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.
With the new year just a couple of days away, I thought it would be fun to look back at 2016. This year has been a good one for us in so many ways, and here is a recap of a few things that took place:
We started the new year finishing up #ProjectExpansion for some favorite clients. They have a cute story as to why they needed more space. You can read about it here and here.
FOYER-BEFORE
FOYER-AFTER Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography
FOYER-AFTER
FOYER-AFTER
FAMILY ROOM BUILT-IN -BEFORE
FR Built-in before the glass doors were installed
The kitchen in this home has been shared so many times on the web, yet very few people have seen the “before” pictures. It was quite the transformation.
BEFORE- KITCHEN
BEFORE- KITCHEN
This is the photo that has been shared numberous times on social media. It’s even been referred to as the “poltergist” picture with stylist Monica Stewart making an appearance. Dana Wolter Interiors
Dana Wolter Interiors
Dana Wolter Interiors
January began with a feature in Birmingham Home and Garden magazine. This home was approximately 12 years old and it needed an update. We took several of the rooms and dramatically changed them. Here are a few of the before and after pictures:
BEFORE- MASTER
AFTER- MASTER BEDROOM Dana Wolter Interiors
BEFORE- LIVING ROOM
AFTER- LIVING ROOM, Dana Wolter Interiors
You can read more on the transformation of a few of the rooms here, here, and here.
In February, I hosted a party for Southern Living‘s Design Conference that took place in Birmingham, AL. There’s nothing like a party to make you do a few things around your own house, and it was just the kick in the pants that I needed.
Dana Wolter Interiors
Dana Wolter Interiors
Dana Wolter Interiors
It was a lot of fun as designers across the country came together for a few days, and I was glad they were able to see all that Birmingham, Al, has to offer.
Southern Living also included me in their April issue with a feature on using lavender in your home.
In October, Flower Magazine used my home as a backdrop for a Fall feature.
Flower Magazine
I was also asked by Coastal Living‘s Ellen McGauley and Southern Living’s Zoe Gowen to take part in a panel for ADAC on how to use social media and technology to grow a design business. Designer Cortney Bishop from Charleston, SC, joined in on the fun with us.
While there, the Editor-At-Large followed up by asking my thoughts on how ADAC is a great resource for designers.
Editor At Large Interview with Arianne Nardo
The last quarter of 2016 did not disappoint, either. We announced we are moving our office into the heart of Mountain Brook Village in Birmingham, AL. We are finishing up a few details now and will be in by the first of the year.
I was THRILLED to have one of our favorite kitchens for amazing clients in the Holiday Issue of Traditional Home. This was such a fun project for clients who trusted my vision, and the detail and customization in this home truly paid off.
November/December 2016
Dana Wolter Interiors
Dana Wolter Interiors
Dana Wolter Interiors
Dana Wolter Interiors, Photography by Graham Yelton
You can read my blog post here to learn more about this project or click here to see the actual feature in Traditional Home.
The feature of my house in the November/December issue of Southern Living was a ton of fun. We photographed my home for Christmas in the summer and with the Southern Living elves setting everything up, it was as easy as it could be.
They spoiled me and I was missing their help when December rolled around and it was time to decorate again. You can read the 10 page feature here.
Stylist Buffy Hargett did an amazing job on the flowers and decoration
The Southern Living team
As I look back at 2016, I cannot forget the online mentions and other amazing projects we have been part of this year that I did not highlight. I am having several projects photographed in a few weeks we have designed this year, and I cannot wait to share.
Thanks to all of you for following along on this journey. I have met some amazing people because of my job and am grateful to those who have trusted us with the investment of their home.
But more importantly, watching how an organized, functional, healthy home changes how a family lives is truly the best part of my job.
Here’s to a happy, healthy, blessed 2017 for all-
Dana
If you are looking to transform your home or looking to start anew, reach out to us here. I would love to discuss your project and see how we can help you.
Like what you see? Connect with us on a daily basis….
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.
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.
As the weather warms up in Alabama, I guess you could say I have a case of spring fever. I asked Hilary Ross, a longtime friend and a landscape designer/horticulturist here in Birmingham, Al, to give us a few gardening trends for the spring.
Take it away, Hilary…..
Like interiors, landscapes evolve over time and certain trends become evident. In landscape design, EDIBLE LANDSCAPES are a trend that will continue to rise in popularity where edibles will be featured alongside our favorite annuals, perennials, and shrubs.
Thyme, Rosemary, Lettuce and Eggplant mix in a border with purple petunias (photo by Saxon Holt/PhotoBotanic)
Which edibles should a first-time gardener try?
I asked Charlie Thigpen, former Garden Editor of Southern Living and the mastermind behind several naturalistic plantings featured in many different magazines, about his favorites. Here is what he suggested:
HERBS
Try these top three, whether in a pot – or in a border.
CHIVES have grasslike leaves with either rosy-purple or white (garlic chives) flowers. Pretty enough to use alongside your blooming annuals and perennials while tasty enough to be snipped and use in salads, cream cheese or butter.
Chives and pansies look great together
Garlic chives have a beautiful white bloom
BASIL thrives in our hot, humid weather, performing better when it is regularly harvested, and seemingly grows overnight.
I like sweet basil – with lush green leaves and milder flavor.
Charlie likes ‘Spicy Globe’ basil seen here next to Thyme because it stays compact and is flavorful.
Is this coleus? No! It is ‘Red Rubin’ Basil which blends magnificently with fall marigolds.
THYME is perfect as a low edging or container plant and it seasons vegetables, shellfish or poultry.
I have Lemon Thyme, which has a vibrant green leaf edged in gold. It has been in the same pot for two years!
Another favorite is Silver Thyme, which is stunning mixed with creams and purples! See it nicely paired with the purple Heuchera?
VEGETABLES
Instead of buying flavorless grocery store veggies, why not try and grow some of your own this year? Some favorite vegetables to try: Okra, Eggplant and Tomato.
‘Little Lucy’ Okra
Charlie Thigpen’s Garden Gallery sold out of this vegetable plant last year and he said this dwarf red okra looks as great as it tastes! It will work in a container and looks great on porch and patio — and then you can enjoy the harvest! Beautiful, creamy hibiscus-like blooms yield gleaming burgundy pods abundantly all over this compact 2-3 foot plant.
‘Ghostbuster’ Eggplant
Eggplant is generally a dark purple color; however, different varieties of eggplant may range from indigo to white such as ‘Ghostbuster’ pictured above. The term eggplant originated as a description of white colored eggplants because they look like eggs.
‘Ichiban’ Eggplant has a beautiful purple bloom and slender, prolific fruit
‘Tiny Tim’ Tomato
After winter, we can’t wait to sink our teeth into the first homegrown harvest of these sun-ripened fruits. Popular ones include ‘Cherokee Purple,’ ‘Brandywine,’ ‘Beefsteak,’ ‘Better Boy,’ ‘Park’s Whopper’ and ‘Mountain Pride.’ If you like cherry tomatos, try selections such as ‘Black Cherry,’ ‘Sweet Million,’ ‘Sun Gold’ or ‘Yellow Pear.’ ‘Tiny Tim’ is a dwarf selection that’s well suited for containers.
Thanks, Hilary, for sharing yours and Charlie’s thoughts on spring gardening trends. If you would like to know more about Hilary, you can find her on Facebook, subscribe to her blog at http://maternaturadesigns.blogspot.com/ or contact her via email at maternatura.designs@gmail.com.
