We’re so conditioned to think Hygge is synonymous with winter, but that’s not the case.

While there's an obvious correlation between the two, many elements of Hygge living can be carried into spring!

I want to make sure my Hygge living transcends seasons & in addition to actual lifestyle hacks, purposeful decor is part of that transition.

In this haul, featuring items from Amazon, Joss & Main, and Target, I was very intentional about choosing items that illustrating Hygge decor -- textural and natural elements for a cozy, blissful home.

Check out some of my fav Hygge decor finds for the Spring season!

Easy IKEA Hack & Upcycle: Nesna Nightstand Transformation

About a year ago, we bought this nightstand/side table from IKEA -- the Nesna -- with the sole intention of using it as our outdoor side table.

Unfortunately, within the past year, I can count on one hand how many times we cleaned the table *hangs head in shame* or really tended to it at all. It stayed pretty neglected and it was definitely starting to show.

With some grey wood stain and frosted contact paper, I was able to transform this table into something that could still be useful in our home.

Once I'm done tackling the bathroom, I cannot wait to turn my attention to the balcony, new table & all!

Good (and effective) design isn't always about buying the latest & greatest, but instead assessing your needs & taking inventory of what you already have.

Watchlist, Look BookAlbie KnowsMarch 9, 2018ikea, diy, bathroom, youtube, design therapy, reversible design

Rental Bathroom Refresh Update: Grey Paint & Gold Decor

I'm back in the bathroom!

In my last refresh update, I shared how I used stylish storage solutions, budget-friendly DIY, and creative design to transform my boring, beige bathroom into something more spa-like, tranquil, and Hygge inspired.

I felt great to see that transformation start to take shape but here's the thing:

THE BATHROOM WAS STILL BEIGE!

I was totally in love with the updates, especially considering how pragmatic & affordable they were, but I knew there was something I needed to tackle or I'd never be satisfied -- THE WALLS!

5 Common Decorating Mistakes (And How To Avoid Em)

This is why a professional is important.

We help you sort through those ideas & feelings, and really just quiet all the design noise. What we see isn't always what the client sees, especially when it's not their natural inclination. So what ends up happening? Projects, instead of creating a design, are fixing a series of design mistakes.

Albie KnowsMarch 5, 2018design therapy, decor styling, diy, free resource, my home, shopping

What Is Grove Collaborative?

Part of having a beautiful home is having a CLEAN home so this was a long time coming -- I finally signed up for Grove Collaborative and OMG! Check out my unboxing & first impression of my first shipment. I definitely recommend signing up for Grove Collaborative, if for no other reason, then to always make sure you're always stocked & on budget when it comes to your household essentials.

Schedule

Watchlist, Vibe CheckAlbie KnowsMarch 2, 2018cleaning, youtube, unboxing, haul

Sassy & Charming Los Angeles Apartment Redesign

Take it from me, moving across the country can be equally exciting and nerve wrecking. You're literally kicking off a brand new adventure, no matter the reason you're moving & mo matter how prepared you think you are. Personally, I never truly appreciated the differences in the two coasts till having moved from east to west; so I could 100% empathize with this client as she kicked off a move from Virginia to California.

Blush Pink Decor: Tablescaping & Coffee Bar Refresh

I went on a bit of a shopping spree inspired by my new accent color obsession: BLUSH PINK! Watch me update my beverage station, dining room, and living room with simple decor updates.

WatchlistAlbie KnowsFebruary 16, 2018amazon, tablescaping, haul, decor styling, dining room, design therapy, valentine's day, color, at home cafe

Valentine's Day Date Night Tablescaping

It’s that wonderful time of year where getting a restaurant reservation is harder than trying to get a toddler to bed on time.

I’ve never been one to “celebrate” Valentine’s Day for a myriad of reasons but especially because of the crowds — everyone’s outside with their red dresses, red ties, and red roses clamoring for a spot at a “romantic” restaurant.

How is yelling over dozens of other patrons just for a glass of over even remotely romantic?!

Call me old fashioned but I’d much rather celebrate my love in the quiet, intimate setting of my home. There’s no wait time, no mandatory gratuity, and no dress code.

So this year, whether you’re “celebrating” with your significant other over a candlelit dinner or with your fav besties over a casual brunch, I challenge you to trade in the public fanfare for an at home meal... and that starts with fabulous tablescaping!

Valentine's Day Inspired Shopping Guide: Blush Pink & Burgundy

I predict lots of blush pink & burgundy for 2018.

Yep, I've said it!

And the best time to share with you my fav finds from this romantic union would be during the "month of love", February.

While Valentine's Day is just another day on my calendar, I do believe that there's nothing wrong with showing love anytime you can -- and that includes to your home.

The EditAlbie KnowsFebruary 2, 2018valentine's day, amazon, cb2, favorites, color, design therapy, haul, h&m home, shopping

Easy Rental Bathroom Refresh: Budget Friendly & Reversible Upgrades

During the holidays I began working on refreshing our condo rental bathroom, to take it from dated & dull to feeling tranquil, spa-like, and Hygge inspired. While still a work in progress, check out my progress so far with stylish storage solutions, budget-friendly DIYs, and creative design.

