Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

Bringing the Outdoors Into Our Home

by Filed Under: design, dining room, outdoor, personal design style, plants


When spring and summer arrive, there is no better way to appreciate the outdoors than bringing it into your home. The best part is, it’s free! For the longest time, I have been wanting to just clip some branches from my favorite bushes outside and place them inside a vase for an easy garden arrangement! I am always drawn to the simple, pretty table arrangements where some greenery is added to a vase. I finally got to that yesterday and clipped some of the branches from our forsythia bush in the yard. This plant grows so fast, that it’s easy to clip some of the overgrown branches without disturbing its growth and beauty.

Bringing the Outdoors In

You may remember from this post, that I needed a new centerpiece for our dining table, now that the basket,  lantern and coral runner are in the family room. I put out a cream runner that I previously had from Wal Mart and found this large jug vase at a little shop in town for 50% off! They sell similar jug vases like this, at Pier 1 Imports. And of course, the branches were free!

And since I am in the garden mood, look at my beautiful blooming hydrangea bush!

Gotta love this time of year!

Our Master Bathroom Plans

by Filed Under: bathroom, design, personal design style


With our basement renovation behind us, what kind of blogger would I be if I didn’t start thinking about the next big project?? Ever since we moved into our home {almost 8 years ago}, we have wanted to make changes to our master bathroom. We have made some small adjustments so far… replacing the lighting, changing out the faucets and painting the walls. But I do have more plans for this space! When I think about a dream bathroom, I am picturing a modern style vanity, pretty lighting, light blue/gray wall color, chrome, subway tile, white stone and loads of texture. Basically, a modern/traditional style bathroom that feels like you are on vacation! Here are some great inspiration pictures I have found that bring this dream to a reality…

Bathroom Inspiration

Do you get where I’m headed with my plan?? Now this renovation probably won’t happen for some time, but it’s good to get a jump start on the ideas and all of the planning. Modern Bathroom is a great site to start with! They have any bathroom furniture style you could possible imagine and I have found my favorite vanity. The Avanity Windsor in White is the perfect combination of modern and traditional, which is just what I like. It is also very similar in style to the vanity in the first inspiration picture! I like where this renovation is going, even if it’s only in my head for now. 🙂
This post was sponsored by Modern Bathroom, although the ideas and opinions were all my own.

A Client’s Before and After {The Living Room}

by Filed Under: design, e-decorating, e-design, living room, personal design style


To say that I am excited would be an understatement. One of my e-design clients, who I worked with over the winter, just sent me beautiful after photos of her space. I am so proud of her and the way she executed the design plan. Her and her husband had just moved into a new home and were looking to decorate and furnish their living room. They already had a beautiful brown sofa from Crate and Barrel and a few accessories, but needed to complete the space with additional accessories, art, more seating and tables. Here are some before pictures of the space…

Before

This space is beautiful and flooded with natural light. It has large, gorgeous windows and amazing ceiling height. The items that stayed were the new sofa, TV stand and table lamps. My client wanted a modern/traditional space with pops of subtle color. To keep the space interesting, I layered in texture, different metal finishes and modern accessories paired with traditional furnishings. Here is the design plan I came up with…

The Plan {click on design board to make larger}

And here are the afters, and the amazing way she brought this e-design plan together…

After

I love how my client has put this space together!! She did a great job implementing the design plan. They are still on the fence about replacing the ceiling fan with a large chandelier. I can understand that, since summers get very warm and function has to take priority. So, we are in the process of thinking of new sleek ceiling fan options. I will indlude another post soon, with descriptions of the layout and how she brought this amazing space to life.

Happy Weekend !!

Organizing the Basement

by Filed Under: basement, design, kids and design, organize, personal design style


Now that our basement is finished, we have had fun using the space so far. It has become an additional family room for us… play zone, TV zone and loads of shelving/cubbies just waiting to get spruced up. For now, everything has just been brought downstairs, with no particular order or ryhme and reason. But, I have plans- big plans! Who says organizing kid’s toys can’t be fun and chic?!? Here is where our space is right now…

Currently

I would love a gallery wall down these stairs 

Organized baskets with labels, top half will be ours, bottom half for the kiddos 

Our massive chalkboard wall that needs a good cleaning
Luckily, we use dustless chalk that we found at Staples!
Dust free chalk = no messy clean up on the baseboards and carpet

