I had one of my favorite clients reach out recently.   We helped their family build a beautiful home a few years ago, and she emailed saying they are looking at buying or building a second home.

I couldn’t help but smile knowing she enjoyed the process and wants to do it again. They put together a great team who worked hard to build a beautiful home.  

If you are building or thinking of building, here are eight tips to make the process go more smoothly for you, too. 

1. Put Together A Good Team:  I can’t stress enough how important it is to hire a builder, designer and architect that are known for what you are trying to achieve.  It isn’t enough to hire who your neighbor used- look at their past work, check their references, and search them online. 

Your team should increase the value of your project while saving your sanity.  Again- they should make your life easier and be good stewards of your money.

 2. Make Sure The Aesthetic Of  Your Designer And Architect Appeal To You.  Even creatives with a well-versed portfolio still have a certain look and tendencies (including me).  In the end, you have to feel comfortable in the home.

Just as important, make sure you like their personality and can trust them.  They are going to be dealing with your money and you need to be okay sharing details about how you live.

3.  Wait to Break Ground Until Your Plans are Finished. Do Not start the building process until the plans are finished.  If you don’t wait, I can promise the demo will go fast but it will come to a screeching halt.  Be prepared as it takes time to draw good plans. 

A recent project as it was being built, Dana Wolter Interiors

4.  Quality takes time.  Quality takes time- there is a reason the room with custom cabinetry, draperies and millwork looks so good.   Details customize a home, but they take time.   

Cabinet detail in a master bath renovation, Dana Wolter Interiors

Prepare yourself now- there will be a setback somewhere in the building process that will delay the project.  The weather won’t cooperate, you will hit rock when excavating, etc…  

5.  Talk Money Early On.   No one enjoys sharing their personal business, but it is important to have a budget in mind or a realistic expectation of what your project will cost.  

Know your building budget (and furnishings’ budget) at the beginning and be realistic about what it can afford you.  

Talk to your builder about the exact finishes the allowances will buy you, and see what is realistic for what you are building.   Also, the more finishes and specifics you can finalize during the bidding process (know exactly the type of countertop you want to use, what line of plumbing fixtures, etc…), the more it will save you with add-ons at the end.

6. You get what you pay for.  Not all architects, builders and designers are equal and there is a reason everyone doesn’t charge the same.   If detail is important to you, make sure you hire a team where it is important to them.

7. Let Them Do Their Job.   You hired your team for a reason, so let them do their job.  If you can’t visualize a detail, trust that they can. This means trusting their judgment over your friend’s, your mom’s, etc….

8. Save enough money to furnish the home and be realistic as to how far that budget can go.   The last thing you want to do is build a beautiful, brand new home and for it to echo because you are not able to furnish it properly. 

Dana Wolter Interiors as seen in Traditional Home

I hope these eight tips are helpful and make the building process more enjoyable and fun.   

If you are interested in learning about the design services we can offer you when building, email us at info@danawolterinteriors.com.  We’d love to hear more about your project.

Dana

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There’s one thing every home should have, and that is function.

We’ve recently been working on a home that is spacious and stately, but the layout wasn’t great.

This is the forever home for the family,  and they were ready to make this home more functional for how they live. 

We began with the front of the house because they couldn’t fit a sofa into their family room, and this is the room the family LIVES in.  

With the help of architect Jason Robb, we took out a few columns, added some custom millwork, and the space already feels so much better (it now allows for not one, but two large sofas and several chairs).  

The family room before the new furniture was installed

Inviting spaces begin in the foyer of this home, Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

The front of the house is finished- done- complete- and we are now moving onto Phase Two.   We are addressing the choppiness in the back of the home by moving walls and reworking the kitchen, back hall, laundry and office.

We’ve given the kitchen as much storage and workspace as possible.  It will be drop dead gorgeous, but that is just a given when you have custom details throughout.

We’ve ordered a La Cornue range and hood, and the custom cabinetry will be a mix of painted and waxed cabinetry.  There is also a beautiful new butler’s pantry, along with an office, to organize the family.

