Some homes need to be completely reinvented. Others already have something special and just need someone to figure out how to make all the pieces work.
This Gainesville, Florida home was definitely the latter.
The house was full of interesting architecture, unexpected spaces, and character, but the way several of those spaces functioned no longer made sense for the family living there. And this is a family that really lives in their home. They cook, entertain, gather, have friends over, and have a busy household that needs to work just as well on an ordinary Tuesday as it does with a house full of people.
So, while this was a major renovation, our goal was never to make the house feel brand new. We wanted to keep everything that made it interesting, rethink everything that wasn’t working, and layer in materials and details that felt as though they could have been collected over time.
The result is what we call The Collected Home.
The Kitchen That Changed the House
The kitchen was the starting point and ultimately the space that transformed the entire home.
We completely reworked the layout to improve the way the family cooks, gathers, entertains, and moves through the space. Soft blue cabinetry is mixed with warm natural wood rather than using one finish throughout, while natural stone, tile, warm metals, and carefully selected lighting add layers without making the room feel overly designed.
That mix was important to us. We didn’t want anything to feel like it came as a set. We wanted the kitchen to feel like it had evolved naturally over time.
And because this family entertains, the kitchen couldn’t just photograph beautifully. It needed to work. Storage, circulation, prep space, gathering, and the way multiple people use the room at once were considered throughout the design.
But one of our favorite decisions happened just beyond the kitchen.
The Pantry With a View
The house had a sunroom overlooking the pool, and we borrowed a portion of it to create what may be one of our favorite pantries we’ve ever designed.
Instead of hiding the pantry in a dark back room, we embraced the existing architecture and created a hardworking space surrounded by floor to ceiling windows. Soapstone countertops bring another natural, living material into the home, while an entire wall of cabinetry provides the storage a busy kitchen needs.
Then there is the coffee station.
We designed a built in coffee maker with a custom retractable mug shelf directly beneath it. Pull the shelf out, make your coffee, grab milk or creamer from the refrigerated drawer immediately beside you, and you literally do not have to take a step. When you’re finished, the mug shelf disappears back into the cabinetry.
Sometimes good design is a dramatic architectural gesture. Sometimes it is realizing you shouldn’t have to walk across the kitchen for the creamer.
We love both.
Moving the Laundry Room Where It Actually Belonged
This might be the best example of why renovation is about much more than finishes.
The original laundry room was accessed through the primary bedroom.
For a family with three teenagers.
We’ll just leave that there for a moment.
An unused storage closet near the front of the house gave us an opportunity to rethink the entire arrangement. We converted that space into the new laundry room, giving the whole family convenient access without walking through the parents’ bedroom.
The former laundry room didn’t go to waste either. Because it was located directly behind the primary suite, we transformed it into a new closet for him.
One change solved two problems and made the floor plan work much better for the way the family actually lives.
A Primary Bath Reworked From the Inside Out
The primary bathroom already had some wonderful architectural elements, including its vaulted ceiling and wood beams. Those were exactly the things we wanted to preserve.
What wasn’t working was the layout.
We completely reconfigured the bath and borrowed space from an adjoining closet to create a separate toilet room. With the floor plan working properly, we could focus on making the room feel open, calm, and luxurious without losing the warmth that runs throughout the house.
The freestanding tub overlooks a private courtyard, while soft blue tile, marble, warm brass, tailored cabinetry, and the existing beams create the mix of old and new we wanted throughout the renovation.
We also kept an antique door original to the house and gave it a new purpose as wall storage. Those are the details we love most: pieces that bring some history into a newly renovated space instead of making everything feel too perfect.
The Little Bath With a Big Personality
And then there is the hall bath.
We could have played it safe here. We did not.
Rich chocolate walls and deep brown handmade tile wrap the room in color, while warm brass, marble, handcrafted zellige flooring, and a true antique cabinet give it an old world feeling that is completely different from the primary bath.
