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Textured walls add depth, warmth and interest. Anything from glass tile to wood panels and veneer brick can be added to any wall to create a high-end look...for not a ton of money!
It is a huge trend because of the availability of new products, easy installation and price. Why not? So much better looking than just plain paint!
Below are some of my favorite images of just such wall treatments. I am installing some texture on my office walls this summer!! Stay tuned!
Enjoy!
I have finished two master bathroom remodels, two kitchen remodels, two deck remodels and a screen porch, designed a doctor's office, and have spattered several other little jobs in between this winter. It has been so much fun, so rewarding and now, I am ready for more! Enjoy!
I am loving the new and colorful fabrics hitting the stores this season in preparation for the spring! Here are some of my favorites in red, white and blue...
While out of town this weekend, I had some extra time to play on the web, browsing for some furniture for our home and stumbled on this great website. If you LOVE Restoration Hardware, you will ADORE Artwood. I had a great time browsing through all of the great furniture and accessory finds.
Enjoy!
Click on the pictures below to take you to their website.
When we moved into our home in 2010, we knew right away that the kitchen remodel would need to happen asap! Unfortunately, time flies and we both became busy...you get the idea.
As of this summer, I FINALLY got around to getting the overall floor plan designed, cabinet styles and colors determined and finishes selected for the big day...most likely this winter or next spring!
Below is a picture of the current kitchen. The wall on the left side of the picture will be knocked down to open up the space to the living room. It is a tiny 1970's kitchen with TONS of potential!
The existing pre-finished wood floors are going to be removed and replaced with a large scale tile (seen below) and run in a herringbone pattern.
I am SO EXCITED and cannot wait to get started!
To see the new floor plan click on the link below.
The finishing touches...
Kitchen Counters
Calacatta Ondulato Marble
Backsplash
Marble Penny Rounds
Flooring
Traditions in Tile Greensky in 12"x24"
(Tile will be laid in a herringbone pattern) Floor tile pattern
Kitchen Cabinet Door Profiles
White- Kitchen Perimeter
Slate- Prep Island
Kitchen Faucet
Kohler HiRise Kitchen Faucet in Brilliant Stainless
Kitchen Sink
Kohler Hawthorne Apron Front
Pendant for over the Prep Island
Circa Lighting Linear Branched 10 Light Pendant
Appliances
Whirlpool Gold Series in Stainless Steel
( We already have a Whirlpool refrigerator and dishwasher)
Knobs and Pulls
Restoration Hardware
Round Glass Knob for upper cabinets
Asbury Knobs for lower doors
Duluth Pull for all drawers
I am so incredibly blessed to work some amazing clients, who allow me to create. Creating is nothing short of a miraculous event at times. It is not something that happens over the course of 30 minutes (no offense HGTV), nor is it ever as smooth of a process that I would like. There are always emotional ups and downs, back orders and delays, "just not the right color" kind of moments, you get the idea. However, when a project is completed and I am able to see the finished product, I can say, with confidence, that I am pleased!
The most rewarding part of my job is hearing my client's reaction to their new space. I sometimes have to fight back the tears because of all of the built up stress or anxiousness that I feel in presenting the final product. I am a confident person and I have had excellent training, but even I find my heart beating a few beats faster when I get to say, "Okay, we're finished. What do you think?"
I got to ask that question about two days ago, and was completely overwhelmed when I heard the response..."It is AWESOME!"
I smiled. THANK YOU to all of my clients who allow for me to come into your lives and, literally, tear apart up your spaces. You fill my life with lots of smiles and I am a better person and designer for it.
Here are just a few before and after shots of one of my late spring projects...ENJOY!
This was a picture that I took of the bathroom before I started the design process. Bathroom concept design. Drawing based on the conversations with my client. Sometimes scary to see this part of construction...everything torn apart!! Finished product. So excited that it turned out looking so much like my original drawings! Thanks to an incredible contractor for the solid work and attention to detail!
Little Girl By April Harrison
I nearly lost it yesterday morning during a presentation given at my church about an organization that is saving the lives of little girls.
I am LONGING to me a momma someday and I just couldn't bear hearing the details of the pain and heartache that these little girls are experiencing on a daily basis.
