Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

Using Bar Carts in Different Ways

by Filed Under: #projectcoastalchic, design, entertaining, organize, personal


I have been working with a local client {#projectcoastalchic} to add some warmth and texture to her family room. When you first enter the family room off of the kitchen, there is one large wall that also sits next to a door to the garage entrance. I thought it would be pretty and fun to add a little entry spot/organization station for resting your keys, mail and anything else they may need. There are fun ways to make a station like this both functional and beautiful. I instantly thought of using the Threshold bar cart from Target!

Not only can this be pulled out and used for entertaining guests, it will also be amazing to make this an organization station! We will be hanging a framed chalkboard above the cart, so the family can write down grocery lists, practice/game schedules and anything they need to know before heading out the door. When they have a large dinner party, this amazing cart on casters can be easily rolled into the kitchen/dining area for drinks and appetizers. It is without a doubt that bar carts are no longer a trend, but here to stay! Here are some creative ways to use this versatile furniture accent piece:

via 

Here are fun ways to use them when not entertaining:

I think I may need to pick one up for myself! I love any and all carts, especially when they are brass!
What about you… do you think this trend is here to stay???

My Statement Chair With One Kings Lane

by Filed Under: chair love, design, one kings lane, personal design style, this piece has history


I was thrilled when a representative from One Kings Lane reached out to me to discuss the topic of statement chairs. This was right up my alley, since I have always considered myself a chair person. I love and appreciate so many different styles and when antique or market shopping, I always make a straight line to the furniture! This amazing site features a home decor resource guide that introduces you to the history of statement chairs from any design era you can imagine!  I have decided to show one of my favorite chairs in our house… the timeless and classic Windsor chair. My chair is a modern version and is a reproduction, but its homespun, traditional quality still shines through. During the height of the more ornate furniture designs, like Baroque, England introduced this humble and classic piece that is still so popular today.

Rather than being a centerpiece in the room, it is an accent and is part of our dining room set. I think what I love most about a Windsor chair is the ability to mix it with modern decor, to give it a fresh, new take on a classic piece. Although it’s a timeless shape routed in tradition and simplicity, it can also appear more modern against a table with clean lines. I paired our Windsor chairs with modern pieces, by adding a clean lined hutch and dining table to the room and also by bringing in contemporary art and accessories. I have often thought the chairs would look amazing if painted a bright color. {Maybe a rich teal/blue color!}

The most important thing to do with any furniture in your home, is to have fun with it and make it your own! Thanks to One Kings Lane for including me in this series and reminding me about one of my favorite furniture pieces in our home!

New Changes in Our Family Room {or Basement??}

by Filed Under: basement, design, family room, personal


You may have seen some of my previous posts about renovating and adding livable square footage to our basement. We are making it an additional space to relax, play and spend family time. On Instagram, I mentioned an ottoman that I loved from Target. I knew it would be a great piece to use as a coffee table and rest our feet in the basement. Mike, my husband, checks in on my blog and instagram for gift ideas {what a guy} and surprised me with that ottoman for Christmas!! I love it so much and it is so versatile, that I haven’t even put it in the basement yet! I have been enjoying it on our first floor family room and also wanted to keep it out when I do some entertaining next month. Eventually, it will make its way in the basement, which will be a much needed accessory down there, too.

{love the casters!!} 

Ottomans this size can work in almost any space! They are great for the foot of the bed, coffee table {with tray}, in front of the fireplace, etc. The possibilities are endless! I am sure this furniture piece will have a home all over the house, throughout the years.

How about you… do you have a furniture piece in your home that would work anywhere??

How to Turn a Digital Pattern into Wrapping Paper!

by Filed Under: blog review, design


When a representative from Pattern Pod reached out to me and said I could choose from their gallery of digital prints and make it into something amazing, I jumped at the chance. Pattern Pod is an on line company that allows you to transform digital patterns into almost anything from wrapping paper to fabric! They work along with Spoonflower to make those dreams a reality. First, you find a pattern you love and purchase the digital image through Pattern Pod. Then, you visit the Spoonflower site and choose what you want to do with your uploaded pattern! The pattern pod site has so many different patterns to choose from and some come with an option to also change the colorway. I decided to choose a pattern and turn it into wrapping paper!

