2014, Thanks For The Memories

Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015! Do you have plans for the new year? http://mydoubleliving.blogspot.com/2015/01/goodbye-2014-hello-2015.html — Image via mydoubleliving.blogspot.com

It’s hard to believe that 2014 has come and gone. As I reflect on the past 12 months, there are so many moments to celebrate.

First and foremost, THANK YOU for being a part of such an amazing year. Thank you for sharing my work, encouraging my work, keeping up with my work, and more importantly, trusting me to come into your homes and change how your home functions for your family. I love what I do, and am blessed by your encouragement.

At the start of the 2014, my goal was to simplify. For me, that meant eliminating distractions for the essential, trading chaos for peace, and spending time doing what’s important. My favorite moments this year were spent with my family. I simplified best during our vacations together to Mexico, to the beach, and to New York. There is nothing that makes me feel better than when we are all together and away from everyday distractions.

One of my biggest accomplishments this year was being named one of Traditional Home’s Designer’s to Watch in 2014. It was a huge honor and one I am very proud to be included.

NewTradgroupshot — New Trad’s Designers To Watch in 2014

That honor led to me being a part of the Hunter Douglas/ Trad Home contest to vote for the New Trad Designer that best matched their reader’s style.

By creating “real homes for real life”, my goal has always been to blend comfort and elegance through layering textures, making the most of light, and combining modern, antique, and classic elements.

Thank you for choosing my style as the one you liked the best.

Dana_Joelle_04 — The project that won me this incredible honor- Dana Wolter Interiors

Dana_Joelle_06 — Another glimpse into it- Dana Wolter Interiors

In August, I updated my website and that was a huge feat, to say the least. We took my old one, added to it, changed it around, and uploaded a lot of new projects. It was quite a process and if you’ll remember, I compared it to birthing a baby.

Another exciting opportunity I had this fall was serving on a panel at Traditional Home’s “What’s New, What’s Now” event at the New York Design Center. Over 70 showrooms participated in the event that featured product introductions, informative lectures, and book signings. I had the privilege of joining Traditional Home Senior Design and Market Editor Tori Mellot in a panel on mixing traditional and modern design.

panel

There is a lot of talent in the city I call home, and I was honored to be featured in Birmingham Home And Garden’s, Birmingham Style, that was published in October. If you haven’t already purchased this book, do yourself a favor and buy it.

blog pic — Dana Wolter Interiors Photography by Jean Allsopp

The year ended in a wonderful way by me winning the “New Trads at Home” Pinterest Sweepstakes. Inspired by The Vulcan, I used pieces from Alabama artists and Ethan Allen to recreate a recent install.

DanaW_Monica_Oct2014_06-M — Dana Wolter Interiors

As I say goodbye to 2014 and hello to 2015, I am grateful for all the memories, and I am looking forward to what’s to come.

designer bags and dirty diapers: Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015 — Image via Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers

Please let us know if there is anything in particular you would like for us feature on the blog. After all, you are who we write for, and who we hope to inspire.

Have a great day,

Dana

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Living Well

Real Homes for Real People- Family Room Edition

Like most of you, this is how I spent the past few weeks.

While I loved having my girls home and enjoyed being forced to shut down for a few days, I was ready to get back to work. The warmer temperatures and sunshine have been a nice change.

One of the best parts of my job is when I am called in to make a space more functional for a family, and a good friend of mine asked me to do just that.

She has a great home in Vestavia and needed help making the family room more suitable for her growing teenagers and their friends. You may recognize a few of the other rooms in this home from the pictures below. They were published a few years ago in one of my favorite publications, Birmingham Home and Garden.

Screen shot 2012-04-23 at 1.24.16 PM — living room-courtesy of Jean Allsopp photography

dining area — kitchen banquette- Jean Allsopp photography

While I am keeping the family room a surprise until we add the last few pieces, I thought I might show you a glimpse of what we have installed already…..

I’ll share pictures of the finished room in a few weeks.

Have a great day, everyone-

Dana

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Living Well

Thanks for the Article, Birmingham Home and Garden

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are having a great week.

I was excited to receive the January/February issue of Birmingham Home and Garden as there is a nice article on Jeff Dungan and me from the Antiques at The Gardens show.

They asked the Tastemakers a few personal and professional questions, and I enjoyed reading everyone’s answers. You can check out the entire edition here.

I hope the interview left you wanting to know more about how I approach each project. If so, here are few more of the questions with my answers that didn’t make it into the article.

BHG: Your work reflects casual, livable, elegance. First and foremost, your work leans towards the way your client’s live, but you do have some signature “Dana” pieces. What are some of your favorite pieces to use and why? Are they custom or purchased?

