Architectural Details – Camellia Greenhouse

Let’s travel to Scotland…How gorgeous is this gothic greenhouse! As some of you already know my two favorite things are: travel and castles! The architectural details of castles are unique and tell their own story. This gothic greenhouse was originally a boiler room. It was specifically known to grow camellia flowers. That is how it got its name. You can find this greenhouse on the property of the Culzean Castle. This castle was owned by David Kennedy. He was the 10th Earl of Cassilis. He had the castle reconstructed in 1792. The transformation took 15 years to finally complete. 

Some of you have already seen a sneak peak of this greenhouse on my Instagram. This greenhouse is stunning. I wanted to show you more of the architectural details throughout this structure. Especially the two-story windows that allow natural light from all angles. The property has vibrant formal gardens. And unique archways that flow from one room to another. I cannot wait to travel to Scotland to tour old castles. It is an amazing experience to explore other countries and learn about the history of the buildings.  Apart from being a beautiful country. Scotland is a wonderful place full of art, history, and culture.

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Let’s Declutter: A Look into Closet Organization

Having an organized space is an essential step to making your house a home, because a clutter-free space is a clean slate for decor and time spent in your home. To do this, we love incorporating lots of storage solutions to hide any messes or pieces you can’t seem to part ways with! But what about the epitome of personal storage, your closet. Often, because they are tucked away, closets become an overlooked space in your home. However, we think they are one of the most important to focus on.

So, whether you’re working with a small space or a Kardashian-worthy walk-in, your closet should be a very personal space, holding and organizing your clothes, shoes and maybe even a memory box or two! But what if yours is a tad messy? Let’s talk about how to maximize your space and create the closet of your dreams. 

Why Declutter Your Closet?

First things first: Decluttering! Why is it important to rid your closet space of unnecessary items? To make room for new clothes, of course! This is especially on our minds at the start of a new season. It means it’s time for a new wardrobe, right? Well, okay maybe not all new clothes, but it’s the perfect time to rotate in some of your favorite pieces that you haven’t worn in a while. Plus, rotating your clothes based on the time of year can actually make you feel like you have a whole new wardrobe every few months, without spending the extra money. 

Don’t forget about the increased efficiency and cleanliness that a closet declutter can bring to your everyday life. It removes the stress of “not having anything to wear”. After a clear out, you are left with options you really want and love to wear. A streamlined wardrobe will also clear up space in your closet for organization. So try sorting by type of item, color or seasonal wear.

Spice Up Your Decor

Find new ways to store your closet essentials and showcase your style! Displaying your favorite outfits on a clothing rack in your bedroom can be a fun way to play up your decor and make some extra closet room. Adding a clothing rack can help add more pops of color to the space, even if you prefer a neutral wardrobe. Display your favorite red dress or bright pantsuit for you to admire each day.

This is also a great way to plan outfits for the upcoming week, while subtly showing off that new top you just bought and can’t wait to wear or you want to give some tried and true pieces some extra love. If any of these appeal to you, we think we might have the perfect rack that will compliment your space. 

What You’ll Need

Now that you’ve decluttered and know where to put your belongings, let’s talk about how to store it to maximize space and style! It’s important to start with the basics of closet organization, like hanger selection. For instance, we suggest using velvet hangers to better grip your clothes and to prevent them from getting tangled. As for size, that depends on the items you wish to hang. Dresses, blouses and shirts need light support, so try a thinner option. Then with bulkier jackets and pants will require larger hangers. 

Let’s Talk About Closet Systems

So, what do you do if you have an abundance of closet space but no method of organization? First of all, we’re jealous. Second, it may be time to look into a closet system for your home. These features are great for many reasons, like: 

•  None of your space will go to waste! Closet systems allow you to customize your storage space to fit exactly what you need it to organize, meaning no space goes unused. So if you are a sneakerhead or have an extensive coat collection, set up the closet system that meets your needs.
• Your closet becomes your own personal shopping experience. Your clothes are thoughtfully organized and displayed in the closet for your perusing, just like in a high-end clothing store. We love the idea of shopping without even leaving the house. With, of course, the added bonus of already owning the pieces that are now just displayed in a way where you can see everything!
• These customizations add value to your home for when you are ready to sell it. Closet systems create organized corners of your home. Prospective buyers are able to envision their own clothes hanging in the closet you have made. They are a thoughtful investment into the home you are building, so if a buyer sees them in a potential new home, their work is already done. 

