When times are heavy, we deserve little treats wherever we can spare the time or money – be it a nice walk or a new candle. In an effort to urge you to be kind with yourself, here are few small ways to boost your mood within your home.

1. (the rug I have in my fam room) // 2. // 3. // 4. // 5. (amazing source!) // 6. // 7. // 8. // 9.

10. // 11. // 12. // 13. // 14. // 15. plate & mug

16. // 17. // 18. // 19. // 20. // 21. // 22. // 23. // 24. // 25. // 26.

I hope these little ideas help you find some joy!

XO,

Erin

Several of you asked for tips on how to decorate a mantel when it’s NOT holiday season, so I pulled together examples with objects that work well for three different types of installations – under a TV, with a mirror and with art. Also – some great fireplace screens and tool sets, since those really add a nice layer (in my living room above I used this screen and this tool set).

For a mantel with a mirror above (I typically place mirrors above if there is statement art elsewhere in the room, as my living room above has). If it’s a larger square or rectangular mirror, I do like to lean a smaller art piece against it and then layer a variety of objects of different heights – candlesticks, small sculptural objects, candles, etc. If the fireplace is non-working or you’re styling it in the summertime, I love a big stack of birch logs (not a big fan of candelabras in fireplaces myself…)

SHOP ALL ACCESSORIES HERE

I also like to layer objects on mantels with large art above – sometimes with a smaller piece in a different medium (a sketch or photograph if the large art is a painting, for example). Sconces are always preferred, if possible (some fabulous cordless ones here if you can’t or don’t want to wire for them). I also love a little greenery, but understand if you can’t keep things alive (me neither), so I included some great faux greenery items like this papier mache flower.

For a mantel under a TV, your decor is limited to the width of your mantel versus the width of the TV – you do not want object cluttering your view of the screen. Some slim tapers and low objects are a good idea if you have the space. You can see in my family room below, I only have a couple small things to add a little interest, but nothing major, which would feel forced.

Step 1: Preorder my new book, “Elements of Timeless Style: Creating a Forever Home”. Not only does it provide lots of helpful advice, it will look very nice on your coffee table or bookshelf :)

Step 2: Watch this video, where I really break it down for you.

Step 3: Add in some cute and practical accessories, frames, book ends, art work, candles, etc. Click the image below for links!

A pox on all our houses – the dreaded boob light is a contractor favorite, especially during the late 90’s/ early aughts, and it’s time to get rid of them! Cheap and efficient but ugly and unnecessary today as there are so many flush mount and semi-flush mount options. A slew of you asked me for alternatives to these as it can be overwhelming when needing to replace a bunch of them in a single residence. A few rules of thumb:

• smaller sizes ones in a hallway or closet can be replaced with schoohouse type fixtures or smaller semi-flush lights.
• If there is a single light in the center of a bedroom, look at wider style flushmounts or perhaps a semi-flush mount if the light will fall over a bed and you can maintain head clearance.
• In a larger room, look even further away from a flushmount and try a wide hanging fixture on a short stem like the two below. We also have hung wide armed chandeliers on a single chain ring close tot he ceiling to make a bigger statement.

Click images below for links to all these alternatives- ranging price greatly, but all better looking than the $25 boob (no shade to boobs themselves, they are great).

*Last fixture is not hyperlinked, click here.

And a few more non-boob options from our portfolio…

Shall we start with the view from the side porches? One side of the wraparound deck faces Perkins Cove while the other has a view of the ocean. Hard to choose which one is better!

On to the family room with multiple seating options and a great mix of patterns, featuring both indoor and outdoor grade fabrics.

A set of Palecek chairs done in an outdoor Sister Parish pattern surround a game table by Dunes & Duchess.

The kitchen is long and narrow with a pass through to the bar and two islands – one in the cooking area for prep and the second with stools for seating. We mixed up the materials for the prep island so it felt more like a furniture piece than another run of cabinetry. Beyond the second seating island is a dining table that overlooks the water and the screened in porch.

Off the kitchen is this super fun lounge area – the clients really wanted this space to be fun and bold, so this Peter Dunham paper did the trick! The doors fold back to make the screened porch and lounge one big entertaining space (complete with beer on tap and Frame TV with a custom bezel!)

The sweet powder and laundry rooms are done in a seaglass shade of pale green and white.

The foyer is simple and sweet…

At the top of the stairs is a home office and guest suite.

Followed by the kids bedrooms with a Jack & Jill bath and another full guest bath.

I’m crazy about this bathroom and how we were able to make it fun and interesting but stay neutral.

