Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

A Living Room Inspired by Magnolia Home

by Filed Under: amber b design, design, interior design, living room, personal design style


We had a wonderful summer and it truly flew by! As the kids get older, time really does seem to be going in fast forward. I try my best to cherish these times and make the summers memorable. But with the kids back in school, it’s time to start back with writing more blog posts and diving into design projects! As many of you may know, the powerhouse HGTV duo that brought you the show Fixer Upper, now has a furniture line… Magnolia Home! You can browse Joanna Gaines’ signature rustic look on line or at your local store. I thought it would be fun to see how you can create a room using most of their collection and a few other fun finds. I decided to create a living room design, based off of that gorgeous new emerald green sofa!

 

A collage of furniture and decor items.

{all Magnolia Home unless otherwise noted below}

// chandelier // buffalo check pillow // blooms pillow // buffalo art // wool rug // floor lamp //

The sofa and chair from the new collection inspired me to give the rustic look a mid century inspired twist. The lighting and rug definitely reinforce that style. The spool coffee table, farmhouse accent tables and buffalo art definitely bring out the more rustic side to the design. And the icing on the cake- the floral and check pillows bring a whimsical, farmhouse fun style to the room. I hope you enjoyed my take on the new collection. If you have checked it out, what are your favorite pieces?!?

Make sure to check back later this week when I show how to mix different lighting into a space to bring an eclectic, yet pulled together look. Have a great day!

Our Living Room Plan

by Filed Under: amber b design, amber b design at home, living room, personal design style


Since we have lived in this home, our living room has sat pretty much empty. We do have our secretary desk, ottoman and a chest of drawers, but there has never been any seating in the space. The kids loved using this room as an open play area and took full advantage of our vaulted ceilings for those high three pointers. Now that we have our basement finished and use that as the primary open play space, it’s time to refocus this room and plan for a seating area! The perks of waiting so long to decide on furniture, is that I have overthought this room for many years, have decided against some design trends and now have a plan to stick with! I decided to go with a grouping of four chairs, as opposed to a sofa. I have gone back and forth with this idea and I am now certain this is what I want to do!

A drawing of a table with four chairs.

This is the quick floor plan rendering I came up with for our living room. This is the first room off of the foyer, so it makes the initial impression of our home. With it’s high ceilings, I went with a dark brown, almost black paint color {Mink by Benjamin Moore}. I will stick with that wall color for now. This space also opens up to our dining room, so I want the decor to flow well from there. Here are the two spaces, as they are now:

 

A living room with a table and chair, lamp, picture and china cabinet.

 

A lamp sitting on top of a wooden table.

 

A mirror reflecting the interior of a room.

 

A dresser with two lamps and a mirror

 

A dining room table with chairs and flowers in the center.

 

A dining room table with six chairs and a mirror.

All Images by Sarah Heppell Photography

We will take out the chest of drawers and table lamps and move that vignette to the dining room. This will free up some square footage and I will add two floor lamps to the back wall. That round mirror above the chest of drawers will be replaced with oversized art work. The small black accent table and lamp off of the foyer will relocate and be replaced with a leaning mirror. The more I see this four chair layout, the more I love it! I picture family game nights in this area and just time to sit and read for hours. Here are some of my favorite inspiration images…

A living room with two chairs and a table

Lauren Liess

A living room with two chairs and a table

Melanie Turner

A living room with white walls and furniture.

Southern Living

I am not sure about my center table yet, but I know I want it to be round. I have settled on a chair… the Stocksund from IKEA in the blue and white stripe.

I like that you can select the leg finish, so I will go with black for contrast. I can’t wait to find four matching throw blankets and pillows to add to the chairs. Ooooo- maybe in a buffalo check or plaid!! I have been back and forth about using four chairs, as opposed to a sofa and small accent chairs. The truth is, we have sofas in our basement and family room, so I want to go a bit different in here. Also, these chairs have depth and width, so it can still be comfortable to curl up in these chairs. I will keep you posted as we move along in here. There needs to be some touch up painting first, so baby steps. But now that there’s a plan in writing- it feels more permanent!

