Progress With #ProjectExpansion

Living Well

Progress With #ProjectExpansion

We’ve made lots of progress with #ProjectExpansion, and in more ways than one.

The babies are here, and they are gorgeous. And perfect. And big!

As you recall, I have been busy working on a home renovation/addition here in Mountain Brook, Al, for a couple that recently gave birth to two babies within five weeks of one another.

Yes, this is possible, and if you aren’t familiar with their story, it is a good one. If you are needing to smile, be sure to read the entire story here.

We began working on this project in June. The house was gutted and a master suite, laundry room, and screened-in porch have been added onto it. Pete Pritchard was the architect and we worked closely deciding the layout, details and finishes throughout the home.

I was grateful for the trust this couple put in me, as they took some risks that were hard to visualize AND added to the budget. These additions paid off, with an incredible end result.

They are moving this week, so our office has been busy ordering bathroom mirrors, marking cabinet hardware, checking on furniture shipments, etc….It has been a lot of fun working on this project, and I kind of feel like I am birthing a baby as well.

So much of myself goes into my projects, and I can’t wait to see this family of four begin to make memories in their new home.

Here is a glimpse of some of the cabinetry and hardware.

Cabinets are gorgeous and what a difference true custom cabinets make in a home. No filler pieces- they are truly made to fit the space like a glove. I love it!

Here is a sneak peek of how my cabinet guy took my vision for a few areas and turned them into reality:

Kitchen Before:

Kitchen After:

Family Room Before:

Family Room After:

FR Built-in. Still needing glass doors installed on the sides Dana Wolter Interiors

Stay tuned as I share more of the “after” pictures over the next few weeks. As always, if you are planning on building a new home -or doing a major renovation to your current one- email us at info@danawolterinteriors.com. We would love to discuss helping you turn your dream home into a reality.

Have a great day, everyone-

Dana

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Living Well

Brass Is Back, So Mix Your Metals

In several client appointments lately, I have been asked about what to do when their home is filled with silver finishes, but they are wanting to incorporate the gorgeous brass patina that is so popular right now.

My answer is easy and simple…. Mix the two!

I love a space with mixed metals as it instantly makes the room look like it has evolved over time, rather than everything so matchy matchy like it was bought on the same day in the same showroom.

I am not only talking about a finish here and a different finish there, as I have been doing this all along. I am talking about a bold metal finish that grounds the room, with perhaps another type of finish thrown in.

gallery-1435010626-calyssarosenheck2015-121 — Elle Decor

gallery-1435009553-calyssarosenheck2015-14-1 — Polished nickel, brass and antique bronze finished mixed together- Elle Decor

Below is a picture of a home we worked on several months back. As you can see below, there are brass finishes throughout……..

Client's foyer- Dana Wolter Interiors — Client’s foyer- Dana Wolter Interiors

DanaWolter_Gibbons_001 — Leading into the kitchen- Dana Wolter Interiors

But notice how we mixed the two by adding in polish nickel fixtures in the kitchen:

DanaWolter_Gibbons_035 — Dana Wolter Interiors

DanaWolter_Gibbons_045 — Dana Wolter Interiors

If you like this look of mixing metals and want to see more images, check out my Pinterest account, DWolterinterior. I am also adding info on these other social media sites as well, so be sure to follow along!

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Take care and have a great day,

Dana

Also, if you are needing a design plan for your home that you can implement on your timeframe and budget, check out our new service here. Lots of information in a detailed plan!

Living Well

Five Easy Ways To Create A Warm, Inviting Foyer (while setting the tone for the rest of your home)

What does your foyer say about your home? Does it set the tone and catch your visitor’s eye? Or is it a catch all area and a room you want to hurry your guests through?

On any project I am working on, I always look for ways to make a statement and create warmth in the foyer. This is the first impression of your home, and you want to make a good one.

Below is a video I shot with Wendy Garner talking about how to transform this overlooked space. Click here for a few tips.

Here’s a quick recap of a few quick suggestions I make in the video:

1. Add a piece of furniture and or seating (preferably something with fabric) to soften the space.

2. Make the space personal- Add your favorite piece of artwork, or a frame with a sepia photo. etc

3. Make the space useful- Depending on the size, create a place to sit to put on your shoes or at the very least add a tray to catch your keys.

