Tag: living well

Living Well

Living Well: 5 Accessories Every Home Should Have

It seems extreme weather makes people want to stay in and nest, and what better way to freshen up your home than with some of my go-to accessories that will add warmth to your space.  

Here are five of my go-to accessories every home should have:

1. A soft, neutral blanket  

We use a lot of throws in our interiors because they instantly create a space that calls your name to sit down and relax.  Besides, who doesn’t like a blanket when curling up with a good book or watching a tv show?

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

 

2. Coffee table books

Books are a great way to add a collected feel to any interior.   I always enjoy looking at the books people display in their home because it usually says something about their interests.

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

 

3. A bowl to catch keys

If I am creating a vignette near a point of entrance, a bowl to catch keys or miscellaneous items is a must. It makes a place for the ‘clutter’ of life look beautiful while serving a purpose. 

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

 

4. Living plants

Flowers, greenery, or branches always add life to any space.  My youngest used to say that flowers around our house made the house seem a little more clean.  Need I say more??

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

 

5. Art

Find art that speaks to you.  Art is a personal experience for everyone so finding pieces that touch and move you is important.

It’s also a great way to pull an interior together, such as how we layered this framed nude sketch against a Louis Philippe mirror. 

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

 

Look around your home as you may have many of these accessories already.  If you’d like to discuss your home and your goals for it with us, we would love to hear from you.  Feel free to contact us here. 

 

Cheers to cozying up in your home while we anxiously await for the warmer days of spring.   Have a great day,

Dana

 

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Living Well

After Pictures- Southern Style At Its Best

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.

 

xo,

 

Dana

 

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Living Well

Living Well- Tips For Making The Most Of Your Space In A Smaller Home

A few recent projects have been for families downsizing to smaller homes. And while moving to a home you are excited about can be a blessing, it can sometimes be difficult to lose square footage.

 

It’s amazing all of the stuff we accumulate over the years. I feel like I am constantly cleaning out my house and I try to watch what comes in.

 

How to make the most of small spaces can sometimes be overwhelming , so I thought I would give six helpful tips to #LivingWell in a smaller home.

 

1. Clean Out and Keep Only What You Love Or Will Use.   Simple enough- Do you love it or use it? If not, get rid of it.  No more storing things you “might” need in the future or because you feel guilty getting rid of them.

 

2. Are There Pieces That Can Be Repurposed? If there is a piece you LOVE but don’t have a place for it, can it be reworked for extra storage? 

 

3. Look Above And Below. Look for ways to hide storage, such as using ottomans that open up, raising a bed a few inches to create more space underneath, or  adding built-in seating with drawers underneath.  I also love adding ottomans under an open console or coffee table- not only to work as a layering piece but as an extra seat that can be pulled out if needed.

 

 

An ottoman slides under a coffee table in a client’s Family Room- Dana Wolter Interiors

 

 

 

Drawers pull out for extra storage in this window seat, Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

 

 

4. Simplify- When Looking At Your Stuff, Give Away The Extras Of The Same Items.  After all, you might need a few extra sets of sheets, but do you need five sets for the same bed? No- so give away to someone who can use them.

 

5. Think Long And Hard How Your Home Needs To Work For You and Delegate A Function For Every Room Or Unused Corner.  There is something refreshing about simplifying your life and surroundings. But with smaller homes, you need to think long and hard ahead of time to make sure the new home functions like it needs to for you.  If you see an extra corner, could you add a chair and floor lamp for an extra place to sit?

Or a custom banquette to create more seating around a breakfast table?

 

Photography by Jean Allsopp, Dana Wolter Interiors

 

 

If working on a new build or renovation, hire a designer before the plans are drawn.  An extra set of eyes for how your family will live in the house is invaluable. Every square inch needs to work hard so you can have the pretty with a purpose.

 

6. Let Go Of The Guilt. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it is hard to get your money out of furniture and rugs (and even some antiques) when selling.  Just know this is the case and let go of the pieces…. Do not hold onto stuff for any reason other than you love it.

 

#LivingWell isn’t necessarily about having the best of everything- It’s about surrounding yourself with a home that brings you joy.  A place you love to make memories with family and friends.  

 

Downsizing can be a blessing if you allow it, as it is a way to lighten your connection to material “stuff” and create spaces that are customized and truly special to you.

 

Hope you find these six tips helpful to #LivingWell in a smaller home. Let me know what you think-

Dana

 

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Living Well

Before And After: Turning A Garage Into A Family Room

 

 

Dana Wolter Interiors. Graham Yelton Photography

 

 

I posted this picture Here on Instagram a few months ago, and I had someone comment they couldn’t believe this beautiful, functional room once served as a Garage.  Me neither…..

 

I realized that I should share some progress pictures so you can see the transformation.  Who knew a garage could look so good……

 

Before:

 

 

 

What do you see? I see a future family room. Dana Wolter Interiors

 

 

 

After:

 

 

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography 

 

 

 

Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography

 

 

 

Dana Wolter Interiors

 

 

 

Dana Wolter Interiors

 

 

I love how this family took their home and made this room work for them.  The home functions for a large family, and they needed extra space to spread out and watch television.  

 

The Garage made the most sense, and with its doors turned into French doors and a back entrance reworked, the room quietly transformed.   

 

We added an extra-long sleeper sofa, so it is perfect for the times they need an extra bed, too.

 

So here’s to making the most of your home, one room at a time.

 

Dana

 

 

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