Apartment Revamp 2.0

I've decided to start purchasing things for our new place because there are a list of items I've been wanting to replace for quite some time. If you haven't checked out my first post about our apartment revamp..check it out here! I decided to focus on our living room first and if I see things along the way for other spaces then so be it :) For our living room I would love to swap our our rug and media console first. I would like a light gray and cream rug that has some variation in it for a monochromatic look with our sofa. Our sofa, although I would replace, is staying since it's rather new and my boyfriend loves it. We got that from Raymour & Flanigan when we needed a new sofa for when we moved in and they delivered it within a few days! It's gray and comfy so it works for now. I'd love to change our coffee table to something that is not wood since we have a lot of wood already. Currently we have a bone inlay coffee table from west elm that I love but it's too small. I think marble, although porous, will do the trick. We just have to be a bit careful with it but we already are with the one we have. For our media console, I would like something wood again and something that looks somewhat found. It has to have some open storage and long enough to fit our speaker on top. Something solid wood with a mid-century feel would work best with the rest of our apartment. As for pillows and decor, those are a quick fix and will complete the overall look. Here are my ideas so far for this space!

Box Frame Marble and Bronze Coffee Table / West Elm (currently on a great sale!)

Safavieh Restoration Vintage Rug / Target

Angelo Media Console / Lulu & Georgia

Pendant Floor Lamp / Target 

Mid Century Planter / West Elm

Throw Pillows / Serena & Lily

Kupio Handpainted Vase Set / Anthropologie

xo,

Lauren

Design Update: Coffee Tables for my Living Space

Hi! It's been some time...I swear I thought I'd be getting better at posting more often but I am back! My last post was a while back in January and much has happened since then. I've set up my desk area in my bedroom, I've been tackling self-teaching myself AutoCad, and I'm stepping more into design at my job with RH...plus my cute-as-heck Goddaughter is now 10 months old! I have to say, I don't know how some people do it -- working full time, taking classes, have kids, etc. When I have those thoughts, it motivates me even more to go after what I want...now...and not wait. So that is what I am doing. Now, the next step for me in my apartment (yes it's been baby steps for a while but I'm not the only one, right?) is selecting a new coffee table. I've been on the search for a while and it's not that we don't love our coffee table now, but we need a larger one that's in proportion with our sectional that we can eat on -- we rarely use our actual kitchen table. SO...here are some options I've been looking at and I've thrown in a photo to get a better idea of my current space. Which one is your favorite? 

1 / peekaboo acrylic coffee table / cb2 / $279

 I am loving this see through option because it will keep my space 

feeling larger. Lucite can also work with many different design styles which

is great if I want to switch things up although this particular piece

is only 13.5" high and a little low to eat on.

2 / slab marble coffee table / cb2 / $299

I just know this piece will go with everything in my home. The metal base is 

a touch industrial and the marble top keeps it looking chic and classic.

3 / kyra coffee table / crate and barrel / $599

A glass option could work in my space, I especially love the bottom

shelf on this piece. Because we eat on our table so often though

I may need something more durable than glass.

4 / aquitaine coffee table / joss + main / $234

This is a more industrial looking option than I usually would choose but I 

know my boyfriend would love it. The mix of metal and wood would

also go with our space but I am slightly afraid of it making it

too industrial looking because we already have other wood elements.

5 / marble box frame coffee table / west elm / $599

I've always been drawn to this table and I love the contrast of the marble

and bronze base. The base keeps it extra open and I can see myself using 

baskets underneath for storage if I need to. I'm just still a bit skeptical

of marble due to it's porous nature especially when eating and drinking on it.

Lastly, here is our current living room. Our sofa isn't super permanent but it 

does the job and is comfortable. Our current coffee table is the Origami Coffee Table 

from West Elm. I'm debating on switching out our rug also because I prefer a higher, 

softer pile but the boyfriend and I agreed on this flatweave so we went for it. I would love

a coffee table that would stay with us for a while and around $600 or less (including delivery).

Stay tuned to see which one we end up with and comment below if you have 

any recommendations!

XO, 

Lauren 

Crazy for Countertops

There should be at least one piece that acts as a point of interest in a space and then everything else should fall into place (cute rhyme, right?). When it comes to kitchens, I think those point of interest pieces should be your countertops. There are many different types for different uses and different people. So how do you find out which one is best for you? Countertops are just one of many finishes in a kitchen, but it takes up a lot of surface area and gets a lot of use which is why it is important to pick the right one. The ones I will mention are only just a few of the more popular choices - there are tons more! 

Granite 

- Comes in variety of colors & natural designs

- No two pieces are the same

- Comes in two finishes: Polished (shiny) and honing (soft & matte)

- Cost varied depending on the type of granite but can become very costly

- The lighter it is, the more likely you will need a sealer 

- Granite treated with resin may change color and usually darken and may react to sealer, for example making the granite darker

- The less calcite there is, the higher the grade and more expensive because of calcite being vulnerable to acids although this could be fixed with proper sealing

Marble

- Another natural stone like granite except a much softer stone along with limestone and soapstone

- Each piece of marble is unqiue, no two pieces are the same

- Require greater care and delicate use 

- Stains and scratches easily

- Need to be sealed periodically to prevent absorption from liquids 

Engineered Stone

- Comes in a wider variety of colors than natural stones

- Great for higher use, resists heat well, easy to maintain

- Usually are acid-resistant and nonabsorbent 

- Resists stains and liquids unlike natural stones

- Depending on what materials are made to create the engineered stone, the performance of the stone may vary (Example: The performance of engineered stone that is made with chunks of marble will be limited depending on the amount and size of marble in the stone)

- Despite being engineered and not natural, the cost  and look between the two is about the same

Recycled Glass

- Eco-friendly option

- Highly durable

- Glass pieces embedded in cement

- Needs to be sealed periodically

- Offers a unique look

- Resist cuts, heat and abrasion but may crack when a hot pan is placed on top

Concrete

- Can be completely customized

- Available in several finishes; Trowel (smooth), Ground (Sanded) and Pressed (Revealing of a marble-like look)

- Drastic temperature changes may cause concrete to warp

- Recommended to seal four times per year and waxed periodically to avoid stains from spills due to the porous nature of concrete

Butcher Block

- Perfect for warming up the feel of a kitchen

- Three types: Edge Grain (most common for counters, strong, stable and less expensive), Flat Grain (Less suitable for counters with greater use), and End Grain (Strongest and most expensive butcher block, great for surfaces with frequent use and cutting because of its camouflaging ability)

- Very easy to clean and can sand down scratches

- Ages well with proper keep up but may dull and crack without

- Must be oiled frequently to protect from water damage/stains

Laminate

- Most affordable countertop on the market

- Comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns

- Can scratch easily and scorch when a hot pan is placed down directly on the laminate

(Sources: Consumerreports.org, HGTV.com, Ask.com, Bobvila.com, Homesessive.com, Remodelista.com)

Xo,