DW: I incorporate many custom-designed upholstered pieces such as banquettes, sofas, screens, dining tables, and ottomans into my interiors. My interiors are not shiny or trendy, and these type of pieces add uniqueness and subtle detail to a room.

Many designers can create a pretty home. I try to take my work a step further and create a pretty home that can change how a family lives.

BHG: When taking on a new client, what are some clues you look for to help determine their hopes for the project?

DW: A home is most likely the largest investment made in a lifetime, and any improvements should only increase its value.

Communication Is Key.

When taking on a new client, it is important they are as comfortable with me as I am with them. There has to be open dialogue and trust for the end result to be the desired outcome.

Have a Budget in Mind.

I won’t take on a project without knowing a budget. It is extremely important from day one for all to have an understanding of what the budget can buy so the design process can evolve accordingly.

Show Me Anything You Can to Convey Your Taste.

Communication is key, and as they say, pictures are worth a thousand words. I love walking into a client meeting and being handed a notebook full of pictures that inspire them. Pictures, whether of certain rooms or landscapes or colors or artwork, give me great insight into what can sometimes be difficult to communicate.

BHG: You work on a lot of family homes. What are your five family-friendly go-to fabrics/ finishes / furniture?

DW: Leather, velvets, waxed woods, natural stones, and crusty antiques only look better with age and a little wear and tear. When choosing fabrics for upholstery, I emphasize to my clients it isn’t just the color of the fabric that matters, but more importantly, its content.

BHG: What are your favorite two coffee table books and or design books in your collection?

DW: I am constantly reading personally and professionally, so it is hard to say my favorites. I love Kelly Hoppen’s Interiors, Axel Vervoordt’s Timeless Interiors, and John Saladino’s Style by Saladino.

Thanks again, BHG!

dana

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Living Well

We’re Growing!

DWI had so much going on at the end of the year that I failed to mention some exciting news…

We are growing!

We have added Abbey Powell Dunn to our team, and what an asset she is to our firm. Abbey is an interior designer with an extensive background in commercial design, and we are glad to have her working with us.

We thought it might be fun to ask Abbey a few things so you can know her a little better….

I’m happiest when….I am with my family

A typical day is….there is no such thing as a “typical” day when working with Dana and that is why I love it! Whether its pulling fabrics, ordering furniture, or staging a clients house for a photo shoot, everyday is a new and a fun adventure!

You’ll always find this in my purse….EOS lip balm, a tape measure, and gum.

I just read/ watched….Gone Girl…it is a must read!

My guilty pleasure is…..chocolate, of course!

I’m inspired by…..my mother…she is the strongest woman I know.

If I could live anywhere, it’d be…..I’m honestly so happy in Birmingham! I love this city!

Quick design tips….when designing a particular space I often like to start by finding one great statement piece, such as a piece of art or a beautiful fabric and work around it.

See why we love her?!!

Have a great week, everyone!

Dana

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Living Well

The Best Is Yet To Come

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. It’s hard to believe Christmas has come and gone and we are into a new year.

I have been a little absent the past few weeks as I took some time off. I’ve spent time decompressing and enjoying my family. It has been a nice break and I am rejuvenated for 2014.

Speaking of 2014, it’s only appropriate for me to share my resolutions in the first post of the year.

Like many of you, I always spend the first of the year looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. It’s an obvious time to reflect on the changes I want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on them. That being said, I’ve come up with a couple I am excited to share with you.

Simplify. Be more with less.

Yes, I said it again. Can you tell this “idea” is on the forefront of my mind?

For me, this means eliminating distractions for the essential, trading chaos for peace, and spending time doing what’s important. I’ve spent the past couple weeks getting rid of the clutter around the house and I cannot tell you how much better this makes me feel. Try it, as I promise it will make you feel better, too.

I love the saying “if you don’t use it, lose it” and I especially love putting it into practice. Learning to live with less allows me to enjoy more.

And while I think material items need to be kept in perspective, I do think our surroundings affect us. I know they do me. There is something to be said about how a calm, beautiful, organized, peaceful home makes you feel. A home that is warm but elegant is one you can enjoy and make memories with family and friends.

I am also going to ….

Take Care of Me.

I know this resolution seems cliché, but over the holidays, I was sick. Being forced to slow down and lay in bed made me to realize how worn down I was. Like most moms, I’d been so busy working and taking care of family that I exhausted myself.

So to make sure doesn’t happen again, I’m making time for me.

Time for me to challenge myself professionally. Time to take my craft and skill to the next level, not by doing more, but by doing more to the best of my ability.

I’m planning to exercise, eat well, get adequate sleep, moisturize properly, read more, take my vitamins….you know, all those things that just make you feel better. Bottom line, when I am happy and well, I am my best self.

2014

Cheers to 2014 being the best yet…

-dana

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Pictures courtesy of Pinterest