Clockwise From Top Left: Samode Coral / Bohemian Wool Pillow / Herringbone Swedish Blue / Beckham Stripe Denim / Lucy Moss / Catamaran Stripe Sprout / Tattersall Blue / Nordic Star Indigo

It’s no secret that I’ve long been a fan of Dash & Albert. My adoration started four years ago with a small 2×3 striped rug and has grown exponentially ever since. This love has recently become more apparent during our remodel where I’ve tried to fit Dash & Albert in anywhere I can. “But what about doing a stair runner in Dash & Albert stripes instead of carpet?”.  “Do you think I could cover the ottoman in a Dash & Albert plaid?”. While our stairs will not be striped and our ottoman will not maybe be plaid, I’ve also turned to this wonderful company for my larger rug needs. We’re building our house with a large family in mind. Muddy dogs, grassy kids and plenty of entertaining (i.e. red wine and food spills) to come over the next decade. Now that it has come time to invest in a few rugs, I’m having a hard time justifying an overly spendy formal number that will surely not stand the test of time. Lucky for me Dash & Albert has exactly what I want and need. They offer a happy (and I mean truly happy!) selection of wool, cotton, indoor/outdoor and blended rugs in a variety of gorgeous colors and patterns. These rugs truly stand up to traffic, spills and even the occasional wash. I’m having so much fun mixing patterns and utilizing materials where they’re most practical. Softer wool in the living room, indoor/outdoor in high traffic areas and woven cotton under the dinging room table. Throw in a couple of fabulous pillows like this gem and #deppahaven is becoming one bright happy place!

So tell me, how do you add color to your home?

From Top Left, Clockwise: Eye Will / Voir / Eye Do / See / Love

Holiday gift guides are just starting to pop up  (gulp!) meaning the time for present shopping is near! Anyone who follows Brass Tacks knows this is my favorite time of year. While I scour the globe for my favorite finds I always give special extra attention to products that fall into one of two categories. Those that are made locally (Hello MN!) and those that benefit a greater cause. To kick off the 2014 giving season I couldn’t be more excited to highlight an amazing product that falls into the latter. Meet Eye Will Artistry! Eye Will Artistry is the brain child of my talented and charitable mom, Jeanne Aufmuth. At first glance you’ll find an eclectic assortment of bright and colorful pillows. But these aren’t just any pillows….they’re pillows with a purpose. Since her thirties, my mom has lived with a unique eye disorder called Retinitis Pigmentosa. RP is a degenerative retinal disease that slowly eats away at your vision, resulting in peripheral vision loss and ultimately, complete blindness. While most people afflicted with this disorder would wallow in the frustrating effects, my mom as admirably tackled the obstacles she’s faced with a mixture of hope, grace and good humor. Now, she is combining her passion for art with her passion for helping others by raising awareness (and dollars) for those dealing with loss of sight. Eye Will offers a limited edition of her pillow art with all proceeds benefitting RP research. These pillows won’t last long…so take a look and consider gifting with a purpose this year!

Clockwise From Top Left: Gold Task Lamp / Artisan Painted Canoe Paddle / Pastiche Orb Chandelier / Wood Tiled Dresser / Pom Pom Basket / Faribault Stripe Pillow / Faribault Plaid Pillow

What better way to return to the blog than with a show and tell of my latest fun finds! Fall is in full effect in Minnesota resulting in gorgeously colorful foliage, hearty cooking and the beginning of cashmere sweater season. My remodel project is also moving full force ahead so I’m spending these lovely brisk weekends scouring markets, shops and sales for special items to decorate our “new” home. Faribault Woolen Mill has long been a favorite local company of mine so I was elated to hear they are partnering with West Elm this season to bring cozy plaids to a wider market. While their throws are a staple, I have my eye on these stripe pillows. To tie in the nautical theme to our lakeside abode I am loving beautifully crafted goods like these artisan painted canoe paddles and statement lighting. Speaking of lighting, that has been my biggest struggle thus far. I’m finally in a place where I adore each and every one of our light selections and now am focused on the slightly easier task of sourcing table lamps. Sometimes the best finds are in the least expected places…like this gem from Target. And while I’m browsing the big retailers I can’t help but fall for these side tables. Part beachy, part modern and part unexpected. Just like my new favorite basket (minus the modern).

What are you lusting after these days?

I was tickled pink when an editor from Minnesota Monthly magazine approached me wanting to feature Brass Tacks in their September issue. I am so passionate about my little business and nothing makes me happier than seeing it grow and prosper (except for seeing it on the pages of a glossy publication!). For those of you who are out of state, you can read the short blurb here. Thank you Minnesota Monthly for the love and thank you to all of my friends, family and clients for your sweet comments and support! xo

At Brass Tacks my goal is to bring simplicity to your life. A large part of that mission is helping people slow down. For many of us, slowing down starts with getting the necessary amount of sleep our body desires.

