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Happy Friday, and happy 3rd of July!!  I am gearing up for a mellow weekend celebrating the 4th - BBQs, swimming, and fireworks of course - but before we get the long weekend started, I wanted to check in with you all! As you know, my best friend just moved into a new apartment, and as she fills the new space with furniture, I'm here to help out and give advice where needed. I woke up this morning to a text from her saying that she doesn't love the couch she ordered, and everything just looks really blah and monotone (beige sofa, beige rug, beige walls). PERFECT timing, because I'd started this post earlier in the week.  Let's talk about what do do when your room is all one color... beige.  I was going to title this "Decorating a Neutral Space", but let's call a spade a spade... everything in her apartment is beige, so it's now "Decorating a Beige Living Room".  This is a big problem a lot of people run into but it's actually a really eas...

Adding onto yesterday's post, I wanted to pull together some (affordable) coffee table options that fit within the living room aesthetic.   Some are more rustic, some more refined.  Some have storage (hello hidden remote controls) while some offer no clutter concealment.  Some have glass tops, some are solid wood.  Some are more beachy, which some are more elegant.  They really run the gamut - hopefully there are some contenders in there for the Chicago apartment. Which are your favorites? Source Source Source Source Source Source Source Source Source Source

Now that we've got the layout sort of figured out, it's time to start pulling together inspiration.   These images came straight from Kira's Pinterest board, and it's pretty clear to see the common themes in what she likes: Source Source Source Source Source Clean lines. Traditional core pieces. A little preppy. A little nautical. Light colors. Gold accents. Soft upholstered furniture. Warm wood tones. A few rustic pieces. Based on things she has, and things she plans to buy along with her Pinterest pages, I pulled in a few benches, a coffee table, and a few table lamps that go with the look and feel of what she likes. Roll Arm Sofa , Console Table , Navy Bench , Gold Bar Cart , Tufted Bench , Coffee Table , Gold Side Table , Gold Table Lamp , Wooden Table Lamp She already has the white console table, gold bar cart, and gold side table, (numbers 2, 4, and 7) and plans to buy this sofa from Pottery Barn (number 1). What I like (and what I think she will like) about the o...

Hello friends!  It's been a while (does every post start like that now??) I just got back from a weekend in Chicago, visiting my best friend, Kira.  She's about to move from a super modern high-rise apartment on the river, to a really charming spot in Gold Coast. Luckily, the new place has an amazing layout - tons of light (which is essential for those long, dark, Chicago winters), and it is in the most amazing neighborhood.  It's all tree lined streets and darling brownstone walk-ups; a block from the lake, and it's brimming with restaurants, shopping, bars, and coffee shops. It's amazing.   The challenge is taking a completely empty apartment, and turning it into something really fabulous. This is where I have been enlisted to help. This is her first apartment of her own, and while she already has some really good stuff (bedroom furniture, art, occasional furniture and accessories), she's also going to need to invest in some major pieces to complete the main l...