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@honeycreekfarm1896
Do you have any collections in your home? Collections are one of my favorite ways to add soul to a home. Today you’ll find some lovely inspiration from some of my favorite finds around the internet.
No matter what your design style is (or if you’re a maximalist, minimalist, or somewhere in between), you can enjoy the process of collecting things you love and displaying them in a way that makes you happy!
“By inviting in things you love, you’ll feel more deeply connected to your home in a way that will inspire your life”. – from my book Make Room for What You Love
If you love the idea of having more collections and personal details in your home but aren’t sure what you like, study inspiration photos and design books to learn what you love (these are some of my favorite design books). Take note of the colors, shapes, textures, patterns, and styles that catch your eye!
Pay attention to how they are paired together and where collections are displayed, so that you will have ideas you like for styling, too.
When you know what you like, then you will know what to look for and be quicker to spot it secondhand, in stores or online. It’s an exciting process to hunt and gather treasures for your home over time!
Ideas for collections: seashells, books, blue and white, ironstone, copper or brass pieces, books, artwork from travels, vintage stamps or stationery, glassware, ornaments, quilts, antique baskets….
The more you decorate in a way that speaks to you, the more soul your home will have!
We’ll be talking about meaningful ways to decorate to bring more soul to our sanctuary in our new member community HomeBody Gathering Place (learn more and join us HERE by February 28th 11:59 PM PST to get in our spring session before the doors close).
Enjoy the inspiration below!
Sunday Strolls + Scrolls is a series inspired by the interiors and exterior spaces I fell in love with while scrolling the internet. I particularly enjoy finding spaces and ideas that reflect a sense of sanctuary! I hope this series will feel as relaxing and enjoyable to you as a leisurely walk down a charming street, a peaceful stroll through a garden or finally getting to peek inside a lovely neighborhood home during a Sunday open house. 

@missmustardseed
@littlesquaresofjoy
@mothermeg
@abeautifulmess
More Inspiration:
My Favorite Secret Decorating Tip
How to Decorate: The Slow Process to a Style You’ll Love
How to Create a Cozy Collected Kitchen
Enjoy the home inspiration in all past Sunday Strolls and Scrolls posts here! More

This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy here

Today I wanted to answer a great remodeling question a reader asked me last week!
* Reader Question: What is your favorite design book for getting ideas for a remodel?
I carefully study a variety of design books to find ideas for our remodel. Today I’ll show you a few of my favorites and how I used them to make decisions for my home!

1. Not So Big Remodeling
On this first one I’ll give you a disclaimer, I don’t look at it for design photos as much as I like to read the tips. I have several of her books (she’s an architect) and they are helpful for thinking through what she calls the not-so-big house concept. She covers ways to make a home more livable and inviting as well as adding character without necessarily making it larger. This one is specifically about remodeling.

2. Timeless
This book is a long time favorite. It was well worth the investment for me as I often pour over the photos to pick out details that I love as well as read the text. It often gives me more confidence in choosing what I like, or will spark a new idea or confirm an idea. The homes in this book are so beautiful, they have really amazing architecture! They are also huge compared to my small home haha. Even so, I still feel so inspired by the design elements that I enjoy looking at them for classic ideas that I could incorporate them into my own home.

The author is Patrick Ahearn, I really respect his sensibilities and expertise as an architect.
Another thing I love about studying books is that it is an education! They can help you become discerning so you incorporate good design sensibilities and concepts into your own work or projects at home.

3. A Pattern Language
Speaking of books as an education, this book is totally different from most design books as it has no photos! It has some drawings and sketches and a lot of words. It’s a classic book, it’s been around for a long time! I find it so interesting to read, although in full disclosure I really have to concentrate to understand some of it. 🙂 But that’s a good thing as it stretches my mind!
If you like to consider why certain architectural choices or spaces in a home work, or why some feel right and some don’t, this one might spark your interest! The concepts he shares give you a lot to think about. Reading his ideas help make sense for why I’m drawn to certain homes and spaces and why others just don’t speak to me in the same way.
It also talks about communities and neighborhoods but I particularly enjoy the parts on homes. If you are like to study, or are remodeling, or building a new home, I recommend this one! For some reason it’s expensive on Amazon but maybe you can find it at a library or used!

