What exactly does “breaking ground” mean? How do you go from a flat little piece of property to an actual standing structure? Let’s take a look together!

If you’re just joining us, this is the fourth installment of a series documenting the building of our personal dream home. We started off with INSPIRATION, tackled the FLOORPLAN, then discussed LOCATION.  Now, let’s dive into the fun part…BREAKING GROUND.

 

Process

One of the neat things about building a home almost anywhere in the US, is that the majority are built using the same standardized building process. One reason is that building codes are typically very similar across the country.  Another reason is cost, since this process produces a home pretty quickly at a reasonable price. If you ever watch a house being built, you’ll see it goes through the following steps:

So, where are we now on this project?

Well, we’ve “cleared and scraped the lot“, which basically means two different subcontractors came in and did their thing. The tree people came in and cut down all the pine tress that were planted many years ago to harvest, took them away and left all the pretty oak trees for us. Then, the site guys came with their big equipment and cleared out and flattened the area we will build on.

Next, the area was “formed up and filled“. This means the house was measured out on the ground (exactly how the floorplan dictates), footings were dug around the perimeter and filled with concrete. Fill dirt was brought in by our fill guy and a stem wall was created to get the house to look nice and tall. Then, any plumbing or electrical that needed to go through the foundation was put in, like drains and floor outlets.

Next, our concrete people came and poured the concrete slab. Pretty exciting! I reminded myself of my own rule, which is “a concrete slab always looks too small”. (See my post on “3 Things That WILL Happen When You Build” here, which includes this one!)

 

Now, we are “framing“, which means the framing crew builds the walls and roof. This is definitely the most exciting phase, since you start to really “see” the house taking shape. The floor system, walls and roof systems are built, then OSB sheeting is applied to the exterior walls.  The house is then “wrapped” with a protective barrier, known as house wrap, that prevents water from infiltrating the structure.

So, now we have a real life house! I couldn’t be happier with the progress and how the layout is taking shape. It’s always scary to build a completely new floorplan that’s unlike anything you’ve ever built before. Yet, here we are doing exactly that! I’m excited to see this house start to come together.

 

Thanks for stopping by and following along with our project!  If you’d like to recap, you can find the first 3 installments in this series, “Building Our Dream Home” here, here and here.

Designing a Medical Office in Gainesville, Florida

 

Over the past year, I’ve worked on a complete redesign of a medical office in Gainesville, Florida. Slightly stuck in the 90’s, this office was ready for a complete redo! This very busy practice sees hundreds per day and it was time to give these patients a more modern place to visit. Let’s take a look at how it came together.

 

The Before

 

 

The 2 Concepts Presented

I created two distinctively different concepts for them to select from. Since this portion of the practice sees mostly women, I created a soft “color” version and a refined “neutral” version.

Colorful pink and green option

Refined neutral option

Which would they choose?

 

The Selection

A neutral palette was selected with lots of texture and rich details. Greige, white, beige and gray were the settled on color scheme. Split face travertine at the entry and a gorgeous custom made reception desk were the focal points.

Design via Carson’s Cabinetry

 

 

The After

We couldn’t be happier with the results! A beautiful office now greets the hundreds of patients seen each day.

Debra Main, the company’s Marketing Director, sums it up like this. “Recently we’ve undergone a major renovation because we want to improve our patients’ overall experience.  We believe that patients  chose their health care providers based on who can respond to their needs and the sum total of their interactions while they are in your office.  If we can make you comfortable in this environment, it becomes a better experience for you.”

Let’s take a look!

 

 

 

Where do ideas come from? Well, not from thin air. Inspiration is a beautiful thing and I LOVE being inspired by great designers. Pinterest fads may come and go, but true design is timeless.

 

Here’s my completely unscientific, highly opinionated list of the best Interior Design books out there in 2019. Some are new, some are old, but all are truly inspiring and look great on a coffee table. Enjoy!

 

1.Beautiful: All-American Decorating and Timeless Style by Mark D. Sikes

 

 

2. Tory Burch: In Color by Tory Burch

Tory Burch sees the world in color, inspired by people, places, and ideas—all of which influence her brand, synonymous with print and color. In her first book, she explores what living in color means to her. The book is organized by color, each one brought to life through images of her own collections and travels; how she entertains; style icons; the works of artists, authors, and interior designers she admires; and the advice of business leaders—many of whom are interviewed within.

