Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

Transitioning Into Spring With Pottery Barn

by Filed Under: amber b design, Bridge Street, design, interior design, personal design style


We are finally in the month of spring and although it is still freezing outside, I am inching towards adding spring accessories to my home. {Maybe if I just start slow and add some linens, cottons and coral branches, I can wish the warm weather to get here for good!!} I teamed up with our local Pottery Barn store and brought some of their beautiful accessories to News Channel 9’s Bridge Street. I did a segment with Sistina and TeNesha about slowly transitioning your living space and bringing some light and bright fabrics, beach inspired accents and various textures to get ready for spring. If you live in New York, it will still be necessary to leave out the velvet pillows and cozy cable knit blankets for some time, but at least you can start to get your space ready! My jumping off point for adding some color was found in this embroidered pillow…

 

Pillow

I love using at least one accessory to help tie in the room’s color palette. Sometimes, that is done with the area rug, art, or in this case- the pillow! This pretty applique option allows you to go so many different directions with the room’s color story. Its lightweight cotton fabric makes it perfect for spring and summer months. Since we are in a slow transition and still need those heavier weight fabrics around, I also showed how you can pair this with velvet pillows. Anytime a room has various metals, wood finishes and fabric materials, it gives the space depth and dimension. Adding velvet with cotton did just that…

 Pillow

I love the way this solid lumbar brings out the dark blue in the colorful pillow. I am also all for mixing different print pillows and various shades of the same color. This Shibori indigo print pillow has a cool, eclectic tie dyed design. It gives a nice ombre effect, which I love…

Pillow

I also love a pretty buffalo check print and this pillow also made the cut…

Pillow

I think it gives a modern look in the gray and white color way. And after the pillows are set, it’s time to add texture…

Baskets

These beachcomber baskets are the perfect addition for any living space. They are great for extra pillows, blankets and books. Adding different metal finishes in a room gives a layered look. I brought a small brass lantern for the studio’s table. I think it’s also is a great accessory for the warm months ahead…

Lanterns

And since it still feels like winter here, I definitely brought along a cozy throw blanket. Actually, blankets like this are perfect for chilly summer nights, too…

Throw Blanket

If you know me and my design style, I love to mix it up and use several different shopping sources within each room I design. I think it brings a collected over time style to your home. Today though, it was all about some fun new accessories from Pottery Barn. And I had a blast seeing how well their products work together to bring a layered, complete look. Thank you so much to my local Pottery Barn for helping me put together this segment. I truly appreciate it! Anytime I get to chat design with Sistina and TeNesha on Bridge Street, it’s a great day! They are amazing. Until next time, Bridge Street! And if you missed today’s segment, you can catch it HERE.

The Interiors and Fashion Connection

by Filed Under: amber b design, Bridge Street, design, fashion trends, interior design, personal design style


I have always been a huge fan of fashion and I believe it has a strong connection with interior design. Today, I had the privilege of going live on News Channel 9’s Bridge Street with the super talented Jackie of The Small Town Stylist. She is a stylist in the area and we had fun with our back to back segments about fashion and interiors and their influence on each other. I am so glad to have met her. I feel like we have a lot in common and it’s always great to be able to meet and connect with like minded, local entrepreneurs in your area. When I have clients that are unsure about what colors to include in their space, I often ask them what hues they enjoy wearing. More often than not, the colors we choose for our clothing have a direct effect on what draws us in for interiors. {It’s probably no surprise to you that I love to wear navy, gray, black and white with pops of color. I like to keep my outfits neutral and add some color here and there, in small doses.} The same goes with the interiors in my own home and most that I design for clients!

 

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

 

A living room with two chairs and a dresser

 

 

 

A living room with a couch and chairs in it

 

All above images designed by me and Photographed by Sarah Heppell

Currently, I am all about buffalo check, plaid, gold, navy and dark green. I also love black and white to help anchor a space. And trends between fashion and interiors also happen to have a strong connection.

 

A bedroom with a bed, nightstand and lamps.

Design by Studio McGee

A woman wearing a vest and plaid shirt.

image via

It was fun to do this experiment and see how similar fashion is with interiors! Head on over to Jackie’s web site to get some great fashion tips! To see what gorgeous looks she brought to the show today, check out her segment HERE. And tune into Bridge Street HERE to see the interiors connection.