When approaching your organization project, remember the important C’s: consolidate, clear out, clothing racks and closet systems. With our tips and tricks, closet organization can be a breeze! We hope you are able yours into the closet of your dreams, and we want to see the results. 

Share your space on Instagram and tag us by using #MyAshleyHome. Your photo might even end up on our feed! You can also find more inspiration for any home project or makeover on our Pinterest page. 

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11 Ways to Style Roman Shades in Your Home

11 Ways To Style Your Home With Roman Shades!

The Shade Store’s Roman shades are the perfect window treatment to turn your room from dull to chic! For those who do not know, Roman Shades are made by one piece of fabric that will fold up as they’re raised. The reason I love these shades is because they’re functional and stylish. Also, they come in all different fabrics, textures, and colors. You can create a bold look with fun patterns or compliment your minimalistic style with a neutral solid linen fabric. They’re perfect for making your room feel elegant. It’s time to update your living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. As you know, window treatments can be overwhelming! Especially, since there is a wide variety of styles to choose from: vertical or horizontal blinds, curtains, panels, and more. The wrong choice will make a room look outdated or too loud. Using the perfect window treatment will take your room from “oh” to “WOW.” Specifically, these types of shades are normally seen in more traditional homes. However, now they’re starting to be seen in more modern style designs. They’re great for creating clean and modern looks. Also, you can also choose a graphic pattern to add some character to your living room. Roman Shades are amazing to play around with to find your own style.

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How to Bring French Country to Your Interiors

No one knows style better than the French, especially when it comes to interiors. With luxurious textures and hints of floral accents, we’re taking all the inspo from them we can get! Whether it’s your bedroom, dining room or living space, we’ve got you covered. 

What’s Special About French Country?

You might be thinking: Why would I want my home decor to be inspired by the French Countryside? Well, we can think of tons of reasons, but to name just one: The French are all about romantic and elegant touches, contrasted by rustic pieces with bold and distinguishing features. To us, home is a place that feels organic and comforting, while creating a sophisticated yet homey environment. We think the French Country-inspired rooms do just that!

A Five-Star Dining Experience

Let’s start with the dining room. We are so inspired by all of the amazing content our customers continue to create with one of our favorite collections: the Grindleburg dining set! The light brown rustic wood creates a nice contrast with bright white walls and warm lighting accents, a pairing often seen in French Country-inspired spaces. Check out their spaces below, and don’t blame us if you find yourself whisked away to a French cottage surrounded by the countryside (mentally, of course).

It’s All About the Lighting

Lighting can change the vibe of any room. Whether you want a warm romantic feel or bright white modern feel, lighting might just be your best asset. There are so many ways to light up a space, but let’s talk about an element sure to be the star of any space: candlesticks. They’re making a comeback, and we’re not talking about the old clunky ones. Candlesticks with a modern twist are in! For example, we also love the look of a candlestick lamp, same vibe as the traditional candlestick with elevated functionality! You can even bring the light back into your dining room! Perhaps atop a buffet table, topped with two matching candlestick table lamps, or situated next to a candlestick floor lamp.

Staying with the theme of light, let’s talk about pendant lighting. We think our pendant lights can add the right touch to any space by bringing in the modern yet rustic feel of French Country. We love the look of these because they add a warm glow anywhere you put them, even hanging from the ceiling! Plus, you can simply switch them out when you want to try something new! 

If you are committed to having this look in your home, why not have the perfect French Country-inspired lighting in the entry space, for yourself and others to enjoy. A chandelier over your bed, or even matching pendants hovering over nightstands? Yes, please! In bathrooms, pendant lights like this one act as a great alternative to sconces. They’re an elegant lighting option that is sure to bring a taste of the French Country to any vanity, but can also function as the perfect ambient bathroom light.

