We are moving onto our next project...the dining room! This room is still untouched from the day we moved in. There's no art on the walls, the light fixture has not been replaced (it's actually a fan, and not a cute one), and we are using the same furniture from our old place. I still love our old dining table, but it's too big for this dining room (plus Ian keeps bumping his head on the corners, ouch). SO we are getting a round table instead and turning this space into more of a breakfast nook. I still like a long rectangular table for when we have people over, so we are moving our old table to the back half of our living room and turning that space into our "dining room." This was my intention all along (from the first day we toured this house!), but I was going to wait until we knocked down the wall between the living room and kitchen. Well, the kitchen remodel is still a ways off, but we decided to do it anyways. It might seem weird in the meantime, but it will all make sense eventually--and this way we can get our dining spaces functioning how we want them to, while we continue to save for the kitchen.

I have spent the last month or so shopping for round dining tables (which will go with the Eames chairs we already own) and new dining chairs to go with the rectangular table, as well as a new chandelier to go over the table (finally!). I just pulled the trigger on the table last week, and I thought I'd share all of the options I considered in case one of you is also looking for a budget-friendly round table.

My criteria was: under $1000 (the cheaper the better), with a smooth top, and a pedestal base so we don't have to fit our chairs in between the legs. I wanted it to seat 4-6, and be no larger than 50" in diameter. I envisioned more of a simple, modern table for this space, and I wanted something that would be easy to wipe down since we'll be using it for family meals with young kids. See if you can guess which one of these we bought! As a reminder, here is what the room looks like currently.

1. Donald table - $909. This table is exactly what I originally envisioned. I love the chunky top and the clean lines. And it was on sale too! But I waited too long, missed the sale, and at over $900 it's really more expensive than I *should* spend.

2. Stein table - $999. I loooove this table. It's got a chunky top as well, plus it's cement, which looks super cool and can be used inside OR outside. But it's also quite expensive (especially once you add on taxes and delivery fees).

3. Compass table - $399. This table has the same modern shape, but the base is wire instead of one solid piece. It looks cool and the price is super reasonable.

4. Shoreditch table - $699. Another great option with a similar shape. I liked the fact that it wasn't all white so it would visually be more substantial and interesting. The walnut top is darker than any wood we have in the house, though.

5. Spoke table - $282. A knock-off of the Cyclone table by Isamu Noguchi, I liked the look of this table...and I really liked the price.

6. Hourglass table - $299. A similar table from West Elm, also a great price. I didn't love the transparent glass top though.

7. Lippa table - $704. A knock-off of the Tulip table by Eero Saarinen. These are very popular, beautiful tables and the marble top makes this one a little more unique. Although marble isn't exactly a low-maintenance surface for everyday dining...

8. Docksta - $179. IKEA's version of the Tulip table is the most budget-friendly table on this list. The price was super tempting, but it's also one of the smallest tables, maybe too small (41" in diameter)

9. Harvester table - $349. I also considered doing a wood table to add some warmth and contrast to the modern Eames chairs. I like this farmhouse style design and it's definitely affordable.

10. Starburst table - $599. This is a more modern style wood table, and it looks like it would match the other woods in our house. Maybe too much...Ben doesn't want a dining room rug, and this table would blend right in with our floors.

Those were my top ten choices! Which one do you think I bought??

First photo via West Elm.

This is a collaborative post. All opinions are my own.

The night before your wedding can be one of the most nerve wracking parts of the whole process. In the months and weeks leading up to the wedding, you’ll be so busy getting everything organized and perfecting all of the finer details, so you don’t always have time to stop and think about it. But when everything is sorted out and you finally get a chance to stop and take a breather, that’s when the nerves set in. So plan ahead and think of ways to relax and have a good time on the day before the big day, otherwise, you’ll spend all night worrying.

1. Make Final Wedding Preparations Early In the Day

There are naturally going to be some final preparations that need to be made. So you're not anxious about them all day, get all of that out of the way early on in the day. By the evening, hopefully you can relax and not worry about sorting last minute things out. It’s a good idea to call around to all of the vendors and double check what time they’re arriving and whether they have any questions or problems. Doing this will put your mind at ease.

