Tips for People Who Think They Can’t Afford to Travel Abroad / How to Travel Internationally on a Budget

So you want to travel overseas but you don’t think you can afford it. I am familiar with this mindset and there was a time in my life when I thought traveling abroad was only for the ultra wealthy, but I was wrong. I’m writing this to share my travel story with you & share some of the travel secrets I’ve discovered. Today we will be discussing how to travel on a budget. Before we dive into it, let me share a little bit of my story with you and why I believe you can afford to travel abroad.  

Paris, France.

I grew up in the Midwest and I absolutely love it here. My childhood family vacations consisted of tent camping and I am totally good with that. However, in high school two things happened that opened my eyes the wide world of travel: 1- I became friends with lots of the foreign exchange students and 2- My grandpa flew us down to Costa Rica for his birthday. I was meeting people who lived outside of the US for the first time in my life. Those life experiences, combined with my deep love for interior design, led me on my journey to international travel. #willtravelfordesign. I remember promising my friend that I would visit her in Paris even if I had to save my money for 10 years.

Fast-forward to college. I went to school for interior design so some of my required classes were Art History, Architecture History and Furniture History. I freaking loved every one of those classes. Architecture History I & II were my favorite classes in all of college and had a huge impact on my desire to travel. I will never forget when I was able to put names to the styles I’d seen in print or online. Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque (be still my heart), Neo Classical (love!!), Art Deco (SUPERB!) and the list goes on and on. I was entranced as I learned about different time periods, different countries and different styles of art & architecture. Especially Versailles. I could write a 15 page paper on Versailles (and I did, in college). But today we are talking about how YOU can travel overseas to see anything you want. Of course I suggest ancient wonders and architectural gems that we just don’t have here in the US. But you can travel wherever your heart desires. (As long as you’re safe.)

So far I’ve been to Mexico, Costa Rica, the Bahamas, Ireland, Northern Ireland (it’s recognized as a separate country), France, Denmark, Italy, and Greece. So not tons of places, but a handful. Each time I travel I feel a deeper connection to the world. It is truly a wonderful experience to be immersed in other cultures. My favorite thing I learned is that there are people JUST like me in other countries. I see a mother at a subway station holding her baby and I see myself. A lot of times we see other countries in the way our news media portrays their governments, but I believe it is so good to go somewhere and form our own opinion.

Antinori nel Chianti Classico Winery in Tuscany, Italy.

A common thing that people say to me is, “I don’t need to travel abroad because America is so big. There’s still stuff I haven’t seen here.” You’re not wrong. Geographically, America is rather large and we do have multiple different ecosystems. But there is a lot we don’t have. While we do have some “old” things here in America, but we don’t have “ancient” things. For example, in Greece, the Parthenon dates back to 448-432 BC! And in Rome, the Pantheon dates back to 126-128 AD. (The Parthenon and Pantheon are two different structures, in two separate countries, but are commonly confused because they sound very similar.)

ANYWAY- you’re here for HOW TO TRAVEL ON A BUDGET. And boy am I going to deliver that information to you. The FIRST tip I have is one that is hard to swallow. If you don’t like this first tip, you will probably stop reading this blog post and not travel abroad. You are missing out. I hope every single person has the opportunity to travel abroad at some point in their life because it is truly a life changing experience.

Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.

TIP #1- Be smart with your money and save it. If traveling abroad is truly a goal of yours, make it a priority. This includes being financially smart. Quit going out to eat. Make food at home. Quit going out for coffee. Make coffee at home. Feel free to go out for “drinks” with your friends, but order waters. If that doesn’t add up to the number you need, then I suggest taking some time off from entertainment (concerts, sports, comedy shows etc) and save your money to TRAVEL. It’s that easy: save your money. Quit spending it on pointless things like expensive coffee every morning. Imagine drinking wine in Italy instead. Which story will you remember to tell your grand kids? Your daily morning Starbucks order, or an incredible trip to Italy? (I’ll let you decide.)  There are hundreds of ways to save money, but these basic things add up real fast and before you know it, aaaaall that money you used to throw away, is now saved up for a trip to Europe, or wherever you want to go.

TIP #2- Travel in the OFF season. What is the off season? Different countries have different tourist seasons. They are sometimes referred to as the “high” season (busy season) or the “low” season (not many tourists at this time.) I’ve found these seasons are mostly due to weather and time of year. For example, in Europe, the summer is a big tourist season and therefore the “high” season. (June is the busiest also because most Europeans take their ‘holiday’ then.) First and foremost, your FLIGHTS are going to be substantially more affordable in the off season. (Example: we flew to Italy round trip in December for $400, but when we went to Denmark in July it was $1,800 per ticket.) So be sure to do your research and find the high season and the low season for where you want to go. Then book your flights when ticket prices are low. Some apps even specialize in this like The Hopper App. If you travel abroad during the “high” season, the HOTELS are going to be charging their highest prices of the year. Whereas if you go in the low season, it will be some of the cheapest prices of the year. For example, my husband and I went to Paris in July and our hotel was very pricey. (We were new to international travel at that point in our lives and it was my husbands first time ever outside of the USA.) But when we went to Italy in December, we stayed at stunning hotels for $68/ night. These hotels had crystal chandeliers, velvet swag drapery, vintage runners down their marble staircases, etc. So it was not a hostel. I(f you want to stay at the cheapest places around, google “hostels” but know that bedbugs can be an issue.) Off season also means that food, drinks, ticket prices and excursions are usually at a lower price point than high season. It’s classic supply and demand. If a boat tour can only fit 12 people, and 1,000 people want on the boat in the summer, they’re going to charge whatever they want, but if 6 people want a boat tour in December, they’re probably just happy to still be in business that month.

The Colosseum in Rome, Italy.