4. Include something fresh such as flowers or a plant.

5. Layer the space with accessories to create dimension and to make it look like it has evolved over time.

Hope you find these tips helpful. If you try them, let me know the difference they make.

Have a great day, everyone, and here’s to making your foyer makes a good first impression.

Dana

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Living Well

A Day In My Life- What Do I Do All Day? Let’s Find Out!

I don’t know about you, but I find the summer heat and going from one activity to the next exhausting.

Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful to be busy and am excited to share with you very soon some things that are happening. With work, on top of family and other commitments, I stay ~~out of trouble~~ on my toes.

While some people only know me because of my design work, there are others who only know me through my children. I always smile when someone, who has known me for a few months, realizes I have another side to me that works and creates and changes the way people live in their homes.

I love that because while I am grateful and proud of all that has come my way professionally, in the end, I want to put my aside my pride and be known for my character versus my accomplishments.

So….. Having said that, I thought it would be fun to let you “spend a day with me” to see how the two mix and are intertwined.

I love what I do, but I’m thrilled to spend more time this summer with my over scheduled girls. Their schedule is more lax when school is out, and with one headed to college in a few months, I am savoring every moment of family time.

Here goes …..Get ready to juggle as I have a lot of balls in the air…..

My day started Wednesday around 6:15 when I woke up, showered and reviewed my notes before filming a segment from ABC 33/40’s “Talk of Alabama”.

I arrived at ABC 33/40 at 8:30 for a live segment on “Five Ways To Update A Room (Without Breaking The Bank)”. I blogged about this last week, so be sure to check it out here if you haven’t seen it.

pillows- abc3340 — Image from Dana Wolter Interiors

After I finished, I ran to the office around 10:45 to meet with the rep for Cotton and Quill to look at the new fabrics. They have lots of great patterns, and I particularly loved the soft colors in these for a bedroom we are beginning.

I hurried to the physical therapist for a lunchtime appointment. I have been battling pain in my hip, and after having about five months of pain, I am grateful to have it finally under control. Thank you, Jesus!!

On the way back, I picked up my youngest who had eaten lunch with a friend.

I came back to the office and met with the homeowner of #projectexpansion. We discussed a few details with the construction of her project such as flooring, doors, hardware and cabinetry.

Next, the homeowner and I were off to Triton to look at slabs that were brought in for her project. We selected a couple of beautiful ones. Holy moly- can’t wait to share.

After we finished, I also met with a producer to film a video on selecting countertops. Stay tuned for more on this.

We finished up around 4:45- 5:00. I headed home and intended to workout, but that didn’t happen. Instead, I enjoyed lounging with the girls in my gym shorts.

Close enough. Wearing gym clothes= working out, right?!

I probably should have spent the downtime cooking dinner but that didn’t happen either, so we enjoyed takeout instead. A meal together is what matters, not who cooked it, right?

My bed was calling my name so I ~~crawled~~ in face planted, and enjoyed reading Jay Abraham’s “The Sticking Point Solution.” It’s a book with a lot of great tips on building your business and brand. I love reading before I go to sleep as it’s the best way for me to unwind.

You’ll find that my life isn’t very exciting, and for the most part, it’s pretty predictable. It’s my hectic life, though, and I am grateful for every single bit of it.

Here’s to making the most of a day,

dana

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Living Well

Friday Favorite: Go Pink

In case you ~~live under a rock~~ did not realize, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the necessary steps to detect the disease in its early stages.

Early detection saves thousands of lives every year, and what better time than now to schedule a mammogram.

For today’s Friday Favorite, I want to share some pink images that caught my eye.

Cynthia Brooks Design :: chair detail — Image from Cynthia Brooks Design

kate long stevenson — Image from Kate Long Stevenson

Dana_Francis_03 — Teen room we installed a few years back- Dana Wolter Interiors

pink2 — Image from Dana Wolter Interiors

Have a good one,

dana

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Living Well

Renovating a Kitchen? This Post is for YOU!!

