rehabitat gift guide

I'm curled up on the sofa covered in blankets, tea in hand, sweater over my nose, infirmed (lucky for you the internet is impenetrable to my germs) and trying to work but all I can think about is Christmas shopping and how behind I am. We do some sort of festive blog post every year because to say we love Christmas is an understatement- similar to how saying Bing Crosby's pants in White Christmas are high waisted. Because that is also an understatement. Last year we shared holiday decorations inspiration and my decorations (I had time for that?!?!) and the year before, wrapping inspiration and so on. 

This year, we bring you a gift guide! "WAIT..." you say, "HOW CREATIVE." you say. We know, gift guides are like EVERYWHERE and the last thing we all need is another recommendation to buy a $200 brass cocktail shaker with the option to monogram. (I will gladly accept that gift FYI, tell my husband.) But we have a slight twist. 2016 feels like a great year to start giving gifts with a purpose. Ethically sourced gifts that support the makers in impoverished countries or from companies that do an amazing job giving back to communities in need. Turns out, there are a lot of options out there and we had a really hard time narrowing them down. Also, turns out, we like baskets. 

Rehabitat Gifts with Purpose Guide.jpg

1 round cake plate | 2 lemongrass candle | 3 cognac saddlebag | 4 pink floor basket | 5 fringed napkin | 6 halston pitcher | 7 diamanta grey throw | 8 sia stud earrings | 9 tan bunny | 10 pom pom basket | 11 magnet pillow | 12 teak salad servers | 13 indigo towel | 14 round market basket | 15 recycled glass tumblers | 16 tiny toms | 17 serving board | 18 yumbutter | 19 ravi scarf

Well that just about wraps it up, fellas. (MAYBE I am watching White Christmas while writing this.) And in case you're looking for a non-profit to make a year end donation, check out here, here and here and send aid to Aleppo here.

We're so grateful to be in business and thankful to our readers and followers for even coming to our site every once and a while. We hope your season is filled with joy. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the ladies of Rehabitat.  

-d+e

before + after: a quaint living room

Dearest readers, it has been a while. It feels so good to be busy but it hurts so bad to ignore you. We've had this dramatic before and after post on deck for a while- forgive us for not sharing sooner! Our friend and client, Linda, (check out her family room here) was ready to upgrade her living room, so she hired us to do a Rehab Box. We encouraged her to lighten the walls, whitewash her stone fireplace, replace her mantle, and refresh her furniture. The result is fresh, clean and cozy. Thanks again Linda for being such a sweet and fun client to work for. Enjoy! -d+e

quaint living room overall.jpg

repinned: light blue

Happy summer! Considering it's inappropriately hot outside everywhere in the US, we thought it a good time to discuss the cool tone that is light blue. We've been noticing it quite a bit in our pins lately and its comeback is in full swing. Blue has always been a lovely color but light blue can be especially intimidating considering its associations. How do you keep it from looking like a little boys room? Well, see below. We thought these were perfect examples of light blues used in ways that make us rethink all the things we ever thought about it. Sorry we labeled you, light blue! Turns out you're a striking shade when used unexpectedly. 

What exactly do we love about these pinspirations? Most of these blues have a subtle undertone, whether it's gray, green or violet. Mixed with the unexpected bold placement of matching the cabinets and the walls, or painting just the baseboard, trim and doors, or everything down to the window grid, you have the most un-baby blue room ever.  So we rounded up some of our favorite light blues in case you're inspired to go paint your powder room. (Don't forget the trim gets the glossy treatment!)

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art medium: watercolor

One recurring question we're always asked in regards to artwork is, "Where did you find that!?". The answer is as follows: Flea markets! Our absolute favorite thing to find at an antique fair is artist portfolios. A sketchbook full of figure studies, messy watercolors, pencil line drawings, I mean I'll take anything, as long as I didn't do it myself. (Side note: I lit'rally cannot appreciate artwork I've created myself. Anyone else have this problem?) Found portfolio pieces are quite often imperfect with a dot here or a wrinkle in the paper there but it adds to the character and reminds me I didn't pay arms and/or legs for it. And once in a frame, it looks totally unique. ANYWAYS, for those not into dumpster diving portfolios or not necessarily confident in your art choosing abilities, we compiled some of our favorite non-flea but generally affordable art pieces, specifically within the watercolor family. Because who doesn't love a good, colorful, abstract watercolor.

Follow us on Pinterest for all kinds of art recommendations and see our photography picks here.