Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

Recent E-Design Projects

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


I have been happily busy with some fun e-design projects! Both of these projects are for the same client, looking to make some changes to her spaces and add splashes of modern color. First up, the keeping room directly off of the kitchen…

{Click on images to make larger}

This stylish client already had the chevron rug and Chiang Mai dragon pillows. We just added new seating, tables and splashes of color! The color swatch on the top left is a gorgeous deep green color and will be the TV console color choice! Can’t wait to see it all come together!

Next up, we selected new artwork to go over her bed…

This is the option she chose, and it will look beautiful all framed up!

As spring is getting {hopefully} closer and closer, now is a great time to make changes and updates to your home!

Spring couldn’t get here fast enough! If you follow me on instagram {amberbinteriors} I posted a picture of our thermometer this morning. We’re in the negatives… not fun!

How To Create a Custom Look When Hanging Drapes

by Filed Under: design, DIY, personal design style


I have always loved browsing through magazines and seeing how beautiful custom drapes look and how effortlessly they hang on the rod. Love the idea, just not the cost of custom drapes. So, I tried to come up with a way to hang my drapes to give them that custom, pinch pleat look. I’m sure this is nothing new and there are probably so many other great ways out there to do this, but here’s mine…

These are dupioni silk drapes bought from JC Penney about 7 years ago. I wanted to make them look more polished and they also puddle on the floor a bit, so my new trick helped in both areas. I took drapery clips and pinched the back of the fabric, while clipping in place. I clipped them in place about a half an inch down from the top, helping to bring the fabric off the floor a little. I also used 11 drapery clips for each panel. The panels are about 54″ in width and 11 works out great! The odd number allows the clips to be evenly spaced throughout, creating a more unified look. That was my mistake in the past. Take for example, my kitchen curtains…

Trying to save money, I only bought a pack of 7 rings for each panel. See the result… floppy curtains! When these kitchen panels get four more rings each, we’ll be in business! Here is my breakdown for ya…

– If your panels are 54″ wide, go for 11 curtain rings!
– 50″ wide panels, go for 9 rings!
– Stay with odd numbers!
– If your curtains are a bit too long, try this method before taking out the sewing machine!

Creating Contrast in Your Rooms

by Filed Under: design, paint colors, painting, painting tips, personal design style


I received an e-mail recently from a reader, asking about my dining room transformations and how to choose the best color in your space. I thought it would be a great post to present on the blog and open up the discussion with all of you! My original paint color in the dining room was Bungalow Gold by Eddie Bauer. While I enjoyed the color for a while {7 years, to be exact!}, I needed a change. So, I decided to stencil one wall, after receiving a free stencil for a product review.

While the stencil was fun and something new, I still wasn’t feeling it. I realized the main reason why, was because there was not enough contrast in the room. The oak floors blended with the table, which blended with the walls. I have been meaning to make some of my spaces lighter and brighter, and I knew this was the room to start! This space did not need another warm tone… it had too many, already. What this space needed was some contrast. It needed a cooler color in the blue/gray/green family. Fast forward to my decision… and we have Halo, by Benjamin Moore. I love that it appears almost white when the sun is shining, yet provides that cool tone of gray/green that this room needed. I know I have already shown the dining room reveal here, but I thought it was also worth mentioning why this color was chosen and how to achieve contrast in your home. Here is the new paint color:

For me, adding a cooler color helped to break up all the similar tones, and I am so much happier. The paint brush can be put down, for now!

How about you, do you like more of a contrast, or similar tones throughout?

What’s New at Joss and Main

by Filed Under: design, personal design style


If you haven’t shopped here before, Joss and Main has great items at amazing prices. If you see something you love, you have to act fast, because sales run out in hours and days. Here are some of my favorite items currently for sale and still in stock {last time I checked!}

I could go on and on! I actually just purchased a new bamboo print ottoman cube before the holidays and love it! If you are not a member of this free flash site, sign up HERE! The items shown above will no longer be on sale after this weekend- some end as early as Saturday!
Happy Shopping!!
 

Let’s Get Organized in 2013!

by Filed Under: organize, personal design style


Oh, where do I begin with this subject??? There are always so many organizational tips and ideas floating around in my head. Why haven’t they come to fruition yet? For me, I know that organizing involves taking everything out, sorting it and trying to put it all back together with style. {Sounds exhausting!} Although I don’t really set New Year’s resolutions, I know that this has to happen in the new year! So… how will this happen without a high level of stress?? A little at a time. When I focus on one project at a time, the stress melts away. First up, tackling the office with a new bulletin board of design inspirations…

Ok, now I don’t feel as bad when my desk has a lot of stuff on it.

Next up, paint the back of my hutch a fun color…

I love how the accessories pop against a darker backdrop.

This year, I would love to paint a chalkboard wall on the side of my cabinet…

Champagne on the grocery list? I like their style!

Organize my closet…

Source: decorpad.com via Kate on Pinterest

Has anyone tried color coding their clothes? I love the look on bookshelves, so why not?!?

Which reminds me, organize and color code our books…

This will take me a while, but now that it’s in writing, I will be more determined than ever to complete this list! And I promise to blog about the successes {and stresses} along the way!  🙂

Our Dining Room is Painted- Here are the Afters!

by Filed Under: blue decor, design, paint colors, personal design style


Here is a sneak peek into our dining room transformation. I am so excited to be done before the holidays. If you missed my recent post, I decided to add one more thing to my to do list and paint our dining room before company arrives!

