The number one, most asked about feature of my Kitchen is hands-down the built-in, open shelves next to my range. People love them and I do, too! I wanted a place to show off all of my pretty kitchen “stuff” and also have it within arm’s reach. I designed this, worked with our cabinet company and even went rogue and ordered the little metal bars separately. I love, love, love how it turned out!
Because this is my number one Pin on Pinterest, I thought we’d dedicate an entire post to it and all of the fun things inside.
For our dream kitchen, the built-in open shelf next to the range was the perfect blend of style and function. It makes cooking easier by keeping our most-used items—like spices, oils, and utensils—right where we need them, cutting down on prep time and adding convenience. With everything in arm’s reach, meal prep becomes seamless.
It’s not just about practicality—this shelving adds a sophisticated touch to your kitchen’s design. By using matching spice jars and chic olive oil bottles, your everyday essentials become part of the decor. The open shelves create a light, airy feel, and you can even add small decorative touches like potted herbs or cookbooks to personalize the space.
If you’re aiming to enhance both function and aesthetics in your kitchen, this setup is a perfect solution. The key is in the details—carefully chosen containers and a cohesive look that blends with your overall design.
With the right organization and design choices, built-in shelves can completely transform your kitchen into a more efficient and beautiful space. Add this simple feature to keep things tidy while showing off your culinary tools in style!
The kitchen
FILED UNDER
Share ON
The Perfect Couple: Steal the Look – Coastal Chic Interiors
Netflix’s The Perfect Couple captivated viewers with its beachside drama, but it’s the stunning coastal-inspired interiors that truly stole the show. From timeless blue and white decor to elegant natural textures, you can recreate this chic coastal aesthetic in your own home. Let’s break down the key pieces that will help you bring this design to life.
1. Coastal Pillows for Texture
Layering pillows adds an instant cozy, coastal feel. Start with the Thibaut Chappana Medallion Pillow for intricate patterns, and mix in the Akola Azure Linen Pillow for a pop of ocean-inspired blue. These add texture while keeping the palette light and airy.
2. Hydrangeas for Coastal Elegance
Hydrangeas, real or faux, are synonymous with coastal decor. Scatter them in your living space to bring the outside in. Choose from options like the Real Touch Hydrangea or the Williams Sonoma Faux Blue Hydrangea.
- Real Touch Hydrangea
- Williams Sonoma Faux Blue Hydrangea
- Pottery Barn Faux Hydrangea
- Another Hydrangea Option
- Target Faux Hydrangea
3. Rugs to Ground the Space
Bring the room together with a neutral rug like the Noori Rug. Its soft, natural tones complement the blue-and-white palette without overwhelming the space.
4. Wallpaper for Visual Interest
Opt for Chappana Slate Blue Wallpaper, Grasscloth Wallpaper, or Tapestry Wallpaper to add texture and depth to your walls. These wallpapers bring a serene backdrop that echoes the tranquil vibes of the coast.
5. Framed Art & Sconces
Elegant framed art pieces like Portrait of Beatrice Cenci or landscape paintings can add a timeless touch to any room. Pair them with vintage-inspired sconces for a warm, inviting glow.
6. Drapes and Rattan Roman Shades
Drapes and rattan roman shades bring natural textures and soft elegance. The Alaia Floral Room Darkening Drapes pair beautifully with rattan for a layered, breezy feel.
7. Dining Essentials: Blue & White Plates and Cake Stands
For your dining area, nothing says coastal like blue-and-white porcelain. Incorporate Blue and White Plates, Appetizer Plates, and Wicker Cake Stands to complete the look.
8. Outdoor Vibes: Umbrella, Chaises, and Outdoor Chairs
Complete your outdoor space with a stylish Patio Umbrella, Outdoor Chaises, and Wicker Chairs. These pieces add sophistication while maintaining the laid-back coastal aesthetic.
9. Ginger Jars and Decorative Trays
Chinoiserie-style ginger jars bring elegance and timeless charm. Complement them with a large decorative tray to add flair to your coffee table or shelves.
- Ginger Jar Option 1
- Ginger Jar Option 2
- Ginger Jar Option 3
- Ginger Jar Option 4
- Large Decorative Tray
10. Final Touches: Table Linens, Picnic Basket, and Candles
Top it all off with Matouk Apollo Stripe Placemats, a woven Picnic Basket, and some coastal-inspired Candles to create a relaxed, beachy atmosphere.
Recap & Shop the Look:
By integrating these thoughtfully selected items into your home, you can effortlessly recreate the coastal chic interiors seen in The Perfect Couple. From elegant hydrangeas to timeless blue and white plates, every detail adds a layer of sophistication and beachside charm.
FILED UNDER
TAGGED
Share ON
I’m thrilled to announce that Evans Construction and Design, a leading Florida home contractor and interior design husband-and-wife-duo, had remarkable success at the 2024 Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) Aurora Awards ceremony, held on July 26th. The company was honored with three prestigious Grand Aurora Awards (first prize), recognizing its excellence and design innovation in various categories.
