Styled and Savored #014
Your weekly curated guide to great finds that make your home life easier, fuller, richer, and happier.
This week’s S&S is loaded with so much goodness it’s almost impossible to comprehend. We’ve got a triple-crown of delicious recipes perfect for Summer, a deadisimple DIY project to refresh your tired, sun-baked patio furniture, and guides to choosing the perfect paint color for any room as well as how to build up your DIY toolkit so you aren’t always having to borrow from your neighbor. Let’s get to it!
Building a DIY tool library
Starting a DIY journey without tools is kind of like making pancakes without a pan –possible, maybe, but not fun. This Yellow Brick Home post is your friendly nudge to build a tool kit that makes projects less intimidating and a lot more doable. From basics like a power drill and stud finder to a caulk gun or painter’s tape, the authors walk you through what to buy, what to borrow, and what to upgrade later.
The vibe here is realistic. There’s no “you must own a table saw” energy, just helpful reminders that building your tool library is a process. They even sprinkle in real-life examples (like why a good utility knife makes you feel like a superhero) and a little encouragement to buy quality where it counts. Whether you're hanging shelves, refinishing furniture, or just want to stop bugging your neighbor every time you need a hammer, this post sets you up to build your toolbox with confidence.
DIY Poolside glam on a budget
This sunny little tutorial from Re-Fabbed is all about taking faded, tired outdoor furniture and giving it a fresh lease on life, with nothing more than a few cans of spray paint and a free afternoon. The author walks you through each step (cleaning, sanding, painting, sealing) in a way that feels totally manageable — even if you’ve never touched a can of spray paint in your life.
And the before-and-after look on this patio furniture is amazing. The end result looks crisp and totally refreshed, like something you’d find at a high-end outdoor showroom. And because this project doesn’t break the bank, it’s perfect for a quick weekend refresh or a pre-summer spruce-up. Sometimes, a can of paint is all it takes to make something dated look brand-new.
Embrace that slow decorating vibe
© House Beautiful
“Move fast and break things” doesn’t apply to decorating, and House Beautiful makes a gorgeous case for the “slow decorating” trend. This isn’t about leaving rooms half-done forever, but rather giving yourself permission to live in your space before you start filling it with stuff. It’s about intention, layering, and allowing personality to build organically instead of being rushed by Pinterest panic or the urge to fill a blank wall yesterday.
The post feels like a deep breath for anyone feeling overwhelmed by home projects. It encourages you to collect pieces over time, live with empty corners until the right thing finds you, and embrace the joy of a home that evolves with you. It’s thoughtful and also freeing. Your space doesn’t need to be perfect right away. Let it unfold. Let it reflect the real you, not just a mood board version, and maybe fall in love with the authenticity of the process.
How to choose the right paint color for any room
Picking paint can somehow be both exhilarating and totally paralyzing. Wit & Delight’s take on choosing a paint color is equal parts practical and emotional, and that’s what makes it sing. It dives into the subtle art of color choice, reminding you that lighting, time of day, mood, and even memory can influence how a paint swatch feels in your space. It’s not just about “warm vs. cool”, it’s about how a color makes you feel.
© Sherwin-Williams
The article gets real about the messiness of decision-making – those 15 sample pots, the weird green that looks great in the store but awful at home, the one that should work but somehow just doesn’t – so don’t be afraid to give yourself time to make a proper decision. Use samples, live with the color for a bit before you commit, and above all, trust your gut. It’s less about chasing trends and more about finding your “just right.”
I can’t wait to make this caprese pasta salad
If summer were a dish, it might just be this Caprese Pasta Salad. Ask Chef Dennis serves up a bright, beautiful bowl of comfort that’s breezy and satisfying. Juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, fragrant basil, and al dente pasta come together in a dish that’s as beautiful to look at as it is delicious, and it’s all brought together with a splash of balsamic and olive oil (or a completely different dressing altogether – more on that in a minute) that makes every bite sing.
© Ask Chef Dennis
What I like most about this recipe is that it’s no-fuss with big flavor rewards. The instructions are clear, the ingredients are fresh, and the whole thing comes together in under 30 minutes. It’s ideal for a picnic, potluck, or just lunch al fresco on a Tuesday. Chef Dennis even throws in some handy tips (like salting your tomatoes to bring out flavor), so you feel a bit like a pro in your own kitchen. Simple, satisfying Summer on a plate.
I’m swapping the dressing above for this tasty basil vinaigrette
© What’s Gaby Cooking
Someone emailed me this basil vinaigrette recipe from Gaby Dalkin’s blog, and I’m ready to try it on so many different dishes because of its versatility, and I’m starting the swap with the caprese salad above.
It’s very much like a herbed vinaigrette recipe I’ve been using for years on all kinds of dishes from salads to salmon to asparagus. The dominant flavor in that dressing is taragon, but I’m totally on board with a basil-dominant theme too. This vibrant green sauce might just become my go-to for jazzing up… well, everything. From grilled veggies and chicken to pasta, grain bowls, or even drizzled on eggs.
What makes it shine, in my opinion – aside from the color – is how flexible and unfussy it is. You throw basil, garlic, lemon, vinegar, and olive oil in a blender and hit go. That’s it. You can tweak it to be punchier, creamier, or more citrus-forward depending on your mood. The article encourages playfulness, which makes it feel more like a fridge staple than a one-time sauce. One of those “once you make it, you’ll wonder how you lived without it” essentials.
Bourbon Arnold Palmer Cocktail
I’ve mentioned before that bourbon is my favorite spirit. I like a good bourbon neat, on the rocks, or mixed in a cocktail like this take on a sweet tea classic with a grown-up twist. Inspired by Charm is back at it with a cocktail that feels like a front-porch daydream. The Bourbon Arnold Palmer blends fresh-brewed tea, zesty lemonade, and a generous pour of bourbon into one of those drinks that oozes Southern charm. It’s smooth, slightly smoky, and just boozy enough to feel special without knocking you out of your hammock.
© Inspired by Charm
What’s great about the post is how low-key elegant it feels. There’s an easy rhythm to the instructions, with a focus on flavor balance (too much lemon = too tart, too much tea = too flat). It also offers garnishing ideas like fresh mint, lemon slices, and maybe a dash of honey if you're feeling it. It’s the kind of cocktail you can whip up in a pitcher and bring out when company drops by, or sip solo while relaxing in your backyard swinging under a big oak tree dripping with Spanish moss.
That’s it for this week. Let us know your thoughts about any or all of the featured posts in this edition of Styled & Savored, and tell us what you’d like to see us cover in future editions as well.