TIP #3- Ditch the luggage. Gasp! Yes. Do you know how easy it is to get around Europe with a backpack? First of all, you save money by NOT checking a bag with your airline. Then you save yourself the weight of carrying/ dragging your heavy suitcase along the uneven cobblestones hills of Europe. Plus, airlines love to lose bags when you fly internationally, and this way you have the peace of mind of always having your backpack in the overhead bin. BUT there is one ultra important note that I cannot stress enough: European carry-on sizes are SMALLER than American carry-on sizes. Whichever country you plan to go to, do your research ahead of time for the size that their flights deem “carry on.” For Europe, theirs goes by liters. My husband and I both have 40-liter backpacks that fit in the smaller overhead compartments of common European airlines. (We have had our bags weighed & measured before, so size is important here.) We’ve taken these backpacks all over the world with us because we personally care more about the experience than the clothes. And we pack cute outfits! We just plan our outfits out ahead of time. I generally pack tops & bottoms that can be interchangeable with each other to create different looks. We also roll our clothes & pack them in packing cubes to get the most out of the space we have. That was an absolute game changer and made me a much more efficient packer. You can also wash your clothes abroad. We even used backpacks when we went to Italy in December. We both wore our heaviest / thickest layers on the plane, and then rolled all of our sweaters, pants, wool socks, etc and put them into the packing cubes. It’s easy! Here’s a link to the backpacks and packing cubes we use. Here is the link to all our must have travel items. (The backpack, the packing cubes, charger adapter for your phone, passport holders & more.)

TIP #4- BREAKFAST INCLUDED. It was very important to my husband that breakfast was included in our hotel costs. At first I really wanted to stay at airbnb’s because it was the hip cool thing to do, and while we’ve done both, we do prefer hotels because the breakfast is included. (Check your hotel because every hotel is different.) We love booking hotels where breakfast is included because then you don’t have to worry about navigating a foreign country first thing in the morning when you’re jet legged or tired. (Yes jet-leg is a real thing. I thought it was a fake thing that people complained about, but it is real. Another story for another time.) My husband also likes it because the price of breakfast is included with the hotel so its just one less thing he has to think about spending money on during the day. (I don’t think about this at all, but he’s a math-minded man so this is the type of thing on his brain.) I have to be honest, every single breakfast we’ve had on our travels has been far better than breakfasts in America. It’s not like the included breakfasts we have here. They’re fresh and scrumptious. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Oia Santorini.

TIP #5- GROUPS TOURS & EXCURSIONS.  If you are traveling abroad, I’m sure you’re drawn to something specific. Maybe you want to see the Colosseum in Rome, the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, the heart-stopping Palace of Versailles, or take a boat tour around an island of Greece. Whatever it is, group tours have amazing benefits over private tours or solo tours. Group tours save you money, but they also save you time. Depending on where you are going, the lines can be extremely long. If you are wanting to go to a certain museum, gallery, historical site, or famous landmark, they call the lines “queues” (pronounced like “Q”) and you could be waiting in the queue for 4+ hours (depending on the spot). Booking a group tour is how you can get a phenomenal experience from a local expert, meet other cool travelers, skip ques and fully enjoy the experience. For example, when we went to the Palace of Versailles, the group tours had a completely separate entrance that individual tours and the group entrance had a much shorter queue. It felt like we got in a matter of minutes instead of a matter of hours. Praise the Lord!

Group tours are low stress because everything is all taken care of. You don’t have to spend endless hours figuring out the history of a place, or where to eat or where the best view is. The guide who is running your group tour will be able to tell you all of this. And you can ask any questions you like! For example, after we finished a bus tour of Northern Ireland, we landed back in Dublin Ireland and asked our tour guide where the best spot was for live Irish music. She gave us a great recommendation that was far better than any local tourist trap we would have found if we were just searching on our own. My husband specifically loves to use Viator to book our group tours because there are lots of reviews and we haven’t had a bad Viator experience yet. One thing I suggest is to read fine print if any additional fees will come up. For example, when we were looking to go to Chichen Itza, we saw Viator trips for as low $41, and some that were hundreds of dollars. After I read the fine print, I saw that some tours didn’t include tax, the Chichen Itza ticket, the crossing the boarder fee, etc etc etc and that they would add all that on in person at the end of the tour. Imagine if you weren’t expecting that! So be sure to read the fine print. But, like I said, we’ve never had a bad experience with Viator. Some of the Viator group excursions we’ve been on include but is not limited to: Vespa Tours of Italy, Boat Tours of Greek Islands, Tuscany Wine Tasting + Pisa town Tour, Northern Ireland Bus Tour, etc. This is not sponsored by Viator but that would be sweet if it was haha!

Honestly some of our BEST experiences were from Viator because we were able to meet other travels from other countries and become friends. For example, on the wine tasting tour in Santorini we became friends with 3 other couples and we all got together for dinner and drinks after the wine tour was over. We all had a WhatsApp group message so we could communicate and meet back up. There was 2 couples from England and then 2 couples from America. It was so much fun because we were able to openly ask each other questions about the other person’s home country and see their perspectives. I love learning about a country from someone who lives there instead of just hearing about a country on the news. It’s so refreshing. It’s also amazing how long we’ve stayed in contact with some of the friend we’ve made on Viator trips. These are truly memories and connections you will never forget.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Winter 2023

Burrrrr. Baby it’s cold outside! Actually it’s freezing! It was -1 yesterday for goodness sakes, and with the windchill it “felt” like -25! In order to warm us up, we made our cozy winter mood boards! Enjoy!

 

Sources: Instagram Account @lojsanwallin, Angela Jo Smith Photography, Pinterest, COCOCZY, Instagram Account @clairerose, Maiden Home, Greenwich Hotel Penthouse designed by Axel Vervoordt. Photo by Nikolas Koenig.

 

“I’m going to be honest with you. Winter is not my favorite season because I am always cold. So the focus of my mood board was warmth. Warmth in Winter. Warm color tones, heavy textiles, insulated clothing, and the general feeling of warmth.” - Tara Miller

I swear my hands and feet are always freezing in the winter haha. So I find myself layering on the wool socks, wearing my clunky (yet incredibly warm) Ugg boots, the thickets/ fluffiest sweater I can find, and I plop myself in front of the fireplace with a blanket & a cup of hot cocoa. I’m drawn to the warmth that the "lived-in” look provides. The blackened soot inside of a fireplace shows that it has provided warmth throughout many cold seasons. I love the color and texture of raw wood used inside for a mantle, or wall cladding. Throwing fur pelts (real or faux) over a chair, or over the arm of a sofa adds that extra layer of insulation. I love the cozy attire that not only keeps you warm, but is soft to the touch like those cute fluffy earmuffs. I also love the warmth that earth tones give us. Browns range from nutmeg to sealskin and they all feel warmer than the stark coldness of the color black. Ivory and cream give us more warmth than a pure white color as well. It’s these little intentional shifts that help contribute to a warmer aesthetic. That is what I focused on for my Witner 2023 Mood Board: warmth in the Witner.

