QUILT & SHAMS: The Cloud Quilt & Shams, c/o | SHEETS: Belgian Flax Linen Sheets | COFFEE: Bodum French Press, also love this copper one | MUGS: Bellezza Mugs | SAUCER: Bellezza Creamer | BOWLS: Mini Latte Bowls | TRAY: White Tray | LAMPS: Between a Rock and a Table Lamp | HEADBOARD: DIY Upholstered Headboard
ON ME: DRESS: Stripe Skater Dress

Let’s be straight about one thing. In the Staky house, we love our sleep and part of what makes sleep so wonderfully amazing? An equally as amazing bed, or as my mother calls it ‘biscuit’. My mom grew up calling our beds, ‘our biscuits’ and the name stuck.

I like the analogy though, and each night I crawl into bed thinking about how I’m going to melt into dreamland like a piece of butter in a warm biscuit. What can I say? It reminds me of being a kid

Ever since the weather started getting warmer, I’ve been systematically going around the house, cleaning, reorganizing and doing some redecorating. I switched around the placement of a few rugs, ordered new lamps, cleaned out my closet (again), and bought fabric for new pillows. For months now, getting new bedding has been on my list, and I finally tackled the project!
We liked our old bedding just fine, but I was hankering for some new sheets and a new quilt that made more sense for us.

Before the new bedding, we had a silk quilt that was pretty, but not very functional. It was white, which I love, but with a dog, it would get dirty so quickly, and keeping him off of the bed is pretty much impossible.

The corner of the bed has quickly become Oliver’s favorite spot to snooze during the day. I’m pretty sure it’s because the air vent above him blows on his head and keeps him cool during the summer. Also, I won’t lie, our bed is really comfortable. We splurged on a new mattress after we got married and I can easily say that it’s been one of the best investments we’ve made. There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep, am I right?!

Back to Oliver though. I don’t mind that he sleeps on the bed during the day, but I was getting fed up with the bed always looking a little dingy. Since the silk quilt could only be dry-cleaned, I didn’t end up washing it very often, which, yes, is gross, but dry-cleaning is expensive!

So when I started the hunt for a new quilt, I had a few things in mind — it had to be machine-washable and it had to be white! Don’t you think white is so clean, fresh and crisp?! I also love that I can easily switch up the look by changing out the accent pillows.

I finally came across The Cloud Quilt at Crane & Canopy and we’ve loved it! Yes, it still gets dirty from Oliver’s naps, but I can throw it in the wash anytime I need to which is so much easier and less expensive than lugging it to the dry cleaners.

While a good quilt or duvet cover is usually the part that everyone sees, it’s not the only element in creating a fabulous, cozy biscuit. Here are my ingredients for creating a cozy bedtime retreat in your own home…

Step One: Mattress

A good mattress is the foundation for any good bed. A nice one can help you sleep more soundly and keep you from waking up with a sore back or neck. We have a Tempur-Pedic mattress and like I mentioned earlier, it’s definitely some of the best money we’ve ever spent. Plus, it’s guaranteed to last 10 years!

Step Two: Sheets

Soft, cozy sheets are step two! Since you lay in between these, comfort is key. This is one spot where I’ve shied away from white. We had white sheets before and I found that they always looked dirty, yuck. I recently got these Belgian linen sheets and we’re obsessed. The first weekend after I bought them, Rob slept for a good ten hours and I think these amazing sheets were partially to blame.

Step Three: Quilt

A simple quilt is not only beautiful, but timeless too. We’re obsessed with this simple one from Crane & Canopy. I also love this one and this one! We decided against a duvet cover because Rob gets hot at night. While I love the way they look, I always find that the stuffing keeps me way too warm.

Step Four: Finishing Touches

Since I don’t sleep as warm as Rob, I tend to get a bit chilly at night. We keep a blanket at the end of the bed so I can use it when I need to. I also love the way it looks when the bed is made. We got matching shams to go with our quilt and I added one throw pillow to the middle to tie in the colors of the rug into the bed.

Step Five: Peaceful Scents

This last step has less to do with the bed, and more to do with the ambiance in your bedroom. To keep our bedroom peaceful and tranquil we don’t have a TV in there so at night, I like to light a soothing candle, read my book (currently reading All The Light We Cannot See) and drink sleepy-time tea before dozing off.

Do you love your bed? What other elements make up a cozy bedroom to you?

BTW, the 10 minute routine that keeps me sane and what does your dream home look like?

* This post was sponsored by World Market, as always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The Fox & She up & running!

