Target – Designing Goldilocks

3 decor styles I’m obsessed with

I can spend hours online looking at home decor.

I can get lost in subway tile, glitzy chandeliers and area rugs with geometric patterns.

I love to watch other decor lovers create beautiful spaces in their homes. It’s a great place to gather ideas, inspiration and lessons learned.

I especially love when they take me on a virtual tour of Target or Home Goods and show me new arrivals.

A lot of it is beautiful. But if I had to choose three styles that make me drool, I would narrow it down to these:

Grid accent wall

I absolutely love the grid accent wall. It’s the perfect embellishment that goes way beyond just painting the wall a different color.

If I had my druthers, I would install this feature in the stairwell.

As much as I love my house, the stairwell leaves a lot to be desired. It’s tucked between the dining area and bathroom just off the living room.

There are two flights of stairs and the second flight is a virtual tunnel that leads up to the loft.

The grid accent wall (also known as a board and batten grid accent wall) is a series of intersecting boards that create a box or grid and adds visual interest to an otherwise boring space.

What I love most about this feature is how unexpected it is. You rarely see a whole room done up with the grid accent wall. It’s usually used on only one wall, nook or cranny.

The stairwell has its own dedicated space. It has an opening and an end point. It serves the bottom floor and the top floor without being a part of either story. The stairwell is suited for – and deserving of – a beautiful feature like the grid accent wall.

Gold fixtures

I’m loving all things gold these days. And not gaudy gold decor that looks cheap and trashy. But tasteful gold that adds just the right amount of elegance to a room.

For example, have you seen green or blue cabinetry with gold hardware? If you haven’t, you must search out these color combinations. You’re probably thinking, “Blue cabinets? Or better yet, green cabinets?” But trust me, it works.

Blue cabinets with gold pulls, marble countertops and white subway tile is my dream kitchen. I realize green and blue cabinetry will likely fall out of style as quickly as it came in. But if money were no object and if time stood still…

Gold also has made a comeback in light fixtures, sometimes as the dominant color and sometimes as the accent color. But it’s all breathtaking, adding pops of glitz and glam in your color palette.

And that’s what’s great about gold. A little goes a long way. You wouldn’t want to overdue the space in gold – that’s where the gaudy comes in – but a gold chandelier here and gold cabinet pulls there add the sparkle you didn’t know your space was missing.

Faux plants

I joke that I’m fast becoming the crazy plant lady, but there’s also some truth to it. It seems I cannot place a Target order without throwing in a faux eucalyptus plant or succulent.

No worries. I’ve been keeping it in the ten- to fifteen-dollar range.

But the time will come when I finally splurge on that two-hundred-dollar faux fiddle-leaf fig tree I’ve been eyeing at World Market. And not just one tree, but three trees – one for the dining area, one for the bar room and one for the loft. Now you know why I’ve been holding off.

I’ve never been a fan of fake anything, but fake plants have come a long way since the 1990s. And the small plants I’ve been ordering from Target are easy to place here and there without cluttering my home.

They help bring the outside in, which is important in the summertime when it’s too hot to venture outside. They add spashes of green in a sea of neutral earth tones. And they add life – even fake life – in a world of inanimate objects.

Plus they’re absolutely adorable. But don’t take my word for it. Check out the photo below of my mini faux fiddle-leaf fig plant.

It’s no wonder I’m in love with faux plants. This fiddle-leaf fig is adorable. Photo by Cindy Hernandez.

5 steps to pantry organization

So I finally organized my pantry. Yes, after one year in the new house, I finally completed the project I thought would be done by now.

I had originally planned to line the shelves the first weekend in the house. I had liners in two colors so that I could have options.

I thought I was being smart, you know. Thinking ahead. I would line the shelves while the pantry was still empty before that first big trip to the grocery store.

Wrong.

The pantry fell by the wayside. With all of the busyness of moving into a new house, lining the shelves got pushed down the priority list. Way down.

