Check Out These Renovated Dining Rooms

It’s time to set the Thanksgiving table! This time of year is all about gathering with loved ones and giving thanks, and while gratitude can be shared in any setting – a park, a playground, a couch – we’ve helped a few of our clients have spruced-up dining rooms that are ready to host the masses this holiday. 

A dining room renovation can be accomplished in a variety of ways, from total gut jobs to simple swaps that can drastically change the space. 

Check out how we amped up these two dining rooms to get them turkey-ready. 

A Simple Spruce 

While we’re always down to roll up our sleeves and grab the sledgehammer when taking on a new design project, we’re also always happy to help our clients make subtle swaps that drastically elevate their homes. That’s just what we did in a recent dining room refresh that had great “bones,” but needed modernized to match the rest of the home. 

We wanted to create a bright yet private space, so we added new drapery with sheers to accomplish the goal. Then, we turned our attention toward the chairs. We could’ve just recovered them in a fabric that would’ve matched the look we were going for, but we pride ourselves on really getting to know our clients and anticipating their needs. 

This particular family had a lovely long-haired cat that had claimed the dining room as its throne. So, we knew we needed a durable fabric that could be easily cleaned before company came over. Whether or not you a have a furry feline friend, velvet is always a great choice for dining room chairs because eating a meal can be messy, and the fabric is easy to clean. 

In addition to some thoughtful fabric swaps, we repainted the room and added a grasscloth accent wall that added a lot of intrigue – depending on where you’re standing in the room, it reflects a different, complementary color. 

A Dramatic Makeover

Sometimes, as they say, you have to go big or go home. Well, we went big at home with this dining room renovation bathed in purple. Our clients wanted a monochromatic look, so we thoughtfully added various shades and textures with purple hues throughout the design. We even took their existing buffet and refinished it with a purple high-gloss paint, using it as the central focal point for the room. 

When pursuing a monochromatic look, it’s important to break up the color with interesting textures and accents to please the eye. Here, we used gold and mercury glass accents, a wool rug, cotton organic patterned curtains, and rich velvet chairs. The result was stunning, creating the perfect moody space to host a gathering for the holidays. 

If you’re looking for an easy designer-influenced refresh before hosting this holiday, check out our harvest-inspired Paige’s Pillow Party pillow! 

And, if you’re dreaming of creating your own hosting haven, now is the time to get on our books for next year. Click here!

This Kitchen Renovation Takes Gold

It’s finally fall – a season with a plethora of cozy colors tied to its name. The leaves treat us to vibrant shades of red and yellow on their way out for winter, orange pumpkins and bales of hay decorate front porches, and football team colors flood the streets every weekend. We adore the look and feel of fall, and we’re celebrating one of the season’s most dazzling shades this month: GOLD!

There are many options when it comes to incorporating gold into home decor, and we’re unpacking them all while telling you about our recent kitchen renovation splashed with gold details. 

Check out the behind-the-scenes and the big reveal below.



The Design Process

The job of an interior designer is to envision new ways to use old spaces. In this build, we reconfigured an unused closet into a sprawling wine bar to match our client’s entertaining dreams. This required us to trim walls to create an appropriate trim, add lighting and electrical, and retrofit the space with custom shelving that would perfectly hold their wine collection. Plus, as always, we incorporated additional hidden storage to maximize the space for our clients and paid careful attention to design continuity so it flowed with the rest of the renovation.

Thoughtful Entertaining Spaces

Why have an in-home wine wall if you aren’t planning to show it off?! Our clients had dreams of hosting gatherings in their home, so we kept entertainment in mind when planning the renovation. 

If you’ve hosted events, you likely know the frustration of having hoards of guests mingling in your workspace (the kitchen) while you’re putting the finishing touches on the evening. By creating a separate wine wall with seating and a wet bar, the goal was to naturally provide guests an area to mingle while keeping the kitchen clear. That way, the guests have access to all the drink refills their heart desires without disrupting the primary fridge. 

Gold Detailing

It’s our color of the month this October, so of course we’re spotlighting all the gorgeous gold details in this renovation. While we love snapping photos of our projects, the metallic gold accents in the backsplash of the wet bar is difficult to capture – so you’ll have to take our word for how beautifully this subtle detail shines through the whole project. 

Gold paired beautifully with the mid-century modern styling of the kitchen – the striking green walls, the dark wood trim. Adding gold hardware was the perfect way to bring the project together and make it a touch more modern. We used gold for the unique cabinet pulls, doorknobs, and light fixtures where possible. 

Whether you’re a fan of mid-century modern style, entertaining with ease, or shiny gold accents, we’d love to help you tackle your next project. Contact us today!

Bourbon and Books: Inside a Dining Room Made Dapper

When you purchase a home, it’s often listed with specific room types: a few beds, a few full and half baths, and standard additions like living, dining, and bonus rooms. But, there are no rules that state those rooms must remain in their intended function. If there’s one thing we push above all else, it’s that your home design should be functional for your specific family.

If you don’t use the dining room for its intended function, change it! That’s exactly what we did in a Middle Tennessee redesign–we transformed our client’s builder-grade dining room into a cool, swanky in-home bar and vinyl listening lounge. The family transitioned to a work-from-home setting following the pandemic, and were eager to create a relaxing oasis in their home to unwind after a long work day. 

Check out our bourbon-meets-bookstore renovation! 

The Process

This redesign included a bit of construction. We kept the existing tray ceiling intact, but knocked out a doorway and butler’s pantry to create a larger space for a built-in bar. With the reconfiguration complete, we then looked toward custom built-ins retrofitted perfectly to meet our client’s needs. 

