it’s what turns a house into a home
You know how a vacation can feel so amazing & so beautiful & you never want to leave...but then you open your front door and your shoulders relax a bit, and your heart rate slow down a few beats, and your soul just says mmm, yes. That’s home.
To me: home is cozy + welcoming and allows me the freedom to be whoever I need to be that day. On lazy days, a space to cuddle up with a good book. On tired mornings, windows with natural light. On cozy nights in, a soft vinyl with an even softer blanket. Personally, I consider a house to be a building that exemplifies its tenants energy. In that case, I want my home to be relaxed, quirky, health-promoting, all-inviting, and bright. I want it to be a place where people can exhale and be fully themselves—me included. Here are The Foundation Blog house favorites. Welcome home, friend.
scrub a dub dub
non-toxic cleaning. because, yes, it really does matter.
Let me guess, you keep an extra close eye for that “organic” symbol at the grocery store…but have never once thought about the thing you’re “sanitizing” your cutting board with. I don’t know about you—but anything that kills 99.9% of anything is not really something I want to spray around my house. “But does it really matter???” Simply put, yes—household cleaners can be major hormone disruptors, contribute to sensitivities, immune response, and can contribute to your toxic load. Those bleaches and artificial scents and antibacterial compounds are going somewhere…and it’s not just your shower drain. If you want to ensure that you are keeping your body’s toxic load down, I highly recommend switching over to natural products. Because yes, friend, it really does matter.
Don’t know where to start? Hands down I recommend starting with Branch Basics. You buy one allllll-natural set that covers EVERYTHING (laundry, bathroom, kitchen, hand soap…literally everything!). It lasts FOREVER, and is soooo versatile. I’ll stop rambling, but trust me when I say that nontoxic doesn’t have to mean noneffective. :) You can save 10% with the coupon code KATE10 (or try KE10) at checkout. 11 outta 10 would recommend to a friend!
my attitude on home decor— where I splurge and where I don’t:
Hoenstly? I thrift A LOT (if not all) of our home stuff/furniture. I loooove cruising around thrift shops and garage sales for a piece I love—especially furniture! Our couches, rocking chair, guest bedroom bed frame, kitchen table…ALL thrifted. Way more affordable and you can find some unique pieces! But you gotta be patient, friend!
….But! There are a few pieces that I did invest in that I feel like MAKE. THE. SPACE. For me, it is alllllll about thrifting 85% of things and then INVESTING in the final 10–15% that can have a big impact: fun pieces, beautiful art, quality rugs, cozy bedding…ya feel me? Below are my must-have, game changing pieces (for a description of each piece and why I bought it scroll down below the images!)
specific items in our home that I love:
click each image to shop!
Our hammock swing! Actually super affordable and SO quality. We sit in this sucker every day and it is still in beautiful shape! I got this to be a STATEMENT piece. It is the first thing you notice in our living room—not only is it noticeable, it is LIVABLE. It is the place that soooo many of my girlfriends curl up in during wine nights and where I read/study. It is impactful AND practical. Love love love.
Holy moly I can’t recommend day beds any more highly. AMAZING. I bought one when I had first gotten my big girl job—I loved that it was easy to move if needed (new college graduate who was still moving around yearly and did NOT want to move a couch every time so I got this! Soooo timeless yet trendy). We were so impressed with my first one that we got another one so we could make a sectional-like shape. :) We use them as a couch and then when company comes, we push them together to have a large bed-like sleeping arrangement. The wood is GORG and assembly was super easy. One of the pieces we get the most compliments on! Love it! Highly highly recommend! Pick out both your day beds + cushions here.
Our comforter—I get asked for a link to this at least 5 times per week! Unfortunately, the specific ones is sold out— but here is where we got it (with a ton of similar options!)
Rugs! I fricken love rugs and think they set the foundation of a room. Boho? Traditional? Modern? A rug is what sets that tone. Here’s where I get all of mine—superrrr well-priced and the quality has held up in our 2+ years here!
Nearly every piece of wall art I have either made/printed myself or found on Etsy! I loooove perusing wall art and could spend all day doing it.
Our coat hangers/unique hooks in the entryway! This is probably the decor in the house that I get most complimented on. I love that they are right by our front door, but also think they’d be so cute in a bathroom for towels. :) They discontinued most of the ones I got, but here are the current options!
Our bathroom mirror—the circular wood one :) I was looking for a mirror that was bold but timeless—GOT IT.