And, finally, the primary suite, which includes a deck with more seating and incredible views. Again, this is a classic, time tested look for a beach house with watery pale blues, woven textures, washed oak and lots of bright white.

You can read more about the project in the July 2025 issue of Maine Home + Design, which includes interviews with the builder, Richard Moody & Sons Construction, and our gracious clients.

And to see our most recent projects (that we aren’t holding back for the book!), you can always visit our portfolio page.

All photos by the talented Jessica Delaney.

Check back in the coming weeks, when I’ll share a few ideas/suggestions for how to get the look :)

One of my most popular posts of years past was a bookshelf accessory round up and a client of mine alerted me that a lot of the links were dead/no longer available, so I updated the post to include some new fresh finds!

The key to successful bookshelf styling is to mix up the contents- small art, photographs, sculpture, boxes, trays– you name it. I even have a animal skull I found in the woods (and bleached, don’t worry) on mine under a cloche. Anything goes! Also, be sure to change the direction of your books from shelf to shelf (or even within the same shelf)- placing some stacked horizontal and others the normal orientation with bookends.

Lots of people prefer quilts to heavy duvets for sleeping in the summer, and they are also really great options for kids rooms as well (less fuss, easier to clean). I’ve been seeing some really fantastic, modern options in my sourcing and thought I’d round some up for you. Naturally I very much adore the reversible seed stitch quilt from my collection with Kassatex, but there are lots of varieties – from the simple to the more graphic and colorful (even classic vintage styles) that all can provide a nice optional layer for your beds.

Also, we did this little “how to layer a bed” series with Kassatex and wanted to repost! It’s a good cheat sheet on how to use different shams, duvets and quilts.

We do a LOT of bookshelf styling – it seems to be something almost every client needs our help on when installing a project – so I thought I’d share a selection of my favorite neutral, go-with-any-home accents we like to use on bookshelves when styling. Obviously copious amounts of books are the first thing you need, but adding in objects, small art and carefully coordinated picture frames makes them look polished and interesting.

*Photo by Kirsten Francis

Bed #1

Bed number one is my favorite of the bunch because it looks SO luxurious and it’s super easy to achieve. For this combo, I used the greek key duvet, 2 king shams with greek key border, 3 euro shams with greek key border and 1 of my lumbar pillows to pull it all together.

Bed #2

Bed number two is great for New England winters because it’s super layered and cozy. For this combo, I used the Iris Quilt on the solid side (it’s reversible!) AND the greek key duvet, 2 quilted king shams, 2 king shams with greek key border and the same floral lumbar pillow. Fold the duvet over once or twice for a super fluffy look.

Bed #3

Perfect for summer months, bed number three is so easy. All you need is the Iris Quilt, (I flipped it over to the block print side), 2 quilted king shams, 2 king shams with greek key border and 2 of the 20×20 throw pillows. I love this option for when it gets a bit warmer. Add my all time favorite Weston Throw Blanket just in case you get chilly.

I’ll be posting more insider tips in the next few weeks, so make sure to follow along on my Instagram if you aren’t already!

Shop the whole Erin Gates x Kassatex 2024 collection here!

Since I designed my first pillow almost ten years ago, I have strived to create home decor that elevates a space in a classic and timeless way, both in color palette, materials and motifs. Here’s a bit of the behind the scenes of how this collection came to be…

The Color Palette

For the color palette, I always look to what we use most often in our designs – neutrals being number one, always. Green is overtaking blue in its popularity (it’s definitely my favorite color!), but it’s still difficult to find bedding in this perfect grey-green tone, so we knew creating a sage option was a no brainer. As is solid white and taupe. All of which blend beautifully with any other existing bedding. 

The Greek Key Motif 

If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that my love for a greek key runs deep. I have always loved the consistency of a classic greek key motif – it never goes out of fashion and mixes well with any style – from super traditional to modern. I had a hard time finding bedding done well with this motif, so we decided to create it! We also chose to use the greek key for the towels to offer an elevated look beyond the bedroom.

The Must Haves

If I had to pick just one thing from this collection for a client of mine, I’d pick the duvet and shams. They create a truly luxurious hotel bed look and that elevates any space. Subpar quality bedding can take a beautiful room and make it feel less “done,” so investing in a good set of linens is always worth it to me. A nice set of bath accessories has the same effect, and I can’t get over how amazing the reeded detail on our Beacon Hill Bath Accessories turned out. I use the cup to hold my makeup brushes or some flowers!

