Fresh Blooms:
Swap out the winter/pine greenery for fresh or faux spring blooms.  I  personally prefer faux stems as it's a great way to swap and switch out as often as I'd like.  I do add fresh stems from time to time as they are very hard to resist when displayed so beautifully in the stores!  Either way, spring blooms speak spring refresh and are a great addition to brighten up any space.

Planting season:
I spent a good amount of time prepping and planting bulbs last fall.  I took a look at the gardens and some of the bulbs have already started sprouting.  To say that I am excited to see the spring blooms is an understatement.  In addition to the bulbs I started last year I am also looking to plant a few seedlings and to get my vegetable garden going again.  I am hoping to grow tomatoes, a variety of fruit, and some fresh herbs for cooking and cocktails.  

Front porch: 

The month of January for me is always spent organizing and decluttering.  Don't get me wrong, I do this periodically throughout the year, but the early months of the year provide a perfect opportunity to kick the new year off in a clean way.   Caring for your home is caring for yourself and today, Valentine's day, let's focus on caring for ourselves. 

Decluttering first makes the organizing part easier.  Take a bit of time to go through kids clothes and toys, kitchen items, closets, and all the things stored in the basement or attic to see what you haven't touched in a while.  Chances are if you haven't used it, you're not missing it.  Decluttering is actually cathartic for me.  It feels so good to free up space and cleanse, if you will.  

After decluttering comes organizing and this is the fun part.  There are so many options and styles out there for storage bins and baskets allowing you to get creative.  Storage baskets are my favorite way to hide loose items.  I have one in almost every room.  Storage bins are another effective way to organize loose items.  They come in handy for fridge organization, pantries, and linen closets.  Add labels and your organization is elevated to new levels. 

Decluttering and organizing is incredibly time consuming, especially if you are planning to tackle it all at once which is why I prefer breaking up the process.  Create a schedule and tackle one space at a time to make the process a bit more bearable.  Over time you will notice the fruits of your labor with an all new organized space!  Happy cleaning! 

Image Credit: Wayfair | Shop the Look: Decorative Accents, Dinnerware, Candle Sets
 
With the holiday season in full swing, our homes feel extra festive strung head to toe in lights and every open space decked in holiday decorations. When the season ends, it can be a little sad seeing all the decorations go! However, it’s easy to transition from over-the-top holiday décor to a more understated look that will carry your space through the winter. Think cozy textures, lush greenery and warming colors to evoke the perfect vibes for hot cocoa by the fire after a day playing out in the snow. Check out my latest interview with Wayfair to see how I transition from holiday to winter décor!
 
WINTER DECOR TRANSITION: Q&A with Mariane of Lulu Quadri
 
Wayfair: How do you incorporate winter décor into your space without it feeling too “holiday”?
 
Mariane: Fresh greenery straight from the outdoors! Pine stems of all types are plentiful and so I love to snip a few fresh pine stems and add them to vases throughout my home. They smell wonderful, are perfect for winter décor, and the color brightens the rooms up nicely.
 
Wayfair: Are there any pieces you reuse from your holiday décor collection?
 
Mariane: Understated pieces that aren't decked out in glitter and/or lights are what I reuse. I don't own too many of these, but I do have a few snowflake candle holders that I keep around after the holidays as they fit right in with winter décor. Muted and neutral-colored pieces such as hunter green pillow throw covers transition seamlessly as well. 
 
Wayfair: What inspires your winter décor? i.e. a cozy log cabin decked in plaid, or maybe an icy blue winter wonderland?
 
Mariane: My winter décor is a mix of a cozy, neutral-colored log cabin and a fresh pine forest.  Neutral colors and a touch of green is what you’ll find throughout my home.  Lots of cozy throw blankets and pillows for cozying up while watching movies, and winter-scented candles to make you feel as if you’re outdoors in the fresh air.  We spend a lot of time indoors so I’ve created spaces that we never want to leave! 

