Mackinaw Road

Travel-Inspired Design, One Trip at a Time

  • Travel
    • A 2-to-4-day Vancouver Itinerary
    • 6 Kid-Friendly Christmas Activities in Chicago
    • 6 Kid-Friendly, Rainy Day Activities in Boston
    • Banff: Something for Everyone
    • Chicago with Kids: Can’t Miss Places and Restaurants
    • Islands
      • 007 in the Bahamas
      • Island Travel Interveiws- Australia, Take 1 (Sydney)
      • Island Travel Interviews, Australia (Gold Cost)
      • Island Travel Interviews- Caribbean Islands, Take 10 (St. Barts)
      • MUST SEE Grand Cayman
      • Top 5 Hilton Head Activities with Kids
      • What to do on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
      • A Guide to Paradise Island, Bahamas
      • The Cloisters on Paradise Island, Bahamas
      • Where to Eat When Visiting Paradise Island
    • Michigan
      • 24 Hours in West Michigan
      • An Afternoon in Grand Rapids
      • A Long Weekend in Northern Michigan
      • A Few Hours in Saugatuck
      • Global Christmas and Holiday Traditions in 2 hours or Less
      • Leland Gal
      • Places You MUST SEE in Northern Michigan
      • Traverse City Wineries
      • What to Do in Charlevoix, Michigan
      • What to do in Leland, Michigan
      • What to do in Petoskey, Michigan
      • Where to Eat in Traverse City, Michigan
      • Where to Stay in Saugatuck: Judson Heath Colonial Inn
    • Midwest Christmas Tour
    • NOLA in 2 days
    • Philipsburg, Montana, Philipsburg Blue, and How They are Related
    • Top 6 activities in D.C. with Small Children
    • Top 5 Delhi Attractions
    • Top 4 Best Spring Break Beaches
    • To Plan or Not to Plan
    • A Weekend in New York City
    • Wandering in NYC
    • NYC in 48 Hours
    • What to do in Asheville, North Carolina (in 24 hours)
    • What to do in Monterey, California
    • What to do in New Orleans
    • What to do in San Antonio, Texas
    • What to do in Savannah, Georgia (in 3 hours)
    • What to do in Washington D.C.
    • What to do in Winter Park, Florida
    • Where to Eat in Chicago: Restaurants for Every Kind of Getaway
    • Where to Eat in Denver
    • Where to Stay in Denver: Hotel Teatro
  • Beach Cabin & Home
    • A Hotel-Inspired Guest Room Makeover
    • An Airbnb-Inspired Fridge Obsession
    • Christmas House Tour 2016
    • Cottage Kitchen Nook | ORC Week 8
    • Cozy Autumn Living Room
    • Decorating with Travel Trinkets
    • DIY Design: Cane Console Makeover Look for Less
    • DIY Ottoman for the Beach Cabin
    • Easy, Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient Flooring
    • Entryway Wallpaper : Serena and Lily Wallpaper
    • How to “Tile” A Fireplace with Wall Stencils and a GIVEAWAY!
    • Inexpensive Backyard Patio Ideas
    • Inexpensive Flooring: How to Stencil Concrete Floors
    • Kitchen Styling: Spring Shelves 3 Ways
    • Kitchen Shelf Styling- Autumn Decor
    • Living Room Plans: A Sectional and Accent Chair Options
    • Modern Traditional Laundry Room Makeover
    • Thanksgiving: At Home and Abroad
    • Travel-Inspired Shared Bedroom
  • SHOP OUR HOME & BEACH CABIN
  • SHOP MY CLOSET
  • About Me
    • Let’s Chat