I had the best time in California last week for a Traditional Home/Thermador event. A group of designers, print media, and bloggers across the country came together to discuss design trends. Thermador was a gracious host and no detail was forgotten by them.

If you aren’t familiar with Thermador, check out their line of kitchen appliances here. I have Thermador products throughout my own kitchen, and if you have been reading since day one, I listed my Thermador warming in my very first post as one of my top five favorite things in my home. For a family on the run, it is a necessity.

I thought I knew their product line pretty well, but after an extensive tour, I learned so much more.

Here are a few quick pieces of information that stuck with me, and I hope you find them helpful:

1. If I was building again, I would incorporate a steam/convection oven into my home. This is a super neat appliance that keeps food moist (and vitamins in) while browning and cooking at a faster rate.

Look at this 14lb. turkey they cooked for us in it. Super easy and it was ready to eat after cooking for only 90 minutes.

2. I have a Pro Range in my home, but I had no idea it could do this. Yes, these are chocolate chips melting- on a paper plate– on its XLO setting. I haven’t tried this yet, but when I do (AND I WILL!), let’s hope I don’t burn my house down. YIKES!

3. One of my favorite discoveries was the refrigerator columns in their line. Because of their hinges, the front panel on all of their refrigerators can hold over 200 pounds, and I could not help but brainstorm about what I could cover the doors in. In the right setting, how does antiqued mirror sound?

The trip was a lot of fun and I learned so much, all while making a few new friends.

photo (55) — Karen Williams of St. Charles New York cooking a Cherry Clafoutis with me.

I hope this info was helpful, and let me know your “must-haves” in your next kitchen.

Take care and have a great week, everyone-

Dana

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A New Project Is Beginning!

I am excited to be working on a renovation in Mountain Brook, AL, and the talented Louis Nequette of Dungan Nequette has drawn the plans for the couple. Louis is a well-known architect across the country, but if you haven’t seen his work, click here. I am honored to be partnering with him and look forward to seeing this project progress.

The house is French in style and was built about 10 years ago. There are some exciting changes in store for this home, and one of my favorite transformations is in the kitchen.

Here is a sneak peek of Louis’ vision for it.

Kuester-kitchen-02-07-14 copy — Drawing by Louis Nequette

Who doesn’t love a great sketch- and a great kitchen, right?!

Originally, the kitchen was very modern in design and you can see from Louis’ drawing that he is bringing it more in line with the architecture of the home. It reminds me a little of a French bistro with the marble countertops and walls, custom marble/iron shelving, glass cabinetry, and the incredible view into a quaint courtyard.

This house will be filled with beautiful finishes and details throughout, and I am excited to begin sharing this project with you.

Stay tuned as I keep you informed on the progress….

Dana

Also, please take a second and vote here for the New Trad designer’s style you like best. It is quick and easy, only takes a second, and I hope you will vote for us. Every time you cast a vote, you enter a chance to win $1,000 from Hunter Douglas. $1,000!! Voting ends soon- July 17th.

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A Fun Project Coming To An End

If you follow us on social media, you have seen us post pictures of a new construction project we have been working on this past year. I have been meaning to share them with you, and as this project comes to close, it is time!

This new house, soon to be home to a fun and really nice couple, has been a project I have enjoyed tremendously. We have described it as “snappy casual”- a home not too serious but still maintains a sense of formality, soft lines, classic materials, and eye-catching details. This couple has been open to new ideas, which has in turn produced a much prettier home in the end.

I am going to show you some transgression photos of a few areas and details in this home. Barrett Architecture has done a great job drawing the plans and you can look their site here. The home is going to be gorgeous when all is said and done!!

Let’s start with the family room as Abbey checks the framed dimensions against the plans….

This room will be painted a bone color with a gray undertone. The texture of the wood will appear but the walls will read as painted.

The kitchen and family room were drawn as one really big space. We decided to add an opening to break down the feel of one large room. What do you think? Keep in mind the cased opening will be painted the same color as the walls.

Off of the family room is a gallery. Notice what we added at each end to shorten the long hall.