Crisp air, sweater weather, apple picking, pumpkins, Halloween, and so much more.  What's not to love about Fall season?!  I love all things Fall because along with it comes all of the beautiful home decor!  Beginning around mid August (I know that's early for some) I slowly start transitioning into Fall Season in the following ways:
Home Decor: 
I shop around my home to repurpose decor I already have, and check out the stores to see what new Fall items will be stocked.  I slowly begin transitioning each space in my home to Fall using neutrals and adding a pop of color in the red, yellow, gold family.  As a content creator, I also use this time to plan out spooky szn and all the fun Halloween decor themes I plan to create.  
Declutter:
Fall season is a great time to go through your stuff to see what can be tossed or put away.  My kids are 5 and 3 years old (and there's one on the way) so this is a great opportunity for me to go through their things and see what clothes to keep or toss as we transition to fall season.  
Outdoors/Landscaping:
Planting chrysanthemums and sowing grass seeds is on the to do list for fall season.  I have already mapped out the areas where I want to plant the mums and will also use them to refresh the front porch!  Chrysanthemums are best planted during the spring time if you want their roots to really develop and survive the winter, but they can also be planted during the fall season.  

If you're in an area where there is a Fall season, I hope you take the time to enjoy all the special things about Fall!

 It's been a little while as I've had a very busy couple of months.  I decided to dedicate this blog post to room transformations.  The question that I get asked the most is where do you start?  Where do you get your inspiration from?  The truth is there is no one place to start!  Inspiration can come from anywhere.  Perhaps you already have a piece you love and you want to decorate around it.  Or you've seen a new piece of artwork that you want to use as the base inspiration.  Decorating a space takes time and ultimately you want to create a space that you enjoy and vibe with.  Take your time, don't rush, and fall in love with the process as decorating should be fun.  I've been very fortunate to have a blank slate to start with in my new home and below, I have outlined some steps that I take in order to transform spaces.  I'm hoping these tips will be useful for you as you begin the beautiful journey of transforming your home. 

Search your favorite blogs and websites for inspiration (Pinterest, Instagram, google, etc).  Look for colors that you are attracted to, and look for common themes in the styles that interest you the most.  Save these images so that you can refer to them at any point in your decorating process.  Creating a mood board is another easy way to compile the items and colors that will help you in your decorating process.  A mood board is a very useful visual tool that showcases your design concepts, colors, and style choice.  This image on the left is a sample image of a mood board I created as I was redesigning our bedroom. 

If you are starting with a blank slate then this step is not necessary for you.  However, most of the time we are redecorating a space with existing items and so decluttering and deciding what to toss or keep is important.  I love to use the phrase, shop your own home.  This is a simple way to see what pieces in your space are worth keeping and reusing rather than buying new items.  It's also a great time to declutter as decorating without decluttering will equal disaster.  Once this process is complete, you will have a decluttered, space with items that you can repurpose as you begin decorating. 

With your mood board inspo and newly decluttered space you're ready to begin decorating!  Move furniture around, and play with new design concepts.  See what furniture placement works with how your use your space.  Functionality is the most important and finding functional pieces that can be easily moved around and/or has multiple uses will go a long way when decorating a new space.  Remember, this is a process that takes time and shouldn't be rushed.  Enjoy the process!

It may be February, but I'm already dreaming of Spring!  The temps are slowly warming up too, or maybe we've just been lucky with these 50 degree days in mid February, on the east coast!   As the winter slowly melts into spring, there comes a great opportunity to brighten up your living spaces.  A time to try something new.  Maybe it's some new throw pillows for the living room, or a new coffee station in the kitchen.  In this very exciting partnership with Wayfair, I am refreshing my kitchen!  A few touches really made a very big difference!  Here are three ways I refreshed my kitchen in preparation for springtime.
New Coffee Station:
Whether you are a coffee or tea drinker, create a dedicated space in your kitchen which can become your own personal oasis.  You can tailor this space to your liking with all the items you need to create that perfect fresh cup.  Coffee in the morning is my sure set way to start off my day properly.  I relish, choosing my coffee, preparing it, and then savoring that first sip.   I've had a modern farmhouse vibe going in my coffee set up for quite some time now, and I wanted to try something different.  Something that is sleek with clean lines.  A bit more modern and less farmhouse.  I opted to get a marble coffee tray, matching marble coasters, and some Scandinavian style canisters to hold all my coffee essentials.  The simplicity of Scandinavian design really added a nice touch to my coffee set up.  The white and wood combinations along with the honeycomb design was a perfect combination which complemented the black and gold coffee spoons.  I completed my coffee station with new bistro coffee mugs that make me feel like I am in my very own fancy coffee shop.  
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Cabinet Hardware:
A very easy way to change up the look of any space is to swap out the hardware.  This works in kitchens, bathrooms, and even door handles.  Matte black hardware has always been something that I have admired.  It's sleek, and really brings about a modernized look.  I opted to change the hardware on the cabinets from nickel to matte black and it transformed the kitchen entirely.  We have several cabinets and I love that Wayfair had the option to buy hardware that came in multipacks (10+) in each package, as well as different size options.  I needed two styles, the 2" bar knobs and the center bar pulls, both of which were readily available.  
Greenery:
Just like in fashion where one can wear a statement piece, a similar concept can be utilized in your living spaces.  Decide where you want to place your statement piece.,  I chose the center island which is the first place that meets your eyes as you enter the kitchen.  This is where I decided to place a gorgeous urn glass vase along with stunning leaf sprays that scream spring time.  Together, the combination is a stunning display!  

