While my firm works mostly on full room or full home interior design projects, we will periodically offer a few spots for a one time 3.5 hour consult.  

This service is for the client who needs direction and help making decisions with their home but wants to implement the suggestions on their own as their budget and time allow.

It has gone over really well in the past, as I have had several people fly in, drive over or even Facetime with me for this consult.

Dana Wolter Interiors

Here’s how the 3.5 hour consult works:

We will have you send a list of what you would like to discuss and accomplish during our time together.  During our appointment, I will then spend 3.5 hours of uninterrupted time going through your list and answering questions.  

We can discuss design dilemmas, furniture arrangements, fabric direction, paint colors, to knock down a wall or not– you name it!

I’ve also had people use this service to select the all of the finishes for a new build.

The more legwork you do before our meeting in knowing what you would like to cover, the more productive our time will be together.   We will make a Pinterest board with specifics of what to look for when shopping for your home, and I will take measurements so you won’t have to worry about coming home with the wrong size sofa, ever again.

People who have invested in this consult have been surprised over the amount of detail and information that comes from it.

Matter of fact, I recently saw a client who hired me a few years ago to help her with the finishes, colors, materials, furniture layout, etc for a family lakehouse under construction.

I couldn’t help but smile as she proudly showed me pictures of the finished product.  They don’t have furniture yet, but the house turned out so pretty.  She did a great job implementing my suggestions for building their vacation home.

Dana Wolter Interiors

A beautiful kitchen project as seen in Traditional Home, Dana Wolter Interiors

Dana Wolter Interiors

If you think this service can help you transform your home, inquire about it here.  I would love to talk with you.

Have a great day-

dana

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5 Tips For Updating Your Home:

Hire A Great Team

Whether hiring an architect for a renovation/new build, a designer for new furnishings or a contractor for your project, your team should be one you can trust and will make the process enjoyable and easy easier for you.  

As far as talent and expertise go, if there is a significant difference in the fees of whom you are interviewing, I can promise they offer different levels of service and expertise.  Do your homework and ask why.

Perspective Is Everything

As we’ve mentioned before in previous blog posts, ordering new furnishings and renovations take time – but in the end, they are well worth the wait.  Custom doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s these kind of details that make a home beautiful for years to come. 

Custom cabinetry  designed for a client, Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

Timeless Interior Design, Dana Wolter Interiors

Does Your Home Have Architectural Features and Customization?

What makes your home special and unique?  Does it have strong enough architectural details that are in keeping with the style of the house, great light or intentional focal points to catch your eye? 

Incorporating timeless, classic architectural elements and features will up-level the look of your home while also standing the test of time.

Invest Wisely

One of the most common questions clients ask is where to focus their budget during the renovation process.

I always recommend making sure the bones of the house are right first with beautiful finishes and natural materials.  Furnishings and accessories should lightly layer in to soften and pull together each space.  

Buy the best your budget allows and think longterm.  Furnish a home with the intention that it will stay as is – or added to for a collected feel- for many years to come.  

A mix of finishes and details for a collected look, Dana Wolter Interiors

We hope these tips help guide you during your next project.  If we can help you update your dated home, reach out to us here or call us at 205-938-4848.

Have a great day,

Dana

If you would like to see more on a day to day basis of what we do at DWI, join us. We would love to meet you!!

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It is always exciting when a publication wants to showcase our work, and I am honored Aspire Design and Home reached out to us for their ‘Designer Friday’ spotlight. 

From sharing some of our recent projects to asking about my favorite books and thoughts, it was a fun interview.  It is a wonderful publication that shares what is new globally in design, art, culture, and travel.   

Learn unique facts about Dana in a Q&A with Aspire Design and Home and Andrew Joseph

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

From secret talents, must-read books, and something to always have on hand for unexpected guests, click here to read along for a fun Friday feature.

Have a great day,

Dana

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While our interior design office is always available through our website, email, and multiple social media outlets, we now have an office phone number to make us even more accessible. 

Give Us A Call: 

New Number – 205.938.4848

Whether you would like to discuss a new construction project, replacing your home’s dated furnishings, or scheduling a 3.5 hour consultation, reach out as we want to hear about your home and your needs.

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

Give us a call as we look forward to hearing from you soon.

Dana

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As I was going through some photos of our work on our website recently, I was reminded why every room (or almost every) needs a mirror.

Its placement is key, but it’s also important to be mindful of what it reflects. Here are my thoughts on why mirrors add interest to any space.

Why Every Room Needs A Mirror: 

1. It’s the perfect layering piece

A mirror is a great layering piece to create a collected feel in a room.  In our client’s Foyer, I layered an antique Louis Philippe mirror with a framed piece of art and other curiosities to give it interest and personalization.

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

2. A mirror adds texture and dimension

This antique Louis Philippe hanging in my Living Room adds a different texture while balancing out the wood of the pecky cypress ceiling and doors.