 

Sources: Etsy, Insider Magazine, Pinterest, Nordstrom, Instagram user @Freddy, Blogger Kara Layne and Blogger This is Glamorous.

 

"Winter - the season that is the coldest, but keeps me the warmest with of all its cozy joys and holiday spirit" - Lara Parker

Winter may be the gloomiest time of the year, but for me, it is the happiest time of year with all the holiday festivities, the warm comfort foods, the music, the fashion, and my favorite, the decorations that can be experienced with all. I love all the cozy vibes associated with winter, from the elegant warm fashion coats, to snuggling up by the fireplace and watching the snow fall. For me, winter is my Breakfast at Tiffany's, a moment of time where I can escape and get lost within all of its glory. - Lara.

Shop the Look: What I wore to the Round Top Texas Antique Show

Thank you to everyone who messaged & commented about the outfits I wore to Round Top. The majority of the messages I received were in regards to the graphic tee’s I wore and I am happy to give you all the details. Please note that some of the items I’ve had for years so there are no links for them. But I did search to find good alternates.

 
 
 
 

Hat / White Top / Jean Shorts /
Similar Boot 1 / Similar Boot 2 / Similar Boot 3

I freaking loved this outfit so I wore it on Day 1 at the Round Top Antique Show. I bought myself those red boots as my “push present” when I gave birth to our son back in 2020. They were from Dan Post and I got them on sale for roughly $180, but they no longer make these gorgeous red boots. When I searched the internet, I found many lovely red boots but none of them were near the original price point I paid. Below are some boots that look similar, but cost a lot more than what I paid for them. The Thelma & Louise T-shirt is a fave because who doesn’t love that dynamic duo? The Levi jean shorts are a comfortable staple & you can get them at tons of stores or online on Amazon. The tie-dye cowgirl hat was a splurge. I originally wanted the Marco Delli Tie-dye wool hat from Boot Barn, but it was out of stock. So I scoured the internet until I found this tie-dye hat from Free People. (And it’s a lot less $$ Than the Boot Barn one. It’s currently on SALE for $69.95!)

 
 
 
 

Similar Hat / Jean Shorts / Black Boots /
Madewell Jean Jacket / Similar Top

In 2022 I started watching the ORIGINAL season of Gossip Girl. (Yup, the 2007 version.) Needless to say, I fell in love with the series. (I’m only on season 3 now so please don’t give me any spoilers!) I wanted a black graphic tee for day 2 so I found this epic Chuck Bass one on etsy. The original one I found is no longer for sale, but I found a different Etsy vendor selling the same graphic so we linked it below. I wore the same Levi jean shorts for day 2 because I’m a light packer and I love re-wearing items to create different outfits. The black Ariat boots were a Christmas gift that my husband gave me a few years ago. Honestly, I’m surprised they’re still for sale! There are tons of black boots out there for sale, but few with the stark contrast of a white stitch. Warning: if you buy these, the bottoms are VERY slippery so be sure to scuff them up on rough concrete/ gravel before you go walking around. You’ll need the traction. Trust me. That black wool cowgirl hat was something I found at a Bass Pro Shop down in Weston MO back in 2017. The band has changed slightly since then, but they are still making a very similar style. The weather was chilly on Day 2 so I put a jacket on. Might as well be denim on denim. So I threw on my Madewell jean jacket and I was ready to go antiquing.

Important note: the reason I chose to wear boots was 1- because duh, it’s Texas, and 2- you are walking in a lot of dirt, dust and gravel. The walkways are uneven terrain and boots provided me good ankle support & I don’t mind if they get all dusty/ dirty. They are easy for me to wipe down at the end of the day. They are also a comfortable footwear choice for me. Since you do TONS of miles worth of walking at Round Top, you want to be sure to wear shoes that you are comfortable standing in all day long.

I’m happy with the outfits I wore at Round Top because they were comfortable and easy to pack. I did see a lot of ladies in dresses. All the power to them! But I was flying in with my tiny bag of clothes, and I didn’t want the maintenance of ironing/ steaming anything. I just pulled my t-shirts and shorts out of the bag, slid on my boots and I was ready to go. Easy peasy. That worked for me. Be sure to pack a hat or sunglasses because you’ll be doing an lot of squinting. (And it rained one time so the hat came in handy for that since I didn’t have an umbrella.) Then be sure to pack a light jacket because the weather can change in an instant and you don’t want to be cold.

HAPPY HUNTING - 11.20.2022

Welcome back to our third edition of Happy Hunting! Today we’re going to show you some cozy goodness as the weather gets colder.

  1. Floral Top 2. Throw Pillow 3. Linen Blend Bed Skirt 4. Black Area Rug 5. Inspirational Quote 6. Nightstand 7. Green Blazer 8. Side Chair 9. Wall Sconce

We love green! As always, it’s good to mix in natural colors with your existing home & wardrobe. We love this floral green top layered with cords or jeans. You can easily dress it up or down. Feeling cold? Add this stylish green blazer over your shoulders for an elevated look at an affordable price.

Maybe your room is feeling cold this winter and needs some warmth. Add in a wicker wall sconce and fall in love with the warm shadows it casts on your walls. Or try the burl wood nightstand for a pop of luxury next to your bed.

Ground your space with a floral-inspired black area rug, add a linen bed-skirt to your bed for some visual texture or finish off a space with a fun throw pillow.

How do you warm up your space for the holidays? We like to add elements that can last &outlast holiday seasons and feel cozy all winter long.

Round Top Trends - 2022

What is Round Top? Some people call it Round Top, Round Top Antique Show, Round Top Antique Fair, etc. There are many names (and many dates) but only one Round Top! So what is it?

It is said to be the largest antique’s fair in the COUNTRY!

 
 

It is a 15 mile stretch down the Texas Highway 237 and it happens twice a year. The original show started in 1968 and has grown rapidly ever since. There is a mix of permanent buildings and pop-up tent cities where people sell everything from vintage Italian sofas that are collectors’ quality, to a rusty old doorknob and other junk.

Here you will find everything: high end, low end and a whole lot of stuff in the middle. (There are quite literally cow fields & pastures in between vendors. So if you think you’re lost, keep driving.) The event technically takes up THREE towns: Carmine, Round Top and Warrenton.

A few buildings require payment for entry, but most are free to enter and open to the public. The only tricky thing is: the opening dates. Some buildings open before others. Weeks before others! But they do have a general week where everyone is open and that is listed on the website: Round Top Texas Antiques.