Here are a few progress shots: 

Beautiful millwork on the kitchen and breakfast room walls

I love this ceiling detail designed by architect Jason Robb

It is the simple things that make a difference, such as the cabinet drawer detail in the office

I am so excited to see this one complete, so look on my Instagram stories as I share the progress.  It’s going to be pretty incredible, and more importantly, highly functional for them to enjoy for years to come.

Have a great day,

Dana

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Your house is one of the biggest purchases you will make and there are three rooms you should invest in when designing your home. 

That’s not to say the other rooms or areas should be ignored; it just means these three add more value to the quality of your life and for resale.   

So….Here goes- these are the top three rooms to invest in your home:

1. Kitchen–

Not only will a beautiful, functional kitchen make your life easier when cooking and feeding your family, it also gives you a great return on your investment if you ever decide to sell your home.  

Invest in quality cabinets (believe me, not all cabinetry is the same.  Buy the best you can afford and select a cabinet maker/company who truly pays attention to the details), classic finishes, and quality plumbing.

A kitchen of ours as featured in Traditional Home. Photography by Jean Allsopp

It’s the room that gets the most use, so make yours one you love and one that functions well for cooking, prep, and entertaining.

2. Master Bedroom–  

My bed is my FAVORITE place in my house.  Yep – I admit it.  Great linens, comfortable pillows, soft, soothing colors…..  I love to curl up in my bed and relax, and if a book in involved, even better.  It’s like wearing a comfy pair of pjs to me.  

Dana Wolter Interiors, Photography by Graham Yelton

A cocoon-like feel for this teen’s bedroom. Dana Wolter Interiors, LLC, Photography by Graham Yelton

3. Family Room–  

I included the Family Room since it’s where you relax, watch tv and LIVE.  It needs to draw you in with comfortable seating that makes you want to kick back and visit with family and friends.  

Be sure to include comfortable upholstery (the best you can afford), and soften the room with drapes, a rug that fits the space well, etc…  Think of layering this room with things you love to create a collected, personal feel.

I have always admired the layered look of this room created by interior designer Ray Booth

Invest in these three rooms first to create a retreat and a home that feels good to you and your family.  If we can ever help you turn your home into one you love, contact us here.

Dana

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I sense a change is taking place… People are tired- tired of feeling exhausted, hurried and stressed.

Surrounding yourself with a home you love and feels good to you is more important now than ever before.   A place to relax and close out the chaos of everyday life.

Here are 5 easy ways to create home you love (without spending a dime):

1. If you don’t love something in your home or aren’t using it, get rid of it.  Clean out, pare down, and keep only what speaks to you and brings you joy.

End of sentence.  Period.  

Bunny Williams

2.  Assign a purpose for every room in your home.  Every single room, even the little “catch-all” closet.     What exactly is the closet going to store?

3.   LIVE in your home and ENJOY.   No more off-limit rooms or saving your china just for special occasions…   Use the dishes one night for dinner, just because…..

4.  Make your home a reflection of you.  Do you like a little edge but your home doesn’t quite capture who you are or how you want to reflect your style?  

Take some time to think through what makes you smile, what helps you relax, what is important to you.  Once you discover what these are, find ways to incorporate into your home.

A rosary given by a special friend is incorporated into my Living Room Decor. Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

Our pet fish has some flowers added to his home, Dana Wolter Interiors

5.  Create a space somewhere in your home that makes you feel calm and relaxed.  It doesn’t have to be big space- maybe it is a corner in a room with a chair, a blanket, and a table to place your morning coffee.  

My spot is on my kitchen banquette, where I drink my morning coffee, every single morning…

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

Don’t get me wrong.   I am the first to get caught up in everyday life.  Little things, that in the big scheme, don’t mean much.

But if we can make simple changes to our home that impact our quality of life so we live well in our home, isn’t this a good thing?

Hope these 5 easy ways to create a home you love helps you enjoy your home a little more.   Let me know what you think-

dana

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I have been talking a lot lately about the importance of making your home one you love, and your bedroom is the perfect spot to begin.

Your bedroom should be a room that allows you to #livewell by surrounding yourself with things that help you relax and rejuvenate.