 

Completed E – Design {the Dining Room}

by Filed Under: amber b design, design, dining room, e-design


Sorry for my lack of posts lately! Once I take a week or two away from blogging, it becomes easier and easier to take the post writing out of the schedule. But I love checking in here, so you can be sure to find new blog posts {hopefully more often, from now on.} I have missed it!! Today, I have a completed e-design to show you. I have been working with these wonderful clients throughout their home and it has been so much fun. They are undergoing some renovations to the kitchen and bathroom and I have been helping to marry the renovated spaces with the design style from the rest of the home. The dining room, directly off of the renovated kitchen, is getting an overhaul with new furniture, lighting, rug and window treatments. They are taking down half of the wall between the two spaces, to create an open feel. Here is the design plan…

The Design Plan

A collage of furniture and accessories in various colors.

 

I love that the plan will be able to include colorful patterns, a neutral backdrop and upholstery mixed with wood and metal. My inspiration was this dining space by Kate Marker Interiors:

 

A blue cabinet in the corner of a room with curtains.

via Kate Marker Interiors

My clients were looking for more floor space in their dining area, so we moved the table and seating over towards the large window, creating a banquette/window seat look. This dining area is their main eating space, so I wanted to make sure it was durable with their young kids. The banquette pillows are made of an indoor/outdoor fabric, so they can easily be washed and are soil resistant. The area rug is also indoor/outdoor, so it can handle the spills it will encounter.

I hope you enjoyed the peek into this new design! I promise there won’t be this much time before my next post. 😉

Before and After: Project Classic Living {The Bathroom}

by Filed Under: #projectclassicliving, amber b design, bathroom, before and after, design class, local clients


We are now at the final day of the before and after series from Project Classic Living. To catch up on all of the previous posts for this home design, visit HERE. I love this house and working with these clients. We have other future projects in the works, so this is not the end of this gorgeous home tour. My clients had already been working with a contractor for the bathroom and brought me in for the finishing touches and to bounce off ideas for the overall design aesthetic. I actually created a pinterest board for this design and you can view it HERE for comparison between inspiration and final result. We discussed a couple of different flooring options and patterns and they ultimately decided on the hexagon tiles, which work so well with the home’s traditional charm and character. There is a dramatic difference between the before and after, since plumbing was moved and the space was completely gutted. The after pictures are by the talented Sarah Heppell. Enjoy!

Before

A bathroom with a toilet, sink and mirror.

 

A bathroom with green and white tile, sink and tub.

 

After

A bathroom with white tile floors and walls.

 

A bathroom with a sink, mirror and flowers in the vase.

 

A bathroom with white cabinets and a sink.

 

A vase filled with pink flowers on top of a table.

 

 

A bathroom with white walls and a sink.

 

A bathroom with white tile and a sink.

After Photos by Sarah Heppell

I hope you enjoyed the home tour and the before and after series! It was so much fun for me to look back at where we began and then how we finished. And this bathroom, even with its deeper and longer vanity, looks bigger now than before! I love when that happens. We added function and the appearance of more square footage. Win, win!!

 

Before and After: Project Classic Living {The Nursery}

by Filed Under: #projectclassicliving, #projectdelicatenursery, amber b design, before and after, design, interior design, kids and design


Welcome back to another before and after. This is a favorite of mine from Project Classic Living, because today… it’s all about the nursery. I love designing kids rooms and with two kids of my own, I know how important function can be! It’s also important to include the style in there as well, and there are so many great products out there now, so you can have both. I also love to design a nursery with future years in mind. Instead of picking a particular theme, I wanted the room to grow with their daughter and be a space that works even ten years from now. The only item in here that would need to be changed, is the crib! The changing pad can easily be moved off of the dresser and it will look like a regular furniture piece. This nursery was the first project my clients and I worked on together, about a year and a half ago. We have moved on throughout the house and it’s so fun to be able to bring that similar style and look to other areas of the home. Of course you can have more fun in kids rooms and divert from the plan a bit, but we also stayed true to the home’s charm, character and overall design aesthetic. All after pictures are by Sarah Heppell.

Before

A room with boxes and other items in it.

 

A room with a door open and a white wall.

 

A bedroom with a dresser and a door open.

 

After

A book sitting on top of a table.

 

A couple of mirrors on the wall in a room.

 

A view of the baby 's room through a mirror.

 

A white chair and ottoman in a room.

 

A white couch and lamp in a room.

