A connected nature-centered Belgian farmhouse oasis awaits in the heart of Raleigh, where Astral House Mindful Interior Design merges mindfulness, sustainability and ageless appeal in this one-of-a-kind abode. In the bedroom, natural elements—think oak, seagrass and leather—seamlessly blend together with warm, organic and modern design elements and detailed fabrics for relaxation to take center stage, explains designer Orshi Wren. A leap to the dining room showcases tradition with a twist, thus emulating a bright and inviting haven for connection, while the outdoor area reveals a harmonious collaboration between the indoors and outdoors—perfect for morning contemplation or cozy evening moments as the weather cools. Here, we tap Wren for her expertise on recreating such thoughtfully curated and connected spaces throughout your own home. theastralhouse.com
Dining Room Designer’s Tips
Invest in Timeless Opt for a well-crafted, solid wood dining table transcendent of specific styles.
Make a Statement Establish your dining room’s focal point via a handcrafted pendant light or a sleek yet sturdy display cabinet.
Tie the Room Together Anchor the space or contribute to its textural depth with a rug.
Source the Look
Furniture Dining table and bench, Ethnicraft from At Home; Dining cabinet, Astral House
Embrace the Natural Opt for premium brushed cotton or stonewashed linen—the organic feel is irreplaceable.
Perfect Harmony Cultivate a serene and grounded ambience by selecting subdued earthy tones. Begin with neutral bedding and introduce earthy olives with euro shams and a chocolate-hued throw blanket.
Layers on Layers Integrate diverse textures like leather, wool, ceramics, linen, fringe and a waffle throw in the same color palette, or incorporate storage baskets to introduce texture and complement the color scheme.
Enhance Comfort Choose stylish options that are also resistant to weather, ensuring a cozy setup that doesn’t require constant adjustments.
Bring the Indoors Out Extend the indoor living room’s style and color palette to your outdoor space, utilizing softer materials and harmonious shades.
Always Accessorize Consider the interplay of materials, such as placing a rustic wood bowl atop a sleek concrete table or adorning a wooden surface with metallic accents. These contrasting elements add a touch of sophistication and personality.
Top pop culture Halloween costumes sure to spook up some fun this season
In girl world—and any world, really—Halloween is the one day a year when you can dress up how you want and nobody can say anything about it. … So says Cady Heron of the holiday a la Mean Girls. And if you’re still sleuthing around for some fab Halloween ’fit inspo, we have the trending haunts to flaunt. Here, a lineup of currently relevant costumes you might find out and about on the Raleigh streets this season. Say boo!
Talk to the hand. If you want to be the “Thing” everyone’s talking about, don your darkest black apparel, elect for a pigtail braid updo and wear a dreary expression all evening (easy!). Woe what a night…
Barbie and Ken
Hi, Barbie! Pink is the perf pick for this ensemble—whether you choose to be cowgirl Barbie, skater Barbie or stereotypical Barbie (you can be anything!). And if you must match with a Ken (*sigh*), the same outfit rules apply. Good Ken-ergy? Obviously.
Oppenheimer
For a costume that is simply, er, the bomb, go classy and old-fashioned with a suit, pipe, a vintage black hat—and the essence of a very, very complex individual.
The Bear
Yes, chef! Cook up the aura of this beloved Chicago chef via a simple white tee and a blue apron—potty mouth and stressful kitchen environments sold separately.
Taylor Swift Eras Tour
Are you ready for it? … Because the outfit ideas are as endless as Taylor Swift’s eras. From Reputation and Speak Now to Evermore, Folklore or Midnights—dress as the queen of the music industry for a major Halloween slay. Oh, how we love(r) it!
Rihanna From the Super Bowl
We’re seein’ red… and red is all you need to channel Queen Ri Ri’s iconic Super Bowl look—sneakers, turtleneck, jumpsuit—and add a pair of latex arm length gloves if you’re feelin’ frisky. Note: Pregnancy not required.
Ted Lasso
Whether you’re attempting to emulate the iconic American coach himself or someone from this show’s beloved cast of characters—a plethora of ideas lay at your disposal. Stick on a fake ’stache (or grow your own!) to achieve the Lasso look or throw on a soccer jersey and add an exaggerated British accent for Jamie Tartt or Roy Kent costume core. Football is life!
Indiana Jones
Face your fears and don the apparel of this famed fearless adventurer with a brown leather jacket, explorer-esque fedora, khaki pants and boots. Just steer clear of snakes!
Pumpkin spice and everything not nice—a few foods that make us say “ew”?
Make no mistake—we love pumpkin spice as much as the next fall flavor fanatic (Thursday’s are PSL day at the RM office!), but some of the seasonal snacks go way too far. Between September to November, pumpkins pummel the flavor market, most notably found in lattes, muffins, cookies and the like. Here, we’ve rounded up some fall foods that cause us pause. Would you give these, ahem, interesting pumpkin products a try?
