Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

More Project Classic Living Updates

by Filed Under: #projectclassicliving, amber b design, design, design services, interior design

It is always so much fun to see projects wrap up and clients start to enjoy their new space! I originally started working with these Sarasota clients when we both lived in New York. Now both of us are in South Florida and it means the world to me to have return clients and help them make the most of their new home. Yesterday, I showed you the newly styled bookcase in her office. Now, it’s time for two more spaces! The dining room is complete and I can just picture family and friends gathering and enjoying each other’s company!

Dining Room at Project Classic Living

The pendant over the dining table is massive in person and just what this space needed! I like to go oversized with lighting, as a few select larger pieces make a space feel bigger compared to several smaller accessories. The living room is almost complete! We’re just waiting on the finishing touches to call this space done!

Living Room at Project Classic Living

I’m so excited with how this room is shaping up! The oversized coffee table will be perfect for family board game nights. To shop the exact furniture and accessory pieces in this post, you can go to my Like to Know it page (AmberBDesign) and be redirected to the exact product link! See you back here soon. Wow, two posts in two days?!?

Ready for the New Year!

by Filed Under: #ProjectClassicCoastal, #projectclassicliving, amber b design, amber b design at home, family room, living room, local clients

It has been a while since I have opened up this blog and did some writing! I do miss it and want to check in every now and then with changes around our home, design project updates and anything and everything design. So, let’s jump right in! After the holidays, the house always feel so much more bare than before the tree went up. That wall where the tree stood was empty before Christmas, but why does it feel so bare now?!? So, I do what I have always done and shop around my home to switch things up and breathe new life into old accessories. Of course, that becomes a domino effect and moving things from one room to another leaves an empty space where the accessory was before! It’s never ending, but fun at the same time.

Our tree was to the left of the television in our family room. So… not liking that empty space after the holidays, I moved our living room ladder in there!

An old ladder with a new home!

I love the casual, family friendly vibe the ladder brings to this room. I think it was always better suited in here! As a reminder, here is the ladder in its first location, our living room-

Without the ladder in the living room, that corner is now a bit empty…

I have always admired the look of a tree in a home, but for some reason, I am just not seeing it in here. So I decided to look at Pinterest for some inspiration and came upon Shea McGee’s family room and her pedestal in the corner…

Inspiration via Studio McGee

I think that idea is a perfect solution for my space, because I can change out the greenery and vase from time to time and seasonally! So, I will keep you posted on that corner of our living room when I find the detail pieces.

My design business, Amber B Design, has been having fun making houses feel like home and transforming the look of a space! Over at Project Classic Living, the office bookcase is in and all styled up!

The office bookcase

Stay tuned, because I have much more design afters to share with you! I will definitely check back into the blog and write more often, as it’s a new year’s goal for me to write and catalog fun things in design. Here’s to a great new year and as always, thanks for stopping by!

Happenings Around Here

by Filed Under: #projectclassicgirlsroom, #projectclassicliving, #projectclassictrad, amber b design, amber b design at home, before and after, design, interior design


Long time no blog?!? It’s been long overdue and I’m glad to be back at the keyboard. I think it’s so quick and easy to keep up to date on instagram, that it takes some thought and time to get back into blogging. But I have always loved it and even though it might not be on a regular schedule, I do plan to write here more often! Here are some highlights lately…

Before and After Bathroom design! I worked with a local client on her bathroom overhaul. {#projectclassictrad} This space was original to their 1950 home and it was fun coming up with a classic, timeless design.

Before

 

After

 

 

 

I loved being a part of this transformation! There are still more accessories to install and we will eventually have the space photographed, but it is fun to see how far it has come!

I just presented a new project design for a sweet girl’s room. We originally started working together for their daughter’s nursery and then moved throughout the home. {You may remember #projectclassicliving} We are now redoing the original nursery design into a girl’s bedroom and play room. Here are some of the presentation sheets…

 

 

 

 

I am over the moon in love with these cute fabrics! I can’t wait to see it all come together!! My brother’s wedding is coming up soon and I went out dress shopping. It is a barn wedding in the fall and I know it will be such a picturesque place. This dress is the winner!