2. Surround Yourself With Friends

Once all of the final details have been sorted, it’s time to start relaxing...and it's going to be hard to do that by yourself. So plan a day with your bridal party or your best friends! Get some bridal robes to set a fun mood, and set up a spa day or a massage. You can also play some fun games or go out for dinner somewhere. If you don’t surround yourself with friends that can help you unwind and have fun, you’re just going to sit around and worry about the next day.

3. Pack Your Essentials 

Especially if you're leaving on a honeymoon right after the wedding, it's important to make sure you're thoroughly packed! So go through your checklist and make sure you haven't missed anything. Besides your overnight bag for the hotel, you should also pack a small bag with essentials like a bit of cash and some makeup in case you need to do any touch-ups. That way you can easily carry it around.

4. Get A Good Night’s Sleep 

This is super important, but it can be difficult. You’re going to be nervous and you may have trouble sleeping, but if you don’t get enough rest, it can impact your wedding day. You know it's essential to get a proper night’s sleep, so avoid caffeine late in the day, too much alcohol, or anything that can disrupt your sleep! Before you fall asleep, take a little time to soak in the moment and reminisce on all the memories. You're getting married tomorrow!!!

Best wishes to all of you brides-to-be. Hope your big day is absolutely amazing.

This is a collaborative post. All opinions are my own.

When you dreamed of your wedding as a little girl, you probably had an overall vision. Perhaps you imagined a romantic outdoor garden wedding under twinkling lights, as the sunset turned the sky pink. Or maybe you envisioned an elegant event at a beautiful, high-end hotel, with rose petals lining the aisle and chandeliers sparkling overhead. Or you may have dreamed of a fun and laidback party in a big red barn, with country music, barbecue, and guests drinking signature cocktails out of mason jars. But no matter what, I bet you never realized how much of wedding planning is composed of nitty gritty details and dilemmas. Here are some ideas for four things you may be grappling with (but I know there are soooo many more).

How to find a wedding band that goes with your engagement ring

When searching for bridal jewelry, one way to ensure your rings "go" together is to purchase an engagement ring and wedding ring set. They will have been designed to be worn together, so they will certainly match and coordinate beautifully. However, this requires advance planning even prior to the proposal. If that ship has sailed, you can still find a wedding ring that looks totally meant to be with your engagement ring! Find a quality jeweler with a lot of knowledge and expertise, who can recommend what style of rings look good together. These days, your rings don't necessary have to be matchy-matchy. Your engagement ring can be the center of attention, and your wedding band can complement and enhance it. Perhaps your wedding band will have small diamonds around the entire hand, while your engagement ring features a stunning center stone. Or you have a vintage engagement ring, you might look for a delicate wedding band with ornate details like an engraved floral pattern. Just like with furniture, you don't have to get a matching set...and in fact, the pairing of two complementary pieces can be even better!

How to find a wedding planner that is a good fit

If you decide to hire a wedding planner, be prepared to spend a lot of time with them. You're entrusting them with one of the biggest days of your life, so this is not a decision to make on a whim. Just because your coworker or friend recommended a wedding planner that they loved, doesn't guarantee that this person will mesh with your personality and style. So make sure to interview lots of different wedding planners, to find someone who you feel comfortable with. You should feel confident in their skills and trust their abilities, but at the same time you shouldn't feel pressured or intimidated. This is still your wedding and you should feel like you can speak up, voice your opinion, and have the last say if you disagree with their suggestions. You should also be able to bounce ideas off of them, laugh with them, and have some fun with the process. Besides making sure that your personalities are a good fit, you also need  to check their credentials. Look at their reviews online, ask past brides for references, and check out their portfolio to see past weddings they have successfully planned. Is their design style somewhat similar to yours? It should be! After all, you'll be making a lot of decisions together, everything from the venue, to the caterer, to the entertainment, to where you get your wedding cake (Anges de Sucre is a great choice).

