Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

Creating My Own Art With Color Glide Pro

by Filed Under: art, design, living room, personal design style


When expensive, original art is not in the budget, I am a big proponent of taking out the brush and trying it yourself! What’s the worst that can happen? When shopping at local craft stores, I have noticed that large pieces of canvas aren’t that expensive. In fact, I have been lucky to shop when they are 40% off! So, when a representative from Color Glide Pro contacted me about trying their brushless painting applicator, I thought this would be a great tool to use when creating my art. In the kit, you get a refillable, reusable paint applicator tube with a soft felt applicator and a paint transfer pump so you can easily transfer paint from your old paint can into the tube. I had a large amount of wall space upon entering our living room that needed something new and fresh. Once I got started painting, I could not believe how easy it was to use! In the future, I will definitely try it for its intended purpose, which is to touch up paint small areas, doors and trim. But, it’s also fun to think outside the box and try something new with it. Luckily, it worked!

Let’s back up, as I explain the process and give close up shots of the cool product!

What you will need for this project:

1. Paint can with your favorite paint color.
2. Paint stirrer
3. Canvas board
4. The Color Glide Pro!

Since I wanted the art to be dramatic, I went with a 24×36 canvas board, which is the same size as the basement art for our kid’s space. I wasn’t sure if it would be messy to use the pump when transferring the paint. It wasn’t at all! The applicator tube also shows the fill line spot, so you don’t overflow your tube.

This was after I shook the applicator tube, making sure it was well mixed before painting. The tube comes with a shake and mix ball inside, so I can reuse the paint and just shake it again, when ready to reapply! I went with my favorite dark color, Dragon’s Breath by Benjamin Moore. I am using this color on all of our interior doors, so I had plenty extra on hand. Plus, it works well with our home’s color pallete, so it’s a win win for the art piece! When deciding on a design for the canvas art, I knew I wanted to make it modern and graphic. I tried a sample out on a paper towel, which also helped me figure out how to use the applicator tube.

I really had my fingers crossed on this one, because I didn’t want to mess up and discard the art. Luckily, the tube was so easy to use, I just went over a line again, if it needed some extra color and thickness. And here she is again, all styled up and filling the space quite nicely!

When I’m ready to take out the applicator tube and use it again, the paint will be ready! I just give it a good shake and that’s it! It stays fresh in the airtight tube and will last for a very long time. The tube even comes with a space for you to list the paint color and brand.

The above instruction list would be a great image to pin, as it gives a clear explanation of how to use the product. Scroll over the image to pin it straight to your pinterest account. (Or any image, for that matter!)

Make sure to come back on Wednesday, if you’re interested in a kit for yourself! The lovely representatives from Color Glide Pro also gave me a set to give away and use however you like!

Will Yours be for Paint Touch Ups or a Fun, DIY Project??

There’s Still Time To Shop My Tastemaker Collection!

by Filed Under: arcadian home, design, personal design style


I hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend! I wanted to pop in and say that there is still time to shop my Traditional Eclectic Tastemaker Collection from Arcadian Home {2 days left, in fact!}. As promised, here is a round up of some of my favorite pieces still left in the collection…

This coral rug would look pretty in a little girl’s room or chic layered over a jute rug in the living room. I love this colored paired with golds and mushroom browns.

These trays would work well on a dining room buffet filled with serving ware or on a coffee table with a few small books and a vase of fresh flowers.
 
I think I have to pick this one up for myself! It would look amazing as part of a gallery wall in any room.

I love this mushroom brown color paired with coral! This would look stunning in the same room with the striped runner, above. So many possibilities with poufs. Kinda wish I had one in every room!
There are still 2 shopping days left to take advantage of these amazing discounted prices.
Happy Shopping!!

My Curated Collection for Arcadian Home is Live!

by Filed Under: arcadian home, design, personal design style


I am so excited to make this announcement today! My curated design collection for Arcadian Home just went live and will run until July, 30th at 11:59 pm PST. If you are new to this site, Arcadian Home is a flash sale site that brings the best of home decor to one place. The items are discounted from their regular retail price, so you will always find a great deal when shopping here. There are so many choices and brands to shop from… be prepared to be on their site for a while, since you will fall in love with it! If you are not currently a member, sign up is free and only requires an e-mail address and password! Here is a sneek peek into my sale…