But it always bothered me. Every time I opened the pantry door, I would see a project that wouldn’t have taken much time at all.

The pantry is small. Like linen-closet-size small. There was no excuse not to get it done. And it wasn’t that the pantry was messy. The items were already neatly arranged in zones that made sense: soups, spices, cereal boxes, cookbooks.

I could have easily left it that way. And I did for one year. But rather than seeing labels when I opened the pantry door, I wanted to see one cohesive color or pattern across all of the shelves.

So one day I cleared the calendar, threw away the excuses and got to work. It took me a couple of hours, start to finish to organize the pantry. And that included stopping for a quick lunch.

I’m happy with the results, and even more happy to share with you 5 steps to a tidier pantry:

Discipline

Before tackling the pantry, or any space in the house, ask yourself why you want to organize it. The obvious reason may be because you want the space to look nice when you open the door. That’s a given. But organization also takes discipline. What I mean is, you have to consciously put items back in their place. You can have all of the storage bins in the world, but they’ll do you no good if the celery salt gets lost between the large cans of crushed tomatoes.

Appearance

Picture an organized pantry. What do you see? Is it solid or clear containers? Do the containers have labels or no labels? Do you want spices on turntables? Do you want to keep cereals and pastas in their original packages or transfer them into containers? The options are seemingly endless. And quite overwhelming. But choosing the containers also is the fun part. And it’s almost easier to find the bins you like first and then decide to organize the space. And that’s often how organization starts. You see an awesome system at the store and then get the brilliant idea to organize your house just so you can buy the pretty bins. But again, do you have the discipline to keep it organized?

Other considerations

It’s not necessary, but lining the shelves may add an extra touch to the space. I chose a brown non-adhesive liner that is both durable and washable. I chose to line the shelves because sometimes I like to take the bins out of the pantry and place them on the counter as I’m prepping to cook. The liner protects the shelves from being scuffed up in the process. If I truly had been thinking ahead, I would have painted the interior of the pantry to match the kitchen walls. There’s always next week.

Organizing

Now comes the hardest part, and yet I found this part to be quite therapeutic. Because my pantry was already organized in zones, all I had to do was remove the items shelf-by-shelf and then place them back on the shelf in their dedicated bins. This was also a great time to throw away items that had expired. When I placed the items in their bins, I organized them by date. What I mean is, for the bins that have 3 jars of spaghetti sauce, I put the newer jars in the back and the older one in the front so that I was sure to use that one first. I also placed the items I use frequently at eye-level (spices, peanut butter, oils and vinegars), the items I rarely use on the top shelf (cookbooks), and the bulky items at the bottom (bottled water and paper products).

Enjoy

I’m happy to have an organized pantry and I think you’ll be too should you undertake this project in your own home. It’s nice to open the door and see one cohesive look. If there is a drawback, it’s that the bins themselves take up real estate that reduces space for pantry items. But it’s not enough of a drawback to go back to the way it was before. In fact, I’m already eyeing John’s pantry in the loft. Now THAT would be a lot of fun.

*Storage bins can transform your pantry, giving each item a de*dicated space and the pantry one cohesive look. Photos by Cindy Hernandez

Decor subscription box

There’s a subscription box for everything it seems. Clothes. Cosmetics. Food. There’s even a subscription box for pet stuff.

But have you seen one for home decor?

If there’s one out there, I’ve yet to come across it. So I decided to have some fun and create a box myself.

I’m always trying to think up ways to help people decorate their homes without breaking the bank. I’m always trying to brainstorm tips on how to give their house a fresh look without redoing the whole decor.

So I thought the decor subscription box would help take the guesswork out of it for them and allow me to curate items based upon their styles and interests.

I thought about my ideal customer: a woman who wants to bring some of the latest finds into her kitchen, but is too busy to shop for them herself.

Not a problem. I can do the legwork for her after gathering information about her space and lifestyle. Here’s what I learned.

