Give Away What You Don't Love Or Use, But If We MUST Keep, How To Display Your Clutter

Living Well

Give Away What You Don’t Love Or Use, But If We MUST Keep, How To Display Your Clutter

Summer is here and I find myself cleaning. Cleaning out drawers, wiping down drawers, etc… Makes me happy!

And while I preach to throw away or give away things that you don’t love or are not using, I know there are times when you want to keep certain things just to keep.

I thought I would rerun this post from a few years ago on how to display your ~~clutter~~ stuff ……. Here goes….

Dana

The holidays are over, and who isn’t looking for a few ways to declutter their home? It’s easy to discard the items you don’t use, but what about the knick knacks you love and want to display?

Do your “special” items look like a pile of mess to others? If so, what should you do?

Create a few vignettes in your home.

Start with your big items, such as the painting, sconces, lamps, and urn in this picture. Next, stagger your accessories throughout, making sure you balance out each side. Notice how they did not forget the space under the console.

vignette katiedid — http://katie-d-i-d.blogspot.com/

What a great job they did of taking family keepsakes, which, after all, make a house a home, and displaying them in a beautiful way.

How about adding in a few of your personal items when entertaining? At this client’s home, instead of just setting out her china and everyday, we decided to mix it up a bit.

Speaking of entertaining……

What do you do for all of the silver and crystal you have crammed into your cabinets?

Display it as we did in this client’s home. Here, we mixed in some of her silver pieces with her crystal and pottery. Everything has its place, and it is beautiful!

jean allsopp kinnet kitchen 017 — photo courtesy of jean allsopp

When creating a focal point, whether it is a vignette or glass cabinet, don’t forget to layer and add different textures.

MonicaStewart24 — from dana wolter interiors

So, the key is to make the space your own by displaying your items in a neat, organized way.

Even when there is a family pet involved- such as the frog for this family- can you display it in a clever way.

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

New Home, New Look

I thought I would share with you a project we began a few months ago.

It is for a cute, fun family of four who purchased a new home earlier this year. Like many who recently move, they had several empty rooms where their existing furniture did not fit nor fill.

I have known them for several years, and they are the best. Their two children are teenagers (one is in college), so they wanted a rooms with edge but that could stand lots of fun and casual entertaining among all ages.

Below is the furniture layout for the family room. It is a large room, and our goal was to make good use of the space while giving lots of seating for football games and movies around the television.

The homeowners love blue and wanted bright colors so we kept these things in mind when selecting fabrics for the room. I love all the textures in these fabrics as they will help create depth and dimension in the room. These colors scream cozy and inviting to me. What about you?

We also created a layout for their dining room.

We pulled darker browns and gray tones for the fabrics in their dining room. The richness in these fabrics will create a more dramatic feel that isn’t too overpowering, with sheers lining two of the walls. Again, lots of edge (an upholstered table ) but a casual, functional space to create memories with friends.

I am excited to see these rooms come to fruition. Stay tuned for more pictures of the finished product as we will be installing next month.

Have a great day-
Dana
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Living Well

Five Ways To Update A Room (Without Breaking The Bank)

Last week, I had the opportunity to do live segment for ABC3340’s “Talk of Alabama“. It’s been several months since I have taped a design segment, and I forgot how much I enjoy it. It was a lot of fun!

In case some of you are wanting a quick overview of what I discussed, here are a few of the tips I shared.

And guess what?! The first two suggestions are won’t cost you a dime!

1. Clean out. I am a big believer that if you are not using or don’t love something, get rid of it. Life is too short to surround yourself with things that you don’t love or enjoy. You’ll be amazed at how much better a space looks when clutter is contained.

2. Arrange a new floor plan. After you clean out, access how your room flows. If it doesn’t seem right, move your furniture around and create a new arrangement. Your room will feel like a new one when you do this, and hopefully the space will function better for you and your family (which is always the goal!!).

3. Paint. This seems so simple but it’s truly the best and most economical way to make a big impact. Color is hot right now, so consider going bold in a small room or space.

4. Add sheers. I love sheers because of the texture they provide, and Iuse them in quite a few of my projects. Regardless of the price point of the fabric, you’ll save money by not having to line them, and usually the labor is much less, too. Sheers are perfect for the window with a gorgeous view, but just needs some softness around it.

