backyard update

We are almost there with the work that we are doing on our house. The paint is complete and the light fixtures are installed (check out instagram for a sneak peek!). We are now just waiting on our new front door, which won't make its appearance until October 17!

But in the meantime, another phase of the curb appeal makeover was our landscaping. We had a total overhaul in the backyard on Monday. It is crazy to see the transformation from swamp land to tailored (usable) backyard. Now we have a beautiful space that we can utilize this fall and football season!

We removed the dead grass to lay new sod, pruned all of the overgrown palms, and planted a few new plants. We went with durable St. Augustine sod that is currently in our front yard. I am really excited to have a space where our dogs can play and throw the ball. 

I am especially excited about the new hedges that went in against the back of the house. They are so much cleaner than the ferns that were there before, and I am looking forward to them growing into one, continuous hedge over the next several months to a year. Along with that, we planted a bougainvillea against the guest house that will grow up the face of the building and frame out the doors. 

There is so much more to come in the front yard and in regards to our actual home. Stay tuned for all of the progress.....

business card design

Last week I received the final product of a business card design that our graphics and paper goods side, Doyle & Dale, put together for a good friend in Alabama. She is a residential interior designer who is opening up her own showroom in the next month. 

She requested something simple, yet sophisticated, so we automatically knew that gold leaf would be right up her alley. The Griffith on the front of the card is hand written to give her a customized feel. We're so excited for her to receive these and open up shop! 

kitchen reno :: before & after ::

Recently we wrapped up a kitchen renovation that ended up being a dramatic transformation. The client had existing wood cabinets that were in near perfect condition (even after 10 years!), so we decided to match them and to brighten the space with new countertops and fixtures.

First order of business was to remove the wall behind the range to create a huge, slab bar. This would open up the space to the family room and let the light flow throughout, not to mention it would allow conversation to continue between the two spaces. 

We selected new quartzite countertops that immediately changed the entire feeling. Quartzite is a great material because it is impermeable, but still has similar movement and characteristics as marble. To add some drama and consistency, we ran the same stone as the backsplash.

The finish for the light fixtures and cabinet hardware is polished nickel in order to reflect the light. The new hood, which is a Vent-A-Hood product, is a stainless steel body with a polished nickel banding that ties everything together. It is a dramatic addition to the space and creates a true focal point when entering the kitchen. 

Lastly, we tossed those uncomfortable iron counter stools in exchange for these super soft, huge leather stools. The inside-out stitch detail creates a comfortable, laid-back feeling for this Florida kitchen.

It is incredible what a few changes can do to a space. I am particularly fond of this one because it wasn't a total gut job. The kitchen was dark and had super low ceilings, but overall good bones. We tweaked it a little bit, brightening the finishes and scaling the fixtures appropriately to make the kitchen appear expansive and fresh.

exterior lanterns

Exterior lanterns can be tricky. They are the jewelry of the home, so you want to be sure that they complement the existing style, are scaled correctly, and have a beautiful finish. For my own home, I knew that I wanted our lanterns to be more substantial, moved out and up from the front door for some breathing room, and a style that was transitional instead of an obvious craftsman style lantern.

I had a few resources that I looked into from previous projects, and ended up going with Bevolo out of New Orleans because of their quality and price point. My favorite option for our home is the Williamsburg bracket mount shown below -

images via Bevolo

When it came to scaling the lantern properly, I did it the old fashioned way. I cut out some construction paper and slapped it up on the exterior! This helped tremendously to visualize the proportions of the lantern. I was looking at two different sizes, 14" vs 18", and ended up going with the 18" to give the lantern more presence.  

I can't wait to share photos when they are installed, so stay tuned for the before and after!

happy friday!

I grabbed these orchids at Home Depot this week and am amazed by the quality, color, and price. They were $11! You just can't beat that. Orchids are great for any space ranging from traditional to modern, and they just so happen to improve your indoor air quality and make you happy :)!

I hope that everyone has a great weekend and enjoys the first football games of the season!