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?

Master Bathroom - 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 now we’re moving next door to the master bathroom.

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.

The most frequent question I get is, where did you buy your mirrors from? Here’s the link. The round shape softens things up and the black metal frame adds a nice modern touch. The vanity was custom made out of hickory wood and was stained to match the wood floor in our master bedroom. The engineered quartz countertop is a pattern called Torquay by Cambria. The floor tile is porcelain and the wall tile is marble in a hexagon shape. Both tiles were provided by H&R Carpets & Flooring. The light fixtures are another one of my favorites and can be found here. The faucet is beautiful, but it was chosen MOSTLY for functional reasons. We like that is is a single handle and we LOVE that it has touch technology. This makes our routine more efficient and keeps water drips to a minimum on the countertop.

This built-in cabinet has loads of storage for linens, lotions, and potions. The cup pulls on the drawers are a reference to the farmhouse style we enjoy, but have low contrast with the stain on the cabinet for a subtle effect. We ordered the upper cabinet doors without the glass. The cabinet maker prepped them and the glass was antiqued and installed by a local glass company. The knobs on our interior doors can be found here. Also, not pictured is our custom tile shower by H&R Carpets & Flooring. Instead of adding a built-in bench, we chose to include a piece of furniture so that we had flexibility in how it gets used. For now, it’s used as a towel holder on the far end of the shower. The color is almost a perfect match to the tile in the floor.

#29 Paint Chip Art

Brent, August, and I went to the Art Fair on the Square here in Madison this summer and the last booth we stopped at was Lydia's. I am captivated by her unique art. She paints on paint chips - you know, the little swatches of color we use to select paint colors for our walls.

I had one wall left in my office that needed some art. I collaborated with Lydia providing her with pictures of the room and a pintrest page of things that I like. I requested a series of 3.

I absolutely love the paintings she did and how they incorporated into this gallery wall in my office. I purchased shadow boxes with linen backgrounds and white frames and the painting really look beautiful and feel so personal.

Her paint chip art is personal to me because of my profession but her subjects are so diverse reflecting holidays, animals, food, and much more! Check out Lydia's website, instagram page, and etsy shop. It's really awesome!

Click here to visit Lydia’s website!

#25 Interview with an Intern

This past summer H&R Carpets and Angie Schwab Interiors provided a joint internship to Kelsey Nonn. She's a student currently studying interior design at Madison College. As part of the internship, we asked Kelsey to help us out with our blog. She offered some questions for me to answer interview style - things that she was interested in learning and so she thought other folks might be interested in as well. Here's the interview:

1. Was there a defining moment when you knew you wanted to become an interior designer? If so, what was that moment like?

No, there wasn't a defining moment for me. It was a slow process of realizing an interest. Looking back, it was always there. I have always enjoyed color, texture, and pattern. I have always had a heightened awareness of my surroundings and the emotional changes that come with the physical changes in our environment. The ability to affect things has always intrigued me.

Interior design is a second career for me. I worked in information systems at Kraft Foods first. After I moved away from home and later became a home owner in my early 20's - that is when I first considered interior design a career choice

That’s me in 1980!

2. Where did you study interior design?

I studied interior design at UW-Madison. I received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Textiles and Design in 2007. I also have a Bachelor in Business Administration from UW-Eau Claire. I received that degree in 1998.

The door that would lead me to my new career!

Classroom in the School of Human Ecology

3. When did you decide to take the leap and start your own business?

I started my interior design business in 2004.

I knew I wanted to be a business owner well before I knew I wanted to be an interior designer. I took marketing courses in high school and continued taking business classes while attending UW-Eau Claire after high school. I read books about entrepreneurship and biographies about entrepreneurs. To this day, I'm still fascinated by people's stories. Being a business owner takes courage, confidence, and a serious work ethic. It demands that you work hard to figure things out even if it's outside of your area of expertise.

4. Why did you decide to start your own business instead of going to work for someone else?

I enjoy having the responsibility to set standards for how our clients are treated. Since most of our projects are residential - I am invited into people's homes. This honor comes with a responsibility to be respectful and empathetic. Listening to my client's needs is the most important thing. I also enjoy having the ability to be flexible and adaptive. The options available for purchasing home furnishings and fixtures has drastically changed since I started the business 14 years ago. I can meet those needs by using trade vendors for a full service experience, local retails for a more personal feel, or online vendors offering convenience and variety. We also offer e-design where we send you a completed plan and all the information you need to implement it without even meeting.

5. Between having a family and 2 businesses to run, how have you gotten through some of the more difficult times?

It hasn't been easy! We've had some serious challenges along the way both personally and professionally. Having a loving and supportive husband helps. We believe in each other and we love each other very much. When the going gets tough, you pick yourself up and do your best to learn from the situation.

6. If there was one thing you learned along the way that you’d want to share with others, what would it be?

Never. Stop. Learning.

Hang out with people smarter than you.
Never assume someone doesn't have something to teach you.
Read.
Listen.
As a designer, always be aware of your surroundings and how you feel in those surroundings. Analyze why.

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Some of my favorite books and podcasts for inspiration:

Young House Love

The Chaise Lounge

How I Built This

How to Be Amazing

7. How has your business grown or changed over the years? Have you changed with it?

Each project is different so the depth of knowledge and experience that I have has increased. I also have a wonderful list of resources. I've met a lot of creative and talented folks through the years. Harnessing their talent in a team effort has led to really beautiful work.

Another aspect that has changed is technology. We use digital images to convey our ideas and aid in the design process. The digital images get surprisingly close to reality. This offers clients an added sense of comfort that they're going to love the space when it's completed. Many of the purchases we make for our home are long-term. Making sure you love them is really important.

8. What has inspired you to continue to want to be a designer (and run your own business) every day?

photo by: Beth Skogen

After all of these years, I'm still so aware of how we are affected by our environments and I have an emotional attachment to the word "home". It's such an important place. Living in a home that is filled with things that provide beauty, happiness, comfort, and safety is so important. Being a part of helping our clients achieve that feeling is so rewarding! 

I am also really excited about the unique service that we offer and the unique way we deliver that service. We don't rely on product sales. We make the best design decisions for our clients based on his/her budget and preferences. This leaves our client with a sense of comfort about our motives and excitement about the way we can curate their selections for a unique and interesting look . Our delivery with digital images is really unique.