DINNER PLATES: Aqua Henley Dinner Plates | SALAD PLATES: Aqua Henley Salad Plates | NAPKINS: Black & White iKat Napkins | NAPKIN RINGS: Hammered Copper Triangle Napkin Rings | WINE GLASSES: Copper Stemless Wine Glasses | PEDESTAL: Small Round Marble & Wood Pedestal Stand | FLOWER VASE: Bee Highball Glass | WINE: Sparkling & Still Rosé // DRESS: Villanelle Lace Dress

When I lived in Dallas, my whole family (sometimes grandparents too!) would celebrate Mother’s Day together by going out to a big brunch. It was always so much fun, but now that I’m in Chicago, it’s rare that I get to see my mom on her special day. When it does happen, our first choice isn’t going out to a restaurant, but instead we like to stay home and keep things simple and more personal. It’s a lot more casual and we can linger for hours without feeling rushed to get out the door.

Entertaining, especially in the morning can be so daunting, but with a little forward planning, creating a gorgeous and colorful Mother’s Day brunch (or any spring brunch!) can be so easy and really enjoyable. I wanted to do something bright and colorful for this brunch since spring is finally starting to show its face around here. I stopped by World Market and grabbed some new spring items and I have to say, I’m obsessed with all the colors and patterns they have in stock right now!

1. Create a Menu

First things first! Once you know what you’re making, everything else becomes so easy. For a noon brunch, I always like doing a light salad like frisée with a mustard vinaigrette paired with a savory vegetable quiche and a side of crispy bacon.

2. Set the Table

Since our meal had a salad, I also wanted to include a salad plate. I also love how stacking a salad plate on a dinner plate adds more texture and interest to the table. Add the necessary flatware too!

3. Dress up Your Table Settings

Now comes the fun part, making the table look really special with added details. I already loved the color of the plates, so I decided on these black (almost navy) and white ikat napkins with copper napkin rings to add a little something special to each setting. I love the contrast of the napkin on the plates and the copper on the napkin. For bigger brunches, you can add place cards so everyone knows exactly where to sit, but for a small family brunch where everyone gets along, I decided not to.

4. Add Statement Glasses

To tie it all together, I added wine glasses with hammered copper bottoms. Copper and sea foam green might be one of my favorite color combinations, ever. I also love that these are stemless and not too tall — it makes the dessert and flowers really stand out!

5. Put Dessert on a Pedestal

Literally. Little cake stands like this are perfect for adding height and interest to your tabletop and show off the final treat of the meal — donuts! Muffins or cupcakes would also work well, but I love old-fashioned donuts, so that as an easy choice. This pedestal comes in a larger size too!

6. Finishing Touches

To complete the table, I always add fresh flowers. Since my table is small, I opted for a small bunch of ranunculus in a low vase. Actually, this ‘vase’ is just a highball glass from the bee glassware collection that I got at World Market. I love the base of it and the little tiny bees on the top which you might be able to see if you look close enough!

The last addition? Wine! World Market always has a really great selection of wines at great prices, so I always make sure to run by that aisle before checking out.

To make things easier, I like to set the table the night before so I don’t have to rush around in the morning! That always ensures a less-stressful brunch party which is always a plus!

Does your family have any Mother’s Day traditions? Do you have any tips for throwing a stress-free brunch party?

A few weeks ago, my gorgeous new tallboy dresser from MegMade was delivered in perfect condition by the wonderful people at Schlep. Now that it’s been in our house for a few weeks, I finally found the time to get organize and fill it up and style it!

If you’re not familiar with MegMade, you should be! I first learned about her a little over a year ago right before Rob and I got married. I wanted some new furniture for our place, but didn’t want to spend thousands. The pieces at MegMade were so much more unique than anything I found online and the price was right!

Since our new place has very little storage, an extra dresser was a necessity and Meg finished this one in the same color as our other dresser in our bedroom so everything ties together nicely.

When it comes to styling any tabletop or area, I always think about three things: height, balance and function.

HEIGHT

Probably one the key things I think about when styling any small tabletop or vignette is height. Adding different heights to the same table adds interest and depth making it a more unique space that draws your eye in. The easiest way to add height is to hang art on the wall behind it. It doesn’t take up any space on the top of the piece, but adds visual height.

After that I layer items in differing heights to keep it looking interesting, unique and collected vibe.

BALANCE

I minored in studio art and have been working as a graphic/web designer for the past 6 years, so balance is engrained in my brain. The thing about balance is that it’s really more of a feeling than anything else. I always step back from an area I’m styling and look to see if it feels balanced. This doesn’t mean symmetrical though! One side can definitely have more visual weight, but just make sure they other side has enough to balance it out and make it feel evenly weighted.

FUNCTION

Definitely not the least of the the three, but usually one I don’t think about first. Why? Because I’m more concerned with things looking pretty, oops! That being said though, do think about it! I usually stack coffee table books and then top with a decorative accessory and this works because these books are not something I’m grabbing everyday to read. Here I use a try to display perfumes, candles and a few other items, and it’s super functional! I can easily light a candle or grab perfume and put it back in it’s place without unstacking a million things.

When you style a tabletop, what’s most important to you? What areas in your home could use a little styling?!

