A Delightful Design

I've Moved!

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Mon, 06 May 2013 11:30:00 +0000

It's official! I've launched my new website, Abby M. Interiors.

I'm hopeful you'll make the change and follow me to my new home...

There are posts and pages you've never seen, including a welcome, a solution for when your newborn and toddler share a room, and my designer tips on creating a neutral living room.

You have been so good to me through my years at this blog, and I would be incredibly grateful if you would make the change to my new site. Thank you!

All the best!

Abby M.

Before & After by Sita Montgomery (and why I love Instagram)

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Sat, 04 May 2013 11:52:00 +0000

I resisted Instagram for too long.

But now it has become my preferred social media (abbyminteriors) and I've 'met' so many wonderful people!

Sita Montgomery is one of my fabulous designer friends from Instagram.

Last night, as I was prepping my new website, I couldn't believe Sita's 'before and after' shots from her recent client's living room.

Truly, you won't want to miss the before shots from this one.

Sita did an amazing job!

Click here to see the full reveal and check out The Family Room!

Say hello to Sita for me. ;-)

Have we connected?

Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

happening this week

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:06:00 +0000

We are in the thick of baseball and Lacrosse season. It's making me slightly crazy, but in the best way.

This was a busy week with new and current clients. Let's dish.

The cottage project has drapes in her sun room! We also decided on fabric for her custom roman shades in the master bedroom. Windows are no joke, my friends. What you cover them with can make or break your room. These beautiful drapes were sewn by Laura Taylor Studio. Laura is a talent.

I would love this view from my sink...trees everywhere and the river below. When my photographer, Tracy, takes real pictures of the whole house, you'll be amazed by the view.

I treated her slider the same way I did mine. No vertical plastic blinds. Get some fabric and hang your drapes as high and wide as you can.

And just for fun, remember when the room looked like this? The walls hadn't even been painted yet.

The Rockford Reno-- you know, the kitchen client that ripped down the wall of their dining room and now it's a gigantic kitchen? Their pendants arrived! It's pretty clear the kitchen is still under construction. That is, unless counters, appliances, and tile aren't important to you. But I'm thrilled with the pendants. I love their shape and can't wait to get them up!

The cabinets are White Dove by Benjamin Moore, and we are using a matte, white, glass subway tile all the way to the ceiling. The hood will be installed in that spot once the tile is finished.

I met with a new client this week who found me from the House Beautiful mention.

That will never get old! Thanks House Beautiful!

Then there's this pesky thing I'm doing called re-branding my business. I'm slowly making the change from "A Delightful Design" to "Abby M. Interiors". The website is nearly done but it's just a lot of detail work and content that needs to be written...I hope you love it.

Last night, after a lacrosse game in 90 degree weather, I made this recipe from Pinterest. I found it through Rene and then earlier this week Megan made this chicken. So I had to try! Very good. Chicken, herbed goat cheese, red pepper, basil, and finished off with bacon all the way around.

There's nothing like ending a post with a something wrapped in bacon. Am I right?

You can read the recipe here.

Thanks for reading!

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

Let's connect!

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lighting: it's important to go big

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:38:00 +0000

Inevitably, if a project I'm working on involves lighting, I will get a slightly panicked phone call from my client saying that the light is too big. This can happen before the light is even installed, or the light is installed but nothing else in the room is finished. Lamps are not excluded from this!

But here's the thing...

They have always liked the room in the end.

What seems out of place and crazy in the moment always fits in the bigger picture.

When it comes to lighting, it's nearly always the right choice to go big!

One of my kitchen clients was nervous about her new pendants yesterday, but I think I talked her off the lighting cliff. ;-) Today I'm going to share some LARGE scale lighting over kitchen islands. There are so many components to a room and I always prefer the lighting to make a statement.

{All photos from this post can be found here.}

What are your thoughts on the topic? Are you a fan of large scale lighting?

I'd love to hear your view!

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

Let's connect!

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living room before & after: the Alpena lake house

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:51:00 +0000

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I went on a quick trip to Miami to surprise my mom and it was such a treat to spend time with her, my grandmother, and cousin. Today let's do a before and after, because I know you love those! Who doesn't?

There are quite a few changes to this space that you may not notice from the pictures. We removed their dining room doors, took down strange boxes over the windows, and transformed the fireplace. They kept most of their furniture but wanted the room to feel more finished. It's safe to say we accomplished that!

The fireplace change was last to be done, but the impact was huge. They tiled right over their existing stone.

