Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

When the Blog Comes Before the Business

by Filed Under: blogging, e-decorating, e-design


I have been thinking about this topic for some time! When I started my blog back in 2011, it was with the intent to nurture my love for design and possibly open my own on line decor shop. I thought it would be fun to start a blog and ‘chat’ with so many like minded individuals who could talk about pillow fabrics and wall colors to abandon. I went back and forth on what to name my blog. Some of the earlier names I had pondered were: The Painted Chair, The Chic Farmhouse, Posh Dwellings, Blend to name a few. Hey, Blend would have actually been pretty cool. But, I digress… I decided on Simple Dwellings and that was that. I have been very happy with that name, but as I decided to shift from an on line store to on line decorating services, the blog name got in the way. For the first year, my design business was called Simple Dwellings Interiors, to match the name of my blog. As I started to grow my business, I wanted to name it after myself. I just liked the personal aspect of that. So I decided to go for it and name the business Amber B Interiors. I liked the ring to it and it feels more me, if that makes any sense. I would like to grow my business further and am thinking about a web site with my blog link off of the site. In doing that, my thoughts go to turning everything to Amber B Interiors, rebranding the busniess. I already have all of my social sites as this name already, so it’s just the blog that is different. My blog friend Abby is going through this same process, and I could totally relate to her recent post here on the topic. I will make sure to update you on this journey, but right now, it’s more of an idea for the future. I’m probably focusing on this and worrying much more than I need to, but it’s been on my mind. And maybe you have gone through similar business changes that you would like to share! 

I will leave you with a recent dining room e-design that I completed for a client. She was looking for a rustic farmhouse style.

{click on image to make larger}
She is very happy with the design. We are going to make minor adjustments to the gallery wall, but keep the overall look and feel the same. We are on to her living room, next!
Have a happy weekend and see you back here on Monday!


{Choosing Art} I Need Your Help!

by Filed Under: art, design, family room, personal design style


I may have said this before, but I can be very indecisive when it comes to the decor of my own home. When working with clients, it’s easy for me to choose what I think is right for the space. My own spaces, on the other hand, can be a different story. Maybe it’s because I over think too much, when I should just go with my gut feeling. Maybe it’s because I will look at it everyday, so I better make sure it’s an investment worth having. Either way, I need your advice! We are back on the topic of the art above my sofa that I talked about here. I think I am looking for a hint of nature and one large piece, as opposed to a grouping of art. I love gallery walls as much as the next person, but I just took down our massive gallery wall and want a change. I am thinking about art that is at least 30×40 insize, which can get expensive. The below options, however, are very reasonably priced! To recap the space we are working with, here’s the massive empty wall that is begging for some art…

The Empty Wall

Here are some of the options, in no particular order…

Option 1- Equestrian Art

Option 2- Equestrian Art
Option 3- Equestrian Art

Option 4- Equestrian Art
Option 5- Equestrian Art
Option 6- Equestrian Art
If I am thinking about art that might be more meaningful to us, I could go with a snowy landscape, like the option below. After all, we do get snow here almost half of the year! How about that for meaningful art??
Option 7- Snowy Landscape
Coincidentally, this wintery landscape is from the same etsy shop as most of the above equestrian art. I guess I like her style!
It did occur to me though, that I have liked horses for a while. Here is our dining room…

So actually, it wouldn’t be that far fetched to add another horse to the mix! Seems I like them already and forgot I did!
Which one gets your vote? Brutal honesty is needed!!  🙂

Sectionals Can be Chic

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


Since we are moving our sofas into the (almost) finished basement, we bought a sectional! We have always loved the loungy feel you can get with sectionals. They just welcome you in and seem so cozy. That, to me, is what a family room should be, right? Sectionals sometimes get a bad wrap and I don’t know why. But I think there are so many great options that would fit any design style. Here’s proof that they are chic…

Here are some quick snapsots of our sectional, bought from a local furniture store…

It’s a deep brown color, and we love how soft and comfy it is! There is that huge empty wall staring me in the face, ready to get some new art. But, I really want to be patient with this art and find something we really like. Since I had so many wall holes from the previous gallery wall, I spent a few hours spackling and painting this entire wall, giving it a fresh start. I have learned the hard way, that just painting small patches on the wall gives a different sheen than the rest. Our local paint store clerk advised I just paint the entire wall when recovering patches. It might take the extra effort, but in the end, it’s a seamless paint job.

