The Tidy Corner

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Announcing the New Tidy Corner!

I'm so excited to announce the brand new Tidy Corner - www.thetidycorner.com!

Please visit my new site on a regular basis, bookmark the link, follow along via email, etc. to stay up to date on all of my new content!

I can't wait to work off of my new platform and hope you'll join me in the move.

Xo,

Layne

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These Days

This week was filled with conflicting feelings - appreciating Winter, but so ready to transition into Spring and warmer weather. If we're being honest, I have also been very, very antsy, as my boyfriend and I are taking off for Mexico Saturday morning. I'll be taking a two week-long break from the blog and hope to see everyone back here on March 16th. Have a great weekend!

Ready for Spring with my beautiful new hair ties.

Yet still embracing Winter in the San Francisco ferry building.

The most photogenic brunch there ever was.

Loved how organized these beauty products were!

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Furry

When it comes to beds, the fluffier and warmer, the better. In my opinion, a bed without a blanket at the end is like a chocolate chip cookie without milk. And if we're really talking about my opinion - which I'm pretty sure we are - I prefer two blankets at the end of the bed, one slightly larger than the other. 

 One of my favorite looks for the foot of the bed is a fur throw. Not only does it add a sense of glam, but it's also super comfortable and soft on your feet when you're laying on top of your made bed! 

Photos from: Pinterest.

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Closet Musts Echoed

I’m always interested to see what others have to say about closet organization. I consider my method and strategy to be honed and crafted to a t, but I’m always open to hearing a bit about others’ strategy.

When I stumbled upon this article on Refinery 29, I was pleasantly surprised to find that everything I have preached about closet organization was echoed. Slimline matching hangers? Check. Shoe wall? Check. Jewelry organization? Check. Scarf and tie solutions? Check check check

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Song of the Month: February

La Vie En Rose - Daniela Andreda

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Neutral Decor

When I moved into an empty apartment several months ago and had brought nothing but three suitcases full of clothes and a couple of my favorite tchotchkes, I felt oddly at peace and confident in my ability to decorate my apartment in a timely manner. Once I had walked into store after store - many stores multiple times over - I started to doubt my cool, calm, and collected disposition and question what I truly consider my design style.

For so long, I had thought I loved prints, colors, and clashed patterns. The idea of a black and white cowhide paired with ikat curtains and striped pillowcases seemed so right, but after testing out each of these items in my apartment several times over, I finally went back to the drawing board.

If I've learned anything from my decorating experience it's that sometimes it takes time to really figure out what your style is and meld that with that would look best in the space. While colorful patterns looked great in my last space, I wasn't as keen to them in my new one. But now that things have finally come together, I can happily say that I love my neutral color palette and it certainly fits. 

Photos from: Pinterest.

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Sweater Weather/Talk

Sweaters. Do I hang them?! Do I fold them?! Let's talk about it. 

If you've taken the time to look at my personal closets (1, 2, 3), then you'll see that I both fold and hang my sweaters but there's a very clear methodology behind my decision. Pullover sweaters, or classic sweaters, should absolutely be folded. You'd never hang a long-sleeve shirt, so why would you hang what is essentially a thicker version of a long-sleeve shirt? Particularly when talking about knitted sweaters, hanging them from hangers will only cause the fabric to stretch unevenly and look very unflattering on your body. So, conclusion: always fold pullover sweaters. 

Cardigans, however, can be a little different. As long as they aren't knit or another fabric that will easily stretch, I like to hang my cardigans. I find that it looks much nicer when placed next to jackets, and they're easier to grab. 

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Spread the Love

Is it sad to say that Kourtney Kardashian’s master bedroom (shown above) gave me reason enough to post about Valentine’s Day? Well, it’s the truth. Hope all of you organizers have the loveliest, loving, loveable Valentine’s Day! 

Photos from: Domaine Home and California Home and Design.

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Sweet Tooth: Apple Pie

Apple pie is a classic, regardless of the time of day or the season. The other weekend, I had a relatively open weekend and wanted to do nothing more than bake apple pie and make my apartment smell of delicious baked goods.

Since I’ve baked apple pies before, I didn’t follow a precise recipe this time round. Instead, I sliced about 6 apples very thinly, and then doused them in ½ cup of white sugar, ½ brown sugar, ¼ cup of flower, 2 tablespoons of cinnamon, and a little bit of butter to stick. It turned out delicious and I’d highly recommend free styling when it comes to pies.

For more dessert inspiration, check out all of my 'Sweet Tooth' posts.

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Rainy Days

This past weekend, it rained nonstop. It had been a while since I spent nearly the entire weekend indoors, whipping up a batch of chocolate chip cookies, watching back to back academy movies, never changing out of my pajamas, and doing more laundry than anyone ever should. It felt so nice to stay at home and do nothing. 

Here's a peak into what my apartment looked like this past weekend.

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A Wall All for Shoes

I think it is safe to say that when any girl imagines her dream closet, a shoe wall stands out as a must-have. I mean, who wouldn't want to be able to walk in to a closet and have a wall of beautifully organized shoes greet them? I see you nodding along and I'm pretty sure you're imagining Carrie Bradshaw's closet that Big built her. Ahhh, a girl can dream. 

Photos from: Pinterest.

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These Days

Making dinner with a friend and then photographing it, of course.

Beautiful flowers in the Marina.

Lovely day at home.

In awe over the Chandelier bar at the Cosmopolitan Hotel.

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When I sit back and imagine my dream house, one thing that it has in every single vision is a clawfoot tub. I love the way that such a tub adds a touch of rust and comfort, while also creating a sense of vastness in a bathroom. These photos only confirm my hope to have a clawfoot tub one day, so in the meantime, I'll keep it on my wish list...

Photos from: Pinterest.

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Finding Comfort in Organization

There’s something so comforting – at least to me – about coming home after a long day and mindlessly folding laundry or putting away dishes. Sure, neither of these tasks may be at the top of your ‘fun list,’ but let’s face it, coming home after a long day of work and folding laundry while listening to a great playlist is far more enjoyable than coming home from a long day of class only to study for a final exam.

I encourage you to see organization, and the tasks involved in getting there, as comforting ones as opposed to strictly things you need to do for your house to feel in order. I encourage you to pour a glass of wine and try to enjoy whatever tasks you have to do, and then sit back and enjoy the end result even more.

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Traveling Made Easy

When I visited Portland a few months back, I was searching for a place to find all of the musts for Portland, but in a short timeframe. Sure, I found sites directing me to Powell’s Bookstore and VooDoo Donuts, but I couldn’t find one that really outlined a schedule and an itinerary. That is, until I found this site. I love it breaks things out by neighborhood and tells you roughly how to get to each place. Check it out! 

To see my Portland travel diary, click here.

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Chaise Lounge

When my boyfriend and I were in the midst of decorating our apartment, we were trying to decide what to place under the window. We already had a seating arrangement in our living room, which consisted of a sofa and a pouf, so having another sofa seemed excessive. After a lot of back and forth, we played with the idea of having a chaise lounge. While we ultimately went with two chairs, I still do love the idea of having a casual lounge chair in your living room – one that lets you get the comfort of laying down while achieving the level of ‘cool’ you get from a chaise.  

Photos from: Pinterest.

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Look Back At It

Over the years, I’ve done some pretty phenomenal closet makeovers, if I do say so myself. I thought it would be as nice a time as any to do a quick recap at some top closets I’ve taken from messy to gorgeous.

1) Roxana

2) Cara and Jesse

3) Octavia

4) Robin