Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

Project Classic Living Reveal {The Living Room}

by Filed Under: #projectclassicliving, amber b design, design, interior design, local clients


I am thrilled to be here today, to reveal the after photos of Project Classic Living! My clients and I have been working together for over a year and a half. We started on the nursery and have moved from there to the living room, foyer, kitchen, dining room and bathroom. Today, I will be revealing the living room. This is a very long space, at about 25 feet in length. We optimized comfy seating with a sectional and also separated the room into two seating zones. When my clients have guests over, the chairs can be moved around to accommodate about 9, comfortably! I hope you like a lot of pictures, because there were too many great ones not to share. And I owe that to my photographer extraordinaire, Sarah Heppell. It was a very cloudy day and she was able to make it look like a sun filled day! Here we go…

A living room with a couch and fireplace

 

A table with books and other items on it

 

A living room with a chair and fireplace

 

A living room with a fireplace and a couch

 

A living room with a couch and flowers in the vase

 

A living room with two windows and a dresser

 

A living room with a couch and table

 

A vase of flowers on top of a wooden table.

 

A living room with a couch and a table

 

A living room with two windows and a couch

 

A living room with white walls and furniture.

 

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

 

A living room with two chairs and a dresser

 

A living room with a chair and a window

 

A guitar sitting on top of a bench in front of a couch.

all images by Sarah Heppell Photography

I can’t thank Sarah enough for her fantastic photography skills in making this room shine! I am so happy with the way this project has turned out. In time, the space behind the leather chair will be a built in window seat with pretty pillows and window treatments. The window treatments here are done by Windows by Melissa and the fabric was from Tonic Living. I love how light and bright this room feels. Thank you for taking a peek into this project! Make sure to check back all week for more reveals! Up tomorrow… the foyer!

E – Design {The Kid’s Rooms}

by Filed Under: amber b design, design, e-decorating, e-design, interior design, kids and design


I mentioned in a previous post this week, that I had some new e-design projects to show! My client and I have been working on her basement and living room, but have also completed her son’s and daughter’s rooms as well. Kids rooms are so much fun to design. As a mom of two kiddos myself, I know it has to be fun, whimsical, meet their style and definitely have loads of function. There should be room for storage to corral all of those toys! But who said that the toy storage can’t be functional and super stylish?!? In a kid’s space, it’s all about having fun with color and taking it up a notch, so it still works with the rest of the house, but has its own unique flair. Up first, her son’s room! Her son loves outer space, snow boarding and the color red. His mom wasn’t too sure about using too much red, which I agreed, so we were creative and used it in small doses.

The Design Plan

A collage of pictures and furniture items.

 

My client’s son desperately wanted a bunk bed and we found this affordable option that we plan to paint a deep navy blue. {Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore, to be exact.} The green you see at the top of the board will be the walls and is Raleigh Green, also by BM. The red will show up in the bookcase, throw blankets and in a subtle way through the art. Toy storage can definitely be fun and colorful and I just love the idea of this red bookcase filled with books and woven baskets! The plaid rug on the board is a favorite of mine and is the Cooper Jute Rug in Navy by Dash and Albert. I used it in Project Vintage Gem and I can attest to its durability and soft jute material.

Project Vintage Gem

A living room with brick walls and a table

Photo by Sarah Heppell Photography

Next up, is the daughter’s room. She is transitioning out of a crib and this sweet, whimsical space will grow with her.

The Design Plan

A collage of different types of furniture and accessories.

Her space will have the entire color scheme shown in the round lights, changing pad cover and pillow fabric. The string of lights is so cool and is found HERE. With this site, you can customize the colors and length. I plan to have this installed above the dresser and around art that my client already has for the space. The stunning floral fabric is from my favorite go to source for fabric, Tonic Living. It is their Eastern Charm, Hibiscus fabric and it is gorgeous in person. That will be a huge throw pillow for the neutral bed. Green will play a role in this space, like the red did for the boy room. The same bookcase will be in a bright green for this room and I also replicated that color in the table lamp. Her bed will have a trundle component, so it has the same effect of a bunk bed, but can be tucked away when not in use. I have used the cloud like pendant in other rooms and I love that it is so versatile!

Aren’t kids rooms so much fun?!? 

