Old Nebraska Building... 310 N 5th St. Seward, NE

June 14, 2022 TARA MILLER

Above is the existing condition of the building. Photo by Google Maps.

Above is my vision for the building: white brick, wood shutters and black metal doors & windows.

Do you ever drive by a building that has been empty for far too long? Or do you see multiple businesses cycle through one building year after year but don’t ever seem to stick around? I feel like that is the case with this little building in Seward Nebraska. It’s not a bad building. It’s not even that old. It’s just lifeless.

What can we do to give new life to old buildings? A lot. There's a lot we can do.
- Tara Miller

Let’s start with the exterior basics: walls, roof, windows, doors, and landscaping. Walls- the existing exterior walls are made of varied red brick. The windows and doors are white, with white trim and white shutters. The roof appears to be a dark blue metal roof with white soffit and fascia. The landscaping features grass and red woodchips with no plants. What can we do to bring life to this building? A lot. There’s a lot we can do. But a new building owner might not want to invest a ton of money into this property. So what could a potential buyer do to spruce it up a little? A quick fix would be: PAINT. You could easily paint the brick any color. I’d prefer to paint it white. But then, the issue becomes white on white on white because the doors & windows are white too.

Design Rule # 1 is you need contrast. - Tara Miller

So how do we add contrast? We add contrast by having light and dark items in the same space. So if we paint the brick white, we’ll need the doors and windows to be dark in order to get some contrast. I love the thin black steel aesthetic when it comes to new windows and doors. Repetition is always a brilliant idea when you’re designing something. The human eye naturally looks for consistencies. By taking the windows to the floor, they would be the same “size” as the doors visually. Then we could add two new windows to add extra daylight into the interior, and make the exterior look well-balanced.

Above is The Heartland Interior Design’s vision for the building.

After the exterior brick has been painted, and new windows and doors have been installed, then we are ready to have the wood shutters installed! These wood shutters give the exterior a new material and some warmth. They could even be functional and close if you want! But it would be more affordable if they were fixed in place and not moveable. I love the idea of adding a wooden element so much that I even added a wood inlay on the front of the roof gable as well! It really adds something to the exterior and brings it to life. It’s more dynamic! Then I balanced it all out by removing the blue roof and turning it into a black roof instead. Black is much more neutral and timeless. Blue won’t fit with many business logos, but black would go with any business logo. I left the soffit and fascia white, so that was easy! :)

Then last but not least, I removed the red mulch and went with dark brown mulch. Why? Because again, when you’re owning a building that businesses go in, you want a beautiful neutral palette for them. Neutral palettes also have the widest range of curb appeal. Then I added some simple lavender plants in the brown mulch for a soft touch of natural color. But you could easily plant ANYTHING here. Something is better than nothing.

WOOD SHUTTER INSPIRATION PHOTO via McAlpine House.

The image above is a home designed by McAlpine House. The shutters on this home were my inspiration for adding the shutters onto the 310 N 5th building. They add a sense of warmth and look wonderful against the white walls. Do you like shutters? Please let me know! I’d love to hear your thoughts. What do you think on my “BEFORE & AFTER” vision for the 310 N 5th building? Do you like it? Does it look more updated? Does the curb appeal level increase? I want to know your thoughts! I had fun doing this quick photoshop work. I love envisioning what a building COULD be. I see so much potential in the world around me.

Sweet Magnolia's Bake Shop Remodel by The Heartland Interior Design

November 16, 2021 TARA MILLER

All AFTER phtoos taken by Dana Damewood Photography

It was an incredible experience to be a part of the remodel for Sweet Magnolia’s Bake Shop. First of all, if you haven’t bought some of their baked goods, you are seriously missing out. My husband is a “sweets snob” and he stated that, “Sweet Magnolia’s Bake Shop is by far the best bakery in Nebraska.” When the owner Katina approached me for the remodel, I was ecstatic. I loved the vibrant website Sweet Magnolia’s Bake Shop had and I was drawn to how colorfully curated their social media presence was. I saw that the interior environment did not align with their digital image and knew we could help make the necessary changes to get them into alignment.

