Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

I Just Had To Try This!

by Filed Under: DIY


I have seen this creative project a couple places and I knew I had the perfect wall to try it out for myself! I first saw this cool idea of writing on the wall from Courtney’s blog A Thoughtful Place. It came out great and looked pretty simple to do! Then just last week I saw some inspiring wall images from the blog Coco Cozy. I thought it was so clever and unique that I had to try it! The best part about the project is that you can write whatever you want, making it meaningful and personal to you! I chose an inspiring quote that I found on pinterest. As I’m trying to figure out what I want to do and the career path I want to take, this will definitely continue to inspire me! Also, I thought the quote would be a great jump start to every day, while also looking pretty sweet on the wall:

And here is the quote on our family room wall:

I used Elmer’s Painters Marker in White, with a medium tip for writing. It’s a permanent pen, so the writing should not smear away. I wanted the script to appear subtle, so it didn’t jump out at you too much. I was able to fit the quote almost 3 times and used just one pen to finish! I wanted the look to appear as if it was an ongoing script, so when it came time to finish a word at the end of the wall, I didn’t try and smoosh the word to fit. I just wrote what I could, then continued on the next line. (That only happened a couple times.) I also decided to make all letters lowercase and not use punctuation.

My Tips for Wall Writing
– As you write, push down on the pen. (I learned this the hard way, as I had to go back and darken some words). When you push down as you write, the words come out clearer and darker.
– If you’re going to try this, go for the whole wall! I think it makes you take notice and becomes like wallpaper art!
– After every line, it’s a good idea to take a step back and make sure you like how it looks and that it is straight. I wish I did that a little more often, but it’s an original!  🙂 I should have tried Courtney’s suggestion of making pencil lines with a level, then erasing after!
Are you ready to take out your pen and start writing???

I’m linking this post to Kim’s amazing blog, Savvy Southern Style!

 

Fashion Friday

by Filed Under: fashion friday


Happy weekend and welcome to the series Fashion Friday… where I discuss my other design love! With March right around the corner, I definitely have spring on the brain. So as the saying goes, If you build it, they will come (or something like that!) So, if I build a spring outfit, maybe spring will arrive early.

Spring is in the Air

Spring is in the Air by simpledwellings2

I can’t wait for sandals and open toed shoes! You have to have the sunglasses for a sunny spring day! And bright, cheery colors with light, breezy fabrics are all calling my name!

Here’s to spring arriving early! (One can hope, right???)

A Little Q & A With Me!

by Filed Under: Uncategorized


Hello, hello! I’m glad to be back and feeling better. I’ve been a little sporadic with posts because of a head cold. And I’m happy to return with a fun one… I’ve been tagged by my blog friend, Pam, of Simple Details to be a part of a little Q & A going on throughout the blogosphere. I answer 11 questions that Pam has come up with and then create 11 new questions for other bloggers. So here goes-

1. What would be the career of your dreams?

I have always wanted to enter the design world, somehow! For me, the ideal job would be an interior decorator (trying that as we speak) and boutique owner, selling collections of my favorite decor and furniture styles. I think the exterior of this shop is so sweet!

2. I would eat Top Ramen noodles for a month in order to save up for ___________! Or, I wouldn’t eat Top Ramen for anything!

Oh, I’m up for that challenge! I would eat Ramen noodles for a month for a new subway tile backsplash and quartz countertops! I like our white cabinets, and with those changes, it would be worth the food sacrifice!

3. Which would you choose for a date with your husband: Candlelight dinner at a nice restaurant or day of hiking in the mountains?

Although my husband and I love the outdoors, I would choose the candlelight dinner! We love to try new restaurants, and with the hustle and bustle of daily life, sitting and relaxing would be nice! I think he would agree with me on this one too! How about this location???

4. In which sport or athletic activity would you most like to participate?

I love running, so I would choose track! I ran track in high school and college and I loved the rush of adrenaline! The anticipation right before the race began was so exciting. Nothing like it!

Source: google.com via Liz on Pinterest

5. What do you wish you were more knowledgeable about?

This is a good one! I could pick so many things!  🙂 I would have to say history! I think it’s extremely interesting, but I might not make it far in Jeopardy!

6. Pretend one of your online blogging friends is coming to visit for the weekend, what one thing would you do to your home before she arrived?

