Living for Pretty

Celebrating all things pretty, happy and inspiring. From renovation stories, to recipes, decorating, parties and little life lessons, you’ll find a little bit of everything here.

Builder Grade to Black Beauty: A Metamorphosis of a Half Bath

In the whirlwind of parenthood, where moments of solitude are as rare as a full night’s sleep, writing about decor becomes a cherished escape. Amidst nap times and moments of self-play, let me bring you an update on a room that you’ve seen once before—the half bath. It has transformed from a basic builder-grade space into a sanctuary. And after months of potty training, I’ve fully put my time into this room. Perched on this stool, reading books to my first born–this little room has been a place where we’ve spent quite a bit of quality time.

A Ceiling of Whimsy: The Magic of Wallpaper

half-bath-black-and-white

The ceiling, the often-forgotten fourth wall. We (well, Billy) took matters into our own hands and put up a beautiful black and white floral wallpaper. I can’t help but smile at the whimsy it added to the space. It is like a secret garden blossoming above. The best part: this affordable trick required less than one roll of wallpaper. The beauty of little spaces!

Practicality Meets Charm: The Corner Cabinet

Enter the charming corner cabinet, the perfect piece for extra storage. It added warmth with its beautiful wood tones and became our little treasure chest tucked. The papered back and shelves match the ceiling–it’s a touch that brings a sense of intentionality to the room. As guests reach for a hair tie or a spray of dry shampoo, it feels nice to appreciate the pop of pattern.

It’s stocked with things both I and guests might need –a hair tie, bobby pin, hair spray, dry shampoo or an extra roll of toilet paper. This practical addition combines functionality and charm. A little freestanding piece can make a space feel complete.

corner cabinet

Going Bold: Picking Black Paint

I love embracing bold colors in small spaces. We painted the bathroom black soon after we moved in and I still love it. The juxtaposition of darkness against the crisp lines and fixtures creates a striking contrast. Often it is in the unexpected choices that take the room to the next level.

Reflection and Whimsey

The swan mirror brings a touch whimsy to the space. The golden frame adds a hint of glamour, reflecting the light and casting a warm glow. Its gentle curves complement the curve of the vanity. It adds a touch of enchantment and a sense of grandeur. As I catch a glimpse of myself in its reflective surface, I can’t help but feel a surge of joy in the transformation of this once humble half bath.

Styling and photographing a space is no easy feat, and ours is far from perfect. Most days the towels are askew, and the shelves get cluttered rather than curated. But it’s in the imperfect moments, the little quirks and unexpected surprises, that a space becomes a reflection of who we are. So in this phase of life especially there is space for imperfection, of not-quite-done, of evolution and experimentation. Delight in the moment. They are fleeting.

Sources

  • Mirror: Anthropologie (old)
  • Wallpaper: House of Hackney
  • Cabinet: thrifted
  • Sink: Thrifted
  • Shelf brackets: World Market

Blue and White French Nursery

I’ve sat down a few times in the last two years to write this post. For some reason writing about decor on the internet just doesn’t seem like a priority after having a baby. But I do think it’s nice to take a moment to capture the moment.

This room is so special to me. There is nothing better then nesting for your first baby. So many hopes and dreams get imbued into it. I wanted this room to be calm and a place I liked to be. I also wanted it to be gender neutral to transition a future baby.

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Welcome Baby and 6 Tips for Your DIY Fresh 48 Photos

Readers, meet Philip Oliver! “Pip” was born in late March in 2020 during a nationwide shutdown.

Because of coronavirus, it was just me and Billy at the hospital. I had booked a photographer for a Fresh 48 session, which are photos that happen in the hospital in the first day or two of life. I loved the idea of capturing our first moments when we became a family of three.

A week or two before I went into labor, the hospital changed the visitor policy to include only the “birthing partner” (dad, in our case) and no one else. No grandparents, aunts, uncles, and no photographers. We were scared of further restrictions and not even having my husband there (a few hospitals in New York had taken that step based on positive cases), so we felt lucky to have each other.

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Master Bedroom Coffee Station

What’s the one thing that makes your morning instantly better? Coffee. It’s the reason a lot of us are able to roll out of bed in the morning. But in our house the time between eyes open and coffee in my mouth was just too long.

We have been long time french press coffee people. The coffee is delicious, it’s one less countertop appliance sitting out, and I managed to score a beautiful silverplated gem from an online auction that ‘sparked joy’ whenever I looked at it.

But since we moved into the new house the french press coffee joy has turned just a touch sour. Because french press coffee is a process.

  • First you heat up the water on the stove.
  • Then you pour water into the french press.
  • Then you wait 3-4 minutes.
  • Then you press.
  • THEN you enjoy.

This was all good and fine when our kitchen was located in between our master bedroom and our bathroom. It was natural to incorporate the french press coffee process into our morning flow–inbetween showering, dressing and primping.

Now in our new home the kitchen is a set of stairs and three rooms away. And having to consistently go back down the stairs for each step in the process grew tiresome. Then the solution came to me after watching Architectural Digest’s Open Door videos of Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s house.

The home’s interior designer, Peter Gurski, calls this the gentleman’s cabinet. It’s got one very important, not-to-be-overlooked feature: a coffee station.

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15 Free Art Downloads

With the holiday un-decorating commencing, the bells and garlands come down and the everyday decor goes up. The change of the seasons is the perfect time for a refresh, but with the Christmas budget hangover I know I’m not the only one feeling the lack of cheer in my bank account.

Luckily, the Metropolitan Museum has a lot of their collection available to use, download, share and create upon. Below are just a few of their 406,000 images of artworks that have caught my eye. Click through to learn more about the the piece and download.

The Third Duke of Dorset’s Hunter with a Groom and a Dog
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addictive banana pudding

I’ve grown quite addicted to Metropolitan Market’s banana pudding. It feels like every weekend I’m finding a reason to pick up a delicious cup. But at $4 a pop for a small serving, I couldn’t keep it up. I decided to experiment with replicating the recipe at home. I studied the ingredient list: pudding mix, vanilla wafers, bananas, heavy cream, and the secret ingredient – sweetened condensed milk.

It tastes just like at the store, a rich, creamy banana pudding. My taste buds are so excited that I unlocked the secret, my waist line, not so much.

Ingredients

  • small box banana pudding mix
  • 14 oz sweetened condensed milk 
  • 1/2 cup water 
  • 2 bananas
  • heavy cream for whipped cream 
  • 1 box vanilla wafers to taste
  • a few tablespoons sugar
  • vanilla extract
  • heavy whipping cream

Directions

  • In large bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk and water. 
  • Add banana pudding mix; beat until well blended. 
  • Chill 5 minutes.
  • In a large bowl, beat heavy whipping cream until stiff. Add sugar and vanilla to taste.
  • Fold in half of the whipped and add sliced bananas.
  • Layer pudding mix, whipped cream and vanilla wafers in a serving dish. 
  • Garnish as desired (in my case salted caramel sauce!)

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