“Our goal was to design an interior environment that accurately reflected the brand’s existing identity as seen on their website and in their colorfully curated social media account.”

— Tara Miller

A few of the ways we accomplished this goal was through a hierarchy of focal points, both the addition and removal of color, and lighting. Let’s start with talking about the focal points. The original space had their old logon painted on some palette wood on the back wall. It was small and dark so it was hard to see. We wanted customers to immediately connect with the bold & colorful Sweet Magnolia’s they knew and loved as soon as they walked into the space. So we designed a HUGE feature wall that covers the ENTIRE back wall. We did a background of their magnolia petals, and overlaid their logo in white with a deep purple outline to make sure it was highly legible. We also scaled it appropriately for the large wall and large enough to be easily seen from the viewing distance upon entry. Then we had the extremely talented local muralist Sharon Manhart of Arbor Street Studios paint the mural. She was incredible to work with and did an amazing job. Below the mural there are multiple sinks that get used everyday. In order to protect the wall from any unwanted water splashes, we found a white picket tile and had it installed vertically just below the mural so it would block any moisture from getting onto the drywall. It is beautiful and highly functional.

While the logo wall is the primary focal point, the baked goods & point of sale became our secondary focal point. The baked goods are so beautiful, they speak for themselves. We just wanted to give them a beautiful canvas to be displayed on. Katina wanted to consolidate her goods from two display cases into one. This gave us the opportunity to have a custom built “front desk” area that could also display goods on top of it. We went with a durable quartz countertop in a dusty gray color with subtle veining. This neutral backdrop really allowed the colorful baked goods to POP! Katina also wanted to bring in a Tiffany’s blue color into the space. We knew the front desk would be the perfect spot for this color so we had the base of the front desk made of paneled wood and painted in this vibrant color. We also made sure there was usable storage below the countertop and on the back side of the front desk so employees could store boxes and other miscellaneous items there.

The tertiary focal point is… you guessed it: the “GET SCONED” wording on the floor. The old tile had to go. It was dark and did not add anything to the space. We had that removed and replaced with a bright white penny round mosaic tile. Sweet Magnolia’s Bake Shop is known for their epic scones. (My personal favorite is the Blueberry scone, and my husband loves the Spinach Feta scone.) We knew we wanted a tile quote on the floor and Katina had the idea to choose the words “GET SCONED,” in order to pay homage to their excellent scones. It was the perfect flooring solution! It’s much brighter, more fun and even more slip resistant than the original flooring because there is grout every 1” instead of every 18”.

Now while focal points are super fun, they are pieces of the overall puzzle and need to be supported by the other puzzle pieces to be successful. The first thing we actually did in the space was give the walls and ceiling a face lift with a fresh coat of white paint. This helped give the space a bright and airy feeling and reflect the natural daylight from the windows back into the space. Next, we removed old fans that weren’t being used and had three pendants installed over their prep island. These brass fixtures have white enclosed shades on them so if a bulb ever went out (or God-forbid exploded) all the glass from the bulb would be contained in the white shade and no debris would find it’s way to the food-prep surface. #safetyfirst! This is one of the MANY reasons why it’s important to work with a professional commercial interior designer on your commercial space and NOT work with a decorator. Building Code knowledge saves you from being closed due to not passing building inspections. If you’re curious what the difference is between an Interior Designer and a Decorator, you can read the legal description as stated by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification found here.

All in all, we loved how the remodel turned out for Sweet Magnolia’s Bake Shop because it feels bright, colorful and lively. We feel that this accurately reflects their incredible website and social media presence. If you have any questions about our Interior Design Services, please go to our SERVICES page to read more! Thank you!

