Client Project: Farmhouse Before and Afters

We last showed this client farmhouse project here, but now we're back with a few before and afters!  

Special thanks to our awesome client for sending us these updated photos!  

One of the sad (for us) things about doing E-design is that often our projects are too far away for us to "check-in" on or photograph after.  So when clients send us some after shots, it is a real treat, and we thought you guys might want to see too. 

Here's a before/after comparison of the corner of the living room and front entry.  We suggested new paint colors for the walls and cabinets and outfitted the space with a new layout and pieces for the entry. 

This before/after is of the previously "yet to be determined" corner of the great room when we first saw it, our suggested plans and the final result.  Pretty amazing, right?

And here's one more comparison (because we can't get enough) showing the elevation concept we sent to the clients and the finished result.  

Our clients did an amazing job implementing everything, and we loved seeing our designs come to life!

If we can help you transform your space, contact us here or check out our E-Design page for more information. 

10 Inspiring Fall Decorated Porches

I love walking through the neighborhood this time of year. The weather is fantastic and I enjoy seeing the homes decorated for fall.  Slowly, I have been getting my fall decor together. Here is a quick pic I snapped on my phone. As the weather becomes cooler the plant will get replaced with one that is in season. However, even with a different plant I feel like something is missing. Maybe a different door mat or maybe some height around the door? I'm not sure yet.

Have you finished your fall decorating? If not, here are ten fall decorated porches that are sure to inspire.

Shelterness

BHG

On Sutton Place

The Cottage Market

Emily A Clark

Michael's

Via

We would love to see your fall decorations. Share with us on our Facebook page.

By the way! Big congratulations to our Mallory and her husband Jon on the birth of their new baby girl! Both mama and baby are doing well.

Jordan Burch Photography

Six Stylish Lantern Pendants that won't Break the Bank

Hope everyone has had a good start to their week and have been enjoying the cooler temperatures. Here on the Gulf Coast, we actually had a day over the weekend where we could bust out with our boots, but it was short lived. :) On to design topics....

To give you a quick update on our Bristol Park project, last week we were searching for light fixture options for the foyer. The ceiling in the foyer is sloped, so we needed a hanging fixture that could also be shortened to accommodate the ceiling height. The perfect choice was a lantern pendant in a matte black finish with clean lines. The combination of glass and black metal has a look of strength and elegance about it.

Via Decorista

Via Amber Interiors

Via Style at Home

As you have just seen from the images above, there are a variety of lantern pendants styles available on the market. Some look traditional and others more modern. You can get the look with these six pendants priced under $200.

one // two // three // four // five // six //

Until next time.

Etsy Pillow Roundup

Etsy is a great source to acquire custom pillows in designer fabrics that are typically sold "to the trade."  There are so many different options out there that it's almost impossible to not find something to work in your space.

If you are redoing a space and don't know where to start, pillows and fabrics offer a great jumping off point and foundation for an overall room inspiration.  Lucky for us, Etsy has made it easy with so many great choices at our disposal.  Here are a few of my favorite shops:

*Click on image for link to shop and pillows

Several people have inquired about the greek key pillow on my bed.  While they don't have an exact match, this is really great option in navy.  

I especially love the fabrics in the second row and think they would look amazing in a little girl's room or nursery (can you tell I have a baby on my mind?).

As is apparent by the shop name, this one has a lot of great colors and patterns from which to choose.  I'm especially fond of the lavender lumbar and Trina Turk options in the third row.

Baby Update: The baby wait continues on my front!  I will be 40 weeks next Tuesday, and this is the longest I've ever carried a baby (Auden was 37 weeks, 6 days when she was born). We're all waiting on pins and needles and have had a couple of days of contractions but nothing that has stuck so far.  Hopefully she'll be making her debut soon, and my next post will get to include an introduction to our newest family member :)

Inspiration in Your Inbox

Just like you, we enjoy reading other blogs and getting inspired.  The easiest way for me to do that is to subscribe so that the posts come straight to my inbox---just what this busy mom needs!  

If you'd like to save time and have our posts sent straight to you, we've made it very simple to do so.  All you need to do is add your email address in the Subscription portion of our sidebar and hit "subscribe".  Done and done.  You can also follow us on Instagram here.  Because let's face it (no pun intended), as great as our Facebook page is, it's not the best at always keeping you in the know unless you're constantly liking or commenting on our posts.  And I know everyone's busy schedules don't allow for that! 

But enough with talking shop!  Let's get on to the pretty stuff. Today I thought I'd share a few favorite blogs to which I subscribe in hopes that maybe they'll inspire you as well!

Proper Hunt //
Not only does Christina have great fashion posts (with links to items that don't cost an arm and a leg), but she is also one of my go-to sources for some great dinner recipes (which says a lot because I'm a pretty picky eater).  Most recently I made the chicken pesto lasagna rolls, and they were delish!

Elements of Style //
Erin Gates has great style in fashion and interiors and her blog details both.  She shares a lot of favorite shopping finds (for fashion and home) and also gives a peek into her personal life, something I find extremely refreshing.  Her book came out last fall, and it is full of great writing and tons of photos of her talented work.  She's also a big dog lover (check out her instagram) so that naturally wins more points in my book.

Lauren Liess of Pure Style Home //
Her simple, relaxed decorating style is so incredibly charming.  Her blog details client projects, her home life (she has three boys and a baby girl) and her own home projects.  She and her husband just recently purchased a new home, and I can't wait to see the transformation.  If it's anything like their last house, we're in for an inspiring treat!

the Tale of Two Kitchens

Can you believe September is almost over? It has been a busy month for us. Thought I would share today a project we are currently working on.

Our client is an investor who purchased a modest builder's home in a somewhat conservative neighborhood. With the exception of the master shower, the house has been gutted, so we pretty much have a clean slate to work from.

With an open floor plan, the kitchen will set the tone for the rest of the house. To appeal to a wide group of people, we decided to go with a white kitchen with shaker style cabinets. Here are few images that depict what we had in mind.

In our market granite is still king, so we put together two budget conscious designs, one utilizing granite and another with quartz countertops.

In the first kitchen design, we chose to use a white subway tile for the backsplash. It is both classic and very affordable. To alter the look of the subway tile a bit, we recommended installing it in a herringbone pattern or brick pattern with a contrasting grout. Above the bar we chose a beautiful globe pendant for some eye candy.

*A tip when working with an open floor plan, continue to run the flooring from the great room into the kitchen to make the space appear larger. 

For the second kitchen design, we went with darker flooring and fixtures that were more polished. Again, we used a subway tile but in a dark gray glass. The over all look is a little more elegant than the first.

We may replace the wall color with a tinted white.

Our client liked both kitchens, so he was going to share them with some friends to get a consensus of which one people liked most.

Which kitchen would you go with?

Whether you need full service design or just help selecting a few pieces, we can help. Drop us a line to get started.