Functional Spaces for Your Furry Family

We’ve said it plenty of times: the key to effective design isn’t pretty paints and polished surfaces, it’s focusing on functionality. Plenty of storage and electrical outlets might seem obvious, but what about things like where your shoes go when you walk in the front door? Or how your files will fit in your filing cabinet? Or, where you can wash off your pet’s muddy paws without making a giant mess. 

The latter was our biggest motivation for a recent laundry room renovation that took a tremendous amount of planning and thoughtfulness. Go behind the scenes with us as we reveal how we converted extra garage space into the cutest laundry-room-meets-pet-spa you ever did see.

The Logistics

This transformation borrowed a section of the home’s existing garage to create a laundry and mudroom that pulls double-duty as a pet spa. We kept enough room for a vehicle in the garage while strategically expanding the area to create the new space. 

Converting a garage space brought a handful of challenges — the concrete flooring required a water line installation for the sink, an existing window couldn’t be moved, and certain elements needed to remain.This took careful planning, including custom cabinetry designed to conceal a water filtration system and hot water heater that couldn’t be moved. You’d never know it was there.

The Design

While the mechanics required much attention to detail, the design is always just as important. This striking renovation features exposed shelving, borrowed from the kitchen design, a bright teal paint, adorable wallpaper covered in hand drawn dogs, and a bevy of different tiles. 

A standout feature is the custom dog wash station, complete with pull-out stairs for canine accessibility and a dedicated linen closet for pet essentials. That adorable puppy-covered wallpaper? It’s made from scrubbable vinyl for easy cleaning alongside the durable ceramic tile made to look handmade. A sleek black floor then conceals everyday wear from foot traffic and pets.

A Cause for Paws

We’ve been longtime supporters of the YWCA—we’ve served as a lead designer and assistant designer on many home projects for domestic violence survivors, primarily women and children (read more here). But, this month, the YWCA is raising funds for a different cause: pets. At Abbie’s Safe Home, many survivors fleeing abuse must unfortunately leave their pets behind. So this week, the YWCA is matching funds up to $20,000 to provide safe shelter for pets of survivors, plus veterinary care, trauma-informed pet therapy, and kits for their new home. Join us in supporting them here.

Let’s chat about how we can turn any space in your home into a functional one. Click here.

How We Designed the Ultimate Book Nook

If you're the kind of person who gets lost in a good book and doesn’t come up for air until chapter sixteen, then it might be time to carve out a little sanctuary just for reading. Recently, Paige revamped a cozy corner for a client, transforming it into the coziest mid-century-inspired nook. If you’re looking for specifics on how our client settled in, click here.

Whether you’re dreaming up a corner library, creating an intentional space next to your favorite window, or interested in a full-blown reading respite, we have some tips for what you need to fill your room—and your shelves.

Layer the Lighting

Good lighting makes or breaks a book nook. You want enough to read without squinting, but not so much it feels like a spotlight. Think small-scale table lamps, warm-toned bulbs, and layered sources instead of overhead lighting. Plus, play into windows and nautral lighting wherever you can, like we did by framing a large window in the room with closeable curtains for moody moments.

We’ve recently discovered the Visual Comfort LED rechargeable lamps that are portable enough to bring the adventure wherever you may be.

Bring in the Pillows

This is your excuse to go big. Oversized pillows are a must to prop behind your back, support your head, or just melt into on the sofa. The bigger, the better, and of course, make it pop. 

We may be partial, but Paige’s Pillow Party would be the perfect addition measuring 24" x 24”. Each made from repurposed designer fabrics, they bring personality, comfort, and a little color to any reading corner.

Ground the Space with a Rug

A rug helps define your nook, especially if it’s in a larger room. It adds softness underfoot and creates a cozy boundary around your reading zone. Go for something that feels good barefoot and adds a bit of visual interest without overwhelming the space.

Style the Surface

A side table or decorative tray goes a long way (and it can pull double-duty holding your wine or tea while you turn pages). Anthropologie has a great candle selection if you’re looking to match your scent to your style. Want to shop local? Pare Candle Co. makes clean-burning, all-natural candles and has even made custom scents for our clients.