4. The Great American House
This is a neat one for your coffee table! I think I might get more inspired looking at architecture books than decorating books when I’m remodeling. I just love looking at all the details in classic homes, from woodwork and ceilings to plumbing and floors.

5. A Place to Call Home
Of course, I can’t leave out this one. It is one of my all time faves. Gil Schafer is the architect and author of the previous book and this one. All of the homes/rooms featured aren’t my style, but I drool over so many of them that it’s always a joy to look through.

Do you like studying design books for inspiration? Hope you enjoyed a peek at a few of my favorites!
See more home and garden inspiration books I love HERE. More

I have always loved the cozy timeless homes featured in Nancy Meyers movies such as Father of the Bride and Something’s Gotta Give and It’s Complicated.
Increasingly I’ve been receiving messages on social media from people saying they spotted my new kitchen in several online “inspiration” videos and Pinterest boards that people have labeled as the “Nancy Meyers Aesthetic.” Two more showing my kitchen were messaged to me just today, so it seems that I’ve inadvertently captured a trending “Nancy Meyers” style in my own home. I do love this classic look and always have. I’m happy to hear that people love a timeless look as much as I do (but of course I wish people would at least credit my photos when they feature them.)
I know it helps to break elements of a room down so you can see what it is that achieves a certain style, so that’s what we’ll do here today!
Sources: Rattan Cart // Click here for all above sources
The real magic behind “Nancy Meyers” style in many of these movies is that her kitchens are always feel so warm and welcoming. Don’t you agree? They feel like a place where people want to gather and make memories. Each kitchen is different, but there are some common threads that make these spaces feel like home to so many people.
Choose appropriate architectural elements
If a kitchen renovation is on the horizon for you, I think one of the keys to getting this “come in and make yourself at home” style is in selecting a mix of classic, interesting elements that are also appropriate for the home.
In each Nancy Meyers movie, you can sense the feeling of being welcomed into the home as you go from room to room and into the kitchen. If the kitchen style didn’t make any sense with the rest of the home, you’d feel like you walked onto a different set! To get that same feeling in a real home, the elements chosen for a kitchen should make sense within the style and context of the rest of the home.
The style of my own home was influenced by traditional cottages on Nantucket. We carried this same style through to our kitchen with choices that will make our home feel cohesive and welcoming for years to come.
Architecture is a place where you can get creative in a renovation, but you really want to select elements that will make you feel at home there years from now, too. We’re still talking about Nancy Meyers movie kitchens decades later!
Sources: Wood Oval Tray // Scalloped Lampshade Lamp and more
Incorporate elements that aren’t pretentious
Nancy Meyers kitchens are very nice, but they never feel pretentious!
Regardless of your style you want to add a mix of elements that will feel warm and inviting so they feel lived in.
For our new kitchen, we chose timeless elements such as honed Carrara marble and soapstone. A nickel faucet. Tongue and groove paneling. Creamy white cabinets in a traditional style. Timeless elements can feel classy yet unpretentious. They always feel like a home that has been around awhile, rather than one designed around the newest looks from a designer show room.
It is true that organic finishes such as marble or soapstone will show the patina of age. While many people fear those signs of life, I embrace them because to me patina from daily use feels more welcoming and unpretentious. I wanted our own kitchen to feel like it has been in our family for years. Those signs of life will simply be evidence that our kitchen is enjoyed and has been a gathering place for family. (I wrote more about our countertop decision in this post.)
Sources: Farmhouse Sink // Nickel Faucet (linked the same brand, finish and style of faucet I have but I bought mine through deVOL Kitchens, it appears to be a special deVOL edition and the price I paid was far less than the version on Amazon) // Rug: World Market (washable, Niko Blue and Rust Distressed Rug) or here is another similar washable rug, and one other similar rug // Kitchen Hardware // Brass Pendant Lights (other finish available)
Include an inviting center island
You sense that a Nancy Meyers kitchen is a gathering place. Whether it is large or small, or built in or free standing, center islands offer a sense of invitation. Islands are a destination where people can gather around to help in the kitchen or talk about the events of the day.