Working with an experienced designer can help anticipate needs you may not consider when working with a contractor or going the DIY route. Things like perfectly placed electrical outlets to hide wires, custom cabinetry from Century Living with the appropriate depth and weight to hold a collection or prized bourbon, and hidden storage to maximize every nook and cranny. 

In this build, we did all that and more, which created a cohesive space perfect for unwinding after a long day.

The Result

With all our plans in place, we launched into our build-out. Our custom shelving included bench-style seating, and a custom shelf extender built specifically for our client’s record player. We accentuated the dark wood cabinetry with a beautiful blue paint on the walls and ceiling, added gold accents, and green accent chairs from Universal Furniture to round out the space. The room came together perfectly with a custom window treatment and a custom rug from Stark. We sourced fabrics from Romo and Cool Springs Upholstery. 

The rear wall included a custom-built bar with an antique mirror and quartz countertop. It included a display shelf for bourbon bottles and hidden shelving for additional storage. 

With all of our hand-selected upgrades in place, we didn’t want the prior materials to go to waste. We donated anything we could salvage to the YWCA, and Paige even hung the curtains in a YWCA home in Nashville. 

Do you have a room in your home that often sits empty? Let us help you brainstorm ways to make it a functional (and fun!) space. Contact us today. 

PWID Heads West: Inside the Western Design Conference

For the second year in a row, Paige went out West to attend the Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We love working with clients local to Middle Tennessee, but continuing to learn about diverse styles, meet with new vendors, and network with some of the country’s most talented makers helps our team best serve our clients back home (and the stunning location in the foothills of the Tetons certainly doesn’t make for a shabby work day). 

The Western Design Conference isn’t just for designers – it’s open to the public to discover the best in Western home design, art, fashion, jewelry and more. The show brings together artists, scholars, collectors, designers, architects, and fashion experts to learn and grow throughout a weekend exhibition. 

This year, Paige partnered with Kelly Maxwell Designs and Little Branch Farm, an incredibly skilled Middle Tennessee maker who designs and builds exquisite wooden furniture. While Kelly filled his booth with jaw-dropping handcrafted pieces, Paige “brought the color” to the booth by adding pillows from her new collection, Paige’s Pillow Party. 

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Kelly and his team for winning Best of Show for an incredible table. 

Check out some of our favorite finds and other highlights from the conference through our photo journal. 

Paige’s Pillow Party makes its conference debut. 

Kelly Maxwell Designs handmade coffee table

Vibrant Western art by @alexamariestudios

Jackson Hole Tips and Tricks

It’s not all work out West, Paige had plenty of time to play, too. If you’re planning a trip to Jackson Hole, check out some trip highlights and recommendations. 

Teton Mountain National Park during sunrise

Stillwest Brewery and Restaurant at the base of the Tetons

The beautiful and conveniently located Snow King Resort

Mountain biking and enjoying all the mountain views

A perfect work spot with a perfect PSL, Persephone Bakery 

Gather Restaurant and their excellent strawberry peach cheesecake

The cliffside Museum of Wildlife Art

Attending the JH Rodeo

We can’t wait to bring all of our learnings back home! Are you curious about Western design or have a project you want to talk through? Let’s connect!

A Look Ahead: Annual Planning for Our Team and Our Clients

Procrastinators and excessive organizers alike know that planning is important. From tasks as big as planning for the future to as routine as meal prepping, sitting down and charting a clear path forward can have a major impact on productivity and overall happiness.

If home improvement is on the list for you in the near future, we’re here to tell you, the time to plan is now. Here’s why. 

Getting the Conversation Started 

It should come as no surprise that a major home renovation isn’t a quick job. And if someone promises you it will be, it likely won’t be done right. The timeline varies for every project based on design needs, sourcing, and build out, but we recommend starting the conversations as early as possible should you have an end goal in mind. Holidays and life events like weddings or big birthday parties are typical milestones our clients are conscious of. 

Would you believe the PWID team is currently wrapping up our annual planning (more on that later) and looking toward 2025?! If a redesign is in the plans prior to this year’s holiday season, let’s get the conversation going as soon as possible.  

Simple Projects Make a Huge Difference

While a major renovation may require more time, we love helping clients rework their existing spaces into something more functional and appropriate for their family. A perfect example: we helped our client Laura Chapman make thoughtful swaps throughout her home that resulted in a stunning transformation. We rearranged existing furniture, upgraded bedding and drapery, displayed her antiques intentionally, and added a few coats of paint to bring our simple, southern vision to life.

Especially around the holidays, attention can turn to guest rooms and gathering spaces. These are easy areas to spruce up before hosting by rearranging existing pieces, upgrading linens, and adding high-quality touches that make a big splash (hint hint, we now offer a line of gorgeous designer-curated pillows). 

How PWID is Planning

As we mentioned, team PWID is eagerly looking toward the future. We’ve partnered with Ellevated Outcomes, a business strategist dedicated to helping small business owners stay focused, confident, and motivated. We conducted our annual planning meeting in early August and are ready to tackle the rest of the year (and into 2025!) with fresh eyes and a fresh perspective. 

As a business, we prefer to do annual planning in anticipation of closing out the year. We take a look at what our goals our, what our clients are looking for, what our timelines should be this year and next, and so much more. We know how much our clients place trust in us, and we’re committed to always looking toward the future and the health of our brand. After 10 years in business, we are just getting started! 
Let’s get your project off the ground. Reach out to us today!