5. Accessorize. Buy new pillows, artwork or a throw. These tend to be easy ways to completely change the look of a room.

Watch the segment below as there are a few more specifics not listed above (make sure you notice the beautiful pillows Suite Dreams in Mountain Brook let us borrow!).

Let me know what you think as I would love to hear from you!

Have a good one-

Dana

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Living Well

Easy Ways To Create An Inviting, Outdoor Living Space

With summer in full swing and warm weather here to stay, I find myself wanting to spend a little more time outdoors.

Maybe it’s the Southerner in me, but I love the idea of grilling, sharing a meal, or even drinking my morning coffee outside.

Every home should have an outdoor area. It doesnt have to be large, just big in style to invite you to sit down and relax.

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset — Image from Dana Wolter Interiors

I always try to soften an outdoor area so it feels like an extension of a client’s home. Don’t be afraid to add accents and traditional indoor furnishings to your outdoor room. Outdoor upholstery, throw pillows for furniture, rugs, and other design touches will create a welcoming feel.
Below is a picture of my own outdoor space. As you can see, I have kept a similar color palate to the inside of my house and just added some greenery and pops of color in my throw pillows.

With all of the hard surfaces you find on a terrace, greenery is always a nice way to soften the space as well. I am a big fan of succulents because they are EASY to maintain and a great way to add texture to a table.

outdoor space — Image from Dana Wolter Interiors

I would love to hear how you’ve brought the indoors out at your home.

Happy outdoor living,

dana

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Living Well

Need A Plan For Your Home?

Are you the type of person who likes to work on your home, but you don’t trust yourself to always make the best selections when it comes to the interiors?

As I mentioned a few months back, I have begun offering a one time 3.5 hour consult package. It’s perfect for those who want to do the legwork on their own but need a detailed plan to follow.

After all, your home is one of the biggest investments you will make, and you want to make sure you spend your investment wisely.

How this consult works is simple. Before we meet, I have you send over a detailed list of what you would like to cover in our time together so I have an idea of what YOU want to accomplish. When I am there, we go over your questions as well as any other suggestion I would make if it was my own home. We can discuss design dilemmas, furniture arrangements, fabric swatches, paint colors, to knock down a wall or not– you name it!

After our meeting, you will receive a detailed synopsis from me of what was discussed and a list of all we discussed for your entire home. 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 has gone over really well and the feedback I have received is amazing. Here is what a few people have had to say:

“I thoroughly enjoyed our hours together and felt that our time was very productive.”

“I love your style and believe you have a real gift for scale, color, layout and practicality. I have been checking out your website pics, FB, and Pinterest sites for more ideas. Love! Love!”

Another super organized client found the overall plan helpful:

“The plan you created has been incredibly helpful. The biggest benefit was paint colors! The palette you helped us choose for the entire home has proven to be beautiful and very versatile as we continue to buy furniture and get ‘settled’.”

beautiful property — This picture was taken at a consult visit. Isn’t this a gorgeous piece of property?

If you think this is something that might be helpful to you, email us at info@danawolterinteriors.com for more information. I look forward to helping you come up with a plan for your home-

Have a great day-
Dana

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Living Well

Five Inspirations for Kitchen Design

I am working on several kitchen renovations and designs right now, so I immediately went to one of my favorite sources for inspiration, Pinterest. If you don’t have your dream kitchen yet, I bet you probably have an idea of how it will look.

Everyone loves a beautiful kitchen, right? After all, it tends to be one of the most lived in rooms in a home.

Before working on any kitchen space, it’s important I understand my clients’ style and needs. Are they cooks or not? Are they a family of two or a family of seven? Do they like to entertain? How old are their children and/or grandchildren? All of these things come into play and make a difference in how a kitchen needs to function.

So……having said that, I love nothing more than a really pretty AND functional kitchen.

Here are a few that have caught my eye recently:

This kitchen is from a few years back, and while kitchens have gone lighter and brighter, I still love it. Greige is the new black, and I love the planked walls and cabinetry. I also love the wood detail in the ceiling and the softness of the benches are a beautiful addition to the room.

