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design

Sources for Our Basement Family Room

I’m sharing all the sources for our basement family room in this post! The movie area was revealed on Tuesday on my insta and questions came flooding in. I’m beyond thankful for your kind words regarding the transformation and excited to share more of the sources here!

Wall Color is Benjamin Moore Tapestry Beige

For more before and after photos, make sure to check out this post.

Sources

Basement family room design board. Alternatives linked for items that are no longer available

Shop Decor & Furniture Products

 

Shop DIY Products

Thanks again for all of the love on the reveal of the movie area.  We plan to update the play area on the other side as well. Our thought is to replace the countertop and build cabinets to place on top of it. I will share all the progress on my IG stories so make sure to tune into my stories weekly!

Check out these related posts:

HOW WE TRANSFORMED OUR BASEMENT INTO OUR DREAM FAMILY ROOM

BASEMENT FAMILY ROOM MOOD BOARD AND WALL MOLDING DESIGN AND LAYOUT IDEAS

BRASS FLUSH MOUNT LIGHTING ROUND UP

 

 

 

Sweetest Regards, Patti
before and after

How We Transformed Our Basement Into Our Dream Family Room

Photos by Wing @ Canary Grey

Explore our basement’s transformation from a plain box room with no design elements to the elevated, timeless family room of our dreams. How’d we do it? Using some paint, molding and cozy, kid-friendly furniture made with Sunbrella fabrics that will endure the test of time, both in style and function. You won’t even believe that this is the same room!

 

I used to rarely take pictures of our family room. There are a couple of reasons for that. The biggest one? We don’t bring our phones down there. This is a space we use for play and relaxation, and we try to be intentional about those things in the Wagner household. So, when we spend quality time down there, we leave our phones upstairs. And honestly…it’s a really nice break!

BEFORE

If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you know that our family room is in the basement. It’s always been the most relaxed part of our home. It’s the only room with a tv, and we love to watch movies down there with the kids. There’s nothing cozier than a family movie night on a cold Minnesota winter evening.

Between the tv, all the kids’ toys, and our trusty beverage fridge, this room is never lacking in entertainment or respite from a hectic day. It’s the best room for unwinding and blowing off some steam. The kids could go absolutely bananas because they knew it’s not the place where Mommy’s nice things live.

Which brings me to the next reason I rarely take pictures of this room. Until recently, it hasn’t been that aesthetically pleasing.

 

We finished out our basement space about 8 years ago, but in all that time, we’ve never taken on the project of designing it to our taste. With the chaos of raising 3 young kiddos, renovations to our rental properties, and bringing together the design elements of the more visible parts of our home, the basement family room never made it onto our priority list.

Also, it’s nice to have a room we don’t have to worry about messing up. With a lot of our upstairs furniture, we don’t let the kids jump on it or be all over it after playing outside and getting dirty. But in our family room, the former couch was a second-hand, steal-of-a-deal piece, the back counter was a collect-all for junk, and there was never a time that you didn’t see at least a handful of toys scattered about. You can’t really mess up what’s already messy.

Up until now, this had worked. While we were grateful to have scored the couch for just $100, its fabric wasn’t durable nor stain-resistant. I was getting tired of scrubbing juice and after wet-mushed-goldfish-cracker stains, out of it. My kids are 4, 6, and 9 years old, so spills are going to happen, but I began to feel my designer’s itch to beautify the space and make it more our style.

Brian and I always knew that eventually we’d want to upgrade the basement family room and make it cohesive with the rest of our home. So we started to dream up some ideas, see my design board here.

 

The rest of our home is rich in character from 1920’s architectural elements, and lovingly curated with my favorite classic timeless pieces, but the basement family room was kind of just a plain white shoebox. High in function but void of personality. Free from both worry and inspiration.