Living Like the French

Let’s move on to one of our favorite rooms of the house: the living space. With lots of upholstered furniture and space for area rugs, this is a great place to play up the patterns! Why stick with solids when you can do as the French do and throw in a mix of colors and textures sure to make any space pop! Adding accent chairs is a great way to do this. Check out the Engineer Accent Chair; we love its two-tone finish and nail-head trim. 

Another way that we’ve found to add French Country texture and warmth to a space is with curtains! Window treatments bring more comfort and personality to every space, and this is no exception! We think warm-toned patterned curtains will really do the trick, see below for the window treatments sure to bring French Country into your space!

A European-Inspired Bedroom

We actually think bedrooms are one of the best rooms to play up the French inspiration by using dramatic quilted headboards, elegant prints, and even some elements we’ve already touched on (like curtains and candlesticks)! If you want to bring the French Country into your bedroom, look no further than the Jennily bedroom set. We love the statement that this bold bed frame makes with its classic white-wash finish, especially against a painted or wallpapered accent wall!

As you can see, there are so many ways to tie the essence of the French Country into your home. From pendant lighting to rustic dining room sets, these accents are sure to make a statement, big or small! If you use any of the ideas from this blog, make sure to take photos of your beautiful space and tag us on Instagram with # MyAshleyHome so we can check it out! You might even get featured on our social channels. Also, be sure to get even more inspo from our Pinterest page!

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Shop Watch: Fashion Favorites From Veronica Beard

Veronica Beard

I’ve been scrolling through the internet trying to find the perfect blazer to add to my collection. As some of you know, one of my favorite brands is Veronica Beard. After browsing their site, I knew I needed to highlight some of my favorite items for all of you. Specifically their dresses and blazers! They have a great selection from strong blazers to flirty dresses. There is something for every woman’s mood. Also, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to bring back my Shop Watch series.

About the Brand

Veronica Beard was created by two sister-in-laws, both named Veronica. How cool is that? Their mission is to create trendy and stylish clothing to help women feel more confident and empowered. VB’s motto is: “look good, feel good, and do what you love.” How do you not support a brand that wants you to feel your absolute best? Their blazers and dresses are always so beautifully designed. They have a great range of fashionable prints and patterns. Their designs come in many different fabrics like leather, silk, and even corduroy. However, they’re never too bold or two gaudy. Their brand makes you look fashionable and sophisticated. Find the perfect piece that compliments your style!

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Creating a Fall-Inspired Bedroom in 7 Easy Steps

The leaves are changing, and which means it’s time for our home decor to reflect the season. You feel the brisk air as you sip coffee on your porch and check your emails for the day, and the excitement of the holiday season within arm’s reach. Welcome the season into your home with adorable home decor accents that give your space an autumnal refresh. In this guide to achieving the perfect seasonal space, we wanted to show you how to achieve a fall-friendly look in your bedroom.

This time of year is all about getting cozy and feeling peaceful in your home. So bundle up and crank up the heat in your home, and let’s welcome fall with these easy steps for bedroom decor. And for those of you still feeling the heat of summer, click here to read our guide to decorating for the season in the South. 

Saving Energy and Staying Cozy

Don’t worry about arguing over the thermostat! There are so many ways to save energy to keep everyone comfortable.

Before you buy any decor, having a cozy home is key to embracing fall. Start with an easy fix by adjusting your ceiling fan. Since heat rises, reverse the direction to clockwise so the fan can push warm air back down. This will prevent pockets of cold air from settling in corners of the room.

Let the light in and open your blinds! In rooms that receive a lot of sunlight, keeping things open will brighten up the room and warm things up while you are out. For homes with south-facing windows, 

However, if a particular space does not receive a lot of natural light, keep the blinds closed to trap heat inside.

Got any tips for keeping your home cozy this season without breaking your budget? Let us know in the comments below! 

