Just between you and me, does your home have a case of the "blahs"? Are your rooms feeling bland, dated, underused or just plain tired? That's ok. Over the years our tastes, interests and lifestyles evolve. We’ve all walked around our home with blinders on trying to ignore those problem areas. The hardest part in making a change to your home is taking the first step. And since you’re reading this, that first step just got a lot easier.

To inspire you with potential and possibility, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite “before & afters” to share, including a bare-bones family room, an overstuffed home office, and a basic bedroom. Each project includes insights into our clients’ challenges and our design solutions. Get ready for some big transformations and a few words from the happy homeowners.

PROJECT 1: THE EVERYDAY LIVING TEST

Looking for a fresh start in Arlington, a young family of four reached out to us to help them create a new home that celebrates their active lifestyle. Their former furniture didn’t maximize the spaces in their new, larger home. Also, they needed help with space planning and room flow. For their family room (pictured below), there wasn’t a clear delineation between the kitchen area, and the sitting area.

Our clients needed their rooms to be comfortable and durable to withstand the demands of everyday living – kids, pets, spills and everything in-between. SPOILER ALERT: You can do this without sacrificing style!

By combining a calm, natural palette with select pops of color and plenty of cozy textures, we created a warm and welcoming space. We used a long console behind the sofa to create a natural break between the kitchen area and the family room. We also added hair-on hide stools underneath to provide additional seating when needed. For more photos from this project, click here.

"We were very happy with Suzanne, Mark and team's work with our home -- both the quality of their designs and their customer service." - A. Gokhale, Arlington, VA

PROJECT 2: FROM UNDERUSED TO FAVORITE DESTINATION

Our client’s living room had evolved into a home office which then shifted into an onsite storage unit. It was filled with unwanted furniture, bankers’ boxes stuffed with who knows what, and piles of gently used items looking for another home (and a cute dog, which they decided to keep).

Adding to our client’s stress level was the fact that this room is the very first space you see when entering their home. Not the first impression they wanted to make for their guests. Enough was enough. Time to call the experts! It was time to get excited about their home again and our team couldn’t wait to make it happen!

We presented a plan to create a combination office AND lounge for our client to work and to entertain. Blending elegant elements with softer furnishings minimizes the office feel and eases the transition from work to relaxing. When the workday was done, she could host her girlfriends over a glass of wine in a space especially made for her. For more photos from this project, click here.

"Suzanne's ability to interpret my needs and style (which I couldn't articulate nor implement myself) translated into a beautiful area that I am proud to have as my Zoom background." - A. Walsh, Arlington, VA

PROJECT 3: A STAYCATION-WORTHY RETREAT

Another active couple with two young daughters (and a Jack Russell terrier) needed help making their new home truly “their home”. They envisioned a casual, meditative and inviting space that was light, bright and beautiful.

One of our goals was to treat these young parents to a special space that was all theirs. A soothing daily retreat. The large room was not being fully utilized in its current layout. We wanted to improve the flow and continuity in the space.

Our first step was to improve the layout of this space by moving the bed to the window wall (see before and after). Now the bed is center stage.

We then selected soft neutrals with greens, teals and blues to set the mood for a luxurious calm. Beautiful drapery panels frame the bed wall and create depth and interest while creating the illusion of a wall of windows. Shades beneath the decorative panels provide privacy and light control. We also found the PERFECT piece of art by Vesela Baker @veselabakerart from @anneirwinfineart for the finishing touch. Welcome to your new retreat! For more photos from this project, click here.

CLIENT FEEDBACK: "We are definitely loving our new spaces!" - E. White, Arlington, VA

So, how about your spaces? Are they ready for a refresh? We’d love to help! Take the next step by completing our short Design Survey and we’ll schedule a COMPLIMENTARY Discovery Call to chat about the possibilities.

IS YOUR HOME READY FOR A REFRESH?

SECRETS OF A WELL-RUN HOME PROJECT

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