Good morning! I want to show you simple, but elegant coffee table styling for a rectangular shape, soaps I’m loving (good for dry skin), the rug that makes me happy to come down to the living room in the morning, and more!
It’s Five Faves time with Annie and Cindy!
1. Soaps That Make You Feel Good
My daughter gave me this non-drying liquid soap for my birthday, Naturium The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash. Thanks, Alexandra. It’s pretty out by my bathtub.
I’ve mentioned Aesop Reverance Liquid Soap before. It’s an exfoliating hand wash to gently scrub hands, featuring a blend of botanical extracts and finely milled pumice. Your hands feel soft and cleaner. Looks cool in your powder room.
The Oatmeal Honey Bar Soap from Trader Joe’s is great, too.
2. Our New Great Room Rug That I’m Loving
Our last sisal rug was 10 years old and was stained from my trying to clean Chief’s throw-up (he’s got a sensitive stomach) with harsh chemicals.
Our new rug has the soft feel of wool, but it’s made from recycled bottles (eco-friendly) and stain-resistant. We needed a large rug for our great room with a subtle pattern. This is a 10′ x 14′. The chambray blue color feels neutral but It also comes in tan and charcoal.
3. New Colorful Design Book
“The Well Loved House” by Ashley Whittaker. “In her first book, Elle Decor A-List decorator Ashley Whittaker shares the secrets of her colorful, pattern-filled classic rooms.”
This book looks great with its jacket off as you can see below, which is nice on a coffee table. Great gift.
The heavenly-scented, luxe Le Labo candle was a gift from my daughter for being one of the hosts of her baby shower. The box it comes in can be personalized. Mine said “Grandma.”
4. Simple, Elegant Coffee Table Styling
It depends on the size/shape of your coffee table, but I like to style in threes and a box is nice to store remotes and glasses.
Similar boxes:
How to style a simple, elegant coffee table…
5. What to Watch
We just finished the last season of “Derry Girls.” It was cute. When I mentioned watching “Empress” last Sunday, these were some reader suggestions…
- “I have a movie suggestion that I watched last night on Amazon Prime. “Perfume”, is a delightful French film about a woman who designed perfumes for Dior but lost her “nose”. You will love her relationship with her chauffeur.”
- “Another great movie on Netflix is I Am Women. So many layers, everyone should watch this, it makes you THINK. The music is great too! It’s only available until October 23 so get watching.”
- “They told us about a movie with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Before Sunrise, have you seen it!?”
- ” If you love Before Sunrise, you should know that there are TWO MORE movies in this trilogy by Richard Linklater, the genius who brought us Boyhood. All three movies are highly rated on Rotten Tomatoes.”(I think these movies are”Before Sunset” and “Before Midnight.”
Thanks so much for your always-welcome feedback!
If you are new here, each Sunday I share my top five favorite things along with my friends, Cindy and Annie. It’s like our weekly “catch-up” phone call. If you would like to receive this series every week, please sign up HERE.
Let’s see what Annie and Cindy’s Five Faves are this week:
Love the new rug, MA. We have the same issues with out dogs … and new cat, also with delicate tummy. And, you know how I covet your coffee table. Is it a find from your time in Paris? My coffee table is a case study in what not to do. But trying to learn from your tips. I love those hide-the-remote boxes … so many great options. Making note of those TV shows and movies. We just started the Daily Alaskan starring Hillary Swank. It’s on ABC so a tradition TV show … so strange, right. But its good! xo
Oh thanks, Juliet! We will check it out!
Your rug is amazing. Did I misunderstand? I thought you said it was chambray, but it looks Tan or Charcoal. It really looks nice and it’s amazing that it is made from recycled bottles. I had a pair of Rothy shoes that were wonderfully comfortable and made from recycled soda bottles as well.
Karen B.
It’s the blue one, Karen. Reminds me of chambray.
Mary Ann, Love your new rug! It’s got the prettiest texture and color. I need one oof those boxes to hold the ugly remotes. You have so many good ones here. I have to check out the Aesop soap. I just bought three of their products when I stayed at the Proper hotel in SF. Love their things! xo
I sort of collect boxes that I see on vacation or at Pottery Barn, Homegoods, etc. They are all around the house, Kim, if I think about it.
Love the new rug! I keep my remote for my flameless candle in a box on my coffee table. Good idea to keep the readers/glasses in a box too. I have the same book and once I saw the cover I removed the dust jacket. We are not alone…I have seen others do it as well. Great minds think alike! 🤣
Such a pretty cover, I know, Linda! Not always the case.
I love my Trader Joe’s Oatmeal Honey soap. So inexpensive but a really luxurious soap. On a recent Italy trip, I cut the bar in half and shared it with my husband in soap boxes. I really dislike liquid body washes. This is my favorite brand of soap. 3 bars for $1.99
Which is your favorite, Cathie?
Only one soap, oat and honey combined, in the package. 2 bars for $1.99. You listed as $6.59.
Mary Ann! So many lovely things today as always! I love Aesop hand soap and hand balm too! Your candle in the hurricane is so pretty!! I love your new living room as much as your last!!
I need to get the hand balm!
Geez my comment just disappeared. Love your new rug and that it is performance! If I could just makeup my mind! I am going to check my PB tomorrow and check out the warmer color. Love all the Netflix suggestions, and I LOVE Aesops! Absolutely the best!!
Hi Mary Ann
I love all the links of things to watch! I LOVE Aesops, absolutely my favorite! Your rug looks so good and I love that it is a performance rug. If I could just make up my mind about mine!!
Good morning Marianne looking at your blog this morning I fell in love with your loveseat in the living room! Can you tell me where you got them? I would be grateful thank you! Trisha
I had them custom-made years ago in Orange County, CA. It’s called an English roll arm. You could check out Serena and Lily…there is a similar one under Shop Our Home.
I am not sure if this is only happening to me, but often when I click on your links to featured products, like today’s boxes, I get this:
We’re Sorry. You have requested a page that does not exist or a link that is no longer available. You may try clicking “Reload”/”Refresh” in your browser, or return to the
Pottery Barn homepage.
It happened with PB and West Elm, but not the Sotavento box or Target. I thought you might like to know.
Thanks, Kathryn! Let me check the links again.