Do you ever wonder how we use so many beautiful, neutral fabrics in our projects and question how they look after a busy family lives in the space?
Many times when we are in the furniture and fabric phase of a project, clients immediately want to steer clear of anything that remotely looks too ‘light’ in color because of children, dogs, and just life.
They have valid reasoning for being concerned; I’ve raised three daughters and know how that goes. But like everything else, technology with fabrics and their durability have come leaps and bounds from where they used to be.
Here are four ways to make neutral upholstery more durable in your home:
1. Treat the neutral fabric with a stain resistant
In this Living Room, we had all of the upholstery treated with a stain resistant formula before being upholstered. It’s important to look at each fabric’s durability when creating a room so it can work hard for your family if needed.
Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography
2. Include commercial grade fabrics in strategic places
Another trick we use is to find contract-grade fabrics that do not look or feel commercial. We have found fabulous looking velvets and linens that go through rigorous testing to guarantee they are stain resistant, durable, and have a high rub count.
Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography
3. Add a blanket or quilt as an extra layer of protection
Often times, we have quilted throws made to perfectly fit a piece of upholstery. This allows the throw take the brunt of the activity and it can easily be removed or dry cleaned.
This Schumacher velvet and Jerry Pair leather add to the durability in this room. Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography
4. Incorporate a leather or faux leather into the room
This buttery faux leather that resembles some of the attributes of leather can look stunning and function perfectly in a kitchen or breakfast room.
The technology makes it easy to wipe down without stains or harsh chemicals, so no worries about fingerprints or stains on this custom banquette we designed, either.
Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography
Next time you are faced with the fear of choosing new fabrics for your home, don’t immediately shy away from light upholstery. Remember, the key is to look at its makeup so it can stand up to everyday life.
It’s always fun to go back to a finished project and see how a client is LIVING in the home.
I am always amazed at how your surroundings can completely revamp how you feel and live.
After all, #LivingWell in your home is about making your home work for you and your family. Making it special to you.
We made a two day visit to professionally photograph this home, and I loved seeing the hustle and bustle of everyday life for them. This family of five stays on the go, and their home needs to work hard for them.
Southern style at its best- spaces that invite guests in to visit, spaces that are workhorses for their needs, and in the end are just really pretty rooms.
I think we succeeded in making it just that….
It is their forever home, but when they bought it a year ago, there wasn’t much to it that made it feel like it was their own.
While I can’t show you the full room pictures, I can give you a glimpse….
You might have seen this picture of the foyer on My Instagram that I posted last week, or this one today……
Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography
And here are a few more……..
Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography
Kitchen Banquette Detail-Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography
Details on the loveseat in the bay window, Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography
If you feel like your home isn’t helping you make the most of your life and your family’s, email us here. Let us help you #LiveWell in your home, too.
A client reached out to us about helping them with a few rooms in their newly purchased home. One of the rooms they commissioned with us was the Dining Room.
The house is a typical 80s style house on a stately lot, and I wanted to add a little edge and detail through the interiors. A Dining Room is often nondescript, making it important to layer so it feels soft- and special.
Here are a few of the “Before” pictures:
BEFORE
BEFORE
We kept the wall color and her buffet, but everything else was a clean slate.
The goal was to make it feel warm, casual, and dramatic. Maybe it was the mood I was in, but Cocoon was the word that kept coming to mind.
We decided to drape two of the walls in the room with a sheer that blended into her newly painted walls. I wanted this room to draw you in, just as a Dining Room should.
Dana Wolter Interiors. Photography by Graham Yelton
I went with an upholstered table to add a little more drama and softness in the space. I also love the touches of black and gold throughout.
Upholstered Table Detail, Dana Wolter Interiors. Photography by Graham Yelton
After adding a table as big as the room could hold for maximum seating, there was room for a piece of furniture between the windows, but we had to watch its depth.
I decided to go with an Etagere to give her a place to stack her china, crystal, and serving pieces. Who says these type of pieces have to stay hidden in a cabinet or drawer?
