Essential Elements for a Beautiful Entryway

It’s the beginning of a new month, which means it’s time to release another designed space. This month’s design plan features an entryway 3 ways: casual, formal, and transitional.

This article contains affiliate links and ads. You can find the products I recommend by clicking on the links throughout and at the bottom of this page. These are designs that you can pick and choose which elements to bring into your own spaces. They’ll be saved here on my website, or you can save them on Pinterest. You can come back and add pieces to your spaces as time and budgets allow.

This month I am sharing what I consider to be the perfect recipe for a successful entryway design. The best entryways have the following essential elements in common:

  • a functional piece of furniture
  • a lamp
  • artwork
  • a mirror
  • storage/catchall
  • something alive/fresh
  • a rug
  • a clock
  • and a place to set a wet umbrella.

Not only do these items create a beautiful space, but they are functional as well. For example, the mirror allows residents and guests to check their appearance before coming and going, as well as reflecting light into the space. A lamp allows residents to find their way inside on a dark night, as well as helping guests find the door on their way out.

Below you can see a colorful and vibrant entryway design. Since the entryway is the first impression of your home, it’s an opportunity to create a space that reflects your personal style. This design leans more towards casual and bohemian. It is full of visual interest and layers of texture. Combining two separate pieces, like the green and white plate and the pink framed artwork, you can create a one-of-kind, original piece of art in your home that no one else will have. Try using Command brand hooks to mount the plate on top of the pink art before hanging it on the wall.

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Traditional decor thrives on symmetry. The design below uses symmetry to create balance by flanking the mirror with matching lamps and plates from the same series. While the first design is considered modern and casual, I would consider the design below to be formal.

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Entry Table

Below you will find the final entryway design for this month. Notice how similar metal tones and a soft ivory color are carried throughout. Natural materials like wicker, marble, and wood counterbalance the glamorous gold and brass to create a sophisticated but approachable space. This design is a midway point between casual and formal.

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In many cases, the front door to the home opens directly into the living space without a designated foyer or entryway. In these situations it’s possible to create an entryway by grouping specific items on a wall next to the front door. Are you missing any of these essential items in your entryway? Do you have any items in your entryway that you would add to this list? Let me know in the comments below.

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You can find many of these items in my LTK Storefront HERE.

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American Living Room Design Plan: Warmth and Style

It’s the beginning of a new month, which means it’s time to release another designed space. A few weeks ago I took a poll on Instagram, and the majority of followers voted for this month’s design to feature a living room.

This article contains affiliate links and ads. You can find the products I recommend by clicking on the links throughout and at the bottom of this page. These are designs that you can pick and choose which elements to bring into your own spaces. They’ll be saved here on my website, or you can save them on Pinterest. You can come back and add pieces to your spaces as time and budgets allow.

In most American homes, the living room is the space in the house where a family will gather to sit and relax together. Living rooms provide the perfect opportunity to show your style and to incorporate pieces that reflect your personal flair. In this living room design plan, I’ve purposely used multiple sources for the items featured. I want to discourage you from walking into a furniture showroom and buying a completely matching living room set. In order to create a collected aesthetic that is a unique reflection of your style, you’ll need to pull together pieces from different sources.

Click the photo to shop this design.

Design preferences are FINALLY moving away from sterile, all-white or gray interiors. The design I’m featuring today is warm and evokes a feeling of “home” with saturated and inviting colors. The wall color for this living room design is Shaker Beige, HC-45, from the Benjamin Moore historic color collection. On the floor you will find a timeless selection of traditional hickory hardwoods. Using Shaker Beige and hickory hardwoods as the base for our design, we begin to layer in warmth and richness, starting with a woven Persian rug.

The sofa in this month’s design is fully customizable. After choosing the basic shape of the sofa, I selected the number of cushions, fabric, cushion filling, and feet. The feet selected are walnut stained feet with brass castors. The fabric shown is “Atlantic Performance Blakely.”

At this point in the design, we have the base in which to start adding complementary furniture, art, and accessories. I added some leather armchairs and walnut end tables that echo back to the lines of the traditional sofa. The elegant coffee table pairs well with the metal accents on the sofa feet.

The table lamps in this living room design are ones where a visitor might wonder if they’re new or if they were found on an antiquing adventure.

I selected window treatments and an art piece for this space that pull from the colors found in the rug, sofa, and wall color. If you’re only able to change one thing in your living room, try finding a new art piece that will unify the other colors used in your space.

The final layer in this living room design plan is for accessories. Accessories are such a fun way to inject personality into your space. Here I have used conversation pieces that add texture and interest.