And now that our youngest is 4, and officially phasing out of toddlerdom (tears!), we felt the time was right to give our family room a much-deserved makeover. We love this room for all the sweet memories it has given us over the years, and we figured it was time we gave it some love back. With exciting possibilities energizing us, we started planning and decided to split the room into 2 main areas:

  1. Entertainment/movie area 
  2. Playroom/craft area 

We started with the entertainment/movie area which is the focus of this blog post. We wanted to enjoy our regular activities down there, while also being surrounded by a beautiful space we love. With this in mind, we came up with 3 main goals to accomplish. I couldn’t be happier with where we’ve landed, and I’m so excited to show you this transformation!

Basement Family Room Update Goal #1 — Maximize the space with the use of wall molding

 

In order to distract from our low 7’ ceiling, we decided to incorporate wall molding. I’ve been wanting to try wall molding in this house for forever, but the right opportunity had yet to present itself. The family room makeover was the perfect chance to test our hand at this.

PROGRESS

Molding we used

Design experts advise if you have low ceilings, go with a narrow vertical box column. This is supposed to create the illusion of a heightened ceiling. However, after spending quite a bit of time mapping out 5 different options with thin blue painter’s tape, Brian and I ended up rebelling and choosing a square box shape with chair railing. It was our favorite and we went for it! 

You can see pictures of the different molding designs we tested out, as well as the stunning images I referenced for inspiration here. *Note that we mapped out the molding with tape first before painting. Then after we painted, we installed the molding.

Basement Family Room Update Goal #2 — Counter the effects of little natural light by choosing a warm, soft, paint color

 

I love dark and moody colors, but after testing out multiple paint swatches in different areas of the room, it became clear that we needed to choose a lighter one.

We started with 7 different options. We painted them in good sized swatches on different walls and looked at them throughout the day as the sun shifted. You need to see how artificial and natural light hits each color, to get a more accurate idea of which one best suits your space.

Due to the limited amount of natural light coming into this room, the colors that had a brown base were looking too muddy. If you want a little chuckle, check out my Instagram highlight stories labeled “Family Room” to see what the kids thought it looked like.

Benjamin Moore “Tapestry Beige” was the winner! Benjamin Moore “Pale Oak” and Farrow & Ball “Mizzle” were really close seconds. 

Basement Family Room Update Goal #3 — Keep the space family-friendly with the use of worry-free Sunbrella Fabrics

 

The last thing we wanted was for our beloved family room to become stuffy. We don’t want the sweet memories of snuggling to movies as a family, eating popcorn while enjoying our beverages and laughing as we play with the kids, to evolve into, “Let’s not touch that please!” and “Not on the new sofa!” That’s not fun for anyone. Who wants to take on the task of a family room transformation, only to have the end result be one that you can’t really enjoy? (No one.)

I needed a way to keep things kid-friendly, while also upleveling the décor. So, I was thrilled for another opportunity to partner with Sunbrella. If you’re updating a family room space where comfortable, long-lasting, stain-resistant and easy-to-clean fabrics are top of mind, I highly recommend checking into Sunbrella fabrics. 

 

Furniture made with Sunbrella fabric is available at many retailers, allowing you to select a Sunbrella fabric for your custom piece. I browsed through classic and lush Sunbrella fabric sofas, and saw tons of inspiring variations of colors and textures. Think classic style meets the ultimate trusted brand in fabric durability. It’s a match made in heaven. Literally!

The very first piece we selected is this Pottery Barn Square Arm Slipcovered Sectional with Sunbrella Performance Sahara Weave fabric in Ivory.

Slipcovered Sectional | Upholstered Storage Ottoman | Pillows |Flatweave RugPanel Molding

We’re so happy to own our very first sectional! Our old couch was small, and didn’t fit our whole family at the same time. We wanted a sofa that allowed everyone to snuggle together but not too oversized for this room, so the 110.5″ width sectional was the best choice. It actually got delivered eight months ago and we’ve been enjoying it since. Instant increase in cozy vibes and the Performance Sahara Weave didn’t disappoint. This incredibly soft fabric is such high quality.  So far, we’ve been able to wipe away drink spills and blot out a marker stain caused by someone (ahem Jack). Did I mention it’s also removable! Which means, easy to wash when the time comes.

Next, we chose this Pottery Barn Jake Modular Ottoman with Sunbrella Performance Sahara Weave in Ivory. 