A Dorm Room With Style

by Filed Under: accessories and vignettes, Bridge Street, design, interior design, organize, personal design style


It is getting to be that time of year when college students head back to their dorm rooms! Why not make the space feel like a home away from home, with style and personality?!? I was on News Channel 9’s Bridge Street today, discussing this same topic. When you think of empty dorm rooms, you think of spaces lacking interest and personality. I hope to change your mind today, with some simple and creative ways to bring your personal style into the space.

 

A white shelf with many books and other items on it

Lauren Loves

The image above shows Lauren’s great cube shelving unit that can instantly add storage with style. This can be used in a dorm as a room divider, or placed against the wall. You can add baskets to store sweaters and school supplies, as well as fun accessories and photos of your family and friends.

i heart organizing

Jen’s blog is a great source for any organizational project and I loved everything about her above desk space, right down to the stack of colorful books on the floor! This vignette is so fun and easily adaptable for a dorm setting, too. You can add a bulletin board above the desk for exam reminders, personal photos and magazine clip outs with your favorite inspirations. Use this board as art and add as much color as possible! {And if you are not able to drill into the walls for this install, Command Picture Hanging Strips are perfect for this!} The one I brought to Bridge Street can hold up to 12 pounds and as long as you follow the instructions and give the strips some time to cure to the wall, you’re all set!

A bedroom with a bed and nightstand in it

Urban Walls

Do you want to add some color and personality to your walls without damaging the wall surface? The removable decals from Urban Walls are perfect. They give the look of wall paper without the hassle and clean up. There are so many patterns and styles to choose from. The decal above is the watercolor polka dot design in blue and they would be so whimsical in a dorm room setting. You can add them in a specific pattern, like in the above image or scatter them sporadically in a corner around the bed.

If you are headed off to college or know someone who is, I hope this provides some inspiration for you! Also, keep in mind these would all be amazing ideas for your own space at home as well as a rental apartment! You can check out my Bridge Street segment by visiting the site HERE.

A Look Back at 2015

by Filed Under: #projectvintagegem, amber b design, Bridge Street, central new york design, design, e-decorating, e-design, local clients


Before I head out to begin 2016, I wanted to look back at the fun, exciting and adventurous year that was 2015. Why not look back and evaluate the past, so you can move forward to better the future?!? So please don’t mind my little self indulgence, while I reflect on the highlights from this past year. 🙂

 

I completed Project Vintage Gem… one of the coolest projects I was able to be a part of and one of the most amazing design experiences to date!

 

A living room with brick walls and a table

 

A living room with a couch and chairs in it

 

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

all of the amazing photography skills are by Sarah Heppell Photography

I took the plunge and had my web site redesigned and rebranded! That was one of best decisions I have made for this little business. I feel that this new design truly reflects me and where I want to go with Amber B Design. Britt Douglas knocked it out of the park and gave me a web presence that I could have never dreamed of!

A website for an interior design company

To better enhance the new web site, I enlisted the help of talented local Photographer, Sarah Heppell, to photograph our home and take some head shots. Sarah is such a true talent and I can’t wait to work with her again in the new year!

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

A dining room table with candles on it

A woman with long hair wearing a black shirt and necklace.

images via

I am also still working on e-design projects and have been having fun completing rooms remotely!

A collage of furniture and decor items.

original post HERE

I had the privilege of working again with Britt Douglas and this time, helping to design her master bedroom for the One Room Challenge.

A collage of black and white decor items.

A gold jewelry stand with many different necklaces.

To read more about Britt’s ORC journey, visit HERE

And just last month, I was able to make my live TV debut on Syracuse’s Bridge Street, to discuss simple ways to jazz up your home this holiday season!

A woman standing in front of a glass door.

A chair and table in front of a wall mural.

To read that post and see the complete source list, go HERE

All of these fun experiences would not have been possible without my wonderful family with me, every step of the way! They are my everything and I am so thankful for their support. Here’s to a wonderful 2016 with them by my side! Also, a big thank you to all of you, for your readership and for the positive feedback you always give. You’re the best! Thank you for letting me indulge a bit in this past year’s memories. This blog is a bit of a journal for me and it helps to reflect, before I move ahead into the future. Amber B Design has some fun projects in store for the new year and I am excited to share them all with you, here!