As I navigate the wonderful world of remodels and am faced with daily purchasing decisions, I’ve been reminding myself to slow down as well. The older I’ve gotten, the more conscious I’ve become of my body. What I feed it, what I put on it and how I rest it. I’ve broached this topic here and here and now it is coming full circle as we hunt for a new king mattress. It is no secret that mattresses are often filled with nasty chemicals, regularly off-gassing VOC’s and other toxic fire retardants.  I’ll spare you the scary details but the more you look into it, the more alarmed you’ll be about that cozy memory foam bed you’ve been sleeping on. In my never ending search for the best brands and products, I stumbled upon Hästens beds. The most beautiful all natural bed you could ever dream of (and you’ll definitely be doing a lot of that when you sleep on one of these gems). Scandinavian born and dressed in gingham- I think it’s a relationship that’s meant to be…

For over 150 years, the Swedish based Hästens has been making beds by hand from only the finest ingredients nature has to offer. Horsehair, flax, wool, cotton and slow-growing Swedish pine are just a few of the elements included in these stunning beds built to last a lifetime. I won’t lie, the price is absolutely aspirational. But when you think about the most important purchases in your home, your mattress should without a doubt be one of them. Why? We humans spend one third of our lifetime sleeping. Yes, sleeping. We spend more time sleeping than we do eating or exercising.  And the quality of our sleep not only affects our energy levels but ultimately our health and happiness. When you consider the fact that these beds have a 25 year warranty (and are built to last far longer), it becomes frighteningly easy to consider owning one.

First I need to win the lottery but then I plan on embracing my passion for sleep by aligning myself with a company that feels the same way. In the meantime I’ll gladly become Hästens Minnesota brand ambassador (hint hint)!

Everyone’s saying it and I can’t disagree…summer is FLYING by! It’s been a fun (albeit busy) one filled with travel, family, food and many fun projects. In my absence from blogging, here is what I’ve been up to (through the eyes of Instagram):

Taking time to explore our little slice of paradise

A relaxing trip to Napa for our anniversary (we can call end of May summer, right?!)

Lake sunsets that leave me in awe…

Full blown remodel planning (kicking off this Fall!)

Summer cooking with zero formality

A  4th of July for the memory books

Family celebrations in the California sunshine

Working on some fun Brass Tacks projects

Two trips to this windy city for quality time with family and friends

And soaking up every last second of this….

However you’ve been spending your summer I hope you’ve been enjoying each and every day to it’s fullest! While I cherish these summer days, I’m looking forward to getting back into the blog groove. Stay tuned! xo

Clockwise from top left: Parsons Wall Mirror / Mon Cher Journal / Embroidered Banner / Sailing Ship Kite / Clara Earrings / Charlotte Street Tablecloths / Linen Duvet Cover Set / Juliska Pet Bowl / Anchor Wool Baby Blanket / The Laundress Signature Detergent / Marble Fruit Bowl / Gold Cherry Blossom Washi Tape

Summer summer summer…it’s a fleeting season and I can’t get enough. As we being to near Fall I’m scheming strategies to infuse the delicious energy of summer into my home year round. I’ll start with this amazing stripe linen duvet set from Parachute Home. Soft, beachy and beautiful. Winter will without a doubt call for layers of warm blankets so why not keep things nautical with this gem. Add in a whimsical white ship and an adorable hanging banner and my lakeside guest room is complete. Polka dots will add cheer to the dining table year round, particularly when topped with a pretty marble bowl filled with seasonal fruit. Since laundry is unfortunately not seasonal (I wish!) make it fun by throwing on some fancy baubles and washing with these beautiful detergents from The Laundress. To keep the pup happy, spoil him with a fancy new dog dish that will double as decor. When all else fails and you really need a boost of summer energy, look back on your journal to relish the dog days of summer!

Clockwise from top right: Foil Wilderness Gift Tags / Bubbly Cheers Tag Set / Mechanical Wood Pencil / Wine Bottles Invitation / Dessert Birthday Card / Thank You Mix Set / Seaweed Hello Set

A blog is a wonderful way to express yourself to a wide audience, and in my case a valuable tool to represent my brand. While social media, blogging and the internet have done wonders for global communication, there is something so pure, simple and rewarding about receiving a handwritten note. In many ways handwriting is a lost art.

No one is more passionate about the handwritten note than the inspiring and fabulous Wendy Brown of Brown Ink Paper Goods. Brown Ink was created in 2011 as a blog to inspire basic longhand. As she states, “There’s never been a more important time to slow down and remember what handwriting feels like; the excitement of receiving a letter in the mail, the beauty of becoming acquainted with a new friend’s writing, or the current and future gifts received through journaling the now.” To spread her passion for handwriting, Wendy and her husband launched Brown Ink Paper Goods in 2013. This beautiful online boutique features a thoughtfully curated collection of stationary, journals and writing related goods. I swoon over this, these, this and this. With new products being added regularly (see above for my favorites), Brown Ink offers so many beautiful ways to make writing truly joyful.

The power of a handwritten note in this day and age should not be underestimated. I received my first job offer out of college because I was the only applicant to send a hand written thank you after the interview process (true story). Now that I work for myself I impart handwriting into as many facets of Brass Tacks as possible. My calendar and to-do lists are hand written. I write personal notes to clients for birthdays, holidays and thank you’s. On a personal level, I take great joy in sending and receiving a lovely letter-pressed card. According to Brown Ink, “When we look back at our writing, words create our history and individuality. Without question, handwriting gives balance and emotion to our lives.”

So next time you sit down to write that email take pause and consider how much more meaningful your message will be coming from your hand. Handwriting is not just a tool, it’s the creation of a keepsake its recipient may cherish forever.