Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

Holiday Cheer

by Filed Under: #ProjectNeutralTrad, #ProjectRusticGlam, amber b design, amber b design at home, design, holiday, inspiration, interior design, personal design style


What a fun and busy time of year! I wanted to check in and show you some holiday inspiration and peeks at client projects. I haven’t gotten around to uploading pictures from this year’s holiday touches around my home, so let’s take a peek from last year…

 

 

{I did the single ornament for this year’s decor, too!}

Last year, we visited my in laws in Italy for Christmas and I love looking back at those photos…

Oh, it was magical!! I’ve been working on some really fun design projects and I can’t wait to see them complete! Several will be all ready in the new year!!

Above is the mantel in #ProjectRusticGlam. This was such a fun room design and I can’t wait to show more!!

Above is a corner of a living room in #ProjectNeutralTrad. We are mid install here, with the shelf styling and getting the drapes ready to hang. Another fun one I can’t wait to share! Speaking of living rooms, we have new furniture in ours and we have been loving it. Extra time reading, playing games and lingering just a bit longer…

chairs

This is such a fun time of year and I know these weeks will fly by. Have a wonderful holiday season and thank you for stopping in to visit my blog! I appreciate you more than you know. Thank you to my wonderful clients for trusting me with their homes. My newfound friendships with you are something I cherish! I can’t wait to see what the new year will bring! Have a safe and wonderful holiday season with those you love!!

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.

Tried and True Design Elements

by Filed Under: #projectclassicliving, #projectvintagegem, amber b design, design, interior design, kids and design, personal design style, sarah heppell photography


Over the years, I have noticed definite solid design decisions that are always in style. There are some elements in particular, that stand the test of time and become classic must haves for almost any home. As I have been getting completed designs photographed or even when I talk to clients about potential new projects, I have found some recurring topics and accessories discussed time and time again. I have rounded up some of my favorites for you today!

Warm Gray Walls

A dining room with a table and chairs, a mirror and a window.Project Classic Living, Sarah Heppell Photography

Whether they have a tinge of green or blue coming through, a soft gray base wall color is a great jumping off point in a space. It allows the colors and patterns to come through in the accessories or also allows the showstopper to be in the ceiling color or the lighting.

Gourd Table Lamps

Project Vintage Gem, Sarah Heppell Photography

A table with two blue and white stools in front of a mirror.Project Classic Living, Sarah Heppell Photography

Oh my goodness, my love for gourd lamps runs deep! I have even been known to use this style of lamp in more than one room in a design project. I love oversized table lamps with large shades. This style allows you to bring either a neutral or bold base color to the lamp. It also has a nice sculptural shape to it, which helps to bring interest and dimension to a room.

Patterned Rugs

A living room with brick walls and a tableProject Vintage Gem, Sarah Heppell Photography

{There’s another gourd lamp!!} Patterned rugs are a great way to bring an artistic touch to a room. It can bring color and texture to the mix, while also reinforcing your color palette. In this loft space I designed, the blue plaid rug brought in more of the favorite color and also softened the room and design.

Built In Shelving

Design by Studio McGee

Whether this is achieved with a furniture piece or actually built in to the home, the look of custom shelving always takes your room to the next level. I am currently {and always, for that matter} loving the look of white built ins with either a color or grasscloth added to the back of the unit. #beauty

What design elements do you love and feel will always work, even through ever changing design trends?!?

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 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!

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.

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!

 

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???

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!