You can find the sources for each of the items that I recommend below. Never miss a design release in the future by subscribing using the box at the bottom of this article.

You can find many of these items in my LTK Storefront HERE.

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Thanksgiving in Our New Historic Home

Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away, and this will be our first year celebrating in our “new” historic home. I want to give a house update and share our Thanksgiving table with you.

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We’ve been working hard to settle in and make our house feel like home. All of the moving boxes have been unpacked. Many of them had been in storage for four years, and thankfully we’ve only had two items broken. Our kitchen renovation is finished, and we’ve restored the flooring in several rooms. We’ve restored many of the original iron railings, and the rest will have to wait for warmer weather this spring. Outside, we’ve planted hundreds of perennials, including boxwoods, hydrangeas, and peonies, to name a few. If all goes well, there will be blooms throughout the yard from spring through summer next year.

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We’re also researching the proper way to reglaze our original, working, sixteen pane windows. We’ll start the slow process of reglazing them when weather turns warmer. This is considered a maintenance task, and if we do it correctly, it won’t need to be done again for decades.

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As we’re nearly the holiday season, we’re also preparing to host out-of-town guests. Several guest spaces have been completed to make them comfortable during their stay. Unfortunately, a custom sofa that we ordered in September still hasn’t arrived, which is creating stress as Thanksgiving draws near.

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In spite of the lack of living room seating, there is a place for everyone at the dining room table. We’ll treasure the times spent with our friends and loved ones this season. We will be gathered around the table to enjoy delicious food and each others company. I’ve included a few photos of our Thanksgiving table this year. You will notice that there is a Christmas tree up in the dining room. There are a few reasons for this, which I can talk about in a future article, but let’s just say the turkey still tastes the same with the tree up!

To find the sources for everything I used to set our Thanksgiving table, you can visit this post in my LTK shop.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Abby Smolarsky2 Comments

Discover Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year 2025

It’s the beginning of a new month, which means it’s time to release another designed space. This month features a new bedroom design, which has been inspired by the Benjamin Moore color of the year and color trends palette for 2025.

This article contains affiliate links and ads. You can find the products I recommend by clicking on the links throughout and at the bottom of this page. These are designs that you can pick and choose which elements to bring into your own spaces. They’ll be saved here on my website, or you can save them on Pinterest. You can come back and add pieces to your spaces as time and budgets allow.

Benjamin Moore recently released their color of the year and a color trends palette for 2025. (Read more on the Benjamin Moore site HERE.) I designed a space using 4 of these colors, and I want to show you how simply changing the wall color can drastically change the whole room. The Benjamin Moore color of the year for 2025 is Cinnamon Slate 2113-40. In addition to Cinnamon Slate, I incorporated some of Benjamin Moore’s color trends for 2025: Sea Salt CSP-95, Paris Rain 1501, and Tissue Pink 1163.

In the first design plan I’m featuring Cinnamon Slate as the wall color. Cinnamon Slate is a deeply saturated and sophisticated hue that can be treated as a neutral when taken care not to overwhelm the space with competing colors. Because Cinnamon Slate is the star of this design, we can carefully add selections that keep the space calm and serene. I found a piece of wall art that unites all four of the paint colors that I’m featuring today. This artwork is integral to creating a cohesive design. The furniture and other decor pieces are either very neutral and without pattern, or they only have a pattern that includes colors from the color palette that I’m featuring. With Cinnamon Slate as a backdrop, the other design selections are noticeable individually as they pop away from the darker color.

Wall color Cinnamon Slate. Click the photo to shop this design.

In the next design I have kept all of the exact selections from the design above, but I have simply switched out the wall color from Cinnamon Slate to Paris Rain. I absolutely love Paris Rain. It has been one of my go-to color selections for years. I urge you to get a color swatch in person, because you will love it, too. The silk draperies, which are barely a whisper of pink, like Tissue Pink in our color scheme, become a direct complementary color to Paris Rain, as they are opposites on a color wheel. In this design, Cinnamon Slate transitions to an accessory color in the bowl, lamp, and artwork.

Wall color Paris Rain. Click the photo to shop this design.

Again we are going to keep the exact same design, but this time we can see how it would look if the walls are painted Tissue Pink. I think Tissue Pink is a very palatable pink. It’s an excellent option if you want to warm a space up, while still keeping it neutral. Notice how the selections change with Tissue Pink as the background. The lamp, draperies, and rug are all unique accessories, but with a similarly toned wall color like Tissue Pink, we can start to feel more on the monochromatic end of the spectrum.

Wall color Tissue Pink. Click the photo to shop this design.

