House to Home | Amazon Edition

Hey y'all! I have been getting bits and pieces of things that will pull together this house, transforming it into McDowell Manor. I wanted to share some of my "must-haves" for both dressing up & keeping up your household.

I think these items are true staples to designing your home & can be affordable for any budget. Plus, if you have Amazon Prime you get free two day shipping (I think yes).

Curtains

 When it comes to curtains there are SO many options. You have prints, bold colors, various textures, lengths, etc. Personally I stick to my neutrals, however I am considering doing a pop of pink in my "glam room" (reveal tbd).

For our main living area I decided to do something light and airy to brighten the room. Our base housing has taupe/brown walls in our living/dining area. I found the perfect semi-sheer tab curtains($20) with just a hint of texture. I'll be pairing them with an antiqued ivory rod($15) to continue the shabby chic look I'm going for.

I also have another curtain rod that I got for our master that I'm in love with. I've been searching for a cute ivory double rod for WEEKS. Per housing regulations I have to have white showing out if I decide to substitute my vertical blinds for curtains. I considered getting brackets to mount on top of the blinds, but don't want to damage them so here we are lol. I also didn't want to get white curtains since our whole bedroom is white, including the bed frame. We have that orange-y wood color for our doors & dresser so my color selection was rather limited. Thanks to amazon, I found the perfect beige ones, but hey didn't come as expected (nearly white grey). No worries, taupe black-out curtains are pretty common & I kind of like the color they sent for a future nursery or even the glam room if I don't go bold (I despise the hassle with returns). Back to this beauty, it also comes in bronze and is less than $30.

Throw Pillows

I am obsessed with throw pillows. I have five on each of my couches, three on my settee, and plan to have at least three on my master ( not including the four king pillows). So when I came across the cheap covers on amazon and their sets of pillow inserts (in all sizes), both my husband and I were over joyed. I was no longer spending $30+ on a single pillow from TjMaxx (which is still more affordable than most).

In this haul I got four standard(18"x18") and one lumbar(12"x20"). Two of the standard will go on the master bed (taupe) and the other three pillows will go on the front porch bench. I love these retro plaid pillow covers and that there were sooo many color options. We looked for weeks for cute unique pillows and didn't find anything we liked. I'm super glad I went back to basics with these. They're super durable which is a must with a pair being outside (it this Southern Summer) and the other half being on the bed (where yes, the dogs are allowed #furmama). I was so happy to receive the lumbar pillow cover($14), I was praying that it was a thicker material since its going outside. Y'all my prayers were answered! It's not rough and itchy either. That one was a slight binge in comparison to the others, but its embroidered so thats expected.

Rugs

Another "game changer" is an area rug. It can really change the feel of a space and is a great way to make a statement or even soften up a room. Rugs can tend to be pricey, but you can find great deals at stores like Target, Wayfair, Amazon (of course), and even Hobby Lobby. 

*Today's photos are brought to you by Zeusy, featuring rugs by Amazon Prime* 

We have a black/white print rug in front of our washer and dryer that doubles as an entry rug from our backyard. I'm sure you already guessed it, but this rug is from amazon with prime shipping (duh!).

I can always rely on Amazon for great prices and fast shipping so I decided to get our largest rug from them too. This is our living room rug and it is SO soft. They dogs love rolling around on it, and I personally choose this over my yoga mat most days! * Side note: can y'all believe how big Zeus has gotten since I took the picture of the first rug?!! His face looks so mature--imma cry (dog mom moments)*

Omg y'all. This last rug is one of my favorites. I know today was all about Amazon Prime, but I had to share this. You'll definitely be seeing a lot of this rug. Of course my favorite rug has to be in my favorite room right? The glam room. - If you don't follow me on Instagram (@lisa__monique) and haven't seen the process on my story, you'll only have to wait a little longer to see what all the hullaballoo is about. I'll be doing my reveal VERY soon. - I found this beautiful cream/grey tassel rug at Hobby Lobby on sale for only $50!! Its not currently on sale, but Hobby Lobby constantly having sales & coupons year round. You're bound to find at least one must-have with a very affordable price when you shop here. It's seriously SO SOFT. The only downside is it does shed a lot. I have yet to do a good vacuuming on it, which I heard helps with this little flaw. Here's a peak at this beauty. 

Most of the photos in today's blog post are a sneak peaks during our process. You'll have to wait for the big reveal to see McDowell Manor in all its glory. ;) Hope these suggestions help y'all make your houses feel more like home! Stay tuned. We have some very exciting things brewing. Happy Water Fest y'all and have a fabulous Fri-yay!

Xo,
Lisa Monique
email: lisamoniquehealthandfitness@gmail.com

instagram / twitter: lisa__monique