TREND 1 - Sherpa & Boucle

Fuzzy wuzzy was a chair. Cozy season is here and we saw LOTS of cozy things at Round Top. From Chairs, to Sofas, to throw pillows and everything in between, it was furry, fluffy & cozy. The majority of what we saw was Sherpa, but some was boucle and there are other fabrics as well. But they all give the ultra-textural look & feel. Below are some images of the Sherpa-inspired pieces we saw.

TREND 2 - Antique Wooden Chairs

SO. MANY. WOOD. CHAIRS. It was a sea of vintage wooden chairs, and I’m not lying. Every shape, color and wood species was accounted for. Long backs, short backs, holes in the back, intricately carved backs. They had it. Tiny seats, upholstered seats, flat seats, curvy seats. They had it. They had dining tables full of 8 matching dining chairs, and they had one-offs. One thing we noticed was most of the chairs had some type of hole in the back. These were used as “grab holes” in the past to grab the chair and slide it out from the table. But, naturally, that ebbed & flowed & changed over time. These types of chairs have been extraordinarily popular among luxury designers and are often seen gracing the pages of Architectural Digest. Everybody wants a vintage chair from the Alps, or France, or Belgium these days. Antique dealers are all the rage and I don’t see that going away any time soon.

TREND 3 - Statues & Busts

Nothing says “I’m so fancy” like a bust or full-body statue. While we did see some cherubs and creepy baby faces, the main thing we saw was full body statues in bronze, wood or some sort of plaster material. Adding a bust to your office creates an inquisitive intellectual aesthetic and adding a full-scale female sculpture to your garden basically makes you Louis XIV. (Architecture history joke. See The Gardens of Versailles for context.) Que the song “Somebody’s Watching Me,” by Rockwell. But in a fun sculptural kind of way. I love this trend. I love sculptures & busts because there is a story there, you just have to find out what is. Was this person real or someone’s idea of perfection? When was this sculpture made? Is it truly vintage or is it a replica? If it is a replica, what era is it trying to replicate? How does the sculpture make you feel? When you look at art you have to find a piece you connect with. Most people think of this when it comes to canvas art, but it also applies to sculptures.

TREND 4 - Cognac Leather

Aaaahhh leather. It stands the test of time and SHOWS the test of time. Leather tells a story of where it’s been and what it’s lived through because it is animal skin. You can see scratches in leather. What story does that have to tell? Was it scratched by fingernails? Accidently scratched by a pencil? Or a tool? Maybe something was dropped on it, or someone with those be-dazzled jean pockets sat on it. You can also see where moisture sat on the leather for too long. Even human skin has natural oils in it and that rubs off on leather. Same with body lotions, hair products and more!

We saw SO MUCH more at Round Top and we’d love to continue sharing with you. Please tell us what you want to know! Perhaps we will share tips on How to get around in Round Top, where to stay and what to eat. I’ve had requests for a wardrobe breakdown so I’ll have to do a post on that as well. Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed!

TREND 5- GIGANTIC POTS

 
 

Halloween Treats 2022

Happy Halloween!! I freaking LOVE Halloween! I love costumes, being someone else for the night, candy, and cute Halloween decor. (I’m not into the haunted houses and super creepy stuff.) But I am into the treats! I’m more of a “treat” gal than a “tricks” gal. What about you? Below are some of the Halloween treats you can make at home for you and your fam, or for a party you’re attending. Enjoy!

Which one is your favorite? I am personally going to try to make the super cute pretzel spider webs tonight. I’m so excited! Follow along on our Instagram page to watch and see how it turns out. I hope it turns out well & not a total Pinterest fail lol. Links below for each picture.

Fall 2022

Fall is officially in the air. You can smell the crispness and hear the crunching of leaves. What makes you think of fall? Finally getting out your cable-knit sweaters? Savoring a hot cup of cider? We pulled together two mood boards that give us aaaaaaall the fall vibes. Check them out below!

 
 

“Fall is my favorite season. I love the cozy feeling of fall apparel & I love bringing that essence into home design as well. “ - Tara Miller

I’ve loved fall my entire life. I enjoy the simple things like saying “it’s boots & sweatshirt weather!” I like hearing the muffled sounds of a marching band on a Friday night. I feel like you can always smell fall coming in the air before it arrives. It’s beautiful to see the leaves turning and the deer in rut. The whole world seems to soften and quiet down a little bit. Except for the crackling of a candle wick and the crunching of leaves underfoot. Warm tones keep my soul cozy as the temperature starts to drop outside. I think of pulling a loved one in close & curling up under a blanket by a bonfire…… or snuggling up in a corner and reading a good book. Fall can be a very romantic season for people who capitalize on it. Think: apple picking, hay-rack rides, drive in movie theaters. Swoon-worthy. I love fall so much that I ignore the fact that winter is coming.

 
 

“Just give me a quiet cozy spot with a nice window view, a good book, and a warm cozy drink and I will be content for life!” - Chelsey

I wanted my Fall mood board to feel super warm and textural, and I wanted to evoke that through the images to give viewers that same homey feeling. During Fall, I love the coolness in the air and the warm coloring in the trees and grass. I also love staying in more and enjoying more cozy time with family. So many yummy textures to enjoy this time of year!

SOURCES for Tara’s Fall Mood Board

1 Home designed by Meghan Eisenberg and Jeff Troyer. 2. Books via Pinterest. 3. Bench. 4. Jessica Alba photographed by Adam Franzino 2017. 5. Living space design by Emily Seiders. 6. Accessories via Pinterest. 7. Terese Pagh Appears in the 'Bucolica' Editorial by Eric Guillemain 2011. 8. Staircase. 9. Range Rover via Pinterest.

SOURCES for Chelsey’s Fall Mood Board

1 Richard Gaston Photography. 2. Boots. 3. Roasted Pears by Brie Willy. 4. Car: Moskvich 408. 5. Chairs via Menu Design Shop. 6. Bone Jenga. 7. Amber Interiors. 8. Wood Bowls. 9. Sherling fabric via Pinterest. 10. Oak leaves via Pinterest.

HAPPY HUNTING - 09.20.2021

Welcome back to our second edition of Happy Hunting! We’re so glad you’re here! We’re back with another roundup of our favorite finds. From dresses to coffee book tables, we’ve got you covered with the best! This earthy palette is simple, earthy and timeless. We hope you love it as much as we do!

