Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

What Has Caught My Eye Lately…

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


I have always enjoyed reading through ‘blogger favorite’ posts and I wish I had the organization to do that on a weekly basis! I must say, though, there are so many great design images going around blogland lately and on pinterest, that I had to gather up my favorites for you today!

{Her art can also be purchased at Furbish, HERE}
I really love this Schumacher favorite in the ebony colorway
{At this shop, you can choose your back fabric color!}
This new to me etsy shop sells this gorgeous Robert Allen fabric as a very affordable pillow cover!
So that’s what I have spotted out and about lately! How about you… what would you add to the list???

Adding Some Color & Pattern to our Family Room

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


I always live by the idea that a home is never finished… I will constantly be editing, moving things around and finding that new perfect accessory for a space in my home. I have to keep making changes, because it makes home decorating fun and interesting! And it’s always cute to see my family come home and say, what is this table doing in this room now? She’s at it again!  🙂 Now with fall fast approaching, I thought it was time for some minor changes…

The blue chinoiserie urn was a recent antique find. I like the introduction of cobalt blue and this accessory feels collected and vintage, which adds character to the consoles. The coral x bench was a Target purchase. I also have one in our foyer and when they showed up again in Target and on clearance for only $17, I scooped one up right away. I know having two of these benches will come in handy to use as a pair or separately throughout the house. The chevron pouf was also a Target find. I had my eye on it since it came into the store for about $70. I waited and was very patient. Luckily, that paid off for me and I bought the last one for only $22!

By adding the cheerful , bright colors to the space, I smile when I walk in the room! I think these small changes are just what this room needed.

To recap, here is a picture of the space before these additions…

Before


And After


Does the start of fall motivate you to make small changes, too??

Pictures of Our New Lantern Chandelier!

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


A while back, I showed a snap shot on instagram {amberbinteriors} of our new chandelier in the kitchen. I finally took some proper pictures for the blog! Ballard Designs always impresses me… my design clients are always happy with their purchases and I finally bought my first big item from them and was more than impressed. When pieces are even more beautiful and stunning in person than in the catalogue and on the web site, they have done a great job in my eyes! I have wanted a dramatic statement chandelier for a while now. I always tell my clients that if you think the accessory is a bit too big for the space, then it’s the perfect fit. It’s always those oversized pieces that get noticed and truly make the room. When I first opened the package, it was even bigger than I had imagined, which made me giddy!!

via my instagram
It was so well packaged and delivered very quickly. Some things take a while with Ballard Designs, because they tend to be backordered at times. But happy to say this arrived very quickly! And truth be told, even if I had to wait months, it still would have been worth it.

This is their Piedmont 4 Light Lantern in Brick Red. I like to use red as accents and I thought it coordinated well with our console tables behind the sectional. 
 our family room via my instagram
I love the brass detail on the inside. Eventually, I will switch out the bulbs for modern round options. Another way to keep it fresh and new! 

My Hand Painted Wall Design

by Filed Under: design, dining room, Featured, painting, personal design style


 

 

 

 

 

I am constantly inspired by design ideas and have lately been stretching my comfort zone to try new ways to express those inspirations into my own home. A room can completely be transformed through paint. Whether it’s a whole new paint color on all of the walls or a special treatment to one wall section… paint can change a room’s vibe and overall style. I have always loved designer Kelly Wearstler’s unique take on design and the way she can effortlessly push the envelope. Take for example, her iconic foyer with those gorgeous coral walls…

image via Vogue
How cool is that picture?!? And then my jaw dropped again when I saw a similar style, but on drapery panels…
The home of Christine Dovey, designed by Meredith Heron and seen on Style at Home.
And I am in awe of this modern hand painted look also seen on Kristin’s living room wall from the blog, The Hunted Interior…

I knew I had to apply it in some way in my own home. And if I got it totally wrong, it’s just paint, right? There’s really no tutorial for this project. Just some leftover white paint, a two inch paint brush and your creativity. I would paint a couple of brush strokes and then step back to make sure it was coming along how I planned. That’s all there is to it! And my husband really likes it, too. He walked in and said, “wow, I really like it!” Win win for me! It was also a great validation for me that I didn’t just do something completely crazy. 🙂

How I Built A Room Around One Chair

by Filed Under: chair love, chairish, design, interior design, living room, personal design style


Where do you find inspiration when decorating a room in your home? Do you start with a fabric, some art or a color scheme? Maybe, you begin by finding an eclectic, must have chair and build the entire room around that one piece of furniture. I was recently asked by Chairish to do just that. Chairish, an on line site that sells curator approved treasures for your home, reached out to me to participate in a fun challenge… I had several vintage chairs from their site to choose from and I had to build an entire design around that one piece! I knew right away that I wanted to select a chair that had character on its own, was a bit of a break from my norm {to make this a true challenge for me!} and a show stopping piece with some color. Below is the mid century modern gem that I chose…

