Happy Friday, gang — and I don’t think I’ve ever meant it more. It’s been a whirlwind of a week: home to Omaha for my 50th high school reunion, then straight onto a plane to Los Angeles for a photo shoot. I’ve landed back in Atlanta to find the couch has finally arrived and the apartment — dare I say it — done. So I’m doing the thing I keep promising: trotting out the rooms one at a time. First up, the guest room, dressed with a Ralph Lauren twist.
What You’ll Find in this Post
Key Takeaways
- A guest room gets that Ralph Lauren feeling from three things: equestrian art, warm brass, and layered classic bedding — no head-to-toe redecorating required.
- The guest bed is the Helix Twilight Luxe, and Helix is running a Labor Day sale — 20% off site-wide, 25% off Luxe mattresses, 30% off Elite.
- This week’s favorites: Cann social tonics as a lighter alternative to cocktails, Rodan + Fields for thinning lashes and brows, and Magnesi-Om for better sleep.
How to Style a Guest Room With a Ralph Lauren Twist
You don’t have to gut a room to give it that timeless, English-country Ralph Lauren feeling — you layer it in. Start with equestrian art (fox hunts, horses, a jockey or two), bring in warm metals like antique brass, and ground the bed in classic windowpane and linen. Add one living thing — an olive tree in the corner does it — and you’ve got American Classic with a little saddle-leather soul: polished, and never fussy.
First, What a Week
Omaha and Los Angeles in the same seven days — I’m still catching my breath. The reunion was every bit as tender and joyful as I’d hoped it would be; if you missed that recap, it’s all here.
Then it was wheels-up to L.A. for a shoot with YouTube x Walmart, and I have to tell you how much I love having a YouTube channel. The team at the YouTube Shopping division are genuinely lovely — I have a wonderful rep and a whole crew of talented people working behind the scenes. In a world where Instagram and Facebook have zero real connection with the creators who fill them, that human relationship means everything to me, and it’s exactly what opens doors to days like this one. The Walmart studio is a proper sound set — the cavernous kind of space where they film commercials — and they’d wheeled in racks and racks of clothes and accessories. It was like being a child playing dress-up all over again. What about this outfit? Ooh, what about these shoes? It’s all coming in a future YouTube video, so stay tuned — and here’s the best part: Walmart is affordable fashion at its very best right now, especially The Scoop and Free Assembly, the lines Brandon Maxwell designs.
A Little Blog Housekeeping
One quick note in case you ran into trouble here this week. We had a few technical gremlins on the blog Wednesday into Thursday — you know how it goes: the tech team fixes one thing and another quietly slips loose. If a post wouldn’t open for you, that was why, and everything’s back up and behaving now. The two caught in the crossfire were Denim Outfits for Fall and Easy Labor Day Style — both worth circling back to if you missed them.
I’m Back on Instagram
A little confession, gang: I let my Instagram coast this past year. I had my head down on something big — my novel, Hidden in the Frame — and something had to give. But I’ve missed showing up there, and I’m back now with real intention. I’m building the account around recurring series, so there’s always something familiar to look forward to, and I kicked things off with one close to my heart: My Mother’s Fashion Rules. Come follow along at @styleatacertainage — I’d love to have you there for what’s next.
The Guest Room Reveal — With a Ralph Lauren Twist
The apartment is officially finished — though is a home ever truly finished? I’ll be tweaking this one for years, same as my house in Athens; the fussing is half the joy of it. But the guest room has landed right where I wanted it: classic, warm, and just a little English countryside.
The bed. My guests keep raving about the Helix Twilight Luxe — that’s the mattress in here — and I dress it with The Dream Pillow Set so anyone who stays feels properly looked after. In my own room I reach for the Helix ComfortAdjust Cooling Pillow, which has been a small revelation for a warm sleeper like me. If a new mattress is on your list, your timing is lovely: Helix is running a Labor Day sale right now — 20% off site-wide, 25% off Luxe mattresses, and 30% off Elite.
Nightstands & lighting. The nightstands are from Wayfair, and each one has a built-in charging dock — a small thing guests always notice and thank me for. I topped one with an Antique Brass Lamp and the other with a Porcelain Lamp, for that collected, mismatched-on-purpose charm. Since move-in I’ve already tucked an Olive Tree beside the calfhair chair — a bit of green in the corner softens the whole room.
The bones. Most of my furniture comes from Pottery Barn, Ballard Designs, and Wayfair — my reliable three. I’ve also got Birch Lane on my radar lately; their classic silhouettes are so good, and often at a friendlier price.
The bedding. This is where a room goes from finished to inviting. I layered a Windowpane Comforter with its matching Windowpane Sham, set a Linen Euro Sham behind for height, and folded a Cashmere Throw across the foot of the bed — ready for the cool fall mornings that are finally, mercifully on their way.
The Ralph Lauren twist. The equestrian art is the whole story — it’s what turns a pretty guest room into that guest room — and I found every piece on Amazon. There’s Equestrian Fox Hunting, a Heywood Hardy Reproduction Hunting Horse, Horse and Dog, Jockey Racing, Horse Racing, and an Equestrian Procession. For a touch of the unexpected, I mixed in an Abstract Horse and an Abstract Woman Riding Horse — a little modern wink against all that tradition.
