Welcome to part 2 of decor and inspiration from our family beach vacation! I recently went to Gulf Shores, AL for a family retreat and we stayed in this amazing 4 story beach house that could sleep 30+ people. Read up on my first blog post about this amazing place.

Check out some of the other amazing interiors & decor from this place:

The Kitchen

This was by far one of the most grandest kitchens I have ever been in. It also was such a centerpiece of the home and a great gathering place for any major family renting this space. Here are some of key of features of the kitchen:

1. White & Blue color collaboration – I have always loved a blue & white combo but this one at the beach house was either a white & light blue or a white & teal blue. Regardless it felt like an island paradise within the kitchen.
2. Textured backsplash – The backsplash in the kitchen was not only beautiful but it was unique due to the uneven texture of the teal blue tiles. Since there was so much white in the kitchen you needed to wake it up with a tile like this.
3. Multiple kitchen appliances – While my family was there we took turns each day cooking and cleaning up. We literally could have 5 people cooking at once in this kitchen. The benefit of having multiple appliances was amazing for us.
4. Outrageous kitchen island – I do love kitchen islands because it brings everyone together within the kitchen. This kitchen island could sit 6 chairs with still a lot of room to spare. The bar stool at the island was made of glass with a dip within each chair. The stools were extremely comfortable and so sturdy. I wished I could have found out where the stools were from…they were that stunning.

I am beyond grateful we could cook in a coastal style kitchen like this for our trip. I love good food and good memories! Tell me what memories do you have cooking in your kitchen? Also see more exclusive photos below too:

Also shop my favorite coastal life home essentials here below…

XOXO,

Jessi Morgan

The post contains commission links

When people go to work or work form home, it at times actually creates tension and pressure. When I worked in retail, every single day required focused and some pressure to get results. I really wanted to leave that environment and when I got the opportunity to work from home with an an amazing up and coming tech company I took it.

First, I was excited to work from home and leave that stress behind. Well…I was wrong and I realized working at the kitchen table was not working. I needed an office space so I can separate my work and home life. So I worked on that…

Now, within my newly installed closet room, I had space for an office space. I decided create a soothing work are for myself.

Here’s what it took to create a safe haven space for me to work:

• Went with White & Gold color story – Yes white, white to me represents clean, crisp and open. I wanted all of the pieces in the space to be simple and elegant at the same time. I view gold as a elegant color and it is also one of my favorite colors that I use throughout my home. My closet door handles were gold so continuing that into the office space was key.
• Desk with no drawers – to stay organized I feel you need a desk with no drawers. It will force you to know what you have at all times and to not clutter up your desk. This is mentally great for me because when I walk into my work space it is 9/10 times clean already.
• Comfy Office Chair – This sounds so easy but its a step many people do not take the time to search for. I have an amazing leather white chair that is comfy and I am able to sit in it for hours. It is from Amazon and I looked at measurements and ratings to ensure this was the perfect fit for me and my back.
• Gold accessories – I actually cheated here a bit. I used an old set of poppin office collection from The Container Store and spray painted it gold. It matched my white & gold desk beautifully and just made the entire office space come together.

I am now more productive at home with my office space and being able to separate home life and work life under the same roof is so fulfilling for me. Share your office space below in the comments?

Shop my favorite items below from my Liketoknow.it page!

Shop my favorites from Amazon!

Xoxo,

Jessi Morgan

This blog post contains commission affiliated links

First, welcome to another entry of “Jessi’s I Love Places.” There is nothing like having a backyard that takes you away from the reality of life sometimes. One of my favorite places is our friend Vivian’s backyard that she renovated in the last 2 years. She literally transformed it into an Oasis.

Next, the backyard has a massive overhang that covers you completely from the sun and rain. The space includes an amazing patio seating area, outside grill, sink, and a massive dining table with chairs.

Also, during renovation they installed a beautiful quaint pool next to the overhang area. The pool was designed in a rectangular shape with a beautiful surrounding marble tile floor. It just complements the modern/traditional feel that Vivian was going for. After visiting this space I realized how important it is to have a backyard.

Here are the key lessons about having a dream backyard:

• Patio Furniture – I love how the furniture is position in their backyard. They make it a point to have chairs facing each other for great conversation and comfort. I love the decorative pillows that are full of color to give the space some pop. This entire space just sets the tone for the backyard. Key tip here…spend some money and get a durable set of patio furniture.
• Privacy – I am in love with the. amount of privacy they have. After the construction was done they planted tall trees to block anyone from looking in. In my next home I want to focus on privacy and hope that I can mimic what I saw at Vivian’s home. The older I become the more privacy I want with my family in my home.
• Yard – If you can afford it, having some type of yard with green grass to me is so important. The ideal backyard is Vivan’s to me. The overhang stops and they have massive amount of grass for their dog to run around in. It’s always good to have views of plants and vegetation in a home because it is relaxing and it allows you to bask in Mother Nature for at least a few moments daily.
• Pool – You don’t need to have a massive pool to enjoy. Their pool is of a smaller size but gives such a sophisticated feel to the backyard. What I learned here is going big is not the answer all the time.