I want to thank Arcadian Home for asking me to be their designer for this tastemaker collection. I truly believe in every single item in my little curated shop. I would put all of it my own home or suggest it all for clients. It truly represents my style and aesthetic, which is traditional modern, with an eclectic twist. Since I love to blend different styles together to get that collected look, I aptly named this collection The Traditional Eclectic. Start your shopping HERE!! If you see something you love, act fast on it, because items sell out quickly on this site. Throughout the sale, check back here, as I will be featuring my favorite items from the sale! Make sure to also pin your favorite pieces and mention them on twitter and facebook to help spread the word! Also, a special thanks to my e-design client for allowing me to feature her keeping room as the design inspiration for the collection.  🙂

My family might only care about this little tidbit, but as a side note, if you just visit the main page HERE, you will see all of the sales scroll by, including my own. I said to myself, ‘Oh! There I am!’ Pretty cool, I think!  🙂

Happy Shopping!!

Styling Kid’s Bookshelves {Our Basement}

by Filed Under: basement, design, kids and design, personal design style, shelf styling


When we had our basement finished, we decided to add tons of storage for books, kid stuff and anything that needed a home. The storage we decided on seemed too much at first, but who am I kidding? With kids in the house, it will fill up quickly. I am proud to say that there are more shelves filled now, than empty! The contractors built this shelving unit by connecting ready made cube units, with a total of 54 cubes in all! Since it goes up to the ceiling, we decided to keep the top three rows for our stuff and the bottom three for the kiddos, which is more in their reach. To make this a proper before and in progress, I’ll show where these shelves began…

Before

The above picture is a true before shot, since it is even before the carpet is installed. We have made a lot of progress since then, and I am happy to say that the kid’s shelves are pretty much complete.

After in Progress

Now I am very realistic, and I know these shelves won’t stay this organized for long. But it’s a great start, right?? Here are some tips when styling kid’s shelves (especially when you have 27 to do!!)

1. Mix it up by laying some of the books vertical and some horizontal. When the spine of the book is showing, they can see the title and it will still entice them to find their favorite!

2. Layer in some of their favorite stuffted animals and sculptural toys. It’s a great way to add texture and for them, it makes them smile to see their beloved items on display.

3. Face some of the titles out, so they can see the cover. It’s a great idea when you are low on books and have a lot of shelves to style. It also comes in handy for them to find a book that might have otherwise been lost on the shelf. I plan to switch these books up over time, so I can display ones that interest them at the moment or one they might have forgotten about. (For example, if the siblings are not getting along, you can display a book about sharing… in a very subtle way! hint hint!  )

We’ll see how long this lasts, but at least the books have found a great home and will be used a lot! That’s what it’s all about.

Happy Friday !!

The New Knobs Are On!

by Filed Under: before and after, design, family room, personal design style


I was determined (as stated in my last post) to go and find new knobs for our coffee table drawers. Since I like the finish of the table, I decided to just make a small change by adding decorative glass looking knobs. We have pops of green throughout the space, so a pretty green knob was a good choice for this space. Here is where we started…

Before

And here are the new knobs…

After

I found them at Target for $14.99 for a 4 pack! That’s a very small commitment, so I can always change it up when I am looking for a new color scheme. This last picture shows how the green is pulled from the suzani pillow in the background. I like to find the small hints of color from a fabric and pull out accessory colors from that. It’s less obvious and makes for a fun, unexpected color palette. It also draws your eye more to that little hint of color that you might not have seen otherwise.

Any small changes around your home???

Small Change Idea

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


Am I the only one who walks around their home, thinking of what to change next? Well, I know I’m not the only one, because my mom and I often confess that it’s a regular occurrence in our houses. I am constantly thinking about design, so why not ponder what to do next in our abode? Especially when it’s a small change with minimal impact on the bank account! Our family room coffee table has a warm wood stain. It has three small drawers with wood stained knobs to match. I am ready to say goodbye to the wood knobs and go for a pop of color, to add a pretty little detail to this table…

Currently

Changing out the knobs to a dresser, table or kitchen cabinets is a quick, inexpensive fix that can transform the look of your room or furniture piece. Since some of our pillows have a mulit colored suzani print, I may pull a color from the fabric and go with colored glass knobs for these drawers. I did find pretty (look alike) glass knobs in a deep teal green that would be perfect. We also have small touches of green sprinkled throughout the room, so that would be a great color to choose. Even though you won’t see the knobs when you walk into the space, it will be a pretty, unexpected touch when you go to sit on the sofa. And the price for these knobs is great, too! In fact, I might just go there today and make this happen!  Since I really don’t want to paint the coffee table, adding new knobs could be just what this table needs.