 

 

3. In the Spirit of The Hamptons by Kelly Killoren-Bensimon

Assouline began with an idea and a belief: the first, a notion that beauty, perfected, has meaning that is capable of transforming our lives; and the second, that a book—artfully crafted and highly considered in its visual content—can open our eyes and minds.

 

 

4. Ralph Lauren: 50 Years by Ralph Lauren

In celebration of Ralph Lauren’s 50th anniversary as a global fashion icon, Mr. Lauren has expanded upon his original 2007 book to provide further insight into his evolution, philosophy, processes, and passions as a designer.

 

 

5. Black and White (and a Bit in Between): Timeless Interiors, Dramatic Accents, and Stylish Collections by Celerie Kemble

Black and white décor is at once dramatic and understated, modern and classic, apparent in the work of iconic designers such as Dorothy Draper and Madeleine Castaing but just as present in design today.

 

 

6. Vogue Living: Houses, Gardens, People by Hamish Bowles 

Lavishly illustrated in full color, a book of thirty-six spectacular houses and gardens—whose owners come from the worlds of fashion, music, art, and society—drawing on stories from the pages of Vogue and Vogue Living as well as never-before-published images by iconic photographers.

 

 

7. Domino: The Book of Decorating: A Room-by-Room Guide to Creating a Home That Makes You Happy by Deborah Needleman, Sara Ruffin Costello, and Dara Caponigro

Domino: The Book of Decorating cracks the code to creating a beautiful home, bringing together inspiring rooms, how-to advice and insiders’ secrets from today’s premier tastemakers in an indispensable style manual.

 

 

8. The Joy of Decorating: Southern Style with Mrs. Howard by Phoebe Howard

Phoebe Howard, known affectionately as Mrs. Howard to her clients, has a penchant for creating stylish spaces, which has evolved into her own critically acclaimed brand of interior design. Mrs. Howard’s first book features several of her largest design projects and addresses the most common decorating issues and questions her clients and customers ask.

 

 

9. Beauty at Home by Aerin Lauder

From an early age, Aerin understood that Estée’s passion for family was equal to her love of beauty. Now, Aerin has made this legacy her own. For the first time, she shares memories of the family celebrations and world travel that formed her sense of style.

 

So, there you have them! Don’t forget to Pin this to your Pinterest board for future reference.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner (May 12th) and brunch is always a big hit with the Mom crowd. Steal one of these seven amazing looks to impress. Using basics you already have (white plates, clear glasses, etc.) you can easily add a few pieces and mimic these stunning tabes. Many use fabric right from the store as tablecloths…not even hemmed…shh, it’ll be our secret. 🙂  Be sure to click on the links below each photo and go directly to the items!

 

1. This hot pink and orange ikat tablecloth, offset with light blue glasses, looks amazing!

source | tablecloth fabric | light blue glasses | fabric napkins | pink chairs

 

2. Blue and white creates a fresh, clean look for this Mother’s Day brunch, paired with rattan.

source | rattan charger plates | bamboo silverware | rattan wine bottle holder | fabric for tablecloth

 

 

3. Does your Mom love Lilly Pulitzer? She’ll fall for this Palm Beach inspired table!

source | gold charger plates |Lilly Pulitzer fabric for tablecloth | green salad plates

 

 

4. Tory Burch’s table is a classic in white and blue, mixed with dark wicker.

source | chinoiserie fabric for tablecloth | centerpiece | blue hobnail glasses | plates

 

 

5. Magenta, orange and blue work together in this perfect Chinoiserie table

source | oval placemats | pink chinoiserie fabric for tablecloth| plates

pink & gold polka dot fabric napkins | centerpiece ginger jar

 

 

6. Blue and white are classic for a reason! This table setting is gorgeous.

source | royal blue & white striped fabric | blue hydrangeas

blue & white plates

 

 

7. I saved my favorite for last! Kelly green, navy and magenta create a vibrant table here.

source | napkins | glass vase | large blue ginger jar | cobalt blue glasses | green fabric for tablecloth

 

There you have it! Seven beautiful tables you can recreate for your Mother’s Day brunch this year. Do you think you’ll try any?

Here’s a handy dandy pin for your Pinterest boards!