Finally, in addition to the Greek Key motifs, we added new throw pillows in the perfect shades of gray, beige and taupe. If the design looks familiar – it’s the same hand-painted scene as my Wellesley wallpaper with A-Street, updated with a neutral palette!

Shop the full collection here!

Last weekend I posted some pictures of a great antique secretary I found on Facebook Marketplace – one of the last remaining truly affordable places to find antiques. We source antiques for all our projects… sometimes in person, but mostly online – our most used sites being 1stDibs, Chairish, Etsy and occasionally eBay. The key to finding great stuff on any website, is knowing what search terms will provide you the types of pieces you are looking for. Here are some tips:

• Research the names of the styles of furniture you like – I tend to search terms like “Federalist”, “French Empire”, “Biedermeier”, “Gustavian”, “Louis XV” and even broader terms like “French Country” or “English Antique”
• Make sure you include “antique” or “vintage” to your search terms and read the product descriptions carefully – there are a lot of replica and faux antique items mixed in.
• When able, pay attention to where the search is looking geographically – you can usually click “United States” or whatever country you are in to avoid seeing amazing things from overseas that will cost a zillion dollars to ship and having to deal with customs. We have had some real headache experiences with shipping from various places in Europe, but then again, some easy ones shipping from Turkey (especially rugs!).
• With Facebook Marketplace, what you click on and search determines what comes up in your feed. You can train your feed by repeatedly searching specific terms or styles. Although a lot of people may not call items by their correct name or term (once found a gorgeous antique chest that was listed as “nice old furniture”)… so it’s a little more of a dig to find good stuff, but you can find some serious steals. Be sure to ask lots of questions and ask for more pictures if something doesn’t have enough info – and don’t be scared away by bad listing photos!
• Measure, measure, measure. :)
• Don’t be afraid to bargain – make a lowball offer – you NEVER know!
• Shipping is a doozy, and can cost a lot – I used uShip to go pick up my secretary and it was great, but not cheap. Just be sure to factor that into your budget.

Here are some fantastic finds from around the web of antique pieces I found:

After posting some pictures of my kids enjoying their playroom sleeper sofa, I got so many DM’s asking about where I got it. Mine is this Pottery Barn sleeper done in Slate performance Velvet. Since we lost our 5th “bedroom” (which was really just a small office) upstairs, we wanted to make the playroom an option for guests, so we used a sleeper sofa down there and made the half bath into a full bath. Now it’s a nice spot for guests to stay and have their own private level. Guests have said the mattress is quite comfy actually!

Things to note when buying a sleeper sofa:

• Pay attention to the mattress dimensions listed – they may be a little smaller than standard mattresses.
• Use sheets with shallower pockets to keep them from being baggy and loose. Try these.
• If placing a coffee table or ottoman in front of the piece when a sofa, make sure it’s light enough for guests to move out of the way to open the bed.
• Measure your space and place the bed in an area where, when open, people can walk around the bed easily.
• Have a mattress topper on hand to add to the bed to make it more cushy and comfy- this is a good one.

Here are some great looking sleeper sofas – most with the ability to customize with a variety fo fabrics. All linked if you click image except #1, which is Restoration Hardware.

Nothing makes me feel more hopeful than decluttering and organizing (or a fresh notebook I’m set to fill with lists and goals and then eventually misplace), and great supplies and tools to do that help motivate me (just like new workout clothes help motivate me – stay tuned for that post!)

I’ve rounded up some new (and old) faves – from the baskets I always pile my kids insane amounts of stuffies in, to the under vanity drawers that are a game changer and my newly implemented clear drawer divider/bins that are keeping my makeup drawers SO much cleaner.

As my new kitchen finishes up I have high “Home Edit” type dreams for that space as well. 2024 is the year I stop being a messy, unorganized person (how I am a raging perfectionist AND a mess is the mystery to solve here).

All items are clickable below except those two ADORABLE notebooks (top left) that are from Papier. (yellow // floral).

Click the images for links!

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I would switch out the hardware on this Pottery Barn vanity to match the brass tones in the rest of the design. You could also paint the trim and any millwork in a coordinating blue color (I have Benjamin Moore Blue Heather here) to match the adorable Lulie Wallace wallpaper.

I wanted to have the Abbott Mirror made into a medicine cabinet because we are always looking for interesting medicine cabinets and have found that option are really limited! As we think more about any new designs, I’d love to hear from you – what else are you looking for and can’t quite seem to find? More medicine cabinets? Bigger medicine cabinets? Floor mirrors, wall mirrors? Let me know in the comments!