The antique cabinet is one of our favorite pieces in the room. Its aged exterior opens to reveal an unexpected deep green interior, and it provides real storage rather than simply being decorative.
It’s a relatively small space, which made it the perfect place to take a few chances. Not every room in a house needs to whisper.
A Home That Works Better and Still Feels Like Home
The best part of this Gainesville whole home renovation is that the house still feels like itself.
We didn’t erase its quirks or try to turn it into something it wasn’t. We kept the architecture worth keeping, completely changed the spaces that weren’t working, found better uses for overlooked square footage, and layered old and new throughout.
The kitchen became the heart of the home. A piece of the sunroom became an incredible pantry. A storage closet became the laundry room the family actually needed. The former laundry became useful primary closet space. Both bathrooms were rethought around how they needed to function.
And through all of it, the goal stayed the same: make it beautiful, make it work, and make it feel like it belongs.
That, to us, is a collected home.
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I am so excited to share one of our newly completed projects in Gainesville! This is for one of my all-time favorite clients from 20+ years ago that I worked with right out of college. I was assisting another designer and got to work on his entire home.
Now – 25 years later – he called me back to re-design to entire space for him and his teenage son. The best part? He has exquisite taste.
The goal was a masculine home, but one that didn’t feel like a bachelor pad. He loves Ralph Lauren, and all things rich, warm, and classic. I think we accomplished that!
before
Let’s start by showing some of the before photographs we have of the home.
This is the before of the kitchen (we actually take out these arched top pillars)
Before of the living room:
And one of the bathrooms:
Now for the afters >>>
kitchen
In the kitchen we used a balance of off-white painted cabinets for the perimeter and a contrasting dark wood for the island. This enabled us to achieve the masculine look, without it being bachelor pad. The marble countertops and statement range back adds so much depth and visual interest to the space!
We can’t believe how much airier and brighter this space feels now that the arched columns have been removed.
Family Room
The kitchen above is open plan with the family room. This whole area needed to be super practical for entertaining and everyday use with a teen son. So we’ve chosen a blue sofa with performance fabrics and a durable rug to clearly define the seating area.
Artwork and family photos adds a soft and personal touch.
Breakfast Nook
To the side of the kitchen and family room is the breakfast nook! With large windows looking out to the swimming pool, we kept this area clean and simple.
Living Room
The living room is a more formal space than the family room, so we chose a fun leather chesterfield style sofa and paired it with soft blue tones to give a cohesive feel to the rest of the house.
Primary Bathroom
Featuring a double vanity, large shower and freestanding bathtub, we designed this primary bathroom to include some show-stopping materials!
Most notably is the marble and brass vanity wall, we are so thrilled that our client took the plunge with it! We kept the rest of the bathroom neutral and tonally relevant to this main wall, but ultimately everything here is timeless and will stand the test of time.
Teen Son's Bathroom
For our client’s teenage son we wanted to embrace some masculine finishes but keep it timeless and in-keeping with the rest of the home. Gray vanity cabinets, nickel hardware and accessories, and a dark slate flooring creates a dark yet timeless look.
Powder Bath
The small powder bathroom called for an all-over paint color and traditional features. We added some wall paneling and a pedestal sink to add a classical touch, while the all-over paint and small floor mosaics give it a contemporary feel.
It was absolutely fantastic to work with this client again, and they are so happy with the results! We really nailed the brief for them, and know they will love living here for many years to come. It’s always a pleasure to work with clients for the second or even third time!
Are you looking to refresh or update your home this year? Contact us today!
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Nothing brings together timeless tradition and cozy holiday charm quite like tartan. With its rich colors and classic patterns, tartan adds instant warmth to any space—whether draped across a fireplace mantel, wrapped around your Christmas tree, or woven into festive table settings. A tartan-inspired holiday theme blends rustic comfort with elegant heritage, creating a Christmas atmosphere that feels both nostalgic and beautifully refined.