SC4 — We added this deep opening on each side of the gallery

photo (38) — In the middle of the “x” will be a beautiful gilded sconce.

I have to include some pictures of a few of the cabinetry details in this home. Notice the soft curves included throughout.

Master bath cabinetry

photo (46) — Love this marble backsplash with the soapstone countertops

photo (44) — A few of the kitchen cabinetry details

I couldn’t end this post without mentioning the stairwell. We wanted to do something a little different but that would still blend with the walls in this enclosed area. Here is what the painted stairwell we created will look like:

stair-idea — Drawing by the talented Chad Martin of The G Brand

The panels are going to be made up of laser cut panels overlayed over one another, with all of them will be painted the same color as the walls and trim.

Here is a mock up (not to scale) of what the trim carpenter built so we could have a visual.

What do you think?

This home is about a month away from completion. As I take photos, I will try to be better about posting in a timely manner.

Take care and have a great day-

Dana

Also, please take a second and vote here for the New Trad designer’s style you like best. It is quick and easy, only takes a second, and I hope you will vote for us. Every time you cast a vote, you enter a chance to win $1,000 from Hunter Douglas. Voting ends July 17th.

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Living Well

What A Difference A Plan Makes- Part One

I thought it might be fun to look at a few BEFORE and AFTER pictures of the home featured in TradHome (click here to see the full article) to see why I took the design approach I did for this project. This is going to be in two posts, so here goes part one….

When the homeowner first contacted me, she was frustrated. She had purchased a few pieces that did not fit in her home and she wanted to unify her choppy, cluttered, mismatched home. She wanted it to reflect their fun personality, but she also wanted it to feel calm, cohesive, and be a place to retreat from their hectic lifestyle.

Below is the foyer, which sets the tone for the home. As you can see, there wasn’t much to the existing space, other than a rug too big for the space.

BEFORE

AFTER

The space is tiny, but you can see we added quite a bit of warmth without overcrowding the area.

We painted her existing console table because the size was good for the space. Everything else was added. What was once a cold, mismatched space now feels warm and pulled together.

Know what my favorite thing is in there? The cast baby foot of one of her now teenage girls… How sweet is that touch?!

The foyer opens up into the living room, which was a walk-through space for the family. Imagine an 18 x 24 room of basically wasted space they never used.

Here is the BEFORE of the living room:

AFTER

GYC_BMetro_Dec094 — AFTER- the living room

I wish I had a picture to the right of the sofa in the bay window. Not only did we create a great place to lounge, we also included a second seating area with the sofa and two chairs.

GYC_BMetro_Dec086 — AFTER- the living room

The homeowners have several collections- from crosses from oncology patients, to tons of family photos, to baseballs from their favorite major league teams. They had them spread throughout several rooms with no order to them at all.

I incorporated their momentos in a way that is cohesive and tidy.

BEFORE

AFTER

GYC_BMetro_Dec010 copy — AFTER-the study

AFTER- the study

GYC_BMetro_Dec098 — After- gallery of family pictures

Notice the grouping of family photos and the shadow box of the baseballs? Now they hold special meaning and are focal points in this home.

Stay tuned for part two as I will talk about the master, family room, and kitchen. This transformation is amazing- not only aesthetically, but how this home functions for this busy family of five.

Also, please remember to take a second and vote here for the NewTrad designer’s style you like best. It is quick and easy, only takes a second, and I hope you will vote for us. Every time you cast a vote, you enter a chance to win $1,000 from Hunter Douglas.

Have a great day everyone-

Dana

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Living Well

Cast Your Vote- It Only Takes A Second

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I am very excited about being named by Traditional Home a New Trad designer to watch in 2014.

It’s a HUGE honor and one I am proud to be included.

Have you seen the April issue? I was in great company, and I look forward to showing you my project in more detail when in the Tradhome digital issue comes out May 15th.

I hope you noticed in the shelter magazine you have a chance to vote for the designer that matches your style.

I would be honored if you would vote for me.

It’s quick- and EASY! When you vote, you are entered for a chance to win $1,000 from Hunter Douglas, a window treatment company.

