disclosure: This is a paid advertorial with Corian® Design but all opinions expressed are my own.

One of the hardest parts of a home renovation - particularly a kitchen renovation - is picking from the seemingly endless material options. While we are lucky to be living in an age where there is so much variety, it can be overwhelming - especially when tackling a big project. When I'm feeling overwhelmed by choice, I find it helpful to narrow down my options with a mood board and then use that as a reference guide to help guide all of the decisions that come up along the way. It makes becoming sidetracked a little bit more difficult. I ask myself  'does this work with the board?'  If not, it's a no go.



Enter Corian Moodboard Maker - this brand new, easy to use, tool makes creating that inspiration board so much easier.  First, I select a style that most closely reflects the feel I want. Then mix and match with material and texture images to create your personal look. I used the library of images Corian provided as well as my own.  No special tools required.  When I was happy with the moodboard, I was able to save it to my phone (perfect to reference on that impromptu shopping trip).  Corian even offers an option to print it out to hang in your space.  Since I was going to be sharing it with you, I went through the process a few times to fully test it out and it was hard to make a bad combination. An added bonus of going through this process is that it also helps you identify materials and textures you are sure you don't like.  Understanding what you don't want is sometimes just as important as knowing what you do!



In this case, I'm working on a kitchen renovation inspired by a modern farmer's market - I added images of black painted bricks, copper pennies, weathered wood and the gorgeous pops of green and purple of fresh artichokes.  I paired that with Corian Calacatta Natura Quartz (my latest countertop obsession) and Nero Soapstone Quartz. With just this moodboard as inspiration, I'll be able to select everything from lighting fixtures to appliances to outlet covers.



Corian Moodboard Maker is so flexible, you could use it for any room in the house even if it doesn't include a countertop. For the home decor junkies out there like me, it's fun to play with no matter what the reason.  Give it a try!

Inside Outside Deck Makeover with Lowe's

Confession: Our back deck has always been a problem. It gets full sun and snow and weather exposure so no matter what product or paint I've tried, I haven't had much luck in keeping it looking good for any extended period of time. Case in point, we just painted the deck boards last year and they already looked like they hadn't been touched in a decade. The kids couldn't play out here because of the splinter issue and so I never put much effort into making it nice.

Despite it's relatively small size, I knew it could be a great addition to our home. An outdoor living room for city life complete with lounging and eating area. But the battered floor boards always stopped me in my tracks.


That was until I had the idea to cover the boards with faux grass. Until I started doing some research, I had no idea how far faux grass had come in the past few years. I was only familiar with that tacky green rug like turf that I had seen growing up. Well it's come a long way baby! It was definitely a risk but one I was willing to take.

Luckily Lowe's had a product that had great reviews and came in variable widths. Despite it being somewhat unruly to carry, it was surprisingly easy to install. Unroll, cut around the edges and post and voila. It was transformed! It was soft underfoot and the kids immediately fell in love with it. Cue rolling around on the deck laughing.

Now that we had a space we could really enjoy, it needed some furniture. Back to Lowe's I went. The most important piece was the seating and I got lucky and found a L shaped sectional that was perfect. I used an upturned barrel planter as a side table and 2 piece nesting table set as a coffee table. The bistro set I had from 10 years ago fit perfectly into the other side to create a little dining (okay, coloring and outdoor craft) area.

Heavy duty string lights fit perfectly across the pergola posts (this is one strand doubled so that the bulbs are closer together) paired with a set of stylish lanterns add some nice light. A majesty palm tree tucked to the side adds a little bit of tropical luxury to the space. All installed in a few hours!

The budget?  All this for less $1300!  Well worth it for adding an entire other lounging space for the whole family to enjoy.

Not only do we get to use this space when the weather is nice but I have also improved my view since this is what I see out of my kitchen window. We spent more time out on the deck the first weekend than we did in all 10 years prior.


Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Lowes Home Improvement. All opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to wonderful partners like Lowe's that make this blog possible.

Simple Ways to Refresh Your Decor for Fall + a Giveaway (sponsored)

With temperatures finally dropping, it was time to make a few updates in the house for the change of seasons. Instead of “decorating” for a autumn, I wanted to make a few small changes to make the living room feel more cozy in a way that is perfect for fall but would last all the way through winter without batting an eyelash.

Thanks to my friends at Arhaus, I got a few great new pieces to refresh for the change of season. I followed 3 simple rules to give this space an updated look.



Texture texture texture  That’s the name of the game when it comes to making a living space feel more cozy.  Since my living room is a mix of warm and cool neutrals, it’s easy to layer in pillow from multiple collections to mix and match.  I love how these pillows are oversized making just a few go a long way in adding visual impact. These pillows have great raised texture and pattern but are subtle in their color scheme. Continuing on with the texture theme, I added a faux fur throw blanket that is so soft and fun to snuggle under.  I enjoy watching my trashy tv under it as much as my daughter loves to make a furry blanket fort with it.

Brassy Bling I fell in love with the this brass framed mirror the minute I spotted it.  It looks just like the ones I’ve admired at architectural salvage and antique markets for years.  This one is brand new but no one is the wiser.  It pulls in the brass accents I already have beautifully.  I paired it with my favorite painting for fall - a spooky oil portrait that I like to call the house grandma (but I got her on eBay).  This brass tray makes anything look fancy - from a simple cup of coffee, to a pile of mismatched remotes.  Finally a few mini pumpkins tucked into this tiny brass vase is the perfect little accent.

Bringing the Outdoors In  Autumn marks a time when many of us will be spending more time indoors but bringing in just a little bit of the outdoors in set the mood for the season.  Starting with this pair of planters that mimic the texture of an rough tree trunk (but are beautifully sealed inside so no leaks!) were the perfect spot for a few of the succulents that have been growing on my deck all summer.  The patina’d texture of this high boot vase is another nod to great outdoors.  Finally a few well placed mini boo pumpkins complete the fall scene and will look perfectly in place until Halloween

Arhaus has so many fabulous pieces, it's hard to choose just a few favorites but here are some other great selections.

Would you like to find your own favorite pieces from Arhaus?  They have kindly agreed to giveaway a $500 give card with one lucky winner.  Simply visit Arhaus and leave me a comment to let me know your favorite pieces from the collection.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Arhaus but all opinions expressed are my own.