Add a Touch of Fall Nature

If you have an affinity for artificial greenery, transition your faux plant assortment to reflect the change of seasons. Start with a few fall foliage accents, and then completely replace the greenery with items that feature rich warm colors. Just like the changing leaves outside!

A few of our favorite warm greenery includes dried pampas grass, eucalyptus and sunflowers. Complete the seasonal set up with a beautiful vase. 

A Monochromatic Mood

Cavern clay and brick red have been huge trends in the interior design space in 2020, and fall is a great time to add those colors to your home. They bring a gentle warmth to any room and are easy to pair with most color palettes. These are deep tones that still allow you to integrate color in your home without going too bright. And if you are a fan of bohemian interiors, these shades are essential to any boho space!

Let your bedding be the foundation of your bedroom’s color palette. A rich, brick-colored set will envelop you in an autumnal color palette. It’ll feel like a cozy take on the pile of brightly-color leaves, which is an autumnal staple. Decorate with pillows and a matching blanket for a polished aesthetic. 

Layering Isn’t Just for Your OOTD

For more inspiration for your fall-themed bedroom, look no further than your closet! Your favorite fall outfit can help guide you through the decorating process. What are your favorite colors to wear during fall? What are your favorite textures? Take note of your favorite layered looks and use them as inspiration while you decorate. So, let’s create some visual interest with home decor.

Feeling Fall on the Floor

We are starting from the bottom with this makeover, literally. Layering area rugs is a great way to achieve visual interest in your space with a cozy look. And you get the bonus of starting your day with a plush rug under your feet. Start with a jute rug as the base for this design. The organic texture will draw the eye and the natural brown color is perfect for any space.

Layer with a faux fur-style rug for a cozy vibe. The plushness is juxtaposed by the rough texturing of jute. Or you can fully embrace a fall color palette by layering the neutral jute with a rug that includes warm tones that are synonymous with the season. We suggest a style full of vibrant reds with orange highlights.

Wrap Yourself in Style

Blankets are one of the easiest ways to transition the decor of your home during the colder months. They keep you cozy and come in a variety of knits, textures, colors and styles. Thankfully, you don’t have to choose just one! Be liberal with your choice of throw blankets to find the perfect mix-and-match vibe.

You can also store your extra blankets in a woven basket for an organic look for fall. Roll the blankets up to arrange them in a basket like an autumnal arrangement of flowers. They will look like an adorable textile bouquet at your bedside. And just pull them out as the nights start to get chilly.  

Picture-Perfect Pillows

Use pillows as a final touch to your fall-inspired bedroom. Alternate pillows to mix up your bedding. Pillows literally come in all shapes and sizes, so the possibilities are endless. Create a gradient effect for fall with warm browns, reds and oranges. Once you have the colors selected, browse the types of textures you can arrange. We like the look of a faux leather pillow with a woven textured style. It’s a mixture of a polished, industrial style and something homier. 

Let’s bring the feeling of fall into our space and truly enjoy the season from the comfort of our homes. Transform your bedroom into something out of your vision board with home decor accents that stand out. These details will complement any interior design style, so start experimenting. We’d love to see what you come up with. 

Show off your autumnal spaces! Tag us on Instagram using #MyAshleyHomeStore, and you might even find your space on our feed. You can also find more seasonal inspiration on our Pinterest boards. 

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5 Tips to Master Your Next Move

You signed the paperwork, purchased the boxes and played with the bubble wrap. It’s time for a fresh start in a new home. First, congratulations on the big move! This might be your first experience on your own, or you just want to get a better handle on this process. And admittedly, it’s stressful. You are packing up your whole life and transferring it to a new destination. Sometimes you don’t realize how big of an undertaking it is.

But unlike your friends, you don’t need to bribe us with pizza to help you move. So, consider us your honorary moving company. We’re here to provide you with tips to tackle this project. This five-step guide will answer questions like “How do I move my sofa without ruining it?” and “How do I make my new place feel like home?” We hope that by the end of this post, you’re better prepared for this new chapter. 