Also, would I even be Kate without rambling about how you NEED A RECORD PLAYER?!?!? Hahahaha. I honestly don’t know how we ever lived without our vinyl—this is our cookin’-dinner, relaxin’, studying, date night soundtrack. Couldn’t recommend more! Here’s where Adam got ours— tons of choices!
in general, my go-to places for home decor
As try as I might, I just can never seem to keep this section fullllllly up-to-date with accurate and specific links— especially since most of the things I buy for our house are thrifted, on final sale, or a few years old (AKA, impossible to “link”). Instead of sending you to a “page invalid” URL, I am going to tag a few broad (but sooooo incredible) resources for home decor: anthropologie is my faaaaav, urban outfitters has given me SO many crucial pieces in our home, target can be great for classic, affordable pieces, and wayfair for bigger furniture (mirrors, shelves, side tables, etc.). Again, most of the items in our home are random finds + thrifted goodies, but if I ever do buy from a normal shop, it’s pretty much alllllllways from one of the places above.
crucial for a unique space:
small touches from small businesses:
For unique pieces that support small businesses, I alwaaaaays browse etsy for home decor needs. This is where I get 90% of my homemade pottery pieces: vases, mugs, and bowls. While etsy is a massssssive marketplace, I strategize by searching keywords that align with my home decor style. For example, I will browse “boho home decor:, “scandanavian home decor”, and “natural home decor”. You can browse general domains similar to the links above— or get specific when you search— for example, “vintage books for decor”, “macrame wall hanging”, “homemade minimalist wall art”, etc. Happy browsing! There are so many talented makers and thrifters out there, and etsy is my favorite way to find them!
random home favs:
this. alarm. clock.: if you struggle waking up, pleeeease get this alarm clock. It wakes you up gradually by brightening and simulating a “sunrise” with gentle music. TRUUUUST me, I was typically a full-blast-volume, hard noise kind of alarm girl before this. I had always been JOLTING myself awake, and now this eaaaaases me out of sleep. I picked this one because it is SIMPLE to use, does not need wifi/bluetooth (no EMFs by me while sleeping plz), and is a sleek plain white color. oh, and it’s only $37. I would 10/10 recommend to a friend.
the coziest sheets, quilts, pillows, + throws
Mmmm, creating a space that you can genuinely unwind: a cozy sanctuary if you will. Inviting, relaxing, uniquely you. I used to not put much thought into bedding, throw pillows, and blankets—until I made the intention for my home to be a place of peace + ease… and all the hygge vibes :) I get blankets and pillows from all over, but I love Anthropologie blankets and pillows. I am a firm believer that quality bedding and pillows can elevate a space—they are a final detail that ties everything else together. I particularly love Anthro’s because they are SO textured and unique and truly make the space. I always get them when they’re on sale! They are actually WORTH the price if you can swing it—so soft + beautiful texture to add a unique flair to your space. You can explore anthro throw pillows and blankets right here and here, and I also recommend browsing this section of etsy to find small business unique + cozy pieces.
Also, these. specific. sheets. 11/10 would recommend to a friend. I have gotten so many people hooked on these sheets— thanks to their unique material (think: nike dry-fit material in sheet form) they have the most lovely, cooling, stretchy feel . We have these on our bed, and then we bought a full set for our guest room and THREE of our visitors have bought this set of sheets after sleeping in them one time. Not to like oversell them…… buuuuuut…. they are THAT good. I hiiiiiiiiighly 10/10 recommend these bad boys.
scents and aromas for a cozy home environment
my favorite [nontoxic] scents for the home
Essential oils: I get asked which essential oils I use on the daily—and here it is! Here’s a hard pill for many to swallow— essential oils are not made equally. I hate to break it to ya, but many essential oil brands use synthetic fillers, chemicals, and fragrances in place of the natural, pure oil. To ensure you get the good stuff— ALLLLLWAYS look for a brand that does GC/MS batch testing (I don’t expect you to know what this specific testing is— but it is so important in aromatherapy and ensures quality, potency, and safety of each oil). I also prioritize companies that source with sustainability and the environment in mind. Which is exactly why I get all my oils from here: high quality, low prices. No pyramid scheme stuff happening here—just high-quality, lovely oils to incorporate mini moments of joy into your day. I get my oils, my diffuser, and this sweet + simple reed diffusser all from here.
This seasonal home collection: my fave for creating a cozy, inviting energy in your house that fits every season…without the use of toxic, chemical-filled candles you are getting from Anthro or Bath + Body. This collection is alllll-natural, completely nontoxic, and smells like a dream. The wild orange is bright + energizing while the cinnamon and cardamom notes make it instantly grounding + cozy. It’s so unique and lovely!
This palo santo scent collection: Another scent that instantly grounds + centers me is the palo santo collection. I use the roller ball on my wrists and temples for a little energetic shift and I loooove the palo santo room spray for our bedroom—it has such a soothing, relaxing energy and it’s perfect for fall! You can grab it here and save 10% with the code KATE10! NOTE: One thing that I just want to share about palo santo in general: PLEEEEASE always ask about the sourcing of your palo santo before you buy. This wellness trend *can* be done in a responsible, right way…but unfortunately, palo santo can often be harvested in ways that are not sustainable, diminish an endangered species, and take advantage of the working conditions of local communities. Thankfully, this option IS exactly what you’re looking for: Sustainable, responsibly-sourced, annnnnd has the most earthy, calming, beautiful scent. Enjoy!