 

 

 

I am definitely not a fashion blogger by any means! 😉 This dress is comfortable, should work well in fall weather and a great blend of casual/dressy. {The royal blue dress in the background will be for the rehearsal the night before.} I always have great luck in Ann Taylor! My fast summer time staple was no hair drying and a quick bun with wet hair. I will miss that carefree up do, once the freezing weather gets here!!

We have made it a mission to start going to more state parks. It’s a fun family time adventure and this one did not disappoint…

 

The hiking was tough at times, but the falls and scenery were well worth it!!

I am working on a new living room project where their gorgeous area rug is my color inspiration…

 

 

Isn’t it stunning?!? That will be a fun one, for sure! I will try to stay more in touch and give design updates here on the blog! Happy Monday!!

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?!?

Lighting Tips in Your Home

by Filed Under: #projectclassicliving, amber b design, design, interior design, living room, sarah heppell photography


An eclectic, collected over time style is popular, but can be tricky to pull off when making most of your purchases at once. You instantly want the look of having a space that has evolved, but how do you do that with lighting that has to be purchased all at the same time?!? That’s the topic we’ll cover today. My favorite trick is mixing finishes when purchasing lighting. Just because one lamp is brass, does not mean that they all have to be that way… even in the same room. You can mix metal finishes with wood and with lamps that have a painted base. And you can also mix different metal finishes within that space. I love doing that!

A living room with a couch and table

Photo by Sarah Heppell

When I designed the living room for Project Classic Living, you can see the the wood spool floor lamp by the fireplace, in the same room with the antique brass floor lamp near the windows. Mixing wood and metal in a room brings an eclectic, collected over time feel to the space. These two lamps also have different styles and shade types. That’s important to think about, as well. The metal apothecary style lamp works in a small area where task reading is done. And the oversized drum shade on the wood lamp base brings a softness to the room with its fabric shade and is great for overall lighting.

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

Photo by Sarah Heppell

In this same room, I went with a pair of lamps for this console, to bring symmetry to the space, which was not done with the other two floor lamps. I like to mix symmetrical and asymmetrical in one room, for that contrast and balance. These fabric shades work well against the wood table, while the base has a brass detail that ties in with the apothecary floor lamp. I also love the look of having floor lamps in the same room with table lamps. For me, it’s never all floor or all table.

A foyer with a mirror and a table in it

Photo by Sarah Heppell

In the foyer of the same home, I have mixed wall sconces with table lighting. The sconces were already there when the project began and adding the blue and white ceramic table lamp brought color and additional lighting to the table surface.

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

Photo by Sarah Heppell

In the dining room of the same home, I loved adding a pair of lamps to the buffet. It creates a great mix with the overhead chandelier. In this space, there was a lot of wood with the floors and furniture. So, I went with a brass chandelier with soft linen shades and then paired that with painted gourd lamp bases with a similar soft shade. All of the lighting in this room really pops against the other features, which was our goal.

So for a quick recap of fun tips for your home’s lighting, here is the breakdown…

-Mix your finishes and shade styles {task lighting vs. overall room lighting}

-Mix symmetrical with asymmetrical and floor lamps with table lamps

-Mix sconces with table lamps {great for a foyer}

-Mix overhead chandeliers with table lamps in a dining space

I hope these lighting tips helped! If you have any to add, please leave them in the comments! Happy Friday!!