Lastly, let’s look to see how the design changes when we change the wall color to Sea Salt. Sea Salt is the lightest hue in the palette that I’m featuring today. In this design, the artwork, accessories, and rug become the stars of the show. This is a good example of showing that often choosing a lighter paint color changes the focus of the room onto the things that are in it. If you have artwork and collections that you want to spotlight, a lighter paint color may be the best option for you.

Wall color Sea Salt. Click the photo to shop this design.

Each of the design selections for this room can be found linked below. Now that you have seen the same room in four different colors, I want you to slowly scroll back up. In each room, focus only on the artwork above the bed. Notice how the artwork works perfectly in each room, and yet as the paint color changes the artwork looks somehow different in each one. Ah, the power of paint! As I said at the beginning, the artwork is integral to this design.

Paint is one of the easiest ways to change a room, and it’s important to select the right color for your space. As you can see, it can completely change the entire design.

You can find the sources for each of the items that I recommend below. Never miss a design release in the future by subscribing using the box at the bottom of this article.

You can find many of these items in my LTK Storefront HERE.

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Bedroom Interior Design Plan: Collected Woodland Retreat

I’ve decided to start releasing some designed spaces once a month. Each month I will share at least one room design with sources that everyone has access to. This month I am going to share a bedroom and a bathroom design.

This article contains affiliate links and ads. You can find the products I recommend by clicking on the links throughout and at the bottom of this page.

I’ll be sharing paint colors, products, and tips that will be helpful if you want to implement this bedroom design in your own home. These are designs that you can pick and choose which elements to bring into your own spaces. They’ll be saved here on my website, or you can save them on Pinterest. You can come back and add pieces to your spaces as time and budgets allow.

I created this bedroom to be an enchanting woodland retreat with a mixture of textures, soft colors, and natural elements. The combination of natural wood tones and painted pieces gives the impression of a space that has been collected over time.

This solid wood spindle bed is a classic design that will truly become a family heirloom. As mentioned above, mixing natural wood tones and painted pieces creates a collected feeling. These end tables make excellent nightstands. They have a slightly aged patina. Be sure to note the design on the top before adding to your cart.

The art in this bedroom space is in keeping with the collected and found mood we are creating. The rabbit print, faux antlers, and book collection are 3 different ways to bring art into the design in a demure, unassuming way.

It’s easy to create a luxurious bedding ensemble and avoid the “bed in a bag” look by layering complementary linens. I recommend using the quilt as a base. Fold the gorgeous blue duvet and leave it at the end of the bed during the day. These throw pillows bring in another layer of soft texture.

The lighting I selected for the room is an example of how the juxtaposition of metal and natural fibers can work together to create a pleasing aesthetic. The chandelier and lamp work like a dream in this bedroom design. I encourage you to layer the lighting in each of your spaces using ambient, task, and accent fixtures.

Finally, we come to the walls and the floor. In this space I have featured a two-tone wallpaper with a nature inspired design. Wallpaper is not for everyone, so you can certainly use paint instead. I like Benjamin Moore “White Sand” 964 with these pieces, but you should select a color that’s right for your spaces using the light in your particular room. On the floor in this design I have chosen a floral rug. This particular rug is essential to the design because it pulls all of the colors from the room together.

You can find the sources for each of the items that I recommend below. Never miss a design release in the future by subscribing using the box at the bottom of this article.

You can find many of these items in my LTK Storefront HERE.

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Create Your Dream Bathroom: Tips & Sources

I’ve decided to start releasing some designed spaces once a month. Each month I will share at least one room design with sources that everyone has access to. This month I am going to share a bedroom and a bathroom design.

This article contains affiliate links and ads. You can find the products I recommend by clicking on the links throughout and at the bottom of this page.

I’ll be sharing paint colors, products, and tips that will be helpful if you want to implement this bathroom design in your own home. These are designs that you can pick and choose which elements to bring into your own spaces. They’ll be saved here on my website, or you can save them on Pinterest. You can come back and add pieces to your spaces as time and budgets allow.

I created this bathroom with the idea that it can blend with multiple design styles, while also being timeless. I want to help you select finishes and furnishings that can stand the test of time. Let’s move away from “fast fashion” in home decor and move towards selecting heirloom choices that will be loved for decades.

This design features two different tiles. The first tile is a basket weave pattern with natural marble stone. This tile can be used on both walls and floors. It’s a classic in both pattern and material. The second tile is a matte gray slate. This slate tile is approved for both wall and floor application, but I only recommend it for floors in this case. We want to avoid using the slate tile on walls and showers because it will create a trendy aesthetic.