Why This Works

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


Welcome back to another installment of Why This Works… a series where I highlight a designed space and talk about what I love! Today’s office space was designed by Brian Watford and featured in Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles. Take a look!

 

A dining room table with plates and napkins on it

image via

We are currently thinking about what do to our office space, so this is obviously great inspiration! I am immediately drawn to the grass cloth walls, as it instantly adds texture and warmth. The colors are soothing and include a blend of warm and cool, which is a nice balance. All of the textures in the space, from the rug to the pillows, to the leather desk chair to the woven side chair- all add depth and interest. The mixture of metals is also taking part, with the brass table lamp and ceiling fixture, to the chrome base of the desk chair. The brass wall frames have beautiful modern art in them, which I love! The room’s door has a stunning wood grain to it, which appears to be replicated in the desk base. I also love that the roman shade has a band detail, making it feel more custom. The shade is also installed as high as possible, which is one of my most favorite tricks in making a space feel larger. And I absolutely love the camel colors with that stunning teal settee. Overall, this space works!

What are your thoughts?!?

E – Design {Recreating the Master Bedroom}

by Filed Under: amber b design, design, e-decorating, e-design, interior design, personal design style


A while back, I created a master bedroom e-design for a client combining modern with traditional, chic with rustic and fun colors, such as lavender and emerald green. When my clients moved, they wanted to use as much of the design elements as possible for the new bedroom. We had to make a few small changes, so I thought it would be fun to compare the designs and see how items can transition from one home to the next.

The Original Design Plan

A collage of different types of furniture and accessories.

 

Dresser & Gallery Wall

A white dresser with a mirror and a lamp

Original Floor Plan

A bedroom with a bed, dresser and tv.

Do you remember when I wrote the post on this bedroom being photographed? To refresh your memory, here it is all complete, with photos by Danielle Benham…

A bedroom with a bed, dresser and tv.

 

A bedroom with a bed, pillows and a window.

 

A bedroom with a bed, dresser and mirror.

All after photos by Danielle Benham

The new master bedroom has a much different layout, so we made some changes to the furniture placement. Originally, the desk was a second night stand. With the new house, there is not enough room next to the bed for this wide desk, so we included the same second night stand, which was luckily still available. The desk will fit in the space, but in a small reading nook. I think it will be really pretty, as it will face out to a wall of windows! The tall second dresser will not fit in this space, so I suggested adding it in the closet. Here is the new design:

New Design Plan

A collage of different types of furniture and accessories.

The Floor Plan

A bedroom with a bed, dresser and tv.

Won’t that reading/desk nook be fabulous?!? There is so much natural light in this space. I can’t wait to see it all come together! We are going with the same wall color, Halo by Benjamin Moore, which she loved. We kept the bedding, but included a different pillow option, to switch things up. We had to select a new chandelier, and I love this Stiletto option from Shades of Light. The woven x benches will now go at the foot of the bed, as opposed to on either side of the dresser. All in all, we were able to work with almost everything the way it was. And that’s a refreshing thing to realize!

Make sure to come back next week for a fun blogger series I am excited to be a part of!

Why This Works

by Filed Under: design, dining room, interior design, 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 is interior designer Caitlin Moran’s gorgeous, eclectic, bohemian inspired dining room. This image below was taken from her feature in Lonny and is a true show stopper. Take a look!

 

A dining room table with plates and napkins on it

image via

I have always been a fan of neutral spaces with pops of color and this room does that to perfection. The color comes through in the abstract wall art, the area rug and table setting. This style of seating has really grown on me lately and I love it! The low profile works so well for this modern look and the rustic simplicity from the table is a great balance. And let’s talk about that statement chandelier for a minute! I have written in past posts about using lighting that almost seems too oversized for a space. When it seems too large, it is actually just right! And I love the texture this fixture brings into the room. I am also a huge fan of layering rugs to add depth and interest. {And in this space, color and pattern, too!} It is a wonderful way to make a rug that would be considered too small, work so well. I love the mixture of the window treatments, with the sheers and patterned panels. They provide function and style, which is a win win in my eyes! The wall sconce is large enough to be functional, but doesn’t compete with the art work and chandelier. And a vase of fresh flowers is the best way to complete any room! All in all, this space works!

What are your thoughts???