It finally feels like fall outside! As it gets colder outside we like to make it a bit cozier inside. You can easily add texture, colors and scent into your home to elevate your home during this season.

First up is this Libra Knit Dress from Reformation. First and foremost, I LOVE Reformation! All of their clothing fits like a glove for ALL body types and they are a very sustainable company. I did NOT know this dress was even called the Libra Knit Dress, but that makes sense because I’m a LIBRA and we’re entering Libra season, so I feel like that’s a sign that I need to buy this dress.

Item #2 is the Torso Table Lamp w is exquisite. Darn you Facebook and Instagram ads! How do they know me so well? That’s how I found this lamp and I couldn’t click fast enough! If you go to their website, the base of this lamp almost looks like a different color in every image. I think it’s because it’s made of raw stoneware that reflects light differently in different spaces. It has a fabulous linen shade and a brass touch dimmer switch. It’s very sleek, timeless and I love the earthy texture!

The best coffee table book you’ll ever need! Obviously, I chose this because I love green, but I also love Disc Interiors. If you don’t follow them, give them a follow because you won’t be disappointed! I’m obsessed with coffee table books and this one just adds the right amount of color on the outside of the cover, but there are also a lot of gems on the inside! It’s a great conversation starter, you can stack it with other colors, there’s a lot you can do with it. Plus, you can buy it from lots of different vendors.

I love this Amerock Edona Mushroom Cabinet Knob because in the Burnished Brass finish, it looks like it was salvaged from an old French Chateau. Have you ever walked into a new construction home and it almost feels sterile? Homes need textural elements so they don’t feel “flat.” This knob adds visual texture because it appears to be patinaed. It looks like it’s already lived a long life with lots of love & wear. Installing this knob on your cabinet will add that touch of character and personality that we all want our homes to have. And it’s a freaking steal of a price!

Best thing I ever did was believe in myself. A lot of times when we’re growing up, we have big dreams about what we want to do, who we want to be and what we're excited about in this world - and then life happens. Whether that’s someone saying that market is oversaturated, or you won’t get into that college, whatever limiting mindset it is… One thing is certain: this world has a way of watering down our dreams, and I’ve recently gotten to the point where I believe we have to be our #1 cheerleader. We don’t need other people’s permission, approval or endorsement to go after our own dreams. Passion was put into our hearts for a reason! If you want to start a new business, hobby, or move to a new city - if a thought keeps popping up in your mind, take the steps to reach that goal. No matter what you do or don’t do, the #1 thing you have to do is believe in yourself! Look yourself in the mirror and say, “I believe in myself!” and you’ll start programming your brain to do that!

Loloi is an incredible rug brand! I worked at a large design firm before I started my own business, and we were a Loloi dealer. When I found out they have select rugs on sale on Amazon, I was SHOCKED! I love the colors in this rug because it’s gray and ivory which means it has some warm and cool tones. Since the color trends fluctuate every ten years from a cool and warm palette, I’m a huge fan of putting both tones in your home so your space always feels balanced!

I’m seeing a lot of lovely, little wall sconces that feature a scalloped edge or an organic shape. This light fixture is no exception! It was designed by Sarah Sherman Samuel for West Elm and it is significantly better priced than a lot of other organic light fixtures that I’ve been seeing recently.

One thing I love about lighting is that it can completely set the mood for a space. There are two types of lighting in a space - the main and the ancillary lighting. This chandelier will not be the main source for the room, but it will set a major mood. It’s a rattan material is handcrafted by a Moroccan seamstress, and she uses sustainable palm tree materials. The light will filter through the strips and create an intricate shadow pattern across your room. It won’t be super bright, but it WILL be super romantic and moody. I would love to sit in a room where these chandeliers are casting light & shadows all around.

Jenni Kayne has a fabulous home that she worked on with Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen. You've probably seen it all over Instagram, but might not have known it was hers. Besides living in a swoon-worthy home, she also is also a businesswoman who sells clothing, shoes, home decor and more. I love good simple packaging and this candle has just that! The black vessel with a simply printed label would look perfect on any coffee table or bookshelf.

HAPPY HUNTING - 08.19.2022

Introducing… Happy Hunting with The Heartland!

This is a new blog feature we’re doing because we want to share some of the great things we’re finding! We’re constantly searching for unique items for our clients and we fall in love with so many cool products that we find. We are going to be sharing our favorites with you! We could share good deals, unique items, vintage finds, clothing, furniture etc!

Hopefully you like this new series and you will check back every month to see what we’ve found! We’ll provide links so you can add these goodies to your home if you’d like to.

Today’s feature is an earthy mixture of items to help elevate your home in a way that steel feels warm and homey.

I freaking love ceramics! I can never get enough. This one is made in the Midwest by none other than The Object Enthusiast in KC. So cool! Check out all of her work. It’s all so dreamy. You could easily put some pears or strawberries in this circle dish for an elevated kitchen experience.

NEXT is the freaking mushroom cookie jars! I mean how cute are those!? They give me 100 Acre Wood vibes. Very Winnie the Pooh, don’t you think? I like whimsical little details like this because I have a 2 year old son and he just loves playful items like this. Plus, I love bringing the outdoors IN. You can mix and match the different heights and use them for flour and sugar if you don’t want to fill it with cookies. Or if you’re a smoothy lover like me, you can fill it with flax seeds, and all the fixings for your smoothie bowls! Yum!

The seductive lamp of your DREAMS! Definitely a splurgey item. This stoneware lamp was handcrafted by using slab-construction techniques. The base features a dipped glazed finish in the color “hide.” I love it! It has antique brass fittings and is even on a dimmer! I like their attention to detail because even the cord is fancy: it’s a twist beige cloth-cord. So neat! Definitely a conversation piece.

Funky fun green pillows! Yes please! I love a good scalloped edge. It’s something different than the standard knife-edge or corded edge of regular pillows. I envision these thrown on a king sized bed with a cozy throw blanket. Where would you put them?? I want to know!

Romanticize your life!

You can’t go wrong with a good piece of landscape art. It adds a tranquil feeling to any room and the natural colors are timeless. This is a piece you’ll be sure to love for ages. This is a very affordable piece because it is a downloadable file so you can print it yourself. It’s not a real piece of hand-painted art, but it looks so nice! There are thousands of options when it comes to landscape art. If you’re not supporting a local artist, and you’re trying to stick to a budget, this is a great way to go!