The Etagere added a little more of a casual feel to a typically formal space, and it will look better and better the more pieces are added to it.
This piece will only look better with time as items are added. Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography
Dana Wolter Interiors, LLC
So here’s to making your home feel like a cocoon; warm, inviting, and a reflection of you. If we can help you turn your house into a home you love, email us here. We would love to hear from you.
Dana
Follow along for a look at what we are doing on a daily basis……
I kicked off #BootcampTransformation last week with ways to make your house the home you wish, and today I want to pick up where we left off. If you are just now reading, you can catch up here.
Now that you have chosen a room to tackle, you came up with five words to describe how you want this room to feel, and you’ve cleaned out everything you do not want to keep, it time to move on to the harder steps. This is where it sometimes becomes too much for someone to do on their own. Try these steps first, knowing you can always turn it over to a professional if needed.
Assess the room’s features
Decide what needs to be accentuated and what needs to be hidden.
For instance, if I have a client with a not so pretty stained, wood fireplace surround that cannot be changed- and it’s a feature that doesn’t need to stand out- I would have it painted the wall color to make it disappear.
Based upon how the room needs to work for you, layout a general floor plan.
Begin by measuring out the room, wall by wall, allowing for casing, doors, openings, etc… Assess the location of the doors, how the room needs to work, and decide where you may be able to add some sort of seating.
While some rooms may only have room for a chair (foyer), others may be large enough for a couple of seating areas. Add in where a seating area makes most sense and keep a 34″-36″ walkway throughout. Include in this plan any pieces that need to be placed in here or need to be reworked (such as a console that needs to be painted, etc….).
Choose your color palette
Do you want your home to be a retreat from the crazy world we live in…
so serene from Mary McDonald
…or do you want it to reflect your bold personality?
show the world your personality! by Jan Showers
Whichever you decide, make sure each room flows from one to the next. A retreat space will have more muted colors and softer furnishings, while one that is more bold may have pops of color.
Figure out what you need when you are at home. Perhaps you need quiet time, but your home feels loud and busy. Perhaps you need a little more energy in your life, but all your furnishings are heavy and dark-colored. All of these things make a difference!
lighten up and keep it simple… by Thomas Filicia
Accessorize
Add personal items that you LOVE and want to see each day. I have a plaster hand my youngest made several years ago that sits on top of some coffee table books on an ottoman. It doesn’t have to be a fine piece if it speaks to you.
If you have lots of little things, group them together to make them more cohesive. This post here from a few weeks ago gives some good tips on placing these finishing touches.
Your home can make you feel inspired and at peace, or it could possibly be draining you. Stop waiting and start today by applying the above tips and let’s see if you can make a change for the better.
I bet you will be amazed at how cleaning out and determining how a room needs to work for you can make all the difference in your home. As always, feel free to call or email us if you would like for us to turn your house into a home you love.
Here’s to a more peaceful home for all,
dana
Like what you see? Follow us for day to day inspiration-
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.
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.
Image from Dana Wolter Interiors
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 crawledin 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.
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.
Image from Southern Living Designer Network
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.
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.
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.
Image from Dana Wolter Interiors
I would love to hear how you’ve brought the indoors out at 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’.”
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-
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Like what you see? Connect with us to see more of this project unfold on a day to day basis.
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.
Last week I shared that we are spicing things up this year by periodically sending out a newsletter that will include a variety of tips and tricks from me.
The first newsletter has been sent, but it isn’t too late to sign up.
I would love to hear from you. I am always looking for new material so if there is something you’d like for me to address in the blog, please let me know.
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.
Image from NestEgg
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.
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.
Image from House Beautiful
Bold, patterned fabrics add a splash of color and create a focal point for the room.
Image from Style At Home
For a more airy and light feeling to your bedroom, a minimally detailed headboard with soft curves and caning may be for you.
Image from Little Green Notebook
Headboards with straight lines in wood or sleek leather tend to have a more masculine feel.
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
Like what you see? To see more on a day to day basis, follow us!
