New Living Room Art

Well FINALLY after having our art prints for the living room for about 5 months, we got them all hung up! We have a big blank wall in the living room, the only spot the room has for art (other than the gallery wall of our wedding photos on the wall behind the sofa). I knew it needed to be large scale and I wanted something fairly neutral with black frames to pick up some contrast from other areas around the room. I love the depth that black creates!

Here is the listing photo of the house:

Here's the room last summer after we installed our builtins:



And here's the room TODAY:


In case you missed any of the previous posts about this room, here's our finished builtins, the DIY hearth stencil, and new rug.

 I found this art on Juniper Print Shop's website after scouring it, and right when I saw this I knew it was perfect. I love the modern yet whimsical feel I knew it'd bring to our more traditional space. Juniper Print Shop is one of my go-to's for client art because it's so affordable and you can even choose to print it yourself or have a professional print mailed to you (which is what we did in this case, since it was so large). The art in our dining room is also from JPS and LOVE it.

Large Frames:

Okay, let's talk about the frames. The great thing about JPS are their print sizes are compatible with Ikea frames. This is the Ribba frame in 24x36". I was worried the plexiglass was going to look super cheap, but I'm here to tell you, I'm SUPER happy with it and would use it again and even put it in a client's home. They're really quite easy to hang and very lightweight. While I prefer hanging art with a picture hanging wire and this doesn't have that, you could install them yourself, but otherwise what they came with worked just fine. 


 Just a note, the frames took TWO MONTHS to arrive to me because of Covid. But they are here and I am so happy. I thought for sure they were gonners ;)



 Hanging Height:

You want the center of your art to be about 58-61" from the ground up the wall. Mark this measurement on your wall before starting, then get the center of the art at this location by having one person hold it up, then a second person marking the top of the frame so that you know where the top will be. From there, measure down to the hanging hook to see how far down you need to put your nail in order for the height to be correct. I have a story about this on instagram highlights if you want a more in depth look at how we hang art!



Art Size & Placement: 

I'm so happy with the size and that I went with the larger one. I was debating back and forth between this size or one size smaller, but then I remember my golden rule: when in doubt, always go bigger. We centered them on this wall since nothing is along the wall; however, we would love to get a larger sectional sofa soon and if we do, the long part would sit along this back wall and we may have to rehang the art to be centered over the sofa depending on placement and length of the sofa. We'll see! 

General Tip: you want your wall art to take up about 1/3-2/3 the size of the wall OR 2/3 the size of whatever it is hanging over (in this case, it's not hanging over anything, but say there was a sofa along this wall-- you'd want to make sure it was about 2/3 the length of that).






 Doesn't art just totally finish off a space? Well, that and window treatments :)  Thanks for taking a peek! Other than our new sofa we hope to get in the coming year and a window bench seat for our bay window, the room is done!


xoxo



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Beauty Sale Favorites + Safe Sun Care Tips

Hey friends! I'm popping in to share something I'm really passionate about with you today: safer beauty and clean skincare products! Each summer I share some tips with you on how to make safer choices on sunscreen, since we're all wearing it (wink wink, at least you should be;)) I'm diving into that below, but first, take a peek at some of my favorites from Beautycounter's Friends and Family Sale. (You can read more about why I switched to safer beauty here!)


Almost our entire site is 15% off right now with a couple exclusions, plus a section of 30% off items, too. Here are some favorites from the 15% off section:

#1 Brightening Facial Oil: evens skin tone, smooths skin, hydrates and packs pores with GOOD oil.
Charcoal Mask: say goodbye to blackheads and hello to smoother, more evenly toned skin.
Resurfacing Peel: wake up with brighter, glowing skin, thanks to all the botanically derived acids in this serum.
Lip Gloss: my favorite lip gloss I've ever tried! It's not sticky and it lasts for a long time on me. For summer, I love Azalea, and for a nice neutral, Rosewood is my go-to. Peony is also a runner up!
Body Butter in Citrus Mimosa: it smells like summer in a bottle!
Countertime Radiance Serum: for mature skin, this serum is a must because of our special blend of swiss alpine rose and bakuchiol, targeted to deliver noticeable decrease in fine lines and wrinkles, and increase in elasticity.