You can do anything, but lay off of my of my tan suede boots! (Singing that out loud right now haha.) Okay, that’s not how the song goes, but it’s a great song and these are great boots! My gosh they’re gorgeous!! Don’t you think? I’d love to style them with some casual jeans and a white tee. But I strongly believe you could dress these up or down depending on how you feel. How would you wear them? I honestly just want to pet them. They look so soft :)

Casual Swanky Dress Alert!!! You know that look that looks effortless, but it’s not? I think this dress embodies that. It looks like a casual frayed linen dress that seems to say “I’m so chill and laid back,” but the price point says luxury. Hot dog that slit is everything! And the bustier-styled top is just the right amount of sex appeal to make a mama feel like her younger self again ;) And HELLO! There are POCKETS. Score.

You know how there are “it girls.” Well this is an “it range.” Sure, I just made up that term but it’s true! Everyone is loving the oven / stove combo’s that are more unique than that all stainless steel look we’ve seen for so many years. It’s fun to combine finishes in your kitchen! This model is available in many different base finishes and has multiple options for hardware finishes as well. I love the white base with the Brushed Bronze hardware option because it adds just a bit of warmth. I imagine this next to white-oak cabinets. What color combo do you like best?

People! This was SO much fun!!! I love sharing these things with you. Do you like this? Should I keep this up? Would you like me to keep sharing our favorite finds every month? We call it “happy hunting” because I’m always on the hunt for those hard to find items. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did! Please let me know if you end up adding any of these items to your home or closet. (If you do I’ll be jealous!!) I don’t make commission on any of these so I have no way of knowing if you like the things I’m showing you or not. So please tell me what you like!

Thank you for being here! Have a great day everyone!

-Tara

Cute Stylish Bikes and Trikes for Toddlers and Children

My baby boy is turning TWO soon!!!! And my mother-in-law said she wanted to get him a bike or a trike for his birthday. How sweet!! My husband came to me with a few bikes & trikes he found on the internet and they looked…. not very cute lol. So I dove into the world wide web on a hunt for the cutest bikes & trikes around. Here’s what I found! Enjoy! - Tara

 
 
 
 

1. Banwood Red. 2. Banwood Pink. 3. Foxrider Yellow Sun. 4. Mini Bike. 5. Retrospec Green. 6. Toyni Tricycle.

I know we typically associate good design with big price tags, but I found affordable bikes on amazon, super pricey designer bikes and everything in between!

 
 
 
 

1. Iimo Red. 2. Tokyobike Momo. 3. Lil Dutch Matte Gold. 4. Cool Mint. 5. Banwood Green. 6. Cub Navy.

My search for cute bikes and trikes was SO much fun! I love the options above because they have a bit of a vintage vibe with the chestnut leather seat detail. I tend to like the bikes with black tires, but some of the bikes came in such fun colors, I had to include them! What do you prefer? A neutral white or a bold pop of color? Then the next question is… what helmet to get?! If you know of any good helmet websites, please let me know! Thank you!! - Tara

Source: cute trikes and bikes

Summer 2022

Here at The Heartland Interior Design, we are excited about summer! We like the vibrant colors and all of the seasonal outdoor activities. We also noticed how much we love summer foods! :) We put together two mood boards that give us ALL the summer feels. The funny thing is, we did NOT tell each other WHAT we were putting on our mood boards, however they both came up with a YELLOW + PINK theme. How cool is that!? Enjoy!

 
 

“Summertime vibes make me think of vibrant colors, fruit and time spent outdoors.” - Tara Miller

The above mood board was created by Tara Miller, the owner of The Heartland Interior Design. “The first thing I think of when I hear the word ‘summer’ is the HEAT,” said Tara. “Then I think about ways I cool down from the heat. Pools and lakes come to mind, followed by cold drinks and sweet treats. Then of course spending some time in air conditioning haha. I love bright and saturated colors for summertime. Warm tones like yellows, oranges and pinks remind me of summertime Barbie editions and for some reason I still vibe with it today.”

“I picked the shower image specifically because of the feeling of showering off chlorine or lake water after a long day in the sun. The yellow mosaic tiles made me think of the yellow sunshine and I LOVE how the tile visually connects the wall with the floor. I chose the ombre staircase shot because it is INCREDIBLE. But also because it progresses from warm tones at the top of the staircase to cooler town down at the bottom and that makes me think of how heat rises. Lemonade is my go-to summertime drink, but when I saw that lemon/ lime frozen drink I thought ‘I have to try that!’ so I included it in the board along with watermelon, and ice cream. Why? Because watermelon and ice cream are summertime staples for me!” :)

 
 

“Summer makes me think about going to ice cream shops, since that’s what I did a lot with my family during this time of year.” - Chelsey Segura

The above mood board was made by Chelsey Segura. When talking about her summer mood board, she said, “I created this mood board around ice cream since that is what reminds me most of summer. I was inspired by the many ice cream shops I would visit with my family where I grew up in Upstate New York. The experience of going out for ice cream bring back a lot of happy memories for me. Isn’t making happy memories what summer is all about anyways?

I’ve always wanted to design an ice cream shop, so I had a lot of fun making this mood board. Getting ice cream is a really happy and fun experience for many people, so I wanted to reflect that in the colors I used. Shades of bright yellow, pink, and blue work great together and feel super fun and uplifting. The light sconces I found made me think so much of ice cream cones, and the countertop I used was inspired by the very popular cookies and ice cream flavor. I stuck in many references to looking for shade and cooling off, since I feel like that represents both summer and ice cream so well!”

SOURCES for Tara’s Summer Mood Board

1. Yellow Shower. 2. Cowgirl Shadow via Pinterest. 3. Ice Cream via H&M Kids campaign. 4. Watermelon via Pinterest. 5. Ombre Staircase. 6. McAlpine Pool Courtyard. 7. Beach Babe via Pinterest. 8. Restaurant Louie Louie. 9. Pineapple Margaritas.

SOURCES for Chelsey’s Summer Mood Board

1. Plaid Tile Flooring. 2. Bar Height Table. 3. Bar Height Chair. 4. Gallery Wall Art. 5. Beach Painting. 6. Countertop. 7. Wall Sconces. All remaining images via Pinterest.

Spring 2022

Here at The Heartland Interior Design, we love spring! We like saying goodbye to the frigid cold of winter and hello to sunnier days. Plus, we love watching the grass turn green and seeing seasonal florals in bloom. We’re ready for back patio hangs and short sleeves. We put together two mood boards that capture the spirit of what we each love about springtime.