Next, I selected a versatile and transitional bathroom vanity. The vanity is available in two colors, gray and white, and either color would be appropriate for this design. The vanity is available with one or two sinks, and it features a real, natural marble counter top. The holes are pre-drilled on the vanity, so I selected a faucet that will fit and complements the hardware on the vanity cabinet.

As I move on to lighting, I want to encourage you to consider laying lighting, even in your bathroom. I selected an overhead light for ambient light, as well as sconces for next to the mirrors. The sconces will give better lighting for makeup application and using the mirror, so those are our task lights. In addition to these, you could also add a little counter top lamp.

Sconce Option 1
Sconce Option 2

The apothecary storage cabinet, the art, stool, and plant are beautiful pieces that pull the entire design together. These are also the pieces that you could switch in and out if you want to change your decor up without a costly renovation. (I am obsessed with this black swan print and trying to work it into my own decor somehow.)

For this space, I recommend to paint with Benjamin Moore “Wish” AF-680. Remember, this is a suggested paint color for the space. You should choose a paint color that is best for your bathroom.

You can find the sources for each of the items that I recommend below. Never miss a design release in the future by subscribing using the box at the bottom of this article.

You can find many of these items in my Lowe’s Storefront HERE or my LTK Storefront HERE.

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Hot Beverage Station/Coffee Bar

This post includes affiliate links and ads. You can find all of the exact pieces that I feature by clicking the links.

One of the reasons I wanted a really neutral kitchen color scheme is because I absolutely adore color. That sounds contradictory, but by having a neutral background I can decorate with all of my lively, colorful accessories and change them out seasonally. In today’s article I am featuring my new hot beverage station/coffee bar, which I have accessorized with colorful antique plates and a red antique rug.

One side of our kitchen had a blank space that I needed to make functional. We considered adding a base cabinet there during our renovation, but there were a few issues. There are a door, window, and HVAC vent all along that wall. I knew I would find the perfect piece to use as a coffee bar and hot beverage station. And I did!

THIS gorgeous oak sideboard allows the HVAC vent to flow, while also giving me “counter” space to use for my *stunning* electric tea kettle and coffee maker. Ken and I were a little unsure about ordering a piece of furniture online. The reviews were really good, but we live in the country, and we weren’t sure about it making it here in one piece. Still, it arrived quickly and packaged extremely well to protect all of the wood. The legs did need to be attached, but we did that together in about ten minutes. The shelf underneath provides extra storage that would be good for cookbooks or a basket like this one. The plate rate that I’m using above the sideboard is an antique piece that I found, but I found a couple of other options HERE and HERE.

Not only do I have more counter space to use as a coffee bar, but the 4 drawers and 2 doors are very deep. I have room to store my tea bag organizers, coffee grounds, filters, and mugs and glasses. I’m protecting the sideboard surface under the coffee maker with a silicone mat. This keeps me from worrying about spills on the beautiful wood.

The only one who loves my red antique rug more than me is Annie. I found a really similar rug that I know you’ll love, too.

Want to find almost everything that I’ve pictured and featured? You can do so in 3 different ways: click the links above in the article, click HERE for my LTK shop, or click HERE for my Lowe’s Storefront.

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Style it Saturday, Red Coat

Welcome back to another edition of Style it Saturday…on a Wednesday?

It’s that weird week in between Christmas and New Year’s, when no one really knows what day it is. So I decided that it was perfectly acceptable to post a Style it Saturday on a Wednesday! 🙂

Today I am sharing 3 ways to style a red coat after Christmas. During the holidays there are countless ways to wear your red coat. After Christmas comes and goes, it doesn’t have to stay in the back of your closet! Red coats are fun to wear all winter long. (As a reminder, you can find all of the exact items featured today by clicking on the photos and following my commissionable links. You will also find other suggested items that would work in different price ranges.)

First, I am showing my favorite way to wear a red coat after Christmas. I love wearing a red coat with a blue and white button-up shirt. Paired with these trouser jeans and neutral accessories, this is a sophisticated and timeless look.

Click the photo above or HERE to find these exact pieces.

Next, I am showing how you can wear a red coat for a fun night out! Red + leopard print is always a YES for me. Add in some faux leather pants, and this just became a sexy date night outfit. You could swap the leather pants for jeans, and it would be equally cute!

Click the photo above or HERE to find these exact pieces.

Finally, here’s a fun way to wear a red coat while running errands or having lunch with your gal pals! I linked a lot of other shirts that would also work well with this casual look, so be sure to click the photo for more ideas.

Click the photo above or HERE to find these exact pieces.

