'do school,' if remote learning continues in the fall. We decided that the blank wall in the kitchen would be a great place for a DIY office nook. My goals for the office nook included:

Between my kids wrapping up school (this last week of remote learning has been as tough as the first!), traveling (we're at the beach!), and general busy-ness, I can't say I have much progress to share with the One Room Challenge. But I didn't want to totally ignore the fact that I owe you an update on our kid-friendly office nook, so here it is! Keep reading to see where we landed on the shelves, the brackets we're considering, and my secret weapon for shelf styling.