Creative Therapy Office "Breath of Color" Transformation

Watchlist, Look BookAlbie KnowsJanuary 27, 2018home office, workspace, youtube, wallpaper, the design network, creative entrepreneurs, design therapy, self care, edesign, renderings

2018 A to Z Productivity Must Haves & Hacks

Many lessons, applications, and failures later, I think I've got this! Balancing the different areas of my life has been a juggling act of pragmatic choices & creative solutions, at the heart of which is LOTS of online & offline tools.

So, if you're any kind of entrepreneur, and you struggle with figuring out what you need...or if you've just wondered, "How the heck does she do it?!" here's a peek behind the scenes that is my life as an entrepreneur, student, wife, and mom...

Watchlist, Vibe CheckAlbie KnowsJanuary 23, 2018amazon, favorites, download, self care, style quiz, youtube, creative entrepreneurs, edesign, my home, mompreneur, new yearComment

Casual Glam Beauty Room & Home Office

This makeup artist was inspired by some of YouTube's biggest gurus, Tati Westbrook & Desi Perkins, to convert her "bonus room" into a beauty room & home office.

After watching my first beauty room e-design, she reached out & I was so excited to collaborate with her to create her beauty dreamscape.

This design was everything I love about online design -- collaborating with someone fun & creative, designing remotely with someone I'd otherwise NEVER meet, and most importantly, LITERALLY transforming a room & a life.

Home Gym Haven 3D Design Tour

This full time tech engineer is the definition of a "techpreneur", balancing a traditional job outside of the home, in addition to his full time "hustle". Recently adding real estate to his resume, it is no wonder he hasn't had time to tend to his own home.

We worked together to transform a spare bedroom into a functional yet relaxing home gym retreat area, using metal accents & dark tones in combination with pragmatic, yet tasteful furnishings.

Watchlist, Look BookAlbie KnowsDecember 11, 2017gym, creative entrepreneurs, favorites, youtube, edesign, renderings, my home, shopping

Beverage Bar Basics: Holiday Edition

Tis' the season for cozy nights & warm beverages -- tis' the Hygge way! And nothing is more Hygge for the holiday season than a warm beverage -- whether you're a hot cocoa drinker, coffee lover, or tea enthusiast.

As I finally pulled together my very first holiday-inspired "coffee corner" I decided to share with you some of my tried & true tips for creating your very own at home cafe.

Easy Custom Plate DIY

I am no DIYer by any stretch of the imagination, but when I saw this come across my Pinterest feed, I couldn't help but check it out. If nothing else, I wanted to at least find out where I could buy it. Turns out it was a DIY. So I read it over and realized, "I could totally do this!"

And "do this" I did.

WatchlistAlbie KnowsDecember 3, 2017diy, dining room, tablescaping, design therapy, youtube

Putting Together Our Dining Room: Part 1

Even before we officially decided to move, I would fantasize about designing wherever we would end up -- floor planning, coordinating color schemes, wish listing -- doing all the things I would do for a client.

Fast forward, to when we started doing apartment tours and then to when ultimately chose a place, I was super excited about having a space to really flex my design muscle (not for lack of trying in our NYC studio).

Holiday Tablescaping Haul: Cost Plus World Market

Tis the season for shopping so follow along with me as a shop my little heart out, getting my home holiday ready. As I continue on my holiday prep journey, we'll be shopping, we'll be decorating, we'll be organizing... all the things that go into making the holidays merry!

WatchlistAlbie KnowsNovember 21, 2017youtube, cost plus world market, haul, holiday season, shopping

Easy Dining Room Measurements

Wherever you are in your design journey, there are some key basics that you need to know to get your dining situation situated, especially when it comes to measurements so that you get the appropriate pieces that fit the space as much as they fit your lifestyle.

2017 Holiday Shopping Guide For The Home

We are just about halfway through November & I thought it high time I stop denying that the holidays are here. Ready or not, they're coming!

For the next 2 weeks-ish, I'll be walking you through all kinds of holiday prep from #pinterestgoals tablescaping to creating a cozy, comfy guest ready abode. You'd be surprised how much decor styling & interior design goes into the holidays -- and most of us don't even realize it!! So to help you out, I'm kicking the fun off with my curated Holiday Shopping Guide -- for the home, of course -- featuring some of my fav finds for the holiday season.

Albie KnowsNovember 13, 2017christmas, thanksgiving, favorites, decor styling, holiday season, my home, h&m home, shopping

Welcome to The Journal

A cozy collection of stories, reflections, and inspiration for creating a life (and space) you love — one quiet moment at a time. Brew a cup, get comfortable, and stay awhile.

While there's an obvious correlation between the two, many elements of Hygge living can be carried into spring!

Check out some of my fav Hygge decor finds for the Spring season!

I'm back in the bathroom!

THE BATHROOM WAS STILL BEIGE!

This is why a professional is important.

We help you sort through those ideas & feelings, and really just quiet all the design noise. What we see isn't always what the client sees, especially when it's not their natural inclination. So what ends up happening? Projects, instead of creating a design, are fixing a series of design mistakes.

I predict lots of blush pink & burgundy for 2018.

Yep, I've said it!

After watching my first beauty room e-design, she reached out & I was so excited to collaborate with her to create her beauty dreamscape.

And "do this" I did.