So please confess… do you also walk around your home, thinking about what to decorate next???

A Unique, Creative Door

by Filed Under: barn door, barn door hardware, design, personal design style


There are some design ideas that stop me in my tracks. I love a great wow factor in any space and you’re in for a treat today with this idea. Forget about the rule that you need a standard door for every room’s entrance or that you can only have curtains/closet doors to close off storage spaces. Installing a barn door to any room is such a fresh, unique way to separate spaces and close off unsitely areas in your home. I have been racking my brain trying to think of where I can install barn door hardware in my own home. So here’s some beautiful inspiration to get me started…

Barn doors work with modern, rustic and traditional spaces and definitely add that wow factor. Whether they are bright and add a pop of color or whether they blend in with your space, installing a barn door is a genious idea! Where would you put one in your home??
This post was sponsored by Barn Door Hardware, although all of the ideas and opinions are my own.

Bringing the Outdoors Into Our Home

by Filed Under: design, dining room, outdoor, personal design style, plants


When spring and summer arrive, there is no better way to appreciate the outdoors than bringing it into your home. The best part is, it’s free! For the longest time, I have been wanting to just clip some branches from my favorite bushes outside and place them inside a vase for an easy garden arrangement! I am always drawn to the simple, pretty table arrangements where some greenery is added to a vase. I finally got to that yesterday and clipped some of the branches from our forsythia bush in the yard. This plant grows so fast, that it’s easy to clip some of the overgrown branches without disturbing its growth and beauty.

Bringing the Outdoors In

You may remember from this post, that I needed a new centerpiece for our dining table, now that the basket,  lantern and coral runner are in the family room. I put out a cream runner that I previously had from Wal Mart and found this large jug vase at a little shop in town for 50% off! They sell similar jug vases like this, at Pier 1 Imports. And of course, the branches were free!

And since I am in the garden mood, look at my beautiful blooming hydrangea bush!

Gotta love this time of year!

Our Master Bathroom Plans

by Filed Under: bathroom, design, personal design style


With our basement renovation behind us, what kind of blogger would I be if I didn’t start thinking about the next big project?? Ever since we moved into our home {almost 8 years ago}, we have wanted to make changes to our master bathroom. We have made some small adjustments so far… replacing the lighting, changing out the faucets and painting the walls. But I do have more plans for this space! When I think about a dream bathroom, I am picturing a modern style vanity, pretty lighting, light blue/gray wall color, chrome, subway tile, white stone and loads of texture. Basically, a modern/traditional style bathroom that feels like you are on vacation! Here are some great inspiration pictures I have found that bring this dream to a reality…

Bathroom Inspiration

Do you get where I’m headed with my plan?? Now this renovation probably won’t happen for some time, but it’s good to get a jump start on the ideas and all of the planning. Modern Bathroom is a great site to start with! They have any bathroom furniture style you could possible imagine and I have found my favorite vanity. The Avanity Windsor in White is the perfect combination of modern and traditional, which is just what I like. It is also very similar in style to the vanity in the first inspiration picture! I like where this renovation is going, even if it’s only in my head for now. 🙂
This post was sponsored by Modern Bathroom, although the ideas and opinions were all my own.

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

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


To say that I am excited would be an understatement. One of my e-design clients, who I worked with over the winter, just sent me beautiful after photos of her space. I am so proud of her and the way she executed the design plan. Her and her husband had just moved into a new home and were looking to decorate and furnish their living room. They already had a beautiful brown sofa from Crate and Barrel and a few accessories, but needed to complete the space with additional accessories, art, more seating and tables. Here are some before pictures of the space…

Before

This space is beautiful and flooded with natural light. It has large, gorgeous windows and amazing ceiling height. The items that stayed were the new sofa, TV stand and table lamps. My client wanted a modern/traditional space with pops of subtle color. To keep the space interesting, I layered in texture, different metal finishes and modern accessories paired with traditional furnishings. Here is the design plan I came up with…

The Plan {click on design board to make larger}

And here are the afters, and the amazing way she brought this e-design plan together…

After

I love how my client has put this space together!! She did a great job implementing the design plan. They are still on the fence about replacing the ceiling fan with a large chandelier. I can understand that, since summers get very warm and function has to take priority. So, we are in the process of thinking of new sleek ceiling fan options. I will indlude another post soon, with descriptions of the layout and how she brought this amazing space to life.

Happy Weekend !!