Her kitchen has a neutral palette that invites pops of color. She likes practical items but also enjoys little surprises.

She entertains friends for brunch, but also likes nice pieces for her own visual pleasure.

Of course, a real consultation with a real customer would require an in-depth interview or questionnaire to fulfill the boxes over the course of the subscription.

But this is just a mock box. A concept. An idea that can grow into something larger if the appeal is there. So just humor me for a bit.

For the June box, I selected items I recently ordered from Target and Sur La Table, two of my favorite places to shop for home decor.

Because these boxes tend to have a theme, I chose the green-leaf motif that I’ve been obsessed with lately. What better way to decorate for summer than with an island vibe, right?

Here’s what I came up with:

A grey storage bin from Target serves as the box that can be used to organize pantry items.

The mango wood cheese cutting board and leaf platter from Sur La Table go hand-in-hand and can serve as decoration behind the stovetop.

When it’s time to host friends, they can be set out on the counter to serve bruschetta, cheeses and desserts.

The colorful dishtowels, also from Sur La Table, are festive enough for company but practical enough for everyday use.

The faux plant … well, the faux plant is just cute. But the plant, also from Target, is that unexpected piece that finishes off the look whether on display with the appetizers at brunch or just to add some life to the kitchen when no one’s home.

So what do you think? This box was simple, I know. But it was a start.

Would you buy a decor subscription box (or know someone who would)? If so, how much would you pay for it?

What would you do differently?

Leave your suggestions in the comments section below.

A subscription box of home decor items are ideal for the busy woman who wants style but is too busy to shop for the decor herself. The cutting board and platter (bottom) add pops of color to this neutral kitchen. Photos by Cindy Hernandez

Do essential oils help you relax?

I’m always looking for ways to relax to help reduce anxiety and get out of my head.

Everything I have done over the years has worked.

Exercise. Herbal tea. Meditation. Writing.

As long as I do them.

But my need to relax hasn’t been this fierce in years. It started in March with Covid-19.

What if I catch the coronavirus?

What if I pass it on to a loved one?

What if we die?

What if we survive the virus but live with chronic conditions?

My anxiety was through the roof.

But I managed, thanks to the structure I created for myself.

I work a full-time job. I pay my bills. I run my household. Because that’s what I’m supposed to do.

After the workday, I’d sit with my phone and view content from the design community I follow on social media. In between the shiplap and peel-and-stick wallpaper were stories about essential oils.

Essential oils.

Drops of oil you add to water in the reservoir of a diffuser, which works like a humidifier, infusing scents into the air that also help with emotions, such as anxiety.

At first, I just tapped through the stories. I have a sensitivity to scents. The last thing I needed was a splitting headache from something that was intended to help me relax.

But the more I saw stories about them and the more I worried about the virus, the more I wondered, “Could these oils help my anxiety?”

Then I remembered a bottle of oil I bought in Sedona a couple of years ago. It was right after John’s stroke. We had taken a trip for a few days to get away from everything.

In between the crystals and red rocks was a store that sold oils. I remember telling the salesgirl that I’d been having headaches and tension down my neck.

But again, I have a sensitivity to scents, except to peppermint, which actually helps me breathe. That’s when she told me about a peppermint oil. The scent was hot and cool all at the same time. Heavenly.

The .3-fluid-ounce bottle of oil cost $16.95, but I was ready for relief. I didn’t buy a diffuser. Instead I’d dab the oil behind my ears and on my wrists. When I felt anxious, I would take sniffs straight from the bottle.

Then life got busy and the bottle got shoved into a drawer. Fortunately, the bottle resurfaced after the move into the new house.

After learning more about the oils on social media, I pulled out the bottle and thought, “Huh! I purchased an essential oil before I knew essential oils were cool.”

That’s when I decided to take the plunge. But because I wasn’t sure I would like them or if they’d even work, I settled on a reasonable diffuser and a 3-oil kit by Design from Target.

Now I was curious.

What would they smell like?