So now, comes the art! I am still thinking about the horse art. We’ll see…

Time for Some Equestrian Art

by Filed Under: art, equestrian, gallery walls, personal design style


Now that we are getting our basement finished, {are you sick of me talking about this yet??} it’s time for some shuffling around and moving furniture to different spaces. Our old sofas are going down to the lower level, making way for our new family room sectional. {More on that, later.} When I was looking at our large gallery wall of photos above our family room sofa, I knew I wanted a fresh start there, too. Instead of a gallery wall, I want to hang one large piece of art. I am leaning towards a black and white horse print! This might sound silly to those that know me best, considering I have hardly ever been on a horse, much less talk about the beautiful animal. But there is something about art and large scale photography that makes me lean in this direction. Art is definitely subjective and sometimes you know it when you see it! In this case, I’m not sure I have found ‘the print’ just yet. I am just thinking about this style of art. So here are some great spaces that use equestrian art to perfection…

For my space, I am leaning more towards a vertical print, since I have two floor lamps on either side of the sofa. A vertical image would draw your eye up and nicely fill the space. If you love equestrian art, this etsy shop sells beautiful prints with so many sizes to choose from. I was also browsing allposters.com and narrowed it down to these two beauties…

Or maybe this…

So how about you… do you choose art that you just love or do you stick to meaningful pieces?

Our Basement Progress Pictures

by Filed Under: basement, design


As promised, here are some progress pictures on the basement. A lot can happen in one work week! The space has been fully framed, electrical was installed and all of the drywall is up! It is starting to resemble an actual room, now! Here we go…

Framing Stage

Stair Risers Are Up

Built In Shelving Spots

The last three photos above show the locations for the shelving that is going under the stairs and the wall of shelves.
Drywall Phase



We are moving right along and we couldn’t be happier! I can’t wait to see what this week will bring!

A Colorful, Liveable Dining Room E-Design Project

by Filed Under: design, e-decorating, e-design, inspiration, painting


Thank you all so much for your support on my last post! Everyone unanimously voted to go with the pipe shelving! I truly appreciate all of your tips and encouragement. I will post some basement progress pictures this weekend, but today, I have an exciting e-design project to show. I have been working with this amazing client for a while on different rooms, and we have just completed the dining room. She already had the furniture pieces for the space and was looking to add some color, pattern and modern fun to the room. We want this dining room to flow with the other areas we recently finished in her home, as well as work with the nearby spaces she already completed herself. My client loves a color palette of blues, greens and oranges. Here is the accessory design board I came up with…

The Design

This might be one of my favorite projects to date. I love how fun and colorful this room will be, as well as the small, new details we will add to the space. The ceiling trim images shown at the bottom left side of the board is an idea I had for her ceiling. She also has crown molding around the perimeter of the room, so we will add this three inch band of trim all the way around the room. I can’t wait to see how that looks! I was inspired by this project by Tobi Fairley…

Inspiration

I also adore the new prints that will be hung on either side of her hutch. They are shown on either side of the lanterns on the design board. When I was pinning the artist’s work on pinterest, my client saw them and immediately e-mailed to tell me that’s what she wanted. That worked out great, because I was pinning them for her dining room! I love it when I am in sync with client’s ideas.
Happy Friday! I’ll be back this weekend with our basement updates! {Hint, hint… all of the drywall is up!}


My Contractors Think I’m Crazy

by Filed Under: basement, design, personal design style


Have you ever had a brilliant (or so you thought) design idea, and others didn’t quite see your vision?? That’s kinda where I’m at with our basement remodel. In my last post, I mentioned we are refinishing our basement from the concrete jungle that it is now, to a fully finished lower level. We’re so excited! I had the idea to have the contractors install a huge open shelving unit with plumbing and gas pipes. I gave them a written description taken from this post and I printed out a picture of what it could look like. This is what I showed them…

Now granted, the printed pictures were in black and white, so maybe that took away from the unique effect these shelves have. Here is how the conversation went…
Me: I have this great idea to have you guys install a shelving unit with gas pipes and stained wood planks. It will be a cost effective way to have a large shelving unit!
Contractor: You want to do what??
Me: Install shelves with gas pipes.
Contractor: Ma’am, that’s not going to look good.
Me: {Cricket, cricket} I think it will give an industrial, chic look!
Now all kidding aside, the contractors have been wonderful to work with. They are reliable, on time and do a great job at a great price. So, no complaints here. My bubble was a little bursted, though. They said they could do it, but the only problem might be the location. Since it’s a basement, they mentioned the gas pipes will rust over time, even after spraying them with rustoleum. The dampness that’s natually in a basement will make that happen, for sure. I am not one to give up on my vision very easily, but I’m not too sure I want to double check that every guest has had their tetanus shot before touching our shelves. And by looking on line, it seems as though every person who tried this project has theirs on a main level room. So it might be back to the drawing board. I haven’t given up all hope yet on the idea, and they said we still have time to decide. My sweet husband already knows about my quirky ideas, so he is on board with whatever! But, here are some other shelving solutions I have found along the way that can take its place…

