Happy Labor Day Weekend!

This weekend marks the end of the summer. Unfortunately, the weather around New York is supposed to be cloudy with a chance of rain almost everyday. This weekend, we're going to be celebrating my husband's birthday and heading to the U.S. Open on Monday. Hopefully the weather holds up!

There are some great sales going on to help you spruce up your home this weekend:

Lulu & Georgia is offering 25% off sitewide with code LABORDAY25! Check out some of the great rugs by Candice Olson, Jill Rosenwald, Genevieve Gorder, and Thomas Paul along with their beautiful pillows and stylish lighting.

Furbish has 20% off sitewide with code LABORDAY13! Furbish has great art and accessories to add a punch of color and personality to your home.

West Elm is offering 25% off sofas and sectionals until 9/2 and 30% off all pillows and throws with code XTRAPILLOWS.

Enjoy the weekend and make sure you make the most of it!

Nicole Richie's Welcoming Backyard

Nicole Richie has undergone a huge body, fashion, personality, and lifestyle change since her time on the Simple Life.

She also recently updated the backyard of her home in L.A.'s Laurel Canyon that she shares with her husband, Joel Madden, and their two children. Nicole chose to use a pallate of turquoise, yellow, and black mixed with vintage and industrial pieces. She also utilized a collection of lanterns and lights throughout the yard to create a relaxed yet fun place to hang out day and night.

See the full collection of photos on Domaine Home.

Stylish Ceiling Lighting

Many homes and apartments seem to have something similar to this "boob" light in bedrooms, hallways, and bathrooms. I always cringe everytime I see them.


Now, so many retailers now offer much more stylish options to light up any room or hallway. They are an easy fix to give your home a quick update while adding personality.

large sophia flush mount | urban drum flush mount | edwardian open bottom flush mount | pelham moon ceiling light | cornice hexagonal flush mount | large basil flush mount | club large square flush mount | urban drum semi flush ceiling light | clark ceiling light

The Beginning Of Our Kitchen Renovation - The Before

When we bought our home, we knew a kitchen renovation was going to happen somewhere down the line. Our kitchen had old white cabinets that wouldn't stay shut, an uneven vinyl floor, and a poor use of space. After using the kitchen over the past 3 years, the layout became extremely frustrating. There was only one wall of cabinets and the stove and fridge were located so far from the counter. Whenever I cut up vegetables or meat and needed to throw them into the pan on the stove, I would have to carry the cutting board across the room and a lot of times, things would fall off the cutting board and onto the floor.

The room was also extremely cold or hot depending on the season because there was no insulation behind the walls. We made some small changes to try to improve the space. We painted the walls, added a movable island next to the stove for more counter space, and installed peel and stick tile that looked a lot like wood. However, it was evident that the room needed an entire overhaul.

After finding out I was pregnant with twins, we decided that we needed to do this renovation as soon as possible before the babies arrive.





After the first day, the entire room was demolished. As you can see, we had no insulation.



We are slowly making progress and I can't wait until the kitchen is finished! Have you ever gone through a kitchen renovation?

Staycation

If you're not familiar with the term "staycation", a staycation is when you spend your weekend or vacation time visiting local spots instead of driving or flying somewhere far away. It's a chance to be a tourist in your own city and a great way to enjoy your time off without spending a lot of money.



Every summer, I make sure I take a full week off from work to enjoy the weather and visit some great local spots. Since I live on Long Island, there are a lot of great places to visit on Long Island, in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and even a few hours away in Jersey. If you live near NYC, some great ways to spend a staycation around NYC are:

1. Visit the wineries on the North Fork of Long Island
2. Enjoy the beaches, the great food, and the shops in Montauk
3. Spend a lazy day on the beaches of Long Island or on Fire Island
4. Hang out at Tiki Bar and walk the boardwalk in Point Pleasant, NJ
5. Walk around town in Southampton, East Hampton, and Sag Harbor
6. Visit some of Manhattan's unique neighborhoods like Chinatown, West Village, Chelsea, and SoHo.
7. Check out a game of one of NY's local teams at one of their impressive new stadiums. Get tickets to a Yankees, Mets, Jets, or Giants game
8. Go for a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and spend the day in Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO, and Brooklyn Heights
9. Spend a night at one of Manhattan's amazing hotels
10. Go see a Broadway show



For a great staycation, you could visit a local spot near you for a day or even stay in a local hotel for some relaxation time. Here are some ideas on ways you can enjoy your staycation:

1. Visit a local museum
2. Spend the day relaxing at the beach or a local pool
3. Attend a local festival
4. Pamper yourself and spend the day at a spa
5. Spend the night at a local luxurious hotel
6. Visit a new restaurant

What are your favorite ways to enjoy a staycation?

images from time out new york

Bright, White Kitchens

There has been so much going on this summer at my house. Besides practically re-arranging every room on our second floor, we are currently renovating our kitchen.

When we moved into our house, I knew that we would need to renovate our kitchen. It had old white cabinets with scalloped trim, dirty beige vinyl tile, and an old beige fridge. We made small changes to try to brighten it up. We painted the walls, got a new and more efficient fridge, and hung up new window treatments. However, the kitchen drove me crazy. I love to cook and I was always frustrated with the layout. There was no counter space next to the stove and I like to chop my ingredients next to the stove and throw them in the pan. Most of the time by the time I carried the cutting board over to the stove, a few of my ingredients had fallen on the floor.

When we decided to renovate our kitchen, I knew I wanted a white, bright kitchen that had an efficient layout that would work with the way I like to cook and entertain. I was definitely inspired by these kitchens.

Michael Siller | Elements of Style | Cote De Texas | Cote De Texas | Vreeland Road |

What Dreams Are Made Of - A Walk In Closet

My husband and I recently converted a small bedroom in our home into a walk in closet. We previously had it decorated to be used as an office. However, we both have laptops and iPads so we never went in there and didn't use it as an office. The room didn't work with our lifestyle.

No matter how big or small your home is, it is important to design your space into areas that will work for you. If you don't host dinners or holiday parties, you might not need a formal dining room. Repurposing that room into a family room, an office, or even a playroom if you have children might be a better fit for the way you live.

Right now, my clothes are stored in the dresser and closet in the master bedroom and my husband's clothes are in another bedroom. After we found out that we are expecting twins (!), we decided that we needed to reconfigure the bedrooms on the second floor to reflect our needs and how we live. We decided to convert the office into a walk in closet by sealing off the door from the hallway and create an entrance to the new closet from the other bedroom.

If you have a space that you are thinking of converting into a closet, here are some great inspiring closets.

In Style | Tip Junkie | Song of Style |

Welcome to She's Domestic!

Welcome to my site, She's Domestic.

This site is way for me to share things that I love focusing on interior design, food, and travel. I hope to inspire others to try a new recipe, visit a new restaurant, or make their home a more beautiful place.