Here are six must-follow bedroom design ideas for creating a room you love.  

1. Use colors that SPEAK to you: I normally keep colors in the bedroom soft because I need tranquility in my life (Ha!), but if a bright color speaks to you, then certainly use it.

Bedroom created a few years back for a favorite client; Dana Wolter Interiors, Jean Allsopp Photography

2. Mix your Furniture Pieces for a Collected Look.  Gone are the days of matching bedroom sets, so mix your finishes. This means strategically including stained woods, painted finishes, iron and metals that blend with your color palette.

Vincent Wolf

 3. Layer- Bedrooms can have quite a few hard surfaces, so it is important to add softness through a rug, window treatments, pillows, bedding, etc…

I love this upholstered niche by Circa Interiors

4. Add in the personal.  Incorporate touches that are personal to you, such as your favorite photographs and artwork.

Custom framed photographs in a client’s home. Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

 5. Keep it simple… Don’t clutter or overcrowd your bedroom with too much stuff.  Make sure the room can breathe, so you can as well.  

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6.  Incorporate seating.  While you don’t want to overcrowd, I always try to add some sort of seating in a bedroom.  A place to lounge is ideal if you aren’t quite ready to curl up in bed.

A leather or upholstered chair are pieces that can enhance a bedroom space and make it feel like your very own private suite.   #Livewell in your home by making it your own.

My daughter’s bedroom, Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

Bedrooms should have all of the things in it that you love. It should be the place you cannot wait to get to at the end of your day or sneak off to when you just need a moment to yourself.  

If you want help or need guidance on how to make your bedroom feel like its very own getaway, email us here.

Here’s to creating a bedroom you love and #livingwell in your home.

xo- Dana 

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We’re thrilled to announce we have hit 30,000 followers on Instagram.  

As a thank you, we have a giving away a gorgeous, custom pillow and throw.  

Here is how to enter:

* Follow @DanaWolterInteriors here on Instagram

* Like the Giveaway post

*Tag three friends in the comment section

We are announcing the winner on Tuesday so be sure to check back in.  The items cannot be exchanged for money or services.

Thanks so much for following along with us on this journey.  We are grateful for your support!

Dana

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Building or renovating a home is a huge investment with your time and more importantly, your money.  

And when a client hires us, we work to protect their investment and become their advocate, all while investing their money wisely and (hopefully) taking away the stress. I often see the same pitfalls to avoid when renovating or building.

Here are 5 must-follow tips on building or renovating a home:

1. Order the Size Window the Architect Specs   Sometimes in the bidding process, it’s discussed replacing a custom window with a standard size one to save a little money.  

Don’t do it- window size, type, and placement are extremely important when building a home, and this small change can dramatically alter the look of what has been professionally drawn.

2.  Buy Right the First Time.  Let’s face it….Life gets busy and all of us have good intentions to go back later and switch something out.   I know building can be draining and tiring, but once you have moved and settled in, the last thing you want to do is spend money to replace something.  

Buy the best you can afford on the front end and you will enjoy it for many years to come.

3.  Use Classic Building Materials  Save the trends for things that are easy to switch out such as pillows and accessories, and keep your building material finishes classic.   You will thank me in the long run, especially if you decide to sell.

4.  Set Money Aside for the Furnishings  Budget appropriately for the building process (this is another post I need to write) and be sure to leave enough money to properly furnish the home.  

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

Dana Wolter Interiors. Graham Yelton Photography

5.  Think Long Term on Your Needs  How long are you going to live in this house?  If you plan on staying for five years or more, you need to take into account what your needs will be down the road.

Are you an empty nester building your final house?  Be sure to think ahead on bedroom placement, stairs and other simple things that could be a hindrance down the road.

A custom-designed #island for an #emptynester couple, Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton
Photography

Do you have children who will be teenagers in five years?  If so, they (and their friends) will only grow bigger and need more space..  

Be sure to think long term and hire the best architect, designer, landscape designer and builder your budget allows.   I promise you that in the end, it will save you money and hassle. 

If you are building or renovating and would like to discuss your project with us, email us here.   I would love to talk with you.

Have a great day-

Dana

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Potential clients will often reach out to us for different reasons.