Visit HunterDouglas/TraditionalHome to cast your vote. You can vote once a day per email, so the more you vote, the more chances you have to win. The contest will run through July 17th.

Happy Voting,

Dana

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It’s Like Birthing A Baby……

Have you ever created a website? If so, you know how much time and energy it takes, even if you aren’t the one building it. The end result is worth all of the hard work, but in the beginning it is not always so easy to see.

It’s like birthing a baby….

Not really, but you get the point.

I have been working with the talented Chad Martin of The G Brand on changing my branding materials and redesigning my website pages, and he has nailed my new look. My little business has grown and I needed to adjust my wording and update my pictures on my site. (I haven’t added any of the professional shots I have had taken in the past two to three years- yikes!).

Dataperk in Birmingham created my original site and has worked diligently (or patiently…choose your word) on making these changes in a quick turnaround.

I wish I could show each of you the “work in progress” as I am excited where my site is headed. Just like my design work, I am going for classic but edgy, simple but functional…..

Here is a sneak peek….. Hopefully, it will be live soon and I can share the fruit of all of our efforts.

If you have any helpful hints, let me know. Have a great day, everyone-

Dana

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Living Well

Can’t Hold In My News Any Longer…..

Hi Everyone,

I have some exciting news I have been looking forward to sharing with each of you.

And today I finally can……

I have been named by one of my favorite publications, Traditional Home, as a New Trad up and coming designer for 2014.

The article is hot off the press. So hot that I have not even seen the article in person. A friend text me (she found the issue at the airport) a few pictures of the article from April’s issue of Traditional Home. Here they are:

April's cover features a New Trad designer from last year. — April’s cover features Andrew Howard, a New Trad designer from last year.

The New Trad designers are introduced in this issue of the shelter magazine, and Trad Home, Traditional Home’s online publication, is featuring a project of each of ours in the May issue. I will be sure to let you know when it is online, as the project featured of mine is a good mix of custom and box store items.

A big thanks goes to each of you. 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.

Because of you, Traditional Home noticed me.

I especially want to give a big shout out to Ann Maine, Editor in Chief of Traditional Home, and to Jenny Bradley, Editor of Trad Home. Thank you very much for including me in your incredible publications, as I am honored.

Have a great day, everyone-

Dana

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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

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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Living Well

Looking for a Few Decorating Ideas for the Holidays?

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are enjoying the last few days until Christmas. There are 14 days left (Yikes!), and I am not finished with my decorations. Hopefully my house will be ready in time, and if it isn’t, I know special memories will still be made within my family.

Are you familiar with the blog StyleBlueprint? They are one of my favorite, and they have become a go-to source for me on style, fashion, and great places around the Southeast. They were kind enough to ask my my thoughts on decorating for Christmas, and if you would like to see a few of the ideas I suggest, click here.

Have a great day and enjoy the last few weeks before Christmas. I am posting ideas for the holidays regularly on Facebook and Instagram, so come join us.

Dana

Living Well

A Few of My Favorite Paint Colors

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are having a great day!

Have you ever chosen the “perfect” color for a room- or better yet, had a color suggested to you by a friend- only to find out the color looks horrible when painted in your space?

Repeat after me:

“Undertones and lighting play a huge part in how a color looks in a room.”

If you are familiar with my work, you know I mostly mix custom colors for each particular project. I have one client who calls the color in her main living area my secret sauce. Ha!

That being said, here are a few neutrals I consider to be “fail-safe” picks.

Benjamin Moore Classic Gray. I just painted a bedroom in this color and it is BEAUTIFUL. It’s light, warm, and not stark white.

6119 Antique White

6119 Antique White Benjamin Moore Ballet White. This has a slightly warmer tint without being too golden. If you are wanting to cut the yellow undertones such as in a kitchen where you are working with white marble, mix it at half formula. Otherwise, it is beautiful in main living areas.

Benjamin Moore Titanium. This gray has a bit of greenish undertones. Very soft for a bedroom needing a little color.

I hope these color suggestions work for you and your home. If you end up using one of these colors, let me know it looks.