Before and After: Project Classic Living {The Bathroom}

by Filed Under: #projectclassicliving, amber b design, bathroom, before and after, design class, local clients


We are now at the final day of the before and after series from Project Classic Living. To catch up on all of the previous posts for this home design, visit HERE. I love this house and working with these clients. We have other future projects in the works, so this is not the end of this gorgeous home tour. My clients had already been working with a contractor for the bathroom and brought me in for the finishing touches and to bounce off ideas for the overall design aesthetic. I actually created a pinterest board for this design and you can view it HERE for comparison between inspiration and final result. We discussed a couple of different flooring options and patterns and they ultimately decided on the hexagon tiles, which work so well with the home’s traditional charm and character. There is a dramatic difference between the before and after, since plumbing was moved and the space was completely gutted. The after pictures are by the talented Sarah Heppell. Enjoy!

Before

A bathroom with a toilet, sink and mirror.

 

A bathroom with green and white tile, sink and tub.

 

After

A bathroom with white tile floors and walls.

 

A bathroom with a sink, mirror and flowers in the vase.

 

A bathroom with white cabinets and a sink.

 

A vase filled with pink flowers on top of a table.

 

 

A bathroom with white walls and a sink.

 

A bathroom with white tile and a sink.

After Photos by Sarah Heppell

I hope you enjoyed the home tour and the before and after series! It was so much fun for me to look back at where we began and then how we finished. And this bathroom, even with its deeper and longer vanity, looks bigger now than before! I love when that happens. We added function and the appearance of more square footage. Win, win!!

 

Before and After: Project Classic Living {The Nursery}

by Filed Under: #projectclassicliving, #projectdelicatenursery, amber b design, before and after, design, interior design, kids and design


Welcome back to another before and after. This is a favorite of mine from Project Classic Living, because today… it’s all about the nursery. I love designing kids rooms and with two kids of my own, I know how important function can be! It’s also important to include the style in there as well, and there are so many great products out there now, so you can have both. I also love to design a nursery with future years in mind. Instead of picking a particular theme, I wanted the room to grow with their daughter and be a space that works even ten years from now. The only item in here that would need to be changed, is the crib! The changing pad can easily be moved off of the dresser and it will look like a regular furniture piece. This nursery was the first project my clients and I worked on together, about a year and a half ago. We have moved on throughout the house and it’s so fun to be able to bring that similar style and look to other areas of the home. Of course you can have more fun in kids rooms and divert from the plan a bit, but we also stayed true to the home’s charm, character and overall design aesthetic. All after pictures are by Sarah Heppell.

Before

A room with boxes and other items in it.

 

A room with a door open and a white wall.

 

A bedroom with a dresser and a door open.

 

After

A book sitting on top of a table.

 

A couple of mirrors on the wall in a room.

 

A view of the baby 's room through a mirror.

 

A white chair and ottoman in a room.

 

A white couch and lamp in a room.

 

A hallway with stairs and a door way.

 

A white curtain with a string of beads hanging from it.

After Photos by Sarah Heppell

We went with a light, delicate wall color for this nursery… Halo by Benjamin Moore. It is the same color we used in the living room and dining room. That is the way that I tied this space to the rest of the home. It was fun adding more soft, delicate colors to the room. I framed two pretty floral fabrics in mirrored frames, beside the crib. My clients already had the crib, rug and dresser. We also used their existing ceiling light fixture, which we believe to be original to the home. I selected the art, seating, window treatments and accessories. It has been so much fun working with them! Their kitchen was featured on Ballard Designs Instagram page yesterday. Thank you, Ballard Designs!

 

A dining room with a table and chairs in it

 

Tomorrow, I’ll be back with a Why This Works post and then back with the final before and after on Thursday… the Bathroom!

Before and After: Project Classic Living {The Dining Room}

by Filed Under: #projectclassicliving, amber b design, before and after, design, dining room, local clients


Hope you all had a great weekend! My Mother’s Day was wonderful, being spoiled by my kids and husband. They are amazing! We had my mom over for dinner on the grill. It was absolute perfection! I am back today, with another before and after to show. Today, it’s all about the dining room. To catch up on all things Project Classic Living, visit HERE. For this space, we kept all of the existing furnishings. In time, we will replace the wood end chairs with light, upholstered pieces and also add a bar cart. The main change in this room was with the paint! We added a deep color to the back of the built ins, allowing the white kitchenware to shine. We also lightened up the walls, added art, accessories and new window treatments and lighting. And don’t miss that new pink ceiling! I just imagine my clients having a dinner party, with the lights dimmed. Everyone will have a glow to their face! As always, the amazing after photos are by Sarah Heppell. Enjoy!