Greige is the new black... Pursley Dixon Architecture - kitchens - hardwood floors, dark hardwood floors, sisal rug, sisal area rug, greige cabinets, greige cabinetry,... — Image from Decorpad

The simplicity of this kitchen is beautiful and how gorgeous is the marble island? I also love the pops of black against the stone.

gorgeous simple kitchen with marble island — Image from thelaurelhedge.blogspot.com

This kitchen is light and bright, yet there are so many layers and textures in this space.

bates-corkern-00 — Image from Bates Corkern

Ruard Veltman is one of my favorites when it comes to architecture. He is incredibly creative and talented, and his work in inspirational. He puts great attention into details, and it’s obvious in his designs.

Kitchen kitchen kitchen kitchen #kitchen — Image from Home Bunch

What kitchen images have caught your eye recently? Let me know as I always love to see a pretty room.

Here’s to being inspired,

dana

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Living Well

Friday Favorite

Good Morning and Happy Friday,

I came upon this outfit as I was doing a little online shopping and while I love the outfit, I love the colors for an interior even more.

enno-top-cameo-pink — Image from Piperlime

Lilac, pink, and gray are big colors right now and I think this color palette would be beautiful in a bedroom. I love how peaceful and serene these colors read together, but the pop of color can really make a room come alive.

What colors are you into these days? I would love to hear from you.

Have a good one,

dana

Living Well

To Hide or Not to Hide- That is the TV Question

Is your television in plain view or hidden out of site?

Many times I have clients ask not only where should they place their tv in a room, but how it should be treated within it.

Not to show my age, but who remembers the bulky TVs with the rabbit ears? There was no hiding those big ‘ole things. Thankfully, televisions have become much more discreet.

Don’t get me wrong….. I do not mind a tv in plain sight, but I do try to tuck them away when possible or make sure they are not a big focal point. If they are placed as a major focal point wall, it usually calls for me to hide or dramatically soften it.

The picture below is from a client’s living room. Yes, I said living room, and that is a tv near the piano. They had this large room with incredible light that was- get this- pretty much a walk-through room. They have a large family with a revolving door to family and friends, so it made sense that when we redesigned this room to incorporate a tv in here.

I can’t show you too much of the room right now, but I can say it’s pretty incredible. We reworked the furniture layout to add more seating. The room is casual enough to feel comfortable lounging on the sofa, with your feet propped up with a bowl of popcorn, or it can stand formal enough to serve as a living room when having a dinner party. Either way, it works, and MORE IMPORTANTLY, the space is used by their family.

hidden tvs — Notice how the tv is tucked away into a side wall but is on a bracket to make it easy for viewing?

The picture below shows how I will sometimes try and soften the space around a television. Make no doubt about it, sometimes a TV needs to stand proudly in a room, ready to serve its purpose, but a little softness never hurts.

Put careful consideration into whether or not putting the TV about the fireplace is the best option. Most of the time, the TV ends up above eye level, and it is too high for comfortable viewing.

What are your thoughts concerning the tv? Are you a “let it hang on out there” and serve its purpose or do you like to tuck it away? I am interested in your thoughts.

Have a great day,

Dana

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The Beginning Of A Beautiful Home

It’s always fun to be involved in a project from schematics to move-in day.

By the time the home is ready for my clients, I have put in so much of me into creating the home of their dreams.

I am as excited as they are when they can finally enjoy the home all of us have worked so hard to create.

When I am pulled in at the beginning stages like the project below, you really get to know your clients on a personal level.

Important personal matters such as budget, how they live, what’s important to them and their family, etc… have to be addressed over the two year time period. The relationships made and the trust my clients put in me, with one of the biggest investments of their lifetime, is what makes my job so rewarding.

You know the saying “It takes a village”? To build a beautiful, exquisite, custom home, it takes a team.

The project below is for an out of town client, and it is going to be one pretty incredible home. The rest of the team (builder, landscape designer) is in the process of being finalized, but I have been working with Jeremy Corkern of Bates Corkern Studio on these plans. There are some stunning details incorporated throughout.

Jeremy has done a great job in placing this home just so on this piece of property to ensure as much light as possible filters into it. Careful planning has addressed views inside and out. The flow is beautiful and the space is one that will function for them now and for many years to come.

