Inviting Change

Our homes are reflections of our lives, and just as we grow and evolve, so too should our spaces. Living in a static environment can sometimes feel uninspiring. By introducing updates, no matter how small, we invite new energy and inspiration into our lives. For me, this journey was about creating a space that aligns with who we are today.

Updated Living Room Layout

Being an interior designer means constantly observing the environment and understanding how people live and use their spaces. It’s about noticing the flow of a room, the emotions it evokes, and the functionality it provides. This awareness allows me to craft designs that not only look beautiful but also enhance the everyday lives of those who inhabit them.

Over the past 6 years, I observed the way my family of three uses this living room space. What I noticed the most is that everyone preferred to sit in a chair. With that, I set out to include more chairs. The layout includes a long sofa centered on the window with an additional pair of chairs.

A great layout for both conversation and TV watching

I introduced a full, textured rug that adds depth and warmth underfoot, paired with a leather tufted sofa for a timeless and sophisticated touch. Swivel chairs bring both versatility and comfort, perfect for engaging conversations or enjoying a quiet moment. A sleek black coffee table anchors the room, offering a bold contrast and tying the design together. The result is a space that feels both inviting and chic, ideal for entertaining or unwinding after a long day.

Touches of greenery breathe life into a room and create a calming vibe

Trying new things doesn’t mean abandoning what you love; it’s about experimenting and seeing what resonates. If something doesn’t work, that’s okay! Design is fluid, and our homes should be too.

Keep what works

Living in a home that brings joy isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating an environment that supports and inspires you every day.

So, whether you’re considering a complete redesign or just looking to make a few changes, I encourage you to take the leap. Your home is your canvas, and you deserve to live in a space that makes you happy. What’s the first update you’ll make to invite new energy and inspiration into your home?

Living Room - Where we Shop

Thank you to all of our readers that have sent in questions wondering…WHERE DO YOU SHOP? This is a series of posts listing many of the purchases broken up by room. We started with the master bedroom and bathroom and now we’re moving on to the living room.

At the bottom of the post are images of some of the items you see in the pictures. Just click on the image to learn more about each product. We hope our design ideas inspire your purchases. Happy Shopping!

Similar products are listed if products are no longer available. See disclaimer for information about affiliate links.

With no formal and informal living space, we wanted this room to feel inviting and relaxed, but, in a tailored way. All of the upholstered pieces are from Rowe Furniture and feature custom fabrics in neutral colors with subtle textures. The ottoman has a black and white hounds tooth pattern. The side table is from Wayfair and came unfinished so that we could stain it to match the kitchen island. A cute Art Deco style drink table in gold serves its purpose without taking up too much space.

The paint color we used on the walls throughout the main areas is called First Star. It’s light and bright, but still has some contrast with the white trim. The trim color is called High Reflective White. The barn doors are painted Black Magic. All paint colors are by Sherwin Williams.

The wood flooring throughout the first floor is 3/4” thick solid red oak by Lauzon and it’s provided by H&R Carpets & Flooring. This post has a video that describes the wonderful air filtering benefits to this smart floor. Almost two years later, we couldn’t be happier with this choice!

#28 Building a House: Frequently Asked Questions 2.0

Thank you SO much for your interest in our project. Whether you're interested in having a custom home built, considering a remodel, or have a decorating project, we REALLY hope you find the blog helpful. We've been asked some excellent questions over the past year. We thought we'd share a few of those with everyone.

1. How long does it take?

For us, it took 7 months.

2. There are so many decisions to make, how did you decide to do what you did?

Our education and experience helps - no doubt! But, there's more to the building process than interior design and flooring. Over the past 15 years, we have been careful listeners and observers and we've used that to cultivate our own list of wants and needs. That includes listening to our clients as well as the professionals we work with. We also utilize resources online (houzz, Pinterest, blogs, etc) and use images to inspire our own ideas. We also love a good home and garden TV show. We've actually learned a lot from This Old House and it's good family entertainment. We love walking into the house during construction and saying, "Wow, that is so cool!" when we we get to see some of our ideas finally put in place.

