May Inspiration

Hello, May! Although we’ve all been living in this weird limbo mode at home, I’m actually starting to get used to the routine, and I’m not minding it to be honest! It’s given me the opportunity to have my brother as a roommate again, to spend time in my childhood home, to spend copious amounts of time with Dash, and to save some money! To be as productive as possible, I’ve been breaking down my days by the half hour to keep me accountable and make sure I get everything crossed off my list. School is in full swing, and things are starting to pick up again with homework. I’m hoping to be able to share more of my work with you as the weeks pass. Things that are inspiring me lately include fresh branches, round shapes, bold, veiny marble… and cane - all the cane! I wish you all a fun, light-hearted month, with lots of positivity and growth, wherever it is you’re spending it.

xo

Linnea

Guest Room Mini Makeover

Once self isolation started, I switched homes with my mom (who’s an essential worker) and moved right back into the home I grew up in. My first project? The guest room, decked out with bright blue walls and all. I tried living with it, but I only lasted about a week before deciding I needed to give it a full transformation, with things we had around the house, nonetheless. I’ve documented the mini makeover below!

Before

After

As you can see, PAINT is the hero here. It really does make the room so much bigger and brighter. It makes me happy when I walk into it, and brings a sense of calm during this chaotic time (if there’s one thing I hate about quarantine, it’s not living in my own home!). To be resourceful I used the same furniture, added an accent chair and vintage nightstand from around the house to make the room a little more practical.

I also mounted this wall sconce from Ikea that we had lying around the house, and it suited the room perfectly. To accent the main wall above the bed, I created a DIY canvas with a few neutral colours, and I absolutely love the way it turned out! The TikTok tutorial on how I made it can be found here.

To make this room as “homey” for myself as I could, I needed my diffuser and my favourite essential oils by Vitruvi. Sara Panton’s book Essential Well Being has everything you need to get started with essential oils - you’d be surprised how much you can use them! I love every single page - it’s a must read.

I also painted another DIY to add more contrast to the room. I painted a piece of card stock black, and left white in spots where I wanted the outline of the body to show. I also added in a layered vintage mirror and some necessary skincare to the dresser.

Let me know if you’d like to see more reveals - I’m hoping to complete quite a few more projects if I can in the next few weeks! Take care everyone.

xo

Linnea

2019 Holiday Home Tour

You guys have been very patient with me this year, and I appreciate that! But fear not: my holiday home tour (that my brother and I shot weeks ago) is finally here! I’ve broken down each section and tried to link as many sources and similar items as possible for you. If there’s something specific you’re looking for that isn’t linked, feel free to comment, email or DM me on Instagram - I’m always happy to help! Here we go.

Living Room

Bar Cart

Bar cart (similar) | Silver Tree | Magnolia Table | Three Times a Day | Rocks Glasses

Shelfies

Black Shelf | Straw Basket | Vintage Washboard | White Dalahäst | Star Light | Wooden Village (similar) | Marshall Speaker | Brass Planter | Black Reindeer | New York Book

Console

Large Vase | Cotton Stems | Nutcracker | Glitter House | Tree Set | Twinkle Lights | Black Reindeer | Candlesticks | Wooden Beads | Brush Tree Set

Tree

Flocked Tree | Wooden Garland (mine is DIY) | House | Letters to Santa | Gold Spheres | Brush Trees | Whale | Champagne Spheres

Hallway & Kitchen

Happy decorating,

xo

Linnea

October Mood

It’s October, meaning cozy blankets, copious amounts of tea, rainy days at home, and diving headfirst into the lifestyle I’m meant to live: the hygge lifestyle. Hot girl summer, ooouuut, cozy girl fall, IN. Oh, and lest we forget, it’s officially ghosting season! Oh, the fun.

One of my main goals for this month is to focus more on myself. I took quite a lengthy break from working out in September and took on way too much to the point that I got sick for a week. This month, I’m making sure I get enough rest during my free time, and trying to stay as ahead of my homework as I possibly can. The people around you will understand if you can’t do it all - no one expects you to but yourself.

It’s also a month of reflection. This time last year, I came back from a few weeks in Europe (please take me baaaack), where my cousins in Stockholm convinced me to enroll myself into design school. I didn’t think much about the details (finances included), I just did it. And if you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop working for it.