This iconic Arne Jacobsen style Egg Chair and Ottoman is a fun, chic addition to any space when looking to add some modern flair. I knew I wanted to design a living room space that didn’t take itself too seriously, was eclectic and fun, while also staying true to modern roots. If you know my style, I always like to mix things up. My spaces tend to have several design styles tie in together. To me, it makes a room feel collected over time and unique. So a collected space that reads both modern and eclectic, fun and whimsical, was the direction I tried to go with. I hope you like it!
The Design


The egg chair was the jumping off point for this whole design and encouraged me to have some fun with color. Once this chair was chosen, I knew that the pillows needed to be fun, vibrant and full of pattern. Since the bright pops of color come in through the egg chair, pillows and art, I stayed more neutral with the area rug and the soft green drapes. The walls will also be a soft gray, almost white color, which allows the bright pieces to shine. I also selected some other pieces from Chairish, such as the Brass Bamboo Coffee Table and the Tripod Floor Lamp. I always love to mix metal finishes in a space, so these two accessories do just that. The stunning sunburst mirror in the brass finish adds a hint of glamour to the room, while the dipped wooden stool brings a rustic touch. For me, it’s about creating that balance between different styles, textures and finishes. This iconic egg chair is a statement piece on its own and I hope that I brought it to life in this living room design. Make sure to check out Chairish for your next vintage find. To view more amazing vintage chairs on their site, click HERE. To find out where all sources are from the design board, click on the links below.

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

by Filed Under: before and after, design, e-decorating, e-design, interior design, personal design style


I have some wonderful updates of a client project to show you today! A little while back, an e-design client contacted me to help bring a more eclectic, bohemian style to her living room. This space is directly off of the foyer and is the space they gather when entertaining and spending time with their family. We kept some of her current furniture pieces and accessories, but added many new pieces to finish the look. I showed you the design plan a few posts back, but here is a refresher..

The Design Plan

Here is her reading nook {the top left corner of the room} before…

Reading Nook Before


And here is the after…

After


I love the new light wall color and the way her chair and bookcase fit into the design plan. The corner gallery wall is fun for a space like this. It adds depth to this side of the room, giving the illusion of more space. The woven ottoman adds interesting texture and is a great way to break up all of the upholstery pieces seen in the seating.

She also made progress on the fireplace mantel. Here is the before…

Before


And here is the after…

After


The mirror and waterscape vases bring a more eclectic, unique vibe to the room, which was exactly what she was looking for. The room had great bones, but it was more traditional in style than she wanted. We removed the oversized chairs and replaced them with more streamlined, modern seating. I can’t wait to show you more progress to come!

Thanks to my amazing client for allowing me to share these sneak peeks and her great progress!

The Foyer is Almost Done… You’ve Gotta See This!

by Filed Under: before and after, e-decorating, e-design, foyer, interior design, personal design style


I am so thrilled to show you this {almost} reveal, that I couldn’t wait until all of the pieces were in place. My client and blog friend, Anne, moved into her newly built home and is doing a fabulous job making it her own. The finishes and pieces she has chosen so far have made this house an incredible work of art. She contacted me to help her put finishing touches on the foyer, dining room and living room. I originally wrote about the foyer here, but let’s re cap…

Here is Anne’s foyer before…


Stunning, right?!? Here is the design plan I came up with to add a touch of modern glamour to the space and complete the look…

The Design Plan…


And here is the {almost} reveal of the foyer…


That stencil is seriously everything!! Anne did an amazing job with that project. It adds fun texture and pattern to the space and is a great way to introduce the home’s style as you enter through the front door. The Beach print from Furbish brings together the home’s color palette and is a whimsical accessory to the foyer. Here is a close up of the amazing print…

We will still add a couple of accessories and an ottoman for putting on/taking off shoes. But I just had to show you the progress. Amazing job, Anne! Thanks for letting me share your gorgeous space!

A Peek Inside My Friend’s Home

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


I have a treat for you today! Inspiration is everywhere and I am always intrigued with how others decide to decorate their home. What personal mementos are important to them, how design styles shape the way they live and just an overall curiosity for how people decorate. My good friend Deanna, is no stranger to great design. Ever since we met a few years back, I have loved her sense of style… both in fashion and interiors. Our kids are the same age and great friends, so I am lucky we get to see each other often and chat design. And when I approached her about taking a few pictures of her gallery wall for the blog, I was so excited she said yes! Deanna has created a large gallery wall of meaningful art around her television, blending the TV into the art wall, tricking the eye into seeing more than just the television. Her vision for her mid century modern home is amazing. The furniture pieces and art she has collected along the way are fun, eclectic and work so well with the character of her home. So without further adieu, let’s let the pictures do the talking…

The colorful foliage picture above the piano portrait was left by the original homeowners of the house. It is an artist’s abstract interpretation of the home’s backyard. 