 

Custom home built by Evans Construction & Design in Gainesville, Florida

Crystal Chandelier | Modern light fixture

 

A fireplace above the tub in the Master Bath? A gorgeous Kitchen with stone hood? Custom doggy door? This home in Alachua, Florida has it all! Really! From matte black plumbing to bamboo flooring, this chic and modern farm-fresh home is outstanding. Let’s take a look!

 

 

Master Bath

Faucets | Tub | Paint color | Fireplace | Tub Faucet | Hardware

Plumbing fixtures | Tile | Paint Color

Tub Faucet | Tile

Wall Color | Ceiling Color

Wall Color | Ceiling Color | Fan

Kitchen

Hardware | Stone Tops | Faucet | Lighting | Backsplash Tile | Paint Color | Travertine Flooring

Hardware | Stone Tops | Faucet | Lighting | Backsplash Tile | Paint Color | Travertine Flooring

Hardware

 Faucet

 Stone

 Flooring

 

Doggy Door Detail

Is this too cute?

Wall color | Flooring

 

Guest Bath

Wall mounted faucet | Tile | Tub | Wall color

Plumbing fixtures | Tile | Countertops | Sink | Tub | Wall color

Wall mounted faucet | Tile | Tub | Wall color

 

Interiors

Flooring

Fan | Wall color

Light fixture | Wall color | Flooring | Hardware

Flooring | Wall color | Faucet

Faucet | Flooring

Doors | Flooring | Wall color | Hardware

Light fixture

It’s hard to believe, but The Evans Edit blog made it’s debut 2 years ago, this week. Crazy!

My little idea to share my design tips and tricks has blossomed into a real, live thing. Fantastic. So, let’s recap!

 

In the past 2 years we’ve:

-Shared over 100 posts on how to design and style your home

-Connected with over 650,000 design enthusiasts EACH MONTH (!!)

-Won numerous ASID awards for Residential Design of Interior and Exterior spaces

-Have contributed to articles in The Huffington Post

-Brought the latest design trends to the East Coast Builder’s Conference

-Created a series to document the process of building our personal home

-Participated in two House Beautiful magazine’s One Room Challenges

-Helped over 50 families design their spaces, virtually online, in 3 countries

-Been nominated as Best New Blog by Domino Magazine

 

 

All this in just 2 years…and we’re just getting started!

Thanks for sticking with us. Many more exciting things to come in the next year!

Custom home built in Gainesville, Florida by Evans Construction & Design.

 

Gorgeous fireplace? Spacious chef’s Kitchen? Rich hardwood floors? This Dream Home has it all!

Let’s take a look! Links to products below.

Fan | Agreeable Gray Paint with Mega Greige Ceiling Accent

Fan | Agreeable Gray Paint with Mega Greige Ceiling Accent

 Kitchen Faucet | Pot filler | Backsplash | Lighting

Kitchen Faucet | Pot filler | Backsplash | Lighting | Cabinet Bar Pulls

Bathtub  | Tile

HandHeld Showerhead | Bathtub | Basketweave Detail | Tile

Delta HydroRain showerhead | Handheld Showerhead  | Basketweave Detail | Tile

Delta HydroRain Showerhead | Handheld Showerhead | Basketweave Detail | Tile

Pot filler | Backsplash | Cabinet Bar Pulls

Lighting

Pot filler | Backsplash

Cabinet Bar Pulls

Lighting

Bathtub | Tile

 Basketweave Detail

Showerhead | Tile | Basketweave Detail

Faucet | Sink

Faucet | Sink

 

Here’s a handy dandy pin for your Pinterest boards!

Spitting on your finger to hang the perfect artwork? Stuffing pillows that are too big into covers for the perfect fit? Stacks on stacks on stacks of coffee table book? Yes, yes and yes! These finishing touches make the room! Over the past 20+ years, I’ve collected seven of my favorite and today I’m revealing them to you. 

 

1. Buy Coffee Table Books You Love

One of the very best tips I have is to splurge on coffee table books you’re drawn to. They are super useful for adding dimension and height to coffee tables, console tables and bookshelves. Stack them, lean them, even open them and you’ve instantly elevated your design. Using topics you love (gardens, photography, you name it) or places you’ve traveled is the perfect way to inject a bit of personality into your room. Want to really take it up a notch? Have some of your favorite family photos made into a custom coffee table book.

perfect tabletop vignette with books {pursuit of style}

 

beautiful coffee table styling {the zhush}

 

these books help ground smaller brass items {swoonworthy}

 

two books stacks {ceresbr1}

 

the more the merrier {domino}

 