Have a great day, everyone-

Dana

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A Family of Five- Before and After

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are doing well. I recently switched computers and in going through some old photos, I realized I have a lot of “before” pics on homes I have worked on the past few years. So for fun, I thought it might be nice to show a couple of transformations. Here goes the first of several posts….

Below is the home to a family of five. With a house of three girls ranging from a tween to teens, this busy family needed a home that could keep up with their fast-paced schedule. Real Homes for Real Life. By reworking a few key spaces in the house to make it more functional, family-friendly, and company-ready, we gave this family a home they can truly live in and enjoy.

Here goes the BEFORE…

AFTER

If you would like to see more pictures of this amazing transformation, click here for a feature in the December issue of B-Metro magazine. As always, thanks to Graham Yelton for the amazing photography.

Have a great day, everyone-

Dana

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Living Well

What A Fun Week- Part One

Hi Everyone,

What a great time Jeff, Grant, and I had last week as Tastemakers for the 2013 Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Antiques at The Gardens show. So much time, preparation, and work went into creating our space that I couldn’t decide if I was sad to see it end or ready to move on.

So how did all of this come to fruition?

After agreeing to serve as Tastemakers for the show, Jeff and I met several months ago and came up with the theme, “Fireside Chat”. During a meeting one afternoon to see how we envisioned the space, Jeff drew this on a random piece of paper as our inspiration…

Sorry for the quality being so bad, but it was copied a few times over the course of the project. Apparently, Jeff is known for sketching out some pretty incredible things on a napkin or two. If you haven’t seen where some of his sketches have turned into reality, you can visit here.

Once we had the dimensions of our space and a vision we wanted to achieve, it didn’t take long to pull it together. We tried to create an authentic space while watching what we spent. Honestly, since this was for a charitable event versus a client, this is where the challenge came in. It is easy to choose what I see in a space for a client-paid project, but to create a high-end look for a charitable event is a little more challenging. Fortunately, several companies, vendors, and friends helped by lending us pieces, giving us special pricing, etc…

Thanks to Grant’s planning, move-in day went surprisingly smooth. It didn’t take us him long to put together the structure of the room.

Jeff and Grant filled the fireboxes ever so perfectly. We had lots of comments about how nicely the wood was stacked, so their attention to detail paid off.

This is how we ended the first day moving in…. Structure is up, curtains are hung, and tomorrow is the installation of the fireplace surround, upholstery, case goods, accessories etc….

Stay tuned for pictures of the final reveal…..

Have a great day, everyone-

dana

Living Well

Memorable Monday…… It’s Here!

Hi Everyone,

It’s here! I am so excited to see all of our hard work finally come together this week for our space in the Antiques at The Gardens show. I feel like I have been pregnant for nine months, and it is finally time to birth this baby. The anticipation is mounting, making it today’s Memorable Monday…..

As much time as we have put towards creating our space for this fundraiser for The Gardens, I think I am going to miss working on it ~~a little~~. Jeff Dungan is an amazing architect and his creativity never ceases to amaze me. Not only is he super-talented, but he is a really nice guy.

And Grant Trick???? Grant and I grew up together in Tuscaloosa, and believe it or not, I used to babysit him. Yes, I am that old….. With Grant’s talent of creating beautiful window treatments/upholstery and his past experience in designing window fronts for stores in New York, I think he was heaven-sent. No joke. Grant is extremely organized and not afraid of a little hard work.

While I cannot show any pictures of what we have planned just yet, here is a little glimpse…… Do stay tuned this week to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc… as we will post pictures as progress is being made. Or better yet, stop by and see us. The show opens up Thursday at 1:00 and closes Sunday at 3:00.

Hope to see you there!

Dana

Living Well

Memorable Monday

Hi Everyone,

For today’s Memorable Monday, I decided to share several pictures from a photo shoot taken a few years ago for Birmingham Home and Garden. If you aren’t familar with this publication, check it out as it is a good one!

These pictures were taken at a home that was featured in the ten year anniversary issue. It graced the cover of the very first issue and they decided to visit it again for this milestone. Thanks to the talented Chris Carter of Christopher Glenn for helping us with the styling of the flowers.

Hope you have a Memorable Monday!