Style

The 1,2,3’s of renovating a room

Posted on by thewexfordhousewife

Renovating a room should be fun & stress-free.  For me, decorating a room is like styling clothes – sometimes it takes a while to find the right piece but I love the excitement of the hunt!  I’ve put together a few questions that help make (re)decorating a room a little easier:

  1. What am I using this space for?
  2. What is my color scheme/accent color?
  3. Am I incorporating a pattern with my rug, curtains and/or furniture?

When my husband & I moved into our new house this summer the room I was most eager to get my hands on was the Morning Room.  I wanted this room to be inviting and comfortable.  A place where we could sit and watch the sun rise & set, drink wine, discuss our day & entertain guests.

Since this room was going to be a place to relax & unwind we chose a calming color scheme of blue & grey.  The first step in our transformation was changing the paint color from a burnt orange to a tranquil blue called Jubilee (Sherwin Williams) – this made a huge difference!  If you can’t decide on a color scheme, take direction from one of the largest patterns in the room.  Maybe you have an oriental rug that you plan on keeping in your living room that could become the feature of your color story.

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It’s important to stay flexible when looking for furniture.  I originally planned on incorporating a pattern with the two accent chairs, but couldn’t find any that I loved and ended up with a patterned Fretwork rug instead.  With the accent chairs and storage bench both being grey I realized I needed a pop of color – I chose yellow!  Blue & yellow are complementary colors on the color wheel and should technically be used in more formal areas of the house, but as with fashion I like to bend the “rules” with decor as well.  Don’t be afraid to mix patterns either.  I’m still on the hunt for a floral-patterned love seat or oversized chair to add to the Morning Room!

Whether you’re renovating your living room or adding decor to your bedroom, find a theme or color story that you love and run with it.  You’re the one that has to live with it, so make sure you’re happy!

#OOTD – Comfort is key!

Posted on by thewexfordhousewife

Picking out an outfit that I manage to wear all day can sometimes be a struggle. As a SAHM I’m always on the move. Between maintaining the household, chasing my son, running errands and going on play dates – I’m always on the go! The key to putting together an outfit that I don’t change out of by nap time is comfort. That goes for everyone, whether you’re at work or keeping track of a toddler you want to be comfortable throughout the day.

To make life easier I try to lay out my outfit the night before. I check the weather forecast first and lay out a few options based on the high’s & low’s.  For instance, last night I laid out my outfit for today’s activities of going to the Animal Park & running errands.  I needed an outfit that would look nice, but still be functional while walking around outside.  I chose pinstriped straight leg pants with two top options, one being a white lace tank and the other a basic navy V-neck tee.

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Deciding on which top to wear is based on my choice of accessories. I love to combine plain V-neck tees with statement necklaces. By adding a bold necklace to a basic top it becomes more than “just a t-shirt”. However, since we were going to be outside all morning I chose to wear the lace tank.  I know there’s a blog out there somewhere that advises against mixing fabrics & patterns but I think it adds depth, plus in fashion there are no real “rules”.  I paired my outfit with my favorite two-tone Tory Burch studs.  The pastel pink complements the blue in the pants and the gold coordinates with my sandals.

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The vertical stripes in my pants create long lines and add height to my 5″ stature; always a plus!  I chose to cuff the bottom of my pants showing off my gold ankle-wrap sandals.  And there you have it, a comfortable outfit that took little effort and lasted all day!

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What it means to be a Housewife in 2015

Posted on by thewexfordhousewife

I feel that so many people have misconceptions about what it means to be a Housewife and a Stay at Home Mom (SAHM). Being a stay at home mom was a choice I made with my husband. It wasn’t an expectation of my husband for me to be “barefoot and pregnant”. It does not mean I get to sit on the couch eating bon-bons and watching Soaps all day; it does not mean I am not educated; it does not mean I am not organized, goal-oriented or passionate about life.

It does mean that every day is an adventure, especially now that my little nugget is one. It means I get to stay active without going to the gym, prepare healthy meals for my family and spend quality time with my son, witness all of his firsts and help him grow into a loving young man. Sadly, it also means wearing leggings, a loose fitted tee and my hair in a high bun almost EVERYDAY. I like to think of myself as being stylish when I need to be, but this college-attire has started to darken my mood.  It’s time to shake myself out of this comfortable funk & get back to making an effort!

Like so many other SAHM’s, I am blessed to have this opportunity. Follow me through my journey of building a beautiful home for my family and gain tips on staying stylish, fit and sane in the mad world of a toddler.

Housewife Meme