 

2. Create Your Own Paint Color

Can’t settle on the perfect color for your room? Love your sample but fear it’s too dark? Create your own color by having the paint store cut the color you love by half or a third. It will give you the same color, but with less intensity. Bonus, no one else will have it and you can name it whatever you’d like!

benjamin moore “sleigh bells” at 50% {studio mcgee}

 

sleigh bells sample {benjamin moore}

 

sleigh bells at full strength, maybe a little darker than you want {your design nest}

 

 

3. Layer Rugs

Rugs can be expensive, like super expensive. A perfect alternative to breaking your budget is to layer a smaller version of the pricey rug you have your eye on, ON TOP OF a less expensive rug. A basic sisal rug can be found very moderately priced and serves a a rich, textural backdrop for a more “statement” piece. Think large, solid, inexpensive as the base rug and smaller, richer, even trendier as the top layer. The result is stunning and something you don’t see everywhere.

this inexpensive dhurrie rug looks great overtop of an inexpensive sisal {decorpad}

 

a rich zebra painted cow hide stuns overtop of a basic sisal {kate jackson}

 

a natural cowhide livens up this basic seagrass rug {domino}

 

 

4. Buy Your Pillow Inserts One Size Larger Than Your Cover

No one wants a wimpy pillow. You know the kind; lifeless, pathetic and downright distracting. Purchase the pillow insert the next size up and you’ve instantly given the pillow (and room, really) a makeover. For example, for a 20″ pillow cover, I use a 22″ insert. A 18″ cover gets a 20″ insert and so on. While your at it, splurge on a down or synthetic down fill. Full, down pillows are one of the easiest ways to revive a room!

the proof {domestic imperfection}

 

plump pillow perfection {dimples and tangles}

 

perfect pillows {lynn morgan}

 

 

5. To Hang Artwork, Use Your Eye and Hand Height

It can be scary to hang the piece of artwork you love on big, bare wall.  Hanging it over a fireplace or a piece of furniture you love isn’t any easier. Too high or too low really cheapens the piece and the room overall. My rule of thumb, if hanging on a bare wall, is to hold the piece in front of you so that the CENTER of the art is AROUND your eye level, then go up just a smidge. Scientific, I know, but it works every single time. 🙂 The rule of thumb when hanging over a piece of furniture or fireplace is to use the WIDTH of your HAND(S) for the correct spacing above. Just place your hand sideways, then place the other on top (sideways) and you have the perfect spacing somewhere in-between the first and second hand. No measuring! Once you’ve settled on the height, lick your finger, slide your hand up, feel for the wire behind and tap on the wall where you want the nail to go. Gross, I know, but it saves a whole lot of measuring. Just don’t tell anyone what you did, it’ll be our little secret.

hung at eye level center and looks perfect! {the decorista}

 

another center eye level {better home and gardens}

 

umm, this is too high {social survival}

 

hand width above a fireplace, works for mirrors too {traditional home}

 

tory burch’s home, art hung perfectly above the mantle {tory burch}

 

 

6. Keep High, High and Low, Low

When you’re putting together the perfect tabletop vignette, it’s hard to know what to put where. Stacking items on books and choosing frames to use? It’s overwhelming. Keeping the taller pieces “high” and the shorter pieces “low” will create an interesting, layered display. For example, start with a tall lamp, then keep your books low, add a frame in the middle and you have an interesting flow. If you had chosen a shorter lamp, stacked your books up too high and selected a frame around the same height, you’d end up with one level throughout, which isn’t nearly as interesting.

nice flow, high to the sides and low in the center {the pink clutch}

 

vignette perfection! high to the left, low to the right {mimosa lane}

 

all one height, could look much better with varying heights {vanity fair}

 

 

7. Add Dimmers EVERYWHERE

What’s cheap and will instantly transform your entire home? Dimmers! I don’t want to oversell this, but they are literally life changing. Literally. 🙂 Adding dimmers to your main living areas will completely transform the space, I promise. Harsh, overly lit rooms suddenly become soft, candlelit looking spaces. I actually suggest having them everywhere, like in every single room.  Don’t believe me? Try just one and see what you think. You can go with a basic version, fancy smart versions, or even one made just for lamps. It’s super easy to switch out your current old-school switches for new dimmers. You can get them at Lowes, Home Depot or even order them online and it takes under 10 minutes. Home Depot has a quick tutorial here.

warm ambience in this dining room {ownby design}

 

dimmers allow for softer lighting here {leviton}

 

what a dimmer looks like, in case you didn’t know 😉 {elemental led}

And a handy dandy pin for your Pinterest boards!