See the boxes over the windows? Not made of fabric, but since I wanted the drapes to hang outside the windows, the boxes had to go. The shelving piece had been empty for years, and the brown chairs needed to go.

I am always amazed by what a few changes can do for a room. The "little things" make a big difference. The patterned pillows in this room were made by Carol at 6 Wilson.

She's very talented and has a fabulous Etsy store.

The fabric just wraps the room and softens everything. Love it.

In closing, here are a few detail pictures:

This room is a perfect example of why should always set money aside in your budget to address your windows. Don't skimp on this. These beautiful drapes were made by Laura Taylor Studio. I highly recommend her!

Their shelves finally got styled. I tried to use most of what they already had at hand. I kept them uncluttered. The bottom shelves have the matching piles of paperback books with the pages facing forward. Then I took the paper covers off their hardcovered books and added a few accessories to the upper shelves. She has since filled the frames with family photos.

Thank you for checking out this living room! I hope you enjoyed the tour. Thank you to my clients for allowing me to share, and for sending me the after photos! Hugs!

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

Let's connect!

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e-design fireplace makeover, mirror source, + one more

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:05:00 +0000

{Thank you so much for the kind feedback on my new logo I shared here. You're the best!}

I am so lucky to have clients that listen to my direction.

When I first saw this fireplace for e-design clients in Alpena, I was struck by how pink and beige the surround looked. The homeowners didn't even notice it anymore, but pinky beige can be very bossy, and clash with walls and furniture.

Thankfully they trusted me to use simple tiles to make a dramatic change. The fireplace is a central feature to their living room and now it's stunning. To say I'm envious would be an understatement! We simply tiled over their existing stone.

Here they are side by side.

This fireplace is in the same living room as the picture below. If you follow me on instagram (abbyminteriors) you know it as #alpenalakehouse. Many of you asked me the source for the mirror.

You ask...and I deliver. I can't always share sources, but this mirror is too good not to share.

You can find it here.

Also, exciting moment around our house: I bought a new painting for our dining room. I saw it at Blue Door Antiques and couldn't stop thinking about it. I knew that was the sign to go back and buy her.

Isn't she lovely???

That's all for today. Full before and after shots of the #alpenalakehouse coming soon! I'm off to do a site check on a major kitchen renovation. Love my job.

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

Let's connect!

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an announcement, client master suite, the cottage project, & local kitchen design board

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:27:00 +0000

Hi friends- I hope you're having a great weekend! I have plenty of random updates to share with you, so grab your favorite drink and let's catch up.

First up, and most important...I'm making some major changes to my business. When I started this blog three years ago I could not imagine how it would grow into my business. I simply wanted to write about interior design and was naming a blog. But now it's time to move forward and name my interior design business.

Here's a peek at my new logo for Abby M. Interiors.

Although I'm scared to totally re-brand my business and blog, I count it a necessary growing pain to move forward. Of course I'm scared that I will lose readers when my site moves, but my hope is that you'll move with me and be happy with the new look.

The Cottage Project client is moving along swimmingly. Her master bedroom didn't even have walls when we started, and now we've got furniture, art, and even accessories.

Her new sofa arrived in the living room and I selected this fabric for the pillows that came with the sofa. My trick? Don't actually use the pillows they give you on the sofa. Think how you might use them somewhere else in the room. These pillows landed on her wingbacks.

To see more from #thecottageproject click here.

My clients in Bloomfield Hills are ready to finish their master suite. We've got the finishes nailed down for the bathroom...

This Macaubus White granite is for the top of the vanity. It's insanely gorgeous. I had never seen it before, but it's totally lovely.

Now I'm on the hunt for the perfect vanity. Not easy, because they want a large vanity but without double sinks. I'd like a reclaimed/rustic pine finish. Something similar to this. I'll keep you in the loop.

My inspiration for their master bedroom is below. Grasscloth, tone-on-tone drapes, painted ceiling, and texture are what I'm scheming.

I currently have two clients in the Rockford area--both kitchens. This one is more of an update than a renovation, but these changes will make a HUGE difference in their overall kitchen. I've included a photo from the way the kitchen looks now on the board, but everything else is new. We met at the granite store this week and they approved the hexagon milk backsplash and River White granite for the island. They are keeping all the cabinets, but I'm going for an organic modern feel with plenty of natural elements.

Thanks for reading and spending time here! I so appreciate you. Come back this week for more before and after shots--including a gorgeous fireplace makeover from an e-design client.