I recently partnered with a few ladies to showcase how we are organizing spaces around our homes.  The space I chose is the master closet.  It holds our belongings, it's the space where we get dressed for the day, undress for bed in the evenings, and also sometimes work in it (my husband needs a space with no windows to do some computer work at times).  It's our master closet and I'm in love with it! We were fortunate to be able to work with a superb designer who created this space for us with all the shelving space we needed.  Our designer made sure to utilize every corner, while still leaving enough open space to allow us enough space to add a chair or ottoman if we would like.  Currently and as mentioned above, we sometimes bring in a small desk and chair for my husband to work in as he requires a dark room for some of his work.  The closet also serves as my hideaway spot from the kiddos from time to time (ha!).  It's multifunctional to say the least and exactly what we wanted.  

With shelving comes the need to organize!  Everything has it's own space.  I also love symmetry and both my husband and I have our things organized in a symmetrical way.   Shoes, hats, my purses each have their own sections to keep clothing items organized by type. .  I also made sure to use baskets when necessary to hide items like belts.  Another tip I'd like to share is to use the same hanger for all clothes, and preferably the velvet hangers.  These are so useful for keeping clothes from fall off the hanger and also to streamline the look and feel of the closet.  In short below is list of things to keep in mind when organizing your closet, no matter the size.  
Tips:
1. Look for symmetry in arrangement of clothing items.  
2. Group items by category to help in keeping a streamlined look
3. Velvet hangers help to prevent clothes from slipping off and also look neat
4. Storage bins will help to hold some of the smaller items in your closet and keep them out of plain view.  

Click the links below to see how my friends are organizing various spaces in their homes!
Maria: Bedroom closet organization
​Sunny: Organizing various spaces around her home
Rhegis: The Morris Mansion
Ursula at LANA+LINO: Pantry organization
​Erin: Baby Nursery

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There is so much opportunity when decorating an office space.   There is no better time to create a working space for yourself, especially since so many of us are working remotely at the moment.  Whether you have a small corner office or an entire room, an office is supposed to feel comfortable and yet be functional for your working needs.  A space where you can create, execute, and think clearly.  It should also feel like a space where you can take a break and relax.  These were the principles I used when decorating my office space, along with the mantra, less is more.  Here are a few tips that I used when decorating the office space.  If you are interested in purchasing any of the items you see in the pic, please click on my liketoknow.it tab and it will direct you to the site and where you can purchase!

Find your focal point:
Key pieces and focal points are the bookshelf and the computer desk.  I opted to use different types of decorative pieces on the bookshelf and grouped them in twos - either side by side or on top of one another for a layered effect.   I stuck to colors within the same family, golds and neutrals as this helps to create a more streamlined look. 

Add comfort:
I decided to add a lounge chair next to the bookshelf to create that cozy and comfortable feel.  The throw pillow and chunky knit throw blanket layered on the lounge chair adds to that effect.  In the future, I am looking to add a small loveseat and possibly a tv which I feel will transform this office space even further.  These additions will make it feel like a lounge/living room, but also serve as an office space. 