Ohh… good one! I would definitely have to clean up, polish the accessories and add fresh flowers to the table! Everything always looks better with some peonies!

7. What kind of driver are you (speed demon, rule follower, tickets, fender benders, easy going)?

I guess I’m pretty much a rule follower, but maybe a bit impatient behind the wheel, too!

8. It’s hard for me to_____________.

Hmmm… I guess it’s hard for me to stop/forget something until it’s finished. When I’m creating design boards for clients, it’s all I think about until it’s done. Projects can consume me, but in a fun way!

9.  What are your nicknames?

With a fairly short first name like Amber, I never really had nicknames! I have always been called Amber.

10. What is your best quality?

I guess my best quality would be optimism! I always try to look on the bright side of everything. It always works out in the end as my mom would say!

11.  What is your best piece of advice for raising children?

My best advice would be to allow your children to be who they want to be and explore! I was so lucky to have my mom and dad support me when I almost changed colleges and degrees. It really made me feel as if I could do anything!

Thanks so much to Pam for letting me in on this exercise. It was so fun to think about!

And now for passing it on…
Here are my 11 questions:

1. Think of your favorite blogger. What would be the first thing you would ask that person if you were having lunch?
2. What is the one food you cannot go a week without having?
3. Past or present, who would you want to have over for dinner?
4. If you watch reality tv, which one is your ultimate favorite?
5. What is your best piece of advice?
6. In one word, pinterest is _____ .
7. In thinking about your accomplishments, which one are you most proud of?
8. Would you rather cook or dine out?
9. Who would you want to trade places with for the day?
10. If you could have superpowers for the day, what would you do?
11. Tell us about your best quality.

I would love to pass these questions on to all of you! Try and answer them and then let me know! I will include a link to your blog with your answers!

What’s Your Take on Roman Shades?

by Filed Under: Uncategorized


I am thinking of replacing some sheer drapery panels with roman shades. Currently, I have silk drapery panels paired with sheers. I’m looking for a change, and it got me thinking… what type of roman shade is my favorite???

Fabric roman shades:

Or bamboo roman shades:

And if I go with fabric shades, do I choose patterned print:

Or plain fabric:

Installed inside the wall moldings:

Or outside the wall moldings:

With drapery:

Or left on its own:

Loose flowing:

Or more crisp and tailored:

Ohhh…. decisions, decisions! Either way, this was fun to think about! All of these spaces are gorgeous- I love all of the looks!

What would you do???

My Ideas on Shelf Styling

by Filed Under: shelf styling


With our walls now repainted, I had fun styling the shelves in the family room and changing things around. It really got me thinking about the way I like my shelves filled… am I more of an airy, open spaced person, or do I like them stock full of things? I guess, depending on the function and purpose, maybe a little bit of both! Here is the way our shelves are styled (for now):

Sticking with a fairly neutral palette of whites, gray/blues and black, the purpose of these shelves is to mainly show off my favorite accessories while also keeping the bottom shelf practical for pillow storage. Since this space isn’t for library storage, I’m able to keep parts of the shelves open to breathe. In my opinion, every nook and cranny of the shelves doesn’t have to be filled with things… it’s also great to keep a light, airy feel in some of the spaces. Some of the shelves have the items centered, so then others will either be off to the right or left to help balance the space and give some interest. I like when things are in front of others, stacked on each other or leaned up against the back of the shelf- the different combinations make for an interesting aesthetic. That all being said, there are other times when it’s necessary and beautiful to have the shelves filled to the brim- the results can be amazing!

The shelves in these amazing spaces are very full, but work beautifully! They still have a very chic style about them, because of their thoughtful mix of the practical and pretty. Even though these shelves seem to be filled, they still have some airy, open spots to breathe. You can tell they have been well thought out!

So how about you… do you like your shelves to breathe or do you fill them up???

Why This Works

by Filed Under: why works series


Welcome to the series Why This Works… where I highlight a designed space and talk about what I love! This entry was found on pinterest and seamlessly blends old and new, modern and traditional.

I love that this foyer mixes vintage with modern, adding such a lived in, eclectic look! The antique dresser is paired with a gorgeous gold mirror and modern wallpaper. I also love seeing stencil or wallpaper on just one wall- sometimes that’s all you need for major impact! The traditional style of the floor and silhouette art on the wall works so well paired with the modern gray paint color and amazing wallpaper. The accessories on the dresser gives a fresh take on an antique piece of furniture. The mix of the modern gold and white works so well paired with the rustic wood of the dresser. Overall, this space works and I wish I could see more!