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

Let's connect!

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Thornapple kitchen: before and after

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:30:00 +0000

The #thornapplekitchen is complete. Their builder-basic kitchen got a fresh look and my client was so fun. I feel like my clients turn into friends, and for that I am lucky.

Please forgive my iPhone photos, but as my favorite photographer just had a darling baby boy, I'm going to wait to style this kitchen before I force Tracy to take professional photos. :-)

My wonderful clients had a not so wonderful kitchen. But we fixed that! The cabinets were professionally painted by Mike, the painter. He rolls the cabinet boxes and takes the cabinet doors to his studio to be sprayed. We added a backsplash, all new lighting, hardware, granite, faucet, and moldings galore.

My clients wanted to keep all of their seating, but the added molding to the peninsula was a massive improvement. Molding is an easy fix for those of you looking to dress up your kitchen.

Lighting. I can't stress the importance of lighting enough. This kitchen only had one small center light in the kitchen, and then one light over the dining table. It simply wasn't enough. Because of an addition built off the kitchen, the space does not receive much natural light. Between painting the cabinets and adding the lighting, this made a huge difference.

I know you're all tempted to get creative with your backsplash. But truly, if you have a natural stone counter with a pattern to it, please, for the love of all things beautiful, just keep your backsplash simple. It doesn't mean everyone has to do a white subway tile, but there's no need to insert diamond shapes of your granite countertop mixed in with your travertine backsplash. I only mention this because my electrician on this project suggested it. No. That's a bad idea. ;-) It sounds interesting and creative, but just keep it simple and glorious. I share this tip with love!

One of the best compliments my client gave me, possibly without even knowing it, was thanking me for helping her to realize that she deserved a stylish kitchen. Now she's seeing other homes with new eyes and not afraid to buy a house with a not-so-great kitchen, because she knows it can be made beautiful without a huge renovation. And that, my friends, is what it's all about.

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

Let's connect!

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client updates: kitchens, kitchens, kitchens

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:57:00 +0000

Hi all! I am up to my ears in kitchen designs, and it's so fun to see them all come together. It's not always easy for clients to watch their kitchen look worse before it gets better; but it is always worth it in the end! There is a lot happening this week so I combined the projects into collages to help you keep them straight.

This #thornapple kitchen is a local client who knew she didn't want to move out of their house but could not stand their kitchen any longer. We changed the lighting, painted all the cabinets, painted the walls, added a backsplash, hardware, moldings, and faucet. Once everything is installed I'll do a true "before and after" post. It's quite a difference!

This #rockfordkitchen client (I put those hashtags on here in case you'd like to follow along on instagram: abbyminteriors.) has a beautiful home! But they have lived there nearly 10 years and they're ready for some updating. We are leaving the wood cabinets as is, but getting new appliances, staining the floors, changing the lighting, adding a backsplash, new stone counter on the island, painting the walls and painting the island. Oh! And possibly new bar stools and window treatments. :-) Below is our color plan. I know it may look like too much blue, but it has a grey undertone and looks very rich against all of her brown cabinets and furnishings.

This #rockfordreno project is huuuuge. Tracy, the photographer from this post is gutting her kitchen/dining room and changing the living room. Like 12 foot island huge. There is so much demo happening right now that I'm not even going to share pictures of that mess. But this week we did decide on some lighting and finalized the runner for their stairs. It's going to look fab with charcoal banding.

Finally, #kitchenfancy got their crown molding and their gorgeous granite. If you love the look of marble but prefer granite, I highly recommend Colonial White. It's beautiful.

We're still waiting for their backsplash and appliances, but they're on their way!

There are more client updates from this week, but true to the title, I'm sticking with just the kitchens. Thank you so much for following along!

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

Let's connect!

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celebrating the life of Lilly Pulitzer 1931-2013

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 18:10:00 +0000

This is a sad day for the design world, and for anyone who loves fabric and fashion.

Lilly Pulitzer was an inspiration. An icon.

At 21 she eloped with her husband and fled NYC for sunny Palm Springs.

Peter & Lilly, 1955, photo by Slim Aarons

She opened up a juice stand and in her effort to hide the juice stains, she had a sleeveless dress made from brightly printed fabric. Her life would never be the same.

Her fabrics and designs are incredibly happy while still being sophisticated. I love them with my whole heart.

