Install of the Day !

 Howdy Weekend . . . 

As I type, my long time clients, are heading up to their little weekend place on Lake James. I cannot wait for them to see what Kade and I  did on Thursday !  One of those fabulous kind of clients that just let us do our thing which I love, love, love.  During the middle of this past year .. pandemic filled... like many a friend, found a place to escape to in that school was remote and work was remote.. it was a thing for sure.  Lake James is close to Charlotte and within 2 hours you are on the prettiest lake in the remote quite.

This house was like most.  Stained honey color wood, wood, wood, everywhere.  The bones though.. were great.  I jumped in to help style wise.  Nothing crazy just paint, some new furniture in the main living areas,  and major porch attention.  We decided the bedrooms can wait .. 

So here's where we started !  The main living area.  Painted the entire thing SW Alabaster White with the bookcases in Ben Moore Iron Mountain - done.  I then ordered the furniture.. yes.. we waited and waited but this past week was the DAY !!!!   Thanks for the patience in letting us install all at once !!!  Much more fun that way.  So new sectional, two fabulous swivel chairs, rug, coffee table and major accessories.  I hit up my new favorite Nav Finds for the goods !  Check them out in Charlotte !!!  Tons of unique pieces for a one-of-a-kind look.

We brought our accent color back in the nook and had to hang the fish... came with the house !

The porch wrapped around the side of the house but they had it enclosed and we styled it all up for a little lounging or work space, desk and all.   All new comfortable pieces for lots of hanging out.

We decided not to go nuts in the kitchen.. again a little paint did the trick.  painted all the wood walls and all the wood cabinets and changed the hardware.. simple.  New plumbing and sink and a new countertop  helped.   With the help of Jacob, created a new "pantry" with floating shelves as there was no pantry !!!

Kept the previous owners table and chairs but added a huge chandelier... 

I decided to add these pretty brass picture lights to tie into the new brass faucet.  We took the counter top up the wall and curved it .. still cabin like and simple but much more stylish !

Ahhhh the porch.. amazing view of the lake and so, so cozy and cabin like !!!  Dining for 10 and new lounging with big comfy chairs..   kinda romantic huh !

Lastly.. a little paper in one of the bedrooms.... stay tuned.. on a mission to finish the rest !

all photo by mekenzie loli

Such a fun install and shoot day.. lots of goodies, and great team of movers who even stuck around and help take apart the chandelier to squeeze through the door !!!!  TEAMWORK !

Happy Saturday.. hope they love it !!!!!

Install of the Day !

Hey All.

Early Saturday morning here.. and I need a minute to shut my brain off "detail wise."  With 3 installs prior to Thanksgiving (it's always this way) my head is spinning to say the least !! It's quite at the moment though and I'm sitting still to take a minute to  really look at these gorgeous images Mekenzie took last week of a big install we've been working on for a while.

Gorgeous home to begin with,  just needed "finishing."  The details, a little design fluff, a new breakfast area and home office.  I particularly love all the neutral colors and texture layering on this one. 

Take a look and I'll walk you though . . . . . 

The heart of the house, the great room, luckily had these gorgeous big doors and a clean and modern fireplace.  With only 2 sofas we needed to add a few unique pieces to really bring it to life.  Accessories are always key and the layering is my favorite part of any install.  I collected numerous pieces I found at Market all in like colors and textures.  I carefully thought this one out and just brought my favorite pieces.

Try to always add different heights to a room, especially a vaulted room.  A floor lamp and large potted plant helps to bring down the ceiling a bit and fill that dead air.  If everything is visually at eye level it feels unbalanced. Large art, tall lamps also create visual balance from ceiling down.

Try to always add different heights to a room, especially a vaulted room.  A floor lamp and large potted plant helps to bring down the ceiling a bit and fill that dead air.  If everything is visually at eye level it feels unbalanced. Large art, tall lamps also create visual balance from ceiling down.  Rather than your typical fireplace side pieces these large antique mirrors and benches add that artistic edge I love. 

