Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

An Easy and Inexpensive Way to Hang Art

by Filed Under: e-design, gallery walls, organize


I love the look of gallery walls and the creative, eclectic way art can be displayed.  What I don’t love, though, is the cost of all of the frames. To make some gallery walls appear as if they have been there for years, it can be expensive. A cost effective solution for some of the pieces is to hang them with art clips. I am currently wrapping up with an e-design client and used this easy solution for her space. I suggested to make a gallery wall around her tv in her master bedroom, to help disguise the tv as art. A great way to display an eclectic gallery wall look is to use different frame finishes, a mixture of black and white prints with paintings and the use of art clips for hanging. Here is the art clip I suggested:

 via
This site shows using them with kid’s art, but it can really be adapted to any space. For her room, I suggested spray painting these clips black, to blend in with the other gallery wall suggestions. These clips come in a pack of 3 and include mounting hardware. To ensure the art does not fold or curl on the ends, I suggested to mount the art/photos on canvas boards. Canvas boards can be purchased at Jo Ann Fabrics for $5 for a 3 pack. I started looking through pinterest to see if I could find any images of this idea and here is what I found:

Have you ever tried this idea??
Are you looking to make simple and beautiful changes to your home? Click on the ‘design services’ link at the top of my blog to get started!

A Lot To Celebrate

by Filed Under: party plans


This has been such a fun weekend! To start, my husband and I had our anniversary. And yesterday, it was my birthday! I love this time of year. 🙂 I have also been working on an e-design that I’m excited to share soon, as well as some fun new ideas for my own home. Stay tuned for more and celebrate with me!

That last quote is one to live by!!

Fashion Friday

by Filed Under: fashion friday


Happy weekend and welcome to Fashion Friday… my other design love. Yesterday’s gorgeous kitchen and sitting area inspired the look of this outfit. The color black anchors a room, and it works the same way with an outfit. It’s my go to color in fashion and always looks great on everyone!

Green Chic

My favorite part of creating outfits is picking out the accessories. There are so many beautiful pieces out there that can compliment an outfit. I am always drawn to playful, whimsical jewelry that makes the ensemble more fun and laid back. And I’m loving the bright, skinny jean trend lately and need to pick myself up a pair. I used a lot of black in this outfit to help balance the bright jeans. I also like to do the same with interior design. If there’s a bright color in the space, I try to mix in some subtle, neutral tones for balance.
Any design trends that you’re drawn to lately??
And on a personal note, today is our wedding anniversary! Happy Anniversary to my wonderful, loving husband! 🙂

Why This Works

by Filed Under: why works series


Happy Thursday and welcome to the series Why This Works… where I highlight a designed space and discuss what I love. Today’s space is a first for this series, since I never wrote about kitchens. Kitchens, as we all know, are the heart of the home. It’s where we all congregate, chat and linger for hours. And when the space is eclectic, inspiring and fun- all the better! This gorgeous kitchen was done by designer Jennifer Dyer of Jeneration Interiors. I have spoken about her work on this blog before. I love how she uses warm and cool tones together in a space and eloquently mixes traditional with modern. I am currently working on an e-design with a similar style, so her site is great inspiration. And here is the kitchen… enjoy!

images via
What’s not to love about this space? Let’s start with the beautiful trellis graphic on the wall. I love that it is done in black and white. It adds such drama to the space. The white is then seen again in the gorgeous cabinetry, backsplash and island countertop. Warmer woods are then brought in to soften the space and give it a more eclectic feel. I love that the island is a different color than the rest of the kitchen cabinets. It makes it feel as if it’s a piece of furniture. The seating area also has warm wood tones, with its gorgeous armoire. The eye catching accessory in the space are the boxwood plants on top of the armoire. I love this shade of green against the black and white wall. The green is then repeated in the kitchen area with fresh fruit and on the ottoman mixed in with beautiful hydrangeas. The sitting area is made more cozy and intimate with its upholstered seating and tufted ottoman. The white pleated trim detail on the ottoman doesn’t go unnoticed on these eyes. I love it! I adore the hints of graphic print in this room, as in the wall and the kitchen area rug. It’s just the right amount and is balanced out by all of the white and solid upholstery. Overall, this space works! To see more of Jennifer’s work, visit here.
What are your thoughts??
If you’re looking to make decor changes this summer, click on the ‘design services’ link at the top of my blog to get started! 