This piece checks all the boxes and then some. Since comfort topped our list, we knew we’d be going with an ottoman instead of a coffee table. We love having the additional seating, surface space for puzzles and this one came with the added bonus of storage.

After getting our central pieces for our family room makeover in place, we needed to figure out our secondary seating piece, and an easy-to-clean, stain-resistant rug.

 

We decided this beautiful Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Bella Bedroom Sofa with Sunbrella Performance Textured Two-Tone Linen in Taupe would create the perfect balance of style for this room. 

Our sectional has a more casual feel, and this settee adds the perfect graceful touch. It’s kind of like when you pair nice gold jewelry with a casual white fitted tee. The jewelry elevates the white tee and together they create the perfect balance of class and comfort.

For our rug with high expectations, we went with the MGBW Acadia Sunbrella Flatweave Rug in Sand. Not only does it beautifully anchor the space with warmth and won’t annoyingly curl up, but the fabric gives me such peace of mind. No more worrying about spills or stains. Plus, we love the way adding a rug — even on top of carpet! — adds depth and an extra cozy style element. 

Next it was time for one of my favorite finishing touches – pillows. 

 

We definitely wanted to stay the course with trusted Sunbrella fabrics, so I was ecstatic to find the perfect pillows at Sien + Co, in shades that have the warm, classic look we’re going for.  It’s been so fun to mix and match them – look at the gorgeous colors of these pillows!

CESTA COAL | CESTA LINEN | SIERRA DUSTY ROSE | CESTA SMOKE

I had so much fun picking out every single one of these pieces. Which detail is your favorite? I’d love to read about them in the comments.

Thank you for following along with us as we give our basement family room a much-needed makeover. Be sure to stay tuned for part 2, where we tackle the kids’ playroom/craft area. I can’t wait to show you what we’ve got up our sleeves for that!

Our family room has always been the place we can all come together, but now that we’ve increased functionality and infused it with the style we love, we’re able to enjoy it even more than we already did.

It’s the same cherished room….just a little sweeter.

This blog post is in partnership with Sunbrella. 

Sweetest Regards, Patti
design

Brass Flush Mount Lighting Round Up

Looking for brass flush mount lighting options? I’ve got you covered with this round up!

When we first moved in over 10 years ago, we needed a cheap flush mount at the bottom of the basement steps. Brian went to The Home Depot and picked up an LED “boob” light flush mount – gasp! To be honest, I didn’t think much about it either. We were knee deep in our careers, planning a wedding, bought a new home and trying to do all the DIY projects within budget. The maintenance stuff drained our accounts. Although I wouldn’t think to ever add this light today, it was a different story back then.

You might also like: Small Flush Mount Lighting that are 8″ or Less in Diameter.

The LED flush mount has been acting up and it is time to replace it. I scoured the stores + online and wanted to share my lighting round ups of all the nice brass flush mounts I came across. Our ceiling is super low in the basement. It’s about 7′ tall so if you have a low ceiling like us, you might want to consider a ceiling flush mount. At the end, we actually decided to reuse a flush mount from the laundry room. We’re replacing that one with a semi-flush mount because the ceiling is much taller there. I’m going to clean and Rub n Buff it with the Antique Gold we have on hand. Make sure to tune into my Instagram stories to see how this turns out!

 

Brass Flush Mount Lighting Round Up

brass ceiling flush mounts

Shop Products Below

 

  1. Dufrene Polished Brass Modern Flush Mount Light
  2. Edie Prismatic Flushmount (10″)
  3. Glass Flush Mount
  4. Elora Flush Mount
  5. Carner Glass Flush Mount
  6. Breton Flushmount
  7. Lydia 2-Light Flushmount; Can also order here
  8. Opal White Schoolhouse Handblown Glass
  9. Brinkley Rippled Glass Flush Mount
  10. Alastair Glass Flush Mount
Our guest bedroom with the Lydia 2-Light Flushmount; Can also order here
Our guest bedroom with the Lydia 2-Light Flushmount; Can also order here. Shop this photo here.

Looking for smaller flush mount lighting options? See this post for ones that are 8″ or less in diameter.

