Ten Small Pools that are Big on Style

Like most of the U.S. it has been soo HOT here. This heat has me wishing we had a pool. Not a big one that takes up a lot of yard, but a plunge pool big enough for the family to cool off in. I have started compiling inspiration images of what our perfect small pool would look like.

Here are a few pools that are big on style but do not take up a lot of space.

1.

Not too big, not too small. Just right.

Via Coco Lapine Design

2.

The glass gate around this pool offers safety for the little ones while still looking very stylish.

Via Apartment Therapy

3.

Lap pools are great in tight areas due to their long and narrow shape.

Via Contemporist

4.

Is this not the prettiest lap pool?!

Via Visi

5.

A raised pool is a great look and also helps prevent accidental falls in to the pool. Can you tell I have a toddler with all my safety concerns? :)

Via Pinterest

6.

This raised pool is located at the chic Casa Fayette in Mexico. Experience would be complete with a margarita in hand.

Via Pinterest

7.

Via Architectural Digest

8.

Ideally I would like a pool without a lot of cement surrounding it. Below is a neat take on the pool surround by visually breaking up the cement with grass cutting through it.

Via Elle Maison

9.

This beauty is located on the Gulf Coast in Alys Beach. Probably too small for us but the design is gorgeous.

Via Elle Decor

10.

Last but not least, this pool offers a nice change from the typical rectangular shape.

Via Southernwind Pools

While soaking in our new pool, how cute would it be drinking from these straws created by OhJoy?! Click here to download the free template.

Do you have any tips on what to look for in a new pool? If so, i would love to hear from you.

A Tale of Two Baths

In the second installment of a "Tale of Two..." we're featuring two bath designs we recently completed for a client new build.  Unlike our last client in the "tale of two kitchens," this family was able to nail down a favorite.  But in the interest of showing you a bit more of our process and this gorgeous bath (if we do say so ourselves), we thought we'd share the two options with you.    

Option A features cabinets painted in Benjamin Moore's Boothbay Gray (HC-165) with matte black hardware and porcelain floors that mimic marble without all of the upkeep.  Two different light fixture options with natural wood accents were given for hanging above the fabulous soaking tub.

Option B had the same tile but a different vanity color (Lamp Room Gray by Farrow & Ball) with a lighter option of wood mirrors with satin nickel hardware.  As with Option A, two different ceiling lights were given to leave the client with the final decision. 

Many times, we supply our clients with a couple of perfectly great options and give them the freedom to "pull the trigger" so to speak on the option they gravitate toward the most.  We've found that while most clients come to us feeling lost or overwhelmed with a space, they still want to feel a part of the process in the end.  Narrowing down some choices but leaving the final decision with them, is a great way to not only give them confidence but to also help them feel invested in the space---after all, it is their home.  We love that part of our job!

With these baths, we didn't think the client could go wrong with either option (obviously we had a hard time picking a favorite ourselves), but which one would you choose for your home?  Comment below and tell us which one "speaks" to you. 

We'll have more designs from this beautiful home coming up soon.  Stayed tuned!

Client Project-Nautical Nursery

Is it just us, or is everyone you know having babies these days?  We have a few nurseries in the works right now, and couple we're waiting to get "after" pictures of.  So exciting.  We LOVE doing nurseries and kid rooms!

Here is a recent one for an October baby.  The family wanted a nautical look without plastering sailboats on everything in sight--challenge accepted.  The walls are being painted in thick gray and white stripes and all of the large furniture pieces in the room will have a neutral palette.  There will be little pops of blue here and there with a few vintage whale pieces making an appearance as well.  Also, in the room, the client's antique, cane seat rocker (we couldn't find a matching one online, so the one on the mood board is just for a reference), but who doesn't love antique kid-sized piece of furniture??   

Gray blackout curtains were a must because---babies and sleep.  Ikea's Hemnes gray-brown dresser from a few years back is still on point.  Serena & Lily bedding was chosen with trellis sheets and nursery basics bumper and skirt in blue.  And this sailboat toile pillow
 (on sale!) will be perfect in the rocker. 

Stacked white floating shelves will keep decor off of the dresser, which will also function as the changing table and a rope mirror will hang above to bring in some more natural light from the room's single window. 

We can't wait to see photos of this one!

If you need help with your little one's room, or any room for that matter, contact us here
 and we'll help you get started!

Client Project-Farmhouse Entry and Dining Room

Hello, hello!  Summer is officially here (as in school is out for our kiddos), and we have been working hard on a few projects before the chaos ensues (hopefully not).  So we wanted to drop in and share a few new designs with you!

Today's design is for an entry/dining/sitting area that opens up to the clients' large kitchen.  It's a big space with pine wood clad walls and a stone-covered hearth. 

Because this space will function as multiple things on multiple occasions, we kept the pieces classic and timeless but with a touch of "farm."  The kitchen cabinets will be painted in White Dove by Benjamin Moore, one of our favorite white cabinet colors, and the rest of the color scheme is neutral with touches of blue and green.  Of course, we also brought in lots of texture!

