Can you believe we’ve reached the end of a decade? December 31, 2019 not only brings the turning point of a fresh start via the new year, but we’re also entering into a brand new decade. This will likely only happen ten times in a lifetime, so we’re determined to make it count! We started taking this blog seriously just over a year ago & we’re so proud of what we’ve accomplished. Thank you to our readers, family & friends for the support.

We’re more excited than ever to keep sharing our favorite home designs, get-the-look features, recipes, wellness tips, travel guides & more exciting blog post series coming soon in 2020. But before we do, we encourage you to take a step back in time with us as we explore the best of 2019 on The Inspired Abode – online & in real life. Cheers to remembering the good times, learning from the bad times & making space for positive change in the new year!

Our Favorite Client Designs in 2019

Co-founder and in-house designer, Kelcy, had so many amazing clients in 2019 that it was so hard to narrow our favorites down to just five, but we did what had to be done. Check out our favorites below & don’t forget to shop the styles if you see items that you think would work in your own home or office!

Emma’s NYC Living Room

In her small-space apartment in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City, Emma wanted to maximize the space & bring a California-cool feel to her East Coast abode. We love the various textures, neutral color palette & seating options ideal for entertaining!

SHOP THE LOOK

Kim’s Living Room

This living room inside a gorgeous Colonial-style home needed everything – with a cozy fireplace and a cutout for the kitchen area, we wanted to make the space feel cozy & neutral, while also being refined. We love the color palette & mix of natural materials!

SHOP THE LOOK

Linda’s San Francisco Living/Dining Space

With gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows in a new modern condo, our client wanted to have a high-end design that also felt cozy with a slight pop of earthy, neutral color. We love how it turned out!

SHOP THE LOOK

Emily’s HOUSTON ABODE

When one of our favorite NYC clients moved to a gorgeous home in Houston, Texas, we helped her blend her chic city style with a transitional Southern twist. It’s so hard to pick a favorite room, so you can see them all (plus shop the looks!) in this post.

SHOP THE LOOK

Carol’s BLACK & WHITE LIVING ROOM 

After purchasing a gorgeous new-build home, our client wanted to focus on the open-concept living room design to complement the kitchen & showcase a clean, classic feel with plenty of seating for entertaining. The black & white is so chic and timeless!

SHOP THE LOOK

Favorite Moments of 2019

One of our New Year resolutions of 2019 was to travel more, and we definitely succeeded!

ringing in the new year in cabo

Our co-founder, Brooke, started 2019 off right in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Although the weather was a bit chillier than expected, eating & drinking in a gorgeous locale was all that was needed. Read more about the best things to do in Cabo here.

Staycation in Arizona

At the end of February, we went to Arizona and had a staycation for our mom’s birthday. We went to Top Golf for the first time, had delicious meals at our favorite restaurants, and rode bikes through a golf course… & discovered that it’s not only dangerous, but a big no-no. Although, it did feel exciting to live on the edge. While we love living in California, we really love visiting Arizona for good eats, great friends & family.

Seeing Celine in Vegas

In March, our dreams came true when we saw Celine Dion’s residency show in Las Vegas. It was everything we wanted it to be and more! We had previously seen Celine in concert with our family when she was on tour, but the dynamics of her Vegas show were incredible.

First Catamaran in Riviera Maya

Our co-founder & in-house designer, Kelcy, jet-setted to Riviera Maya in Mexico at the end of March. She had the best time decompressing with morning yoga amidst the ocean breeze, drinking plenty of frozen cocktails, and of course, having her own Jack & Rose moment with new friends on a sunset catamaran cruise.

Eating & Drinking in Nashville

After a bout of the flu, Brooke got better just in time & headed to Nashville for a long weekend in May! If you don’t know by now, Nashville is one of our favorite cities to visit & we highly recommend booking a trip. It’s the perfect destination for all ages, but even more fun for those 21+. Read more about where to stay & what to do in Nashville here.

Boozy Birthday Brunch Cruise

In June, we celebrated the beginning of the last year of our twenties on a Champagne brunch cruise. The sun was shining & it was the perfect day. Highly recommend getting away for a few hours on the water whenever you need a little emotional boost of happiness!

Attending A wedding in South Dakota

Kelcy added a new state to her travel list when she visited South Dakota for Nick’s cousin’s wedding in July. One of the highlights besides driving through the wide open plains from Minnesota was taking part in a tradition of joining the wedding party on a party bus in lieu of a standard cocktail hour.

