After a short material delay, we are (finally!) back on the project of building our dream home. Yay! Up next is…ROOFING. One of the main components of the exterior, it’s sometimes not given much thought. But it totally should be, it’s important! Metal, asphalt shingles, barrel tile…there are a bunch of options out there. Let’s dive right into them and see what we decided on.

*If you’re just joining us, this is the fifth installment of a year long series documenting the building of our personal dream home. So far we’ve tackled Inspiration, Floorplans, Location and Breaking Ground. 

Material Selection

There are a ton of different roofing materials out there, but the main choices in our area (North Central Florida) are:

• Asphalt shingles
• Metal
• Slate
• Barrel Tile

We’ve decided on asphalt shingles from our favorite supplier. We typically use them on our spec and custom homes with great results. They look rich, last and are cost effective. I’ve honestly never been disappointed with them on any house we’ve done over the past 20+ years. So…now that we’ve decided on the type of roofing, let’s work on…

Color

Although the shingles we’ve selected come in a wide range of colors, we are really narrowing it down to just a few in the gray color family. Here is a rendering of the color combination I originally had in mind for reference.

 

Black, gray or a dark charcoal are the only options for the color combo we are going for. Let’s take a look at the colors we are considering.

 

We then narrowed down to these two.

 

Now let’s see how they look on a house. Most roofing companies have a visualizing tool on their website and it’s super helpful. The one we used can be found here.

So, what did we ultimately decide on? Shadow Grey.

 

Installation

We couldn’t be happier! Shadow Grey asphalt shingles were the perfect choice! Installed perfectly by our trusty roofers.

So, now we have a roof. Up next…windows and rough-ins. Yippee! Thanks for following along in the process of building our dream home. Catch up on the series here:

Inspiration

Floorplan

Location

Breaking Ground

 

 

When you love Football and Interior Design (like me!), this can be the best time of the year! What better way to spruce up your home than to give it a Football Facelift? The real question is, can you actually add a few touches to your home without it looking super tacky? I think so! The key is to keep it light, general and not too heavy on the actual team. For example, if you love the Florida Gators (like I do!) then adding orange and blue touches throughout, with a few key Gator pieces, is enough. Everything doesn’t have to be logo-ish. Know what I mean? Restraint is your friend. Let’s walk through it together! (Make sure your scroll all the way down, the best is saved for last!)

 

Add A Few Key Pieces

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Set Your Table

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Add A Few Pieces Of Art

source: b8sypaint.com

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Take It Outside

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Add A Few Pillows

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Use Your Team’s Color Scheme CAREFULLY Throughout

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Or Admit You’re Obsessed And Add To Your Home Permanently

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Do you decorate at all of football season? Any other sport? Id love to hear about it! Please comment below 🙂

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

Let’s jump right in!

 

1. Coordinate With Your Existing Home

4. Make It a Drive Thru

5. Get the Electrical Right & Consider AC

6. Customize for YOU

Now, this is the fun part! You’ve decided on your purpose(s), designated areas and gotten the structure right. Now it’s time to make the space reflect you! Interior walls don’t have to be boring! Check out how our client finished off the gym walls in his garage below.

Lighting, color, hard materials, window finishes…all the elements of a home come into play here, as well. This is your space, make it look like it!

 

7. Enjoy!

If you’re interested in building a detached garage in the North Central Florida area, let us know! We’d be happy to help! Evans Construction & Design

 

Here’s a handy dandy graphic for your Pinterest boards. Save it for later! 😉

We had the pleasure of working with a fun Gainesville family to renovate their entire Kitchen, Dining & Family Room a few years ago and now we’ve been called back in to redo their Kids’ Bath. This bathroom is a workhorse of the home, serving two (beyond adorable) kids and visiting guests, all in one.  The home is on a beautiful little lake in Gainesville, surrounded by lemon and orange trees, and is totally picturesque.  A wonderful  family like this deserves a great Guest/Kids Bath, right?  Evans Construction & Design can help!

The Before

The Plan

Classic, fresh and clean was the scheme for this bath. We also planned to rearrange it a bit, moving the shower down to the end where the door once was. This creates a more private bathroom with just one entrance and allows for a larger shower.

Demo

 

The After

We are so happy with how it turned out. Let’s take a look!