Gearing Up for the 4th!

by Filed Under: holiday, patriotic snacks festive table setting holiday


With the Fourth of July this week, I can’t help but think about red, white and blue for everything! I found some great images via pinterest to get us all in the holiday spirit!

Source: google.com via Amber on Pinterest

With this recent heat wave, I think most of us wish we could stay near that last image, even for just a couple of minutes!  🙂 Have a happy Holiday with friends and family and stay cool!

One Door Down…

by Filed Under: design, foyer, painting tips


I am excited to show you a recent change we made in our foyer! I have been thinking about painting our interior doors black for quite a while. I love this look and believe it can work with many different design styles. It sounds like a dramatic change, but truly adds depth and character to any space. There are some blog posts, images on pinterest or magazines that just help me make decisions and go for it! (Does that ever happen to you too?) I am very confident when making decisions for client spaces but sometimes indecisive when it comes to my own home. When I recently saw Emily’s post from her blog, A Well Dressed Home, I knew that I had found the right color for our doors. I immediately got to work and here is the after…

After…

The paint color is Dragon’s Breath by Benjamin Moore, and I am in love. It’s a muddy, gray/black that shows very soft in person. I went with an eggshell finish to avoid a very glossy look. I knew when going with a dark color, the glossier it gets, the more imperfections it shows. This door did have some dents, but doesn’t show at all with this finish. I also like the way the brass knob and locks show against the black. A useful tip when painting doors, is to use a fine tip artist brush when going around molding and window openings. It allowed me to get into the crevices without a lot of clean up and painter’s tape! I know we all love a little before and after, so let’s take you back to how it looked before…

Before…

And after…

Sorry about the lighting on some of these pictures. The sunshine changes everything! Besides the door color, a lot has changed since the ‘before’ shot. We have replaced the coat rack with a bench, pillow and driftwood mirror. Our fun ceramic horse is on display and we replaced the ceiling fixture with a more dramatic drum shade light. I have also decided to take out the sheers on the door’s windows for good. I think it updates the entrance a bit more.

So like I said in the title of the post… one door down! I plan on painting most of our interior doors this color and also move on to finishing our railings.

Is there a design idea you’ve been wanting to try but haven’t?
What’s holding you back?
Are you looking to make changes to your space and have a home that reflects you and your style? Click on the ‘design services’ link at the top of my blog to get started!

Fashion Friday and an E – Design Winner!!

by Filed Under: fashion friday


Let’s start with the important stuff first… the winner of the e-design giveaway! The winner was picked through random.org and is lucky………. Number 1!

Congratulations, Melissa! Sounds like we’ll be doing the master bedroom. I will be in touch with you today and we’ll begin our design chat!  🙂

And now on to Fashion Friday… my other design love. Yesterday’s space was fun, modern and had a great color combination of aqua and orange. Today’s outfit was inspired by that color palette-

Aqua and Coral

I had so much fun putting this outfit together, because the colors remind me of summer! The best time to go bright and bold is in the summer months and what better way to start than with this fun maxi skirt. I have to invest in a couple of these this summer, because they are comfortable and transition so well from daytime to dinner. Here, it’s paired with a fun striped tank top and eternity scarf. The Tory Burch sandals and Michael Kors ring bring a fun and colorful vibe to the outfit. Top it off with a bright clutch and sunglasses and you’re ready for anything!
What summer colors do you love to wear??

Why This Works

by Filed Under: why works series


Happy Thursday and welcome to the series Why This Works… where I highlight a designed space and discuss what I love. Today’s design comes to you from Tobi Fairley, an accomplished interior designer who is known for her creative use of color. Take a look!