Make It a Sensory Experience

Reading is about escaping the real world, so make your nook feel like its own little universe. Layer in things that engage the senses—a soft blanket, a flickering candle, a subtle scent, a nearby bar. 

One of Paige’s personal favorites? The Calm Roll-On from Thistle Farms. It’s soothing, grounding, and purposeful. 

Pack Your Shelves (or your Kindle)

What’s the point of a book nook without the right book? From thrillers to Rom Coms, here are a few of our favorites: 

• Brittany | The House in the Pines (a Resse's Book Club pick!) by Ana Reyes

• Paige | It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

• Mattie | Design Magazines, including Nashville Interiors & Luxe Southeast

Whether it’s just a corner chair or a full room transformation, the best spaces are ones you actually want to spend time in. If you need help making yours feel as cozy and layered as your favorite novel, let’s chat.

Home Office Overhaul

We’re five years removed from the overwhelming shift to working from home. Back then, it was a sliver of excitement to curate your new workspace steps from your own coffee pot, bringing in knickknacks and organization tools to make your space feel special. Now, with tax season upon us, hybrid work schedules abounding, and summer break fast approaching, it’s time to give that home office the refresh it likely deserves. 

We’re no strangers to those upgrades at Paige Williams Interior Design. In fact, we recently wrapped up a home office overhaul both for a client… and for ourselves! Here’s how it went.

File That Away

For our client’s home office, we know file storage was important—there are a lot of papers in the banking business. We created custom built-ins to frame the back wall of the office, complete with fabricated drawers perfect for filing away anything and everything while keeping things safe and aesthetically pleasing. But we didn’t stop there—the cabinet also has retrofitted drawers for unsightly tech gadgets like printers, wifi, and all the accompanying chords. 

Electrical was a serious consideration for this project, not only because we needed to hide lots of equipment, but also because we wanted multi-dimensional lighting. We achieved this by ensuring the space’s natural light could shine, while adding overhead lighting and lights in the bookcases so the room can shine all day (and all night) long.

As always, with function in place, we turned our attention to visuals. We decorated the built-in shelving with family heirlooms and curated pieces, playing around with stacks and levels to increase depth and intrigue. We tied it all together by matching the molding to the room’s original wainscotting and adding a fresh coat of paint. 

Inside Paige’s Home Office

All this client work had Paige inspired to refresh her own work-from-home space. If there’s one thing Paige excels at, it’s merging function and beauty. Step one: line the new office desk drawers with durable (and beautiful) wallpaper to protect the craftsmanship while adding a pop of personality. Then, she added removable wood slats and clear dividers to perfectly hold her notebooks filled with bright ideas. 

Speaking of bright…it wouldn’t be a perfectly Paige office without plenty of color, so peep her Paige’s Pillow Party throw pillow keeping her comfortable and inspired all day long. 

Ready to refresh your office space? Let’s get to work.

How To Bring Your Dream to Picture-Perfect

Ever wonder what it really takes to transform a home from Pinterest boards to picture-perfect? It’s a mix of meticulous planning, professional execution, and just a little elbow grease at the end for a photo finish. We recently wrapped up a full-home remodel that started in June 2023, and we’re taking you behind the scenes from ideation to the final pillow fluff.

Let’s get started. 

The Process: From First Meeting to Final Reveal

Every great design starts with a conversation. What works? What doesn’t? What are the must-haves? What does your family need to function at your best? This particular home had a kitchen that functioned—but not as well as it could. Builder-grade cabinets stopped short of the ceiling, leaving storage untapped. Appliances cluttered the countertops. The layout was fine, but it needed refinement to fit a duo that loves to cook, bake, and entertain.

We maximized every inch of the kitchen while keeping the existing footprint. Through careful planning, we stretched the cabinets to the ceiling, providing more storage and a polished look. We added a built-in coffee station to replace the clutter of countertop appliances. We gave the appliances a major overhaul, adding a gas range, double (steam) oven, and sub-zero fridge that turned a standard kitchen into a chef’s dream. And because every great kitchen needs hidden storage, we converted the old laundry room into a butler’s pantry with an extra fridge and dishwasher.