Ceramic Text Bath Accessories | Whale lotion dispenser | Whale bath towels | Frosty Carrina Quartz countertop | Kohler Artifacts brushed nickel shower head | Sherwin Williams Rhinestone | floor tile | Adex Hampton white field tile

Embroidered towels | Frosty Carrina Quartz counter top | Kohler Artifacts brushed nickel widespread faucet and handles | Kohler Ladena undermount sink | 4-light vanity bar

Ceramic Text Bath Accessories | Whale lotion dispenser | Whale bath towels | Frosty Carrina Quartz countertop | Sherwin Williams Rhinestone | Kohler brushed nickel double towel rod

custom cabinets by Carson’s Cabinetry | drawer pulls | floor tile

Kohler Artifacts brushed nickel widespread faucet and handles

4-light vanity bar

Kohler Artifacts brushed nickel shower handle | Adex Hampton white field tile | floor tile | linear shower drain

Adex Hampton white field tile | floor tile

Whale bath rug | floor tile

Whale Bath Towels | Sherwin Williams Rhinestone | Kohler brushed nickel double towel rod

Frosty Carrina Quartz countertop | Kohler Artifacts brushed nickel widespread faucet and handles | Kohler Ladena undermount sink

Embroidered towels | Sherwin Williams Rhinestone

Whale Bath Towels | Sherwin Williams Rhinestone | Kohler brushed nickel double towel rod | Adex Hampton white field tile

 

Paint is hands down the hardest choice for clients to make. There are too many choices, too many samples and too many opportunities to make a mistake. Are you picking a paint for an accent wall? No pressure, pick your color, have fun. But if you’re selecting a main interior color to cover all walls? Ahhh! You need a classic.

Over the past 20+ years (no math, remember?) I have collected several colors that work EVERY SINGLE TIME! They look good now and will continue to, years from now. My advice is to only get a little trendy with your pillows, not your main walls. Choose something classic and you won’t regret it, pinky promise.

 

1. Rice Grain

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Rice Grain (SW 6155) I know, I know, you want gray. Everyone has gray and it’s the newest, hottest thing. But “just because everyone’s doing it”…you know the rest. If you’re starting from scratch, by all means, go with gray. But for many of us, we have existing things to contend with. Cabinets and floors that lean “yellow”? Guess what, that gray is going to visually pop them out and they’ll look even more yellow. Kind of like wearing a red necklace against a black dress versus wearing the same red necklace on a hot pink dress. Know what I mean? If you have a good amount of “yellow” to deal with and it’s not going anywhere, something like Rice Grain might be your best choice. Too dark for you? Slide one down the paint chip and go with SW6154 Nacre. It plays nicely with oak, maple, dark woods, you name it and becomes a rich looking backdrop. Pair it with cream or off-white trim for a timeless look.

 

2. Revere Pewter

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Bath by Evans Construction & Design, hey that’s us!

Rever Pewter (BM, HC 172) is probably the most popular color of all time. No scientific research here, but it’s my guess. Everyone wants it and it doesn’t disappoint. I’ve used it in bathrooms (see above), Kitchens (see here) and main living areas. It always looks fresh, clean and crisp. Yes, it’s gray, but its a very warm gray. It bridges the gap nicely between warm and cool colors. Pair with white or off-white trim and you’re in business.

 

3. Rockport Gray

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Rockport Gray (BM, HC 105) is a rich, warm gray that doesn’t overwhelm the space. I have it in my personal office (photos to come soon) and son’s room. It’s a bold choice for all walls and safe for a room. Pair with cream, off-white  or white trim.

 

4. Swiss Coffee

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Swiss Coffee (BM, OC 45) is light, airy and fresh. If you’re looking for “White”, this is a great option. Warmer than actual white, but it reads as a white. Does that make sense? Pair with ultra white trim and it really shines.

 

5. Agreeable Gray

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Agreeable Gray (SW 7029) is a nice alternate to Revere Pewter, #2 above. Still clean, fresh and neutral but a little “less”. I recently used this in a tween bedroom and it looked amazing. 🙂 Pair with white or off white trim.

 

 

6. Bleeker Beige

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Bleeker Beige (BM, HC 80) is another classic, timeless neutral that works wonders. It’s rich and almost creamy looking. I’ve used in more times than I can count and have never been disappointed. All my anti-gray rhetoric above in #1 applies here, too. 🙂 Pair with off-white or white trim.

 

7. Divine White, Sherwin Williams SW6105

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Divine White (SW 6105) is one shade lighter than my old go-to, Kilim Beige. It’s newer, fresher and more in line with today’s homes but definitely still a classic.  White is in the name, but it’s far from that. Pair with off-white or white trim.

 

Here they are, all together, perfect to Pin to your Pinterest board. 🙂

 

So there you have it. 7 great paint colors that I have used and abused. Do you have any go to colors to share? Please comment below!

 

 

 

 

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