The paper came no nicely packaged! I quickly opened it up to check out my pattern. I chose Pattern 46 in Aqua. I thought it looked like delicate snowflakes, which is perfect for any gifts given throughout the winter months. The paper is sturdy and made of very good quality. I quickly got to wrapping for some parties coming up in the near future.

{A little closeup to show how nice the corners came out!}


I would not pride myself on being the neatest present wrapper, so for the gifts to come out as good as they did, that means the paper was amazing to work with! I am so happy that I found out about this company. There are so many ideas and ways to make the patterns come to life. I would love to one day line the back of my bookshelves with one of their patterns and turn a pretty pattern into a new pillow fabric! You can also use the patterns for digital use, such as enhancing the look of your social media pages and blogs.

To purchase a pattern and start imagining the possibilities, visit their site HERE!!

Then, turn that pattern into something amazing over at Spoonflower!

House Proud {A Design Book Review}

by Filed Under: blog review, design, gift ideas


When I was recently contacted to do a book review on a gorgeous interior design coffee table book, I couldn’t pass up the chance. I am so glad I went for it, because once I opened the book and started looking through some of the stunning interiors, I knew I had found a new favorite! The book is titled: House Proud- Unique Home Design- Louisiana by accomplished New Orleans interior designer Valorie Hart. In her first published book, Valorie highlights some of the best interiors the state of Louisiana has to offer. From the formal Greek revival house to the modern urban loft to her own abode, the essence of Louisiana’s homes and charm are evident on every page. Take a little peek at this amazing book…

home of Leah Giraud 

home of Leah Giraud

The home tours featured a ‘Takeaways’ list, which gave tips on how the look was created and how you can duplicate the idea! I especially loved the idea above, which shows a twin mattress turned into a reading nook/platform bed. By adding a white slipcover, it looks like a custom furniture piece!

home of Leah Giraud 

home of Kellie & Mark Soileau 

home of Sean Yseult & Chris Lee

The Louisiana charm and history is clear when looking at the gorgeous home exterior, above.

home of authorValorie Hart & Alberto Paz

home of Valorie Hart & Alberto Paz 

home of Jeff Burrell & Ron Carrier
All Photography by Sara Essex Bradley

Now do you see why it’s a new favorite?? What I think I love most about this book is the approachable design aesthetic each of these tours gives the reader. We can easily take away ideas from these homes and achieve them in our own spaces. The featured designs are beautiful and functional, which is a winning combination in my book! Thanks so much to Sara over at Glitterati Incorporated for this book to review!

Get your copy HERE!!

Setting Goals and Creating Balance in 2014!

by Filed Under: organize


New year, new projects! I plan to accomplish a lot with our home this year, but please don’t look back at last year’s list… I was going to incorporate it into this post, until I realized I didn’t accomplish any of the house projects I set out to accomplish! Big let down. So I hope this year will be different, or maybe it will not. Many of my blog friends have decided to use their own word to drive their motivations this year, as opposed to the usual ‘resolutions’ buzz word we always hear but don’t like! I decided to jump on that idea as well. For me, my word for 2014 will be balance. I am going to take charge of all of my ideas and start putting them into a plan of action, but also put things into perspective that it will get done at some point! I want to paint the furniture I have been meaning to paint and finally take that new sprayer out of the box. I plan to get our office into a presentable state {I did actually paint the entire room this year, including the trim work! Now why didn’t I put that goal on last year’s list??} I also want to make business changes and grow this blog to what I know it can become.

What a great way to organize lists and daily office papers!!