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

3. It makes a space feel larger

In this Master Bathroom, the vanities mirror each other, giving this space the illusion it is much larger.  Notice how we still paid attention to what was being reflected with the addition on a lovely nude sketch and small basket to catch everyday jewelry.  

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

4. A mirror adds balance

Don’t over-clutter your walls with art – let the pieces breath and speak for themselves. Mirrors can help carry the weight of a wall without covering every inch with different art.

As we’ve done here, this mirror adds balance to a formal Dining Room where a piece of art would have been too much. 

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

Hope these tips help when you are deciding where to hang a mirror in a room.  If we can help you create a home you love, contact us here.

Have a great day,

Dana

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With warm weather here and people ready to make changes to their home, I want to remind you of the 3.5 consult service I offer periodically.

While the projects we work on are full-service interior design,  this one-time consult is for the client who needs a plan for their home but likes to do the legwork themselves.

It has gone over really well, and clients who have invested in this consult have been surprised over the amount of detail and information that comes with it.  

Matter of fact, I recently ran into a client who hired me for this service for her home a few years ago.  She said she is slowly working through her list as her budget and time allow, but she is LOVING the big changes happening to her home.

Some people have used this service to update their home, and others have used it to select the finishes, countertops and paint colors for second homes under construction. 

People have even flown in to meet with me (or driven all night when their flight was canceled) for this consult. 

Let us help you with the details and finishes for your new home, Dana Wolter Interiors

Whatever your needs, you have my undivided attention for 3.5 hours to help you accomplish all that we can in this timeframe.

Dana Wolter Interiors

How The 3.5 Hour Consult Works:

Our team will have you send a list of all you would like to discuss and accomplish during our time together.  Once we make an appointment,  I will then spend 3.5 hours of uninterrupted time answering any question you can possible think to ask me.  We can discuss design dilemmas, furniture arrangements, fabric direction, paint colors, to knock down a wall or not– you name it!

I will give you specifics of what to look for when shopping for your home, and I will take detailed measurements so you won’t have to worry about coming home with the wrong size sofa, ever again.

After our meeting, you will receive a detailed synopsis of what was discussed and a list of the suggestions I made when discussing your project.  

This allows you to maximize your time with me while I take notes and write down all the specifics for you to implement at a later date.

This service is a great way to invest in your home by making sure what you are changing and buying is right for the space.  It also allows you the freedom to work on your project as your time and budget allow, all while following professional advice.

If you think this service can help you make your home the place you dream, email us at info@danawolterinteriors.com.   I would love to talk with you.

Cheers to making your home one you love, one step at a time……

Dana

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Your home is one of the biggest investments you will make, and you want to make sure you are investing your time and money wisely.

Our goal for any project is to create a home that adds to the quality of your life and will hopefully increase in investment if you ever decide to sell.

HERE ARE FIVE WAYS TO WISELY INVEST IN YOUR HOME: 

1. Use classic materials in the shell of your home:

By choosing classic materials and architectural elements that are in keeping with the style of your home, you will create a timeless feel that supports any style of furnishings you layer in. 

Look at the gorgeous doors, and the dogs are pretty cute, too. Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

2.  Be strategic with the type of fabrics you select:

Are you thinking of purchasing a new sofa or reupholstering one you already own? If so, opt for a higher quality fabric with a high double-rub count or professional treatment. Taking these factors into consideration will pay off after a few years of wear and tear.

The following pictures are projects of high-traffic spaces where we strategically selected fabrics based on how the room functions. 

Recent installation of a client’s foyer. The loveseat and chair are ready for an active family. Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

Dana Wolter Interior Design Studio, Mountain Brook, AL

3. Utilize every space in your home:

From large and spacious to small and quaint, maximizing your square footage is imperative.  

As I wrote in a previous blog post here, we helped this large family transform their garage into a second family room to create some needed extra space.

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

4. Neat and tidy landscaping:

Your landscaping is the first impression people see as they approach your home. Allow the appearance of your home’s exterior to catch your guests at the door with a few simple and effective ways.

For example, keep your sidewalks and porches cleanly swept so leaves and cobwebs don’t accumulate.

I also like to have the mulch in our yard freshened up twice a year (in the fall and spring). You will be shocked with how this truly makes your shrubs and trees pop.

Dolores Del Rio House, Arturo Jimenez Photography

5. Customize your kitchen and bathrooms:

Updating your kitchen or an outdated bathroom are places where you can add value to your home. Not only for re-sale purposes, but also in terms of function for you and your family. 

We designed this client’s kitchen to suit their needs in a new build.  As empty-nesters, they didn’t want a large breakfast room because they enjoy eating everyday meals around an island. With emphasis on the custom island design and function, we added counter stools and a table-like feel as a perfect solution for ‘island dining’.  

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

Another great way to maximize space in a kitchen is to incorporate banquette-style seating with your breakfast room table. 

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

I hope you find these five ways to invest helpful and that they guide you on where to spend your money on your home.  Reach out to us here if we can help you turn your home into one you love.

