A New Service Offered- Design Online

Living Well

A New Service Offered- Design Online

How would you like a complete room designed by us but with the option to complete the space in a timeframe your budget and schedule allow?

If this interests you, then the new service we are offering, Design Online, is for YOU!

What is Design Online?

Design Online is a great way for us to customize a room in your home according to your timeframe and budget, without us ever stepping foot in your door. You provide us with your budget, detailed measurements, pictures of your space, inspiration photos, and answers to a questionnaire we send over to you. Within four to six weeks, we send you a pretty little package filled with a floor plan, color scheme, lighting, furniture selections, accessories, and fabric swatches with all of the design specifications and information needed for you to implement the plan.

Here is an example of a family room we created. You will receive something similar with all of the specifications mentioned above.

The great news is that no distance between us matters, as this service is all online!

Also, don’t forget we also offer a one time 3.5 hour consult. This has been a fun addition to the scope of our work as I mostly do full room or home design. I’ve been doing a lot of these recently, and the clients seem to be getting a lot out of our time together. Click here to read more.

Think either of these may be the right service for you? Send us an email at info@danawolterinteriors.com, and let’s get started!

Have a great day, everyone-

Dana

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Southern Living Designer Network is LIVE!

I am excited to share that the Coastal Living / Southern Living Designer Network website has launched.

If you remember, I shared a couple of months ago that I was selected by the editors as a member of this designer network for their readers.

I am honored to be one of the few from Alabama, and as you can see, I am in great company. Check out the live site at http://sldesignernetwork.com/ and let me know what you think.

Have a great day,

dana

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A Friday Favorite

Who doesn’t love a Friday?!

It’s one of the best days of the week, and to mark my favorite day, I am starting a new series.

Friday Favorite begins today, and to kick it off I have chosen an image from a TV segment that I taped a few years ago.

Know all of those pumpkins and gourds you see at the farmer’s market and grocery? Well here are a few ways to implement them into your fall decor.

Both of these arrangements are super easy, so anyone , yes, anyone (I mean you!) can pull them together. Choose your flowers and gourds and let your creativity do the rest.

I always love having fresh flowers in my house, especially when they are in beautiful colors and add a touch of fall.

Enjoy your day and have a great weekend,

dana

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We Have A New Look!

Guess what?!

I am excited to announce my new website is finally up and running!

We took my old one, added to it, changed it around, and uploaded A LOT of pictures. If you have ever been involved in creating a new site, you can relate to how much work goes into it.

As I tuck my tail between my legs, I hesitantly admit I had projects from over two years ago that were not up on my site. Thankfully, that is not the case anymore as my site is as current as it can be- at least for now.

Click here to see and let me know what you think! We also have a place on our contact page to sign up for our latest newsletter. I promise you won’t want to miss it!

Have a great day, everyone-

Dana

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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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It Turned Out Beautifully!

I thought I would give you a quick update on the stairwell in my client’s new home.

If you recall, Dungan Nequette’s talented Chad Martin of The G Brand helped us with designing the pattern. This home has a French feel, and I knew I wanted a design with soft lines and one that would blend in with the walls in this enclosed space.

If you follow us on social media, you have probably seen this drawing.

The majority of it was installed today, and it turned out beautifully! We are still missing a few transition trim pieces, but look how gorgeous it is, and it’s not even painted.

I can visualize how this area is going to look with some artwork and a gorgeous runner, and I am pleased!

Have a great day, everyone!

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 soon- July 17th.

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Quick Tips For Creating a Warm, Inviting Foyer

I thought you might enjoy a few tips for creating a foyer in your home that sets the tone for the rest of your house.

It isn’t hard to do, as long as you follow these simple principles. Watch this video here from my latest television segment from NBC-13 Daytime Alabama with Wendy Garner and let me know how your foyer evolves.

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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What My Favorite Bloggers Are Wishing This Holiday Season

It is a good kind of crazy right now.

I have been super busy with a couple of home installs, a new home construction (can’t wait to share with you- it is going to be incredible), a photo shoot, and not to mention my girls’ daily activities. I have made myself a promise to enjoy the holiday season and not stress.

One of the ways I relax is by reading at night, and I have a few design blogs I always enjoy. Not only are they inspiring, but I find myself drawn to their personalities and wanting to read more.

Does this happen to you?