images via
I know I have seen that gorgeous first image before, but was amazed to find out that it was actually a master bedroom! I always thought this was a living room design, with its attention to detail. Tobi is known for color for a reason- her use of bold hues with subtle neutrals make a perfect combination in this serene retreat. The aqua and orange are beautiful when paired together and color is sprinkled throughout the space in just the right dose. The classic houndstooth print on the sofa pillow is made more modern with its aqua hue and when paired with more streamlined, modern pieces. The clean and contemporary bed is softened with the gorgeous drapery. I love that extra attention was added to the trim on the panels, grounding that side of the room. Bedding in classic white is taken up a notch with bright orange throw pillows and aqua stools at the foot of the bed. In the sitting area, I love seeing two starburst mirrors above the sofa for an added touch of whimsy and the unexpected. The coffee table books and fresh flowers makes the space feel cozy, inviting you to linger with a great book. The straight lines in the room are softened with the additon of more circular shapes, such as the mirrors, lighting and end table design. Overall, this space works!
What are your thoughts??
There is still time to enter my e-design giveaway! Click HERE to enter.

E – Design Giveaway!!

by Filed Under: design services, e-design


I am so excited to have my very first e-design giveaway!! I started my e-design business last summer and thought it would be fun to do a Happy 1 Year Giveaway on the blog to thank all of you for your readership and support! I am giving one reader a full, one room design of their choice. That’s a $115 value! Here are some of my designs, to give you an idea of the range of styles I have created in the past: (Click on images to make larger.)

With this giveaway, Amber B Interiors will complete the whole design process, from beginning to end. It will start with a design questionnaire to fill out, so I can get all of the information I need to create a functional space that reflects your style. I will then present you with an inspiration board, giving you the ideas I have for the space. Once you’re on board with the ideas, I will start your own design, complete with a design board presentation, detailed furniture/accessory placement and a shopping source list for all items, all sent to you through e-mail. Maybe you’ve been weary to use a decorator for your home, so this is the perfect opportunity to give it a try! You may even be a designer yourself, looking for a different set of eyes for your space. Whatever the reason, it would be fun to work together!

It’s super easy to enter this giveaway!

– Follow this blog, through Google Friend Connect.
– Tell me why you have chosen to enter this giveaway.
– Please leave your e-mail address in your comment, if you are not linked up to a blog!

Additional Entries:

– Blog about this giveaway, with a link back to this post. (+1)
-Tweet about this giveaway, with a link back to this post. (+1)
-Mention this giveaway on facebook, with a link back to this post. (+1)

The winner will be announced this Friday! Good luck!

E – Design – Mid Century Eclectic

by Filed Under: e-design


I started putting together a living room design for fun the other day (yes, I love doing design boards for fun!!) It all started with one of my new favorite color combinations: orange, blue and gray. It’s such a cool combination that brings a masculine feel to a room, with its color selection, yet also can have a feminine side, with the addition of fun patterns and whimsical accessories. Here’s what I came up with:

Source list via (Click on image to make larger)
With this design, I mixed high end pieces with great deals, to achieve a relaxed and eclectic look. When I create designs, I like to play around with pieces, editing often. You may recognize the repetition of circles in this space. The mirror, coffee table, side tables and lighting all bring in a circular shape. It’s important to repeat shapes as well as color, when putting a room together. But, it can also get to be too much and also needs an opposite counterpart to achieve balance. So, I brought in some shapes with straight lines, such as in the sofa, console and chest of drawers. I also tried to repeat color in the space, to make the accessories feel as if they were meant to be there. The orange and blues are repeated throughout, with sprinkles of gray to ground the space. The artwork (shown near the console) helps to tie in all of the room’s colors. There is a lot of pattern seen here, with the ikat area rug and throw pillows. To help balance out all of that pattern, I have neutral upholstered pieces and drapery. The paint color is a soft blue/gray and doesn’t try to compete with the bolder colors in the space.
What started me on this design was a recent issue of the Home Decorators Collection catalogue. What surprised me was their amazing sofa prices. The sofa above is their Dorset sofa. It’s a great deal, but they also have others with even better prices. I have also been looking at Macy’s on line for their unbelievable and stylish options. It got me thinking, would I ever buy a sofa that I wasn’t able to sit on and try out? I might for our living room, since we don’t use that room for gathering as much. It’s a tough one, because you are taking a great risk. What if it’s uncomfortable?
I would love to know what you think… would you take the risk, or have you already? If you did, was it a good risk???
Summer is a great time to make decor changes in your home and go for a new look! To get started, click on the ‘design services’ link at the top of my blog.