Style shift…..it happens.

source

I was going to start this post by saying one of the hazards of being in

the interior design business was always being swayed to change

up your style based upon the latest and greatest trends……

but who am I kidding?  I have always switched up my decor, I get tired,

antsy, enamored by the new and shiny…what can I say?

This spring will mark our 5th year of living in our current home -

that is a record for our family.  We had never lived in any of 

our previous SEVEN homes longer than three years.

Let that sink in.

I am definitely feeling like I am ready to embrace a

cleaner aesthetic - more modern, monochromatic, simpler.

I have some fun plans…..including a remake of

THE famous gallery wall!!! 

I know, crazy talk!!!

Want to see what I am digging?

Check out my Pinterest board HERE!

We are off to enjoy our spring break soaking in some Mexico sunshine!

If you would like to get sick of a bunch of beach, margharita and

taco photos, you can follow along with me on Instagram -

I am jillhinsoninteriors!

Buenos Dias!

More bookshelf styling…..and see my grasscloth-backed shelves!

Are you sick of seeing these bookshelves yet?  I really do have a 

love/hate relationship with open shelves.  While I love styling bookshelves

and of course, I love my collections, I have days when I want to

load it all up and send it to Goodwill….it begins to feel too much.

Recently, I added grasscloth to the backs of my 

built-in bookshelves and I LOVE the warmth

and texture it adds!  I partnered with Walls Republic and chose

a pretty neutral color but they have SO many beautiful 

grasscloths to choose from!!!

I really have tried a lot of different looks with these shelves, 

you can see the different styling looks HERE, HERE and HERE.

The post of my planked back bookshelves is still one

of my most popular posts!

And while the more minimal look works for some, I found

it doesn't for me.  I LOVE the collected look of many books

along with decorative objects - the grasscloth pairs well 

with this look.

Walls Republic has generously offered my readers 10% off your order!

Simply use the code FOREVERCOTTAGE at checkout 

to redeem your discount!!!

**the grasscloth is just one part of a mini-fireplace/built-in's makeover.

Stay tuned for the rest…..soon!

stuff…...

Is it really almost March 1st?  

Who is with me and feels like it should be December 26th?

I miss writing personal things in this space - whether you read it or not.

So guess what I am in the mood for tonight…..?

I am heading to Denver tomorrow to watch my big girl play soccer - remember when 

I wrote about soccer weekends HERE and HERE?

My girl is a junior in high school and I vowed that this year I would travel

with her as much as possible to watch her play.  Her senior year club soccer season will

not come with much travel so this is really IT - like the end of my soccer mom days!

What?????  She will sign her National Letter of Intent to play for Saint Louis University

next year and then I will be a college 'soccer mom' and will have to 

travel to see her play at home - and she may or may not be in favor of that????

I am really feeling the bitter sweetness of letting my baby bird fly……

it's not easy and I don't believe I am handling it well.  Being a mother

has been my life's greatest joy and greatest accomplishment, sending this

human out into the world brings both a huge sense of accomplishment 

but also great sadness that it is over……I enjoyed every minute of it,

even the puke, the poo, the tantrums, the uncomfortable parent/teacher 

conferences, the teen eye-rolls……..every.minute.of.it.

My little girl is finishing 8th grade - and will overlap in high school with 

her big sister next year.  I am excited for them to have this year together - 

carpooling to school and a big sister to show her the ropes.

They are very different, my girls, so I can't wait to see what 

high school brings for my little girl.  She is very much ME - and I am

encouraging her to pursue her creative dreams!  She will never 

win a state soccer championship or play a D1 sport in college - but this

girl is going to pursue her own passions - fashion, design, performing.

I am certain she is REALLY not looking forward to having me

and her daddy's FULL attention when her sister goes to college - 

ha, ha, ha!!!

Me - well, I am still trying to balance being a mom and running my growing

design business.  New clients and faithful clients continue to 

challenge me creatively.  I have learned SO much and become better,

both as a designer and as a person.  I am grateful.  

I turn 49 years young in April ……THAT is unbelievable.

I am proud of those years but am always researching a better anti-wrinkle cream.

My husband and I also celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary 

in April - we are planning a BIG trip! 

We are also celebrating living in our Portland home for FIVE years

this spring!  That is a record for our family - can you believe it?

I will admit - scouring the real estate listings is a frequent habit

of mine but my hubby says we are not moving.  So I have some fun

plans to make some changes in our current home - some I have wanted

to do for a long time, others that indicate a new aesthetic for me.

I am excited to 'downsize' in my current home.

Life - it's bring growth and change, opportunities, challenges and reasons

to celebrate, contemplate and set some goals……it's a GOOD thing.

Where to shop for bedroom furniture when you maybe aren't {GASP!} using a designer!

I have been helping some local clients design bedrooms lately - both master bedrooms

and also a couple teen rooms!  I love to help source bedroom furniture pieces

which can really become costly.  Many of my clients are regular people who are

trying to pay their bills, feed their children, go on a vacation AND

live in a pretty home…… As a designer, I feel one of the most important

things I can give a client is respect for their budget.  Often times,

clients provide me with an overall 'look' of what they want their

spaces to look like and then mention their budget……often I do a little 'gulp' under

my breath when the room is likely described as a designer goods filled 

space and the budget is more of a modest amount.  I know I have my

work cut out for me….. 

Resources are a designers secret weapon.  As I have stated here before, the internet

has opened up a plethora of options for resource discovery! You can really find the

same item at many different price points from a variety of sources, even 

local brick and mortar stores.  A great source I have found for online bedroom furniture

is Bedroomfurniturediscounts.com.

Bedroomfurniturediscounts.com offers superior customer service, FREE white-glove 

delivery (yes, FREE!) and the lowest/warehouse prices on bedroom furniture. 

Often, the brands available at Bedroomfurniturediscounts.com are available

at your local furniture stores but offered at a much lower price at bedroomfurniturediscounts.com.

Bedroomfurniturediscounts.com sells many popular brands, Bernhardt, Broyhill,

Hooker, Lexington, Paula Deen Home (pictured above) and Stanley, just 

to name a few. 

So whether or not you are working with a designer or not - with a little research and

a visit to bedroomfurniturediscounts.com you will be well on your

way to a beautiful space!