I decided to ask a few of my favorites (yay- they responded!!) their holiday wish this season. From their responses, you will see why I love each of them. Here we go:

Cote De Texas

Cote de Texas– I’m not sure Joni needs much of an introduction seeing that she has over 71,000 visits on her blog each month. She must be doing something right! I am drawn to her blog because of the friendly, witty, casual feel to it, and every time I read a post, I feel like I am sitting in her kitchen having a ~~glass of wine~~ cup of coffee with her. It’s obvious Joni does her research and knows what she’s doing. She has explored, researched, studied, and investigated every design story worth knowing. Joni was stated as saying, “The French just have excellent taste in everything” and I would say the exact same thing about her.

Joni hopes that “for this holiday season and the new year, everyone in my family continues to have good health and happiness, and that all my friends and my extended family have all their wishes come true!”

To read more from Joni, click here.

Velvet and Linen

Velvet and Linen– What can I not say about Brooke’s blog? Her genuineness and her style show through her writing and her pictures, and people have taken notice. She has written a book, Patina Style, and she has done an amazing job with her architect husband Steve designing/building their new home, Patina Farm. Their work is incredible and inspiring. Though I have never met Brooke in person, we have emailed back and forth a few times, and because of her warmth and kindness, I consider her a friend.

For this Christmas season, Brooke states, “My wish for this holiday season is to slow things down and spend time with my family doing silly things like ice skating and puzzles.”

To read more from Brooke, click here.

Greige

Greige – I love Christina’s blog because of the organic feel it has to it. I love neutrals, and Christina does too. Christina and I also share the beliefs your home should be a true reflection of you, it should be special, and it should house what you love.

Christina’s holiday wish is “to be organized so that I can enjoy every bit of the season with my family.”

I totally agree as making memories with my family is at the top of my wish list, too. To read more from Christina, click here.

StyleBlueprint Birmingham

StyleBlueprint Birmingham– Style Blueprint Birmingham has made quite an impact in a short amount of time thanks to its editor, Catherine. It is a great source for food, fashion, style and places around Birmingham and the Southeast.

Catherine wants “to live every day like it’s a holiday- being thankful, spending time with family and friends and looking with hope to the future.”

I love this, Catherine, and hope to do the same. To read the latest on StyleBlueprint, click here.

Nestegg

Nestegg– Need to put a smile on your face? This blog will do it to you. Rachel is just fun and I love seeing her cute personality show through in her posts.

Rachel wishes this for Christmas: “That Hoyt and I survive the big renovation we’re planning on doing to our house this upcoming year! And that I don’t go over budget. Correction: That we make more money so I can go over budget.”

See why I like her??

On a more serious note, Rachel said, “I wish for a cure for cancer. I know it’s far fetched but having lost my aunt this month to cancer I want it more than ever. Surely somebody can come up with the cure in 2014?”

I sure hope so, Rachel. Check out more from her here.

Blueprint Bliss

Blueprint Bliss– Brooke’s blog appeals to me as I remember the days of having small children so close in age. Not only does Brooke provide design inspiration, she also writes about her favorite recipes and who doesn’t enjoy trying new ones? I love that Brooke and I agree fresh flowers, bubble baths and a good book are “must-haves”.

Brooke shares “My wish for this holiday season is for simplicity. I would love to truly enjoy the season with the focus being on Jesus and not on the hustle and bustle which can so easily consume me.”

Amen, Brooke! I could not have said it better myself. To check out Brooke’s blog, click here.

Parish

Parish– Being a working mom, I love how Ashley does such a great job balancing home and the office. From her posts, there is no doubt Ashley is a great mom and designer. Her instagram is also fun to follow, so be sure to look her up there as well.

Ashley says, “There is nothing better than seeing Christmas through the eyes of my little ones. My Christmas wish is that they always see the magic in Christmas and never stop believing!”

To check out Ashley’s blog, click here.

In a season that tends to be full of chaos and rushing around, I am trying to remember to take time and reflect on what really matters. My holiday wish is to enjoy my family, make good memories and remember why I am celebrating the season.

Merry Christmas, everyone-

Dana

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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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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

Thanks, StyleBlueprint Birmingham!

All of us know what it is like to get bombarded with a 50+ emails every morning suggesting we read this or buy that – it is exhausting.

I want to share with you an online publication that is certainly cut from a different cloth. StyleBlueprint is a southern style blog that focuses on conversations that inevitably connect women with people and businesses within the Birmingham community.