Favorite 30% off products:

Tinted Sunscreen Spray: this gives you sun protection but also delivers a slight bronze glow! It washes right out of swimsuits and clothes (in my experience), so don't worry about that.
Sunscreen: formulated with non-nano zinc and California Poppy, this physical SPF 30 formulation provides an effective shield from UVA and UVB, while being gentle and pleasant feeling on the skin.
SOS Spot Treatment: put this on your pimples and they'll be half the size the next morning. I can't be without this guy!
+ Countermatch Eye Cream: this is a great eye cream to start with, if you don't have mature skin. It helps your concealer go on nice and smooth and helps keep the area moisturized to prevent fine lines and wrinkles.
Countercontrol All Clear Starter Set: this travel size collection of our acne and oily skin prone line is the perfect way to try it out without breaking the bank!
Countermatch Intense Moisture Serum: pack your pores with moisture at night to ensure you're well hydrated for the next day!


Okay, onto the important part: sun care that is safe for you and the ocean!

* Did you know that 5 sunburns at any age increase your chance of skin cancer by 50%? That was enough to wake up this California-sun-loving-girl!

*90% of signs of aging are because of the exposure to sun.

* No need to get any SPF over 50, as the benefits max out.

*SPF = Sun Protection Factor SPF is the measurement for defense from UVB rays • SPF 15 = blocks 93% of UVB rays • SPF 30 = blocks 97% of UVB rays • SPF 50 = blocks 98% of UVB rays

UVB: UVB are the rays that lead to sunburn. On average, five sunburns at any age doubles one’s risk for melanoma.* *Skin Cancer Foundation

UVA: UVA = Aging sun rays. While UVA is almost undetectable because these rays do not change the color of the skin, they do penetrate deeper into the dermis of the skin, where they can potentially cause free-radical damage that leads to skin aging. UVA rays are equally intense no matter the season, AND they penetrate clouds and glass.

BLUE LIGHT: One ray that is becoming top of mind as we spend more and more time in front of computers, smart phones and tablets is Blue Light. Blue Light is a trendy topic in the technology realm, but, Blue Light is actually everywhere. When outside, light from the sun travels through the atmosphere. The shorter, high energy blue wavelengths that make up Blue Light, collide with the air molecules, causing blue light to scatter. This is in fact what makes the sky look blue.

EFFECTS OF BLUE LIGHT: Its skin-aging effects can potentially be as much of a concern as those caused by UVA & UVB. The latest research suggests it may damage skin proteins and lipids. When these are damaged, signs of age like loss of skin elasticity, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation are possible.

* The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is very helpful tool to find what's safe and what's not the best. Their database is full of thousands upon thousands of products and they rate them from 1-10 on their safety (1 being safe and 10 being considered toxic/not the safest option). You can literally scan the barcode of a product on their app and it'll give you a rating if it's in the database. They also have this helpful chart to keep on hand when searching for sunscreen and finding out about the ingredients in what you use. You want to stay in the green zone, but it's really the bottom two that are your safest bets. 


SIX TIPS IN CHOOSING A SAFE SUNSCREEN:

1. CHOOSE MINERAL SUNSCREEN. Opt for products whose main ingredients are either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Chemical sunscreens are more popular because one of the complaints many people have regarding mineral (also known as "physical") sunscreens is the white, chalky-like residue they can and often do leave on the skin. However, Beautycounter's mineral sunscreens are formulated to blend easily onto skin with hardly any white residue. This is why I love Beautycounter.

Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, sit on the surface of the skin and physically bounce or reflect sun’s rays away from the skin. Mineral sunscreens are great for people with sensitive skin as well as babies and kids.

2. BROAD SPECTRUM PROTECTION. Opt for sunscreens that protect against UVA (the rays that age) and UVB (the rays that burn).  Beautycounter's newly reformulated mineral sunscreens protect against UVA, UVB and Blue Light, all things we want to avoid to keep healthy skin.

3. NO RETINYL PALMITATE. Some sunscreens contain Retinol or Retinyl Palmitate (as many facial moisturizers with SPF often do). Studies have shown that this vitamin A derivative may trigger the development of skin tumors and lesions when used on the skin in the presence of sunlight. Yikes! It's best to avoid this ingredient! It is never found in any Beautycounter products as it's one of many products on The Never List.