3. With all of the work that you have done in preparation, has everything been seamless?

No. We make regular (daily) trips to the house to check on progress and make sure that all of the details are being done to our specifications. There have definitely been some “slap the forehead” moments and definitely some “tear up and re-do’s” but we are very happy with the outcome in those situations and the way that they have been handled by the people we are working with. If you want seamless, a custom house is not for you!

4. Did you enjoy going over to check on progress?

Yes!!!  Most definitely. However, building a home is like having another job that you aren’t getting paid for. With all the planning, site visits, decisions, electrical walk through, HVAC walk through, cabinets, countertops, flooring (Ha Ha), lumber, doors, windows, on and on and on……..  You have to commit yourself to some late nights and full weekends.  Even 2 professionals like us can suffer some burnout (not to mention the poor kiddo, thank goodness for some well-placed tech-time #Ithinkweregoingtobeoverondatathismonthagain).  

5. How did you deal with ...(insert whatever you want)?

Knowing that not every decision you make in prep is going to work the way you want it to and being able to move past that is paramount to making the home building experience a good one.

Every contractor that works in our home has an opinion on how things should be done. We always listen because his/her experience can definitely lead us in the right direction; however, we also need to trust our instincts. We spent a lot of time thinking through the decisions we're making so we recognize the value in that too.

Thanks again for your interest. If you have any other questions you'd like answered, be sure to send them our way and we'll be sure to answer them in another post!

#18 Building a House: Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you SO much for your interest in our project. Whether you're interested in having a custom home built, considering a remodel, or have a decorating project, we REALLY hope you find the blog helpful. We've been asked some excellent questions over the past five months. We thought we'd share a few of those with everyone.

1. When are you moving in?

This is a question that makes us both laugh because you'd think we could answer at this point, but the truth is we're not sure yet. Our builder has given us a completion date for the house (early May) but that doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re moving in then. We need to coordinate the sale of our current home. We do know it's getting closer and we're getting excited! Construction began in October so the actual building of our home will take approximately 6 1/2 months.

2. There are so many decisions to make, how did you decide to do what you did?

Our education and experience helps - no doubt! But, there's more to the building process than interior design and flooring. Over the past 15 years, we have been careful listeners and observers and we've used that to cultivate our own list of wants and needs. That includes listening to our clients as well as the professionals we work with. We also utilize resources online (houzz, Pinterest, blogs, etc) and use images to inspire our own ideas. We also love a good home and garden TV show. We've actually learned a lot from This Old House and it's good family entertainment. We love walking into the house during construction and saying, "Wow, that is so cool!" when we we get to see some of our ideas finally put in place.

3. With all of the work that you have done in preparation, has everything been seamless?

No. We make regular (daily) trips to the house to check on progress and make sure that all of the details are being done to our specifications. There have definitely been some “slap the forehead” moments and definitely some “tear up and re-do’s” but we are very happy with the outcome in those situations and the way that they have been handled by the people we are working with. If you want seamless, a custom house is not for you!

4. Do you enjoy going over to check on progress?

Yes!!!  Most definitely. However, building a home is like having another job that you aren’t getting paid for. With all the planning, site visits, decisions, electrical walk through, HVAC walk through, cabinets, countertops, flooring (Ha Ha), lumber, doors, windows, on and on and on……..  You have to commit yourself to some late nights and full weekends.  Even 2 professionals like us can suffer some burnout (not to mention the poor kiddo, thank goodness for some well-placed tech-time #Ithinkweregoingtobeoverondatathismonthagain).  

5. How do you deal with ...(insert whatever you want)?

Knowing that not every decision you make in prep is going to work the way you want it to and being able to move past that is paramount to making the home building experience a good one.

Every contractor that works in our home has an opinion on how things should be done. We always listen because his/her experience can definitely lead us in the right direction; however, we also need to trust our instincts. We spent a lot of time thinking through the decisions we're making so we recognize the value in that too.

Thanks again for your interest. If you have any other questions you'd like answered, be sure to send them our way and we'll be sure to answer them in another post!