Sweetest Regards, Patti
Lifestyle

April Favorites

The most loved items from April.

Click Below to Shop April Favorites

Sweetest Regards, Patti
Lifestyle

March Favorites

The most loved items from March.

Products Links:

Sweetest Regards, Patti
Uncategorized

Top Recommendations on Things To Do When Visiting Charleston

The last time we were in Charleston, South Carolina was the end of summer in 2017. Jack wasn’t even born yet but the four of us thoroughly enjoyed it! Although, we only visited once, I will always remember the delicious food, charm and Southern hospitality. We will be visiting again as a family so I asked my Instagram audience their top recommendations on things to do when visiting Charleston. I’ve broken them down into three categories: restaurants, activities and leisure. We will be using this as our guide.

If you’re ever considering visiting my city of Minneapolis, you can read my guide of Things to Do in and Around the Twin Cities.

Things To Do When Visiting Charleston on Patticakewagner
Photo I took of Husk Restaurant from our last trip.

Top Recommendations on Things to Do When Visiting Charleston

Where to Eat – Restaurants with Great Reviews

 

Things To Do When Visiting Charleston on Patticakewagner
Photo Via Post House Inn Website

Fun Activities to Try

 

Things To Do When Visiting Charleston on Patticakewagner
So much charm! A photo I captured from our last trip.

Enjoy Some Leisure Time

  • Stroll on Rainbow Row or do a Guided Tour
  • Hampton Park
  • Sullivan’s Island Beach
  • Shems Creek Boardwalk
  • Stroll Old Town Mt. Pleasant
  • Walk Through College of Charleston Campus
  • James Island County Park
  • Walk Around Waterfront Park
Local Showcase: Why We Love Charleston, South Carolina
Photo via HHHunt

*Indicates recommendations by multiple people

 

There were also suggestions to take a look at these guides from other bloggers.

Julia Berolzheimer Charleston Guide

Jean Wang (from Extra Petite) Charleston Guide

There are so many fun recommendations!  Thank you to every one who chimed in. I will report back after we return from our Charleston trip and share our very own experience and recommendations.

Sweetest Regards, Patti
Uncategorized

The Week Highlights and Family-Friendly Movie Recommendations

This week’s highlights.

  • good to know
  • FAQs
  • exclusive sneak peek and info
  • the friday five and weekend sales

Good to Know

We had our drapes installed back in September of 2022.  It didn’t turn out how we wanted so I didn’t share on my IG. The revision was recently installed and it’s perfectly beautiful and functional.  Head to my IG to see the two reels you may have missed of both installs with some tips.

FAQs

Q: What would you recommend for privacy solution for your windows? 

A: I’d add roman shades or do the double rods.  See my Pinterest board for ideas.

Q: Link to your marble top pedestal table?

A: It’s a vintage find but I linked options here.

Exclusive Sneak Peek & Info

Your family-friendly movie suggestions that were kid approved (note I have not reviewed any of these and only listing what was shared with me – please check ratings and view ahead of time to ensure it’s appropriate for your children):

* asterisk represents more than one people recommended

  • Turbo
  • Luck
  • Ratatouille
  • Puss in Boots
  • Sing and Sing 2*
  • Encanto*
  • Luca*
  • Paddington Bear 1 and 2
  • Babe
  • Lyle Lyle Crocodile*
  • Shiloh
  • How to Train Your Dragon
  • Matilda
  • Raya and the Last Dragon
  • Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous
  • Strange World*
  • The Little Giants
  • Casper
  • Yes Day
  • Moana*
  • Ponyo
  • The Secret World of Arrietty
  • Peabody and Mr. Sherman
  • Biggest Little Farm
  • National Treasure
  • Greatest Showman
  • Where the Red Fern Grows
  • Dolphin Tale
  • The Muppets
  • Hotel Transylvania
  • The Croods
  • Secret Life of Pets
  • 101 Dalmatian
  • Finding Dory
  • The Bad Guys
  • Petter Rabbit
  • Inside Out*
  • Air Bud
  • Princess Bride
  • Megamind
  • Parent Trap
  • Wall-E
  • Despicable Me
  • Trolls 1 and 2
  • Mighty Ducks
  • Sandlot
  • Vivo
  • James and the Giant Peach
  • Nanny McPhee and Nanny McPhee Returns
  • The Bee Movie*
  • Home
  • Over the Moon
  • Boss Baby
  • The Incredibles
  • Toy Story
  • Up
  • The Magician’s Elephant
  • Miyazaki Films, Studio Ghibli – Japanese Animations