That’s all for today! Be sure to subscribe below so that you never miss a post. (You can unsubscribe at any time.) You can also follow me on LTK, Instagram, or Facebook.

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Must have winter accessories

Style it Saturday, Winter Holiday Finds

Hi, friends! Welcome back to another edition of Style it Saturday! Today I am sharing some special finds that would work for the holidays and through winter. As always, you can click the photos to be taken directly to each of these outfits on my LTK.

First up is a holiday party outfit. Together these pieces make for a classic, sophisticated look. Separately, you’ll find that you can dress them up or down for countless looks.

Holiday party outfit
Click the photo above to find these exact pieces.

Next, here is a cozy, casual look for the holidays. This would be perfect for running errands or catching a movie.

Casual winter outfit
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Finally, here are some must-have winter accessories. These classic pieces can be used year after year.

Must have winter accessories
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That’s all for today! Be sure to follow me on LTK, and never miss a deal or outfit.

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Countdown to Christmas this year‘s best advent calendars

Countdown to Christmas: This Year’s Best Advent Calendars

It’s November 1st, and if you haven’t started planning out your fun Christmas activities, today is a great day to start. One of our family’s favorite traditions is an advent calendar. They’ve changed over the years as our kids have grown. Some years I put together the little advent goodies to open each day, but on other years I felt like it was much easier to buy one that was ready-made. Today I am sharing a dozen of the best advent calendars you can find this year.

Below you can find a description of each calendar. You can either click on the name of the calendar to be taken directly to the retailer, or you can click on the photo below to be taken to my LTK shop. Did I miss a really great advent calendar that you’d recommend? Be sure to let me know in the comments.

This year‘s best advent calendars

Playmobil was the very first advent calendar our kids did! Pro tip: This is actually a reusable advent calendar. Open the boxes carefully and save them to use again year after year. Click HERE for the Playmobil advent calendar.

Pukka Tea makes a wonderful advent calendar. My daughter and I did this together one year, and it is one of her favorite memories. Pukka tea is organic and sustainably sourced. Click HERE for the Pukka Tea advent calendar.

Dog Treat advent calendar is always fun to do at least one year if you have a furry friend. Our family had a ton of fun spoiling our pups with these delicious treats each day. We even made them pose with a Santa hat to get a cute photo opening their box each day. Click HERE for the dog treat advent calendar.

Rituals bath, body, and beauty advent calendar is really exciting for the makeup fan in your house. It even comes with little string lights to decorate the tree. Click HERE for the Rituals advent calendar.

Sugarfina advent calendar is perfect for the person who wants a little sweet treat each day. Each drawer is filled with FOUR pieces of candy! Click HERE for the Sugarfina advent calendar.

Harry & David Deluxe Advent Calendar is highly rated. These are some of the most decadent truffles you can taste. Click HERE for the Harry & David advent calendar.

This Wooden Advent Calendar is perfect for busy, small hands. No worries if they want to add the ornaments over and over again. With 5-star reviews from parents who love it, you can’t go wrong with it for small children. Click HERE for the wooden advent calendar.

Lego Advent Calendars are a hit with kids and adults who are kids-at-heart! Our college aged son picked this out for himself this year; he remembers having a lot of fun doing a similar one as a kid. Click HERE for the Lego Advent Calendar.

Coffee Advent Calendars are perfect for the coffee lover. They’re going to drink a cup each morning, so why not make it fun and festive? We love this one for the Keurig owner. Click HERE for the coffee advent calendar.

I am especially excited about this Bon Mamman advent calendar. I love their French jams and honey. For the price, I think this is one is a gem. It has sold out on a few websites, but I found one that still has it in stock. Click HERE for the Bon Mamman advent calendar.

Ornament advent calendars can help you get into the holiday spirit each day. At $125, this is one of the pricier advent calendars on the list this year, but I think these little glass ornaments are beautiful. Pro tip: save the calendar to store the ornaments in for next year. Click HERE for the ornament advent calendar.

The Adventure Challenge advent calendar is one of the more affordable calendars on the list this year. It is also one of my favorite finds! This advent calendar has a little scratch off box each day with an activity to do together with your loved ones. The website says, “this holiday edition was created to help build new holiday traditions, find new ways to connect during a busy season, and enjoy time with loved ones.” Love it! Click HERE for the adventure challenge advent calendar.

I’d love to know which ones your family did this year! Follow me on Facebook to share a photo of your advent calendar. You can also find me on Instagram and LTK, just search “BelleAntiquarian.”

Until next time!

Abby

Abby SmolarskyLeave a comment