Road-Tripping Up The California Coast

We went back to Arizona in August for one of our best friends’ baby boy’s first birthday party. Such a milestone! Then at the end of August for Labor Day weekend, Brooke took a road trip up the California Coast to Cambria, Big Sur, Monterey & Carmel. We used to visit our grandparents in Carmel every summer growing up, so it was quite nostalgic! If you’re looking to do a similar trip, check out our must-see destinations & eateries along the way.

Girls Trip in South Lake Tahoe

In mid-September, we met up with some of our best friends from Arizona for a much-needed girls trip. With all of our hectic lifestyles due to careers, boyfriends, husbands, and babies (for some!), we all made a pact to plan girls trips as often as we can. For our first girls trip, we stayed in a cabin on the canal in South Lake Tahoe, California. We made a home-cooked dinner the first night, had a night out on the town on the border near Reno & spent quality time together on the lake.

Mom & Daughters Trip to Las Vegas

We wanted to have a little getaway in October, so we went to Vegas for a mother-daughter trip & it was so much fun! We tried a bunch of new restaurants – a favorite being Osteria Costa inside the Mirage, which we saw right before the LOVE Cirque du Soleil show. Our trip was also during Lady Gaga’s residency, so it was fun to check out the free museum that included some costumes/props from one of our fave movies A Star Is Born.

Thanksgiving in Kauai

We spent Thanksgiving week in Kauai, Hawaii with our mom & boyfriends. It was our first non-Arizona/California trip with all five of us & it was such a blast! We ate our way through Kauai & experienced an adventure we’ll always remember to view the Napali Coast from the water. More to come in a future blog post!

Post Links You Loved in 2019

20 Coffee Table Books for Everyone in Your Life

A single coffee table book can alter the look of your living room or sitting room dramatically. Coffee table books give your guests a sense of who you are & what makes you happy. We’re not surprised that this blog post was our top post of 2019 – it’s the perfect place to shop for yourself or be inspired to gift a friend or colleague. Photo via Gray Malin.

Get the Look: Coastal-Contemporary Living Room

View the full post & shop products here. We love the neutral color palette with pops of dark blue.

A Nature-Inspired Modern + Vintage Cozy Abode

Shop similar products from one of our all-time favorite home designs from JDP Interiors. Photo by Melissa Gidney via Jenni Kayne

Get the Look: Lauren Conrad’s California-Cool Living Room

We’ve been fans of Lauren Conrad ever since we fell in love with her eyeliner look in Laguna Beach & The Hills, and we love what a classy, cool woman she’s become. Even more so, we love her California-cool style when it comes to fashion & home décor. Shop the products & see the full post here.

Our Favorite Bathroom & Coffee Table Trays

We love how functional trays can be in the bathroom, on coffee tables, in the kitchen – really anywhere! But the best part? Stylish bathroom trays & coffee table trays can also dress up a room & make a statement.

Our Favorite Picks from Joanna Gaines’ Collection for Anthropologie

Joanna Gaines can do no wrong in our opinion. She not only has an affordable collection dubbed Hearth & Hand from Magnolia at Target, but she launched a collection of textiles, pillows & wallpaper at Anthropologie in February & everything is gorgeous. Photo via Anthropologie.

A California-Cool Light & Bright Home in Sausalito

We’re obsessed with Chrissy from Harlowe James’ cozy abode. Plus at only 550-square feet, every room is functional yet serene. Photo by Torrey Fox.

Emerald City Home Décor Inspiration

Looking to incorporate more color in your home décor? Emerald green is the perfect accent color, whether you choose to use it on the walls, furniture upholstery, or textiles. It pairs well with neutral colors, as well as glam items like gold or brass fixtures & marble table tops.

Travel Guide: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas is one of our favorite destinations in Mexico. It’s not only kid-friendly, but there is plenty to do whether you stay local to your hotel or book adventurous excursions. We encourage you to view our travel guide to either inspire you to book a vacation or build out your itinerary. Photo via timeout.com.

Delicious Game-Day Snacks for Super Bowl Sunday

So our readers like dips & appetizers as much as we do – perfect. We still frequently reference this round-up of game-day snacks perfect for any time of the year, like the jalapeño popper dip from What’s Gaby Cooking pictured below. Photo via What’s Gaby Cooking.

Isn’t it fun to look back on the past year & remember things you maybe would have forgotten otherwise? We encourage you to do the same & would love it if you share some of your highlights from 2019 in the comments below. It may spark a 2020 resolution for us or The Inspired Abode readers!

We wish you all nothing but health & happiness in the new year. Happy New Year & cheers to making 2020 the best year yet!