Pictured: CB2 Stack Small Pink Marble Tray
Last year, my husband, Mark, and I did something we never thought we'd do (not at this point in our lives, at least): We built a house in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was definitely hard but equally rewarding. We'd been living in apartments for 15 years, so going from that to building our first house was pretty mind-boggling. One of the most overwhelming things about it is that we opted to furnish the entire house at once. The reason being, when we were renting apartments, buying furniture and home décor just wasn't a huge priority, and most of what we had didn't suit the new house, so we subsequently purged it and basically started from scratch. Luckily, we had the help of our amazing interior designer Dana Waldron to tackle the massive undertaking.
The beginning stage of a huge project is the most overwhelming, but by zeroing in on the brands I wanted to primarily use, it really helped to narrow the playing field and dictate the design direction we were going in (which was very much California-inspired with midcentury-modern touches throughout). Keep scrolling to see how it turned out for yourself, and shop the home décor brands I would've been lost without.
I'm wearing: & Other Stories Hourglass Houndstooth Blazer ($179); Agolde Pinch Waist High Rise Kick Jeans ($178); Wandler Isa Sandals ($351)
Lulu and Georgia
We got so much of our furniture from Lulu and Georgia (including important pieces like our sofa and bed). The pieces are very well made (which was important to us, since we wanted everything to last). The selection perfectly suits our modern sensibilities yet is just classic enough to stand the test of time.
Pictured in living room: Lulu and Georgia Aprilette Side Table and Maxwell Sofa
Pictured in living room: Lulu and Georgia Ivie Arm Chair and table
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Parachute
Parachute has long been my go-to for bedding, but we took it a step further and also purchased all of our towels from the brand (they're so absorbent and cozy), as well as my favorite throw (pictured on the living room sofa above) and a shower curtain. I'm a Parachute fan for life.
Pictured in master bathroom: Parachute Classic Bath Towel
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France & Son
France & Son is an excellent source for light fixtures (the reasonable prices blew me away) and midcentury-modern furniture. (I'm particularly fond of its statement-making lounge chairs.) It offers free shipping for many items, which is so nice because furniture shipping prices can be steep.
Pictured in living room: France & Son Mid Century Wegner Papa Bear Chair and Ottoman in Green
Pictured in the stairwell: France & Son chandelier
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Nordic Knots
We decided against having any carpet in the house, but this meant that rugs were at the top of our shopping list. Luckily for us, Scandinavian rug company Nordic Knots makes beautiful, modern rugs without the high markup. We put them in both of our offices and our master bathroom.
Pictured in second-floor office: Nordic Knots Mosaic Teal Rug
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Article
Article is the wildly popular Canada-based direct-to-consumer furniture brand that's an amazing source for modern pieces. If you want to achieve a Scandi or midcentury-modern aesthetic without breaking the bank, you could feasibly furnish your entire home with Article pieces.
Pictured in guest bedroom: Article Moss Green Embrace Velvet Lounge Chair
Pictured on outdoor patio: Article Rumi Lounge Chair, Toba Coffee Table, and Urba Sofa
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The Citizenry
The Citizenry is an excellent source for beautiful artisan-made accent pieces. Between the pillows, rugs, planters, and curated selection of furniture, it has everything you need to achieve that coveted laid-back Cali look.
Pictured in living room: The Citizenry Puebla Marble Candle Holders, Set of 2
Pictured in master bedroom: The Citizenry Sheepskin Accent Rug in White
Boll & Branch
Since we purchased our first-ever king-size bed, we had to find king-size pillows to match. Boll & Branch is the source of the best pillows I've ever laid my head on, hands down. I hear that the bedding and towels are also amazing, which I hope to confirm for myself in the future.
Pictured in master bedroom: Boll & Branch Down Alternative Pillow
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Beni Rugs
Beni Rugs is the ingenious brand making handcrafted Moroccan rugs fully accessible to the masses. The customizable rugs are made-to-order in the Atlas Mountains in Africa, so you'll have to practice patience while waiting for yours to arrive, but it's worth it. My feet have never touched anything softer and plusher.
Pictured in living room: Beni Rugs Meridian Rug
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Schoolhouse
Schoolhouse is a Portland-based brand with everything from light fixtures to hardware to home décor items, all of which lend a retro sensibility to your home. I added several of its chic, useful pieces to my office, which I spend more time in than any other part of the house. (I work from home.)
Pictured in first-floor office: Schoolhouse Studio Desk Lamp
Pictured in first-floor office: Schoolhouse A-Frame Storage Rack in Natural
Hudson Valley Lighting
Hudson Valley Lighting Group consists of four brands (Hudson Valley Lighting, Mitzi by HVL, Troy Lighting, and Corbett Lighting), all of which speak to different home décor style types. Most of our light fixtures were dramatic, gold, and modern, and between the four brands, they had tons of beautiful options that fit the bill.
Pictured in master bathroom: Mitzi by HVL Natalie Sconce
Pictured in master bedroom: Troy Lighting Silhouette Large Pendant
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The Container Store
The Container Store created my dream closet (see all the photos here), but I also shopped the brand's plethora of organizational accessories for my closet and the rest of the house. There's no better place to buy functional items that are as chic as they are useful.
Pictured: The Container Store Avera Custom Closet
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Made Goods
One scroll through Made Goods' inventory and you'll quickly amass a lengthy wish list. (Trust me.) The pieces are beautifully made, and the designs are timeless. (Just a heads-up that it only sells its pieces to industry professionals, e.g., interior designers.)
Pictured in entryway: Made Goods Arden Mirror
Pictured in second-floor hallway: Made Goods Garlon Desk
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Rejuvenation
I can't say enough good things about Rejuvenation. In particular, the mirrors and light fixtures are beautifully made, very aesthetically pleasing, and they won't break the bank. I'm obsessed with these pendant lights we chose to go over the kitchen island.
Pictured in kitchen: Rejuvenation x Cedar & Moss Globe 10" Pendant
Pictured in powder room: Rejuvenation Rounded Rectangle Metal Framed Mirror
CB2
CB2 is my go-to for trendy items that add that wow factor to a room, like these woven leather chairs that will make any fashion girl think of Bottega Veneta. We placed many CB2 orders throughout this process and were so happy with every item that arrived.
Pictured in dining area: CB2 Woven Black Leather Dining Chair
Pictured in guest bedroom: CB2 Pink Star Blossom Throw
Next up, the fashion, beauty, and home items I purged when I moved.