4.  NON-AEROSOL SPRAY. If you prefer the ease of a sunscreen spray choose a non-aerosol option, as the propellant chemicals of aerosol cans can be harmful. Beautycounter's sunscreen spray is air-powered, delivering convenience without harsh chemicals. (They really do think of everything!)

5.  AVOID FRAGRANCES. Synthetic fragrances can have any number of harmful chemicals because they are considered "trade secrets" and they aren't legally obligated to report their ingredients. Isn't that crazy?! This is one of my favorite things about Beautycounter. All the ingredients are listed and everything has such a wonderful scent, usually made up of essential oils.

6. DON'T BE FOOLED BY CLEVER MARKETING: A lot of companies will claim they are paraben-free, gluten-free, vegan, cruelty-free. And while all these things are good, it still doesn't make the product SAFE. If a product is all of those things, but has fragrance or contains a couple other potentially harmful ingredients, the claims they make for marketing don't really matter, right?! We used to use a very well-known brand of sunscreen that said it was paraben and gluten free, so I thought I was in the clear. Come to find out, it has the two most harmful chemicals sunscreen can have! I felt a little lied to, not going to lie. This was about the time I joined Beautycounter, so I thankfully found our sunscreen as an amazing alternative.



NEW face (out of stock, put your email in to be notified) / body mist / face stick / tinted mist (I use light/medium) / lotion / cooling gel

WHY IS IT SAFER?

Beautycounter prohibits chemical SPF filters due to their high potential for skin irritation, opting instead for physical sunscreens, more commonly known as mineral sunscreen. Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, sit on the surface of the skin and physically bounce or reflect sun’s rays away from the skin. Mineral sunscreens are great for people with sensitive skin, as well as babies and kids. 
Beautycounter never uses Octinoxate, Oxybenzone (or any other chemical sunscreen), parabens, retinol, retinyl palmitate or synthetic fragrance. 

You can check out our Never List of over 1800 ingredients we never put into products, because Beautycounter feels there are much safer options. Here's a little cheat sheet for you:



Another bit of exciting Beautycounter news is we are partnering with Sephora in July! We'll have 11 of our most popular products in hundreds of stores across the US as a part of their clean beauty movement. You are welcome to buy products from Sephora :) Of course, I still really appreciate your ongoing support of my small business, too!

Hope this helps you have a safe, sunny, summer!

xoxo


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If you want to learn more about Beautycounter, please let me know. I'd love to chat and share my experience as a consultant.
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New Website Reveal

Oh my goodness, I haven't blogged in over two weeks! For good reason, I've been busy behind the scenes getting ready for today's big website reveal! I'm so thrilled to show you my new online home, beautifully designed by Rachel at Intentionally Designed. My goal was to more clearly communicate my passion, packages and services, and of course, update the look to a fresh, beautiful, classic aesthetic that I felt matched my brand and where I was heading stylistically. 

It seems like a really good time to celebrate a fresh new look, after spending 3-4 months inside and having most of my projects put on hold. Finally, my client projects are back up and running and it feels so good to be doing what I love again (and getting my clients into their beautiful new spaces!)

Rachel updated my brand to exactly what I wanted to portray and I hope you love it as much as I do!

Take a look here!


I just love the sweet little update Rachel made on my logo; adding this house and the florals inside really encapsulates my passions. Two of my favorite things, representing the beauty we will create together in your home. I also love the tagline we came up with, I'll let you head to the site to see it!



Ashley Slater Photography

I hope this newly designed online space will be somewhere you can learn about my love for design and my joy of serving my clients well through design. I'd love if you took a peek! You can find my portfolio here and my design services here. 

I'm now booking new construction, renovation and consultation clients in West Michigan. I'll try to fit in as many out-of-state virtual clients when I can :)

After you take a peek at the new site, you have to head to instagram to enter our giveaway with Box + Bow. We curated a beautiful gift box with little goodies to make your home more lovely. And the best part?! You get to win one for you AND a friend. 

Thank you for being here, friends. And thank you for supporting me through the years. I am the luckiest to have readers and clients like you!

xoxo




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