Friday Five and Weekend Sales

click on the photo to shop

Weekend Sales

25% off Select Hearth & Hand with Magnolia

20% Select Luggage, Travel and Backpacks

 

Have a great weekend friends!

Sweetest Regards, Patti
community

The Friday Five & Weekly Highlights

I’m trying something different and putting this week’s highlights into a blog post.

  1. I want to have a place where people can refer to after my IG stories expire
  2. I get a ton of DMs throughout the week and can share the FAQs here
  3. Provide exclusive weekly content for you on the blog with sneak peeks, first to know and exciting news.

Friday Five

click photo to shop the Friday Five

Good to Know

I did a try on with Faherty today and Brian joined in! I love this family brand because of their effortless style, good vibes and great quality. My code: PATTICAKE20 will get you 20% off your order for the next 72 hours only! Click on photos to directly shop the outfits.

Spring and summer outfit with Faherty. Love this blouse color for the warmer weather. My code: PATTI20 will get you 20% off your Faherty order for the next 72 hrs! blouse, jeans, sandals #springoutfit #LTKFind #LTKstyletip #LTKsalealertBrian picked this outfit for Charleston from Faherty. The past decade had long baggy shorts for men so I’m liking this more fitted, tailored style. This sweater is a basic essential + very comfortable - comes in several colors. My code: PATTI20 will get you 20% off your Faherty order for the next 72 hrs! men’s shorts, men’s sweater #springoutfit #mensfashion #LTKFind #LTKstyletip #LTKsalealert

FAQs

ootd. love this blouse top. comfy but looks like i put in some effort 😉. save this post and keep an out for my code with Faherty this week. #blouse #jeans #LTKFind #LTKsalealert

Q: What’s the plant in your bedroom in front of the mirror?

A: It’s called Rio Dipladenia.  Easy to care for but currently out of season.  I bought for $3 at the store last summer. They bloom so beautifully!

Q: Link for the flush mount in our bedroom?

A: Bedroom sources can be found here. Including the flush mount.

Q: What do you use to create your mood boards for the bedroom?

A: Adobe InDesign.  I’ve been using this program since college and was required when I was a product designer. If I didn’t know InDesign, I’d try Canva.

Q: Did you size up for the Askov Finlayson Parka?

A: No.  I typically wear size XXS or XS. My parka is XS + fits perfectly.  Reminder, their end of season sale is happening right now. $200 off – click here to shop!

Q: Where did you get your accent chairs in your living room?

A: Interior Define.  Love them! However, they recently sold off to another company after some financial & shipping issues so please do your research!

Exclusive Sneak Peek & Info

I know you’re wondering which bed did we decide on??? Drumroll…The Caldwell Camel Brown Oak Wood Upholstered Storage Queen Bed by Jake Arnold!

Side note. It’s always an experience sharing any project on Instagram. I get all kinds of unsolicited opinions lol. I don’t mind people sharing as long as they’re respectful and you all do such a great job of this! I’ve gotten some funny comments saying the beds remind them of a tombstone, French toast, loaf of bread to…a bum! Kindness and humor are always welcome here but I won’t put up with rude or mean comments which I rarely encounter (I ignore them and move on). If you want to share projects publicly, just remember to be strong in your stance. Not everyone will like or agree with your choices and that’s okay! Take it with a grain of salt.

Have a great weekend friends!

Sweetest Regards, Patti
design

Adding Classic Design Elements to Our Ensuite Bedroom

Looking for inspiration to adding classic design elements to your ensuite bedroom? I’m sharing my design boards in this post.