Oh, this is not how I pictured these shelves would look!  🙂 My plan is for some large bins with a graphic print or stripe on them. I also want to do some type of modern decal on the right side wall.
And now for the inspiration images! I have been gathering these rooms since we started thinking about the renovation. I plan to pick elements/ideas from each of them.
Inspiration
via
When I saw this image, I immedialtely fell in love with the striped bins. A small detail like that, takes this space to the next level.
The decal I plan to use is shown above. I love the graphic look to it, while it can also remind the kids to practic their math facts!  🙂 Urban Walls on etsy has so many great options for wall decals. And I love that there is a smaller commitment/effort than using a stencil!

via
Did anyone see Kirsten’s Land of Nod playroom post yesterday? Head on over here to check it out! I love the way she added color, pattern and a tent to the room! The tent will also happen over here. Such a cute idea! I also love the Dr. Seuss picture and quote she put on the chalkboard wall. Maybe she can come over to draw on ours?? I’m not too sure I have the same artistic abilities!
Since this is a space the kids will use often, I want to make a huge gallery wall of their art. We are running out of places upstairs to display the art, so this will be an extra spot to showcase what they have done. I wanted to hang it in a unique way, with jumbo clips/clipboards and colorful washi tape.
These are my thoughts for now. No idea when this will all happen, but it will happen! Next up, I will show the TV side of the space and my plans for all of that.
Wish me luck !!!

A Great New Source for Pillows

by Filed Under: accessories, design, etsy, pillows, pinterest


I am always on the hunt for new pillow sources, as they are one of my favorite accessories to change in a room. When browsing pinterest, I found this new to me etsy shop, Studio Tullia. Suzanne, the shop owner, creates gorgeous pillow cases with trendy and classic prints that would work in anyone’s home. Here’s a little sample of what you will find in her amazing shop…

Gorgeous, right?? Suzanne’s pillows can be sold individually or as a pair. I love all of these patterns! Her prices are very affordable and the pillow cases come with invisible zipper enclosure, serged seams, etc. All the good stuff! So, that’s my two cents for the day. Stop by her shop and see what else she has! If you make a purchase, send me a picture when it’s in your space. I would love to include it in a blog post!
Happy Monday!

The Horse Print is Up!

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


I am so excited today… our horse print is framed and is already up on the wall! I have been stalking calling Hobby Lobby to check on when it was set to arrive in the store. I even said to the saleswoman on the phone today, can you tell I am a little excited?? I knew it was going to be beautiful when she asked {over the phone} if she could have it?!?  🙂 Let’s get right to the pictures, shall we?

I am so glad I went with the lighter, foggy print. It blends in, yet still makes you take notice. I thank my readers for their help on that one! The gray driftwood frame also brings a rustic quality to the print and I think it works well with the equestrian photo. I am really pleased with the quality of work in the framing from Hobby Lobby. It took about two weeks to get it back, but it was well worth the wait. I really searched around frame shops for the best price, and Hobby Lobby was the least expensive by far. And I didn’t even have to sacrifice quality to get a better price! And now to discuss the artist’s work… I am blown away by the talent of etsy seller Jennifer Meyers, from her shop, Apples and Oats. She does an amazing job capturing these beautiful animals in a way that is ethereal and whimsical. The title of this print is Once Upon A Dream and can be found here. That is the perfect title for this picture, since it is so lovely and dreamy. Jennifer is able to enlarge prints and this one is the 30×40 size. When the print arrived, it was very well packaged inside a tube, which was then securely placed inside a box for added protection. Jennifer was also super sweet and included this 8×10 horse print in the package! I can’t wait to find a home for that beauty! I would definitely buy from this shop again. Please pay her wonderful shop a visit and browse around.

Have a wonderful weekend! Wish us luck… we are mulching in the yard!

My Top Home Accessory Picks {And Basement Sneak Peek!}

by Filed Under: accessories and vignettes, basement, design, personal design style, style


A room truly does not feel complete without the accessories. They definitely make the space and take it to the next level. For me, a room feels completely finished when there are layers of pattern, art and texture. It is through the careful editing that a space fully comes together. I thought it would be fun to round up my favorite accessories and pieces that work with any home and style. Every room pretty much needs one of these pieces!  🙂