All about those gainz? Make moves and shake things up with some spice in your post- or preworkout sustenance. Could this be the pump you’re looking for or will you take an L…
Chew on this? Pop a piece of pumpkin spice chewing gum for fall flavor (and fresh breath!) via this six-pack found on Amazon that’ll either last you until Christmas—or until you toss it. We give it two days…
Pumpkin haze might be a new level of tipsy. This vodka could amp up those seasonal cocktail creations with its seasonally spirited pumpkin + nutmeg notes. Spicy spirits worth the sip? You decide.
Top your ice cream, dessert or coffee with this interesting creation (made with 100% avocado oil and sans the fish!) that’s blended with a scad of spices—think cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice. Pinkies up?
Are chickpeas and pumpkin the perfect combo? We’ll let you be the judge. Grab your fave fruit or pretzel to sample a blend of chickpeas, pumpkin, vanilla beans, sugar and a mixture of fave fall spices (cinnamon! nutmeg!). Ready to dip?
“Pumpkin spice is so trash.” Said the creators of the cinnamon pumpkin spice-scented trash bags, probably. If eating it isn’t enough, toss your pumpkin spice leftovers into the bin, also flaunting the aroma of the autumn fruit. What a waste?
“It’s so hard to care when you’re this relaxed.” Channel the chilled-out energy of Chandler Bing in the bathtub a la Friends with a day chock-full of stretch, sip and snack seshes around the city perf for your next Sunday funday (or any day really). And since planning adds energy and effort—this is for you, Type B’s—we did the hard work for you. Sit back, relax and scroll for your ideal daylong self-care itinerary. Me time, here you come…
But first, coffee. Start the day with a caffeine/brekky pit stop at this eclectic and artsy coffee spot. Sit and sip within the cozy and intimate space (you’re gonna wanna grab a seat on one of the comfy couches!), or take your cuppa on the road for your next destination.
Opt for a quick commute by car or stroll across the street to the Capital Area Greenway trail for a hot girl (or boy!) walk to NCMA’s Museum Park. Then, soak in the rays out on the lawn or meander indoors to glimpse the exhibits.
For a dose of Zen, book a stretch/sweat sesh at Smoky Hollow’s uberpopular hot yoga studio. Work out that stress and head into the rest of the day with a blast of postworkout endorphins and mellow vibes to boot.
Hungry? Venture to Downtown Raleigh for gluten-, soy-, refined sugar- and seed oil-free fare via a health-conscious eatery touting toast, signature bevs, poke bowls, salads and sushirritos (translation: a sushi/burrito). After lunch, shop till ya drop with a visit to local hotspots Deco and Curate.
Ready to wine down? Order a glass (or bottle!) of bubbly at Vita Vite’s DTR or North Hills locations and enjoy a sip-sational time out on the patio or amid the artistic atmosphere inside. Cheers to chilling out!
Did someone say massage?! Finish out your day at Woodhouse via the massage table for the ultimate self-care Sunday treatment (think facials, massages, body treatments and more). Spa, la, la, indeed!
Conclude the day with a delish dinner you can feel good about from the stacked palatable ops in the North Hills area—think a signature bowl from Happy + Hale; fresh Italian fare from Vivace; or crepes, salads and charcuterie selects from Coquette Brasserie. Post grub, head home and flick on your fave Netflix show or flip open a good book before catching some beauty sleep. Sunday scaries, who?
The antidote to an early-morning business meeting? Breakfast, naturally. After all, it’s the most important meal of the day—brunch is reserved for weekends!—so why not double down on productivity and add a meeting to your weekday wake-up menu. Dubbed by some as “power breakfast,” morning meals are now being leveraged by business professionals for meaningful corporate convos in a more casual setting (read: in a restaurant over a cuppa and a side of bacon!). Here, six savvy spots for a post-sunrise sit-down.
A Place at the Table Tuck into feel-good food with a purpose via a BYO breakfast platter or sandwich (NTM rotating selections of pastries for those with a sweet tooth) at this delectable do-good DTR pay-what-you-can cafe. After all, good business favors the benevolent.
Big Ed’s Restaurant Make big biz moves at Big Ed’s City Market spot over breakfast fare served all day long (best enjoyed before noon though). We’ll have an order of networking: over easy.
Plates Neighborhood Kitchen All the professionals can be found at Plates—most likely munching on French toast, a sweet potato hash bowl, or Greek yogurt and granola. Pair it with your coffee of choice from the resto’s on-site coffee trailer out on the patio or opt for an indoor atmosphere (dealer’s choice!) for a mega delish meeting.
Mecca Restaurant A, ahem, mecca for breakfast meetings, the long-standing DTR dining haven (as recently tested by RM’s publisher and editor-in-chief!) is a great place to toast to business beginnings with a breakfast sammie, pancakes or an omelet. Pro tip: the grits are 10/10.
Pam’s Farmhouse Well done! Connect with a colleague at Western Boulevard’s ~30-year-old diner serving up satisfying Southern comfort classics—think hotcakes, biscuits, country breakfasts, etc.—for family-oriented cooking and professional collaboration.
State Farmers Market Restaurant There’s no better spot for a business breakfast than this beloved NC fare-focused restaurant evoking comfort in both cuisine and atmosphere. “Y’all come!” … And bring your coworkers!