Thank you, Lilly, for making our lives a little brighter. My living room thanks you for your dragon fabric!

a preview from our photo shoot with Tracy Anne Photography

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 18:29:00 +0000

The pictures from my photo shoot with Tracy Anne Photography are back and I'm very happy with how they look. Tracy is crazy talented! I'm saving the bulk of the pictures for when I reveal the new blog design, but I couldn't wait to share a tiny preview with you.

Tracy was also kind enough to take a few pictures of me for my website and social media. This girl worked magic! Because people, I'm no super model, and Tracy helped me feel comfortable. It's no surprise she specializes in portraits. If you live in the West Michigan area I highly, highly recommend her!

Thank you, Tracy! Please help me show Tracy some love, and like her page on Facebook.

The girl has skills!

I hope you're having a lovely weekend! Thanks so much for reading.

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

Let's connect!

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Preppy California Chic: e-design living room plan

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:56:00 +0000

My job is so fun. I must say.

I was recently contacted by Karin, from the Bay Area in California. She hired me to help finish her formal living room via e-design. She asked for "Kate Spade to have a party with J. Crew and Trina Turk." Well color me happy! I was excited to make that happen.

Karin had already started with the pink and orange fabric as drapes. You can see it in the far left image below. She was inspired by the drapes in Paige's home.

images found here

Here is where we started...Her drapes aren't installed, she just tucked the fabric in to show me.

Isn't her coffee table amazing? It was a made by a family member. Beautiful.

I'd like to see faux bamboo etageres flanking the doors into the dining room.

I'd also add color over the fireplace through some original art.

Here is my recommendation for her California Prep living room.

She said she wants to be happy every time she walks by the living room, even though they don't use the space that often. I know I would be smiling the day away if this was my house.

What do you think? Is this a space that would make you happy?

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

Let's connect!

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modern-granny-chic living room design + sources

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:24:00 +0000

Most days you can find me scouring the web for my clients. But there are moments when I find a piece that totally inspires me to create an entire room. Like today!

When I found this gorgeous rug it spiraled into a whole living room.

I whipped up this design plan just for you. When I design for clients I am not allowed to share sources, but today I can link to every piece! This is a true mix of high and low. I hope you find a piece that inspires.

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

weekend recap + my top 3 recipes from Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:41:00 +0000

I hope you had a great weekend. We celebrated Easter and attempted this family photo on our deck. I'm not really sure what's going on with my vice grip on my toddler's bottom, but regardless, we got a photo with everyone together! Usually I'm behind the camera. I swear my kids are going to grow up thinking they only spent time with their father because he's in all the pictures! ;-)

On Friday, my friend and photographer, Tracy, came over to take pictures of both me and my house. If you follow me on Instagram you've already seen more than enough photos about our shoot. But I just want to say that it is not easy acting natural and feeling comfortable in front of the camera. However, Tracy did an awesome job of being patient and working with me until we got it right. I'm so excited to see how they turned out. There's a new blog design coming soon and you'll get to see the shots then!

Most of you know that I really love to cook. I'm not going to say I always keep it healthy, but our Easter dinner sure was delicious. Here's my top three recipes from the weekend:

Green Bean Bundles. Ah-mazing. Seriously. They were supposed to be on our plates for dinner but we couldn't wait to eat them so I served them as an appetizer. I really can't recommend these enough. I did cut way back on the amount of brown sugar all around. It was still very tasty.

Pioneer Woman's Glazed Ham was the rock star of the day. I made ham for Christmas (boiled in Coke) and it was a total flop. This recipe was a dream. It really looked just like the picture when it was done. Incredibly juicy and flavorful. Now I just need to decide what to make with the leftovers. Any ideas?

Pioneer Woman's fruit salad was not only beautiful on the eyes, but a fast mover. You coat the entire salad with a simple syrup mixture of orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla. You can't go wrong. My only regret was not having some angel food cake to go with it!

Would you try any of these recipes? They certainly aren't exclusive to the holidays. In fact, I may have to make those green bean bundles again tonight. ;-)

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

House Beautiful, Client Updates, and 6 Wilson pillows

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:18:00 +0000

I've got plenty to say today, so stick with me! I save the best section of the post for last, so if you're in a hurry just scroll down.

You know what makes a designer freak out in the best way possible? Any type of mention by an incredible shelter magazine...like House Beautiful!

