Side Table | Acrylic Bookstand | Candle Warmer | Picture Frame | CLJ x Lola Blanket | Tabletop Tree | Candlesticks | Wooden Beads
2023 gave me a literal crick in my neck. FOR MONTHS. (I went to the doctor and it was stress related. kewl) This pillow has been an absolute game changer. I ordered it in the middle of the night and after a week of use, I felt significant relief. I love her. I can’t live without her.
While we didn’t launch a new line of rugs this year (lookout for one veryyyyyy soon) our Jules line with Loloi is such a popular choice, we decided to surprise drop this one that was an instant hit! I love the warm terra-cotta tones mixed with some navy. It’s stunning and I’ve never seen it clash in ANY room.
This year, we all collectively fell in love with candle warmers. Which makes total sense because when you can mix lamp-o-clock with candle-o-clock–why wouldn’t you!?
This year, I discovered the easiest way to read, while *not* on vacation, was a kindle. Maybe I’m the last person to adopt the device, but I can’t stop talking about it. I love the discreetness. I love the no glare. I love how I can slip it into my PURSE. I love seeing how far I am, percentage-wise, into a book. It’s been my little companion this year.
We actually swapped out our kitchen barstools late last year, but after having them for over a year (and converting so many of you!), I feel like it’s worth saying how much we still love them. Besides the fact that the kids are still learning to tuck them in (ha!), everything from the swivel, the way you can easily adjust the height and even the price and small footprint. They’ve been such a win.
We did an entire self-tanner test this year! I even converted to this more organic, clear one for awhile. But nothing beats this one in my book. And anytime I need a confidence boost, I layer it on. (my preference is the dark tone)
The way this simple bookstand can elevate an entire coffee table earned it a spot on my best of 2023. (It also earned it a spot in the PR boxes of all my favorite things I sent out with the launch of our wallicases). I love its ability to really show off the pages of your favorite coffee table book and bring height to a horizontal surface.
I tried to switch to another growth serum for my brows and lashes this year and…it did NOT work as well as this. My brows started shedding after a month and I immediately switched back. And if you’ve seen me in the early 2000s, you would know how far I’ve come back from plucked-to-oblivion.
My health and wellness is a constant journey for me. While past years, I have had to focus so much of what I can’t have, this year, we made it a real priority to bring in some fun and pleasure in ways my body can tolerate. The Ninja Creami can take simple, whole ingredients, and make them into the creamiest frozen dessert. We’ve made so many non-dairy, high protein “nice” creams this year, it had to make the list. See some recipes here!
Remember our Air Mattress test earlier this year? This was the ultimate winner, with its soft suede-like surface and extra tall, bed-like height. We now have a handful we keep in the closet, all twin size, because I don’t think anyone should have to share an air mattress as a guest.
Confession: I used these adorable prints in a nursery we did for our friends earlier this year (see the whole thing here) and I’ve been dying to use them again somewhere in our house. There are so many variations, too! Sometimes I feel like, well I can’t use the same thing!!! But, I would absolutely make an exception for these sweet prints.
This year I bought these leather covers for all of my tissue boxes and when they say “it’s the little things that make the biggest difference” this MUST be what they were referring to. Because the pure joy I feel. About a tissue box?! Unimaginable.
I’ve been on a skin journey this year. Truthfully, it’s been breakout after breakout. But I think I’m headed in the right direction now after getting on Spironolactone and Tretinoin from my dermatologist. I also switched to using these towels to dry my face and they have made a huge difference in keeping my face CLEAN after washing it–no bacteria filled towel touches my face anymore. I love to wipe off the counter after I’m done before tossing it.
The earrings I wore for 7 months straight. Day and night. Swimming. Working out. Never took them off. A very big win of 2023.
I feel like there’s still a lot of gate-keeping when it comes to good window treatments. Good quality requires a lot of measuring and custom orders and a lot of money and also…a lot of confusion about where to even start. I want to unlock more of THAT mystery for you next year, but this year, I was so happy to find these readily available, budget-friendly roman shades that we used in Faye’s room (and our guest room). They’re just right.
If I’m doing a puzzle, I’m in full-on relax mode. And this puzzle board keeps the mode going through all the interruptions that come to the table–literally. It safely stores an in-progress puzzle and has 4 little drawers for categorizing pieces during the process (I’m working on the orange area over here!)
Our wood grain Shaker cabinet fronts were designed for busy, high-traffic homes like ours. Clad with durable textured thermofoils, this line is compatible with Sektion, Akurum, Godmorgon, and Besta cabinets from IKEA. It's the perfect, practical way to add the warmth of wood to all the rooms of your home.
We have teamed up with Loloi to create a line of rugs that are as affordable as they are beautiful. This collection houses a great mix of traditional and modern rugs, in cottage-y colorways, as well as vintage-inspired beauties that you’ll want to roll out in every room.
We partnered with Stuga on a line of hardwood floors — The Ingrid is really livable, and the color is very neutral. It doesn’t lean warm or cool, it’s that just right in-between. We have really loved putting it everywhere in our house. It’s the best jumping-off point for design, no matter your interior style. In addition to being beautiful, Ingrid is really durable — we have three kids, and we always have a home construction project going on. Ingrid stands up to it all.
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Looking for our favorite things? A place to shop our home room by room, or just catch up on what Julia's wearing / loving right now? Browse the CLJ shop.
Befores, afters, mood boards, plans, failures, wins. We’ve done a lot of projects, and they’re all here.
We have a long-standing relationship with DIY, and love rolling our sleeves up and making it happen.
Even when you don’t want to rip down a wall, you can make that space in your home better. Right now.
A reader recently asked me if I’m starting to fully embrace traditional style and whether we still consider our house to be a “modern Colonial” and why. It was a really great question and so timely — I had really just been thinking about my approach to this home and how my style has changed […]
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Get Around
Make yourself right at home
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Design
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Projects
Lifestyle
Gift Guides
All Posts
Shop
RivrLinks
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