Before

A dining room with a table and chairs, a chandelier and a cabinet.

 

A dining room with a table and chairs, and a door open.

 

A wooden table with two lamps and a mirror

After

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

 

A white cabinet with many different types of dishes on it.

 

A dining room with a table and chairs, a mirror and a corner cabinet.

 

A dining room table with two lamps on it

 

A mirror and some books on the table

 

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

 

A vase with white flowers on top of the table.

 

 

A dining room with a table and chairs, a mirror and a window.

 

A dining room with a table and chairs in it

After Photos by Sarah Heppell

Thanks for stopping by! I love the brass accents with the drapery fabric color and with that pink ceiling!! Up tomorrow, the before and after pictures of the nursery.

Before and After: Project Classic Living {The Kitchen}

by Filed Under: #projectclassickitchen, #projectclassicliving, amber b design, ballarddesigns, before and after, design, kitchen


Welcome back to the before and after series from Project Classic Living. Up today… the Kitchen! As I have mentioned in previous posts, the kitchen was already beautifully renovated when I came into this space. The gorgeous white cabinetry, quartz counters, back splash and lighting was already chosen. I came in for the window treatments, dining area furniture and wall accessories. All of the after pictures taken by the wonderful Sarah Heppell. Here is the kitchen when I started…

Before

A room with a tv and a trash can

 

A room with a door open and a window.

 

A kitchen with a lot of counter space and boxes

{I had forgotten that the kitchen counters were not in yet, when I started with the design plan. But they had already picked out a gorgeous quartz counter that resembles marble. Perfect choice!!}

After

A dining room table with four chairs in it

A dining room with a table and chairs in it

A plant in a vase on the table

A clock hanging on the wall in a kitchen.

A kitchen with white cabinets and wooden floors

A kitchen with white cabinets and black and blue curtains

A kitchen counter with a cutting board and sink.

After photos by Sarah Heppell

And one more quick comparison…

Before

A room with a tv and a trash can

After

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

I love that this kitchen eating area has a relaxed vibe, to balance out the more formal feel in the dining room. Which, by the way, is the next room to show!

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms out there, especially to my wonderful, amazing mom! Thank you to my sweet, wonderfully awesome kids for giving me the amazing privilege of being their mom! 🙂 Have a great weekend!

Before and After: Project Classic Living {The Foyer}

by Filed Under: #projectclassicliving, amber b design, before and after, design, foyer, interior design, local clients


Welcome back to another fun before and after! Today, we are focusing on the foyer. This is the first impression upon entering through the front door, so we really wanted this space to set the tone for the house and connect the other designs. We added a meaningful gallery wall going up the stairs, added function with an entry rug and vintage coat rack and also updated the foyer furniture with a new demilune, lamp and accessories. Let’s first take a look back at where we began. And of course, the gorgeous after photos are by the talented Sarah Heppell. Enjoy!

Before

A hallway with a mirror and a wooden cabinet.

A staircase with wood treads and white railings.

 

A white door and wooden floor in the hallway of a house.

After

A foyer with a mirror and a table in it

 

 

A staircase with many pictures on the wall

 

A staircase with wood treads and white risers.

 

A coat rack with a scarf hanging on it.

 

A white door with two framed pictures hanging on the wall.

After photos by Sarah Heppell

We kept the wall color and sconces, but the rest is new. And we are not finished! We are currently in the works to install a stair runner. Wait until you see which option they chose!! Thanks for stopping by. Up tomorrow… the before and after of the kitchen. The eating area was a clean, blank slate, which was fun to design!