Have a Happy, Healthy New Year and I hope to see you back here soon! 

E-Design Project… The Foyer

by Filed Under: amber b design, Bridge Street, design class, e-decorating, e-design


I am back today to share a recent e-design project that I completed. I have worked with these wonderful clients before on their kitchen, dining room and den. We have now moved onto the foyer! It’s so fun to be a part of several rooms in a client’s home. Not only do you get to know them and establish a great designer/client relationship, but you also get to tie the design ideas into other rooms in their home. This is one of my favorite room designs as of late. I love how the colors came together, in comparison to the other nearby rooms we decorated. A foyer is your guest’s first impression of your home, so why not pack a fun punch with the design?!?

The Design…

 

A collage of different items including furniture and mirrors.

 

I wanted to give this family a laid back, coastal style. They love the beach and I hope this design gives subtle nods to their favorite vacation spots! The upholstered bench really brings the color palette together and compliments what we have accomplished in the nearby rooms. The teal/indigo area rug color is pulled from the hues in the bench. The chinoiserie vase prints will go near the front door and it is the continuation of the blue that makes it all flow. The acrylic base of the console lamp allows the room to feel light and airy, not taking up too much visual space. They have already began putting the foyer design together and I can’t wait to see the results!

 

 

Bridge Street Source List

by Filed Under: amber b design, Bridge Street, holiday


In my last post, I mentioned I had fun news to share with you today! I had the amazing opportunity to be on Channel 9 News with Bridge Street! The live segment aired this morning and I went on to talk about simple and fun ways to use some of those holiday decorations all year long.

 

A chair and table in front of a wall mural.

 

It was a blast having this opportunity! Sistina Giordana, the wonderful host that talked with me during the segment, was so warm and sweet. It really felt like talking with a friend that I have known for years. She put me at ease and I actually didn’t feel nervous during the segment. I wanted to include a source list here, of all of the different stores where I have purchased these accessories. It might be helpful if you are looking for Holiday accents this year, or if you want to get a head start and stock up for next season!

{Starting with the items on the right and working towards the left}

The cream chair we have in our living room. I love that it’s upholstered and on casters! The casters helped big time today, when we were moving it into and out of the studio. I also love that feature at home, too. The chair is from TJ Maxx and the festive plaid pillow and snowflake blanket are from Home Goods.

The bookshelf was a find from Target, a couple of years ago. The top of the bookshelf has my favorite faux deer head and photo board, also from Target. The snowman card is from Papyrus. I love that you can use this photo board all year long. It would be great on your kitchen counter for grocery lists and recipes! It would also work well in your family room for family pictures. Pictures would be so easy to change out, when you want to give it a little update! Target no longer carries the deer head {a purchase a couple of years ago}, but the photo board can still be found in their regular frame aisle!

The first shelf on the left shows one of my favorite design books, Elements of Style, by Erin Gates. I love the black and white stripes added into the Holiday mix! I have used the festive red Nutcracker accessories as bookends. They can be found in your local Target stores and come in green and aqua colors, as well.

The first shelf on the right shows a faux evergreen arrangement, wrapped in burlap. That was a TJ Maxx find. They have great Holiday accessories this time of year!

The middle shelf shows a cream tray I bought a few years ago in Target. This shelf also shows another favorite design book of mine… Habitat, by Lauren Liess. I also like to put out my Country Living Christmas book this time of year. It’s a perfect opportunity to have it front and center! The star bookend that sits on top of the books is from Target. There are still some left, in your local stores. I plan to keep this bookend out all year long. I ended up purchasing two, so my kids can each have one on their bookshelf. It’s a fun way to remind them that they are always our shining stars!

The bottom shelves hold two collapsible fabric storage bins from Target. I love using these concealing bins, so not every accessory has to go on display.

And last but not least, the small tree was a local find from Wegmans. It’s real and it smelled so good on the car ride to the studio! I placed it in a woven basket from Target, to bring a rustic charm to the tree. I then balanced the rustic accent with pretty pearl garland from an amazing local shop, Hafner’s. I love to support local businesses and support shopping local. Hafner’s is the quintessential Holiday experience this time of year. I plan to keep this garland up all year long and place it in a glass bowl for our coffee table. It’s just too pretty to put away!

If you would like to watch today’s Bridge Street segment, visit HERE!!