Rutabaga's Remodel by The Heartland Interior Design

November 9, 2021 TARA MILLER

All AFTER photos by Dana Damewood Photography

From a dark and dingy old pizza joint to a vibrant and fresh vegan restaurant! This blog post is here to take you along the creative journey as we helped transform Lazzari’s Pizza’s old space into the Rutabaga’s Vegan Comfort Food restaurant you know and love today! Rutabaga’s opened their doors in downtowln Lincoln, NE on O st during the middle of the pandemic in 2020, and today I’m writing a blog post to tell you all about the interior remodel that happened prior to their opening.

Do you remember the old Lazzari’s Pizza? I do because during college one of my close friends worked there. When I wasn’t slaving over a model in Arch Hall, I’d stop in to visit her and eat some delicious pizza. One day, Sara reached out to let me know that her restaurant Rutabagas was moving from it’s current spot to it’s new home on O St. I was so excited for her and her staff! When I found it was the old Lazzari’s bay and toured it in it’s current condition, it felt like walking back in time! The place was mostly gutted by the time I arrived but the old mural was still in place.

We intentionally designed the "wow" moment of the bar so customers would see that as soon as they walked in. We wanted to incorporate some natural textures because the cuisine focuses on natural foods. So we dropped multiple rattan pendant lights over the bar. We paired this with a bold patterned tile for the bar front so this area would be really eye-catching. We brought Rutabaga’s branding colors of purple and green into the interior because we wanted the interior to be as bright and colorful as their cuisine. We wrapped the exterior walls of the kitchen in purple and made the point of sale green to attract customers and be a natural wayfinding device. Bold colors naturally draw people in. We brightened the walls, ceilings and HVAC with a fresh coat of paint that was light enough to help pull the natural light from the front of the bay all the way back through the space. We also added multiple LED disc lights throughout the ceiling to add to the light and airy vibe we were creating. We also worked closely with the local graphic designer and muralist Cold Hearted Co to create a welcoming mural that featured both Rutabaga’s logo and one of their favorite quotes. We love how it turned out!

We wanted the food to be the star of the show when it came to the tables. So we specified natural wood tabletops with a clear finish so the colorfully plated food would have a nice neutral backdrop to sit on. Then we flanked the tables with white metal chairs to keep things bright. While these chairs look nice, they are also durable and wipeable if food and drinks get spilled on them. We kept the gorgeous exposed brick but painted the half walls and columns that were wrapped in drywall. Then we made the trim lighter than the walls for a little bit of interest. You can also see how nice it is to have the metal HVAC units painted the same color as the ceiling instead of being a dark metal finish. In the photo below you can also see one of the light tubes that was added to the back portion to help bring natural light into the farthest areas of the dining area.

We did not want the dining area to feel like cafeteria with a sea of seating. So we pulled together four tops, two tops, rectangle tables and some circle tables. Our favorite moment is the custom built in bench along the back wall. We drew our designs in CAD and had a local woodworker fabricate and install this bench. Every time I come in to dine at Rutabaga’s, the bench area is always full. Having different seating options and different seating styles gives customers more options so that they can pick a spot that feels most comfortable to them.

All in all, people love Rutabaga’s Vegan Comfort Food and we do too. We feel honored that they selected us as the interior designer to help them transform their space into one that felt authentic to them and their brand. I love visiting this special spot on O street and I hope you do too! The staff keeps the space filled with art from local artists and fresh florals. Plus the food is tasty too! What’s not to love?

BEFORE and AFTER: The Rainbow Playroom

February 9, 2021 TARA MILLER

All AFTER photos by Mandy McGregor Photography.

I am not lying when I tell you this playroom is what dreams are made of! But it didn’t start that way. Not by a long shot. This space was used as a catch all storage area above the garage before the home owners decided to hire The Heartland Interior Design to remodel it. The before and after photos for this project are STUNNING. But the best part is, this went from being the least used room in the home, to the family’s MOST used room in the home. That my friends, is what good interior design can do: it can truly transform the way we live. Spaces have the power to shape our lives and great spaces attract people. I am so thankful that this family trusted me with their playroom remodel and I am beyond humbled that they love it so much.