  • Disclaimer, Disclosure, and Privacy
  • Travel
    • A 2-to-4-day Vancouver Itinerary
    • 6 Kid-Friendly Christmas Activities in Chicago
    • 6 Kid-Friendly, Rainy Day Activities in Boston
    • Banff: Something for Everyone
    • Chicago with Kids: Can’t Miss Places and Restaurants
    • Islands
      • 007 in the Bahamas
      • Island Travel Interveiws- Australia, Take 1 (Sydney)
      • Island Travel Interviews, Australia (Gold Cost)
      • Island Travel Interviews- Caribbean Islands, Take 10 (St. Barts)
      • MUST SEE Grand Cayman
      • Top 5 Hilton Head Activities with Kids
      • What to do on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
      • A Guide to Paradise Island, Bahamas
      • The Cloisters on Paradise Island, Bahamas
      • Where to Eat When Visiting Paradise Island
    • Michigan
      • 24 Hours in West Michigan
      • An Afternoon in Grand Rapids
      • A Long Weekend in Northern Michigan
      • A Few Hours in Saugatuck
      • Global Christmas and Holiday Traditions in 2 hours or Less
      • Leland Gal
      • Places You MUST SEE in Northern Michigan
      • Traverse City Wineries
      • What to Do in Charlevoix, Michigan
      • What to do in Leland, Michigan
      • What to do in Petoskey, Michigan
      • Where to Eat in Traverse City, Michigan
      • Where to Stay in Saugatuck: Judson Heath Colonial Inn
    • Midwest Christmas Tour
    • NOLA in 2 days
    • Philipsburg, Montana, Philipsburg Blue, and How They are Related
    • Top 6 activities in D.C. with Small Children
    • Top 5 Delhi Attractions
    • Top 4 Best Spring Break Beaches
    • To Plan or Not to Plan
    • A Weekend in New York City
    • Wandering in NYC
    • NYC in 48 Hours
    • What to do in Asheville, North Carolina (in 24 hours)
    • What to do in Monterey, California
    • What to do in New Orleans
    • What to do in San Antonio, Texas
    • What to do in Savannah, Georgia (in 3 hours)
    • What to do in Washington D.C.
    • What to do in Winter Park, Florida
    • Where to Eat in Chicago: Restaurants for Every Kind of Getaway
    • Where to Eat in Denver
    • Where to Stay in Denver: Hotel Teatro
  • Beach Cabin & Home
    • A Hotel-Inspired Guest Room Makeover
    • An Airbnb-Inspired Fridge Obsession
    • Christmas House Tour 2016
    • Cottage Kitchen Nook | ORC Week 8
    • Cozy Autumn Living Room
    • Decorating with Travel Trinkets
    • DIY Design: Cane Console Makeover Look for Less
    • DIY Ottoman for the Beach Cabin
    • Easy, Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient Flooring
    • Entryway Wallpaper : Serena and Lily Wallpaper
    • How to “Tile” A Fireplace with Wall Stencils and a GIVEAWAY!
    • Inexpensive Backyard Patio Ideas
    • Inexpensive Flooring: How to Stencil Concrete Floors
    • Kitchen Styling: Spring Shelves 3 Ways
    • Kitchen Shelf Styling- Autumn Decor
    • Living Room Plans: A Sectional and Accent Chair Options
    • Modern Traditional Laundry Room Makeover
    • Thanksgiving: At Home and Abroad
    • Travel-Inspired Shared Bedroom
  • SHOP OUR HOME & BEACH CABIN
  • SHOP MY CLOSET
  • About Me
    • Let’s Chat
  • Disclaimer, Disclosure, and Privacy

