Category: Modern

MASTER BEDROOM REFRESH

~ Rachel Jane ~ 2 Comments

On a day around the last week of August when I step outside, I can feel it - a nearly imperceptible shift in the air. Something known by heart; The transition coming. Standing on the precipice of a season holding shadowy depths veiled just behind sunshine, of which my soul longs to drink. The autumnal breeze catching me, and then surrounding me. My mood settling into the richness the season will offer, a tune which buoys my creative heart. Welcome, September.

At the start of this year, I had set out with the intention of embarking on a couple of projects in our home that we have been wanting to work on for some time. One of which was a master bedroom update. While we still have a bit of a ways to go, I thought I would share with you what it is looking like today, and the updates we have made thus far. Continue reading “MASTER BEDROOM REFRESH” →

SPRING HOME REFRESH

~ Rachel Jane ~ Leave a comment

Hi there, everyone, and happy Spring! The sun outside my home has been shining for over a week, the weather is getting warmer - bringing with it the thawing of a hard, icy ground, and when I open my windows to breathe in the fresh air, I can hear birds chirping and singing away.

With all of the extra time at home right now, along with being able to tangibly see a turning of the seasons, I couldn’t help but have my thoughts and heart stirring towards change. Part of that for me, always, is freshening up my home. Though I do so quite simply, and largely with what I already have, I find moving items around the home can make an impact, and feel as though you have redecorated with just a few adjustments here and there.

I always desire for The Porch Light Cottage to be a place of peace, inspiration, and encouragement. Though I want to stay positive, I would feel remiss if I were not to acknowledge that there is a lot of uncertainty and concern in our society right now amidst the current outbreak. Continue reading “SPRING HOME REFRESH” →

MERRY & BRIGHT CHRISTMAS HOME - PT. 2

~ Rachel Jane ~ Leave a comment

It’s so nice to be sharing with you again so soon, friends. I find my creativity and motivation to do more writing, photography, and blog posts really comes alive leading up to the Christmas season. So, hello! As my American friends are celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend, it’s an indicator that December is right around the corner. I can’t believe beginning next week we are only a mere 25 days away. For me, it does kind of become “Christmas month”, as I am decorating, baking, listening to beloved holiday songs, and making plans for the latter part of the month in advance. My husband usually takes some extra time off work starting the week before Christmas too, so that we can soak up the season together. I am so looking forward to all of these things. We also just arrived home yesterday from a snowy mountain getaway, which definitely brings on the holiday feels.

Continue reading “MERRY & BRIGHT CHRISTMAS HOME - PT. 2” →

AUTUMN AT HOME

~ Rachel Jane ~ Leave a comment

The seasons are changing quickly here, and it causes a stirring in me. It’s always about this time of year where I find myself in eager anticipation of the holidays, yet I try my hand at steady patience - to have myself wait a little while longer, lest I overlook the joys possible during this particular stretch of autumn; The time where the days are still long enough, and warm enough, to enjoy an evening walk, breathing crisp air as the very last of the departed leaves flutter to nature’s floor. When the hours remain readily open, and we may savour the time given to us by filling them slowly and deliberately, prior to each moment brimming with activity and excitement by the very essence of the season. Where upon looking outside, we are greeted with a lovely burnt colour palette and the radiant glow of the sun, before the cold suppresses nature into latency and whiteness. It’s a time of looking ahead with elation, and a tangible lightness to my heart, before ultimately wishing time would just slow down and hold us longer in the holiday moments we cherish most. Ah yes, I think late autumn is truly full of all kinds of beauty. Continue reading “AUTUMN AT HOME” →

SIMPLE, SMALL ENTRYWAY DECOR

~ Rachel Jane ~ 2 Comments

Hi there, all! Well, we are officially into the autumn season by a couple of days, and I am finally able to embrace it fully. I personally do so as soon as August comes to a close, however it’s now more socially acceptable, haha.
This past Sunday afternoon, my husband and I went on a lovely drive together in the countryside near our home. Here, the third weekend of September is historically the weekend where many of the leaves have changed colour, but most of them are still fluttering brightly on the trees. We are also usually gifted with a spotlessly sunny and blue sky, and this combination creates a beautiful mosaic of autumn colours over the landscape. This is something I have taken note of over the past 6 or 7 years, so we always make a point to get out at least one of the afternoons that weekend to soak in the season. Troy and I have a specific spot we visit, where a grouping of immense trees have begun showering down their leaves, creating a vast area to enjoy the crunch beneath your feet as you walk along the path. Continue reading “SIMPLE, SMALL ENTRYWAY DECOR” →

