Designing For the Senses

Don't get us wrong, we love a good mood board. The perfectly curated color palettes, the flow from room to room, the pizazz of a statement light fixture – these are the building blocks of great design. But despite what social media may tell you, your home doesn’t exist solely for an aesthetic photo.

That’s why we talk so much about functionality, but there’s another important consideration in design we haven’t *touched* on – good home design should engage all five senses. 

Here's how we layered sensory design into two recent projects, and some ideas to bring the senses into your own home.

Bourbon and Books

This Franklin home had a large dining room at the front of the house, but it wasn't connected to the heart of the home and felt too far from the kitchen to be functional. As a result, the space went unused, so we reimagined it into something functional and sensory-driven.

Knowing they had an impressive book collection, we began with built-in bookcases and added a custom banquette and two oversized swivel chairs centered around a low coffee table. Equal parts bibliophiles and music lovers, our clients also needed space to display their album collection, so we designed a custom record player shelf with built-in speakers, seamlessly integrated into the bookcase. We transformed their former butler’s pantry into a built-in bourbon bar. 

While all of this looks beautiful, the details you don't always see are just as important: the scent of aged paper and leather bindings. The contrast between soft upholstery on the banquette and smooth wood shelving. The warm, analog sound of vinyl. The spicy taste of quality bourbon plucked from the top shelf.

Modern Entertainment

This stunning mid-century modern masterpiece by Broken Compass Woodworking helped convert an existing space in our client's home into the ultimate entertainment center, complete with built-in seating and custom storage. The project's focal point is the custom bar that beautifully displays our client's collection of barware, heirlooms, and pieces purchased while traveling.

The open shelving creates visual intrigue while mid-century lines keep things nice and clean. Run your hand along the custom woodwork and you'll feel the difference that master craftsmanship makes – plenty of texture and perfectly smooth finishes. We designed the space with acoustics in mind, ensuring conversations and music flow nicely. Add in the scent of a cocktail or a curated candle and the sound of ice clinking in a glass, and you have an evening to remember.

Your home should be a feast for the senses, and we’re here to help you curate it from mood board to real life. Let's connect.

Interior Designers Don’t Skip the Small Stuff

We get it – if you’re facing down a major renovation where walls are coming down and pipes are getting rerouted, it’s tough to prioritize things like electrical outlets and curtain trim. And on the flip side, simpler home refresh projects where paint and fixture updates are priority can result in neglecting things like design flow through the whole home. 

Working with a designer is a sure-fire way to make sure no stone goes unturned. We take pride in our planning, analyzing everything from the depth of your drawers to the curtain fabric in the living room that perfectly complements the kitchen chairs. 

Here’s how we dotted the I’s and crossed the T’s in a recent home refresh. 

Big Picture Plan 

When tackling a whole-home refresh or renovation, we start with the big picture. What are your functionality goals? What’s the vibe? What’s most important to you? From there, we start focusing on the detail funnel – layout, paint color, flooring and tile… the list goes on until we arrive at things like knobs and lightbulbs. For this project, we landed on soft fabrics, light hues of blues and green, gold accents, and pops of personality that reflected her journey from California to Tennessee.

When looking at each room individually, we kept these goals in mind to ensure all details work together in a layered approach that flows seamlessly, while also allowing each room to take on a personality of its own. 

The Foyer 

Our client’s home had lovely trim work already in place, but a coat of green paint brought that pastel personality into the space. We added a soft patterned fabric to frame the windows, then brought the space to life with a bold light fixture that felt like a perfect fit for our client’s personality. We rounded out the look with functional hooks for coats and bags, added storage space with a console table.

The Loft 

It’s always exciting to tackle spaces unique to individual homes, and our client’s loft space was the perfect opportunity for us to get creative with a smaller space. We carried the green paint through the primary walls, then gave the room its own personality with a patterned wallpaper along a back accent wall. The room is grounded with a textured rug and modern blue chairs surrounding a classic wooden chess table. 

The Kitchen 

Blues and greens remained at the forefront of the kitchen, showing up in things like paint, light fixtures, and fabrics on dining chairs. We incorporated a complementary soft fabric for the valance and window curtains, and created a focal point above the buffet with a three-dimensional art piece pulling gold into the space. 

Primary + Guest Bedrooms

Our wild side came out when planning the primary bedroom – we continued the freshness of blues and greens, but opted for more bold pops of color. A willow wallpaper from Thibaut frames the bed, and matching curtains carry the pattern throughout the space (matching curtains with wallpaper is a trend to watch). We added a beautiful gold chandelier at its center, then grounded the entire space with neutral curtains and bedding. 

Our client expects droves of guests when her family comes to visit, so a striking guestroom was important. We continued our bold approach in the guest room with a floral-patterned wallpaper, textured green headboard, and modern furniture in complementary colors. 

If you’re considering a refresh or renovation, let us help you make sure no detail is forgotten. Get in touch. 

Sculleries Are Making a Comeback… And We Have Thoughts

This just in: according to Martha Stewart, sculleries are on their way back in style. What used to be a sign of wealth, sculleries are basically overflow kitchens used for food prep and storage so that the primary kitchen stays mess-free for entertaining. In the days of open concept everything, sculleries phased out of style in favor of wide open space and minimalist design. But today, increased storage, prep space, and functionality are back in the forefront. 

We’ve worked on our fair share of butlers' pantries and mudrooms, and recently completed a scullery build-out that sparked joy for our functionality-loving team. Here’s everything you need to know.

Why Build a Scullery?

In this client project, the family was eager to entertain in their refreshed home. But any frequent entertainer knows the challenges associated with balancing bites on the table and keeping a tidy kitchen. We decided to transform an unused portion of our client’s laundry room into a stunning and functional scullery. 