My Painting Tips and More After Photos

by Filed Under: painting tips


I am so happy that our room painting is complete! It was a huge task with lots of walls and brush cutting around doorways and windows. And since wall painting is not one of my favorite tasks, I had to approach this project in a way that I could manage! Here are some more after photos of our kitchen and family rooms:

And here are my tips for a manageable painting experience (for those of us who don’t like it!)

1. Set aside time that is quiet and all to yourself. It allows you to not get distracted and really focus. I had the tv on to HGTV for some background inspiration!

2. Start painting on a full stomach, so you are energized to go and off to a great start.

3. For me, this step was key: work on only one wall a day! Since I was painting over dark walls, I knew I needed 2-3 coats to get the look just right. There was no way I was going to paint a bunch of walls this way in one night. So, I just focused on perfecting one wall a day. This way, I didn’t get tired and sloppy with the paint job and the end was always in sight! Also, try not to stop in the middle of a wall- the sheen might look different when going back to it another day. When you stop in a corner or at the end of a wall, you would never know the difference!

4. Make sure you buy enough paint in one visit to the store! (I have made this mistake before and it cost me!) When you go back to the store to get more of the same color made, it might not be exact. A different employer might add a drop more of a color when mixing, causing the color to be a tad different. So if you’re still working on the same wall, you might see a difference!

5. And last but not least, buy quality rollers, brushes and paint! If you ever need to clean your walls, make sure you go with an eggshell finish or paint that can be wiped down and scrubbed! And great rollers and brushes speed up your finish time, give a great paint job and resist splatter!

These were my go to tips that got me through! I don’t feel too burned out and actually might start another room soon! More to follow on that…..

Happy Sweets Day!

by Filed Under: holiday


Today is the day to splurge on candy, cupcakes and the like…. so why not call it Happy Sweets Day! I made some cute cupcakes (the simple Betty Crocker kind) and added a little heart topper for a festive touch!

Today is the last day for the 14 Days of Blogosphere Love party. Latoya is hosting a link party on her blog. So head on over and link up your Valentine’s inspired post! (Click on button!)

The Scott's Crib

And Happy Valentine’s Day to my sweet hubby!!

I Found My Driftwood!

by Filed Under: driftwood


I mentioned here that I had been on the hunt for a rectangular driftwood mirror or the materials to make my own for our foyer. Look no further- a mirror has been found, purchased and is proudly in its new location! A huge thank you to my mom for this one! She told me that she found one at Kohl’s that looked just like my inspiration image here. And here is mine in its new location:

I am super excited to look at it everyday! It was on a great sale and there were only a few left in the store. The scale is a bit smaller than I had originally planned for, but I like this size better… if it was any longer, people would have bumped into it every time they sat down! Things always have a way of working out- the stars definitely aligned with this one! Also, a huge thank you to the hubby for the early Valentine’s Day present!  🙂

Why This Works and Fashion Friday – V Day Edition!

by Filed Under: fashion friday, why works series


Happy Weekend and welcome to the series combo of Why This Works and Fashion Friday all rolled into one post! With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to find a room and outfit inspired by the whimsical colors of the holiday! With hues of pinks included in main living spaces, I can only take it in small doses. This room strikes the perfect balance for me… enjoy!

When you tire of this vibrant color, it can easily be switched out in this room- the pillows, art, lamp shade and flowers can be traded out for several other colors. This space has a very versatile color palette and allows so many other choices in the future. I love that the walls, seating and area rug are very neutral and light, allowing the gold and magenta to take center stage! The black detail in the armchair, bench and coffee table ground the space so well. The small touch of chrome in the end table makes the space feel sleek and stylish, while the subtle details of stripes in the area rug and zebra on the bench add texture and interest. Overall, this space works!

What are your thoughts??
And now for the Fashion Friday post! Let’s have fun with this room and see what it would be as an outfit!
Pretty In Pink

Pretty In Pink by simpledwellings2

For this outfit, I stuck with the same color palette of gold, magenta and black. I thought it would be fun to also include an animal print blouse, since the living space had such an amazing zebra hide bench. And with the weather feeling like spring in so many places right now, why not make this a spring inspired outfit!