FRONT ENTRYWAY PLANS

~ Rachel Jane ~ 1 Comment

Happy January, friends. I know we are heading into February soon, but it’s my first post of the year, so Happy New Year as well! The start of another year is always such a refreshing time, I find. I know like me, most of you get the itch to organize, declutter, and plan, and I have definitely been full on into planning mode, so today I am actually sharing a different type of post with you that I have never done before.

The front entryway of our home has been a bit of a pain in the butt for me since we moved in almost two years ago. There is a large window on the side near the front door, and then perpendicular to that is our stairway that leads to the upstairs level, and there is not a lot of room to work with in between. I have wanted a nice console table so I can use it to style the area, but I have been searching forever to find one that is a size that will work, paired with a style I like. Continue reading “FRONT ENTRYWAY PLANS” →

READING ROOM BOOKSHELVES

~ Rachel Jane ~ Leave a comment

Hey, all. I hope that your September is going well so far. I am excited to be back with another little post for you so soon (for me) after my latest one!
As I mentioned in my autumn living room post last week, this is my favourite season for so many reasons. One being that I tend to feel more inspired and motivated to freshen things up, and even to make new creations. This includes home decor projects… and also baked goods, if I’m honest - who doesn’t love making a hundred pumpkin or apple-based desserts in the fall, am I right? Anyways, last week I felt a very abrupt motivation to completely overhaul my reading room bookshelves! They have remained pretty well the same over the last year and a half since we have moved in, save for the odd seasonal update of foliage here or there. Continue reading “READING ROOM BOOKSHELVES” →

AUTUMN LIVING ROOM

~ Rachel Jane ~ 15 Comments

Oh autumn, my absolute favourite season overall. I know this strays a bit from the norm, but I am someone who really doesn’t feel sad to see summer leave, and to welcome the beginnings of the season changing to fall. I’m not one for super hot weather - good thing I live in Canada - so after a couple of weeks of scorching temperatures and sun, I feel overjoyed when we finally get that cooler weather front rolling in, like we have had this week. I asked my husband the forecast yesterday, and without skipping a beat he said, “It’s about 12 degrees (53 F) and overcast, so perfect for you outside.” He knows me so well! Seriously, give me all the gloomy skies and crisp autumn air. It’s absolutely perfect for lighting candles all over the house, listening to soft music, and cozying up in my reading chair with a cup of tea and fuzzy socks. This is why autumn is also my favourite season to transition to for decor Continue reading “AUTUMN LIVING ROOM” →

SIMPLE SPRING HOME STYLING

~ Rachel Jane ~ 19 Comments

Hello everyone, and happy March!
Well, it seems like the groundhog got it right this year, as where I live we continue to have so much snow, and it is still quite cold out most days. We even have another blizzard blowing through right as I sit here and write this! However, we did have some sunshine yesterday, so I am holding out hope that spring is not too far around the corner. Though I personally don’t mind the cooler temperatures, I always enjoy being able to freshen things up around our home for a new season. Spring is often where I tend to spend more time really assessing my decor, and how I want to bring our home out of those winter days, and into the newness that would mirror nature and it’s arrival of new life during this season. Continue reading “SIMPLE SPRING HOME STYLING” →

A VALENTINE’S DAY BRUNCH TABLESCAPE

~ Rachel Jane ~ 17 Comments

Hi again, friends. I hope you have all had a wonderful week so far.
It has taken me awhile to get back into the swing of things this year, but I have definitely been enjoying freshening up our home for the new season over the past couple of weeks. Though I usually feel a little sad after the holidays are over, there is just something about cleaning up and putting things away after Christmas that makes me feel so much more organized and relaxed. It also usually gives me a little boost of motivation (even if that’s often short-lived, haha) to get some projects done (just ask my husband, who has been hanging things on walls all over the house this past week or so… thanks, honey!). Do any of you feel this way, too?
With Valentine’s Day approaching, I thought it would be so fun to share some ideas with you on how you can get into the spirit of this often overlooked holiday. Continue reading “A VALENTINE’S DAY BRUNCH TABLESCAPE” →