BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Progress Report: New Outdoor Sconces & 12 Options Under $100

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I feel a little embarrassed posting this photo since our house is in desperate need of a power wash — but, I like documenting our progress. So, today’s post is about the small-but-necessary updates we’ve made to our front porch recently: new sconces and an outdoor outlet!

The outdoor outlet is definitely an eyesore, but it’s a small price to pay to be able to hang Christmas lights outside. I had been using these socket adapters with our old sconces and they’re great in a pinch, but an outdoor outlet is really a necessary upgrade. We have an outlet on the interior side of this wall in the same spot, making it the easiest placement for the outlet. I would have preferred to have it less obvious, but it doesn’t really bother me that much. I’ll put a potted plant in front of it next year.

The more exciting change was swapping out the old sconces. As a reminder, this is what we were starting with:

Sherwin Williams SuperDeck Wet Clay

I don’t mind the farmhouse shape of those sconces, but they didn’t work with our aesthetic. Beyond that, they were flimsy and were starting to rust. (I don’t know about you, but rusting electrical fixtures don’t give me peace of mind.) You’ll also notice that the canopy is circular and the siding trim behind it is a rectangle. There’s an overhang, so I don’t think much moisture made its way in, but it was a haven for insects. We had a hornet nest under the one on the right, which was thankfully abandoned when we took down the fixture.

My main priority for a new sconce was one with a rectangular canopy that would fit within the existing trim. I have the biggest crush on this sconce from Schoolhouse, but the canopy wouldn’t work and, well, $300 per sconce simply isn’t in our budget with an upcoming bathroom renovation. (We have two sconces in front and one over our back patio door.) I strongly considered this one from Rejuvenation, but after measuring the sconce plus the globe, I discovered that the top of the globe would be in line with the very top of the door and that seemed too high. I eventually came across these. Are they my favorite sconce? Not by any stretch of the imagination. However, the canopy was correct, the size was spot on, and the price at $40 each was enticing enough to place an order. I figured I could always return them if I hated them. They ended up being far better quality than I expected for the price. (It’s also worth noting that we did not want a light with an integrated LED; we wanted to use our own smart bulbs to set the automation.)

Since I’ve done a lot of sconce-searching over the past few months, I thought I’d put together a roundup of outdoor sconces under $100:

ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE | TEN | ELEVEN | TWELVE

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On the Right Foot: SATC Fashion, Pumpkin Bread, A Cheeky Art Move & More!

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I’m loving the warm glow cast by these tealight holders.

A look back at Barbie’s Dreamhouse through the years.

How cute are these pajamas? The bunny pattern is surprisingly sophisticated and I love the playful lilac contrast hem and buttons.

It’s pumpkin season and this bread recipe was a favorite last year! It uses an entire can of pumpkin so you don’t have a little bit extra that just goes to waste.

This is fun! You can scroll back through seven decades of IKEA catalogs on the site’s digital museum.

Here’s what I bought and loved last month. (You can save $20 on your first pair of Rothy’s with this link.)

A sneak peek at the fashion on set of the Sex and the City reboot has made my Monday morning!

Did you see this cheeky move by a Danish artist?

A look at the materials we’re using for our bathroom remodels.

Thirteen thrillers to read this month.

Enjoy the first full week of October!

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Here’s a sneak peek at the materials we’re using in our main bathroom remodel!

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Our contractor is selected, deposits are paid, and our remodel begins in February! We’ll be doing both our half bath on the first floor and our main bathroom upstairs. Here’s a peek into the direction of our main bathroom:

  • Polished nickel fixtures – I like the warmth of nickel over chrome.
  • Marble hexagon floor tile – Just wait for all of the “shoefies!”
  • Subway tile in 4″ x 12″ inches instead of the traditional 4″ x 6″. We’ll be going up to the ceiling in the shower/bath and 48″ up the wall around the rest of the room.
  • Paint in Sherwin Williams “Riverway” that I painted last year and am still in love with. We’re completely gutting the bathroom because there’s water damage and the previous owners put the tile up higher than what I’d like to go with, so we’ll have fresh drywall to work with.

I’ll link the materials eventually, but I need to place my own orders first with the supply chain issues! 😉 This weekend, we’ll start looking at bathtubs, toilets, and faucets. Our contractor suggested that we start selecting all of the materials and ordering them as soon as possible to avoid delays.