However, I also want to achieve balance in the new year and not get so bogged down by lists, but step back and realize what is truly important. Our recent trip to Italy made everything so clear… I want to be successful in my business and grow, but I also love the way things are now and the availability that my current business allows for time with family. I realized there is no rush and that good things do come to those who wait. Our house projects will get done and the business will grow when the time is right. But for now, I have to let go a bit and achieve that balance. I don’t want to look at a list of projects and become let down when I didn’t do the items on that list. Maybe we all sometimes get caught up in what we should be doing, what needs to happen ‘now’ and shift focus negatively to what we didn’t accomplish. For me, when I finally step back and give things time, that’s probably when the most productive ‘me’ comes alive! So for now, instead of getting bogged down by lists of what has to get accomplished this year, I am just going to be  🙂


Such a great quote and a beautiful view! 

Living Like an Italian {La Dolce Vita}

by Filed Under: personal, vacation


Excuse my long absence from the blog! If you are still out there, I have amazing photos to share from our holiday trip to Italy. The family packed up and spent two weeks near Venice, Italy to see Mike’s parents and extended family. We are so fortunate to be able to take the kids to Europe and show them such rich history. We do miss being closer to his family, but definitely appreciate visiting such a beautiful country!

The Amazing Sites of Venice

Can this be more beautiful and magical?? Venice is a city I will never tire of and was decorated so wonderfully for Christmas. The more and more I visit Italy, the more I am in awe of their laid back, focus on family lifestyle. To this day, small restaurants and businesses close for a few hours each day, so the staff and owners can come home to their families, eat together, rest and just spend time. It was a constant reminder over the break, that I should also learn to slow down a bit and appreciate the small, important moments of the day that I probably take for granted. Italy was a great vacation spot to relax and just enjoy time with family, since it is always a daily occurrence there to do just that. You can’t visit Venice without bringing home some treasures, so we have continued to add to our mask collection and I even bought another city sketch to add to my art collection! This new one is pretty large and is just waiting to get framed and hung somewhere special! (That reveal will come soon!)

Our stop in Verona



Verona was quite an amazing site at night. It was also beautifully decorated for Christmas, with lights everywhere, a magical carousel and nativity scenes shown throughout the coliseum. The window shopping in Verona is pretty amazing, too!

As always, the vacation came to an end so fast. It’s now back to the hustle and bustle of work and school. I will, however, try to bring that sense of calm and togetherness back to our own home. I know it’s easier said than done to not get caught up in rushing around, trying to get to sports practice and the bus on time. But, if Italians can do it for centuries and still make it work, I am determined to bring some of that back here, too!

Placing Ornaments Everywhere But the Tree

by Filed Under: design, holiday


I have said in previous posts that I like to use ornaments in unexpected ways. With a plethora of ball ornaments in our home, I love sprinkling them throughout the house. It spreads the holiday cheer in all rooms and is a simple, fun way to decorate. Here’s a reminder of our holiday decor, with ornaments spread around the home…

Our Living Room


Our Dining Room


And just added today, in our family room


I love when the morning sunshine comes through this room!

How about you… do you use ornaments in unexpected places??

And the Winners Are…

by Filed Under: blog, giveaway


I am happy to announce the winners of the pattern from Pattern Pod and the $50 gift card to True Value Hardware!

The winner of the free pattern from Pattern Pod is… Danielle T!

And the winner of both the pattern from Pattern Pod and the $50 True Value gift card is…
Melissa from the blog Rooms!
I will be in touch with both of you later today, to help you claim your prizes!! Congrats!

This Year’s Simple & Yummy Teacher Gifts

by Filed Under: gift ideas, holiday


With gift giving, I have always remembered it’s the thought that counts. The gift idea doesn’t have to be elaborate or cost a lot of money to be thoughtful and special. I went simple {but yummy} for this year’s holiday teacher gifts.

You can buy canning jars in bulk and simply add festive candies and a colorful bow! It’s fun, cheerful and colorful. Best part is, the chocolates are delicious. Of course, I had to try them out, first. 😉

Here are some other great teacher gift ideas {or for a friend/hostess, etc.}…

Simple and creative ideas the teachers {or any friend} will love and appreciate!
What are some of your go to gift ideas??