X Benches or Small Ottomans

Whether by themselves or in pairs, x benches and small ottomans look great under consoles, at the foot of a bed, under a large piece of art or mirror and to use as a foot rest. They are such a chic and practical option for almost any room. Plus, you can add a pop of color to the space by upholstering them in a fun fabric.
Poufs
via
Poufs are similar to small ottomans and x benches, in that they can also go anywhere! I love seeing them in a family room or nursery. They are great for resting your feet, a small seat for playing games or a step stool for a child. The above nursery shows how they can add great texture to a room with a sweater like fabric. 
Abstract Art
Whether your home is modern or traditional, any space would look stunning with abstract art. It gives an edge to a room and shows an eclectic, fun style.
Sculptural Accessories
Our Living Room
Accessories with a fun shape add texture and interest to a space. They can be layered on top of a few books to add depth and dimension.
Do you have any favorite accessories to add to the list???
And now for a sneak peek {via instagram} of our finished basement… The carpet is installed and we are loving the new space!
Our basement

The carpet is a light sand color, which is hard to tell in the picture. I can’t wait to snap some real after shots soon!
Have a great day!!

Snapshots of Our Family Room

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


In about one week, we will have our new horse print framed above the sofa! I cannot wait! I chose a gray driftwood looking frame, which will bring out a lot of the color tones in the picture and add to the rustic quality of the print. For now, here is what our family room looks like! I am excited about how this room is coming together. For some reason, it all of a sudden is starting to feel like us. We have done a lot of editing and moving things around lately, and this space is beginning to take shape and truly suit our style.

The coffee table is finally out of storage! We bought it when we lived in Germany. I was on my way home from teaching one afternoon, and there was a vendor outside on the side of the road, selling wood furniture pieces. I pulled over, and bought our first coffee table! It wouldn’t fit in my car, so the sweet older couple followed me home and delivered it themselves. I love pieces with special meaning! The basket and lantern vignette was on our dining table, but I think I like it here, instead. The coral runner brings out the pink shade in the suzani print pillow. Now, what should I do for the dining table?? Maybe a large vase of hydrangeas!?! We are entertaining for Memorial Day tomorrow, so the dining room will be full of food, anyway. That will buy me some time to decide what to do. Still to do for this space…

1. Pick up and hang the horse print.
2. Switch out the poly fill pillow inserts for some down inserts.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend, as we celebrate all that the Armed Forces does, has done and will do, to keep our country safe!

Can You Layer Rugs on Wall to Wall Carpet??

by Filed Under: design, personal design style, rugs


A great way to add texture and dimension to a room is by layering rugs. It can also be a very clever way to hide unsitely stains on your carpet. People may be hesitant at first, to layer an area rug over wall to wall carpeting, but it’s a great way to add a splash of color and pattern to the floor and sustain the life of your carpet for a bit longer. When I started thinking about this topic, it occurred to me that I already have this look in our master bedroom. When something is there for so long, you tend to get so used to it that you no longer notice it’s there. But we have a small oriental rug over our cream wall to wall carpet and I am thinking about doing the same thing in our family room. Our house is almost 20 years old, and the original carpet is still there! {I guess being crazy about having people take their shoes off at the front door pays off.} So to keep the life of the carpet for a few more years, an area rug that is cleverly positioned is the way to go! It can also be a great room divider when you want to create a specific zone within a space.

Source: bhg.com via Shabby on Pinterest

So my answer to this question is YES!! Definitely go for it. I forgot that I already tried this in one room. Now, on to the second!

Sneak Peek of Our Finished Basement!

by Filed Under: basement, design, paint colors, personal design style


The time is finally here! The construction part of our basement is finished!! I named this post sneak peek because the carpet still needs to be installed next week. But, I couldn’t resist showing these pictures, since it now looks so much like a regular space. I will do a proper before and after once the carpet is in, but for now, here are the almost complete after pics…

We will truly have more storage than we know what to do with, but I am sure it will fill up quickly. Baskets are a wonderful thing, because anything can fill them and no one would be the wiser! We kept everything super light down here with the paint colors, since it can be a rather dark basement. The support posts are painted the same pale blue/gray as the walls, to help them blend in and fade away. In person, there is a definite difference between the wall color and creamy white trim, although it’s hard to see through the pictures. We have chosen a sandy/camel color for the carpet, which will work with our furniture and be an overall neutral choice. All of the doors and the stair railings were painted a dark gray/black. I love how that came out! The contractors doubted me on that decision, but in the end, they loved it! They might not think I am that crazy, after all.  🙂 I am over the moon excited to get this carpet installed. I am even more excited, though, to start using this space and make it our own. Count on many basement posts for the future, as I style this place up! To catch up on the beginning of this project, visit here.