A New Obsession: Ann Mashburn
Now for my latest brand obsession — and it’s a hometown one. Ann Mashburn is the women’s side of the beloved Atlanta label Ann built alongside her husband, Sid, and theirs is one of my favorite fashion love stories. The two met in New York in the early ’80s: Ann came up through the magazine world — she was an assistant to the legendary Vogue editor Polly Mellen, then an editor at Glamour and a stylist at J.Crew — while Sid designed for J.Crew, Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger. In 2007 they headed South and opened Sid’s menswear shop on Atlanta’s Westside, and from the very start they cared as much about the place as the clothes: music playing, a warm welcome, somewhere you’d actually want to linger. When the storefront next door came free, Ann moved in with her own point of view — easy, French-tomboy classics — and by 2010 Ann Mashburn was a shop of her own. It’s grown into a proper little empire since, but it still feels personal, and it’s exactly the kind of American Classic, effortlessly-put-together clothing I reach for. (That Ralph Lauren thread runs right through this whole post, doesn’t it?)
So of course I built a whole look around it. Here’s what I’m wearing:
- Polo Top — a navy short-sleeve sweater-polo that’s elegant and easy all at once
- Stretch Denim Cropped Flare — the dark cropped flare carrying me straight into fall
- Suede Handbag — in the most beautiful oxblood, and my current everyday
- Leopard Shoes — because a leopard pump is a neutral, as far as I’m concerned
- Gold Hoops and my Caviar Initial Necklace to finish
Now for This and That
A handful of things I’ve been loving, using, and reaching for this week — a proper grab bag.
Lashes & brows. Am I the only one who seems to have thinning lashes and brows the older I get? I’ve been on a quiet little mission about it, and Rodan + Fields Lash Serum and Brow Defining Boost have genuinely earned their place on my counter — longer lashes, fuller brows, no drama.
Skincare. I’ve been reaching for Inn Beauty Moisturizer and a Fresh Cleansing Balm that melts the whole day off in one warm swipe. And after all these travel miles — which are so hard on your skin — the Shark Facial Pro has come in handier than I ever expected.
The makeup bag. Three I can’t put down right now: NARS Notorious Mascara, Laura Mercier Rue de Rivoli, and a Tarte Eyeshadow that’s quietly become my everyday.
A lighter pour. You’ve surely seen Cann Social Tonics everywhere lately — they’re a lovely low-key alternative when I want the ritual of a cocktail without the cocktail. I’ve worked my way through Blood Orange Cardamom and Lemon Lavender, but if you’re just dipping a toe in, start with the Starter Pack or a Seasonal Starter Pack and let your palate pick a favorite.
Better sleep. Sleep matters more than ever at our age, and I don’t take a good night for granted. I keep Magnesi-Om on the nightstand — or the Neuro Magnesi-Om when I want the brain-health boost — and I recently added a Hatch Clock that eases me awake instead of jolting me. Small rituals, big difference.
On my wish list. I keep spotting this candle from a brand that’s new to me, and I’m itching to try it — I’ll report back once I’ve lit it.
In the kitchen. A few little finds: some good Olive Oils, a set of pretty Cutting Boards that are easy to tuck under the counter, and these Dish Cloths that are charming enough to wrap up as a small gift.
Closing Thoughts
That’s the week, gang — a reunion that filled my heart clear to the brim, a shoot that felt like play, and a guest room that finally feels like mine. A home is never truly done, and I’ve made my peace with that; the tweaking is the fun part, not the failure. So whether you’re refreshing a room this weekend, pouring something a little lighter, or simply catching your breath after a full stretch of days, I hope you carve out a moment that belongs entirely to you.
Style has no expiration date — and neither do you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lean on three signatures: equestrian or hunt-scene artwork, warm metals like antique brass, and classic layered bedding in windowpane, linen, and cashmere. Add one living element — an olive tree works beautifully — and the room reads timeless without any major renovation.
I chose the Helix Twilight Luxe for my guest room, and my visitors have raved about it. For a guest space, you want something universally comfortable and well-reviewed, and a Labor Day sale is a smart time to buy.
They’re one of my favorite lighter options for a weekend wind-down. If you’re new to them, a starter or seasonal pack lets you sample a few flavors — I like Blood Orange Cardamom and Lemon Lavender — before committing to one.
In my experience, yes — I’ve noticed longer lashes and fuller brows, which matters more as we get older and everything starts to thin. Consistency is the key with any serum; give it several weeks.
I take Magnesi-Om (or the Neuro version for brain health) and I’ve found a gentle wake-up clock like the Hatch makes mornings feel less jarring. Small, consistent rituals tend to do more than any single product.
Related Reading on Style at a Certain Age
- What to Wear to a High School Reunion
- Denim Outfits for Fall
- Easy Labor Day Style Inspired by Frank and Eileen
Shop the Post
Browse my full ShopMy storefront for outfits, home, and more.
The Guest Room — Bed & Sleep
- Helix (shop all + Labor Day sale)
- Helix Twilight Luxe Mattress
- The Dream Pillow Set
- Helix ComfortAdjust Cooling Pillow
Nightstands, Lighting & Greenery
Where I Shop for Furniture
Bedding
Equestrian Artwork (Amazon)
- Equestrian Fox Hunting
- Heywood Hardy Reproduction Hunting Horse
- Horse and Dog
- Jockey Racing
- Horse Racing
- Equestrian Procession
- Abstract Horse
- Abstract Woman Riding Horse
Beauty
- Rodan + Fields Lash Serum
- Rodan + Fields Brow Defining Boost
- Inn Beauty Moisturizer
- Fresh Cleansing Balm
- Shark Facial Pro
- NARS Notorious Mascara
- Laura Mercier Rue de Rivoli
- Tarte Eyeshadow
Cann Social Tonics
Sleep & Wellness
In the Kitchen
Before You Go
Tell me in the comments: which room in your home is your favorite to fuss over? I’d love to hear.
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