You can just imagine my surprise (and possible hyperventilating) when A Delightful Design was listed by House Beautiful as one of the Top 5 Blog Posts of the Week. It is such an honor to be noticed. Just the knowledge that they know I exist was very exciting to me.
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Client Updates
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Lately I've been doing more color consultations. Essentially the client hires me for one hour and they can use that however they choose. This works both for local and e-design clients. Last week I had the pleasure of visiting Jessica at her 50's ranch.

We made many decisions on how to move forward, and yesterday I received the sweetest e-mail from her.

I'm super excited to get this project started. Thank you for all your help! I am never doing another thing without hiring you first! I can't believe how quickly you were able to assess the space and decide what to do with it! I have lived here for four years and I couldn't do that! Can't wait till it's all done. Thanks again!

--Jessica H., One Hour Consultation

I share this shameless plug for my business to show you that hiring a designer doesn't need to be something for the rich and famous. You spend so much time in your home, and if you're not loving it, there could be a simple-for-a-designer fix. You'd be surprised what can be done in an hour--especially if you have specific questions or design dilemmas.

I spent yesterday with the talented Tracy. We are gutting her kitchen & dining room, taking down the wall, and putting in a 12 foot island and tons of new cabinetry. It takes quite a few people to make this happen! This project is huge and involves tons of details. I love that. I used to be content just to decorate, but now that's not enough. I really enjoy designing the space. I want a say in where the lights will be installed, and every detail beyond that. I'm so happy I get to work with Tracy.

We're removing all of the cabinets where you see that empty wall space, even the cabinet that's still there, and adding open shelving while taking the new backsplash up to the ceiling. There are too many other changes to even mention here. ;-) But stay tuned.

When I first started my business I used to give my clients what they asked for. So if my client asked me for a new paint color for their bathroom (like below) then I'd do just that. But now I have more confidence to say what I would really recommend. So for this bathroom we are going to frame the mirror, add lighting over sink, remove the dated vent on the ceiling and change out the fixture, wallpaper the walls and ceiling plus add crown molding.

The best part of this renovation is that it's getting done fast. So have no fear, you will get to see "after" shots soon!

This client is very special to me, for reasons I won't mention here, but I wanted to share the custom cabinets from this kitchen renovation I've been working on. I've lovingly named this kitchen #kitchenfancy. It's going to be one of the most beautiful kitchens I have ever done.

The red walls have been painted Puritan Gray by Benjamin Moore.

And the most beautiful hardware has been added. You can't tell by this photo, but the handles have a slight patina/worn look to them. So pretty in person.

Now we just wait for pesky things like appliances, granite, and a backsplash. I am so blessed to work with amazing clients. Really. I pinch myself every day.

I'm also working on a master suite in Bloomfied Hills. This is an e-design client that I've worked with before. You can see their nursery design here. Yesterday I had a chance to visit my personal tile heaven, also known as Virginia Tile, and selected these for their Master Bathroom.

There is also progress with The Cottage Project! Her new rug was installed in the living room and it's a dream. It's a neutral mix of beige and gray with hits of deep teal. I can't wait to share the whole room when it's complete!

Phew! Thanks for reading that. Just a lot of different projects in the works and I wanted to give you a glimpse into what I'm up to.

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6 Wilson

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Heads up! Your time to use your discount code at 6 Wilson is running out. She has recently added new inventory and there are great pieces for spring!

Clarke & Clarke hot pink

Aqua & Cream leopard luxe velvet

Deep Peacock blue velvet

vintage Schumacher emerald & cream linen

fuchsia, pink, & orange, embroidered pillow

deep pink, crisp weave

So click here to shop 6 Wilson and use the discount code (ABBY10) at check out. Order yourself a designer pillow for Easter, for Mother's Day, or because your living room and bedroom will thank you. Honestly, beautiful pillows are the secret to a stunning room. There's just no getting around it.

I really appreciate all of you who read my blog and follow on Facebook and Instagram. You're the best! Special shout out to the ladies at PNC! ;-)

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

DC e-design: before & after

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:45:00 +0000

Good morning, friends. I've been really busy with clients and haven't had much time to blog, but I'm just going to jump back in because I wanted to share this e-design reveal with you. One of the joys of my work is the ability to work with clients who live far away. This client was actually a friend I've known since middle school who lives with her husband and daughter in D.C..

Last April, Sara contacted me looking for help with her entry and stairway. They have a very classic DC colonial. I gave them two choices and this is the design plan they selected:

I took my color cues from what they already had in their dining room: navy and orange.

This 'before' shot gives you an idea of what colors the entry wall color before we started. It was very creamy and they weren't a fan. Although their living room looks rather beige in this photo, it's actually grey.