 
 

“I created this mood board to have a soft feminine feeling.” - Tara Miller

The above mood board was created by Tara Miller, the owner of The Heartland Interior Design. When speaking about the mood board she said, “I was inspired by the exterior paint of this Irish home in Wicklow County. When the sun sets, the paint takes on a pale pink color. So I started with that pale pink color and moved onto other things that inspire me like English Gardens, brass fixtures and stone garden ledges. I also feel like Spring has a sense of delicacy since flowers are so delicate, so I chose a delicate light fixture to play off of that feeling. I like the ‘lived in’ feeling of antique brass and aged marble so I tried to let that shine. I recently saw the custom staircase on Rachel Halvorson’s instagram and I was drawn to the newel post. It’s metal, which is a heavy material, but it’s done in such an intricate and subtle way. I absolutely love it.

 
 

“Spring is the transition from old to new. The new growth of spring is so inspiring to me.” – Chelsey Segura

When asked what she enjoys about spring, Chelsey said, “I love to spend time at home and admire the new growth of spring.” She also added “[I] appreciate things that are in the past, old and worn.” She likes the “mixing of old vintage pieces with greenery and natural elements” during this time of year. “The first thing I thought of when creating this mood board was bringing the outdoors in… I focused on using wood tones and shades of green and brown in this mood board. I love this combination of color for the spring because it makes me think of a new budding tree, soil and greenery, and so much more.”

SOURCES for Tara’s Mood Board

  1. Architectural Digest. 2. Pinch London. 3. Pinterest. 4. Pinterest. 5. Sotheby’s International. 6. Rachel Halvorson Interior Design. 7. Inside East Designs. 8. ABC Stone. 9. Pinterest.

SOURCES for Chelsey’s Mood Board

  1. Huey Lightshop. 2. Huey Lightshop. 3. Zak & Fox. 4. Pinterest. 5. Pinterest. 6. Studio McGee. 7. Shoppe Amber Interiors Art + Etsy Frame. 8. Studio McGee. 9. Heirloom Art Co. 10. Salt Creek Mercantile. 11. Pinterest.

The Heartland Interior Design's Holiday Gift Guide 2021

The holiday season is here and we wanted to put together a little curated list of items for you all! ( We felt like Oprah putting together the “Our Favorite Things” collection!) It was so much fun! We selected items all over the board price wise and all over the board when it comes to categories! We found tangible products and service based options as well. Can’t give your mama some slippers this Christmas? Maybe give her a coupon for an uninterrupted nap! I promise you it will be just as good (if not better!) :D This is our first time curating a Holiday Gift Guide so we hope you like it! We centered the aestehtic around warm earthy colors like beige, green and we threw in some black for contrast. Enjoy!!

 
 

  1. Sweater. 2. Candle. 3. Book. 4. Blanket. 5. Kettle. 6. Slipper.

Cotton Citizen is a really cool brand that dyes many different cotton apparel pieces in a wide array of colors. This summer I found their “Desert Mirage” colorway and bought a dress in it to wear to Vegas. I love the Desert Mirage colorway because it’s reminiscent of an elevated camouflage. Luckily, they have sweatshirts, tank tops, lounge pants and many more pieces available in this color. The “BAKING DAY” candle is my new favorite candle and THAT is saying something. I bought it at Of the Earth Florals in Lincoln, Nebraska and they created it in collaboration with Wax Buffalo. My old favorite candle was 9 years old and I found the scent in Weston, Missouri. But this candle now holds the #1 spot in my heart. The green coffee table book by DISC INTERIORS is definitely one that you need to add to your collection. It is jam packed full of great interior design inspo! The “WINTERS BLANKET” from Amber Interiors is so soft & cozy. Perfect for cuddling up on a cold winters night. The SMEG tea kettle is also just what you need to quickly make a hot cup of cocoa or tea. This stylish kettle is available in many different colors and would look great on anyone’s countertop. While I showed the champaign finish here, it also is available in a lovely matte white and matte black finish. Lastly, the plush black slippers are sure to make anyone feel luxurious… even if it’s a mom stepping over Legos lol.

 
 

  1. Chair. 2. Pillow. 3. Sofa. 4. Book. 5. Rug. 6. Lamp.

I love a good swivel chair because it creates a flexible furniture grouping and gives the person in the chair the option of which way they want to face. Swivel chairs work extraordinarily well in spaces that you want to be for gathering with others, but can also swivel towards a TV. Either or. I love a good moody pillow with some large-scale pattern. This color ties in with the rug as well. I LOVE this sofa because the back literally curves into the arms in one single line. I also love that it is velvet. Don’t wait for your “forever” home to buy a piece you will love forever. If velvet isn’t your thing, this stunning frame is also available in performance linens, cryptons and leather options. Who doesn’t love another good interior design book?! I know I do! Sign me up for aaaaaaaall the interior design books please! :D The area rug. Rule #1- Always always always make sure the rug is big enough for your room and for your furniture grouping. Ideally, the front “legs” of each piece in the room should at least be on the rug. This black rug is also perfect because it adds visual weight to the room and can really anchor your furniture grouping. THE LAMP. This is the lamp of all lamps. It is unique, stunning, gorgeous, all the good words can be used to describe this lamp. It is much more than a lamp. It is also a sculptural art piece for your home.

 
 

  1. Jacket. 2. Lamb on pinterest. 3. Boots. 4. Landscape Art. 5. Boot Art. 6. Vintage Bronco.

On the “country” board I have to admit it is my version of a modern edgy country lifestyle ;) as you can see. I absolutely love the “cowboy” jacket but I do wish it said “cowgirl” instead. I’ve been obsessed, literally IN LOVE obsessed with Valais Blacknose Sheep for years. Probably 9+ years. They’re a gorgeous breed of sheep from the Valais region of Switzerland and I love them so much. I dream of having a few of them one day when we have some land. When it comes to cowgirl boots, I actually bought myself my first pair from a real store for my “push” gift before I gave birth to our son. I say that they’re the first pair I really bought because I bought them from a boot dealer and not from a thrift store. Anyway, the point of this story is they are TALL boots and I never knew what I was missing. All my thrift store cowgirl boots are regular height, but the taller shaft cowgirl boots are so much better! Now I’m eyeing these Ariat’s because they’re tall and I love the white stitching contrast on the black leather. Very sleek. If you know me, you know I love supporting local artists. I’v been a big fan of Tori Swanson (@toridenaeart) for a while now. I specifically love her landscape paintings because I feel she captures the true beauty of Nebraska. Next is a highly customizable funky cowgirl image printed on 6 individual pieces of wood from an online company called Society 6. Last but not least is a version of my dream vehicle: a vintage Ford Bronco in the boxwood green color. But completely rebuilt (of course) and with automatic steering because I haven’t mastered a stick shift yet, even though that is on my bucket list!