As you can see, we offered two options for the dining room seating and suggested slipcovers since the clients have kiddos themselves.  Aside from the wood bead Regina Andrew chandelier, the lamps on the entry table and rope hanging mirror are two of my personal favorites in the space.  I think I could put those Visual Comfort Thomas O'Brien lamps in every design I do and be happy.

Lighting is one of the largest ways to transform a space, and since the chandelier we suggested was a big buy, we also supplied some real life images of it so the clients could get a better idea of its look before pulling the trigger.  Even though this is an E-Design, we still want clients to feel as if they are out shopping with us!

So there's a little peek into our latest work and our process!  We'll be back soon with some more client designs to share with you guys!

Updating a Master Bedroom without Spending a lot of Money

Every Spring we tackle home improvement projects, clean out our closets, and organize our belongings. As a result, it brings a since of satisfaction and new energy into our homes. However, many times our bedrooms get overlooked. It easy to do since usually it is never seen by guests. Clutter starts to creep in, clothes end up in piles until you find the time to hang them. Before you know it, it is far from the place of solace it was designed to be, a place to rest and feel recharged for the next day.

Recently, we had a client contact us in need of help with her master bedroom. She wanted to freshen up the look of her room without having to spend a lot of money on new furniture. 

“I would like to update the look of our bedroom, but my husband doesn’t want to buy new furniture. What would you suggest to bring new life into the space?”

We were able to offer her a solution via our virtual consultation. Here are a few things we suggested:

1. Balance the visual weight of furniture

First thing we noticed was the room looked dark and cramped. Though her furniture is beautiful, it was very heavy for the size of her room and there was a lot of it, which was making the room feel tight and dark. Some of the pieces needed to come out. We recommended removing the tall dresser in front of the window and either replacing the headboard with an upholstered one or lighter night stands.

White upholstered chairs visually soften the wood furniture in the room.

2. Remove all clutter

Looking at clutter can cause feelings of angst. We suggested removing any items that the client wasn't in love with. Also, free up space on the nightstands and dresser by limiting the amount of decorative objects and arranging them in neat groupings. 

Use a decorative tray, like this one from Pier 1, to group together items neatly on you dresser or night stands.

3. Hang curtains high and wide

To help make the room feel larger and downplay the awkwardness of the bed placement, we recommended hanging new curtains, in a lighter fabric, high and wide. By running the curtains the length of the wall, it will visually make the space feel much larger and help to soften all the dark wood furniture in the room.

4. Bring in Table lamps

Table lamps definitely will help to lighten up the dark room but it will also allow for gentler lighting in the evenings when it is time to unwind.

Via

5. New bedding

Another way to help lighten up the room and bring in some new life is by replacing the existing comforter set with new white bedding. We recommend purchasing the best quality sheets you can afford. Great sheets make climbing in to bed feel like a treat!

Also provided, were visual examples for her to go by and a shopping list for the accessories.

Sometimes all you need is a little advice or guidance instead of a complete room design, and we want to be able to assist you with that as well.

For this reason, we created our Ask My Designer service. Whether you need advice on furniture placement or are unsure of what colors to bring into your room, we can help via a virtual consultation. All you have to do is fill out a short survey and send us photos of your space, and we will get you going in the right direction!  So stop procrastinating on that room you've been meaning to finish. And let us help you make your rooms and your home something you can be proud of!

We can help translate the images on your Pinterest board into your reality.

Let's get started!

Your designers,

-Jessica and Mallory

Rollins' Vintage Nursery

My newest little girl, Rollins, is somehow already five-months-old. Everyone says it goes by fast, and I know that from my first daughter, but man is this one speeding by even faster!

So now that she's nearing her half-year mark, I figured it was high time I share her nursery.

Image by Jordan Burch Photography

As you may recall, this room started out as a metallic, safari room for a little boy, then we transitioned it into a short-lived man cave.  Now it's transitioned again into little Miss Rollins' room.

Quite the before and after, huh?  Because we'd spent so much time on updating the room with board and batten and painting, we kept the walls as is and went from there.  I love how it turned out with the moody walls and sweet furnishings.

Auden had one of my childhood dresses framed over her crib as well, but this time I went with an acrylic frame, and I LOVE it.  The sconces bordering it are from Pottery Barn but have since sold out.

I kept the other artwork in the room simple with a black and white photo of big sister, a wedding photo of Jon and myself and a watercolor print that says "Be Brave."  The other art print (on top of her dresser) was purchased from Jones Design Co. and is a quote from one of my favorite verses. "Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly." -Micah 6:8. 

I loved Auden's bedding so much, I decided to use the same sheet and bumper (flipped backwards to add Rollins' monogram) but in a different color.  The crib sheet is the trellis pattern by Serena & Lily in Shell.

The linen crib skirt is from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child.

The tiger maple dresser was in my room growing up, and I'm so excited to have it in one of my girls' rooms now.  The vintage chandelier was a thrift store find from Oklahoma, and I'd been moving it from house to house for five years waiting for the right place to put it.  I love how it brings a little sparkle and compliments the crystal knobs on the dresser so well.

Here's my sweet girl during her 3 month photo shoot on her vintage Turkish rug I found on Etsy.

Image by Jordan Burch Photography

I can't wait to see all of the little memories she'll make in this room.  My favorite so far is her sleeping through the night :)