Have a great day,

Dana

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A few weeks ago, we asked our Instagram followers to submit design questions they wanted me to answer. This was such a fun way to see what people need help with or where they need help in their own home. From favorite colors to determining a budget, the entries covered the spectrum. 

Here are a few of the design questions with Dana’s answers:

Q:What Are Your Tips For Styling Vignettes – Especially Long Buffets or Dressers?

A: When styling your home, adding layers is really what brings everything together and breathes life to each space.

Incorporating art, antique mirrors, live greenery, and books will make your home come alive.  I often time like to prop up a small piece of art in front of a mirror which adds interest and depth without taking away from what the mirror has to offer.

For longer spaces – like a buffet or dresser – less is more. Play up the scale of the piece by added a long container and simply fill with pretty green moss or stack collections of your China and serving pieces for a more collected look. 

Watch my Instagram Stories today for more tips regarding this question!

Ready for entertaining, Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

Q: Are Dark Painted Interior Doors and Trim Timeless or Trendy?

A: Dark painted interior doors and trim can add a beautiful layer to the right home.  The architecture and style of your home is the main variable as to whether this look is in keeping with it. 

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

Q: Are Murals or Mural Wallcoverings a Trend?

A: If done properly, murals can be a stunning addition and a classic touch to a room. From custom French murals like de Gournay  to a bespoke, hand-painted artisan design,  finding the right option in the right room is key. 

Q: How Do You Measure a Rug For a Room? 

A: I wish there was a tried and true answer that could be used for every room in your home but so many variables come into play when determining the perfect size rug.

Floor vent locations, furniture layouts, and paths of travel are some of the many factors we consider. If possible, you want to try and avoid half of an upholstered piece hanging off of the rug.

To make your spaces feel bigger and allow the most open furniture plan, error on the larger size and come off each wall equal distances. 

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

Q: How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Designer?

A: Pinpointing an exact price to hire a designer is nearly impossible due to all the variables and project requirements. Interior designers charge differently – some charge a flat fee while others charge hourly.  

Like anything, you get what you pay for with a designer. If one is significantly more than another, it is usually because they are offering more detail in scope of what their services will cover. Finding a designer whose work and process speaks to you is the key to a perfect fit.

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

Whether you are in the middle of a project yourself or have one you’ve been thinking about starting, I hope these answers guide you to achieve your dream home. If you need help with your design project, email us here. 

Feel free to ask me more questions in the comment section or reach out on social media. I may address your question in our next installment of ‘You Asked, Dana Answered’ as I enjoyed writing this post.

Have a great day,

Dana

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We have recently begun working on the renovation of a client’s childhood home.

The wife and I met through one of my 3.5 hour consults as she was looking for direction for her family’s newly purchased childhood home.  During our conversation, I gave a few reasons as to why they should renovate to really make it work for their young, pet-friendly family. 

As a result, they hired us to select the interior finishes and lighting throughout.  

A Recently Completed Family Room, Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

Though the bones of the house are good- and the memories even better- we are updating the house with classic, timeless materials and details. A

Our goal is a beautiful home with a casual, comfortable feel that only looks better with time. 

Dana Wolter Interiors, Interior Details, Graham Yelton Photography

The kitchen is completely gutted and is getting the biggest makeover.  A large window is being added because bringing in light was a priority throughout the house.

We are also updating the home with hidden storage (can you ever have enough?) and finding ways to make this new home work and function for them for years to come.

Dana Wolter Interiors, Kitchen Renovation

Dana Wolter Interiors, Renovation

Stay tuned as we share our progress over the next few months. I can’t wait to make this childhood home into a space where this family can play, relax and enjoy each other. 

Have a great day,

Dana

To see what we are doing on a regular basis, click here…

2019 Southeast Designer of The Year Nominees Announced

We are thrilled to share the exciting news that DWI is a finalist in the Southeast Residential Designer Of The Year award.  

Sponsored by ADAC and Veranda magazine, this award spans a 10-state region, and we are honored to be included for the third year in a row.

Dana Wolter Interiors, Birmingham, AL, Graham Yelton Photography

Not only are we humbled to be among such a distinguished group, we are proud to be a vessel to spotlight our fabulous city of Birmingham, AL.   If you need a few recommendations of my favorite places to eat and shop in town, contact me here.

Dana Wolter Interior Design, Located in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Graham Yelton

 “The South is an epicenter for stylish design, and this year’s Southeast Designers and Architect of the Year Awards’ entrants prove the region’s influence on architecture and interior design is not to be overlooked,” said Steele Marcoux, Editor in Chief of VERANDA magazine. “I feel honored – and inspired – to have been a part of this process!” 

Our sincere thanks to the judges, Steele Marcoux, Bunny Williams, and Roger Seifter,  for noticing our work.  These esteemed judges are well-known in the design community and for their discerning eyes to highlight our work is an honor. 

Stay tuned as we will keep you posted on social media. The award ceremony is April 25th and our entire team will be together to celebrate.

Have a great day-

Dana

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