Pier 1 – Making it Lovely

Let’s Do Whimsical Outdoor Dining

“Whimsical.” I resisted that descriptor for a long time, but you know what? A little whimsy is fun! I’m embracing it.

I’ve been noticing several styles of fanciful outdoor dining chairs lately. Sort of a modern take on the ornate cast iron Victorian garden furniture, and I’m into them. So let’s play a little game! Which table, chairs, and planters would you pair together for a whimsical outdoor dining space? I’ll show you my choices below.

Ready to see which ones I’d pull together, along with the accessories? Here we go…

From above, I’d pair numbers 3, 6, 9, and 11 (renumbered below to make things extra confusing). I love the look of both CB2 chairs together (numbers 3 and 4, and also the featured image), but I wish the more simplified version was armless, so I’d go with IKEA’s Läckö chairs along the sides. Bonus: that combination lowers the price substantially at $30/chair instead of $269! More money in the budget for pretty string lights, I say.

Which ones were your favorites? Tell me in the comments!

May 1, 2017

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Thank you Pier 1 for sponsoring this post. This post is brought to you by CJ Affiliate’s VIP Content Service and while this was a sponsored opportunity from Pier 1, all content and opinions expressed here are my own.

My mom has always loved shopping at Pier 1. I remember going with her when I was a kid and being distracted by sequin embellishments, crocheted vests (remember when they had clothes?), and and enough breakables within reach to hear a steady refrain of “don’t touch” directed toward me and my little sister. To this day, I still like to pop over to Pier 1 to look around, except now I’m the one telling my kids to be careful! The circle of life…

These are some of my favorite finds, inspired by my mom. (And mom? I know you read here, so you may want to skip this post if you like surprises.)

Window with Ledge Collage Frame
I could see this in an entryway filled with photos of the kids or grandkids.
Elizabeth Monogram Mugs
Lovely letters, and the variation in the shape of the mugs make for a nice set if you’re picking up more than one.
Ashworth Antique White Jewelry Armoire
A jewelry armoire is a fun indulgence for someone who loves accessories.
Tulip Capiz Pendant Light
A shimmery finish and the loveliest shape! A pair of these would be perfect over bedside tables.
Embossed Flower Garden Stool
This is my favorite of the bunch. In front of boxwood hedges and blooming peonies? So pretty!
Grand Bazaar Fringe Pillow
Sometimes you need a little texture to complement other colors or patterns. This pillow will work very nicely in that regard.
Floral Embroidered Lumbar Pillow
My mom specifically asked for this one! The flowers and embroidery are particularly pretty.
Antique White Bird Wreath Stand
This stand would be an easy way to display a wreath above a fireplace, and that bird is very sweet.
White Scalloped Cake Plates
These come in two sizes: extra cute, and extra-extra cute. (OK, 9″ or 11.” But both cute, yes?)
Faux Peony Wreath
Peonies all spring!
Javanese Collage Frame
I’m a sucker for carved wood details. Fill the frames with photos before giving as a gift!
Boho Embroidered Bird Pillow
Tweet tweet! Another pillow with embroidered details.
Artichoke Planter
The texture is awesome on this, and it’s a good sized planter too.
Hayworth Mirror & Antique White Vanity Set
A pretty spot to sit and get ready for the day (or night). The mirror, vanity, and stool are all available separately too.

Now here’s where I spoil the surprise for my mom if she didn’t heed my advice and skip this post! I picked up the pillow I knew she wanted, but also a couple of the white ones. We like to talk about decorating, and I’ve been telling her to get a pair of white textured pillows for her leather sofa, but she hadn’t gotten around to it yet. I took a quick photo of them to share before I wrap them up!

Oh, and something else too, but that’s staying a surprise. :)

p.s. My other favorite recent finds were the blue and white vases you saw in Tuesday’s flower post. I was able to find the temple jar online, which along with the ginger jar, was part of a larger collection. They’re selling quickly but it’s worth checking a local store — the one in Oak Park still had several styles when I stopped in a few days ago!

April 28, 2016

A Pink and Green Easter Table

Thank you, Pier 1, for sponsoring this post. While this was a sponsored opportunity from Pier 1, all content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Easter is tied with Christmas as Eleanor’s favorite holiday. She likes the traditions surrounding the day — dyeing eggs, waking up to see what the Easter bunny brought, and spending time with family — so she was pretty excited about putting up these decorations.

My focus was mainly in the dining room, but the entryway got a spring update with a new pink champagne scented candle along with some speckled eggs and a vintage robin.

I used more speckled eggs in the dining room, along with plenty of bunnies.

The two standing moss bunnies came with raffia ribbon around their necks, but I removed it and added my own. I’ve also got a matching sitting moss bunny on the way that will get the same simple change.

Those green napkins on the table have proven their versatility. I bought them for Christmas, and you saw them last month too. Here, they tie in with the mossy green bunnies and the leaf plates, and the green is bold enough to stand up to the pastel pink of the plates and glasses.

The pink pressed-glass goblets are new. I spotted them in the store and wondered if it would be overkill to add them to my table settings since I already decorate with so much pink. Nope! They are excellent. They come in blue too, if pink isn’t your thing, and I also liked these clear hobnail glass goblets. And any of the three would pair well with either pressed-glass or these hobnail glass tumblers.

A jute runner was layered over a solid tablecloth, and the I set the table with our everyday dinner plates (of course ours are pink) and silverware. I alternated my leafy green plates that I’ve had for years with new cabbage leaf plates. I think those are going away soon, so if you’re as into them as I am, don’t wait.

