Keep Calm and Be BOLD

Working with an interior designer does require a fair amount of trust – it’s your home, after all! We’ve worked with clients who sought everything from a completely neutral color palette to those wanting to incorporate all colors of the rainbow, and plenty of families who fall somewhere in between. 

While neutral design is beautiful and timeless, we love a pop of bold color to let the personality of each of our families really shine. We achieve this through colorful textiles, carefully-selected paint and curated accent pieces that complement our clients’ colorful vision. 

Need some ideas on how to incorporate color into your home design? Here are a few of our favorite projects where pigments really shine. 

Navy Nights

Dark blue is synonymous with sleep, so we loved incorporating navy paint and furniture into a recent primary bedroom redesign in Franklin. We added Naval by Sherwin Williams to all four bedroom walls with a matching dresser to seamlessly blend in, then began brightening the room with shades of brown, white and yellow. 

As with any primary room, the bed is the focal point, and the brown wood frame with a matching wicker bench at its footboard brought a welcomed contrast against the darker walls. We then added bright white bedding and complementary pillows, a pair of charming lamps, patterned drapes and white side tables. The star of the show, however, towers above it all: a stunning chandelier built from gold and woven coco beads, a masterpiece from design brand Made Goods. 

Restful Teal

In contrast to our starry night-inspired bedroom, we brought a bright color into another recent Franklin redesign: teal! The color sparks calm as much as it does energy, and we loved the use of it on these primary bedroom walls so much, we presented a case to our clients to make the color even more prominent than originally intended. Since it’s such a bold color (and arguably unconventional for a primary bedroom), we began painting in stages, beginning with an accent wall, then moving it through to adjacent walls, and ultimately, we added it onto the ceiling as well. 

We dialed the teal down with a textured accent wall along the back – a thick, multi-colored natural grasscloth textured wallpaper backdropping the bed – with hints of blues, neutrals and orange lines running through with stunning gold and white sconces on either side. We rounded out the design with patterned drapes and coral and white accents. One of our favorite focal points is the chevron patterned sliding door leadinging into the bathroom, where our teal continued: check it out here! 

When preparing to go bold with your design, it’s important to trust your designer and trust the process. Ready to take the leap? Reach out to us today. 

Inside Our Modern Nashville Surprise Project

Every family is unique: some have a troop of children, others have a litter of rescue pets, many are empty nesters ready to cultivate a space for entertaining, and some have all of the above! A thoughtfully-designed home can tackle these (and other) challenges with ease, maximizing spaces to create an environment perfectly suited to fit your specific needs. 

Our Modern Nashville Surprise project is the perfect example of designing with circumstance in mind, while also achieving our clients’ design goals and preferences. The existing home was a standard build, but with four children and a pup, we knew we needed to curate a space perfectly suited just for them. Here’s how we did it.

Relocating and Reimagining Existing Spaces

When approaching a remodel, it’s important to remember that rooms don’t have to keep the same function as they were originally intended. In our Modern Nashville Surprise project, we knew we needed a dedicated space to serve as a catch-all and clean up station for the kids constantly venturing in and out of the house. 

We converted what was once an office into a sleek mud room to perfectly mask the chaos that comes along with kids, even designing four separate cabinets, drawers, and slots for individual laundry baskets. Plus, we added a double washer and dryer to make laundry a breeze! Behind the cabinetry, our clients can perfectly conceal things like shoes and cleaning supplies. 

Simple Swaps to Add Charm

While we kept functionality in mind throughout the redesign, charm and appeal were equally as important to us and our clients. And when you’re thinking about curating an inviting home, the front door is the perfect place to start! The existing home had a traditional brick outdoor entryway with a wooden door. The home’s exterior received a coat of white paint, so we wanted the front door to really make a statement – and the result certainly does! The copper front door was created by Copper is my Canvas, and it’s a showstopper. 

Maintaining Design Preferences

The name “Modern Nashville Surprise” perfectly sums up this project’s results, especially when you consider the before. The existing interior was drab and dated, and our clients wanted a look that would be bright, sleek and modern, yet timeless. The result was a stunning, cohesive transformation that perfectly blended style and function through the use of monochromatic whites and grays, marble, and chrome. 

While creating spaces to accommodate growing kids was important, we also ensured the parents had a respite equally as beautiful and practical. Check out the primary bathroom and kitchen! 

Ready to tackle your home redesign? We’re here to help. Schedule your consultation today. 

How to: Design Around Personality and Circumstance

Every family, every home and every project is unique. Embracing – and incorporating – that individuality through design is the ultimate way to create a home perfectly suited for YOU. Are you collecting a small farm of rescue pets? Will you be regularly entertaining? Are your kids making it impossible to keep your home in order? 

Each of these circumstances (and many more) are important to consider when exploring a remodel or redesign, and your designer should be able to incorporate thoughtful elements that will help you achieve your goals beyond aesthetics. 

Check out these modifications our team made to help our clients achieve their exact goal. 

An Environment for Entertaining

Entertaining is a true skill, and thoughtful design can help elevate at-home events to ensure you’re the host with the most. Our Modern Entertainment project, a collaboration with Broken Compass Woodworking, reimagined an existing space in our clients home to create custom seating, storage and cabinetry to maximize entertainment potential. 

The built-in seating mimics a swanky cocktail bar, with underseat storage for barware and supplies. On the opposite wall, we added floating shelves to display glasses and bar tools. The deep blue paint, dark wood and textured detailing rounds out the space fit for at-home entertaining. 

Accommodating Kids

Kids are notoriously messy and often synonymous with clutter. We recently worked with a family in Nashville with four children and a slew of pets, and they knew their circumstances warranted a few thoughtful touches while redesigning their home. 

