Weekend Notes: Atlanta | Officially Moved In, A Summer Matching Set & Fourth of July Weekend

Happy Friday, friends — and happy Fourth of July weekend!

Welcome back to Weekend Notes.

Last week I was surrounded by moving boxes, and this week I can officially say it: I’m in. The Atlanta apartment is up and running — coffee station and all — and while the furniture is arriving in waves (more on that below), it already feels like mine.

So pour yourself a cup of coffee, settle in, and let’s catch up.

Key Takeaways

• Beth of Style at a Certain Age has officially moved into her Atlanta apartment, a second home that doubles as a creative studio near her granddaughters.
• Furnish a new apartment in phases: anchor pieces first (dining table, seating, bed), then layer in rugs, storage, and decor as the rooms reveal what they need.
• Neutral washable rugs — like Ruggable’s Sarrah Blue Quartz and Impasto Taupe — let statement furniture do the talking in a multi-use space.
• A lightweight matching set (like Ann Taylor’s bubble hem top and pull-on skirt) is the easiest polished outfit formula for hot summer weather.
• The “no-pack life” means stocking a second home with its own wardrobe, skincare, and makeup so you never pack an overnight bag.

This Week at a Glance

The Atlanta Apartment Takes Shape

Anchoring the dining area is my tulip table with these chairs from Wayfair — a combination I’ve loved since the day I ordered it. In the living room, a cane chair and ottoman from Ballard Designs are holding down the fort until the couch arrives at the end of July. (Ugh. Patience is not my strong suit.)

The good news? Next week brings a leather chair from Pottery Barn and two Chinese Chippendale counter-height stools, which means I’ll finally have proper seating for friends and family.

Underfoot, I went with Ruggable for the living space. I ordered the Sarrah Blue Quartz months ago, then once the furniture was in place, I added the Impasto Taupe to complete the room. Both are quiet, neutral choices on purpose: I want the rugs to disappear and let the furniture do the talking. (And in an apartment that will double as a film studio and host two granddaughters, washable rugs just make sense.)

The Apartment Bedroom: A Work in Progress

I started with a white bedframe as a clean, classic foundation and a Leesa mattress — which I already love, and which has me sleeping so well in the new place. Then I layered in soft bedding: a pom pom quilt in cornflower blue and a white scalloped quilt and shams that I’m completely smitten with. The quilt is hand-stitched cotton voile with gently scalloped edges piped in color — soft, pretty, and just playful enough.

Next up: a dresser and nightstands. I’ll keep you posted as I decide.

The Coffee Station

I’m going old school in Atlanta with a Le Creuset French press in a happy pop of red and the Stagg gooseneck kettle, which heats water to a precise 200 degrees. There’s something wonderfully unhurried about French press coffee — it feels right for weekend mornings in a new place.

Today’s Outfit

It has been flipping hot in Atlanta this week, which is exactly why this two-piece matching set from Ann Taylor has been on style repeat — two dinners out and a date thrown in for good measure. (The date? A polite “nice to meet you, next.” The outfit, however, was a keeper.)

The pull-on skirt is divine in the heat, and the bubble hem top will mix and match beautifully with white denim or linen pants all summer long. I finished the look with my wicker handbag and kitten heels — natural texture and a low heel that can actually walk to dinner.

And with the navy and white embroidery, it just might be my unofficial Fourth of July uniform this weekend.

Style Notes

A few recent J.Crew purchases have already earned their keep.

The Cutaway Linen Vest is one of those pieces that instantly makes an outfit look intentional, and the stripe pant — with an elastic waistband that absolutely beats the heat — has been in heavy rotation. Together or separately, they’re summer workhorses.

On the jewelry front, enamel pieces are having a real moment right now, and I’m here for the pop of color. But the piece that stole my heart is this Secret Admirer necklace — I’m a sucker for a monogram, and anything with initials feels instantly personal.

Out and About in Atlanta

A dear friend came to spend Sunday night with me, and we headed to a family-style dinner hosted at a local wine shop. Long tables, shared plates, good wine, new faces — it was exactly the way I wanted to christen this new chapter.

Then, on Monday, after our photo session, my photographer, Jess, and I headed to a Tex-Mex spot nearby. The fajitas arrived with melted butter (it harkens back to my Houston days and a favorite restaurant, Papasitos, and I’m not complaining), but the guacamole was the real star.