 
 

When I became pregnant with our son, I started reading all the mama books and following all the pregnancy/ motherhood/ postnatal / parenting accounts on Instagram. One account posted an intriguing post around the holidays titled “What New Mom’s Want for Christmas,” and they said, “She wants a 30 minute nap, an uninterrupted shower, and a full meal all in one sitting.” Then in a small text below it said “(You read that right.)” I felt that to my core. I was recently chatting with a cousin of mine about motherhood and we agreed it’s basically a super long fast because you can NOT get any food down while your baby /kids are awake lol. I literally can’t eat until my son goes to sleep because he’s always taking my food or doing something that needs saving haha. Anyways, I decided to make a list of “gifts” for mamas this holiday season and my friend messaged me and said, “I pick the last option because you can get all those gifts in an adults only vacation.” And she’s not wrong! Such a smart woman.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this light-hearted holiday gift guide. It’s my first ever “gift guide” so please take it easy on me and enjoy your holiday season with the people who mean the most to you! Focus on only entering into peaceful gatherings this holiday season and avoid the ones with people who mistreat and disrespect you. Inner peace is the greatest gift you can give yourself and your family. Happy Holidays!

Old Nebraska Home... 225 Lakeside Drive. Grand Island, NE.

Hello! Do you fall in love with old homes like I do? Finding super unique old homes on zillow is a guilty pleasure of mine… but it doesn’t stop there! I see the phenomenal bones of the home and I look at the current state. Then I imagine enhancing the uniqueness of the home while also bringing some of the finishes and fixtures into the 21st century. However, more often than not, I see the house for sale on zillow and I dream a thousand dreams for it, then it gets sold. Then it pops back up on the market and someone came in and painted the interior grey & white and try to sell it to make a quick buck. This breaks my heart. Does it break yours too? This is why I’m starting this series on my blog: Old Nebraska Home. I’ll post current listings of older Nebraska homes and I’ll share a few of my dreams to renovate it. If you ever fall in love with one of these homes and want our help at The Heartland Interior Design, we would love to help you renovate it and give it new life.

Above is the existing exterior of the home. Photos by Modern Real Estate Nebraska.

Above is the existing exterior of the home. Photos by Modern Real Estate Nebraska.

Above is my vision for the home: white siding, black roof and black brick planter boxes.

Above is my vision for the home: white siding, black roof and black brick planter boxes.

This home is located on a stunning lake just west of Grand Island, Nebraska. The address is 225 Lakeside Drive. Grand Island, NE 68801. I saw the phone on Modern Real Estate Nebraska’s Instagram and I fell in LOVE with the architecture of the home. Look at these incredibly large panoramic windows with spectacular lake views! I am smitten and I know my husband would love this home too because it is literally located on it’s own peninsula on the island. Aka: no direct neighbors. The only slight setback to commanding your own peninsula is the long driveway: think Nebraska winters. You’ll have some serious driveway snow-removal to do…. but that’s besides the point lol.

225 lakeside drive2.jpg
225 lakeside drive2.0.jpg

The home has incredible roof lines and multiple brick planters for tons of fun plants AND it has built in benches. There are so many different indoor & outdoor gathering spots on this property. It has room to accommodate anyone and everyone! If you go to the zillow page, I dare you to count all the exterior furniture groupings. It’s a dream place for anyone with large extended family or a big social circle.

exterior update.jpg

I would say the toughest sell might be the approach to the front door. We can easily fix the landscaping. Add some stair stepped pavers. Remove the concrete blocks. Add some boxwood plants and maybe some white hydrangeas…. but there is the turret to discuss. What is a turret? It’s the part that looks like a castle. I would remove the top of the turret so it would just be a simple cylinder and then I would paint that whole thing white. You may not be able to envision it entirely, but I promise you it will help substantially. I would also restrain all the deck to a more natural wood-tone.

enry update.jpg

The entry is actually very nice. It is spacious and flooded with natural light. There is space to hang a stunning new chandelier and I would have the existing floor tile removed. Then I would replace the floor tile with a natural grey slate tile. It would add texture and warmth to the space while still being durable. I would paint the walls white and replace the windows to have black frames. Then I would also replace the front door with a metal and glass black steel door.

stair update.jpg

As you progress into the home you instantly see the height and scale of the home. The two story entry gets even better when the stairs cut up and down into the adjacent spaces. From the top to the bottom, you can see four different levels from one vantage point. Talk about a WOW factor! I would substantially clean up the stairs. I would start by removing the wooden handrails and replace them with sleek black metal handrails and balusters. Then I would remove the carpeted treads and I would have natural wood treads. Lastly, I would paint the stringers white so they are visually lighter but still keep the structural integrity of the staircase.

fireplace update.jpg

One of my favorite features in old homes is the sunken lounge. I absolutely love this concept because it’s cozy and social in a way that’s not designed around a TV. I think the sunken lounge promotes conversation and taking time out of your day to just be with the people around you. This sunken lounge could definitely use some updating because it looks tired and dated. I would remove all the carpet and install white oak wood flooring. I would paint the walls white. I would update the little stair railings. Then I would replace the brick surround on the fireplace with a marble surround for a more dynamic and contemporary look. Then I would reupholster the lounge cushions in a green fabric to add a pop of color. I would install a new light fixture, add a new table and different throw pillows for a much more unique space.

There are so many simple updates I would do to this incredible home, but I just wanted to give you a little taste of my vision. If you are interested in purchasing this home, I would love to have a conversation with you about how we could renovate it together. I see so much potential here that I even tried to get my husband to move to Grand Island lol! (He works in Omaha and it doesn’t make sense for us to leave his job.) Luckily, I work all over the state (and we even have some potential jobs out of state) so I can really work from anywhere. Anyways, that is not the point. The point is, there are so many incredible homes in Nebraska and sometimes a real gem pops up on the market that catches my attention. If you see an incredible old home, please let me know! I’d love to see it too and maybe even share my two cents about the potential design direction. As always, thank you for reading and I hope you have a wonderful day!