This is the family’s forever home. They want something comfortable and pretty that will suit their current needs, but they also want to make sure the home will accommodate their needs down the road as their family expands with spouses and grandchildren.

This project has been a really fun one so far. We are incorporating some creative elements, as the clients have been open to trust us when stepping out of their comfort zones.

Here’s Jeremy’s rendering of the front elevation.

Stay tuned to follow alongas the project continues.

Have a great day,

Dana

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Living Well

Friday Favorite

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a Friday Favorite, but I saw this image on Pinterest and I couldn’t resist.

How cool is this piece of bluestone that has been scored to work like a drain? I love the creativity and uniqueness of hiding something that is needed, and I will definitely keep this design in mind for future projects.

Have a good one,

dana

Living Well

Five Pieces of Design Advice To Ignore

When it comes to designing and decorating your home, you want to do it right the first time, and there is some advice given out often that, in my opinion, needs to be ignored.

It usually comes from a builder, a worker on your home, or a well-intentioned friend. Trust your gut, or better yet, hire a designer you can trust with one of the largest investments (your home) you will ever make.

So here goes…. A few pieces of friendly advice you should ignore:

1. Don’t paint your brick – If you have a new or cookie cutter brick home and you used the standard brick you see everywhere, painting your brick can be one of the best things you can do to make it look a little more custom. Yes, you cannot go back, but who would want to when it’s the mass produced brick you see so much of these days? Painted brick is so pretty to me and it is a great way to give your home a new, cohesive look. See how gorgeous this home is below?

It is the home of Milieu editor, Pamela Pierce, as seen in Veranda magazine. If you have not checked out Milieu, you must do so as it does not disappoint.

This Houston house was designed by Pamela Pierce. It was featured in Veranda magazine in the March 2013 issue, pages 122-132. — Pamela Pierce’s home as seen in Veranda. Image from decorator.com

2. Using 6″ recess cans throughout a space– Heard of a swiss cheese ceiling? Yep, this is exactly what I mean.

If you must incorporate recess, use the smaller ones that provide lots of light from a small bulb. Yes, the smaller recess cost more than the typical 5″-6″ builder cans often speced, but the look far outweighs the cost. Use dimmers to soften the lighting, and use a variety of different types of lighting to create warmth and layering. Table and floor lamps that direct light in the living areas is best. It allows you to see things better, puts a nicer light on your face, and illuminates the colors and textures in your furnishings better.

3. Selecting granite over marble because you do not think marble is durable- This one is a BIG one and I am constantly having to educate my clients about this stone.

I can only hope I am aging as well as marble does, because to me, there is nothing prettier than a well worn piece of marble after several years have passed. I have had it in my house for almost eight years, and trust me, we ~~live hard in~~ use my kitchen and bathrooms. And guess what? Do not tell my dirty little secret, but we are not the neatest group either.

The key is to choose a honed marble so etching wont take place if something hot is placed on it, and if you like red wine, don’t leave it spilled on the counter for days on end. If something does happen and the stain bothers you (which it shouldn’t- it’s called patina), the material can always be resurfaced.

4. Hanging artwork too high– Keep the center of your artwork at eye level or a little lower to create intimacy in a space. In a room where people will mostly be sitting, artwork should be hung a little lower.

5. Arranging all of your furniture against the walls– You never want to create a furniture arrangement that makes conversation difficult. If you have a room that is big enough, be creative and float your sofa and add a couple of sitting ares to the space. A sofa can look great off of the wall, so use open spaces to be creative and create intimacy.

(2) Tumblr — Image from Georgiana Design

What advice have you been given when it comes to your house that you wish you’d ignored? I’d love to hear from you so please share!

Take care,

dana

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Living Well

Exciting Things Are Happening For DWI

I am thrilled to share with you that DWI has received some great coverage in several publications over the past month.

I am excited to have been selected as a member of Coastal Living and Southern Living‘s Designer Network. The design network is made up of a group of editorially recommended designers for readers of these publications. I am thankful to be one of three designers from Alabama to be selected in this group, and I look forward to the opportunity to connect with readers of these magazines.

