How to: Style Your Home {Before & After}

Often when your done moving into your new home, you’re so tired from unpacking, that you have no energy to think about putting the final finishing touches in the house. I wanted to share with you some "before & after" photos of a home I recently designed. The “before” photos aren’t bad, the house was built to our design specifications and looks nice, but you’ll see it’s missing those finishing touches that give a home it’s warmth and personality.

In the kitchen, we used beautiful Carrara marble on all the countertops and carried the stone backsplash to the ceiling for a more custom look. Although beautiful, it somehow feels stark and cold. The mix matched bowls and pottery in the cabinet and niches are a distraction to the space.

*In the descriptions of the photos below, I bolded some key elements for styling your home.

Kitchen {BEFORE}:

{AFTER}: We wanted to bring wood pieces into the kitchen to add warmth and a “rough” element to off set the polished marble, stainless steel, and brushed nickel hardware. Fresh flowers in the windows and niches add symmetry and softness to the room. We replaced the mix matched dishes with all white dinnerware that the client already had.

Different shapes, materials, and colors add visual interest to the room.

I realize you might not stage your home with lemon Pellegrino bottles, but a wooden bowl filled with lemons or apples will add a little pop of color to your countertop.

Master bathroom {BEFORE}:

I wish I had a picture before we added the reclaimed wood planking to the back wall. It was stark and cold. The reclaimed wood was a great way to add texture and warm up the space. 

Master bathroom {AFTER}:

We exchanged the all white towels with ones that had a band of grey and fringe at the bottom. The bathroom is large, so we broke up the expansive tile with a jute rug, replacing the small white mat. We added a potted plant and seagrass baskets to bring more natural elements into the space and add more texture. These items are all relatively inexpensive, but make a big impact on the space.

Her vanity {BEFORE}:

Her vanity {AFTER}:

Don’t be afraid to mix metals. The brass accents look right at home with the brushed nickel hardware and plumbing fixtures.

A tray is a great way to corral the items on your countertop. The brass accents add color and visual interest on the white marble.

You can’t go wrong with fresh flowers and pretty packaging.

Entry {BEFORE}:
This lonely entry table, although beautiful, needed some life.

Entry {AFTER}:

The white vase pulls out the bone inlay of the chest and is perfect to hold the cherry blossom branches. The cherry blossoms give height and life to the entry. Stacking books is a great way to add height to objects you want to display as well as some color. 

Here are some links to the items I used.

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How To: Floral Arrangement

Who doesn’t love a beautiful flower arrangement to help chase away the winter grays? 

To make your arrangement, select flowers that make you happy and that will brighten your space. Find a vase that will enhance your arrangement and gather up these supplies.

Step 1: I always make my arrangement in my hand first. That way I can make sure that it’s just the way I want it before I begin. Then I’ll snap a picture, so I can reference it as I go.

Step 2: Cut the green florist foam to fit your vase and hot glue it to the bottom. I use wire cutters to cut the stems. The larger flowers tend to have a ton of wires, so I recommend turning the stem while you cut the stem instead of just trying to cut through in one squeeze. (I hope that makes sense). I usually hot glue my stems in the foam, but it isn’t necessary, especially if you think you’ll be making adjustments along the way.

 Step 3: About half way through, I stop, step back and make sure I’m on the right path.

Finished! Front of arrangement.

Back.

Vases are from Alice Lane, Flowers are a mix from Tai Pan Trading and Hobby Lobby.

How to choose coordinating fabrics like the pros

Often times we may find ourselves in love with a particular fabric, but when it comes time to select the other fabrics for the room, we’re stumped. Sometimes designer fabric companies will help out, by attaching coordinating fabrics to the larger samples. My favorite fabric line of all time is Designer’s Guild. Their use of color, scale and whimsy is unmatched (in my humble opinion).

Let me show you some examples from their showroom, of how to find the perfect coordinating fabrics. Notice in each grouping, the use of different textures. Silk, velvet, cotton, linen, chenille, etc. are all mixed together to give the room depth and texture. 

I’m sorry I don’t have “Feelevision,” so you could feel these fabrics for yourself. 

 I love how in the next two examples, although the main fabric is flowery and feminine, they have brought in stripes and plaids to make it less so.

You don’t always have to go with the obvious coordinating colors. In the example below, instead of choosing green or pink, they chose to highlight the vibrant blue.

Unlike the example above, here’s an example of using the predominant color for your coordinating fabrics. Equally as beautiful.

When you’re out searching for your own fabric, play around with different color combinations and textures. It will make your room more lively and interesting. 

How To Make an Eery Halloween Book

My very talented friend Erin taught me how to make this awesome Halloween book.