Color Crush: Coral

As far as all-time favorite colors go, coral is near the top of my list. It’s bright and punchy and perfectly embodies the cheeriness of spring and summer. It can look a little Palm Beach-y if paired with too many pastels, but it’s so versatile! I have to admit, coral pops up a lot more in my makeup bag than in my apartment, but I’m planning to change that. Ideally with an amazing coral front door (one day)…

Damn, how beautiful is that rug? If I had hardwood floors, I would be all over it! Here are a few other ways to integrate coral into your home.

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Are you a fan of this lovely shade? What colors are you loving for spring? For more decorating ideas, check out our art & interiors Pinterest board!

♥ Mil

 

Images: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Share the Love: DIY Stamped Tea Towel

Ever since my stint in the south, my heart gets just a little more excited about the holidays. Southerners love to celebrate special events with themed trinkets and decor. One decor trend I’m particularly fond of is the seasonal tea towel – Christmas trees in December, little American flags in July. I like it because it brings a little bit of flair to my kitchen, but is still useful. I’m not one for knick knacks, since counter space is too precious in the Malinowski household.

With Valentine’s Day coming up, I thought it’d be fun to create my own decorative tea or dish towels…a little throwback to my southern “roots.” While Nick and I don’t really do anything to celebrate, I love using Valentine’s Day as a reason to celebrate all the other loves in my life: friends, family, and great coworkers. This project is an easy and affordable gift that any girl in your life will love.

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DIY Stamped Tea Towel
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Supplies
Plain flour sack dishtowels
Sponge
Sharpie
Scissors
Acrylic paint
Small dish
Sheets of thick scrap paper
Optional: Hot glue gun, Rick rack
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Start by picking out your paint colors and gathering your materials. I went with the classic Valentine’s Day theme of pink and red, but you can roll with any color combo you want.

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Use your sharpie to sketch your stamp shapes onto the top of your sponge. Make sure you keep the comparative size of your dish towel in mind. Don’t over think it! Sponge stamps do not lend themselves to detail or perfection. Embrace that handmade look, y’all!

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Once your stamps are cut, pour your paint into a small dish. Then cut and insert a thick piece of paper behind the front panel of the dishtowel to prevent the paint from seeping through. Alternatively you could spread the towel out, but I like being able to see how the final design will look. I suggest only stamping the front to keep the towel functional. Any section that’s painted won’t absorb water. Let your stamps absorb the paint for about 5 seconds before stamping them onto the fabric. Make sure to press down firmly and let the paint dry for at least 5 minutes before touching. 

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I had extra rick rack around the house that I simply hot glued to the bottom for some extra flare. I originally cut a piece to just lay across the front, but ended up gluing it along the bottom of the front side. Adding a strong of pom-poms would also be cute.

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Despite their imperfections, I think they’re just darling! I can’t wait to send a couple sets in the mail later this week as a little southern surprise for my friends.

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Do you have any special plans for Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day this year? Last year Mil and I spent the day together. True love.
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XOXO,
Jules

Winter Home Decor Refresh

 

 

Gilt mirror / Trinket tray / Mongolian faux fur pillows / French press / Faux fur throw / ‘Hot Stuff’ mug / String lights / Faux fur bean bag / Furry bench / Quartz coasters / Wood tray / Black champagne diffuser / Pompom throw

Well guys, as far as I’m concerned, winter has arrived. Snow has been sighted within the city limits, they’re already playing Christmas music in stores, and slowly but surely, all the blankets I own have found their way onto my bed. With the changing of the seasons comes the urge to refresh my home decor, and naturally I want to cozy things up a bit. And by ‘a bit’ I mean so many furry blankets and pillows you’ll think you stepped right into Winterfell. I’m really loving a soft, serene palette of white and gray with gold accents, with a hint of rustic wood here and there.

Do you have any winter decor updates you’re dying to make? Also: how amazing is that faux fur bean bag? I never thought I would say such a thing, but I really want that bean bag. Just imagine curling up next to the fireplace on your gloriously soft, furry bean bag, and diving headfirst into a Netflix binge as a winter storm rages outside. I’m pretty sure that’s the Webster’s dictionary definition of coziness right there.

♥ Mil

 

5 Fall Decorating DIYs

This weekend I had big plans for a new DIY decorating project. I had empty wine bottles piling up in the kitchen, a bag of dollar store goodies, and cans of spray paint at the ready. And you know what, it just didn’t happen. Do you ever have one of those weekends where you start out with the greatest intentions and then slowly dial back to accommodate for a few extra hours of cuddles in bed? #worthit

So instead of sharing my own DIY project, I thought I’d do the next best thing and share a few of the fall projects catching my eye this season. Refresh your seasonal decor with these creative yet simple ideas.
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Painted pumpkins are huge this year, which is great because they last so much longer than the carved variety. This mud cloth design idea from Homey oh My is an updated take on the typical fall color palette. 

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Living in the South, I developed a love for wreaths. They’re a homey touch that adds creates a sense of warmth from your guests first knock at the front door. This gold spray painted leaf wreath from Wild Ink Press is elegant but not outdated. 

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Love this idea to use painted pumpkins as a chalkboard to share your dinner party menu. Thank you Better Recipes! I don’t really want to host Thanksgiving at our house this year, but this DIY almost makes me want to.

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This floral fall wreath project from A Night Owl looks slightly easier to execute than the leaf wreath and adds a nice punch of color to a plain Jane door.

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Confession: I love succulents, but I struggle to keep even these durable guys alive. Enter the magic of faux flowers and plants. This pumpkin and succulent arrangement from I Heart Naptime is right up my alley. Plastic is impossible to kill.

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How do you decorate for fall? Do you recycle the same decorations or do you prefer to refresh every year with natural elements: winter squash, leaves, etc.? One of my friends in Arkansas has been hanging the same wreath on her front door for more than 20 years. It’s not Halloween in her ‘hood until the witch wreath comes out!
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XOXO,
Jules