Add nooks for display
Nancy Meyers kitchens feel lived in by real people! Built ins or free standing furniture such as a little nooks or shelves, a bar cart, bookcase, plate rack or china hutch will bring a sense of personality, warmth and character which is essential in the “Nancy Meyers” kitchen aesthetic.
We added several book nooks in our renovation so we can have our collection of books and cookbooks, art and other pretty pieces within reach and to add style through the ever-evolving seasons.
Favorite Cookbooks // Favorite Home and Garden Design Inspiration Books
Sources: Toile Cafe Curtain and how I hung it // See the stool niche behind the curtain here // Click here for all above sources
Try Touchable Textures
A variety of touchable textures help create more interest in a kitchen. Look for ways to bring in softness, color and personality through fabrics, curtains or rugs. In our kitchen we added rugs, pillows on the nearby banquette bench, as well as cafe curtains on our “stool niche” and window. We also incorporate a variety of other textures that add to the “touch-ability factor” such as such as a mix of marble, bamboo, rattan, soapstone, and wood.
Click here for above sources
Bring in plants and flowers
Flowers and plants bring a sense of life to a kitchen which creates a more welcoming atmosphere. Put them into collected vases, pitchers and pots for an additional sense of character.
Source: Rattan Basket
Set out bowls of fruit and vegetables
A bowl of fruit or vegetables adds to the simple charm of a lived in kitchen. Whether they are real or not, they make you feel like this is kitchen where people cook and eat real food!
Sources: Toaster (color options) // Gold Frame // Kitchen Hardware
Decorate with plates
Plates are a classic element that can be used for more than just a meal! Hang them on the wall, stack them on a shelf or a plate rack to give it that charming “we live here” Nancy Meyers’ kitchen mood.
Related Post: How I Hang Plates, Platters, and Bowls on the Wall
Put every day on display
A Nancy Meyers kitchen doesn’t feel cluttered or messy, but a glimpse into the every day lives of the people who work in that space makes it feel so much more like home. Hide what isn’t attractive but if your toaster is pretty, don’t hesitate to leave it out! If you use your stand mixer often, let it sit on the counter.
Incorporating glass front cabinets for pretty items you don’t use as often will help items stay clean but still allows you to enjoy them as part of your decor.
Place cooking or serving tools into stylish crocks, baskets or other containers. This adds style and but also organization and practicality where everything needed is within reach.
And no need to fear of everything getting dusty. Items stay cleaner when you use and wash them often so if dust is a concern, reserve display for every day items!
Find kitchen accessories here in my Amazon Storefront and more at the end of this post!
Sources: Pendant Lights (similar to mine) // My Pendants
Invite in lighting
Pendants over islands, wall sconces or lamps on a counter are an opportunity to add personality as well as make a kitchen feel warm and welcoming even at night.
Paint cabinets
A soft or creamy white cabinet never goes out of style. You see them in several of Nancy Meyers movies. Her own real life kitchen is a soft white, so similar to the Something’s Gotta Give kitchen! We chose a soft creamy white for our English Tudor kitchen years ago and I still love that classic look today so we chose it again in our current kitchen!
Paint is a “simple” way to update any kitchen. Not always cheap or easy, but much simpler than a renovation.
White isn’t the only option for a Nancy Meyers look, try a color you love. Or mix in traditional wood tones for cabinets or islands!
Someone had messaged me years ago after seeing “The Intern” movie because the kitchen cabinet color and subway tile reminded her of my own kitchen at the time. My kitchen had been updated before the movie ever came out. Dark painted cabinets were not yet trending at the time of my renovation, but I just felt like that darker color contrasted with classic white subway tile is what my builder grade kitchen needed. The email sender was convinced my kitchen inspired Nancy’s movie kitchen! Wouldn’t that be funny? Perhaps it did. The power of Pinterest …. and classic kitchens.
My cabinet and wall paint color is Classic Light Buff by Sherwin Williams.