Hunter Douglas asked Traditional Home readers to chose from the 10 up- and- coming New Trad designers whose work they most admire. As I’ve shared with you, I am honored to have been selected, and appreciate all of the support.

Traditional Home also shared the results from the Ethan Allen virtual mood board contest based on a local landmark. If you’ll remember, I created a family room inspired by Vulcan Park and Museum. Thanks to nearly 7,000 votes from you, I won. Thank you!

If you haven’t already seen these publications, check them out.

Dana

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Five Tips For Prepping Your Garden For Spring

With spring right around the corner, I am ready for my garden to be filled with color and fragrance.

Before I go any further, let me assure you that I am no expert when it comes to gardening. I have been doing my homework, though, as I am trying to learn more about what I can do now to make it as pretty as it can be.

Below is a picture of my garden last spring. It’s this time of year mine looks the best, and while I love it, life gets in the way so I do not always nurture it as I should.

Dana Wolter Interiors Blog | Thoughts, Tips, and Trends for Today's Design Dana Wolter Interiors — My garden last year. Image from Dana Wolter Interiors

I am trying to do better, hence the reading and researching. Here are a few tips that stood out to me that I thought might be helpful to you as well:

1. Create a composting area

This is something I really want to begin doing. The compost can be a ready-made compost bin or we can build a compost bin using spare bits of wood. Not only will we have somewhere to put garden waste, but the plants will benefit from the rich compost created when it all breaks down! Make sure you have a good mixture of grass clippings, vegetable peelings, paper and woody prunings. To help the process along, we will have to turn the compost with a garden fork each month to keep it aerated.

How To Start a Compost Heap ~ it's really easy, affordable, useful, and sustainable. Composting recycles kitchen and yard waste, diverting up to 30% from the trash and consequently reducing landfill waste. Compost adds nutrients and introduces beneficial organisms to the soil, and helps promote plant growth. — Image from apartmenttherapy.com

2. Prep the beds.
Remove winter mulch, leaves and any other debris from your beds. Cut back the old dead growth of deciduous grasses and perennials to make room for the new growth. Any weeds that appear in your garden will be easiest to pull now, as the roots are shallow. I have done this and am making one more go around this weekend.

Gardening Tips for beginners — Image from grit.com

3. Fertilize the soil

Now’s the time to make sure your soil is properly balanced and ready for new plants. Once the beds are all cleaned out, it’s time to till the ground. This will help aerate and loosen up soil that has compacted over the winter, which will encourage the soil to absorb nutrients better. It will also make it easier to plant.

4. Prune

It’s time to prune back tree or shrub branches have been damaged by the cold, snow, and wind. Make sure to do so before buds begin to break into bloom or you’ll stress the tree and get a tiny crop, if any. Use a handsaw for any tree or hedge larger than ½ inch in diameter. Shaping hedges with hand pruners, rather than electric shears, prevents a thick outer layer of growth that keeps sunlight and air from reaching the shrub’s center.

veggie garden with formal hedge edges — Image from paradiseexpress.blogspot.com

5. Order bulbs and seeds

Decide now what flowers and plants you want in your summer garden. Order the seeds or the bulbs from a local plant shop like my local favorite Leaf and Petal or online. Hold onto the seeds and bulbs until the warmer weather arrives, but make sure that the seeds and bulbs will not deteriorate or lose quality if they sit for some time.

flower garden — Image from howardrice.co.uk

Let me know how it goes for you, and if my efforts pay off, I will share my progress as well.

Happy Gardening,

dana

PS If anyone feels extra inspired and wants to come to use these tips on my garden, I will happily welcome you, and I know my garden will too.

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Need Some Direction With Your Home? This Service Is For You!

With it being a new year, I want to remind you about the one time consult service I mentioned a few months ago.

It has gone over really well, and the clients who have invested in this 3.5 hour meeting with me have been surprised over the amount of detail and information that comes with it. Matter of fact, I have even gone on the road a few times to offer this service.

unnamed — On my way to Atlanta last week to meet with a client

While we tend to mostly work on full room or turn-key projects, this service is for the client who needs direction and help making decisions, but likes to do the legwork themselves.