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Interior Design

Elegant Dining Room Refresh

Well.. we made it to Week 6 of the One Room Challenge! It was touch-and-go for awhile there. (It always is with me- haha!) But, I am so SO excited…

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November 9, 2019
Interior Design

A Table Lamp Round Up, Favorite Cubes, a Podcast, and More

Hi and Happy New Year! I hope you all had a safe and restful holiday season. Today, I’m sharing our Living Room Lighting, a Round Up of 9 Table Lamp…

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January 5, 2021
Fashion, Food and Drink, USA Travel

A Weekend in New York City

  Oh New York. Where to even begin? This city has my heart. The energy, the design, the history, the people. All of it. Keep reading for how R and…

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May 5, 2022
  • Gifts

    The Best Gifts for 7 Year Olds

    August 26, 2026 /

    It is so fun to have nieces and nephews that are younger than our children! We can live vicariously through them and are able to hear about all the new ideas and inventions. (Tin Can phone, I’m looking at you.) Below are some things that my kids loved, some that my niece and nephew love, and some ideas for the upcoming holiday season. So, keep reading for some of the Best Gifts for 7 Year Olds.

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    Gifts for 2 Year Olds

    Gifts for 2 Year Olds

    October 12, 2025
    August Updates: Beach Cabin

    Mackinaw Road: August Updates

    September 1, 2021
    Baby and Toddler Gift Guide

    Gifts for Babies & Toddlers

    October 23, 2024
  • Summer Tablescape Ideas
    Styling

    Summer Tablescape Ideas

    August 24, 2026 /

    Hi and Happy August! My mom and I spent the morning together at the Beach Cabin and decided that it would be fun to set a summer tablescape. It quickly turned into two.

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    Cottage Dry Bar

    Beach Cabin Dry Bar

    August 11, 2023
    MCM Living Room Layout

    Midcentury Lodge: Creating a Warm, Polished, and Unique Space

    February 2, 2023
    Cozy Christmas Fireplace, Tree, and Puzzle

    A Cozy Christmas: Red & Green Christmas Tree and Mantle

    December 4, 2020
  • Teen Boy Bedroom Ideas
    Decorating

    Teen Boy Room Ideas

    August 6, 2026 /

    Our son’s room has received multiple refreshes throughout the years. This happens when you move into the house at 6 months old I suppose. But, this is likely the final push. It’s fine. I’m fine. Our son has multiple interests including soccer and skiing. While I didn’t want this to be a “theme room,” I did want to incorporate the things that he is into currently (but that could be switched out with changing activities). Oh, and I’m sort of into plaid lately. So there’s that. I tried to add it in various ways, from curtains to wallpaper to duvet covers in order to give various commitment and price levels.…

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    Inexpensive Tiling: How to Stencil Your Fireplace

    How to “Tile” A Fireplace with Wall Stencils and a GIVEAWAY!

    September 24, 2018
    Living Room Accent Chair Options

    Living Room Plans: A Sectional and Accent Chair Options

    October 19, 2020
    Living Room Tv | TV artwork

    Mackinaw Road Mondays: Springtime, Sunglasses, Flowers, and More

    March 17, 2020
  • Things that Caught My Eye
    Uncategorized

    The Quarterly 09

    July 23, 2026 /

    Summer is in full swing (and I won’t accept any other sentiments until it is over on September 21). What a great summer it has been! A European trip, some home updates, a few new summer outfits, and books that I have been using as references for a few friend projects that I get to be on text for. Oh, and my skin care holy grails, Things that Caught My Eye, and a Coastal Cottage Girls Room Design Board.

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    You May Also Like

    Cottage Bedroom Mood Board

    Mackinaw Road Monday: Mood Boards & Headboards

    April 13, 2020
    Guest Room Design Board

    The Quarterly 07

    January 15, 2026
    Vintage Basement Nintendo

    A Vintage Basement

    January 21, 2026
  • Parc Guell
    International Travel

    Barcelona: 4 Day Intinerary

    July 13, 2026 /

    We just returned from 8 Days in Spain and it was wonderful! Our daughter and I traveled to Italy last summer and were excited to bring the boys back for a European summer this year. Just as we did when the four of us visited Portugal (Lisbon & The Algarve), we broke the trip up into a city visit and coastal exploration. And just like before, we sort of wished for one day less in the city and one more beachside. Per usual, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start with our action packed 4 days in Barcelona.

