Welcome to 2024! You, me, all of us - we’re here! We’ve officially stepped onto a blank canvas.

Choice and opportunity feel more abundant when there is a symbolic new chapter of life. So, lean in. From a home design perspective, make a thoughtful plan for a transformation that you truly need. Get out your pen and paper and map out what update you will make. The list should be short and achievable. You can always make another list!

For example - “Restyle my living room built-in”. Take measurements of the height and width of each shelf and put them in the Notes section of your phone to have them handy at all times. Buy yourself a mini tape measure (like this one) so you can be ready to check the size of a great basket or coffee table book when you spot it randomly in a store. Create a Pinterest Board of your inspiration so you can thoughtfully zone in on your style (i.e. light wood or dark wood, certain colors, metal finishes, a special object that inspires you, etc.). Make a shopping list: books, planters, baskets, decorative objects, frames, etc. And then schedule a few hours on your calendar to get it done. Don’t leave the execution phase to chance. Even if it’s 2…3…4…months from now, pull aside the time to make it happen:

2-3 hours to shop for everything
2-3 hours to try your hand at styling
2-3 hours to return anything that didn’t work out

These hours/days may be all in one weekend or spread out of a few weekends, or even months. Just make sure you can return everything you don’t ultimately use before the return window lapses. Goals are great. But achievements need action plans. Whether it is a bathroom refresh (paint, new mirror and light fixture) or transitioning your toddler’s bedroom into a big kid bedroom or furnishing your patio. Plan an update that is going to make day-to-day life more beautiful, but also easier and happier.

Styling Breakdown

We are giving away the milk for free in today’s breakdown. It’s nearly everything in this vignetted from our Atkinson Project, not just the decor. To start, the wall colors are Swiss Coffee and Van Deusen Blue (both from Benjamin Moore).

Next, everything else. This is a great storage solution for tight kids spaces because these wall mounted shelving units sit snug to the wall. They also feel airy compared to a classic bookshelf thanks to the light colors and the etagere style. We combined true storage decor (baskets, bins and pretty boxes) with actual decor (fake plants) with toys. Kid spaces don’t call for much on the personality building side of decor thanks to all those toys and books.

Source List:

Wall mounted shelves (the exact shelves!)
Bins on top shelf (the updated version)
Round gray boxes
Save, Spend, Give Piggy Banks (no longer available but we found it for sale on Poshmark)
Save, Spend Give Piggy Bank alternative
Similar round gray lidded bin
Woven planter
Faux ivy plant or this one
Lantern no longer available, but we have also used (and love) this night light
Similar blue/white baskets or these similar blue/white baskets
Similar pouf or similar pouf

Keeping Myself Busy

What have I been up to other than getting through the holidays? Hmmm. Not a ton. The one thing worth sharing is that I have been trying to improve my posture. I have always had pretty bad posture and it’s only gotten worse over the years. All the phone scrolling and work from home has my chin down and my neck/shoulders in pain.

I have followed Movement by David on Instagram for years. Mostly out of amazement by some of his reels and slightly because I’ve aspired to someday stretch more. I recently injured my leg (nothing a little physical therapy can’t handle), but it has me thinking about my flexibility in general. And I decided to get the Posture guide (it’s FREE). And it has been tremendously helpful. Actually blows my mind how difficult some of these simple stretches are and how effective they are in pulling my shoulders back.

Fashion Find

You may have seen this on our Instagram stories - Sarah (one of our Lead Designers) found us the best dupe of Krewe sunglasses (LINK here). I’m so happy with them. One of my best purchases of 2023.

Local Fun

January is a pretty sleepy month in the Boston area. Everyone is recovering from the holiday rush and contending with freezing temperatures. That said, I found a few fun things to get you through this winter month:

Madonna: The Celebration Tour concert at TD Bank North (Jan 8 and 9)

A Beatles Tribute Band is playing at the Wilbur Theatre (Jan 9)

Boston Wine & Food Festival (Jan 12)

Moulin Rouge musical is touring in Boston (Jan 16-20)

I hope you have a truly wonderful kick off to this new, fresh year. Whether it’s full of resolutions and transformations. Or, if it’s full of relaxation and downtime. I hope you are able to truly enjoy and set intentions for your year.

Until February!

Cheers, Leah

*This post contains affiliate links*