Here is the after…

The color is Halo by Benjamin Moore and is a soft green/gray color. It’s lighter and brighter and quite a change from the previous dark golden brown walls. If you’re wondering why the Christmas decorations aren’t up, it’s because I have news! Part of this room will be on a fun web site soon and I had to take photos for the article! I think it will go live after the holidays, so no decorations for now. I will post a holiday themed room soon, when I get it all back up!

Still to do {At some point}
– Hang the curtain rods near the crown molding and install silk drapes.

The Dining Room is Beginning Its Transformation!

by Filed Under: design, painting, personal design style, walls


There is nothing like the holidays and company coming to get your act together and finish design projects. As if this time of year isn’t busy enough already, I have decided to add one more task to the list… painting my dining room! Call me crazy, but sometimes I work better under pressure! I have committed myself to one wall a day, with some time off in between. That will be a very manageable way for me to complete this on time. I am a very slow, meticulous painter, so one wall a day allows me to take my time and not get too sloppy when I’m dog tired! Here is one wall down…

Don’t mind the painting supplies in the right corner! 

The new color is Halo by Benjamin Moore. It’s part of their off white color collection and is a putty gray/green color. On sunny days, it will appear more white and when it’s cloudy, you can truly see it’s gray/green color. I decided to paint all of the walls, including the wainscoting. With this lighter color, I thought it gave interesting depth and dimension to the walls. The art also works well with the new color and the white background pops against the walls. If you have been reading this blog for a while, you know that I had a stencil above the wainscoting for this wall. Here is the before:

Before:

While I loved the trellis pattern on the stencil (and still do), I was never happy with the contrast of the dark walls. We have wallpaper in our foyer, and I just thought it was too busy for this space. I was looking for something lighter and brighter. Don’t worry- this stencil will show up somewhere… stay tuned on that one! I still have three more walls to go and over a week to complete it all!

Wish Me Luck!!
The after shots also show some holiday decorating and new placemats. More on that soon!
Are you like me and decide to make fast home updates right before holiday company arrives??

All I Want for Christmas…

by Filed Under: gift ideas, holiday, personal design style


With the holiday season in full swing, it’s fun to daydream about gift ideas for others (Well, ourselves, too! Who am I kidding?) I thought it would be fun to gather up some of my favorite holiday gift ideas and new decorations for the home! Here we go…

All I Want for Christmas…
Ceramic Stag Head… I love this! This is not only great holiday decor for the mantel, but you can also keep it up all year long. It’s on sale now- get one here.
This Chunky Cowl Scarf is so cool and perfect for cold winters. You can also wear this as a hood!
I love this shop’s graphic watercolor prints and suggest at least a few for almost every client! It’s time I pick some up, don’t you think?? You can find this navy watercolor here.
This is a collection of some of my favorite pillow prints! This shop has all of the modern pillows you need to update your decor. Some new Chiang Mai pillows? Yes, please!
Anything from the Nate Berkus Collection at Target is a winner, in my book!
What do you have your eye on (for yourself or as a gift) this holiday season??
Here’s a little hint… one of the above things has found a place in our home, even before Christmas! More info. on that to come…

Give the Gift of E-Design This Holiday Season!

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


Now that I am happily stuffed from turkey and trimmings, I am starting to think about Christmas decorating and shopping! {How did this happen so fast?} As I started to think about gift giving, I wondered how many others were like me and daydreamed about design related presents?? If you’re wondering what to buy the person in your life that loves to decorate and has discussed making some changes… give the gift of e-design!

 {A breakfast nook and living room for the same client.}
E-Design is a great way to put a decorator’s touch on a space! The process is done completely through e-mail and is a fun way to pull the room together yourself, with the help of a decorator’s eye!
I have 3 spots left for January. Click HERE to view all of the design packages, then fill out the client form link at the bottom of the page!
Happy Holiday Shopping!
By the way, do you spy the beautiful burlap placemats on the first design board? They are from Renee’s shop and can be purchased HERE. Also on that board, you can see how the amazing Emily framed her placemats into art for the kitchen!

Creating a Functional Floor Plan and a Huge Giveaway!

by Filed Under: e-decorating, e-design, floor plan, personal design style


When working with design clients, I love putting the floor plan together and drawing things to scale. It’s like pieces of a puzzle that need to find their correct spot. With floor plan puzzles, however, there are always different solutions, rather than only one configuration. Especially with large, open living spaces. Here are some possible layout ideas for that large great room…

The sofa facing the fireplace with occassional chairs, side by side:

Sofas facing each other:

When creating a floor plan, function is a top priority. How will the client use the space? Here are the top things to consider when putting the floor plan together:

1. Where is the television? Make sure the main seating option faces the TV. Always having to turn your head when watching TV will get old, real quick.

2. Are there enough side tables for drinks? A great rule of thumb is to have a table within arms reach for every seat. 

3. Make sure there is great flow between seating spots. You don’t want your guests to have to do cartwheeels to get to their seat.

4. Pull the seating away from the walls and allow the arrangement to be close together. This makes for an intimate conversation area with great flow around your seating. If you are able to pull your sofa away from the wall, make sure to have a console behind the sofa. It is much more interesting than looking at the back of your sofa! (I am all talk and no action on this one, since my floating sofa does not have a console at the moment! But, I digress…)

How about you… do you have a favorite floor plan arrangement?
Also, today’s the start of the amazing Stuff the Stockings Giveaway! 15 bloggers and a bunch of sponsors have teamed up to create 12 amazing prize packages! I am honored Melissa asked me to be one of the sponsors. I will be giving away an accessory design package. Stop by Melissa’s blog HERE to enter! The winners will be announced on Cyber Monday, Nov. 26th. Good luck!