Measure for Your Move

Measuring is the backbone of a good moving strategy. Start measuring from the first time you tour a potential apartment or house. This is especially essential for anyone who is moving to a new home with their current furniture pieces. You don’t want to arrive at your beautiful apartment on move-in day and your sofa can’t fit up the stairs. Trust us, there’s only so much pivoting you can do. So, with your tape measure in tow, ask yourself these questions:

• Can my furniture fit through the front doorway?
• Is there a freight elevator in the building?
• How much space do I have in my current home?
• What is the layout of this place compared to my current one?
•  Am I willing to downsize the amount of furniture I have? Or the size?

Be sure to keep these measurements written down to reference at any point. Bring them with you when you shop for your new furniture, so a store associate can best assist you in your search. 

Protect What You Transport

It’s time to break out the bubble wrap. We know you’re probably ready to just throw your belongings into boxes if it means you can be finished sooner. However, this might cause more harm down the road. Fragile items like lamps, dinnerware and photo frames might be damaged in the process. You can use clothing as a cushion to protect these items. Just remember you hid your plate set in your jackets before you go to hang them!

For those of you who are having furniture delivered to your new home, we’ve got you covered. Review our delivery success guide for all the steps you need to protect your pad. 

Find What Speaks to You

Let’s discover your style, together! This new home can be a re-creation of the space you have already created, or it can be a complete aesthetic refresh. There are so many tools to get you started. Check out our Pinterest page to gather more information. Our boards are carefully curated to inspire you to create your dream home. For any beginners, we have a blog to help you build a home decor-focused board. 

Once you have a general idea of the style that fits your vibe, you can shop according to that design preference. We have a “Shop By Style” page where you can find all the essentials for the look you are going for, from mid-century modern to glam and everything in between. You can also review our assortment of buying guides to help you further visualize your perfect space.

Fashion and Function

When shopping for a new space, you need to reach a balance between what looks good and what will be efficient for your home. So, with your measurements in tow, it’s time to bring your inspiration to life. You might find a beautiful five-piece sectional but only have the square-footage for a sofa. Ask yourself what you need in your space first, and then how to accomplish that within your design preferences. Here are some questions to get you started.

• How can you make the most of your space?
• What are your biggest needs in your new home? Home office area? A separate dining room?
• How much storage do you need? Can you optimize what is available?
• How big is the bedroom? Does it accommodate the bed size you have or are interested in purchasing?
• What do you consider to be the “center of your home”? 

These kinds of questions can be answered through careful planning or space-saving solutions. Want a place for visitors to sleep but don’t have a spare bedroom? Try a stylish sleeper sofa or futon to keep them cozy during their stay. Create multi-functional spaces in your home that optimize your living. Need a home office and a dining room? Why not both in one? The possibilities are endless!

Invest in Comfort

Your new home should be a place of comfort and relaxation. We think a great night’s sleep is essential to truly enjoying your home and starting each day on the right foot. Recently, Ashley HomeStore launched Gruve, a mattress in a box that delivers innovation and convenience to your front door.

Gruve is made with technology that helps you achieve a better night’s sleep from the time you unpack the box. All you need to do is roll is out. The micro-tech cover helps keep you cool yet cozy at night, so don’t worry about going to the thermostat at 3 a.m. to adjust the temperature. And every Gruve mattress is infused with charcoal and green tea extract for a peaceful evening’s rest.

Complete this comfortable set up with plush bedding that ties the room together. Adorn your bed with accent pillows that provide a pop of color. For a polished look, use the karate-chop method to fluff your pillows. To discover more inspiration on creating the bedroom of your dreams, check out this blog post. 

Reimagine your moving strategy to eliminate stress. With some measuring tape and a good idea of your storage needs, your moving day will be a smooth transition into enjoying your new home. So, don’t pack the worry up with the good plates and just leave it behind. 

Share your moving tips with us in the comments below. And if you’ve recently moved, show us the beautiful space you created! Tag us on Instagram by using #MyAshleyHome. You might even see the photo on our feed. If you need more inspiration for your next move, browse our Pinterest and start building some mood boards. 

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