 

Well, there you have it. Seven designer secrets that I just had to share. Do you think you might try one? Do you have any tips or tricks to share? I would love to hear them, please comment below!

 

 

What’s super hot right now, but also will be forever? Blue! If you know my design, you know I love the color blue. On furniture, walls, or anywhere in between, blue always adds the perfect touch of color to any space. It’s serene and pretty and it doesn’t overwhelm.

But what shade do you choose? Search it on Pinterest and you’ll be overwhelmed with results, some good and some not. THE perfect blue is the goal, but there are just sooooo many to choose from! But, we are in luck! I have combined my very favorite Blue paint colors that are tried and true, with photos showing them in real world applications below. Enjoy and pin the chart at the bottom for future easy access! 🙂

 

Hale Navy

Benjamin Moore HC-154

source

source

source

 

Van Courtland Blue

Benjamin Moore HC-145

source

source

source

 

Brittany Blue

Benjamin Moore 1633

source

source

source

 

Breath of Fresh Air

Benjamin Moore 806

source

source

source

 

Silvermist

Sherwin Williams SW7621

source

source

source

 

Bluebird

Graham & Brown

source

source

 

Distance

Sherwin Williams SW6243

source

source

source

Do you have a favorite?

 

Here’s a couple handy dandy images for your Pinterest boards. Pin it for later!

 

If you’ve been in the market for plumbing fixtures lately, you’ve likely seen the newest and most beautiful finish out…”Luxe Gold” by Brizo. It will stop you in your tracks!

source

It stands out in a sea of Brushed Nickel, Chrome, Oil Rubbed Bronze and (now) Matte Black. It’s the perfect warm-gold.  It’s not bright brass from the 80s, not even close. They have everything you need for your Kitchen or Bath.

 

Here’s just a very small sampling…

So, let’s say you’ve decided to use this lovely combination in your home. Amazing! But… you need some things to coordinate with it. Knobs…lights…mirrors… What goes with this gorgeous finish? Brizo makes a few things to coordinate but not much….like one light…seriously.

 

What coordinates?

You can MIX the finish with other finishes…maybe matte black? That’s a valid option.  But, let’s look at what will actually coordinate with Luxe Gold from other brands. Here are a few of my favorites. Don’t worry, all the links are down below at the bottom of the post.

But wait…

 

 

Is This The Same As Delta’s Champagne Bronze?

Before we dive into each of these items above( links are below) let’s address a mistake I almost made.

Is Brizo’s “Luxe Gold” finish interchangeable with Delta’s “Champagne Bronze”? I mean Delta OWNS Brizo…they look similar…they’re probably the same right?

No…no they’re not.

Brizo’s Luxe Gold is lighter, less “gold-y”. Delta’s Champagne Bronze is deeper and would mix easily with standard brass options. (Maybe we’ll cover that in the future!) But for now, let’s stick with

 

So let’s breakdown that Cheat Sheet. Scroll down for the all the links below!

 

Mirrors and Accessories

perfectly finished mirror

 

storage for your bath in the perfect finish

 

outlet covers if you want to be extra

 

 

 

Probably the most important item to coordinate…

Hardware

Honey Bronze finish from this line matches PERFECTLY

Lowes even has a matching option

Our favorite finish in a handle mixed with Lucite

Lowes again for the win!

Guess who makes this one?

And this one?

 

 

Lights for the Kitchen, Bath and Common Spaces

Hanging globe for Kitchen Island perfection

Funky wall light for Kitchen or Bath

Another option for the Kitchen Island

Beautiful Bathroom sconce, various sizes

Another beautiful sconce, other sizes too

This sconce has the PERFECT finish and comes in a bunch of sizes

Guess who makes this one? 😉

Perfect ceiling fixture

 

 

Or…Screw it and paint anything you want 😉

Just kidding, please don’t do that!

Cheat Sheet

So now we have a BUNCH of options to coordinate with the amazing Brizo Luxe Gold line. Here is a handy dandy Cheat Sheet for you, with links, along with one perfectly formatted for your Pinterest page.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24

Pin this one to Pinterest!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24

So, what do you think? Will you try this new finish? I am!