They were unhappy with the entry wall color and light.

If you look closely, you'll notice that they removed the railing that you see in the picture above. I recommended they move it to the other side of the wall. I also recommended they paint the risers of the stairs white. I love when clients take my advice! It's the little details that can really make a difference.

The sparkle from their new light looks so pretty!

The top of the stairs needed a new light and they requested a rug. But I also wanted to create a little nook on the window seat.

We painted the wood top on the window seat white, added two designer pillows, changed the light, added the new rug, and brought the new paint color upstairs. Color, pattern, and lighting--so important!

Thank you, Sara, for sharing your updated space with us! It looks beautiful. This job was a great example of how making seemingly small changes can make a big impact! If you are interested in working together to create a home you love, click here for more information.

What's your favorite change in this DC house? I'd have to say splashes of color.

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when inspiration strikes

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:54:00 +0000

The beauty of knowing your personal style, and staying consistent with it throughout your home, is that you can easily move your favorite pieces around and make simple changes with big impact.

When Lulie Wallace's prints went on sale for Valentine's Day, I just *needed* to have one in our home. I love her colors and happy designs she paints. I dream of one day owning a large original painting from her. Dream being the key word.

Can you see why I was so drawn to her work? I had the print double matted and framed. Loved the results. Now, where to put it?

Just to take you *way* back to two years ago, here is what our entry looked like when we walked through the house for the first time. We loved that it was open and much more spacious than our last home. What I changed before anything else? I had my electrician move the light switch that was in the middle of the wall to the dining room. This way, I knew I would be able to center art on this wall. It's details like this that would drive me insane in the long run. I also swapped out the flush mount light for something more me. And just for full disclosure, I'm counting down the days until we can get new flooring--everywhere.

Fast forward to us being in the home for a while. I added wide stripes to the hallway, but kept the entry all white. Then I hung my wood-shim mirror on the wall and loved it.

But I have since moved this mirror to our living room, over our television, and knew I wanted my Lulie Wallace print to welcome guests in our entry. As soon as I hung the painting on our white wall, I was bored. Clearly this wasn't the fault of the artist, but of my walls. Commence afternoon of painting stripes in our entry. ;-) Did I mention I hate our floors? Just checking...

I am really happy with my decision to bring the stripes all the way around. I thought I would be really good at having white walls, but I missed color. Stripes were a nice compromise. Not too much color but visually interesting, and my new painting looks GREAT against the stripes.

So of course I couldn't stop there. I had to paint the door as well. I chose a soft grey. It's called Brewster Gray HC-162, to be exact. I'm such a happy camper now. I am on the hunt for a new rug, and saying prayers at night for new floors. Making a house your home takes time, my friends.

The blue is called Salt Glaze by Martha Stewart. I love the pairing of that with the Brewster Gray. Nothing too harsh.

Here's the view from our dining room. Obviously I can't wait for Tracy Carmondy to take real pictures of the entry when I finish the living room. Thanks for putting up with my photo taking skills!!

Now this is the view when you walk in our front door.

What do you think? I'm getting closer to a home that reflects my personal style; well worth the wait.

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

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a thank you & introduction: Hollywood Housewife

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:27:00 +0000

Her blog was the first I read that made me stop in my tracks.

She inspired me to consider throwing my voice into the blogging world and I couldn't wait to wake up in the morning to see what her next post would say!

She's the Hollywood Housewife, also known as Laura Tremaine.

Laura is a freelance writer extraordinaire, wife, and mother. You may have heard of her husband's shows or movies. But the woman behind the man is worth reading.

If you aren't a regular reader of Hollywood Housewife, I'd encourage you to start with these three series: moving to LA, faith, and their love story. Just click on the picture to be taken to that series.

their love story

And of course you should check out their amazing house. They have their own signature style that I love. Click on the photo below to see their latest renovation.

All that being said, just imagine my surprise when I received this tweet:

Yep, I nearly passed out. :-) Laura included my little blog with some of my absolute favorite design blogs. Thank you Laura!

CLICK HERE to see who made the list.

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

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the corner I never show you + chair makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:12:00 +0000

Any long time readers out there remember when we moved into our new house, and this side of the room looked like this? Soon after we moved in we inherited this chair, desk, and desk chair from my husband's grandparents. I had loved the lines of this chair when we visited, and once they moved out of their condo they generously passed them onto us. I always knew I would make changes to them.