Since I set my table up already to take photos and share them here, I’m leaving everything up through Easter. The kids have been pretty excited because we get to eat “at the pretty table” and I have to admit, I like it too. Far better than the medley of toys that otherwise find their way over to the room!

Pier 1 has a new feature on their site showing how people have decorated with their finds once they get them home — a gallery of their favorite Instagram pictures tagged with #Pier1Love. I always like to see different takes on the same item or idea, so it’s been fun checking out how other people might use the same things but in different ways. Lots of bunnies are making appearances right now! Check it out for some new ideas, and tag your own photos for a chance to be featured.

March 16, 2016

Share the Love Contest

Want a shot at a really awesome giveaway? Pier 1 Import’s Share the Love Photo Contest is going on now through the end of the month, and you can win a $5000 gift card! Snap a photo, sharing how you’ve incorporated Pier 1 into your home on Instagram and tag it #Pier1LoveContest to enter. There are more rules and details on the official contest page, including an alternate entry method if you’re not on Instagram (or your profile isn’t public).

My favorite Pier 1 find of all time is my peacock mirror, but I like popping into the store each season to see what’s new and I’m most often drawn to the tabletop section. Linens, display and serving pieces — I love mixing new finds in with what I already have to come up with something different.

I picked up a floral cake stand a couple of weeks ago, so I planned on using it for August’s birthday cake. (Just a small cake, because it was for the five of us on his actual birthday. He just turned five, and we’ll have a bigger party with a bigger cake for him soon when all of his friends come over!)

Botanical prints are trending right now, and that cake stand is so good. I also spotted these lemon leaves placemats and picked up a few for the sideboard. I liked the look of these round cabbage leaves placemats layered under a charger made of wood or rattan, but the square format was better for making a backdrop. I cut one in half and another into quarters, arranging them and overlapping them with three full-sized placemats for a seamless effect.

The green napkins were from Christmas, but they work here too. With tulips, it’s all feeling very Spring (which we are eagerly anticipating), but then everything can always be mixed and matched again for a completely different look.

August was pretty excited to see the dining room set up especially for him. Rearranging things and making displays is my kind of fun anyway, so it’s nice that it can bring a little happiness to the rest of my family and make a day feel more celebratory.

Do you like switching things up in your home too? Share a photo of your favorite Pier 1 finds in your home and tag it #Pier1LoveContest on Instagram to enter that $5000 gift card contest. There will be five winners, and I would be pretty happy if one (or more!) of them were my readers. Good luck!

February 9, 2016

Our Holiday Table

We host brunch each year on Christmas Eve, and then we have family over for Christmas dinner the next night. Menu planning is not my strong suit — we manage all right, but the part I get excited about is figuring out the decor and setting the table. (Time to break out the gold flatware!)

I like the table to be a little different each year, mixing in a few new finds with the dinnerware and linens we already own. It’s set here with our everyday glasses and plates, along with our gold chargers, mercury glass vases (really votive holders, lined with a glass inside), the aforementioned gold flatware, and a patterned tablecloth. The flowers are simple grocery store blooms, and I made a couple of bouquets out of Christmas tree picks for more sparkle. The cute salad plates from Pier 1 are new, and I picked up those green napkins too. I like that they add Christmas color, but can be used year-round with other settings.

I’ve made the mistake of going too tall with centerpieces in the past, so I aimed to keep them lower this year. No craning our necks to talk to one another across the table! I’ve learned!

Those plates are so cute, right? I can’t wait to break them out when everyone’s over. If you’re looking for a few new additions for your table, you can get the look with the items below.

December 8, 2015

Color Your Home with Fall Leaves

Pier 1 reached out with an opportunity to decorate with their latest collection inspired by the colors of fall leaves. Ah, fall! My favorite. Sweaters and boots! The kids are back in school! We can take out our ugly window AC units! Fall is the best.

You know that our house has a ton of wood everywhere. I wasn’t sure about adding in more autumnal colors, but I walked over to the store to check everything out in person and there were a ton of options that I wanted to bring home. I decided I was in, and then I started by choosing a garland for the fireplace mantel. They had the typical fall leaves (oak, maple, red, yellow, orange), and a few pretty berry options, but I was drawn to the subtle colors of this garland with a bit of gold mixed in.

When I saw the matching wreath, I picked that up too. We always hang one on the front door for Christmas, but I’ve never had a wreath during the rest of the year. We know a few people that put different ones up all the time — spring flowers, stars and stripes for the 4th, autumn leaves, traditional Christmas — and they always struck me as being very welcoming. Now we have one of our own up for fall.

Back inside, the garland was to form the first layer, and then I’d planned on adding candles and flowers to create a fall display in front of a large mirror on our fireplace. That was the plan, before I saw the birds.

I ended up using a few pillar stands to give the birds a place to perch for some height, and then I used a couple more on the other side of the room for candles.

Dueling mirrors! I think the peacock mirror is staying put and the other above the fireplace will be relocated. I mean, this mirror (from Pier 1, a while back) is kinda perfect where it is.

The red of the table, the brown of the wood, and the garland of fall leaves are all working together for a nice autumnal feel. Candles always make a room cozier too. And the birds! I am fond of those birds.

Do you like to mark the change of seasons in your decorating? And of course there’s the wreath question. Do you prefer your door unadorned? Or do you go for a wreath year-round, or just at Christmas?

September 16, 2015

Tag: Pier 1