Paying particular attention to the laundry and mudroom space, our team incorporated custom touches to fit the family’s specific needs: four hidden drawers to store each child’s shoes, retrofitted shelving designed to fit four laundry baskets and custom cabinetry to perfectly store cleaning supplies. The results were sleek and chic, and those visiting will never know the mayhem that was thwarted through thoughtful design.

When we embark on any project, we not only take your design preferences in mind, but also your needs surrounding specific circumstances. Challenge always accepted! 

Schedule your design consultation here. 

Bathing a New Build in Shades of Blue

If your home is in need of a design refresh (or even a major overhaul), don’t stress! Small, thoughtful changes can make a significant difference in your home. While we outlined a few ways you can add subtle touches of personality and individuality to your home on our blog, we wanted to showcase a recent project that brought these tips to life. 

The “Shades of Blue” project centered around a monochromatic color palette, creating a cohesive look through the use of paint, textiles, accessories and more. We were thrilled with the result! 

Before and After: The Fireplace

The Shades of Blue project had a stunning fireplace serving as the focal point in the living room, and while both our team and our client saw its potential, the “before” look was dated in style. With our color palate in mind, we elected to whitewash the stone fireplace in a cool finish, elevating it further by adding dark blue-gray paneling to either side. With two thoughtful upgrades, the space is beautifully revitalized for its new lease on life. 

Before and After: The Kitchen

Before our redesign, the Shades of Blue kitchen was nothing more than functional: it was a perfect space to prepare a meal and gather around the table. With its solid foundation in place, we knew we could get creative with updates that would evolve the space from functional to the family’s favorite, and the results speak for themselves! 

We pulled our color palate into the kitchen by giving the island a pop of color and incorporating wallpapered accent walls to create depth, which bounced perfectly off of the existing cabinetry and hardware. After adding modern (yet timeless) dining chairs, the open-concept space blended perfectly together with the living room. 

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Replacing and Elevating Builder-Grade Fixtures

One of the best ways to personalize a home is to ditch the builder-grade fixtures and bring in unique replacements. In the Shades of Blue project, we swapped the generic lighting over the kitchen table for a wooden chandelier, which instantly brought a bold, modern feel to the entire space. We also added a large statement fixture in the living room. 
We created a second, more muted focal point above the kitchen island by swapping pendants for oversized shades. When it comes to enhancing lighting, always think bigger, bolder and better. 

Another simple upgrade we made in-home is raising the curtain rods to give the illusion of a higher ceiling. When mountain curtains in your home, placing the rod several inches above the window pane is a simple way to make the entire space feel bigger and more elegant. 

Personal and Meaningful Touches

Throughout major design choices, small details and everything in between, it’s important to get personal. Our clients had a few pieces they wanted to be sure worked well with the redesign, and we were happy to oblige. At the center of the rejuvenated fireplace sits a piece of art from a local gallery, a focal point perfect for sparking conversation among gathering friends. 

In a neighboring room, the client wanted to ensure a relative’s piano blended nicely with the new look and feel. We reupholstered the bench using a fabric that both matched the piece and created a cohesive look between redesigned rooms. Curating art and decor with meaning is an excellent way to ensure your home is filled with personality!

Our team is happy to help revitalize a space through both thoughtful enhancements and major renovations. Reach out to us for a consultation!

How To: Add Personality to Your Space Without a Major Renovation

We all want a space that’s uniquely ours: our favorite colors, design styles that match our personality, nods to a personal hobby or career, the list goes on.  

Whether you’re starting from scratch with an empty room in a new build or hoping to refresh a space you’ve lived in for years, personalizing your space is attainable without the need for a major design overhaul. 

Put that sledgehammer down and explore our four tips to easily add personality to your space. 

Pops of Color

While neutral palettes and monochrome looks may be trending in home design, adding a pop of color is a bold way to bring personality into your home. Consider adding an accent paint color or a patterned wallpaper to a bedroom, kitchen or living room wall to create a focal point rooted in personality. 

Color, texture and patterns can also be added throughout the home by investing in a bold piece of furniture, incorporating striking drapery or colorful throw pillows, or adding thoughtful pieces of decor. 

Our team recently incorporated pops of color throughout a new build in Franklin, Tennessee. See the final product here!

Replace Builder-Grade Accents

Builders are going to select the most basic accents and fixtures to make their homes universally appealing, so when looking to add personalization to your home, these should be the first to go. 

Luckily, there are countless ways to customize a builder-grade home. Consider swapping generic pendant lighting, ceiling fans or chandeliers for big, bold fixtures that will serve as a stunning focal point in any room, upgrading (and elevating) bathroom mirrors, adding molding, wainscoting or shiplap to basic walls, or painting a kitchen island or interior doors an eye-catching color. 

Add Meaningful Artwork

Much like highlighting hobbies and interests, artwork poses a perfect opportunity to incorporate personality through design. Add imagery that nods to an important moment or memory, or paintings inspired by a particular place or color scheme.

Whether you’ve relocated to a new city or you’re staying put in your hometown, incorporate pieces from local artists. Not only are you supporting a neighbor or a local business, but many pieces are inspired by their surroundings, pulling a little bit of the outside world into your home. 

Showcase Collectables and Hobbies

With home decor stores popping up in droves, shopping for home accents is easier now more than ever. But, those chain retailers and online stores are accessible to everyone, which can quickly turn a home from personalized to generic. Curating pieces centered around hobbies or interests is a great way to showcase individuality. 

Love to travel? Display books that feature places you have traveled or places you plan to go. Collect vintage records? Let’s find a place to showcase them & make them accessible to use.

Need help adding personality to your home? We’re here to help. Schedule your design consultation today!