We shop for just about everything online these days. Books, groceries, clothes. If it doesn’t come from Amazon, odds are, we aren’t buying it. But what about furniture? Online shopping can be convenient and provides a wider variety of options for many people. On the other hand, it can be time consuming, confusing, and overwhelming. And what if you buy the wrong thing?

There are countless advantages to shopping locally, and if you can, I would definitely recommend it. There is nothing like sitting on a sofa to make sure it is just right. That said, many of us no longer have time to the search for the perfect piece. (Ahem. If this is your problem, I know where you can find someone to help you. Just saying.) One of the biggest benefits to online shopping is the ability to compare your options quickly. There are all sorts of online tools that are available to help you really think through all aspects of how your room will look. There are three major things to be aware of when shopping online: size, color, and quality. Let’s look at all three.

interiors, designadrienne robideauxMarch 29, 2018decorating, diyComment

2018 decorating trends: what’s hot, what’s not, and what’s classic (hint: you’ve got this)

If you have spent any time on Pinterest over the last few years, then you know something about minimalist décor. White walls, black and natural wood accents, simple furniture. Very clean and serene.

I’m sure that you have noticed something else about these serene white rooms because you have kids. And a spouse. Maybe even a dog that sheds. There are no piles. There is practically no stuff. You’ve wondered what the heck these minimalists do with all the crap that comes home from school. And where are the toys? Your house looks more like this than this.

design, interiors, lagniappeadrienne robideauxMarch 22, 2018decorating, family living, style Comments

five kid decorating don'ts (and what to do instead)

I spent several days last week living in a rainbow. The outside was absolutely amazing. So fun. My room was another story. Purple carpet, lime green walls/headboard and curtains, and my bathroom was orange with beige tile. I should have taken a picture of it to share with you but I knew it would be forever etched in my memory as a bad dream so I didn't even think to photograph it.

The lime green and purple (as well as a keynote by Stacy London of What Not to Wear) got me thinking about good ideas gone bad. (Also, just a quick footnote from this design snob to whoever decorated those bathrooms: if you are going to go big, go big. For heaven’s sake, don’t leave the old brown tile and think it just works with an orange and purple bathroom.) This can happen to the best of us, for sure. Decorators are not immune. So let’s talk briefly about some decorating decisions we should try to avoid and what to do instead.

living with kids, kids, interiorsadrienne robideauxMarch 8, 2018kid rooms, decorComment

you don't need a bed in a bag

Confession time. I cannot dress myself like the grown up that I play on the internet. There are days that I still look like high school Adrienne going to work at the GAP. It’s not good. I also hate shopping for clothes. Hate. My level of loathing for shopping was historically reserved for swimsuits, but as I’ve gotten older, it has spread like dandelions.

My better-dressed friends have spent a lot of time trying to convince me that I should just go into Nordstrom and meet a stylist. They insist that if I had things that felt like me and fit me, I’d feel more confident. In a Hail Mary move yesterday, I signed up to meet a stylist at Nordstrom. I say Hail Mary because I am scheduled to leave for California in 4 days to attend two conferences. We can all agree that my usual jeans, t-shirts, and kicks are not going to come off as professional.

design, interiors, lagniappeadrienne robideauxFebruary 22, 2018decor, dressing, home, bedroom, adultingComment

the epic guide to decorating with your teen daughter

One of the most terrifying parts of the mother-daughter relationship is that day when you are no longer friends. Those of you with younger daughters are clicking the close tab button right now but you might consider staying with me here for a minute if you can stomach it.

No one is ready for that day, I promise. Yesterday, she told you all the news about Sarah and how horrible the math test was and wanted you to take her shopping. Today, you are lucky to get a simple yes or no. The good news is that mother-daughter frenemy status is usually temporary. Sometimes it goes as quickly as it came. One thing is for sure: all girl moms can count on the inevitable day when we wonder just who came up with the idea for boarding school and whether robbing a bank to pay for it is a risk we are willing to take for the sake of sanity.

design, interiors, living with kidsadrienne robideauxFebruary 15, 2018kid friendly, teen rooms Comments

newsflash: not all girls want a pink bedroom

Last week while dropping my kids off at school, I discovered that there were new lines taped on the ground where kids stand in line to wait for the restrooms. Earth shattering news to start a post with, right? Stick with me. One line was pink and the other line was blue. Now, I may not have noticed or even taken issue with the pink and blue lines had it not been for the nearby sign on the wall, written in childish hand, that said “Stop Stereotypes”.

design, interiors, kids, living with kidsadrienne robideauxFebruary 8, 2018kid rooms, girlsComment

expired: family living trends whose time is up

Quick quiz. List as many things as you can think of with an expiration date. Was any one of those things shiplap? Because unless you live in a farm house in central Texas built at least a hundred years ago, shiplap should have been the first thing to pop into your mind.

Let me back up a minute. The internet clearly has enough haters, and I won’t add to that by ripping on Joanna Gaines. I mean, she is EVERYWHERE, so that must mean people love what she is doing. And as much as I hate to admit it, I do like some of the rooms I see coming out of Magnolia. I really am going to do my part to remain positive. That said, I think we can all agree that some decorating trends need to have an expiration date.

design, interiors, living with kidsadrienne robideauxJanuary 25, 2018family living, design Comments

what's your why?

As we get deeper into the decisions on our remodel, and I try to balance that work with projects for clients and building a sustainable business and finding new clients and being a parent and a spouse and a daughter and a volunteer and generally splitting time between all of life’s roles and responsibilities, I’ve been thinking about why I do what I do. Some of you are new here, and may not know what I do. Some of you have been around since this blog was Susie Makes Supper and are wondering where all the recipes have gone. Some of you were just surfing the internet because your list is so long you don’t even know where to start and you aren’t actually sure why you are still reading this. Welcome.

Really, though, I do think it is important to remember why we choose the paths we are on and occasionally to question whether we want to stay on them. When we are thoughtful about our choices, not only are we happier (or at least more content), but we teach our children to be thoughtful about their own choices. Can I get an amen on how easy it is to lose sight of this? I’m in constant self-reminder mode that I have the power to choose what my life looks like and it looks pretty damn rad.

design, interiors, living with kidsadrienne robideauxJanuary 18, 2018design, family livingComment

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