They should be playing, painting their toenails, dressing-up, giggling, chasing cute boys, but instead, they are being turned into child prostitutes, some as young as 8 or 10 years old.
Young American girls are being raped daily for profit in communities we call home. Why? Because there are adults who demand to have sex with our children. This physical, mental, emotional and spiritual trauma often leaves children broken and scarred for life. Therapeutic services and residential programs are critical for many young girls’ survival, rehabilitation and restoration. (Excerpt taken from livingwaterforgirls.org)
Living Water is their heaven on earth. It is a place that they will hear "You are beautiful" and where Jesus will say to them, "You are safe, and take refuge in me."
As an interior designer, I am compelled to beautify the lives and spaces of my clients and have been made clear that it is also to help beatify the lives and surroundings of these precious little girls.
It is a big challenge, but with your help, and God's power, we can do HUGE things!
Living Water for Girls is in need of a new vocational school so that these young women will have a place to study after high school, one that is safe and secure. With God's power, they have already aquired a building, furniture, etc., but are needing to have the space designed so that it is representative of the beauty these girls have long deserved.
I am trying to put together a team of interior designers and talented artists to assist and donate our time to creating the "beauty" inside this school.
If you are interested, or think you can help in other ways, please visit my contact page on my website and visit www.livingwaterforgirls.org
Together, we can help take the evil out of these precious little girls lives and begin to truly save them!
I LOVE what I do with every square inch of my being. So much so, that I can hardly put work down at the end of the day. I get lost in designing floor plans, cabinetry, furniture...and the list goes on! One of most recent projects was a new restaurant called FREIGHT Kitchen & Tap in Woodstock, GA.
For starters, the building was incredible...a train depot circa 1912, the architecture was to die for...28 feet high ceilings and exposed wood...everywhere, and the location was invigorating...so close to the train track that everyday, twice a day, the building shakes as the cargo trains go by! Talk about atmosphere! Unfortunately, the previous tenants had covered up most of the character of the building during it's one of several renovations.
My goal was to bring it back to life...unveil it's spirit and send it into it's 100th birthday with a BANG!!
Here are some of the many pictures to chronicle its transformation.
The following pictures are of the original building before the previous tenant started their remodel process... Here are some of the pictures of the first remodel. All of the original woodwork was painted gloss black. Here are the pictures from the renovation process and the newly remodeled FREIGHT Kitchen!
Hope you enjoy! Above are the FABULOUS Michael and Melissa Steele who made the incredible 18' long burlap drapery panels and the beautiful benches in the upper lounge. They are hoisting the panels and steel pipe rods up with a pulley!! Above are the footrests for the bar...train tracks! This picture is horrible in quality but is just an example of how "hands-on" interior designers can get with their projects! That is me up on the ladder trying to adjust the bar shelving. Coming soon! My newest adventure...furniture and accessories to be sold on my website. Ottomans, pillows, headboards and more!
Look for it this summer!
I am so sorry that I haven't posted a blog in a couple of weeks! I've been recovering from strep, ear infections, sinus infections and POLLEN (my springtime nemesis)! Not to mention the incredible amount of work coming in!!
Seeing the yellow veil on everything started to get me a little excited though, because, with the big pollen drop comes the onslaught of spring! Even though EVERYTHING is covered in this mucky, sticky yellow dust, new life is emerging...Tulips, Daffodils, Bradford Pears, Dogwoods, and one of my personal spring favorites the wild Wisteria Vines are in full bloom.
With Springtime, comes the need to be outside. I love to sit on our front steps to watch Miss Georgia chase squirrels and throw sticks at my feet and I also LOVE to plant and tend gardens.
This week I wanted to share some of my design ideas that we are planning on using to get our yard and exterior in tip top shape over the course of a couple of years...(it's almost an acre, so it can be a little more than the two of us can handle for one season :))
Below are a couple of pictures of our yard before...
We have actually done a TON of re-painting and have taken out most of the overgrowth already. Stay tuned for more picture updates over the summer! | Front Yard Before | Back Yard Before
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Landscape and Gardening Ideas Thinking of hanging these on the back of the house and filling them with shade loving plants and a combination of herbs. Metal window boxes to match the new entry we are working on later this spring. I was intrigued by this image...I have a shed and it needs a new roof soon. Hmmmm. Desperately needing to replace our pathway to the front door. Here is a gorgeous stone-stepped pathway. This image is from of Stephen R. Holt Architects. Driveway paving stones. We are contemplating doing this to our driveway, path from driveway and our sidewalk. I love the color and texture in these slate paving stones.
