interior design

Holiday Hygge

Published on December 22, 2024 by Skylar M. Beck2 Comments

It’s the coziest time of the year again! The holidays bring so much joy and warmth, especially into the home. It’s a time of year where it seems like things speed up and slow down at the same time. This is my favorite time of year to make my home extra cozy with holiday decor, layers, lots of textiles, and holiday scents.

I’ve talked about hygge a lot this year and tried to be intentional with incorporating important elements of hygee, such as, candles, textiles, seasonal elements, layers, and cozy corners into my home.

Similarly to last year, this holiday season I focused on ways to incorporate crafts and handmade decor touches. I love creating and collecting things for the home around the holidays that feel crafted and provide a nostalgic touch.

I wanted to share some simple steps for two of my favorite “diy” elements around this time of year, an orange garland and a simmer pot.

dried orange garland

thinly slice 1-2 oranges (1 is plenty for one garland)
dry each slice with a paper towel to remove some moisture
place orange slices on a baking pan
bake at 200 degrees for 3-4 hours checking occassionally to flip
oranges will be done once slightly brown or harden

winter simmer pot

add water to a pot or dutch oven
cut and add 1 thinly sliced orange
cut and add 1 thinly sliced apple
2-3 cinnamon sticks
sprinkle of cloves or nutmeg
splash of vanilla extract
add a handful of cranberries
for an extra touch, add rosemary or pine
bring pot to a boil and lower to simmer for 30+ minutes

wishing you all happy holidays! x

View of living area from the dining room

DIY ornaments with leftover fabric material

A Weekend Away

Published on August 6, 2024 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

This past weekend, Patrick and I booked a cottage to have a relaxing weekend away and to continue celebrating our anniversary. The cottage was located on a large country side farm with horses and cows surrounding the property. It was the most magical and serene environment to relax and have some time together unplugged.

While we were there, we spent time with the horses and named all seven. They were so friendly and would come up to the fence when they would see us. The property also had a pond that we were able to fish. Patrick is a passionate fly fisherman and he taught me how to cast a fly rod and I ended up catching four fish! I’m so thankful for this weekend, it was a much needed break from the usual routine. Hoping this inspires you to also take a relaxing weekend away.

Home Updates

Published on June 13, 2024 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

I wanted to share some recent home updates Patrick and I have been working on. A few spaces and rooms in our home have been on our ‘update to do list’ for a while and we finally got around to refreshing some of these spaces. Since we’ve moved in, our home has truly been a work in progress but it feels good knowing how much care and time we’ve put into creating a home that feels like us. I wanted to incorporate more photos of our favorite memories and places, as well as details that capture our love for exploring and traveling to national parks. There’s more eventually we want to accomplish but I’m very pleased with our recent updates.

Details I Added

books to highlight interests and favorite places on the coffee table
more personal touches such as photographs and meaningful travel souvenirs
crafts that add small detail to a space
baskets above the fridge for more storage + a cohesive look
throw pillows on the couch that are comfy and pull in others colors in the space
gallery art wall above Patrick’s office desk
peg board display for adventure and camp gear in Patrick’s office

Peg board to display camp and adventure gear + supplies

Simple Ways to Refresh Your Home

Published on January 17, 2024 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Throughout the last couple weeks, I’ve been giving our place a refresh for the new year, which includes, deep cleaning certain areas, going through the cabinet or closet that’s become the “everything” spot, sourcing new or thrifted items to add into the home and placing items we already have in a new spot to give a fresh look. Although taking down the holiday decor and seeing my space bare again is sad, it’s also an opportunity for a home refresh. A refresh is always inspiring to me, and if it’s not yet for you, I’m hopeful this post can inspire you also! Here are some ways I’ve been refreshing our space:

Add fresh flowers or plants to a space. Not only is this good for you, it also offers fresh life and color into any space.
Add cozy layers. I did purchase new pillows for the couch, and this purchase had been a long time coming! I’ve been searching for an accent color I liked with our neutral couch and sage green felt like the right color. Pro tip–find pillows with covers that are removable so you have the option to switch out the cover in the future!
Add color. I decided to add satin bows to our shower curtain, this changed and completed the whole space! This could be done through new photos printed out, flowers, pillows, blankets, etc.
Rearrange pieces in a new place. I love the shelf I have in our kitchen because it’s fun to change for the seasons! I recently placed some pieces on the shelf that used to be in other spots and it gave the kitchen a fresh look without having to buy something new.
Add mirrors. I found an oval mirror at the thrift store months ago that I loved. It really completed the soft peaceful feel of the bedroom. Mirrors are such a great way to open up a space and reflect in more light!

New blankets and duvet cover for the bedroom

There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays

Published on December 17, 2023December 17, 2023 by Skylar M. Beck1 Comment

The holiday season brings so much warmth and comfort, especially within the home. I love decorating my home and adding cozy elements all year long but there’s something extra special about the holiday season.

Last year was my first year in this apartment. I bought and collected several pieces that are typical when adding holiday decor to a space (a tree, stockings, throw pillows, etc.). This year I wanted to add more homemade touches to the space that felt more personal to Patrick and me. Most of the additions this year were homemade or purchased second hand. I’m hoping this could provide inspiration when decorating for the holidays. My favorite touches this year were adding bows to the christmas tree, seeing more cultivated travel ornaments, wreaths to frame the tree, and lots of garlands.

This year I also focused more on decor and warmth I could create from natural elements such as a dried orange wreath or ornaments and a simmer pot to add winter scents to the home. Here’s some simple steps if you’d also like to incorporate this into your home:

dried orange garland

thinly slice 1-2 oranges (1 is plenty for one garland)
dry each slice with a paper towel to remove some moisture
place orange slices on a baking pan
bake at 200 degrees for 3-4 hours checking occassionally to flip
oranges will be done once slightly brown or harden

winter simmer pot

add water to a pot or dutch oven
cut and add 1 thinly sliced orange
cut and add 1 thinly sliced apple
2-3 cinnamon sticks
sprinkle of cloves or nutmeg
splash of vanilla extract
add a handful of cranberries
for an extra touch, add rosemary or pine
bring pot to a boil and lower to simmer for 30+ minutes

wishing you all happy holidays! x

this year I add garlands and wreaths to frame our tree

ribbon and embroidered initials for our stockings

ribbon bows were the newest cozy addition to the tree this year

Moments at Home

Published on September 12, 2023 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

I’m starting a new category on the blog dedicated to my love for design and creating cozy spaces. For as long as I can remember I’ve been rearranging and designing spaces. It started with my bedroom as a child. I enjoyed switching the art on my wall, moving the furniture around, and adding different accessories regularly. I’d become excited to show my parents, siblings, and friends the changes I had made. These habits shifted to my first apartment when I moved to Italy, back to my attic space when I moved back home with my parents, and now to my apartment I currently have on my own. I’ve always been highly influenced by the spaces I’m in. It impacts my mood, productivity, motivation, and inspiration. I feel so much joy from creating a space that feels warm, inviting, and peaceful. It creates a safe place for me to return home to. It’s what makes a house a home.

My design style and aesthetic has definitely evolved over the years and will most likely continue to do so. For now, these are the spaces that make up my home. The spaces that fill my heart, mind, and soul with clarity and fulfillment. The spaces that feel like me.