Best Kitchen Design for a Custom/Spec/One of a Kind Home
The Best Kitchen Design Award was awarded for our most recent interior design project in Gainesville. 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!
You can read and see more of this project here!
Best Bath Design for a Custom/Spec/One of a Kind Home
The Best Bath Design was awarded for our recent project too that features 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.
You can read and see more of this project here!
Best Bath Design for a Model Home
Our final award for Best Bath Design for a Model Home was for our dream home project. The primary bath is a beautiful oasis and sanctuary away from the living areas, and a room I love to get ready in every morning. The freestanding bathtub and chandelier above is definitely a showstopper.
You can read and see more of this project here!
My husband and I had such a fabulous night and enjoyed celebrating our success with these three Grand Prize Awards!
FILED UNDER
TAGGED
Share ON
The warmer weather of Spring and Summer is almost here in Florida so I wanted to share the details of my Dream Home back patio – the outdoor living and dining areas!
I’ve designed the back patio of our home to be a central hub for us when the weather is at its best. We love to entertain so having a large wrap-around style decking area was a must!
I’m going to break down everything in this post, so read on for all the links!
In the photo above you can see how the outdoor area spans the full width of the house! And there are three key areas – the dining area, seating, and living area by an outdoor fireplace and TV. Let’s break these areas down in detail.
Outdoor Dining Area
The outdoor dining area is very much an extension of the spaces inside the house – lots of blue and white accessories, and timeless furniture pieces. We spent some summer evenings eating dinner towards the end of the season last year, and can’t wait to be able to use this dining area again this year!
Outdoor Living Area
On the opposite side of the deck is the outdoor living area! I have designed this in a similar way to designing any indoor living room; with an area rug to clearly define the space, and furniture arranged on the perimeters.
I wanted a light and airy feel so we can enjoy the long summer evenings out here!
Outdoor Relaxation Area
Lastly, is the space directly outside the kitchen area that’s also in between the outdoor dining and living spaces. It’s a simple yet effective set up with two armchairs, a rug, and side table. I’m looking forward to enjoying a morning coffee here!
FILED UNDER
TAGGED
Share ON
Since publishing my Dream Home Master Bedroom Reveal post, I’ve had lots of messages about how I created the expensive looking drapes! Window treatments can be tricky to get your head around, but once you’ve got the principles down, have the tools you need, and an idea of the look you want – you’re almost there!
So how did I create the expensive looking drapes in my new bedroom?
Read on to find out!
Select the right drapes
The most important element of a window treatment is the drapes themselves.
Generally I always choose French pleat or pinch pleat drapery panels because they always look good, and rich every time. You can’t go wrong!
In terms of size for the drapes, when ordering them, double the width for a full look or with pleated ones, it’s 1.5 times to double. For example, if the window is 6’ wide, get a rod that 8-10’ wide if possible. Order drapes 8-10’ wide too.
You can keep the drapes plain if you want to, but I personally like to add some interest by adding a trim. This is a patterned piece added to the leading edge of the panel, and is great for adding extra color and visual interest to the window area. It’s a fun little extra that elevates the look!
Adding a trim
To create an expensive look to your window treatments, try adding a trim on the leading edge of the drapes with iron-on tape!
Ballard Designs have a fantastic tutorial – that I followed! – and know you’ll love too.
It literally only takes a minute to apply. Use hot glue to attach the tape and run an iron over the trim to make it adhere to the curtain panel. Et voila!
Here are some trims that I shortlisted:
A simple yet effective light blue trim with off-white detailing. Link here.
Or keep it even simpler with a plain colored trim! I absolutely love this light blue natural trim. Check it out here!
Curtain rods
The rod you choose to hold drapes can add an extra decorative layer to your room, or you can keep it simple!
I like to keep the rod simple and clean – and DO NOT use telescoping! Make sure the rod is a uniform width all of the way across. It’s hard to find this but very important to achieve a practical yet stylish look. This exact rod I used has this!
As a general rule, I take the drapery rod out as far past the window as possible. This is so when they stack up they don’t cover the window much, but effortlessly dress either side of the window. It also means you maximize the amount of natural lighting coming through into the space!
Then, there’s the brackets and rings to add. Don’t cheap out on the brackets – they are part of the design and add functionality to the window treatment.
The secret to full coverage looking drapes? Is the c ring I have linked later. It allows the drape to slide past the center bracket effortlessly.
My exact configuration
The secret to my exact window treatment configuration?
Here is the rod configuration I use – it looks perfect every time! No telescoping rods which I hate. This is smooth all of the way across.
Here it is!
Curtain Rod – Make it wider than the window so the drapes can stack on other side as much as possible. I typically use black and you decide on the width. Click here for the exact curtain rod I use!
Finials – You need 2 of these, one for each end. Click here for the finials I have!
Rings – Black.
If you want to be able to close completely get a set of the C-ring also so it will bypass the center bracket and close up completely. Click here for the C-Rings.
FILED UNDER
TAGGED
Share ON
Shop Our Favorite Items!