{The fact that I have two back to back posts of Why This Works is not lost on me! Sorry for the lack of posts lately! I will be back soon to share some completed e-designs.}  🙂

Why This Works & Bridge Street Segment

by Filed Under: #projectvintagegem, amber b design, design, interior design, local clients, personal design style, why works series


Welcome back to another installment of Why This Works… a weekly series where I show a designed space and dissect the details, to explain why the designer chose what he/she chose and why it works! Today’s space is a project I designed last year for a local client. I speak about it often on this blog, because it was such a fun project to work on. This project is also near and dear because I love the true talent that shines through in Sarah Heppell’s photography skills! She truly made this space shine with these after photos. As you may already know, I named this project Vintage Gem, because of the gorgeous architecture of the apartment and the details they left in tact during the renovation of the building. Also, my client loves a mix of vintage and new, so the name was a great fit. In past blog posts, I never truly dissected the details of this space and explained why certain pieces were chosen and why. So let’s do that here, today!

 

A living room with brick walls and a table

 

A living room with brick walls and a large painting

 

A living room with a couch and chairs in it

Amber B Design, Photos by Sarah Heppell

When I walked into this space for the first time, I was immediately struck with the gorgeous brick walls and stunning high ceilings. It is a compact space with a combined living and ding area, but the high ceilings and architectural details make up for that. I wanted to compliment those details and not compete, by selecting light and neutral furnishings that allowed the apartment’s details to be the main focal point. The furniture and accessories were the supporting cast. Another trick I like to use is to select a few large, oversized accessories, as opposed to several small pieces. It’s a great visual trick that allows your eye to be drawn up to appreciate the room, giving the illusion of more square footage. When I installed the large blue table lamps and floral art work on the buffet, your eye was brought up instead of down and the space appeared larger. You could admire the brick more, even though we added pieces in front of it. Also, the dramatic wall clock was added behind the sectional. Upon first glance, it’s massive size could appear too large for some. But this clock instantly pushed the walls back and made the room feel bigger. I like to tell clients that if an accessory piece appears too big, it’s probably just right. It can take time to train your eye to like larger accessories. Luckily, my client was right on board and also thought the space felt bigger. In this room, I also wanted to use a mix of different wood stains and metal finishes. Especially with this vintage style, our goal was to create a space that looked as if it had been collected over time and not to match too much. So, the light stained buffet is near the dark stained dining table. Brass candle sticks on the buffet are near a bronze side table and pewter base coffee table. My trick for mixing metals, is to stay within the same ‘shine’ family. In this room, I wouldn’t have brought in a shiny chrome. All of the metals are buffed and matte, which is why they can work together. I like to separate the mattes from the shiny. And last but not least, I like to add various textures and fabrics into a space to create a layered depth. The jute, natural fiber area rug is paired with a leather chair, linen sofa and cotton pillow covers. That will add layers and depth to a space, making it feel warm and collected.

So that’s a little sneak peek into why I chose what I did for this space! I was thrilled to be able to talk about this design today with Sistina Giordano from Bridge Street. She is always wonderful to chat with and it was a fun segment. To see the video clip, visit HERE!! Thank you so much to Sistina and the entire News Channel 9 team for having me!

{Before and After} E- Design Reveal!!

by Filed Under: amber b design, e-decorating, e-design, guest room, interior design


Before and afters are always so much fun to share! This particular client is near and dear, since we have worked together on most of the rooms in her home and even some spaces in her daughter’s home! She has always been one of the most supportive, sweet and gracious clients that I have had the privilege of getting to know. We worked on both her office and guest room during the same period of time and the guest room will be revealed today! We actually swapped the two rooms, as it made more sense to convert the office/hang out room to a guest room. It is in closer proximity to the shared hallway bathroom, which would be great for guests. So the before pictures will show an office, while the afters are all about the guest space! Here we go!

Before

A room with a chair and a television.

A white chair in front of a bookcase.

 

The Design Plan

 

A collage of different types of furniture and accessories.

My client wanted a serene, delicate retreat. Her daughter will use this guest space when she visits, so the pink and green color combination was right up her alley! We kept the bedding and walls neutral and added color through the art, pillows and accessories.

After

A bed with pillows and a lamp on the wall.

A bedroom with a bed, dresser and mirror.