Look for functional pieces:
In searching for a computer desk, I looked for something that was functional.  Large enough to hold a laptop and monitor, and still has more than enough space to write, enjoy a cup of coffee, and hold a few table plants! The computer desk I found also has a foot rest underneath which makes working all the more easier. 

Whether you have a small or large office space, these tips above will still hold true.  Always start with your focal point and then build and decorate from there.  Functional pieces go a long way, and adding comfort will help you enjoy coming into work just a little bit more.   

The New Year is here!  A blank slate.  A time for new beginnings, new opportunities, and new ideas.   I feel refreshed just thinking about it and motivated towards focusing on all the new ideas I have in mind.  I spent the last week of 2021, deep cleaning the house so that I can start the new year off fresh.  I organized cabinets, closets, and deep cleaned all the floors.  If you haven't yet had the opportunity to deep clean, don't worry as it's never too late to start.   Purging old items and organizing is also not a one and done and something that should be done every quarter.   Here are a few tips to simplify what can seem like an overwhelming process: 

1. Create a list of cleaning and organizing tasks you want to tackle
2.  Prioritize the list to work on what's most important to you. 
3. Create a schedule and dates of when you want to compete each task.  This will give you something to work towards and target.
4.  If you get off schedule, don't worry, reprioritize your list and move tasks around. 

I have found that a prioritized list is the the best way to not overwhelm yourself and to focus on one task at a time.  You will see progress as you check items off your list.  I wish each and every one of you an amazing year ahead!  There is lots of new stuff and brand partnerships coming which I am excited about!  Thank you for following along on this ride.  Cheers to 2022!

Image Credit: Wayfair
Shop The Look: Christmas Decorations, Garlands, Fireplace Mantel

 It’s time to deck the halls! From cozy winter cottage vibes to colorful festive flair, there’s plenty of ways to ensure your holiday decor reflects your personal style. There are so many fun holiday decorating trends coming out this year that it can be hard to choose just one!
 
So when my friends at Wayfair asked to chat, I was thrilled to share my tips, advice and inspiration for The Holiday Edit. The holiday season is truly the best time of year for my family and so we love to make it festive and fun all season long.
 
The Wayfair Holiday Trend Q & A with Mariane of Lulu Quadri
 
Wayfair: As holiday trends change throughout the years, what are some core pieces that you consider décor staples?
 
Mariane: Pine stems and holiday plant décor are a must no matter what the holiday trends are.  The fresh greenery of pine stems and holiday plants add a nice, bright touch.  
 
Wayfair: What is your favorite holiday decorating tradition?
 
Mariane:  My family loves to put up the Christmas tree decorations together.  We watch holiday movies and sip hot chocolate.  It couldn’t get any cozier!
 
Wayfair: Are there any holiday décor trends that are really standing out to you right now?
 
Mariane: The neutral holiday décor pieces as well as the distressed, vintage ornament look is something that I love this season and want to try.   
 
Wayfair: What’s your advice to those looking to incorporate trendier items with classic holiday décor pieces?
 
Mariane: It’s important to add small pieces of the trendier items to the core pieces that are a must for you when decorating.  This way you always have something new incorporated into your holiday décor, but you still remain true to the pieces you love most.
 
Wayfair: Does your décor follow a theme? What do you gravitate towards when shopping for new pieces to add to your collection while maintaining the theme?
 
Mariane: Yes, my décor does follow a theme.  This year I am still keeping the neutral color holiday vibe going, but I am incorporating a bit of black throughout all the pieces I’m using which stands out quite nicely!  I have ceramic, black reindeer figurines and some black touches on my ornaments. 
 
Wayfair: Do you decorate the exterior of your home in the same way each year, or do you like to mix it up?
 
Mariane:  I like mixing up the styles for the outdoor space, but I always keep the staple items including a Christmas mat, wreath, and Christmas trees.    
 
 
Mariane’s Wayfair 2021 Holiday Product Picks
Here’s a roundup of some of my favorite holiday piece at Wayfair this year!  There are so many wonderful options available to fit any style.  I stayed with my personal favorite­­­­ -- neutral holiday décor with bright lights that creates a cozy, warm, and festive feeling! 
 
Holiday season is truly the best time of year where special memories with friends and family are created.  Wishing you all a very happy and healthy holiday season ahead!