I love an accent chair, something different.  This one is one of my favorites.  Interesting legs and covered in a hide it strikes a conversation.  Adding a few small cocktail tables at the arms of a sofa give company a place to set their drink.  I love the layered textures and shapes, keeps things interesting for sure !

Different metals and shaped add more texture as well.  This marble side table is another favorite.

I love the impact this makes when entering for the foyer.  That fiddle fig could not be more perfect, balancing the height of the art and bringing the outside in.   Definitely warms up the space.

When stying any flat surface, think about height as well - varying it.   Each of these pieces have such beautiful texture.  The ottoman is great for additional pull out seating.

The dining room needed layering as well.  Having just a table and chairs when we started - I wanted to pull in a subtle but patterned paper, a big statement chandelier and art with a little weight to it.  I love the depth of these 2 pieces incorporating the black with a little brass.  Every dining table needs a center pieces and this casual black bowl brings what can be too "glam" down a notch.  Gorgeous arrangement by Nectur here in Charlotte.

By adding this casual rug it again brings the formality of the space to a more casual and inviting level.  A darker sideboard coordinates with the table and again adds much needed weight to the space.  Simple tone on tone curtains on a lucite pole softens things up.

Thanks again Nectur for these beautiful flowers.

Who doesn't love Kelly Weastler lamps?!

Directly across from the dining room is the home office.  I love the way this space turned out.  Light pieces against the black wainscoting add a pop and contrast.  A hair on hide rug and off white leather Eames chair creates a space to work but also just relax.  New art by Scott Kerr and custom file cabinets bring it all together.

Invest in a good office chair please people !!

Lastly in this phase we created a curved breakfast area complete with custom pleather banquette made to fit perfectly.  New free form Josh Utsey dining table and, statement chandelier. 

Keeping the family together with a comfortable place to sit while dinner is being made and just off the family room - I could sit there for hours.  Keeping the color cohesive with the other spaces, your view from the main living room and family room is easy to the eye.  Nectur created this gorgeous center piece as well in a long platter I found at market.  I love this piece !

All very cohesive color wise yet comfortable.

all photography by Mekenzie Loli


Such a fun project to shoot and after days of rain the beautiful sun streaming in made for such beautiful shots !  Thanks Mekenzie.

Install of the Day !

Hi There !

Nothing I love more than seeing design boards come to life.  Maggie has been on such a roll over the past few months pretty much working through the holidays and each weekend !  (Her upcoming vacation to England and Ireland is so well deserved and way past due)  But she has created some beautiful spaces.  Recently finished and shot by our in house photographer, Mekenzie Loli.  I wanted to take a minute to brag on this one she created that I particularly love, as well as the beautiful images Mekenzie captured.  I am lucky to have these two on my team.  She started working with Mallory Zvara last year on her kid's rooms and home office and continued into the dining room and family room.  It's all coming together as a whole and I am thrilled with the overall vibe going on here.

Take a look at the design boards she created for the living space and the finished product !

A neutral palette with the black and white I love and the softness of a touch of ice blue and a little mint that Maggie particularly loves...

A fresh white with striking black french doors.  A touch of wall paper on the fireplace wall to give it a little depth.  How about that coffee table and accent chairs, my favorite for sure.

She chose two of Kristen Bleakney's art pieces to add light color, and take a peek at the hand painted polka dot her client already had done !  Love that.

The fab coffee table sits on one of our favorite Stark carpets, cut to fit the space.

Cozy yet fresh and airy. 

I had already fallen in love with the home office she completed last year - take a look.  It's pretty perfect with a gorgeous papered ceiling, long storage piece and simple desk and accessories.

Great detail in this space, and another Stark carpet cut to fit.  Perfect.

The dining room was another space recently completed.  

The window treatments are one of my favorite elements, as is the large chandelier.

photos by Mekenzie Loli


Table set, ready to entertain.  Great job - love it all !