I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the more important our home has become to us. Yes, we live in a rental, but making it a place that’s a reflection of us and makes us feel cozy, happy and relaxed when we’re there is important. A big part of that has been art.

I studied art in school, so I’ve always had a love an appreciation for art, the process and vision that goes into each piece and as I get older, it’s been more and more important to me to fill our home with pieces that I absolutely love.

One of the toughest things about art? The cost. There’s no question that it can get pricey, but thankfully there’s now options that make high-quality, unique art more affordable and attainable. Enter Minted. If you weren’t already aware, Minted sells gorgeous art prints in addition to their paper products you’re used to seeing. In fact, I actually sell my art prints through Minted!

Anyway, the real point of this story is to show off this new addition. I recently added this stunning ‘All is Quiet’ horse print to our bedroom and I couldn’t be happier with my decision! Selecting and buying art is a process though and there’s always a few things I consider before buying a piece.

1. What Meaning Does it Have to You
A lot of times I have purchased art because it brings back a particular memory or means something to me and Rob, but it most certainly does not have to! I don’t ride horses and I’ve never lived anywhere rural, but this photograph simple captured me. It makes me feel peaceful and calm and that is a feeling I can always use more of!

2. Buy What You Like
You have to live with what you purchased, so buy something that you really love and before you hit ‘Buy’, make sure it’s a piece you won’t get sick of anytime soon! It’s also okay to buy a piece simply because you love it.

3. Think Long Term
Don’t buy a piece just because it fits into that one corner of your rental space. You won’t live there forever and if you’re only buying it because it works in that one spot, it’s probably not a good idea. Invest in pieces that you’ll want to see for years to come. I know this neutral and soft print will always find a home.

4. Feel a Connection
Whether or not the piece you want has a direct connection to you, it should evoke some emotion that draws you towards it. Like I mentioned earlier, the straight forward stance of the horse and soft eyes gives me the feeling that the horse can truly see me and it passes its peacefulness onto me whenever I look at it.

I purchased a lot of prints when I first moved into an apartment that didn’t fulfill these things and I’ve slowly been replacing them with meaningful pieces I love to create a home that’s tailored to us. What thoughts go through your head when you’re purchasing a piece of art?

If you’re looking to update your home or redecorate, I highly recommend checking out Minted for art. The selection is big, but very well-curated and you can order your prints framed or unframed. Mine came framed and saved me a ton of time and money trying to find someone in the city to frame the piece.

And lastly, if you’re looking for gift ideas, Minted’s customizable art collection is perfect! You can upload your own artwork or photos to create stunning art prints — silhouettes of your kids or pets, custom maps, drawings, wedding vows and house portraits are all available. They also come with tons of options like colors, framing, gold foil and letterpress, so get creative! The very best part? These prints start at just $41 which makes them perfect for gifts in my opinion!

P.S. The ShopBop Sale starts today! You can use code GOBIG15 to save on your order — stop by tomorrow too because I’m sharing my top 15 picks from the ShopBop Sale!

Thanks to Minted for the beautiful artwork!

I don’t know about you, but I really love decorating. It’s always been something I’ve enjoyed, but in the past few years it’s really become something I love doing. I’m constantly moving furniture and art around, trading out decorative accessories and always on the hunt for new pieces that fit my style and my budget. I also love that you can continually add, edit and rearrange to keep things looking new and fresh.

My style has changed over time and lately I’ve been loving stream-lined pieces with clean lines and mid-century modern touches. Personally I love combining contemporary pieces like these with the existing pieces in our home to create a look that feels so us.

This past month I got the itch make some changes and thanks to The RoomPlace, we were able to add some new pieces that totally changed the feel of our bedroom and living room without breaking the bank. Our new pieces were delivered within a few days and the delivery team brought all the products in, put together the lamp and took all the boxes with them. Moving big pieces of furniture always causes me a bit of stress, but they made it a really easy and seamless process!

So, what’s new?! I got two matching bedside tables for our bedroom in this grey-toned wood. The color goes perfectly with everything else we have in our room and the additional storage that the drawers provide is priceless, especially when you live in a small one bedroom with no storage space.

We added this lamp in the living room that adds just the right amount of light when you’re curled up on the couch with a book, but my favorite changes are in the dining room. This little corner of our place is my favorite because it has so much natural light pouring in. This console table from The RoomPlace fits here perfectly, doesn’t block much light and provides more storage (seriously, we can’t get enough!). I also got this simple wooden ladder that was meant for a bunk bed, but makes for a beautiful way to store blankets!

While these pieces might not stay in these exact same spots, they were great additions and I know they’ll have a place in our home even if I decide to completely rearrange again!

P.S. The RoomPlace is generously offering a gift card for $250! Enter below — winners will be announced mid-late next week!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post was sponsored by The RoomPlace, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The Fox & She running!