How would they make me feel?

If I diffuse in the mornings, could they help set the tone for the day?

If I diffuse in the evenings, could they help me unwind?

With each passing day, I grew more eager for the diffuser and oils to arrive. But for whatever reason, the order was delayed. Not once. Not twice. But three times.

Of all the online orders I had placed since avoiding the stores because of Covid, this was the one that had to be delayed – three times, mind you. The one that contained items that were going to help me relax.

So I waited. And waited. And waited.

Sometimes I would open the front door just to see if they’d surprise me.

The diffuser and oils finally arrived five days after the initial delivery date. And it wasn’t a moment too soon.

My anxiety had been up again with all of the unrest in the country. I couldn’t peel myself away from the news and yet the images on the screen were keeping me up at night.

I had made it a habit to let delivery boxes sit a few days before opening them. But not this one. I tore into the diffuser and oils the day they arrived.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the diffuser was easy to operate. The oil set contained Lavender for calming, Balsam Fir for soothing and Relax Blend for peace.

I diffused the Relax Bend that night. My initial reaction was potpourri. Orange rind. Woodsy.

I set up the diffuser in the kitchen to enjoy as I prepped dinner and then moved it to the living room where I wrote for a few hours.

Later that night, John remarked that I seemed more at ease than I had been in a while.

Could it have been the oils?

Or was it that the scenes on TV were not as horrific as they had been?

The next night I began diffusing the peppermint oil I bought in Sedona and then left the room for about 15 minutes to talk to John upstairs. When I returned, the room smelled like Christmas.

I wrote for about an hour that night and hadn’t felt that calm in weeks.

Was it the oils?

Or was it my wanting to believe it was the oils?

It may be too early to say. But I’m liking how I feel, so much so that I’m thinking about ordering a diffuser for the bedroom. John wants one for the loft.

*Diffusing essential oils into the air could help with emotions, such as anxiety. Photo by Cindy Hernandez*

Summer vibes

One of the features that sold me on the new house was the front porch. I had the perfect furniture for it: two acacia wood chairs and matching table that I picked up at World Market years ago.

I also had two black-and-white striped lumbar cushions from Target that went perfectly on the chairs. The porch was one of the first spaces I set up after moving in. I loved it. I still do.

But now that we were entering our second summer in the house, I thought the porch needed a refresh. Not a completely different ensemble. But just a few pieces to make the space look new again.

Over the past few weeks I had seen black-and-white striped outdoor rugs on social media. I wasn’t completely sold on outdoor rugs. This town is dusty, especially in the summertime. How would I keep them clean?

But the more I saw the rugs, the more I realized I needed one for the porch. I found the perfect one online at Target.

I am still blown away by the difference. The rug makes a statement. It pops. It draws attention to the ensemble. The rug was the missing piece I didn’t know was missing until I had it.

What do you think?

*The black-and-white striped* outdoor rug makes the ensemble pop. Photo by Cindy Hernandez

Statement pieces

You won’t find clutter in my house.

No bric-a-brac on shelves.

No knickknacks.

No trinkets.

This is mostly because I hate to dust. So the fewer items on display, the fewer items to get dusty.

Instead I go for statement pieces. A vase. A plant. A votive.

The pieces are grand. They speak for themselves. They encapsulate my decor. They don’t take center stage, they take the whole stage.

If you’re in the process of organizing your house and want to de-clutter, take these steps to maximize your space without forgoing style:

Pick a cluttered tabletop.

Choose a favorite object that represents your decor. Be sure it is large enough to pack a punch without overtaking the table.

Place it in the center or the corner, wherever it makes sense.

Stand back and evaluate. The piece should be eye-catching. A conversation-starter. It should cause someone to do a double-take and say, “This piece looks like you.”

Here are 3 examples of statement pieces in my house

This pineapple piece takes the stage on the buffet, all from Pier 1 Imports. Photos by Cindy Hernandez

*This artificial* plant from Target adds greenery to this mirrored accent table from Pier 1 Imports. It’s okay to leave the bottom shelf empty.