Keep it classic
I’ve loved designing all of my kitchens with classic elements and I love them all still! Over the past 17 or so years I’ve been messaged about ALL of my kitchens at one time or another feeling like a Nancy Meyers kitchen. We definitely share a love of classic kitchens! (Take a tour of my last kitchen here, and the kitchen before that here)
The truth is that a Nancy Meyers kitchen incorporates the elements of so many classic kitchens that have been around for ages, long before the movies came out. Yet it is so fun that we can all watch and rewatch these movies and fall in love with them over and over again. They are timeless so they will continue to be loved by so many! These kitchens have captured our hearts and the longing we all have for our homes to be warm and welcoming.
I hope you are inspired by all the ways you can create a kitchen you love by incorporating classic elements found in the Nancy Meyers aesthetic.

Sources:
White Lamp with Scalloped Shade (several color options and 2 size options)
Patterned Rug (washable)
Brass Hanging Bells
Bamboo Roman Shades (see photos of these in our home here)
Spode Blue and White Sugar Bowl
Blue and White Striped Linen Napkins
Stoneware Crock
Wood Salt and Pepper Mills
Cookbook
Wood Cutting Board
White and Wood Kitchen Island (Freestanding)
Tea Kettle (many color options)
Landscape Artwork
Woven Scalloped Bowl
Pendant Lights (similar to mine)
Faux Boxwood Topiary
Looking for more of my kitchen sources and details? Find them in my Kitchen Reveal + tour post here!
More Get the Look Sources below (click the thumbnails for details): More

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This post is in partnership with Wayfair
It’s the little things that turn a house into a home. Adding a few simple touches can bring warmth and create a cozy, inviting space you’ll love spending time in. Whether you’re refreshing a room or just looking for easy ways to add comfort, these five ideas are simple ways to make any room feel instantly welcoming.
I’ve discovered so many cozy cottage-style treasures at Wayfair that blend effortlessly with the pieces I already love in my home. You’ll find many of my favorite Wayfair finds featured throughout this post, along with some of my latest finds at the end!
Click here for above sources

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5 Simple Touches That Make A Room Feel More Inviting
1. Soft Lighting
Swap harsh overhead lights for warm table lamps, sconces, or even a pretty floor lamp. Layering light makes every corner feel cozier.

In My Home:

2. Layers of Texture
Mix woven baskets, chunky knit throws, and soft linen pillows for a relaxed, collected feel.

In My Home:

I have been loving this woven planter in our home styled with different plants/flowers inside in each season!
This woven rattan trunk is a wonderful storage piece in our bedroom for extra blankets or pillows (but could also be used as a laundry hamper or storage in a living room!).
I’ve used this wicker tray as a tray on our guest bed, and also for entertaining inside and out! It would be cute on a coffee table, too.

3. Stylish Storage Solutions
Adding purposeful storage pieces not only can provide function and organization to your space, but also can help contribute to that warm welcoming feeling!
In My Home:

4. A Cozy Rug
A soft, generously sized rug can make a room feel instantly more grounded and inviting. In a living room, aim for one that’s large enough for at least the front legs of your seating to rest on it—it ties everything together beautifully.
In My Home:

5. Layers of Pretty Details
Layers of decorative accents can make such a difference in how a room feels. These carefully chosen touches add charm and personality, and invite the eye to linger a little longer.
In My Home:

With well-chosen pieces, you can layer in warmth, personality, and charm to any space…transforming it into a sanctuary you love spending time in!
Wayfair Items in My Home:
9 Cozy Pieces in my Home from Wayfair
4 Favorite Rugs from Wayfair
Favorite Mugs from Wayfair
More Wayfair Favorites (click images below for details): More

This post is in partnership with Walmart
One of the most enjoyable things for me in decorating is to focus on enjoying the season we’re in! Why keep your spaces the same all the time when you can feel inspired with a few simple changes? We aren’t headed off on a tropical vacation this summer, but the sun is out right here so we’re savoring every moment of it. Last week I brought in some fun elements to our bedroom from Walmart Home to give it the feeling of a tropical retreat!
The things I chose for our space from Walmart Home are so cute and super flexible so they’ll work in other areas of the home and in other seasons, too. It’s really easy to switch the whole feeling of a room by simply changing a few accessories, so you don’t have spend a fortune.