Now, I’m more than halfway through the program, and I can officially freehand sketch a room, draft floorplans by hand and with AutoCAD, create concept boards, suggest solutions, and so much more.

As far as inspiration, lately, it’s been moody interiors, vintage touches, sculptural furniture and easy fall basics. I’m excited for what’s to come, and looking forward to the challenge of not 3, but 4 classes working full time. October, let’s. GO.

xo

Linnea

September Mood

Oh, September. I’ve been waiting for you for a while. I know it’s bound to be an exciting, eventful month, but it also means summer has come to an end, and the whirlwind that is September has finally arrived. It’s been a crazy, eventful summer, and I’ve accomplished a lot, but I think I’m ready for it to come to an end.

I’ve got a lot going on, not only in my life, but in the lives of those around me. When people around you are going through a tough time, it immediately puts things into perspective and reminds you to snap out of it and realize how great you really have it. Less self, more love.

Speaking of love, I’ve got not one, but two weddings, one of which I’m very fortunate to be a part of! I can’t wait to see my bestie walk down that aisle… cue Linnea’s ugly cry at the altar! T minus 9 days until the big day.

On top of that, design school starts again next week, which I don’t think I’m quite ready for. I was in a good momentum going from one semester to the next, so it’s going to be a little challenging for me to switch from no classes/0 hours of homework to 4 classes/40 hours of homework a week. Hello no social life, we meet again.

But it will be good for me. I’m excited to get back into doing something I love solely because I want to do it. It’s the thing that gets my heart pumping and the industry I love most! I’m also excited for fall, chilly weather, and more time spent at home. Hygge life, here I come.

And remember, everyone’s going through something in their life, so be compassionate to those around you, offer love and support whenever you can, and most importantly, be kind. Have an amazing September, lovelies.

xo

Linnea

July Mood

July!!! Well, June was quite the whirlwind, but I’m beyond excited to lay low, have some free time away from school, get back to having time to WORK OUT omg I’ve missed it, and simply enjoy a Vancouver summer! A few things inspiring me lately? Neon, bright colours, citrus, a dose of sass (probably from Scottsdale lmao), and FUN. IN. THE. SUN. Stay tuned for new blog posts coming your way shortly!

xo

Linnea

Fall Living Room Tour

If you follow me on Instagram (which you should be, if you’re not ;), chances are, you’ve seen photos of my living room. It’s my favourite space to photograph in my home, and when Dash is posing oh-so-nicely on the couch, how can I NOT take a photo? He’s basically begging me to. So you’ve likely already seen snippets of the room on my feed, but I’ve put off this before-and-after living room tour for far too long. Enough hiding this space from you - here it is in all its glory! And while Fall is still here, I hope you take some inspiration from some of the fall touches I’ve made. But you've been warned… the space will transform for the holidays in no time! Let’s take a peek inside while it’s still fall, shall we?

Before

As you can see in the photos, this room was large and in charge, but the original paint colour didn’t do it justice. So I needed to paint the walls before I even moved in, and it made all the difference!

Next, I needed to plan out the space. What was the best way to arrange all of my furniture? Remember, I did have to downsize coming from my previous apartment, so I no longer had a “dining” space (nor did I really need one). So I decided to make two spaces: one for lounging, with my shelves in the background, and one for working, and displaying all the things I would in my office-I-no-longer-had.

Inspiration

After

Shop the space

Living Room

Liam Sectional | Solid Throw Pillow | Striped Throw Pillow | Coffee Table | Moroccan Pouf | Macrame | Plant Stand | Wool Throw Blanket | Braided Wool Rug | Chandelier (similar)

Console Table

White Lisa Desk | Ceramic Stool | Round Mirror | Black Papasan Chair | Vitruvi Stone Diffuser | Stoneware Pitcher

Bar Cart

Bar Cart (similar) | Gallery Wall Frames | Linnea’s Lights Reserve Candle | Candle Trio

If there’s anything you’re still looking for that I haven’t linked, just pop me a message and I’m happy to let you know! Hope you loved my living room reveal! Up next… Christmas!!

xo
Linnea

Mexico Travel Diary

Hi lovelies! As you probably know, I just came back from a relaxing trip to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, so I'm sharing my thoughts and experience staying at Ocean Riviera Paradise below. It was my first time visiting Playa Del Carmen, as I've been travelling to Cabo San Lucas since I was a wee little tot (my aunt and uncle used to own a place there!). I absolutely loved the jungle, and the resort was so incredible. It was pretty big, but it wasn't too big where you weren't able to walk from one end to the other - I would say the size was perfect. Now let's dive into the vacation, so I can relive it all over again.