Follow these 3 easy steps, and sit back and enjoy.
1. Pick a Theme
I love traditional Christmas plaid and tartan decorations. Think Ralph Lauren in Connecticut on Christmas morning. Having this base to refer to makes shopping easy. But it’s not about me, it’s about you. What do YOU like? All white? Modern? Country? Pick a theme and go with it.
Here are my favorite picks for this year.
2. Vary It Slightly
Now that you have a signature look, vary it slightly from room to room. I mix different tartans and plaids in different areas. More formal rooms get silver champagne buckets holding mini trees with tartan ribbon. Kids areas get buckets holding trees, tartan blankets and shams. Keeping the same thread running throughout keeps everything working together.
3. When in Doubt, Add More!
This is not the time for subtlety. Your house is only going to be decorated for a month, max. Pull out all the stops and enjoy. It will be gone before you know it.
Now that we have a few guidelines, let’s see some inspiration images in my favorite look. Several are from my home. Enjoy! Sources and buying info at the bottom.
Here’s a couple handy graphics for your Pinterest boards with links below!
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Are you buying for a beauty lover this year, and are stuck for ideas? This Beauty Gift Guide Under $48 is full of incredible gift ideas!
Geranium Shower Gel – This invigorating shower gel is ideal for anyone that loves trying new body products.
Geranium Body Balm – With a fresh, citrus scent, this body balm is the perfect gift for any high end beauty lover
Geranium Body Scrub – Fancy gifting an indulgent body scrub? This body scrub is ideal!
Rose Hand Cream – Hand cream is a classic gift idea that always goes down a treat.
Shower Foam – A gorgeous rose scent is sure to be a hit!
Sabon Shower Gel – Enriched with essential oils, the relaxing scent moisturizes skin beautifully
Headband – Are you buying for a skincare lover? A headband is an ideal gift!
Mango Lip Balm – A classic premium lip balm that makes a fabulous gift
Beauty Blender – Have a makeup lover to buy for? A beauty blender is always a very welcomed gift
Dry Brush – This dry brush would be perfect if gifted with a shower gel or body scrub!
Catchall Tray – You can never have too many trays! These are great ideas for those who collect perfumes
Cosmetics Bag – Another essential for any beauty or makeup lover!
Bath Oil – This romantic scented bath oil is a super luxurious gift that everyone will love!
L’Ombre Dans L’Eau Bar Soap – A heavenly scented bar of soap that would be perfect in a powder room
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Kicking off this year’s Gift Guides with this Under $50 Collection! All these items are perfect ideas for anyone that loves all things interior design and decor.
Baies Candle – A staple scent for any home!
Small Vase – Give them something to small and talk about with a stylish vase
Elephant Match Holder – Perfect for adding character, and will look fantastic in any space
Lips Puzzle – Great fun while also doubling up as a beautiful coffee table item!
Flower Puzzle – This would look amazing on a table surface or nightstand
Muse Bowl – A super stylish piece that would look fabulous in any home
Roses Candle – Another staple scent! The perfect gift
Blanket – A neutral blanket to go with any interior style
Tray – The perfect gift for jewelry wearers
Mirror – A staple gift idea!
Marble Frame – Timeless pieces that will work in any space are great gift ideas, just like this frame
Match Cloche – Great for accompanying candles
French Wine Glass – Shopping for a wine lover? Consider these glasses!
Volcano Candle – Stylish candles are always a good idea
Hurricane – Cane wrapped hurricanes are great for any Boho lovers
Safari Puzzle – Another fun game idea that doubles up as a stylish piece for a coffee table!
Looking for the perfect gift for someone that loves interior decor? Scented candles are always a winner, while the fun Flower Puzzle, Lips Puzzle and Safari Puzzle make super stylish gifts! They would look beautiful on any coffee table or nightstand.
Otherwise, choose neutral accessories like white vases, frames and light colored blankets, as these items will complement any existing interior!
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