How to find an unusual venue for your wedding

The venue you choose is one of the first and most important decisions you will make in this process. It will set the tone for the occasion and help guide the theme and decor. And if you go with a traditional wedding venue, it will likely eat up a significant portion of your budget. But it's still possible to find a unique and unusual venue that's beautiful AND affordable! You just might have to look outside of the "wedding" box. Consider looking on Airbnb and reaching out to hosts with beautiful properties, or posting on social media asking if anyone in your extended circle has a property they'd be interested in renting out for the day. You never know, you might find someone who has been considering starting a venue and would be willing to test out the idea with your wedding. Maybe you can give them a testimonial and professional photos to use, in exchange for a budget-friendly rate! If you can narrow down your guest list, you will also option up lots of other options for smaller, nontraditional venues for your ceremony: places like public parks and gardens, restaurant courtyards, coffeeshops in a cool old buildings, and more. To find the best unusual venues, try searching online. There are venue finder websites which will let you enter your criteria (such as location, price, and number of guests) and bring up relevant options. This will bring up lots of options that you might not think of on your own. And they might even offer discounts and special deals!

How to make basic, budget-friendly rentals look amazing

When you're planning where to spend your budget, it's expected that the big things will take up the majority of it: things like the venue, the photographer, and the food. But don't forget about the little things! They can really make a difference in the look and feel of your wedding. Here's an example: wedding chair covers and tablecloths. They're probably not the number one priority on your list, right? But imagine walking into your wedding venue and seeing an array of plastic folding chairs and folding tables staring back at you. Not exactly the mood and ambiance that you were going for. However, really beautiful chairs and wood tables are crazy expensive to rent. So what's the solution? Covers! You can make basic rentals look elegant and glamorous if you pair them with some lovely covers, tablecloths, and decor. That way, all those chairs and tables actually add to the vibe of your wedding instead of being a big distraction.

Well guys, we hit the one year mark of living in our house (we moved on July 16th last year)! I wanted to do a tour to show you everything we've done in the first year, but honestly, it's pretty messy on a daily basis (that toddler life) and the thought of cleaning and photographing evvverrryyyy single room seems intimidating. Overall, blogging and Instagram have really slowed down for me this year, even as we continue to work on improving our house. That's partially due to the cute/busy/exhausting little boys that fill my time, and partially because when I do have time to blog, I've been trying to make each blog post more substantial and use my own photography instead of images pulled from the internet. But I realized that I kind of miss the quick, casual little inspiration posts, and I miss posting more frequently like I used to. Not sure if any of you miss hearing from me (ha!) but I thought I'd try sharing more of the things that are inspiring me currently, even if I don't have time to write long posts about them. The pretty photos are really all we need sometimes anyways. Amiright?

Speaking of pretty photos, I think I've found my "spirit designer." I recently came across Jkath Design Build + Reinvent, a husband-wife team based out of St. Paul/Minneapolis. Every one of their recent projects is so dreamy, like EXACTLY what I want in my own home. From the overall look down to the nitty gritty details. All of it. Gimme. Check out these beautifully designed spaces, and tell me you love them too!

Love the linear pendant and those black Windsor chairs...we are thinking of getting very similar ones for our dining room.

I am obsessed with the glazed terracotta tiles above. They are such a pretty twist on subway tiles, don't you think? I want them real bad for our kitchen.

I also love that they've used wood cabinets in a lot of their designs, which add so much warmth and character. I've heard that unpainted wood cabinets are making a comeback, although there's not much hope for our grainy oak cabinets with their 90s style arches. But these pretty Shaker style walnut cabinets...yesss please! The Jkath team actually makes their own custom cabinets, so yet another reason to hire them if you live in Minneapolis. :)

I spy with my little eye the same rug we used in our bathroom! And a similar mirror and similar tile choices. See what I mean about my spirit designer??

This bathroom (above) is pretty much exactly what I want for our master bathroom.

And here's another gorgeous kitchen--I love the blue island!

SO GOOD. If you're not already following Jkath Design Build + Reinvent, be sure to check out their website & Instagram! What do you think? Should I go back to sharing inspiration in a more casual way like this? Let me know and happy FRIDAYYYY!