I always tell Deanna this one is my favorite! How could you not fall in love with this art piece? 

In this image, you can see a glimpse into the foyer. I have always loved that oversized paper light fixture. She recently painted the inside of the front door red and found the bridge art print when shopping at IKEA. The scale is perfect for that wall!

The silhouette print was actually a school project made by her son! The bird prints are from Target.

One last snapshot of this stunning gallery wall!

Deanna tackled this gallery wall project in a very thoughtful way. Let’s take her ideas point by point, so you can recreate this look…
1. Mixing symmetry with asymmetry. Deanna used symmetry with the vintage chairs sitting on either side of the television, but then juxtaposed that look with an asymmetrical gallery wall of art. 
2. Mixing large and small prints and using the whole wall to hang the art. Don’t be afraid to go floor to ceiling with art! It doesn’t always have to be at eye level. She used various sized pieces to fill in the wall and arranged them in a way that was aesthetically pleasing to look at. Just take it one art piece at a time and step back every now and then to see where you need to fill in the gaps. Once Deanna hung all of the pieces, it actually made the space feel larger and the wall looked taller than before. It’s a great illusion! 
3. Not every inch of the art piece has to be shown. Covering a portion with a piece of furniture or object is a great layering technique. Deanna did that when she placed some of her piano portrait a few inches behind the chair. 
4. To achieve this eclectic look, mix up your frame finishes and combine store bought prints with vintage, collected pieces. There is a time and a place for the same frame finishes and that might be when you are doing a symmetrical gallery wall. For this look, mix it up!
5. Use meaningful art! So many of these pieces tell a story, which is exactly how your home should be! Being surrounded by meaningful memories, such as the silhouette made by her son, is priceless.
6. Shop around your home when creating your gallery wall. Deanna actually had all of these prints in her home already, but on a different wall. Arranging them around the television makes them feel like new art pieces! 
Thank you so much, Deanna, for letting me crash your beautiful house and show it here on the blog!   

I’m Back! And a #projecteclectic e-design!

by Filed Under: #projecteclectic, e-decorating, e-design, interior design, personal design style


I haven’t written in a while and happy to be back, sharing a recently finished e-design project. Our life has been crazy busy lately, but in the most wonderful of ways. May turned out to be the fastest month on record. Time truly does fly by when you’re having fun. We had family visiting and there are a lot of great design projects in the works. So, the blog took a back seat for a while. I hope some of you are still out there!!  🙂 I had some thoughtful readers and friends e-mailing and wondering if I was ok and if I will post soon. I am more than ok and ready to share some design work. Let’s get right to it! I just wrapped up an e-design project that I will call #projecteclectic. My client loves mid century modern and a bohemian style. She loves neutrals and color, with fun texture and pattern. She wanted her living room to reflect that style, while also be a space that is fun and comfortable for the whole family. Here is the design I came up with…

The Design Plan



The Floor Plan



We only made a few changes to the overall plan and she loves it!! I think the space reflects them and how they live with their family. I cannot wait to see the space come together!

I plan to continue to post about client projects and I will definitely write when there is something exciting and new to share. It might not be every day or even every few days, but I am still out here. 🙂

Our Family Room {Before and After}

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


I live by the motto that a home is never finished… as our design styles change and we continue to gather more ideas, the editing of a room always comes into play. I will forever be making changes to our home and I think that’s fun! Even if it’s just moving an accessory from one space to another- that’s a change! For our family room, I realized our long sofa wall with the horse print, needed something more. There was too much empty wall space for me on either side of the print. I finally tackled that project, after thinking about it in my head for months. {I love it when a plan works out the way you imagined it would!} I also switched from floor lamps to table lamps and added consoles behind the sectional. I have been showing snippets on instagram {amberbinteriors}, but here it is in all its entirety…

Before



And After…


I am so excited with the changes and I smile when I walk into the space! I wanted to add the consoles with table lamps, because our floor lamps were broken in places and there was an awkward space behind the sectional that needed to be filled. The kids liked going behind there and I always worried someone would trip on the lamp cords. So, these changes helped in both of those areas. Since the sectional is so long, I used two Threshold desks from Target for the consoles. It was a great cost saving alternative and brings a nice pop of color to the room. As for the wall space, I knew it needed more than just the one horse print, but I wasn’t sure what- until now. The botanical prints are actually free printables from Poppy Talk. I printed them out at Staples for only $1 a page! I chose the 11×17 size they had and then filled them in matted frames to fit 11×14 images. The two mirrors need no introduction! They are the Wales mirrors from Home Depot and are currently on sale! I also have one in our bedroom and I love the look and the under $30 price tag!! If the site says they don’t have any in your local store- try anyway! They said my store didn’t have any left and there were actually 3 there, including the sample! Sometimes, it pays to be persistent.

So for now, I think I can sit back and relax with this room. Now… what room to change next??