I feel like the ensuite bedroom is always last on everyone’s list. It is for us at least, from a design standpoint. When we moved in, we stripped the old peeling wallpaper, painted the walls, refinished the wood floor and called it a day.  That’s actually a lot of work! It wasn’t until we renovated the ensuite bathroom that the design elements for our bedroom came into play. Before I share my style boards for adding classic design elements to our ensuite bedroom, let’s take a walk down memory lane.

See our bedroom sources here

Tour the girls’ shared bedroom

Tour Jack’s bedroom

2011 Picture of our bedroom from the listing

I fell in love with this main bedroom instantly! The sleeping porch was such a cool room off the bedroom and even with small closets, we could see all of its potential.

2012 Stripped old peeling wallpaper

We did all of the work ourselves stripping the old wallpaper from the ensuite bedroom. Every night after getting home from work, we’d have dinner and start working on the house. Usually staying up until 1:00am to make as much progress as we could. We painted all of the walls and trim and it stayed untouched until almost 10 years later.

2022 During our our ensuite bathroom renovation, added wardrobe built-ins and repainted

Wardrobe built-ins were added on each side to expand our closet foot print. It also added a classic design element. Last, the walls were painted a creamy color in Benjamin Moore Cloud Cover.

What’s next?

This year, we plan to add drapes with Euro pleats and a French return rod, which will really dress up this room and make it look more classic. I can’t wait to share that with you next week!

Then, the design magic is more with the room furnishings and decor.  Here are the boards for the ensuite bedroom design.  The only difference is the bed frame. Which style do you like best?

Ensuite bedroom design: option 1

Some of these products, we’ve already installed or ordered and some we still need to hunt down.

Ensuite bedroom design: option 2

This was the first option until the Jake Arnold x Crate and Barrel collection launched a few weeks ago! I fell in love with the bed frame in the first design board.  However, I’m concerned that it may limit my bedding selections.  While this bed frame, would allow for more bedding color choices. We were so close to ordering a similar design from Interior Define, several months ago. But we paused after hearing rumors that the company was having financial and shipping issues.

 

Sweetest Regards, Patti
Lifestyle

February Favorites

The most loved items from February.

 

Products:

  1. Ventura hat
  2. Linen white pants
  3. Heirloom Rooms book by Erin Napier
  4. Linen blend brown pillow cover
  5. Rattan wood cabinet
  6. Green swimsuit top
  7. Green swimsuit bottom
  8. Suncatcher leave-in conditioner
  9. R+Co pomade for hair flyaways
  10. Yogalicious fleece lined leggings (read the full line up & reviews of  fleece lined leggings here)
  11. Battery operated picture lights
  12. Wool/jute rug
  13. Custom drapery with pleats
  14. Faux hydrangeas
  15. Scalloped swimsuit top
  16. Scalloped swimsuit bottom
Sweetest Regards, Patti
Fashion

Fleece-Lined Leggings & Tights for Cold Weather Wardrobe

Looking for the perfect affordable fleece-lined leggings and tights to add to your cold weather winter wardrobe? I’ve tested and reviewed 7 pairs of leggings and tights lined with fleece to share with you.

 

When it comes to winter here in Minnesota, you have to be prepared for extreme cold weather and snow. After living here for over 10 years, I’m learning to be smarter about dressing for the cold and making the most of it! I set out to find the best affordable fleece-lined leggings and tights and breaking it down to share with you. Fleece-lined leggings and tights are perfect for everyday wear and since cold weather doesn’t end until May here, you’ll find me in these until then. Let’s dive into it – get ready to cue the Pinterest winter wardrobe inspiration and just outfit ideas in general to help you tolerate the cold while still looking effortlessly cute!

The lineup:

Yogalicious lux leggings
Willit leggings
90 degrees leggings
Roma story tights in nude color
Chrleisure tights/leggings
A new day fleece lined leggings
A New Day ribbed  tights

The breakdown:

 

Yogalicious Lux Fleece Leggings

I continue to sing Target’s praises from affordable home items to comfy clothing. These leggings from them fit right into that expectation. With an AMAZING price of $19.99, a huge color selection, and an almost perfect fit – you cannot go wrong with this selection.