via 

I like that these shelves are white, and I especially like the look of the symmetrical cubes. They can make these or stack together ready made cube units from Home Depot. (This is when I really wish I lived near an IKEA! I could have them install the Billy bookshelf or large Expedit and call it a day! If we do this, we would paint the walls first and then install the open shelving unit after. That would create a nice contrast. We will also add some trim, to mimic the look of true built in shelving, so no one would be the wiser!
So, that’s where we’re at now. Decisions, decisions!
Have you ever been looked at like you’re crazy when it comes to design ideas??

This is Happening…

by Filed Under: basement, design, personal design style


We are undergoing some renovations around here! This is the first time that we have changed our house in a big way. Let’s see if you can guess what we are doing, with these inspiration pictures…

You might have guessed it… we’re finishing our basement! We are so excited and ready for it all to begin. I have big plans for this space. I plan to get the walls painted a very pale blue gray, almost white color. We don’t get a lot of natural light down there, so that will help to brighten up the space. Also, we are going to install shelving for the space under the stairs. I showed the contractor the 6th image above {gotta love pinterest} and it will happen! I would also like a huge chalkboard wall. I have always loved that look! Also, we are installing industrial style shelving, like the last image above. It’s a cost effective way to have about 10 feet of shelving, using wood boards, plumbing conduit and gas pipes. Materials alone, that idea costs only $200, and I love the result! That just might be my favorite aspect of this design! More on that idea later. This is pretty big for us, since we have never had any major renovation work done in the house before. I will make sure to take before pictures, so you can see the concrete jungle that it is now! That will be quite the before and after.

Have you finished your basement?? Any tips, ideas to avoid??

{Before and After} E-Design Gallery Wall

by Filed Under: before and after, design, e-decorating, e-design, gallery walls


I have really been in the before and after mood when it comes to my recent posts. I think we all love to see how a space can come together, especially when you’re able to see where it began. My client wanted to add some modern elements to her beautifully finished basement. She already had the television and most furniture pieces, but wanted to make the space truly complete.

Before

When I saw her TV wall, I immediately thought of surrounding it with a symmetrical gallery wall of framed art. Here are the inspiration images I used…

Inspiration

My client did an amazing job hanging this symmetrical gallery wall. I love great symmetry! Here are the afters…

After

The new bench can be pulled out for additional seating when needed and also helps fill this space when not in use. The framed botanical prints are actually from a wonderful coffee table book. I suggested that she use the prints she liked best and that best matched the color scheme for the room. Over time, this gallery wall can also continue to grow with more botanical prints and make the art extend towards the floor. I think the new art wall does a great job taking your eye away from the built in wall speakers. My client is so happy with the results and glad that she hung the gallery wall. I am so happy that it worked out!

If you would like to work together to create a space you love, visit my design services page to get started! I am currently booking clients for the summer and even have a couple of spots open in May.

Picture Outtakes from Woman’s World Magazine Feature

by Filed Under: chevron, design, foyer, magazine feature, mom's inspiration


When Woman’s World magazine contacted me about including my mom’s stairs in a spring feature, they asked if I could reshoot the pictures to include yellow flowers. The article was about a black + white + yellow color scheme and we were missing the cheery yellow color. So after picking up pretty yellow spider mums from a local florist, I went crazy taking a bunch of pictures and trying out a few different pots and vases. I wanted to make sure they had plenty of options to choose from! The editor mentioned choosing a fairly neutral pot, so the stairs and color scheme would take center stage.

First, let’s look at the picture that did make the cut…

And here is a sampling of the many, many pictures I took over the course of two days…

See- I told you I gave plenty of options! You would be shocked to know how many other pictures there are, too! Sometimes, you only get one chance to make a good impression, so you might as well go for it and do the best you can. It’s so fun being able to share this magazine experience with my mom, since we have loved design together for so long. A huge thanks to the hubby for surprising me with a new camera a few days before, which made this all so much fun! I loved trying out the new camera, as you can tell. 🙂 To see my post about the magazine feature, go here.