Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

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.

Why This Works

by Filed Under: design, personal design style, why works series


Welcome back to another Why This Works post… a series where I show a designed space and talk about why it works so well! This living space is designed by Collins Interiors and is the perfect coastal inspired design to show in the summer! Enjoy…

 

A living room with blue and white furniture

image via

What immediately gets me is this laid back, classic, coastal space that exudes warmth and personality! It is stylish and traditional, but has this fun, spirited and modern appeal as well. I love the neutral backdrop mixed in with the colorful art and furniture. Without having the gorgeous patterned chair, periwinkle blue velvet sofa and lively art work, this room would look completely different. The light walls, neutral rug and white drapes create a great balance with the whimsical accents. I love mixing wood and metal in a room and the different side tables bring a casual feel that allows this space to feel warm and inviting. And the nearby room?!? Wow! I love the black window trim and white beams. It’s all in the details!

Overall, this space works! What are your thoughts???

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. 😉

Why This Works… Feeling the Blues

by Filed Under: design, interior design, personal design style


Welcome back to another Why This Works post, a series where I show a designed space and talk about what I love. Today’s living room is from the home of Cassie Kelley and the design was led by Alex Reid, from the design team at The Studio at One King’s Lane. This living space showcases one of my favorite colors in design… blue! Take a look.

 

image via

Especially at this time of year, what’s not to love about this coastal inspired home? I love the various shades of blue in the room. You don’t have to stick to one shade… it’s in the mix that makes a space truly feel eclectic and inviting. I am a huge fan of layering to add depth and interest and this is done so well with the striped rug over the natural woven rug. It gives you a chance to add the color and pattern you want, while also having a second rug underneath to help carry the appropriate dimensions. The ottoman and side tables can easily be moved around when needed, making this both a stylish and versatile space. The fiddle leaf fig tree and coral tulips bring the outdoors in and provide new colors to love. I actually love these three colors together in one room. It’s my favorite color combination. The mixing of metals with the brass and black/bronze pendants gives a collected over time style and adds character. The white walls, trim and cabinets provides a blank slate for all of the color to come in through the accessories and select furniture pieces. I also love the warm wood detail on the sofa legs and how that balances so well with the metals in the room. Overall, this space works!

What are your thoughts???

I chose this room, because of my live TV segment on Bridge Street TV yesterday. I was on to talk about simple ways to add that laid back, coastal charm to your home. And the main color to use?!? Blue! Check out the video HERE!!

Why This Works

by Filed Under: design, interior design, living room, personal design style, why works series


Welcome back to another installment of Why This Works… a series where I show a designed space and talk about why it works so well. Today’s living room is all about a mix of traditional, classic design with a dose of modern fun. This stunning space was seen on One Kings Lane and it was love at first sight. Take a look!

 

A living room with a couch and table

image via

I love this space! What first gets me is the balance of formal with casual. The formality is definitely shown in the symmetry of the roman shades and table lamps. The furniture reads more traditional and then you are met with the gorgeous modern accessories, that take this room to the next level. The antelope rug is a favorite of mine and it works so well in this space, against the light furnishings. I am also a huge fan of oversized accessories and believe that a few, well chosen larger pieces works better than several smaller options. The large wall art, pillows, lamps and even the fresh flowers, allows your eye to look around the room and gives the illusion of more space. While the space is dressy, the large coffee table brings a functional aspect to the room. There is plenty of room for drinks, snacks and to rest your feet. Overall, this space works!!

What are your thoughts??? I will be back tomorrow with the final before and after from Project Classic Living… the Bathroom!

 

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!