 

A hallway with stairs and a door way.

 

A white curtain with a string of beads hanging from it.

After Photos by Sarah Heppell

We went with a light, delicate wall color for this nursery… Halo by Benjamin Moore. It is the same color we used in the living room and dining room. That is the way that I tied this space to the rest of the home. It was fun adding more soft, delicate colors to the room. I framed two pretty floral fabrics in mirrored frames, beside the crib. My clients already had the crib, rug and dresser. We also used their existing ceiling light fixture, which we believe to be original to the home. I selected the art, seating, window treatments and accessories. It has been so much fun working with them! Their kitchen was featured on Ballard Designs Instagram page yesterday. Thank you, Ballard Designs!

 

A dining room with a table and chairs in it

 

Tomorrow, I’ll be back with a Why This Works post and then back with the final before and after on Thursday… the Bathroom!

Before and After: Project Classic Living {The Dining Room}

by Filed Under: #projectclassicliving, amber b design, before and after, design, dining room, local clients


Hope you all had a great weekend! My Mother’s Day was wonderful, being spoiled by my kids and husband. They are amazing! We had my mom over for dinner on the grill. It was absolute perfection! I am back today, with another before and after to show. Today, it’s all about the dining room. To catch up on all things Project Classic Living, visit HERE. For this space, we kept all of the existing furnishings. In time, we will replace the wood end chairs with light, upholstered pieces and also add a bar cart. The main change in this room was with the paint! We added a deep color to the back of the built ins, allowing the white kitchenware to shine. We also lightened up the walls, added art, accessories and new window treatments and lighting. And don’t miss that new pink ceiling! I just imagine my clients having a dinner party, with the lights dimmed. Everyone will have a glow to their face! As always, the amazing after photos are by Sarah Heppell. Enjoy!

Before

A dining room with a table and chairs, a chandelier and a cabinet.

 

A dining room with a table and chairs, and a door open.

 

A wooden table with two lamps and a mirror

After

A dining room table with chairs and flowers in the center.

 

A white cabinet with many different types of dishes on it.

 

A dining room with a table and chairs, a mirror and a corner cabinet.

 

A dining room table with two lamps on it

 

A mirror and some books on the table

 

A dining room table with chairs and flowers in the center.

 

A vase with white flowers on top of the table.

 

 

A dining room with a table and chairs, a mirror and a window.

 

A dining room with a table and chairs in it

After Photos by Sarah Heppell

Thanks for stopping by! I love the brass accents with the drapery fabric color and with that pink ceiling!! Up tomorrow, the before and after pictures of the nursery.

Before and After: Project Classic Living {The Kitchen}

by Filed Under: #projectclassickitchen, #projectclassicliving, amber b design, ballarddesigns, before and after, design, kitchen


Welcome back to the before and after series from Project Classic Living. Up today… the Kitchen! As I have mentioned in previous posts, the kitchen was already beautifully renovated when I came into this space. The gorgeous white cabinetry, quartz counters, back splash and lighting was already chosen. I came in for the window treatments, dining area furniture and wall accessories. All of the after pictures taken by the wonderful Sarah Heppell. Here is the kitchen when I started…

Before

A room with a tv and a trash can

 

A room with a door open and a window.

 

A kitchen with a lot of counter space and boxes

{I had forgotten that the kitchen counters were not in yet, when I started with the design plan. But they had already picked out a gorgeous quartz counter that resembles marble. Perfect choice!!}

After

A dining room table with four chairs in it

A dining room with a table and chairs in it

A plant in a vase on the table

A clock hanging on the wall in a kitchen.

A kitchen with white cabinets and wooden floors

A kitchen with white cabinets and black and blue curtains

A kitchen counter with a cutting board and sink.

After photos by Sarah Heppell

And one more quick comparison…

Before

A room with a tv and a trash can

After

A dining room with a table and chairs, and pictures on the wall.

I love that this kitchen eating area has a relaxed vibe, to balance out the more formal feel in the dining room. Which, by the way, is the next room to show!

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms out there, especially to my wonderful, amazing mom! Thank you to my sweet, wonderfully awesome kids for giving me the amazing privilege of being their mom! 🙂 Have a great weekend!