Landscape lighting is also a must! We are going to try and light up the path to the front door and our driveway this year, in addition to the new sconces going on the front and back of the house!
The following pictures are some of the types of plants that we are going to be able to use because of the lack of sunlight in both the front and back yards...Peonies (My FAVORITE flower), Hostas, and Lillie of the Valley are some of the beauties that we can use in our forest! Entryway Curb Appeal
This is the concept that we are working on so that we can have a covered entry. I LOVE the large columns and the heavy trim details. It fits perfectly with the traditional style of our home. The lighting is one of the finishing touches. Here is the light fixture that we chose to go on either side of our new front door. It is the Cambridge Sconce from Restoration Hardware.
I am so thrilled to get to do a nursery post this week! So many of my friends are expecting new babies and I just thought it would be a great way to express my excitement and love for them and offer any help I can in the way of interior design.
On a heavier note...this post is REALLY hard for me...My incredible husband and I have not been able to conceive (for lots of reasons) as of yet and it has been a very touchy subject for me over the last two years... Many of our friends do not even know the struggle that I have had in learning how to deal with this sort of pain and frustration, but I will say, that after many moments of study, prayer and reflection, I truly believe that God, in all of HIS power has been healing me and is preparing me for the special gift of motherhood someday...so, with that said...
To all of my precious friends who have new little bundles of joy and to those of you who are beginning your journey to mom-hood, here are a few things to help you along the way with your sweet-one's nursery!
PAINT
The nursery needs to be a restful place for baby. Using an overly bright color on the walls can add to crying, the lack of sleep and overall stresses for mom.
Pick paints that are soft in their tone and that have and eggshell finish for easy clean-up later on when your little one decides to use the walls for their canvas. Some of my top recommendations are as follows...
Here are my favorite picks for girls and boys offered by Benjamin Moore and Pottery Barn Kids!
Girls... Boys... Play with different shades and finishes of your paint to create a fantastic alphabet mural as seen below! FURNITURE
is a huge necessity for a nursery that can also be rather expensive. I usually try to hit up antique stores and or flea markets for great furniture finds. Incorporating an "out-of-the-ordinary" accessory, or a vintage chair instead of an expensive glider can be a fantastic $$ saver...the important things to remember are to look for quality of moving/working parts and overall durability. You don't have to use the typical furniture either...just like the FABULOUS piece above, use something that you love and that your baby could grow into! Above is the Graham (Bedding) Collection from Serena & Lilly. I adore the mix of textures with the rattan chair and sisal rug. Below is the Colette (Bedding) Collection, incorporating the use of an antique chair and a modern bench...also by Serena & Lilly. Grey Low-Rise Crib from Land of Nod ACCESSORIES
From mobiles to books, accessories are a must! They will help to aide in your baby's development and defined interests in color and texture. Incorporating different colored and textured items throughout the space will create, not only a beautiful room, but will also assist in baby's learning. Use letters and numbers as art and include Bright colors, when used in accessories, offer great stimulation and focus for them too!
Here are some awesome DIY mobile ideas and some great accessories from onekingslane.com, Etsy, and Pinterest! STORAGE & ORGANIZATION
I love stumbling on unique pieces for storage, whether it be a colorful basket as shown below from the Land of Nod, or Vintage Army Totes from The Foundry. Allow for book storage and additional toy storage with the use of bookcases. Those shown below are from the Land of Nod and Pottery Barn Kids...you can also have custom built-ins installed for a higher-end look and massive storage options! Terrific built-ins courtesy of Apartment Therapy and CocoCozy. LIGHTING
is HUGE! You'll need it to change diapers, clothes, read stories and to rock your sweet one to sleep. Don't limit yourself to those typical ceiling fans and light kits, be creative...install wall-sconces on either side of the crib or near the changing table, use a table lamp next to the rocking chair, just have fun with it! Here are some of my favorite lighting applications for your nursery! I LOVE this Giraffe Floor Lamp from Pottery Barn Kids!
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