Every Monday, StyleBlueprint Birmingham showcases someone on “The Faces of Birmingham,” and I was so honored that my friend, Catherine (StyleBlueprint’s Birmingham City Editor), asked to feature me. In the interview, I really wanted to emphasize your home can be both beautiful AND functional. Every square inch of your home should have a purpose and it should be designed to withstand the wrath of daily life.

Here is a link to the interview in StyleBlueprint – Dana Wolter. Thanks again, StyleBlueprint, for the feature!

Have a good one, everybody-

Dana

Image Credits: Beth Hontzas Photography/ StyleBlueprint Birmingham

Living Well

What Would Your Perfect Day Look Like?

Whew! Where has the summer gone?! I know I have been slack on blogging as time has gotten away from me. Now that summer is coming to an end and life will soon become a little more structured, I promise to be more consistent with my posts.

A fun thing happened to me this summer…… I was featured on Birmingham’s new daily online magazine, Haute Pink. Are you familar with it? Haute Pink is the new quintessential southern lifestyle guide, and it is THE site to visit on styles, trends, events, and entertainment.

It was a fun interview as they asked me about design trends, balancing work and family, and even what my perfect day would look like. Ha! Maybe I can plan one of those for myself very soon.

Hope you enjoy the article as much as I enjoyed giving the interview. You can read it here on Haute Pink.

Have a great day, everyone!

Dana

Living Well

Gone to the Dogs

Dogs are part of the family, and we are honored to say they love our interiors….

Some pets make a photo that much better.

photo courtesy of Jean Allsopp

While others like to sneak into a photo shoot.

And well, what can I say? Some easily claim a favorite spot for their very own. Isn’t Murphy the sweetest?

Where is your pet’s favorite spot to perch, or is he even allowed on the furniture? Obviously I am okay with it, because, after all, they are part of the family.

Hope everyone is having a great day-

dana

Living Well

Wallpaper…

I am working on a client’s dining room, and I am looking for a beautiful paper with a light background and a dramatic pattern. Classic but with a little edge. In my search, I have come across a few papers I find to be quite incredible.

While this paper is not what I had in mind for this particular project, I do love it for its bold color and pattern. Stunning!

This paper by Schumacher would make for one stunning accent wall. It has been out for a few years and I have always adored the pattern……

I could easily imagine this paper in a foyer or entry way. Pair it with the right furnishings, lighting, and accents, and it would make the space fresh and something quite special.

Now to continue the hunt for the perfect wallpaper for that dining room! Have a good day, everyone-

Dana

Image one: direct link can be found within my pinterest page.

Living Well

Quick Tips for a Beautiful Home

This past week I had the pleasure of co-hosting NBC-13 Daytime AL with David Lamb while Wendy Garner was on jury duty. I had so much fun as the Daytime crew consists of just a really great group of people.

Here are a couple of snapshots from a segment I did on Quick Tips for a Beautiful Home. Yes, a home can be beautiful and practical too. A few tips I shared and live by…

– Buy only what you love, not just what’s on sale. It’s not a deal if you do not truly love it.

– Every item should have a place.

– Keep colors cohesive throughout the home (children’s rooms are the exception). What may be a dominant color in one room may be used as an accent in another.

You can watch an elaboration on each topic and learn more tips here if you like. Thanks again to Wendy, David, and the Daytime Al crew for this incredible experience, as well as those of you who tuned in to watch!

Have a great day-

Dana

* More importantly, my thoughts and prayers go out to those affected in this week’s tornadoes here and in surrounding cities and towns. So hard to believe it happened once again within such a short period of time. My heart goes out to all of you.

Living Well

Decorating For The Holidays

I think I am finally ready for Christmas as my house is decorated and my to-do list is ALMOST complete. I guess that is a good thing since Christmas is only two days away!

While I love all of the pretty things you see this time of year, I am really trying to simplify my life to remember why I am celebrating. Less is more in my book these days.

Here are some pictures of a few of the decorations found around my home:

christmas2011-5 — ann is busy making a moss wreath

christmas2011tree1-1024x764 — this year's christmas tree after it fell over TWICE!

DSC_0417-1024x682 — boxwood wreaths decorate the front door

And for my three favorite decorations of all……

Merry Christmas from our family to yours

I am taking a few days off after Christmas, so this will be my last post until 2012. Have a wonderful holiday and enjoy your family.

Dana