SUMMER DRESSES WITH GARNET HILL

This post is sponsored by Garnet Hill.

Summer is in full swing, and I have the dresses to match the temps thanks to Garnet Hill.

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There’s nothing easier than a machine washable cotton dress you can just throw on and feel great in, especially when it’s in the perfect color. I really need to invest in more olive green.

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Then there’s dresses with pockets…That’s an easy win in every woman’s book. This maroon day dress is perfect for work, brunch, church, showers…The occasions are endless.

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Maxi dresses aren’t typically my go to style, but I was drawn to this delicate design in the prettiest shade of purple. It’s made of linen, machine washable and has adjustable straps. Seeing the photos of it on me has made me realize that sometimes trying something different pays off.

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Lastly, this calming earth toned linen dress is perfect for the warm temps, but I can see this dress easily transitioning into fall with some tall boots and layers.

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Photos by Rennai Hoefer

REFRESH WITH ARTICLE PART TWO

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This post is sponsored by Article.

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It is completely normal to decorate a space, live with it a bit, and realize that you need to tweak some things to fit your lifestyle needs. Perhaps you like to put your feet up when you read a book, but you didn’t think to purchase an ottoman? Perhaps you need just one more pillow to give you better back support on the couch? Don’t be discouraged to learn that you need to continue to iterate, add or take away something to find satisfaction with your decor. 

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I’ve partnered with Article again to show some small updates to Rennai’s living room after she and her family lived in it for a month. Check out the before and after below. Can you spot the changes?

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This was before we added the following:

We added an ottoman - Rennai’s husband is very tall. He loves sitting in the Sven Charme Tan armchair and reading, but he prefers to have his feet up. We added a black jute ottoman to create more comfort for David. The ottoman can also double as additional seating when they entertain. 

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We added an extra pillow for comfort - When Rennai’s little kids sit in the leather chair they find it’s too deep. We sort of had a goldilocks problem. Haha! So, we added a pillow to help prop them up when they want to enjoy the reading nook.

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We updated the coffee table to be oval instead of square - When we added the ottoman, the size started to compete visually with the coffee table, so we swapped the square table for the oval Walnut Lenia coffee table.

We layered another rug to anchor the table. Once the new table was added to the space, we realized that the scale looked off. To help make it not look too small for the large room, we added a 5x8 rug to anchor the table and establish its presence. 

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We added another tree to the space. Plants help spaces feel alive and refreshing. That side of the room needed something extra without adding clutter. A skinny fiddled fig tree was just the ticket. 

Now, the space is finally complete and meets all of their lifestyle needs. It just took some tiny tweaks here and there to get it just right.

Be sure to check out many of these items on Article.com. They are offering flat rate shipping of $49 for all items under $1,000 and FREE shipping for all items above $1,000. They’ve also introduced Contactless Delivery so you can order and receive furniture from them stress-free during this time. 

Photos by Rennai Hoefer

ONE BENCH THREE WAYS WITH ARTICLE

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This post is sponsored by Article.

I’m sure, more than ever, you are itching to decorate or redecorate the rooms in your home now that you have been quarantined for two months and stared at the same walls for hours. I know I am! I’ve already hung many frames and paintings that have been sitting on the floor of my closets, and it feels so good.

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Well, perhaps you are in need of a bench, and I have just the one for you. I’ve partnered with Article to show you how to utilize a modern, classic bench three different ways. The Sente Devon Ivory Bench is as versatile as they come. It isn’t just a generic wood bench. Nope, it’s a comfortable wood and fabric bench that invites you to sit down and stay awhile. 

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ENTRYWAY 

That’s why it’s great for an entryway. To be greeted with such beauty and comfort the minute you step into your home feels like you are being greeted by your gorgeous, uber-stylish aunt for Thanksgiving dinner. Kick your shoes off and set them underneath the bench or set your handbag on top and stay for a while. You can style the bench with pillows for extra texture and comfort. You can even style a throw on it or set a tray down with a plant on top.

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LIVINGROOM

This bench provides extra comfortable seating for living rooms too. If you have a large family or you like to entertain often, this is a great option to be able to add additional seating without having to overwhelm a room with a massive sectional sofa. You can add some pillows for back support or lay across the whole bench for a movie, both options work. 

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BEDROOM BENCH

Benches in the bedroom provide seating for a room that’s all about lying down. Rather than sit down on a smooshy mattress to tie your shoes, sit on this bench for easy getting-ready support. It’s also extra space for folding laundry and leaving piles of clothes overnight without having to put them on the floor or sleep with them on your covers (I never do that...teeehee). 

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I’m telling you this bench is the ONE if there was only ONE you could choose from. Check it out on Article.com. It comes in a black tweed as well as a bold, graphic patternl. Flat-rate shipping is $49 for all items until $999. Buy now and get it delivered to your door with Contactless Delivery that’s safe but still convenient. 

Photos by Rennai Hoefer

VIDEO CALL READY WITH GARNET HILL

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This post is sponsored by Garnet Hill.