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.
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
Like what you see? To see more on a day to day basis, follow us!
I came across this quote from Billy Baldwin and I love it.
I have always been a believer in using classic materials and finishes throughout a home. Mother Nature knows best, as a room filled with classic materials is always up to date.
Image from nicety.livejournal.com
The finishes you choose for your next project can make or break certain design elements. Floor and wall coverings can greatly influence the style of a room.
Nothing is prettier to me than an old piece of marble. Marble is wonderfully rich and can turn any room into a dramatic showcase. The more it is used, the prettier it becomes.
The old marble brought this fireplace back to life while creating a timeless look. Image from Dana Wolter Interiors
Wood is also a classic material that I love. I have been embracing it in an even bigger way this year with it appearing in all forms of interior objects from furniture to lighting to flooring.
I love the classic look of the dark wooden staircase against the white walls. The wood is original to the house. Image from Dana Wolter Interiors
Natural stones and materials are the way to go. By investing is these practical and gorgeous elements, you are sure to have a timeless room that you love!
It’s that time already! Can you believe the holidays are here?!
Radio stations are playing Christmas music, and lights and greenery are hung.
We thought it might be nice over the next few weeks to offer a few quick tips on how to simplify this crazy time of year.
Homes will soon be filled with festive décor, food, friends and family, and hopefully our tips will help you not stress enjoy this season.
Today, I am sharing a TV segment I taped a few years back for NBC-13 Birmingham with David Lamb on a few easy ways to fold napkins. David and I had a lot of fun perfecting the art, and I promise, if we can do it, so can you. Take a look:
Little tricks – from hand-written place cards and unique napkin folds – can help make for memorable meals during the holidays.
Watch this video to see how easily you can add elegance to your table and set the scene for a delicious feast.
This is my Thanksgiving table from last year. Notice how the folded napkin is a small detail that makes a beautiful statement. Image from Dana Wolter Interiors.
I hope you found this post helpful. Stay tuned for more holiday entertaining ideas.
Ready or not….. Tis the season,
dana
We will be announcing the winners of the “Birmingham Style” book giveaway Friday so stayed tuned for that as well. In case you missed the giveaway details, check out my blog post from last Friday. It’s not too late to enter!
Have you ever chosen a paint color, knowing it is the “perfect” one, only to have it painted to discover it looks completely different than what you imagined ?!
If so, you are not alone!
Take the guesswork out of choosing a color by following this process. It will ensure the color you achieve on your walls is what you are hoping for.
The important first step in choosing a paint color is getting it out of the store. Choose a handful of hues, or borrow the entire fan deck of colors, and bring the chips back home.
We like to make our own swatches so we can be sure the color is what we think.
Nothing will help you choose a color better than seeing the hue applied to the wall.
Take the samples home and brush them on the walls of your room. If your walls are dark, paint the samples on a white piece of poster board so the current color doesnt interfere with the new ones.
Look at the colors at all times of day, from bright morning light to golden afternoon light to lamp-lit darkness. Sun, or lack thereof, can make a huge difference in how a color reads.
Always paint two very good coats to get a good idea of what the color is going to look like on the wall. Once the test sections are dry, hang artwork over them, push furniture in front of them, and stand back in the room to see how they look.
This image shows your the difference in one and two coats.
When choosing a sheen, remember that flat paint gives you color closest to the original cardboard paint chip, where semi gloss paint will have a moderate reflective quality.
Remember with so many color choices available, it is necessary to take your color for a test drive before you buy.
These are some Sherman Williams and Benjamin Moore colors we tested for a current project we are working on.
Today’s Friday Favorite is a picture of a dining room install from several years ago.
I love the uniqueness of this upholstered dining room table. It adds a lot of look, softness, and durability to the space, all without breaking the bank.
For me, a well designed room comes down to the details. They are the finishing touches that can take a room from pretty to pretty incredible.
Keep in mind, details should not be obvious. Instead, they should enhance and balance the overall feel of the room.
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.