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    Montreal

    What to Do in Montreal

    July 28, 2025
    Bahamas Turquoise Water

    A Guide to Paradise Island, Bahamas

    May 9, 2022
    Cami de Ronda Hiking

    3 Days in Tossa de Mar

    July 1, 2026
  • Cami de Ronda Hiking
    International Travel

    3 Days in Tossa de Mar

    July 1, 2026 /

    What a literal breath of fresh air! Tossa de Mar has my heart. I absolutely loved our time in this village complete with stunning water and beaches, hiking, kayaking, a million adorable restaurants and cafes… oh, and a fortified medieval town (Vila Vella) . And the people were so nice! Highly recommend. Tossa de Mar is about a 1.5 hour car or bus ride from Barcelona and is part of Costa Brava. I had originally planned on our family taking a day trip to check out some other towns in Costa Brava. However, upon setting foot in Tossa de Mar we were in immediate agreement that we would just stay…

    read more

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    Bahamas Turquoise Water

    A Guide to Paradise Island, Bahamas

    May 9, 2022
    Montreal

    What to Do in Montreal

    July 28, 2025
    Where to Get Great Views of Lisbon: Largos das Portas do Sol

    Lisbon in 5 Days

    April 25, 2023
  • Modern Coastal Powder Room Serena & Lily
    Styling

    Modern Coastal Home: Staging Project

    June 9, 2026 /

    Art is of the essence in this lovely newer build home. Tying the family’s beautiful collected pieces in while incorporating some subtle styling was all this house needed to get ready for open houses and walk throughs. You may recognize some of the items from my modern colonial, small shops around town, and bigger box stores. The family has lived in Germany, has ties to Italy, and gives coastal vibes too. All of this tied in with a love of midcentury and modern, and we had a  fun project on our hands!

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    Classic Thanksgiving

    A Classic Thanksgiving Tablescape

    December 3, 2024
    Fall Porch Decor

    Cozy Throw Blankets, Velvet Pillows, & More

    September 28, 2022
    Simple Christmas Kitchen

    A Simple Christmas Kitchen: Brass & Berry

    December 11, 2020
  • The Perfect Wallpaper
    DIY

    Stairway Wallpaper: A Tutorial & Wallpaper Options

    May 30, 2026 /

    Okay- that was click bait. Sort of. This was my first attempt at wallpapering so I really am not qualified to be writing a tutorial. However, I am happy to share what I learned. This project was so satisfying, as the kids would say, but my favorite part was (and likely always will be) sifting through and choosing the perfect paper for the space.

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    Ski Organization

    Ski Room Storage

    February 6, 2025
    Under $25 Grout Refresh

    Tips for an Under $25 Grout Refresh

    April 3, 2020
    Stay at Home Watercolor

    Mackinaw Road Mondays: 5 At Home Art Projects

    April 20, 2020
  • Spring Birthday Party
    Uncategorized

    The Quarterly 08

    April 20, 2026 /

    Well we are back from Spring Break and officially have a driver. Time is a thief. Not to waste it… Here is what I have to share- a spring birthday tablescape and menu, what we did in the Bahamas with our teens and parents, a book, a show I loved then hated, a show I hated then loved, Spring Things that Caught My Eye, and a Design Board.

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    Dining Room Accent Chair

    Mackinaw Road March Updates

    March 23, 2023
    The Best Dining Room Chairs

    Mackinaw Road: The Quarterly 03

    November 18, 2024
    Design Board Bedroom

    Mackinaw Road: The Quarterly 04

    February 21, 2025
  • Where to Eat in Tampa
    US Travel

    Where to Eat in Tampa, Florida

    March 12, 2026 /

    I didn’t think I would have much to write about our 3 days in Tampa, Florida. I was wrong. It turns out that we ate pretty well, despite our teenagers’ very specific requests (e.g., Diet Coke not Coke Zero, must have a pizza option). I actually think that I could write paragraphs alone about the last restaurant on this list- design inspiration was everywhere! Spoiler- there was a disco ball. Obsessed.

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    You May Also Like

    Innes Farmhouse

    Where to Stay in Hudson Valley

    August 23, 2025
    Fall Porch Decor

    Cozy Throw Blankets, Velvet Pillows, & More

    September 28, 2022
    What to do by Roanoke: Appalachian Trail

    What to do In and Around Roanoke, Virginia

    November 13, 2023
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