The Resort

My expectations weren't overly high, because my previous all-inclusive experiences were mediocre at best; the food usually sucks and the decor is meh, not gonna lie! Then I looked up this resort a week before my trip - and OMG. I was absolutely blown away by the photos.

After about a 6 hour flight, we arrived at the resort, and I remember just staring at the entrance of the lobby from the shuttle bus, in complete awe of our new home for a week. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was, and this resort was hands down, the nicest place I've ever stayed at (I'd even say the design was nicer than the prestigious Ayana Resort in Bali!).

Once we walked into the lobby, we were immediately taken aback by the signature lobby scent - clean, refreshing citrus-ey goodness that I'm still dreaming about to this day. The design of the entire resort was so well thought out - every detail was accounted for. The lobby was decked out with modern, beachy boho accents, so if you know me, you know that's exactly what I love. The high ceilings were graced with bold beams and straw pendants, surrounded by palm leaves, plants, wicker and leather furniture, library walls - the works. If you love design as much as I do, you'll loooove staying at this resort. The designers really did think of every detail in every single space.

Rooms

Continuing my obsession with the design, the rooms were so beautiful, with dark wooden beams across the ceiling, luscious, fluffy beds, a relaxing sitting area, and a ground floor patio with your own tanning bed, swing chair and sitting area. Talk about a relaxing hideaway!

Food

Now like I said before, my expectations for food in Mexico is never very high based on past experiences, but I was pleasantly surprised. The resort had 10 restaurants and 12 bars in total. My favourite was La Locanda, the Italian a la carte restaurant. The burrata was mind blowing!

The steakhouse, Mexican restaurant, and all day buffet (plant walls for days) were also very good, and I loved being able to eat overlooking the beach at Pez Vela.

The resort also has a diner called Route 66, teppanyaki restaurant called Sakura (Vancouver's obviously better), a fine dining restaurant called Blue Moon (didn't get to try it, but I'm sure it's bomb), and a few snack bars (including a fresh crepe bar - omg yum) by the pools.

My favourite bar was the main lobby bar, because I mean, look at the decor! And their cocktails were top notch. If you wanted a good drink served in a real glass (lol), the lobby bar or adjacent piano bar is where it's at. I'm still dreaming about their fresh pressed espresso martinis! Lastly, there's an ice cream parlour dishing up 10 flavours every day. Let's just say I wasn't mad at that.

Coffee

Now for coffee, I'm a little bit picky, so I was ecstatic that the resort had its very own coffee shop for my daily caffeine fix. Yes, everything you wanted and more was included! It was by far one of my favourite hang-out spots (before and after the gym). It was designed to be a cool, masculine-style space with top-of-the-line espresso machines, freshly baked pastries, and fresh fruit smoothies, too! Another thing I loved at this resort is that they didn't put straws in anything, unless you asked for one. They're definitely doing their part in order to waste as little as possible. I'm an avid straw user, so I use these amazing silicone straws at home!

Activities

To make the most of the trip, my brother, dad and I worked out (or did something active) every single day, and it made us feel so much better throughout the trip. I've typically been on tropical vacations where nobody else wants to work out or do anything (whaaaat a buzz kill), so it was a nice change to be pushed and motivated by the boys. It also prevented us from making terrible choices at the buffet and at dinner, so A+ for that. We usually started our morning with an espresso shot, then an early morning workout at the gym, followed by a fresh smoothie before breakfast.

Other mornings, we did yoga on the beach followed by fresh pressed juice, just the 3 of us and our amazing instructor. Shout out to everyone else for not attending sunrise yoga - you gave us private classes!! It was so relaxing; I couldn't believe how lucky we were to be on the beach greeting the sun, breathing in the ocean air and being one with the sand - definitely one of my highlights. Inhalo, exhalo.