Price: $19.99

Reviews: 5 stars out of 9 reviews

Color Selections: Khaki, Black, Blue, Deep Gray, Greige, Navy Blue, Purple, White, Red

Size Range: X-Small to 3x-Large

Material Breakdown: Polyester & Spandex; Very Soft

Fit Description: High Rise; Perfectly Snugged and comfortable in waist

Status: Keep

 

Willit Women's Fleece Lined Leggings Water Resistant Thermal Winter Pants Hiking Yoga Running Tights High Waisted

Willit Fleece Lined Leggings

With almost a perfect 5 star rating from 1,197 individuals, these fleece lined leggings (and water resistant!) really grabbed my attention. While the price was affordable, I found the fit to be a mixed review. The waist was good in terms of holding in my mid section, but the knees were saggy. They were buttery soft, but the crotch area was loose fitting. The overall cut wasn’t great for me and while my legs were comfortable, the top band not being seamless made it uncomfortable.

Price: $30.99

Reviews: 4.5 stars out of 1,197 reviews

Color Selections: Khaki, Black, Blue, Deep Gray, Greige, Navy Blue, Purple, White Red

Size Range: X-Small to 3x-Large

Material Breakdown: Polyester & Spandex; Soft

Fit Description: High Rise; Saggy in knees & crotch

Status: Return

 

90 Degrees Fleece Lined Leggings

With a strong look comparison to the previous two sets, I was intrigued to see how this one would compare. At first, the fit appeared to be good and held in my mid section nicely. However, the top band wasn’t seamless and so uncomfortable! But the biggest bummer was that the material was kind of scratchy feeling and not soft.

Price: $29.99

Reviews: 4 stars out of 20 reviews

Color Selections: Black, Pavement, Poseidon, Evening Blue, Purple, Rhubarb

Size Range:X-Small to 2x-Large

Material Breakdown: Polyester & Spandex; Not Soft

Fit Description: High Rise; Not Comfortable

Status: Return

 

Roma Story Fleece Tights

I wanted nude colored tights to wear under my dresses and was excited to try this because the description says warm and thick. These look like classic tights and are high-waisted. Unfortunately, the cut was not great (loose around the ankles) and the fit was uncomfortable.

Price: $24.95 (currently on sale for $16.99)

Reviews: 4 stars out of 12,565 reviews

Color Selections: Black, Brown, Khaki, Purple, Wine Red

Size Range: Small-Medium

Material Breakdown: Polyester Blend; Semi Soft

Fit Description: High-Rise; Not Comfortable

Status: Return

 

Chrleisure Fleece Lined Tights / Leggings

I wanted warm black tights that I could wear under a dress or an oversized sweater that didn’t look like athleisure wear. These were super comfortable and in general fit well but there isn’t a tag and they look exactly the same from both sides. Which meant it was difficult to determine the front from the back. Although this one had a strong perfume smell, I really liked that they could be worn as leggings or pulled down to cover my heels to act more like tights.

Price: $16.95

Reviews: 4.5 stars out of 13,294 reviews

Color Selections: Black, Gray, Beige, Translucent, Red, Brown

Size Range: X-Small / Small or Medium / Large

Material Breakdown: Polyester & Spandex; Very Soft

Fit Description: High-Rise; Pretty Comfortable

Status: Keep

 

A New Day Fleece Lined Leggings

Sometimes you just want a pair of leggings that will never be for a workout. These are that perfect pair for everyday casual wear. The overall fit was seamless and at a good price. My only negative was that the fleece was not as soft.

Price: $18.00

Reviews: 4 stars out of 116 reviews

Color Selections: Heather Gray, Brown, Charcoal, Burgundy, Olive, Navy

Size Range: S/M, L/XL, 1X, 2X

Material Breakdown: Cotton, Polyster & Spandex; Pretty Soft

Fit Description: High-Rise Cut & Ankle Length; Good Fit

Status: Keep

 

A New Day Ribbed Fleece Tights

This was another option for nude colored tights. Since the other pair didn’t work out, I was hoping these would do the trick. It had a nod to a vintage look with a chic feel. They were a good fit, holding my midsection in nicely. The fleece lining was nice and soft. The ankle area was not loose like the other pair. For the price, this was a great option! I love that I can wear dresses in the winter with these on!