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Things I Bought & Loved in September

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The Hill House ‘Athena’ nap dress in Matilda plaid was a standout this month!

Oh, hi! I’m trying to get back into the spontaneity of posting and not worrying so much about things being picture-perfect (which just resulted in me not posting much at all) — and since I love mirror-selfies from others with their new purchases and impromptu outfit pics, I’m doing the same this month to show you just how good this Hill House nap dress is! I’ll admit that I thought they were kind of silly and the long ones were too Little House on the Prairie for my style. But this one is adorable! I love a smocked bodice that doesn’t require a bra and it’s just so ridiculously comfortable. It runs large so you can definitely size down if you’re debating two sizes. The fabric is a lightweight, crisp cotton that would be perfect for warm days. (Those warm days are becoming sparse in Wisconsin, so this is really a jump on next year’s summer wardrobe!)

Another item that topped my favorites of the month is this moody forest landscape by ND Trivette Photography that I picked up at Madison’s art fair last weekend. His work is beautiful if you’re into minimal nature images!

As always, here’s this month’s roundup:

IN THE WARDROBE
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • Hill House ‘Athena’ nap dress in Matilda plaid – Reviewed above!
  • Rothy’s sneakers in juniper terry – I’ve never been a fan of the Rothy’s ballet flats that everyone seemed to have a couple of years ago, but I kept hearing about how comfortable the shoes are. I finally caved and ordered the sneakers when I saw that they were available in emerald (which is one of my favorite colors, even if I don’t wear it often). You guys! They are incredibly comfortable! And, as a bonus, they’re made of recycled water bottles and washable! I tried my regular size 7 first and ended up exchanging them for a 7.5 (once you drop off the incorrect fit and it’s scanned at the shipping company, they’ll send the new pair out). You can get $30 off your first order through the end of September with this link. (Full disclosure, I’ll get $30, too, which I’d likely spend on another pair of these sneakers in a neutral color. I believe it goes down to $20 off after this month.)
  • Madewell drawstring mini slip skirt – I kept thinking about this skirt after posting it in a Monday roundup and couldn’t resist at least trying it in person. It’s really pretty and surprisingly not staticky, which I kind of expected for a satin skirt. It runs a bit large and you could you probably opt for the smaller size if you’re between two. It’s especially cute worn with a chunky sweater.

AROUND THE HOUSE

  • Target cornhusk pumpkin – I’m all about understated pumpkin decor in the fall and this one is perfect for our entry table.
  • Target faux oakleaves – I swapped out the faux branch pictured here in favor of this oak one from Target. It’s not terribly realistic, but it’s good enough for the time being and the price is right at $5.
  • West Elm linen throw pillow covers in olive – These are prettier in person and classic enough to hold on to forever. They also have a great “golden oak” color that would be lovely this fall.
  • CB2 tealight candle holders – I had been crushing on these for awhile and finally pulled the trigger. They’re gorgeous in person! I have them sprinkled throughout the house, but plan to use them for holiday tablescapes this year. I’m using them with these flameless tealights. See it in action here.
  • CB2 twisted taper candles – I needed a ride-along item at CB2 for free shipping and added these to my cart. They’re an elegant alternative to standard tapers.

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On the Right Foot: Botox Turns 20, A Secret Society of Bakers, An Artist to Love & More!

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I can’t wait to visit Logan Mercantile (pictured above) the next time we’re in Chicago. I love a thoughtfully designed shop and I especially enjoyed reading this interview with the owners.

Celebrating Botox’s 20th anniversary and how it changed the face of aging.

I fell in love with this artist at our local art fair over the weekend. She paints tiny images on paint chips! I’d like to commission a painting with one of the paint colors we have in our home.

Three easy ways to make your home cozy for fall.

There’s a secret society of bakers in Chicago that meets weekly to help keep each other afloat.

I was recently gifted a couple of Beautycounter products to try. It’s only been a few days, but this overnight resurfacing peel is effective and leaves my complexion softer, more even, and brighter. It’s definitely worth trying! (This serum, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to do much. I’ll give it a couple of weeks before an official verdict.)

Lamb keema tacos will be the next new recipe I try.

Today is the last day to take 30% off this cozy coat.

Tips to get your résumé past the computer scanning it and into the hands of the hiring manager.

Here’s a helpful technique to argue fairly in a relationship when two people have different disagreement styles.

I’m loving this printed maxi dress for fall.

Enjoy the week!

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