If your home has the space for a tucked-away nook near the kitchen, a scullery offers an excellent opportunity to handle all of the chopping, dirty dishes, and food storage so the kitchen and common spaces remain mess-free.  

What to Include

In this client project, counter space and storage were equally important considerations. We added plenty of concealed storage through upper and lower cabinets, and covered them with pretty quartz countertops perfect for prep work. 

To maximize the functionality of a scullery, consider adding kitchen essentials like a sink and dishwasher, or go for the full effect like we did here with a second fridge, microwave, and oven to store extra bottles of bubbly and ensure appetizers are always ready to be restocked. 

The Design 

Despite the scullery being out of the home’s primary focal point, we still took care to design the spaces beautifully. We kept elements like flooring and backsplash neutral and seamless with the rest of the home, while adding a pop of green to cabinetry. Gold hardware and fixtures also added intrigue and elegance throughout the space. Lastly, we sought to display our client’s servingware and collectables on floating shelves and exposed cabinets. 

Ready to turn an unused space in your home into a party-ready scullery? Let’s do it.

How to Design Around Kids and Pets

Don’t get us wrong, we’re big fans of the beautiful custom furniture, delicate details, and splurge-worthy pieces that often accompany luxury home design. While it may look beautiful in a photograph, is it really practical? That antique vase is just waiting for a toddler to tumble into it, and that custom wallpaper is no match for Fido after a mud puddle. 

But fear not, there is a way to strike a balance between functional and beautiful, and working with a designer is a sure-fire way to anticipate all of life’s little messes and ensure your investment remains. 
Here are three ways we ensured our clients’ homes are perpetually kid- and pet-proof.

Cleanable Wallpaper

Dogs need baths. Cats track litter. It’s a fact of life and a reality for any pet parent, but it doesn’t have to be an ongoing battle between a clean furbaby and a clean home. We recently renovated a laundry room to pull double duty as a pet wash station – complete with easy-to-clean tile and wallpaper for rogue shakes and splashes. 

The function doesn’t stop there, though, we also incorporated steps for pups to get in and out of their wash station with ease, a detachable showerhead to rinse all the furry nooks and crannies, and plenty of storage to house cleaning products and treats for the goodest boys. 

Thoughtful Storage Space

Daydreams about a house full of kids can sometimes be overshadowed by that little voice whining, “But the design!” Your interior dreams DO NOT have to be put on hold while you grow your family. In fact, working with a designer to make thoughtful choices can help your home evolve right alongside it. 

In a family living room, we added built-ins with shelving high enough to deter little hands, with lower cabinets perfect for storing toys, diapers, and everyday essentials for easy access. The best part? The facade of the cabinet doors is beautiful and seamless, perfectly hiding whatever chaos may be going on behind them. 

Seamless Essentials

Kids and pets require a lot of stuff. Often bulky stuff. And while strollers and pack-and-plays may just have to clutter up living spaces on occasion, there is a way to integrate these essentials into your home design. Case in point: a chic playpen. 

Keep your little tike entertained and safe in their own dedicated play area – in this redesign, we selected a neutral playpen that blended in with the home’s decor, and added a perfectly-sized rug to make it even more comfortable and attractive. As baby grows, it’s an easy temporary space to take down, store, and pop back up for the next one. When you’re all done? Give us a call and we’ll spruce up the space.

 We love planning around kids and pets and would be honored to be part of your home design in any phase of life. Let’s connect.

Simple Ways to Refresh Your Bathroom

We get it all the time – people think working with a designer is synonymous with busting down walls and rebuilding every square inch. And while, yes, we are certainly here for those big projects, we are also skilled at making simple updates that have a huge impact. If your goal is to spruce up your space before the holidays, it’s time to get on our books as soon as possible.
A perfect example: in a Nashville home, our client wanted a full-house facelift while maintaining the home’s character and unique qualities, while sprucing up some of the dated elements. We approached each room a bit differently, some requiring a bit more manual labor and others just a bit of polish. 

In the guest bathroom, see how we spruced the space without a demo day. 

Vanity Refresh

The biggest focal point of most bathrooms is the vanity, and this one was a classic builder-grade look that was original to the home and made no apologies for that. Instead of breaking it down and replacing it with a brand-new, modern built-in that would’ve upped the budget and the labor significantly, we selected a pretty green paint and a professional painter to bring it back to life. 

One splurge-worthy upgrade was the countertop – formerly a brown granite that showed its age, we spruced it up with stunning new warm white quartz with gold veining. We completed the vanity refresh with new gold drawer pulls that matched the rest of the space, and added a modern faucet. 

A Touch of Wallpaper

Bringing in bold, focal elements is a great way to modernize a space and add personality. In this bathroom, we added a stunning floral wallpaper in relaxing tones to the entire room (even covering the electrical sockets). This helped give the look of a brand-new space for much less effort than new construction. 

We toned down the bold pattern with neutral floating shelves and a cream-colored shower curtain that brought some brightness back into the room. 

It’s All In the Details

One benefit of working with a designer is that no detail goes unnoticed, which is all the more important when sprucing an existing space instead of gutting and rebuilding. To help this guest bathroom look and feel intentionally designed, we ensured all details and hardware – from toilet paper holders to knobs, towel racks, curtain rods, and lighting – worked seamlessly together without looking cookie-cutter. 

We swapped the former dual mirror with one large mirror trimmed with wood detailing, then completed the look with dazzling sconces on either side. 

If you’re thinking about refreshing your home, fear not. It doesn’t have to be a major expense and even bigger headache – intentional change is very possible with the right team in place. Let’s chat.