This service works by you sending over to me a list of what you would like to accomplish with your home. We make an appointment, and I will then spend 3.5 hours of uninterrupted time in your home, answering any question you can possible think to ask me. We can discuss design dilemmas, furniture arrangements, fabric swatches, paint colors, to knock down a wall or not– you name it!

The more legwork you do before our meeting, 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 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 all of the suggestions I make for the entire home. 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 allows, 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.

Have a good one,

dana

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5 Ways This Southern Girl Cures The Winter Blues

I don’t know about you, but I am ready for spring. This past weekend was beautiful and I am ready for every day to be filled with sunshine and warmth. There is a reason this southern girl lives in the South!

While traveling to a warmer climate for the extended winter isn’t in the plan for me, I am trying a few things to cure the winter blues. Here goes:

1. Exercise

I exercise on a regular basis, but I have been trying to be a little more consistent these days. Even a brief workout makes me feel better and gives me a positive, energized feeling. Lately I’ve been doing yoga at The Yoga Circle, and I am loving it. It makes me breathe, really breathe, which is something that is instantly calming to me.

2. Eat Healthy

Nothing makes me feel better than when I am taking care of myself. Along with exercising, I try to eat well ~~most of the time~~. I recently read that omega-3s affect the brain chemicals that are linked with stabilizing mood, particularly dopamine and serotonin, so I have been trying to eats lots of salmon and flax and chia seeds. Another thing I have added to my diet recently are the juices from Whole Foods, Sprout and Pour, and The Pantry. I highly recommend them, as they are an easy way to add vegetables, and they are delicious and refreshing.

3. Brighten up your space

The winter months can feel like they drag on since the sun sets early and the days are much shorter. While the sun may not be shining outside, you can bring some of those warm hues into your home by incorporating them into your décor. Add a bright throw over a chair, or a rug with some color or maybe a pillow that adds a pop to your sofa or bed. You’ll be surprised how much these small changes can really affect your mood.

4. Buy some fresh flowers

My garden looks a little “blah” this time of year, but I try to bring the garden indoors by purchasing some fresh flowers. It’s not expensive and not only does it brighten my mood, I swear flowers make my house look a little cleaner.

Parrot tulips are some of my favorite. (Will someone let my husband know?!)

Stunningly Simple Parrot Tulips — Image from Gabriela Wakeham

5. Read

I shared on Instagram earlier this week that I am reading The 15 Invaluable Laws Of Growth. It is a great book that not only discusses how to grow your business, but how to do it in a way that upholds your character, morals, and values. My only regret in reading it is that I have not underlined as I have gone through it.

Getting cozy under a blanket in my bed or next to a roaring fire and unwinding by reading a book or magazine helps me pass the ~~season~~ time.

How do you cure the winter blues? I would love to hear from you,

dana

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Living Well

Five Ways To Make An Impact in A Powder Room

Maybe you like to play it safe with the interiors of your home, because, after all, your home is an investment and it’s expensive to make changes.

But if you are looking for a place to go bold and daring, the powder room is the perfect spot.

It’s all about the details in the powder room, and just because its the smallest room in your house, doesn’t mean it can’t have the most impact.

Below are five ways to make your powder a really special room:

1. Add a dramatic color or a unique wallpaper.

2. Make the powder room as cozy as possible. In my book, the smaller the better, as long as everything is to scale and can fit nicely into the space.

tiny bathroom in white, black, and gold. — Image from Apartment Therapy

3. Select unique lighting. Incorporate a sconce or two, and if overhead lighting is a must, select a unique chandelier that fits the space.

Powder room — Image from Segret To Secrets

4. Make the sink as special as you can. I love using marble to create a vessel, and it also adds some texture to the space.

5. Accessorize. Pull in pretty linens such as a hand towel and use special soaps. Fresh flowers instantly brighten the space, and cost very little to do so.

DanaW_Tuscaloosa_165-L — Dana Wolter Interiors

Make the smallest room in your house have the most impactful. Because powder rooms are used only briefly, they are the ideal place for drama and beautiful style. Their small scale allows you to indulge in lavish materials and bold effects that you might not dare otherwise.

Go ahead– take the risk, and be sure to let me know how it turns out.

dana

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Living Well

Choosing The Perfect Headboard

When decorating a bedroom, choosing the type of bed can be one of the hardest things to do. It is usually the focal point of the room, so it is essential to get it right.

