Dorm

Let’s face it.  The typical dorm room is ugly.  Most have concrete walls, stone floors, and mostly resemble a jail cell – most are in need of some dorm decor.  How can a new college student thrive in such a sterile environment?

Alison Gorrie and Kate Phillips, co-owners of the newly founded Dorm-Décor, have gone to long lengths to find the solution.

My oldest daughter, Elinor is heading to The University of Alabama next year and happens to be a Campus Rep for Dorm-Decor.  She wants her dorm room at Tutwiler to be a slice of home.

Since I’m not a decorator and don’t have the time or the energy to go to multiple stores to fulfill my only daughter’s dream of a refined dorm room, we went to the Dorm Décor showroom in Birmingham, Alabama and did the deed in one stop and one hour.

While we were there, I also knocked out all of my graduation gift shopping.  Check!

When I went to Alabama 30 years ago, I found my dorm decor in our attic.  I ended up with a peach covered comforter, mismatched sheets, a torn quilt, and a pillow that no one else wanted.  I was secretly jealous of the girls who had matching comforters, rugs and ESPECIALLY curtains.  We always hung out in their room, not mine.

Dorm Décor has everything a graduate needs–including bedding, bath, seating, windows, cubbies, lighting, rugs, and accessories. It truly is one-stop shopping.  They also offer delivery to your dorm room for many universities including Alabama and Auburn, so you don’t have to lift a finger!

Their flagship product is the cubbie collection that no tiny dorm room can go without.  The cubbies are custom handmade shelves that can be put over a desk or the bed to add more room for the budding scholar.  And they aren’t just for the girls–they have a “man cave” for the guys that Alison says is wildly popular.

Elinor and her roommate Emily chose the white cubby for over their desk, along with some adorable flower string lights to hang around it for a little pizzazz.  To complete the desk area we choose a bulletin board  and of course the all important mirror.

Next Alison showed us a huge wall of fabric swatches for the bedding and luckily Elinor and Emily both liked the “spa” medallion fabric for the headboard.  Alison recommended a coordinating fabric for the custom, very long bedskirt and a white ruffle comforter.  Since no one would get any sleep on the tiny, hard dorm mattress , the girls went crazy over the mattress topper that Alison spent years finding.  This is no egg crate–it looks like a sleeping bag and feels like heaven.

We added a huge, soft lambskin pillow and a smaller velvet turquoise one with a monogram (they will monogram just about everything).  We loved the velvet fabric on the pillow so much and were thrilled to learn that we could get drapery panels to match!

To cozy up the concrete dorm floor we choose the “So Edgy” rug–a woven brown and white that looks sort of like sisal but is ultra soft.  We also liked the Ultra Plush Zebra Rug in turquoise and taupe.

Sheets (guaranteed to fit the dorm mattress) and towels were easy picks and quite affordable.

Since all of this can add up quickly, we “registered” most of our selections on the Dorm Décor website and just purchased the basics for now.

Don’t have a graduate?  Dorm-Décor has something for everyone looking to spruce up a bedroom.  Most items can be ordered for any size bed.  I found myself wanting to completely re-do my 12 year old son’s bedroom while I was there!  I also have my eye on the ghost chair for my home office.

If you do have a graduate or graduates to honor with gifts head to dorm-décor.com or contact Elinor Anthony, Campus Representative at elinoranthony@me.com

Register below by using the rafflecopter to enter to win a $50 Dorm Décor Gift Card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This month marks the first birthday of The Style Gathering and what a long strange trip it’s been.  But get ready because I am hooking you up and celebrating in a big way. Over the past year I have featured lots of different topics and products and today I am excited to announce our Birthday Giveaway.  To thank you for reading along and keeping me on my toes I am giving away two different packages (to two different people).  Each is worth approximately $800 and is filled with all sorts of goodness that has made The Style Gathering what it is today.  See all the items to be given away and their blog post feature listed below.  All you have to do is is follow the rules and fill out the Rafflecopter for a chance to win one of two awesome prize packages.  The Birthday Giveaway will run from June 30th until July 8th.

Step One
mandatory
Subscribe to the The Style Gathering by entering your email in the Rafflecopter below.

Step Two
mandatory
Go to The Style Gathering Facebook Page (here) and share the link announcing this giveaway on your personal page.  Let me know you did it by filling out the Rafflecopter below.

Step Three
optional
Share the tweet in the Rafflecopter below.  You can share this tweet daily during the length of the contest for additional entries.

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Follow The Style Gathering on Instagram and tag two friends in this post (here).  Fill out the Rafflecopter below with your Instagram account name for verification.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Package One
2 x 3 Turkish Rug from Paige Albright Orientals (The Rug Whisperer)
$100 Gift Card from JJ Eyes (Meet JJ)
6 cupcakes from Dreamcakes Bakery (Retro Luncheon)
Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar from Oli.o (Eat a Peach)
One Microneedling from MD Wellness and Aesthetics (Grow Old Gracefully?)
$50 Gift Card from Chloe and Isabel
Earring from Noonday Collection (Noonday Another Way)
2 bottles of Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix (A Boy and His Bloody Marys)
5 packets of Well-Kept Wipes (Home Office Makeover)
1 bottle of St. Moriz Tanning Mousse (Confessions of a Self Tanner)

Package Two
Mark Edge Necklace (Instagram Lately)
Glow Package from Skin Wellnss Center (Wrinkles)
Tuli Scarf  from the upcoming fall collection (Summer Handbag & Beach Bag)
Lucy Inspired Necklace
Scarlet and Gold Phone Case (Fur Vest)
Kaylee Earrings from Shalla Wista Studio (Shalla Wista Studio)
Custom Monogrammed Pillow from Dorm Decor (Refined Campus Living)
$50 Gift Card from Elle (Elle is the New Black)
1 pair of Royal Highnies Boxer Shorts (Gift Guide for the Boys)
2 bottles of Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix (A Boy and His Bloody Marys)
5 packets of Well-Kept Wipes (Home Office Makeover)
3 bottles of Tlish Salad Dressings (Local Gift Guide)
1 bottle of St. Moriz Tanning Mousse (Confessions of a Self Tanner)

Sizes for the Scarlet and Gold Phone Case (in stock cases only) and Royal Highnies Boxers will be chosen by the winner.  Travel to Birmingham will be required to redeem the Dreamcakes Bakery, MD Wellness and Aesthetics services and Skin Wellness Center of Alabama services.