The visual transformation was just as intentional as the logistics. White quartz with bold black veining stretches to the ceiling. Warm cedar cabinets and ebony-stained lowers add contrast. And the hardware makes a bold statement with mixed metals in matte black and gold. Even the lighting is layered for the perfect ambiance, with recessed lights, under-shelf lighting, sconces, and pendants all working together to offer the perfect vibe for any occasion. 

The Final Toast and Touches

At the end of every project, it’s important for us to celebrate our clients' visions and the hard work that went into executing the design. We host a client appreciation party, this time in their newly renovated kitchen. The celebration was complete with delicious food from their favorite local spot, Sunflower Café, and glasses of champagne raised in gratitude. Inviting the contractors and their subs to join in allowed us all to relive the project's ups and downs together. During the celebration, we showcased before photos of each space alongside the newly improved interiors, creating a perfect “look how far we’ve come” moment. 

Post-party, there’s one more step: photos. This is where function, beauty, and a job well done collide into a magazine-worthy moment. When we plan a photoshoot at one of our properties, we make sure every detail is addressed: pretty soap pumps, containers for everything, perfectly placed accessories, and fresh flowers to breathe in new life. 

How to Make Your Own Home Feel Photoshoot-Ready

Sometimes, you won’t need a full renovation to get a designer-level look at home. Take our insights from photoshoot styling to help your home be fit for a magazine cover all the time. 

Start with function: hide the clutter, swap out everyday items for prettier alternatives, and invest in storage that keeps everything in its place. Small upgrades—like matching soap dispensers, a chic tray, or beautiful baskets—help keep your space looking curated. Next, match functionality with style. Open shelving is perfect for easily grabbing your most-used items, but keep in mind things like cutting boards and dishes can serve double-duty as design pieces. 

Whether you’re planning a renovation or just looking to refresh your space, the right details—both big and small—make all the difference. Reach out to schedule your consultation today.

The “Old Made New” Trend in Practice

Earlier this month, we shared all our takeaways from the Antiques & Garden Show in Nashville – a mecca for design inspiration both timeless and modern. One of our biggest observations stemmed from antiques: while heirloom pieces have long been used to accent spaces, we witnessed many designers and collectors breathing new life into those pieces. 

Dated wooden chairs had been reinvigorated with bold, brand-new fabrics, and showrooms had new components like modern art and trending wallpaper woven together with historic elements like classic china and timeworn sconces. 

Being big fans of bold prints and quality materials ourselves, we’re big fans of this shift. And actually, we’ve put it into practice! 

Check out how we incorporated beloved antiques into this refreshed home. 

Dining Room

If there’s one room synonymous with antiques, it’s the dining room. China cabinets, pressed linens, and storied chandeliers often define dining room decor, but in this recent renovation, we wanted to bring a touch of freshness to the space.

We started with our client’s existing dining room set, refreshing the chairs with new, durable fabric. Then, we decorated the surface with her stunning collection of linens and silver, adding fresh-cut blooms to liven up the space. 

When focusing on designing around antiques, remember it’s perfectly fine (and we might even say encouraged) to incorporate modern trends as well. In the dining room, we added a trending paint color to the walls and the ceiling, and finished the look with high-quality curtains in a print that seamlessly combined old and new. We decorated the wall by hanging her collection of antique plates. 

Finally, we upgrade the room’s lighting with modern options, focusing on reflecting light up onto the ceiling instead of down onto the guests. 

Living Room

Even with heirlooms in mind, we never waver on our commitment to increasing functionality in a space. Our client had a desk for work taking up a chunk of her living space, so we got creative with rearranging to give her a more dedicated work area that could still double as entertaining space. 

We added wainscoting to the wall – which itself is an old trend made new again. In Amish tradition, wainscoting included a thick ledge for hanging chairs at the end of the day. We incorporated this technique by making the ledge a bit thicker for our client to display her artwork, always movable and never anchored to the wall. 

We incorporated the new lighting into the living room as well (which is on trend for 2025) and brought a fresh coat of paint to the walls and ceilings. 

If you have collected pieces that need a modern twist, we’d love to help. Reach out to us today!