A dresser with a lamp and mirror on it

A bed with pillows and a lamp on top of it

A bedroom with a bed, nightstand and lamp.

A bedroom with a bed, nightstand and lamp.

A bedroom with a bed, lamps and curtains.

I am thrilled they are so happy with the design! I love the whimsical cloud like ceiling fixture and the way the colors from the pillows work with the gorgeous art. Painting the doors a dark color makes standard doors feel more custom, which is always a fun trick. There are striped ottomans that double as storage, at the foot of the bed. That is so helpful in compact spaces. It is always fun to see an e-design project from beginning to end. Thank you so much to my client for sharing these with me!

 

Add Some Flowers!

by Filed Under: #projectvintagegem, amber b design, amber b design at home, design, flowers, interior design, personal design style, sarah heppell photography


Just when we thought spring weather was around the corner over here, it started snowing today! It doesn’t show any sign of letting up, so I thought it would be fun to bring spring inside. The best way I know how to do that, is with a vase of fresh flowers. Flowers instantly warm up a room, any time of year. I am always drawn to the flower section of our grocery store, because I know what an impact they make to any room in your home. When I had our home and Project Vintage Gem photographed, I added some fresh flowers to most of the spaces. Boy did that make a difference! That and the wonderful photography talents of Sarah Heppell. 🙂 So, here’s a round up of rooms that bring that spring time vibe, even if it’s freezing cold where you are!!

Our Home

A living room with white walls and furniture.

 

A basket with a plate and vase of flowers on it.

{hydrangeas and tulips are always my go to flowers of choice!!}

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

 

A living room with a couch and chairs in it

Project Vintage Gem

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

 

A mirror and table in the corner of a room.

 

 

A couple of crates sitting on top of each other.

Amber B Design, Photos by Sarah Heppell

So if you are in need of some spring or you just want a cheerful change, add some fresh flowers today!!

 

Why This Works

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


Welcome back to another Why This Works series post! I am sorry this is a day late. I have been working on a fun local client install, that I can’t wait to share. We are almost finished with the master bedroom and I have been giving little sneak peeks at the progress on instagram {amberbdesign}. More info to come, soon! On to today’s room… this living room was found on line, at Better Homes and Gardens. It is the home of the blogger at An Urban Cottage and it has the perfect blend of modern and traditional. There are so many things that work in this room. Take a look!

A living room with two couches and a table

via

What first strikes me is the warmth and charm that this space has. I love the taupes, grays, blues and greens that can be found in the room. The added texture with the natural fiber rug brings that welcoming vibe into the space. It has that traditional charm, with the plaid chair fabric and the convex mirrors, yet also brings in a modern style, with the graphic wall art, ikat pillow and streamlined sofa. The glass coffee table allows you to feel as though the room is larger and it visually does not take up any space. You can tell there are meaningful pieces added in this room, with the vase full of paint brushes,the antique fan and distressed boxes. Adding personal mementos and accessories with a story bring that warmth to a room that is so inviting. And to top it all off- my favorite way to bring a cozy atmosphere to any room… fresh flowers!! For me, this space works.

What are your thoughts?!?

Bonus Room E-Design Plan

by Filed Under: amber b design, design, e-decorating, e-design, floor plan, interior design, kids and design


I am excited to reveal the design plan today, for a client’s bonus room! You may remember this client from her first home, HERE. We worked on a few of her rooms in her first home and I even got a chance to see the real estate after photos. Now with her new home, she’s looking to make one bedroom do double duty and have it as a play room for her kids, as well as a guest room. Let’s get right to the design plan…

A collage of different types of furniture and accessories.

 

I just love that this space will be colorful, neutral and have loads of texture and function. There will be spaces for toy storage, creative play, a place to display art work and even a day bed that conforms to a double bed for guests! There will be a lot packed into this space and you get to see how it’s laid out in the floor plan, below…

A drawing of a living room with furniture.

Amber B Design

Do you see how the walls pop out with two windows? Those are the dormers in the space and will soon be spots for new built in seating, wall sconces and ledges for books! Eeeek I can’t wait! The room has dramatic slanted ceilings, which we will make more visually pleasing with Hygge & West’s Daydream wallpaper in Green. Ohhh so lovely!! I look forward to showing you the process along the way. Thank you to my amazing client for allowing me to show the journey! Stay tuned…