One of my favorite things about this location? Restaurants galore, all within walking distance. I have a feeling this section of Weekend Notes is going to write itself.

Brands I’m Loving

If this apartment has an early MVP, it’s Ballard Designs, Pottery Barn, and I can’t forget Wayfair.

The cane chair and ottoman were the very first pieces to make the space feel like a home instead of an empty floor plan, and their catalog keeps pulling me back in. A few things currently catching my eye:

• This rattan tray — perfect for corralling remotes and coffee table books
• A pair of blue-and-white ginger jar lamps for the bedroom nightstands (once I have nightstands, that is)
• A woven jute rug was a contender for the living room (I have two in the YouTube studio and love it!)

Their pieces have that collected, Classic feel I’m after — like they’ve been in the family for years, even when they arrived last Tuesday.

Home Notes: The Dresser & Nightstand Hunt

With the bed dressed and made, the hunt is officially on for a dresser and nightstands.

I’m keeping the palette calm and classic — warm whites, natural wood, woven texture, and aged brass hardware — so everything plays nicely with the cornflower blue and white bedding. Here’s what’s in the running:

• A tall dresser with aged pulls — clean and timeless, and it would let the bedding be the star
• A woven cane nightstand — texture without visual weight, which matters in an apartment bedroom
• A natural wood nightstand with a drawer — because a spot to stash the reading glasses and hand cream is non-negotiable
• A vintage-style bamboo chest — the wildcard pick, and possibly my favorite

I’d love your vote — white and classic, or warm wood and woven? Tell me in the comments.

New-to-Me Brand: Mersea

Have you heard of Mersea? (It’s pronounced “mer-see” — you’re welcome.)

It’s a new-to-me brand with some genuinely fun finds, starting with this market basket that would be equally at home at the farmers market or styled on a shelf.

And my friend Lisa recently showed up with the most adorable crossbody phone case — customizable, practical, and exactly the kind of hands-free piece I need for apartment errands and BeBe duty. It’s officially in my cart.

Beauty Notes: Stocking the Atlanta Apartment

Here’s a little goal I’ve set for the Atlanta apartment: I never want to pack an overnight bag again.

That means outfitting it with its own skincare, makeup, and beauty tools, so I can walk in the door with nothing but my handbag. First up: a set of BK Beauty brushes, which happen to be on sale at Nordstrom this weekend.

And since summer color is on my mind, two shades I’m loving right now:

• On my nails: a juicy cherry red. Cherry-toned reds are the nail color of the season, and a classic like OPI Big Apple Red never misses. (And if you’re feeling playful, Essie Bikini So Teeny is a soft cornflower blue that — no joke — matches my new quilt.)
• On my lips: the NARS Afterglow Lip Balm in Dolce Vita. Y’all know Dolce Vita is my forever lipstick shade, and this is the same soft rose in a sheer, glossy summer texture. Same beloved color, lighter touch for the heat.

Holiday Weekend Sales

If you’re shopping the long weekend, Nordstrom’s sale is the one worth your time.

One of the reasons Nordstrom is my first stop: they carry almost all of my favorite designers, including Frances Valentine — home of my favorite wicker handbag, the lunchbox, which you’ve seen on repeat around here all summer.

Two more standouts?

My favorite sandal is marked down — a summer staple I reach for constantly, and worth grabbing in your size before it’s gone.

And the BK Beauty brushes I mentioned above, which are the first official residents of the Atlanta vanity.

What I’m Watching

The internet is up, the TV is waiting for a console, but the Apple TV is next on the install list — because the World Cup is in full swing and the US is doing well!

There’s something about watching the tournament on home soil this year that makes it even more fun. If you’re watching too, I’d love to hear your predictions.

Looking Ahead

Next week: the leather chair and stools arrive, the bedroom hunt continues, and I’ll share a few more Atlanta discoveries — including, hopefully, progress on the YouTube studio.

Thank you for joining me for another edition of Weekend Notes. I hope your Fourth of July weekend is full of sunshine, good food, and people you love.

Have a beautiful weekend!

❤️ Beth

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I’d Love to Hear From You

What’s one thing you’re loving this week — a restaurant, a recipe, a World Cup moment, or a furniture find of your own? Let me know in the comments. I always enjoy hearing your recommendations.