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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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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9 Fall Throw Blankets to Buy Before The Season

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This time of year always makes me excited for fall, despite the hot and humid weather outside. I can’t resist the upcoming season’s darker colors and cozy textures, which makes autumnal throw blankets impossible to resist. The best ones do sell quickly, though, and I’m glad I snagged the one above before it sold out. Below, I rounded up nine of my other favorites if you’re also craving a pre-season update.

Top Row: Left | Center | Right
Middle Row: Left* | Center | Right
Bottom Row: Left | Center | Right

*I bought this one and it’s beautiful!

LIVING ROOM SOURCES

Blanket: Target
Decorative Bowl: CB2
Coffee Table: West Elm
Drink Table: West Elm
Curtains: West Elm
Curtain Rod: Pottery Barn
Sconces: Schoolhouse Electric
Leather Chair: EQ3
Sofa: Younger Furniture
Rug: Loloi (also here)
Credenza: Ekais (no longer available)
Record Player: U-Turn
TV: Sony (and TV stand)
Soundbar: Sonos

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12 Home Decor Ideas for a Springtime Refresh

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Spring 2021 Home Refresh

We had another round of snow earlier this week, coming right after a string of 50-degree days that melted everything that was on the ground previously. Hopefully it was the last winter blast before spring because I am so ready for warmer weather after being cooped up during a pandemic winter (and, you know, the rest of the year). Since it’s not quite warm enough to spend much time outdoors, I’m setting my sights on making the indoors spring-ready with lighter colors and plenty of fresh green hues. I’ve already picked up a pair of those striped pillows, which are a steal at $20 each for a zippered pillow and insert. I also recently placed an order for a new lamp! I almost went for that green one above, but decided to go with a different statement-maker instead. I can’t wait for it to arrive next month!

  1. Striped Pillow, $20
  2. Outdoor Dining Chair, $129
  3. Platter, $98
  4. Acrylic Drinkware, $5.50 – $88
  5. Mini Serving Bowl Set, $52
  6. Sateen Sheet Set, $58 – $228
  7. Four-Piece Place Setting, $43.80
  8. Mushroom-Shaped Lamp, $299
  9. Throw Pillow, $47.95
  10. Basketweave Throw Blanket, $135
  11. Striped Runner, $115
  12. Planter, $37

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Review: Loloi II Layla Rug

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I thought I’d update you on my search for a new living room rug that I mentioned back in September! In a perfect world, I would have sourced a high quality, vintage number. But in a COVID world, going to antique and vintage stores to shop for rugs didn’t seem like the most responsible decision. Plus, my budget didn’t allow for an investment rug at the time. So, we went in a different direction and purchased a vintage-inspired rug from Loloi.

You probably recognize the brand name since they’re an Instagram darling as of late with influencers touting gifted rugs fairly regularly. So, I thought I’d give you some honest insight into the rug I purchased to guide your decision if you have your eye on one of the brand’s affordable rugs.

Loloi II Layla Oriental Blue / Spice Printed Area Rug

Let’s start with the pros:

  • Clearly, the main selling point of these rugs is that they have a vintage look for an incredibly affordable price point. I purchased the 7.5′ x 9.5′ size and it’s currently selling for $161. It’s an absolute steal for a rug at this size. I bought mine from Walmart due to the ease of making in-town returns. It’s also available on Amazon. Both have free shipping.
  • The design has variation in the vibrancy and saturation, giving it a more authentic worn-in look.
  • There’s a lot of colors in the rug and an interesting design, which you don’t always get with a cheaper rug. The colors are muted, too, so I think this rug would play nicely with actual vintage rugs in your home.
  • I really love the whipstitch edging.
  • It has a flat weave instead of a tufted construction. I prefer it since a traditional rug would be flatter than those with a dense fabrication.
  • It feels smooth underfoot.
  • It’s incredibly easy to vacuum and clean. Our cat, Oliver, threw up on it and it completely came off and didn’t leave a stain. The busier pattern also hides pet hair well.
Loloi II Layla Oriental Blue / Spice Printed Area Rug

And, the cons:

  • The design is screen printed rather than being woven like a traditional rug would be. It’s hard to tell how well it’ll hold up, but so far so good. As per the label, I don’t use the beater bar when I vacuum it.
  • It’s on the thinner side. Not so thin as it feels flimsy, but you might want to consider a rug pad underneath it. We didn’t opt for one because our coffee table is heavy enough to anchor it and we don’t have children who would be playing on the floor.
  • Since it doesn’t have a thick, tufted construction with deep piles, you might want to vacuum more regularly as you’ll see any crumbs on top. (Which is also a pro, as far as I’m concerned. I’d hate to know what got stuck in our previous rug!)
Loloi II Layla Oriental Blue / Spice Printed Area Rug

All in all, I’m really happy with this. It satisfies my desire for a traditional rug, but at a fraction of the price. And while I’ll still keep an eye out for a vintage one that’s an actual investment piece and heirloom-quality, this is the next best thing.

Loloi II Layla Oriental Blue / Spice Printed Area Rug
This photo is unedited right from my iPhone, so you can get the most true-to-life look at the colors.

SOURCES

Paint Color: Extra White by Sherwin-Williams
West Elm curtains
Pottery Barn curtain rod
Target pillows (sold out; other plaid pillow options here)
Schoolhouse sconces
EQ3 leather chair
Younger Furniture sofa
Loloi rug (also here)
West Elm coffee table (will probably replace it next year)
Ekais credenza (no longer available)
U-Turn record player
Sony TV
TV stand
Sonos soundbar
IKEA planter
The Elements of a Home book (would make a great holiday gift)
Schoolhouse brass coasters
marble coasters (similar)
duck bottle opener (vintage; similar)
Tramp Ceramics bowl
Tory Burch flats

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