Finally, to wrapped it up…I hoped you enjoyed this entry on Vivan’s backyard and hopefully it inspires you to think more of your backyard space. I have listed below some of my favorite key items that are duplicates of the space showcased today. Enjoy shopping!!

XOXO,

Jessi Morgan

Let’s make Pour Decisions!

Read this caption on the most charming holiday nutcracker displayed in this amazing wine cellar! Now that I have my own home, I am paying attention a bit more to wines. My husband and I aspire to have a wine cellar one day in our home, and the one I am featuring today will blow you away.

Welcome to another “Jessi’s I Love Places” where I am excited to feature this amazing wine cellar in a landmark home that was built in South Florida in the 1920s. Due to the age of the home it needs to be historically preserved, so any installs or changes to this property has to be approved by the city beforehand.

First, this stunning Spanish landmark home still has that charm that the owners wanted to keep when they installed this cellar about 3 years ago. In their previous home they had a wine cellar and needed one in their current home to hold all the various wines they owned/collected over the years.

Next, the family brought in an interior designer to construct a new one in their current formal dining room. I have been in this home many time before the current owners and the space they took to build this cellar was genius. The cellar looks like it’s been there for decades. See below…

There was a stunning mirror the owners kept and placed inside the space to keep the classic Spanish home feel. It honestly pulled the entire look together beautifully. The amount of wine they have is unbelievable!

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Here is the list of key tips in function & decor you need to know if you are craving to have an official wine cellar in your home:

1. Labels – The owner has labels on specific wines in order to document when the wine was opened, the year it was made etc. Absolutely necessary to keep everything in order in your cellar if you are going to be serious about wine collecting.
2. Temperature – Manage the temperature of your wines appropriately. In this home they have a google nest dedicated to the space to ensure their wine stays at the right temperature. I also find the nest extremely clean and it goes with any decor.
3. Glass Display – If you are going to have a massive wine cellar, show it off! Glass doors could be such a nice touch to your decor and it will match the theme of your home easily. I love the black long handles they added to the doors to give it a great modern look that still complimented the old Spanish feel of this home.
4. Build for the future – ensure you have additional space when you build a wine cellar. If you want to collect, have enough room to grow.

This is by far one of my favorite places I have visited. Is there a wine cellar or space that just blows your mind? Share in the comments below…

Check out some of my favorite finds for a wine cellar or dry bar below!

XOXO,

Jessi Morgan

Welcome to another entry of Jessi’s I Love Places, featuring a Landmark home in a suburb of Miami that is requested to be historically preserved. This home is over 150 years old and what is unique about this space is not just the home itself, but the gazebo and backyard that was built in the last 27 years.

*This blog entry does contain affiliate links

First, what makes this home special to me was that I grew up across the street from this home and saw all the transformations occur with the backyard.

Also, when I was a little girl there has been 5 different owners, and every single one updated it little by little. Exactly 26 years ago this backyard was just grass, with NO POOL & NO GAZEBO. Can you imagine that?

Next, here’s some great facts and timeline about the evolution of this great backyard & installed gazebo:

1. In the early 2000s a young couple who flipped houses moved in and added a necessary pool for this space.
2. In mid 2000s the next set of owners were from South Africa and loved the outdoors. They decided to design and build the gazebo.
3. Since the house was a historical landmark the owners had to design the gazebo to look and feel like the rest of the home. It had to keep the same aesthetic as everything else.
4. The gazebo overlooks the pool and you effortlessly can jump right into the pool from there! It’s absolutely stunning and extremely relaxing.

What ties this gazebo together is the amazing furniture pieces.

Here are the last 4 fun facts about this space:

1. If you ever visited a Tulum, Mexican resort; this gazebo has that feel. The extreme arches give the space the hotel resort design and the grand entrance feel.
2. One of the most complex sections of the gazebo is the amazing wooden panels built in the ceiling where the fan is located. It is breathtaking!
3. The pool was changed to salt water about 4 years ago! Honestly it brings out the amazing blue/teal color in the water. The water looks unrealistic in the most beautiful manner.
4. The other side of the home has turf grass. The previous owner installed complete turf grass for easier maintenance and to save money on getting the grass cut weekly.

Last, the current family living here are amazing people who respect and love the home for its reach history and aesthetic. Their taste in outdoor furniture was spot on to what this place needed to uphold the tradition of this timeless landmark.

Do you have a space in your home that you traditionally cherish?

Below I have included some amazon pieces that would be great substitute items to capture this gazebo feel. Just click on the picture below for all the details! See below…happy shopping!

xo,

Jessi Morgan