*This centerpiece says it all, ‘centerpiece.’*

Organizing tips

It seems everyone is organizing these days. They’re passing their quarantine time getting their house in order.

Closets. Pantries. Garages.

I’ve been organizing my house since the day we moved in 10.5 months ago.

It helps that I had a clean slate. The house was brand new, it came with plenty of storage space, and all of my belongings were boxed up. All I had to do was find spots for items I wanted to keep, donate the items I no longer wanted but were still in good condition, and throw away the rest.

If you’re unmotivated to organize your house, allow yourself to buy storage bins that add style and functionality to your home.

Choose bins in the same color or pattern for a cohesive look behind your closet doors and cabinets.

Settle on bins that come in a variety of shapes and sizes for large and small items and spaces.

If you have to clean out a space before you can organize it, set out three empty boxes – 1 for items to keep, 1 for donating, and 1 for throwing away.

To make organizing less daunting, tackle one space at a time. For example, take on the linen closet and only the linen closet before moving onto a new space.

For larger tasks, set aside a block of time. For example, allow four hours on a Tuesday afternoon to make a dent in the master closet. When those four hours are up, stop. Then set aside another block of time the following week.

If you’ve organized a space in the past year or so, give it another scan. You’ll likely find more items to purge that didn’t make the cut last time. On the flip-side, if you’re undecided on an item, keep it. It just might make the cut next time around.

*These storage bins from Target come in different colors and sizes for style and functionality.*
*Photos by Cindy Hernandez*

Mirror mirror

If you’re like me, you buy something at the store with the intention of setting it out. One day.

Over the years, you come across the item. You could get rid of it.

Or you could set it out now. But the space just isn’t ready for it. So you wait, knowing one day the space will be ready and this item is going to look great.

That was the case with a collection of chevron mirrors I bought back at my condo when I thought I would be living there forever.

I bought the two smaller mirrors at Target. I wanted three. They only had two, so I grabbed them, thinking I would find a third one at another location.

I found the large- and medium-sized mirrors at Bed, Bath & Beyond. All with the intention of hanging them up. One day.

Well, that day never came at my condo, but the day did come at Goldilocks.

The larger mirror works perfectly on the wall near the entryway. I am a firm believer that a mirror belongs in the entryway, if you have an entryway.

The two smaller pieces fit just right on the half wall behind the front door.

The medium-sized piece works alone in the hall leading into the bathroom.

The mirrors hang on separate walls, but they are close enough to each other to tie the spaces together.

And like I said all those years ago, the room would be ready for the mirrors. One day. And today was the day.

Every entryway should have a mirror. Photo by Cindy Hernandez

Three smaller chevron mirrors tie the spaces together. Photo by Cindy Hernandez

Putting metals to the mettle

Every home decor has a metal.

Gold. Silver. Nickel. Brass. Antique brass.

Some decors have a combination of metals. I used to think you had to be either/or. That was, until I started designing Goldilocks.

Because John and I wanted yellow for the exterior color, we kept with the warm color palette and chose brown for the interior walls. This made it easy to go with the standard sable-colored cabinetry. And when I think of yellow and brown, I think of gold metals.

But I had a growing collection of silver and grey furniture at my condo that I wasn’t about to part with. Plus, the kitchen appliances and vent hood were going to be stainless steel and the chandelier over the dining table, silver.

What to do?

How was I going to mix the cool effects of grey and silver with the warmth that exudes from yellow and brown?

Enter the monochromatic artwork we found for the dining room walls. The art pieces include gold, silver, grey, cream and black and help transition the warm color scheme in the kitchen into the cool color scheme in the adjoining living room.

I realize now that it would have been okay to mix the metals without the monochromatic pieces. But the artwork gave me the permission I felt I needed at the time to cross the color palette lines.

What metal is your house? Have you ever thought of metals in this way?