Today, I am sharing a few tips that will help you pick one that anchors your room in a perfect way.

One of the most important factors to consider is the size of the bedroom. How much space do you have for the bed?

Keep the size of your headboard in proportion to the bedroom space and ceiling height. While I don’t mind bigger scale pieces in a bedroom to create a cozy space, you do want to make sure there is room for bedside tables and perhaps a place to sit in there as well. The larger the room, the larger the headboard can be without swallowing up the room visually.

headboard1 — Image from Dana Wolter Interiors

Consider the look you are going for in your bedroom. To work well as a visual focus, a headboard must not only look good, it must also fit within the context of the room.

If you prefer a more elegant, sophisticated style, a complementary upholstered headboard that’s covered in a rich textile, such as velvet or suede would compliment the room best.

satinheadboard — Image from House Beautiful

Bold, patterned fabrics add a splash of color and create a focal point for the room.

For a more airy and light feeling to your bedroom, a minimally detailed headboard with soft curves and caning may be for you.

Headboards with straight lines in wood or sleek leather tend to have a more masculine feel.

masculine headboard — Image from Tidbits and Twine

Regardless the style of your bedroom, keep in mind the scale of your room, ceiling height and decor style and you are on your way to a gorgeous headboard.

Enjoy your day,

dana

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Living Well

Exciting News For The New Year

New year, new ideas.

We have decided to spice things up and we are now sending out a newsletter periodically.

The newsletter will include a variety of design tips and tricks. You’ll receive ideas on how to create beautiful rooms, learn about my “must-haves”, find out my favorite paint colors, and so much more.

In the first newsletter, I give a few tips on how to make a dramatic impact in a room.

slliving pics of home 2 — Dana Wolter Interiors

You won’t see this information anywhere else from me, so sign up now. The newsletter is ready to be sent, so to receive it, please click here.

Have a good one,

dana

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Living Well

Five Things To Avoid When Working On Your Home

There are a few things when building, renovating, or just plain working on your home that, in my book, you want to avoid.

Here is my top five list of things NOT to do to your home:

1. Do not plant landscaping that is too small.

There is nothing worse than driving by a beautiful home where it’s obvious they have invested wisely in the materials chosen, only to see a bunch of dinky plants surrounding the beautiful structure. Yes, plants grow, but by the time some plants are finally a decent size, five years have passed. Buy larger when it comes to plants that are slow growing. I promise, this makes such a difference. See below how landscaping that is invested in can add to your home’s aesthetic.

Newman & Cebulak — Image from Architectural Digest via Pinterest

2. Never buy a piece only because it is on sale.

Do you love the piece or did you buy it because it is a good deal? If it is the latter, you bought the sofa, bookcase, bed, or whatever it is for the wrong reason. Never, I repeat, never, buy a piece just because the price is good or because you need something to fill a space. If it is for one of these two reasons, you will eventually tire of it and you won’t enjoy it in your home for very long.

3. Don’t buy an entire room off of a showroom floor and never match all your furniture.

Regardless of your taste- modern, traditional, or transitional- you always want your home to look like it has been collected over time, even if it was installed in the same day. This leads me to the next point of making sure you don’t match your furniture. There can be an overlap of the same material for continuity, but make sure you have a mixture of elements in the room to cause a little tension in the space. Use a mix of upholstery, stained wood, painted wood, glass, iron , etc….

foyer by mcalpine booth & ferrier — Image from McAlpine Tankersley

4. Do not have a room that doesn’t serve a purpose.

Do you walk through a room, only to have it be a “catch all” or a place to host guests once a year? If so, you are missing out on a room you could be enjoying, and you need to rework this space. Gone are the days where rooms sit unused or are “saved” for special occasions. Repurpose a room and ENJOY it.

5. Don’t wait for tomorrow to pull your home together and make it a place for you and your family to make memories.

Money does not necessarily guarantee good design, so don’t wait until tomorrow to make your home something you can be proud of and enjoy. Stop comparing your house to your neighbors’. Instead, focus on making your home a cohesive safe haven to build memories for you and your family.

Are there others you would add to the list? If so, let me know. We love hearing from you.

Have a great day, everyone-

Dana

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