Throughout the day, we'd swim in the pools, the ocean, play beach volleyball (still have sand burns from that, and my team almost beat Tristan's), do zumba on the beach (reluctantly, for everyone to watch), then workout again, if we weren't too tired. I have received a few questions about the seaweed on the beach, and yes, it's there, but it's still a beautiful beach, and I honestly don't mind swimming next to a few plants.

Back at the resort, there were also multiple foam parties (sooo much fun - s/o to Ash for sneaking in and getting a squirt shot right before being kicked out), aquafit classes, a bowling alley, salsa lessons, and so much more. To say that there was enough going on throughout the day was an understatement! 

Entertainment

The entertainment team at the resort did such an incredible job making sure everyone was having a great time. They're literally working almost every hour of the day - I don't know hoowwww they do it! Throughout the day, they'd get everyone involved in whatever was happening, and remind us what was on the schedule for that day. Every night, they put on a theatrical show in the theatre (which was massive, by the way) and I was actually really impressed with their talent. We watched a pop show, the lion king (amazing), and a circus show similar to cirque de soleil (the best of the 3 - omgggg these people are strong!).

Excursions

Outside of the resort, we did a day trip to Tulum to see the Mayan Ruins and the beach. It was a super hot day, but I'm not one to complain about that! The ruins were beautiful, but next time I'd like to go to Chichen Itza instead.

We also went to Rio Secreto, the secret underground river. Yes, we went in a cave while everything was happening in Thailand... but that didn't stop us! It was by far one of the coolest experiences I've ever had, and I can't wait to do a different route. Basically you walk through the jungle, and walk down a staircase into a fully enclosed, all natural cave. Some parts have the clearest water you ever did see, while other parts are dry, with crystals and rocks surrounding you everywhere you turn. I could spend hours in there - I absolutely loved it!

All in all, this was a vacation to remember, and I'd definitely go back to Playa Del Carmen to explore more of the town, see more ruins, explore more cenotes, and stay at this resort again (at least for a few nights)! If you want more info, feel free to reach out by commenting below or sending me an email.

xo

Linnea

Linen Bedding

Spring has sprung, and I've completed a spring refresh, as well as a ton of spring cleaning around my home. Cleaning and decluttering aside, one of the updates I made was the switch to linen bedding. Maybe it's the breathability, or the washed-linen look, but I love it so much, and it's definitely worth the investment. If you're looking for a fabric that immediately transforms your bedroom into a relaxed, coastal getaway, this is it! Here are some of my faves:

Washed linen duvet cover set, H&M Home

Linen Plain Weave Duvet Cover, Muji

Linen Duvet Cover Set, Parachute

Soft-Washed Linen Duvet Cover, Anthropologie

Sweetest dreams,

Linnea

Before & After: My Console Table

As one of my favourite spots in my home, my console table serves many purposes for my living room. I've used it as a desk, a makeup vanity, an extra dining table... so versatile!

You seemed to love the before and after of my entryway, so I decided to do the same with this area of my home. Here's how it looked before I moved in:

The Before

The paint colour, the light fixture, the mirror... it all had to go. So of course, the first thing I did was paint the walls white - it makes such a tremendous difference, and it's therapeutic too.

The Inspiration 

The majority of my inspiration for this area came from Katie of Halfway Wholeistic - I love her home, and she's super sweet, too. When you're looking for inspiration, look for spaces that are similar to yours, and pick things you love from the way they're styled and decorated, using things you already have. Before you know it, you'll have all the pieces to tie it all together.

The After

I knew I wanted a circular mirror, so I was thrilled to find one just a few weeks before moving into my new place. It's funny how things happen like that! Once the walls were painted, I replaced the awful light fixture with one I purchased while I was house hunting - probably one of my favourite things in my home. After those were in place, I accessorized around those pieces. I layered in some candles, my mom's vintage ginger vase, books, a vintage brass camel I found at a second hand shop, and of course, my diffuser.

I change the decor on the table quite often, depending on the season or my mood, but that's the beauty of decor. Looking for console table must haves? I've linked similar options to mine below.

Shop the Look:

Cream Vases | Vintage Camel | Gold Mirror (save) | Gold Mirror (splurge) | Allegra Hicks | Straw Baskets | Gold Stool | Ceramic Diffuser | Eat Beautiful

Happy styling,

xo

Linnea

Before & After: My Entryway

Entryways are a little underrated, because they're pretty much like hostesses; they're the first thing you see when you walk into a space, and the last thing you see before you leave. Because of this, they're pretty important when it comes to first (and last) impressions.