Price: $12.00

Reviews: 4 stars out of 18 reviews

Color Selections: Black or Oatmeal

Size Range: S/M, M/L, L/XL

Material Breakdown: Ribbed Fabric; Super Soft

Fit Description: High-Rise and Opaque; Good Fit

Status: Keep

 

Now that I’ve reviewed all seven pairs of fleece lined leggings and tights…drumroll…

Overall Winner: Yogalicious lux leggings

These are perfect for a winter date night or to spend time in our renovated basement when it’s all completed!

Reader Favorites: Athleta Tight

You shared your favorite fleece lined leggings and tights in my Instergram poll and the Athleta Tight was the clear favorite! So many people raved about it.  It’s more of a splurge than those I reviewed but could be worth checking out!

Browse All

Sweetest Regards, Patti
community

A New Year, A New Website Look

Who is Patticake Wagner? Patticake Wagner emerged publicly in 2015 on Instagram sharing glimpses of motherhood and our home. In 2019, I launched my blog after leaving my Sr. Product Designer role and wrote my first post ever which you can read here. It was a new chapter after 13 years in the industry. I left something that was comfortable to pursue the unknown. The decision was rooted in craving more time with my children so I felt it was the right move. They are my everything.

Read more about me here

Spring of 2019, right before I made the decision to leave my full time career as a Sr. Product Designer

The Unknown

Then 2020 changed us all. I wasn’t able to invest as much time as I needed in the blog and kept chugging along. For almost a year, I was working from home, acting as teacher during distance learning and caring for all three of my kiddos without much help. Brian was required to be in the office every weekday and the unknown lingered over us. Will Brian still have his job? What will happen to our rental business? I just left my comfortable salary, what in the world did I do? Daily anxiety (and breakouts) kicked in but fortunately, I’ve always had the “you’ll figure it out” and “keep on working hard” mindset. That’s what I did. Staying up until 1:00am – 4:00am to get work done, to only get up at 6:30am to do all the mom duties.

back yard garden
2020 Backyard garden project for Home Depot partnership

I Love What I Do

I was thankful for the brand partnerships that came along and took on as many as I could authentically share. Lots of late nights creating content and meeting all of the deliverables by their deadlines. Looking back, I know why I did it but have wondered how on earth I did it?

But when I really think about it, I was able to do it because I love what I do. I love creating beautiful spaces and sharing my ideas, inspiration, projects and tips. And because you continue to read, watch and listen, I know I have the best community. I’m so grateful for you.

The Wagner Family

A New Website Look

After a whirlwind of amazing opportunities in 2021 following a difficult year, I took it easy in 2022 to refocus. My word for that year was “contentment” and it was the quiet that I needed. This year, my word is “confidence” and it felt right to introduce a new website look. I’m excited to finally share it with you!

This new look reflects more of my style and I look forward to connecting with you outside of social media apps. Here you’ll find a full updated home tour with sources, inspiration for designing & curating spaces, DIY tutorials, behind the scenes of our projects and product finds + honest reviews. Ideas that are both attainable and aspirational to keep your creativity flowing as you dream big. My tagline is “Making Home a Little Sweeter” a play on the “cake” of Patticake Wagner.  No matter where you call home, I hope you make it feel as sweet as it can be.

Happy You’re Here

Thanks for stopping in!  Take a look around and stay awhile. To kick off the new website look, I will be choosing one person each week from the newsletter sign up and send over something fun.  This week, I’m *sending someone a $100 gift card to Crate and Barrel. So don’t forget to sign up! Newsletters will be sent once a month. I promise to make them worth your time with exclusive content. I appreciate your support and am happy you’re here!

Disclaimer: Not affiliated with Crate and Barrel. Winners will be emailed + announced the Friday of each week in my Instagram stories.

Sweetest Regards, Patti
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