Here is another shot from across the room. We had installed lights at this point, but that was it. Sometimes it's good for me to look back at these photos, especially when I feel like we're not moving fast enough on the changes, to see how far we've come.

Here is the closest picture I have to this same angle. Notice how I totally avoided capturing this corner. ;-)

So back to the corner...

The easiest and least expensive change was to paint the desk and chair.

Then I fell in loooooooooove with this fabric from Domesticate on Spoonflower.

My amazing upholsterer transformed the chair.

Shortly after I found this pillow on 6 Wilson and added it to the corner.

And this lotus stool went on clearance at World Market.

Now the corner is shaping up and I can finally share the improvements.

I added a picture of the grandparents to the desk. I thought it was fitting.

I added some of my favorite pieces and colors for inspiration.

I think it's a major improvement. But when I look at these photos I think I might paint the desk white. We'll see. That's the glory of an evolving home!

So now you've seen the corner I never share.

Are there corners of your home you'd never want the public to see?! What do you think of the changed corner?

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

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dining room before & after: Denise Briant Interiors

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:47:00 +0000

I was so happy to see this email from Denise Briant in my inbox.

Denise is an interior designer in New Jersey and I absolutely love this transformation. She graciously allowed me to share photos, by Lindsey Reed Photography, on my blog today.

Here is the before shot of this colonial room. Love the moldings.

And the spectacular after shots:

Can you even believe it's the same room? The use of color is perfection and I just wish this was my house!

Want to see more photos and read about this transformation? Click here to visit Denise Briant Interiors.

a pillow plan for our living room

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:52:00 +0000

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend. Thank you for all of the kind comments from our house photo shoot with Tracy. As you'll see from the pictures in this post, I'm in desperate need for her to take shots of our living room, but it's just not ready yet.

I will spare you my list of things still to do, but flooring is one of the obvious problems. Here is how everything looks now. There are a few changes since these pictures were taken, but you get the general idea.

Today I'm focused on making a plan for the pillows. I'm a believer that lighting and fabrics are one of the most important elements in your space. They really set the tone for your entire room.

Here is what I'm thinking:

These would be on our green velvet sofa:

This mix for our white sofa:

And here is how it all looks together.

I've had people ask me to label my style in the past and I was never able to put my finger on it. But now, I believe I've come to the conclusion that I'm "eclectic-vintage-prep".

I know not everyone enjoys this much pattern in a room, but color and pattern actually feed my soul. I'm not trying to be dramatic, that's just the truth! Would you like a colorful pillow mix in your home?

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

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photo shoot with Tracy Anne Photography: boys' bedrooms

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:05:00 +0000

The first thing someone says when they come over for the first time is that "your house looks so much different than the pictures"! My photo taking skills are not great, and neither is my equipment. I actually feel badly when I scroll through old posts and see the grainy shots your eyes have seen. That's where Tracy comes in and saves the day!

Tracy was originally a client of mine. I designed a plan for her master bedroom. We liked each other so much we decided to form a partnership: my design service for her photo skills. Tracy owns Tracy Anne Photography, specializing in child & family portraits, but is also experienced in weddings and interiors. She was so easy to work with and my youngest fell in love with her! He was literally running circles around her trying to get her attention. :-) I can't wait to finish our living room so Tracy can take proper photos of the space! You can see more of her work on her Facebook page.

Today I will give you a tour through both of our boys' 'big boy' rooms. They a mix of high & low, new & vintage, but 100% personalized. There are little family treasures or memories tied to nearly every item in their rooms. I think Tracy did a great job of capturing the feel of each. Thanks Tracy!!

You can click here to see the before photos of this room and for my list of sources.

Click here for before photos and source details. As always, feel free to ask questions in the your comment.

HUGE thank you to Tracy Anne Photography for finally helping me represent our home and my work. Stay tuned for more photos soon!

What do you think? Which room would be your favorite?

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

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Introducing 6 Wilson: my favorite source for pillows + a discount

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:57:00 +0000

I am so excited today. One of my dear friends, Carol, is a career interior designer and has an obsession with gorgeous textiles. This month she launched her very own shop on Etsy, 6 Wilson. She has a large assortment of designer pillows and the quality of her work is impeccable. Carol has scoured her fabric sources for the most beautiful pieces and now she shares them with you.

The best part is that as her friend I'm constantly checking her store and found this pink and white dragon pillow. I knew it was exactly what my fig leaf chair needed. But more on this chair later... I quickly bought this pillow cover and when it arrived yesterday I could not stop smiling!