Overall, my entryway is limited in terms of size, but I still wanted to create a functional space that set the tone for the rest of the apartment. I needed some hooks for Dash's leash, my purse, and the jacket or hat I happened to be wearing that day... so the search for entryway inspo began.

Major renovations weren't needed quite yet, but I still wanted to give my entryway a little face lift. Here's the transformation from move-in day to now:

The Before

As you can see in the before photo, the walls were builders' beige, bane of my existence! The very first thing I did (even before moving in) was paint the entire apartment white. I painted the whole place with my mom - just the two of us. I was originally thinking of hiring someone to paint my place because of the extremely high ceilings, but at the end of the day, it just wasn't worth it. Plus, we know a thing or two about handling a paint brush, and we love painting!

The Inspiration

Once I established the design style of my other spaces, I moved onto the entryway. I started searching for entryway inspiration, and when Alaina Kaczmarski gave me just the inspiration I needed, I got pretty darn close to what I was looking for. All I needed were some wall hooks, prints, a light fixture, and some frames. 

The After

To begin the transformation, the light fixture just had to go. The fixtures that came with my apartment were pretty hideous (as you can see above) so I went on the hunt for a something that paired well with my other fixtures, and suited the rest of the space.

Next up, the frames and prints. I wanted to keep it pretty simple because I already have a gallery wall in the living room, so I stuck to two prints of similar subjects.

When you're looking for prints and photos, my best advice is to look for free high-res images (aside from your own), on Unsplash. They have so many to choose from, and 9 times out of 10, everything will match if you make it gray scale!

For the hooks, I decided to opt for wood because I needed to add some warmth to the space. Once those were up, I accessorized with an umbrella stand and a doormat, and the transformation was complete!

Gold Pendant (splurge) | Gold Pendant (save) | Frame & Print | Wooden Wall Hooks | Umbrella Stand | Doormat

The transformation just goes to show what can be done with a little bit of paint and wall art! I'm working on giving a few other spaces some love, but in the meantime, what else would you like to see? Let me know in the comments below.

xo

Linnea

How to Style a Coffee Table

Despite being small, coffee tables are mighty, and can make a significant impact on a room. They often act as an anchor for your living space, so you want to make sure you style it to showcase all the things you love! Depending on the size of your coffee table and its purpose (I eat at mine more often than I'd like to admit), styling it can get a little difficult, especially if you don't know where to start.

To begin, pick a coffee table that fits in your space, whether that be round, square or rectangular, and choose something that pairs well with your other furniture, especially your couch. Next, use a few of your favourite coffee table books to ground the table, and set a base for the beautiful objects on top! Before going on the hunt for new books, shop your own home - I'm sure you have some good coffee table books lying around somewhere (and yes, they're called coffee table books for a reason)!

Again, depending on the size of the table, either on top or next to the coffee table books, I usually look for either a tray, basket or marble slab to act as a "command" centre for all the knick-knacks I put on top.

Now that you have your base, it's time for the fun part! A short vase with your favourite flowers or greenery (my love of eucalyptus is so real) is a staple for a well-styled coffee table. I don't always include flowers, but if you're having a get together with friends, or simply feel like treating yourself, a coffee table is a great place to put those bad boys on display.

Next, think about what you use your coffee table for. If it's a space where you put your glass, invest in some nice coasters to put on display. If you like to light candles every night, pick up a nice candle of your choice, some cute matches, and a gold wick trimmer (my friends think I'm crazy for this one but I really do use mine all the time)! 

Lastly, add objects that you love to look at on a daily basis to add interest to the table. I love draping wooden beads on top of my books, and I have a crystal tealight that was my very first purchase from one of my favourite stores (The Cross Design), so it's a special piece to me, and it will definitely be on display in my home forever. 

Wooden Beads | Matches | Wick Trimmer | Marble Coasters | Coffee Table Book | Glass Vase | Marble & Wood Cutting Board | Dish

Once you've chosen your pieces, it's time to rearrange, and rearrange again. Play around with the placement of the objects until you find a combination you like. It's all about trial and error here. Once you're happy with it, voila! 

Do you have any coffee table staples that you can't live without? I'd love to hear about them in the comments! 

xo

Linnea