Before and After: Project Classic Living {The Foyer}

by Filed Under: #projectclassicliving, amber b design, before and after, design, foyer, interior design, local clients


Welcome back to another fun before and after! Today, we are focusing on the foyer. This is the first impression upon entering through the front door, so we really wanted this space to set the tone for the house and connect the other designs. We added a meaningful gallery wall going up the stairs, added function with an entry rug and vintage coat rack and also updated the foyer furniture with a new demilune, lamp and accessories. Let’s first take a look back at where we began. And of course, the gorgeous after photos are by the talented Sarah Heppell. Enjoy!

Before

A hallway with a mirror and a wooden cabinet.

A staircase with wood treads and white railings.

 

A white door and wooden floor in the hallway of a house.

After

A foyer with a mirror and a table in it

 

 

A staircase with many pictures on the wall

 

A staircase with wood treads and white risers.

 

A coat rack with a scarf hanging on it.

 

A white door with two framed pictures hanging on the wall.

After photos by Sarah Heppell

We kept the wall color and sconces, but the rest is new. And we are not finished! We are currently in the works to install a stair runner. Wait until you see which option they chose!! Thanks for stopping by. Up tomorrow… the before and after of the kitchen. The eating area was a clean, blank slate, which was fun to design!

Before and After: Project Classic Living {The Living Room}

by Filed Under: #projectclassicliving, amber b design, before and after, design, interior design, living room, local clients


As promised from last week’s posts, I am now ready to show the before pictures of the living room from Project Classic Living, as well as some new after photos! It’s always fun to show how a space began, so we can appreciate how far we have come. The before pictures are taken by myself and the really pretty after photos are all from the very talented Sarah Heppell. For the living room, they wanted a light, neutral space that was a blend of traditional and modern, while also working with the character of the home. Here we go!

Before

A living room with brown leather furniture and fireplace.

 

A living room with two couches and a baby seat

 

A living room with hard wood floors and furniture.

We really wanted to try out a sectional in this room. We were so thrilled when we found one that was a perfect fit! We lightened the walls, added new furniture and accessories and were able to keep some existing key pieces. We kept the beautiful media cabinet, mirror and wall frames.

After

A living room with a couch and fireplace

 

A table with two blue and white stools in front of a mirror.

{This is the mirror, above, that we kept. It was on their mantel. We just changed the orientation and hung it vertically.}

A living room with two windows and a large cabinet

 

 

A living room with white walls and furniture.

 

 

And one more time, for comparison…

Before

A living room with brown leather furniture and fireplace.

 

After

A living room with a couch and fireplace

All after photos by Sarah Heppell Photography

I hope you enjoyed the before and after! Next up… the foyer!

Project Classic Living Reveal {The Nursery and Bathroom}

by Filed Under: #projectclassicliving, #projectdelicatenursery, amber b design, bathroom, design, interior design, kids and design


Showing the reveals from Project Classic Living has been such a blast for me this week! I want to give a huge thank you to my clients for allowing Sarah and I to come into the home and photograph the spaces. It means the world to me to have this project shown in its best light. The nursery was where it all began! My clients found me through a Houzz search and the rest is history! We first met about a year and a half ago and I am so happy to have met such a wonderful family! Thank you to Sarah Heppell again, for making this home shine into a light, bright space on such a cloudy day. Of course, the rest of the week had beautiful blue skies! But it didn’t matter- Sarah made it appear as if it was the sunniest of days. 🙂 Have fun viewing the nursery, followed by the hallway bathroom!

A hallway with stairs and a door way.

 

A view of the baby 's room through a mirror.

 

A book sitting on top of a table.

 

A white chair and ottoman in a room.

 

A white chair and a lamp in a room.

 

A white couch and lamp in a room.

 

A couple of mirrors on the wall in a room.

And now the hallway bathroom…

A bathroom with white tile floors and walls.

 

 

A vase filled with pink flowers on top of a table.

 

A bathroom with white cabinets and a sink.

 

A bathroom with a sink, mirror and flowers in the vase.

So there you have it… Project Classic Living! We will be working together in some more spaces in their home, so stay tuned. I will definitely show more of these rooms in the future, including the before images. The contractor did an amazing job with this bathroom. Plumbing was relocated and it is a completely different space. I hope you enjoyed the reveals this week. This is the most I have posted in one week, in a long time. 😉