Dwell Beautifully

09/28/2024

Just a lil more progress. Swipe to see the progression. It wasn’t bad before the reno, but we’re beautifying AND making better use of the space. No wasted space allowed!

Progress is sloowwww going these days, but I’m loving how this little dining room is shaping up.

08/16/2024

Morning views from my sunroom turned kitchen.

It’s really important to me, wherever we are, whatever stage of life we’re in, to have at least one “sacred space.” This is a space that I intentionally keep tidy so I am attracted to come back to it. It brings a sense of “settledness” as the rest of our house in chaos during the move-in and reno process. Right now, that’s my kitchen. I love to watch the sunrise peek in the windows in the morning. I love to sit and work in the afternoon in the bright, cheery space. After we get our living room together, my sacred space might change again, but for now, I’m soaking in this morning view.

Do you have a dedicated sacred space in your home?

08/10/2024

FINALLY getting around to putting our living room together and already in love with this little corner.

What would you add for some extra coziness???

07/03/2024

It’s not fancy, but we’re super proud of this space that is NOW FILLED and which we worked so hard on. Josiah laid all the flooring, hung/mudded/taped drywall; I did all the trim work, kitchen backsplash, and refinished the drop ceiling; and we both did tons of cleaning and hauling (Josiah mostly with the hauling). We love teaming up on projects together, and we’re also really glad this is done.
Happy 4th!

02/02/2024

11/21/2023

I’m a scent person. I love the way a home’s unique smell invites you in and tells you a story about the people who live there.

I’m also on a journey to remove endocrine-disrupting artificial fragrances from our home. But I’m not a huge fan of essential oil diffusers, because I’m also an ambient light person. I love the warmth and coziness a candle brings to a space and simply replacing my home fragrance tools with a diffuser… well, it just doesn’t do it for me.

Solution? Wax melters. But without the wax. Fill the reservoir with water then put in a few drops of your favorite essential oil blend (avoiding lavender and tea tree, as these have also been shown to cause reproductive endocrine issues).

These Edison lanterns are perfect for our space, provide that cozy ambience that we love, and offer a nontoxic alternative to home fragrances (yes, I’m becoming THAT person). As a bonus, they’re easier to clean than when using wax. Still experimenting with different oil blends, but I’ll keep you posted on how it’s working for me!

06/01/2023

Newest adventure for the Swansons! Follow along as we transform this beauty (on the inside- the outside is already magical! 😍)

12/05/2022

I’m actually not decorating for Christmas this year. Not a Scrooge, but our house is wayyyy too full from wedding gifts, and both of us feel like more decor will clutter up the space and make us crazy. 😝
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So here’s my set up last year, which I was totally in love with.
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I love a good garland, but real ones can flare up the allergies and the dried out needles make a big mess. So these lovely faux garlands were the perfect solution for me. If you’re a maximalist decorator like me and you need something a little extra to festivize your space, grab these from Amazon (on sale now!)
Link in bio.

10/13/2022

Not sure I’ll ever get over my love for this window and how bright and cheery it makes my home.

That is all. Planning a wedding and will get back to design things after I’m marrriieeed!

05/20/2022

Swipe >>> for before
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One of my functional home must-haves is some sort of entry space. Who wants to throw their stuff down on the couch or kitchen counter? Not me! If you don’t have a dedicated entryway or foyer in your home, I promise there is a way to create an entry space. I wanted hidden storage (hence drawers in my bench), a spot for shoes, a coat rack, AND it needed to be aesthetically pleasing. Duh. This project was so easy, and I’m not tired of it 2 years later! 😍
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05/16/2022

Swipe >>> to see the transformation!
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This is a project I recently did with my mom, who asked me to help her with her living room. She was bored of it, and it just felt lifeless. This is only one of the things we did to liven up the space, but I’m in LoVe with how it made the otherwise drab foyer come to life.
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And that wallpaper. I mean. Come onnnnnn. 🤩😍

04/29/2022

Who loves a good indoor jungle? 🙋🏼‍♀️
Because, what else would you do with a huge south-facing window in your living room?
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Even if you’re not a green thumb, I promise you can keep a cactus or other succulent alive. Just start with one. It is so much more satisfying knowing you’ve got live plants cleaning your air than faux greenery (although I have nothing against faux plants, per se). Adding some green to your space is a super simple and easy way to liven it up!
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I also can’t decide if I love the sunrise view or the cheery afternoon view of this spot better. What do you think??