Sometimes they can’t quite put their finger on why they aren’t happy with their home, but it is intuitive- it feels like wasted space or it’s dated or just not quite right.  

Some are even embarrassed to have visitors over because of how it looks.

You can’t put a price tag on some things, and a home that offers a place to retreat is one of them.

Here are four ways to create a home you love:

1. Have a well-thought out design plan created for your home.  After the purchase, furnishing your home is the second largest investment you will probably make.  

Furnishing a home isn’t cheap, and you want to make sure you are spending your money wisely the first time….  

You see- designing a home is an investment, so hire a professional to give you a detailed plan on how – and where- to invest in the furnishings of your home.

Dana Wolter Interiors

 Think long term with your investment and life.

2.  Include pieces that speak to you and that you love.  When we begin a turnkey project, there is a lot of conversation with our client about their dreams, what’s important to them, etc…  Your home needs to be a reflection of you and what makes your heart happy.  

3.  Give a room a purpose, and work the furniture around it.  Unfortunately, you can’t have a home that feels good and works for you unless it works for your needs.

 Cant figure out one?  Contact us here to assess your needs and to help you invest your money wisely.

4.  How can you add to the quality of your life through your home?   Do you want to expand your circle of friends and want to invite more people over to dinner on a regular basis?   Great- let’s make sure your home will flow like it needs to do so.

Dana Wolter Interiors

Life is too short to not love the place you spend the majority of your life.  Your home should be a place that feels good, rejuvenates you and gives you a place to restore and rest.

Here’s to making your house one you love-

Dana  

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We’ve have lots of exciting things going on and it feels good to be growing….

We have two positions available in Birmingham, AL, so if you are the perfect fit for our firm, let us hear from you.

Project Manager- The criteria includes:

Full Time position

Interior Design Experience a must

AutoCad, Photoshop, and SketchUp proficiency are required.

Must be motivated, organized, articulate, and detail-oriented.  

Excellent written and verbal skills, a professional demeanor, and exquisite taste for our custom projects.  

Salary based upon experience

Marketing Intern- The criteria includes:

This internship requires someone who writes well, is excellent with social media, and is organized with the task at hand.    You must be articulate, savvy with technology, have an eye for design/art, great with a camera, and proficient in WordPress.

If you meet these qualifications, email us your cover letter, resume and references to info@danawolterinteriors.com. We would love to hear from you and know why you should join our team-

Dana

It’s hard to believe summer is in full force AND 2018 is half way over.

And while my blogging has taken a nosedive the past three months (so sorry!!), it’s been for good reason.   We’ve had lots of EXCITING things going on and I thought it would be fun to share a few highlights.

We installed the last two rooms of a home recently built.  It’s hard to believe this is a new home as the interiors are beautiful and classic and timeless.   I can’t share too much, but warm weather is here and it’s time open up that pass-through window to the pool…..

We’ve also been on the road quite a bit….

Projects in and outside of Alabama have put some miles on our cars.   Lots of wood shavings and dust are flying around with renovations and new builds, and some are being updated with new furnishings and decoration…

My one-time 3.5 hour consults are going strong as it is a great way to have a plan for your home that you can implement as your time and money allow. 

For the second year in a row, we were nominated for the 2018 ADAC and Veranda Southeast Designer of the Year awards.  It’s a huge honor and we were thrilled to be recognized for two years straight.  

Robert Brown Interior Design of Atlanta, GA, walked away as the winner of the award.  If you aren’t familiar with his work, look him up.  He’s a super nice guy and his work is beautiful.  

As mentioned here,  we designed a lounge and bath in the Southeastern Showhouse in Atlanta, GA.  The Showhouse did not disappoint so be on the lookout for pictures this fall in Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles.

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

I just came back from visiting my daughter in Charleston and then drove to Asheville with my husband for a few days.   We slept too much, ate too much, and might have had a drink or two every night.  I think God meant for life to be just like this- slow, easy and stress free.

View from the Biltmore Estate

In the meantime, I am headed back to reality Birmingham with my roller skates on and my eyes to the ground.

XO,

Dana

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