COVID-19 has sure thrown a wrench in things. Hasn’t it?! The list of complications feels endless, but like anything in life, beautiful things can come out of ugly situations.

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One of the more positive things that I feel has come from the pandemic is the acceptance of remote work culture. I have worked from home for most of my career. Though I love witty office banter and shenanigans, I equally love the ease of working from home. It truly is a privilege to be able to earn a living from the comfort of my couch.

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Over the years, I have learned that dressing for success still matters even when you are sitting at the kitchen table for your big pitch call or your annual review. Getting dressed for the day establishes your mindset. It’s unlikely that you will wear a suit to your meeting, but wearing a nice top is still a given. Garnet Hill has a ton of options for professional attire that provides office style with comfort, so that you can still experience the ease of WFH life.

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Garnet Hill is known for their high quality textiles, especially linen. I’m a huge fan of linen because I live in the hot desert climate of Phoenix, Arizona. Many people complain about the wrinkles, but a lived-in look is completely acceptable with this fabric.

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This season of life is learning how to embrace change and roll with the punches. If there was ever an easy-going fabric that embodies this mindset - it’s linen. It’s washable and long-lasting. It’s breathable and beautiful.

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These tops go perfectly with jeans. I prefer to french tuck them into high waisted denim. I could also style them with slacks or tie them in a knot with a bathing suit as well.

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I particularly am in love with these blue wide-leg linen pants. They remind you of jeans, but they are far more comfortable. Long days of sitting at a desk are much easier to manage with these pants.

All in all, if you are in need of adding some classic wardrobe staples to your closet that provide professionalism with a big dose of comfort, look no further than than Garnet Hill. Just remember, shoes are always optional.

Linen items:
Long-sleeve white linen top
Striped linen top
Short-sleeved linen top
White linen tank
Blue wide-leg pants

Photos by Rennai Hoefer

LIVING ROOM REFRESH WITH ARTICLE

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This post is sponsored by Article.

There are many functions of a home. I believe the primary function of a home is to serve as a sanctuary from the chaos and busyness of the outside world. When you walk into your home you should be able to exhale a sigh of relief that you are in a safe, comfortable space. I’ve partnered with Article to refresh Rennai Hoefer’s (my photographer’s) living room with Article’s latest Refresh Collection, and breathe new life into a space that hasn’t felt very relaxing and comfortable to Rennai for quite some time.

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When beginning a room design, most people focus on the function of the space. For example, a living room is used for conversation and watching TV, so seating orientation and the amount of seating matters. However, we forget that spaces evoke emotion in us. We also forget that we laugh, cry, fight, celebrate, mourn and live out life’s various emotions in our homes. So, the amount of light, the colors, the textures...all of these variables impact our experience in a space just as much as its functionality. 

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To break it down even further, you can purchase the right amount of seating and orient the room for optimal TV viewing, but you can feel incredibly uncomfortable even though your design goals have been met. Thus, when you begin designing a space, be sure to identify the emotions that you would like to experience when you are in the space in addition to the function of the space.

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Because of everything I just mentioned above, design matters. Article is a company that carefully balances function and form - never sacrificing either with every piece they create. Article is attune to offering various colors, textures and surfaces while paying close attention to the lines and functionality of the pieces. You can’t go wrong when designing a space with Article home accents and furniture.

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Before I refreshed Rennai’s living room, Rennai’s seating consisted of one oversized sofa that couldn’t fit many people. The sofa became worn and tattered, and it didn’t allow for much else in the room. It also focused all of the attention in one direction of the room ignoring the adjacent dining space and kitchen. The gray-ish brown color of the sofa also overpowered the room creating a drab experience.

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We solved their functionality issue with one sofa that comfortably seats three people, one bench that could sit three kids (or two adults), one large reading chair, and one conversation chair. Seven or more people can easily have a conversation in this room now. But, more importantly, we breathed relaxation, serenity and comfort into the space with various wood textures, warm gold accents, soft leather, wool and velvet fabrics. We also played with a cheery green color, which communicates life, growth and energy heavily used in Article’s Refresh Collection.

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When we finished designing the space, Rennai texted me the next morning saying, “The morning is so pretty. The colors are very serene and calming and peaceful inducing. It’s like therapy in a room right when I need it.” That’s when you know you have done your job well. When someone can feel like their home is a sanctuary, you have completed your goal.

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Of course, rooms are constantly evolving. Sometimes when you set a up space you continue to iterate on it to achieve the optimal experience. Just be sure to start with quality furniture elements (i.e. sofa, chairs, table) as a solid foundation and build from there.

Stay tuned to see how this space is tweaked over the next couple of weeks to achieve our ultimate living room experience. 

Also, if you didn’t know Article has FREE SHIPPING for orders over $999. They go out of their way to make everything easy down to the box.

List of products used:
- Green Burrard Sofa
- Ivory bench
- Leather reading chair
- Leather conversation chair

Photos by Rennai Hoefer