She has one Lee Jofa dragon pillow still available.

Carol had recently sent me this cut velvet pillow cover as a gift, and I tell the truth when I say this is the most luxurious pillow I have ever owned. It feels like silk to the touch, and look so glam on our green sofa.

I took a moment to pull together a few of my favorites from 6 Wilson to give you some ideas.

I love this look for a master bedroom. But it would be beautiful anywhere.

blue & green plaid pillows

This feels more suited for a living room, with some pillows on the sofa and some on chairs.

Schumacher Camberwell Vases

Now onto more pillow eye-candy. These are so luxurious.

Highland Court cut velvet

Highland Court pillow

F.Schumacher Exclusive Trellis II

ikat pillow

Schumacher Rosette in Charcoal

Embroidered Suzani

The craftsmanship and details on her pillows are beautiful.

Pattern matching? 6 Wilson has that.

I love this combination so much I can hardly stand it. Considering changing all of my plans for our bedroom and possibly using these. Aren't they stunning together?

Brunschwig & Fils lumbar pillow

Now for the best news? Carol is generously offering all of my readers a discount to her shop. And if y'all wouldn't mind showing her some love on her Facebook page, that would mean the world to me. Let's support women in small business! Especially the good ones like 6 Wilson.

Just click here to start shopping!

**Thank you for all of your comments on my dining room table.

I'll put together a post with some painting tips. xoxo**

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

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why I painted our Pottery Barn dining room table: before & after

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 16:37:00 +0000

We bought our dining room table nine years ago, when we moved into our last house. I was big into the provincial look and loved the curves of the table from Pottery Barn. I was young and not quite thinking through my decisions, so of course we bought the matching chairs. ;-) I'm hear to tell you that this table was not meant to be used on a daily basis. I think it was better suited for a family that uses their dining room three times a year. That's not us.

So what do you do when have no plans to buy a new table, but will poke your eyes out if you have to look at said table for one more minute? You paint.

I used Rust-oleum protective enamel paint in white. The finish is strong and durable! I used two coats of oil-based Kilz primer, then did two to three coats of paint. Some of you may think I'm crazy for painting wood. Or crazy for painting furniture from Pottery Barn. But I am a firm believer that you should love your home, and change whatever isn't working for you. The top of the table was so damaged and scratched that it could only get better.

Let's take a photo tour.

Here is the dining room the day we moved in. I have since moved that painting to our fireplace, painted the buffet, changed the light, and changed the wall color. And if you're really keeping up, you can see the dark beige walls that go down the hallway. Now those walls are striped.

This is after the walls were changed. You can see how dark the table looks.

Now, the table and my grandmother's buffet both have a glossy coat of white. I'm finally happy and not embarrassed to have people eat at our table. Those of you afraid of white: fear not. This table actually looks cleaner more often than our wood table. Truly.

Can you see the difference from changing the beige to stripes in the hallway?

{Photograph by Tracy Anne Photography}

My next step is to possibly add one of these wing back chairs to each end of our table. We'll see. Our house is always evolving! We've been here nearly two years and it's still not 'done'. Thankfully I love creating a home collected over time.

Does this inspire you to make a change you've been afraid to try? What do you think of the white? Have a great weekend!

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

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progress on #thecottageproject entry

noreply@blogger.com (Abby M. Interiors) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:16:00 +0000

I hope you're having a great week! We are in the middle of a major snow storm here, which of course includes a snow day for the kids. Looks like a low-key weekend is in order.

Last weekend I was able to visit my Cottage Project client. The house is getting even closer to finished, and now it's all in the details. Here are a few snapshots.

She has a small powder room that is open to the entry. It needed some punch so we used a graphic wallpaper and took it up and over the slanted ceiling. The next step is to paint the wall under the chair rail a soft charcoal color. Amherst Grey HC-167, to be exact.

See the white wall behind the toilet? That's what's getting painted. Also, we did some extra trimming of those branches after this photo was taken. You'll just have to trust that they look beautiful in person.

This wood and iron table was a local find. I think it's adds so much character to the entry.

Behind this wall is the fireplace and long living room. This neutral entry, with just a few hints of green and blue, is a simple introduction to the rest of my client's home.

Here is the original design plan for her entry. The pillows and bench are in place, but I'm saving the full room tour for when I have it photographed.

What do you think? Is this an entry you'd like to come home to?

If you are interested in working together to create a home you truly love,

click here for more information.

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