Here are my Six Favorite Tips for Decorating a Summer Bedroom:

1. Decorate with what you love, but be willing to try something fresh and new! I got this floral white ceramic lamp with a teal shade. I’ve had simple white lamps in my room for a long time, but I have to say, I ADORE this quirky colorful lamp. I’m so glad I tried a new look! The style really spoke to me and gave my room a really fun personality!

After I fell in love with the lamp and brought it home, I saw one similar at a high end shop. Don’t you love when you get a deal on something you love and then find one similar but more expensive elsewhere? You have to know where to shop, be true to what you love and yet willing to try something new, and window shop often enough to jump on good finds when you discover the gems.

2. It’s OK to decorate spaces so they are pretty now, even if you think you are just going to change them later. I got this botanical wall art set because they are just so fun! This wall has felt uninspiring to me for a long time, but I kept debating what I was going to do about it. Now it makes me so happy to see it looking so finished, fresh and cute! I thought these pieces would be great as an accent anywhere you want a little splash of color. I think sometimes we are afraid to get or hang art because it seems too permanent or it makes a statement we might not be sure we want to commit to! I learned a long time ago to just HANG THE ART! You can always change it later, but you might also wonder what took you so long to fall in love with your space.

3. Try throwing in a touch of moody to a space, even in the summer. You don’t have to do all light and bright in the summer. A deeper tone in a shade you love can bring more contrast and dimension to the space. I got this faux suede peacock color pillow. I loved the color because it ties in so well with the lamp, but also it brings in a contrasting tone and a slightly more moody vibe which will be really nice as we head into fall, too.

4. Look for versatile layers. I got this white chenille 3 piece duvet and sham bedding set. I really wanted a simple lightweight textural white coverlet for our bed that would be easy to layer with other bedding throughout the year, or could be folded up and stored in the winter. When I saw this duvet cover I knew it was going to be perfect! You can use it like a coverlet, but it also has a button closure with ties so I can put in my faux-down insert to make it extra cozy and FLUFFY when I want to, or as we head into fall! I’ll show you how that looks next week. This will be really fun and cozy to use all year round. It came with the shams, too.

5. Don’t forget texture! I loved this little round wicker tray for texture, but also the versatility. Texture is an often overlooked element that really transforms the feeling of a room. I love setting up a little tray like this on a bed for guests, but it could also work on the wall as pretty decor or as a basket to corral anything on a counter or dresser.

6. Look for pillow covers with zippers. I was thrilled with the pillow covers I got in this blue and white patterned pillow set. They look so great with my style and can work in any room of our home. Plus, they have zippers, which I love for two reasons. One is you can fill it with the fluffiest pillow inserts so it’s super plump! Plump is good when it comes to pillows :). The other reason I love pillow covers is when the season is over or you just want to change the look, you can easily switch out the insert and put the cover away until next time you want to use it.
I loved how these pillows looked in our living room too (below).

Walmart Home has so many fun accessories for the home!
By the way, there is also a new Wow and Now category at Walmart with fun trendy home items at really affordable price points. You can check it out here!
Shop my bedroom look:

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Sources:
Floral White Ceramic Lamp with Teal Shade
Fronds Wall Art Set of 2
Round Wicker Tray
Rattan Open Weave Round Storage Basket
Rattan Weave Woven Storage Crate
Natural Fiber Rug
White Chenille 3 Piece Duvet and Sham Bedding Set
Faux Suede Peacock Color Pillow
Ceramic Floral Round Wall Hanging Mirror
Metal and Glass Terrarium
Other source: Blue and White Patterned Pillow Set
More Walmart Decor Favorites (click thumbnails below for details): More