This storage room was a catch all for old furniture and discarded children’s toys. If you have kids, you KNOW how many toys they collect. We buy them toys, grandparents shower them with toys, and all of the sudden, the house is completely COVERED in toys. What’s a parent to do? This family called us wanting to create some stylish & functional storage to house their son’s giant collection of toys and books. They wanted this to be a fun playroom children of all ages and genders, but they also wanted it to be place where adults felt comfortable hanging out too.

What I love about this space is that we were able to transform it into an area of the home that is both FUN and FUNctional. It is beautiful and livable. We worked with a local contractor to fabricate custom sliding storage drawers and various lengths to fit seamlessly into the angled walls. The reason these walls are angled is because this space is technically the attic of the garage!

I find that when most people begin projects, they have big dreams and lots of pinterest boards which is great- but- I also love getting to know the clients. I like to find out what they are interested in, what they are passionate about, how their family uses the space and what they value. This helps me create a design that will truly be timeless for that particular family.

This family had spent some time living in California before they relocated back to the Midwest to be closer to family. When they lived in California they loved going on hikes and they were particularly fond of Yosemite National Park. They generally love the great outdoors and they also enjoy traveling. After finding this out, I decided to 1- yes make their playroom feature some important storage, but also 2- be inspired by Yosemite, nature and travel. I began the design process by finding the art. I knew the art would be the jumping point for everything on this project. I searched through dozens of vintage Yosemite National Park prints until I found the perfect one. What made it perfect? The colors! It was a color scheme that would work for any gender and any age.

Not only does this playroom NOW have ample storage, it has multiple hang out spots. There are the two lounge chairs by the big window that I think are great for cuddled up book reading, but there is also the coloring station for little artists. Then there is the furniture grouping around the TV. This spot in particular was designed with both kids and adults in mind. The large green sectional was selected to be ultra comfortable and to serve as a visual anchor for this furniture grouping. It’s the perfect size for this little family to sit on. We added an accent chair in a lively print that featured peacocks and jaguars in the jungle. The pièce de résistance is no doubt the reclaimed redwood tree slab that we had a local woodworker finish and add legs to. The husband is especially fond of this piece. We pulled this area together with a large woven area rug, end tables, picture frames and greenery. We also replaced all the lights within the room. This area got a sputnik-styled fixture and we added two wall sconces that we put on a dimmer.

Fun fact: at first the plan was to completely replace the existing carpet and repaint all the walls, ceiling and trim. However, most projects come to the point where we have to save money somewhere, and for this project, new flooring and paint got the ax. BUT! I decided that we wouldn’t just select “pretty” light fixtures, we would also select high lumen and cool kelvin temperature light fixtures that would truly brighten up the space. So as you are you are looking through these “before” and “AFTER” photos, you may think the walls got repainted, and perhaps new carpet, but I assure you they did not get changed. I promise! Good lighting can make all the difference! That’s one of many reasons why hiring a professional interior designer is well worth the investment.

The biggest change to the actual structure of the house took place above the ceiling. We wanted to add a swing for their son, but the client made a smart request. They asked if it could be strong enough to support the weight of an adult too. Absolutely! So we designed this in a way where this little swing seat is attached to the ceiling, but can be “un-clipped” in the future and this swing can be swapped out for an adult-sized swing. How fun is that? Comment below if you would use a swing if you had one in your playroom! I know I would :) The client had another fantastic request: they wanted a designated space to display their child’s artwork. So we didn’t just throw up some pin boards, we framed corkboard AND included an LED light strip so the art can really be on display when they turn that light on. It’s such a sweet little corner in this playroom. I love it!

This is not my playroom, but goodness gracious I love it! We were able to fill this space with so much love. We filled it with the client’s books, toys, hobbies, interests and at the end of the day, THAT is timeless design. Whatever is timeless in mainstream magazines, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s timeless for you and your family. I believe if we curate a unique design that reflects a particular person or family, it will be a look that they love for many years to come. Thank you for reading this before and after, feel free to see more about this project on our PORTFOLIO page. Thank you! - Tara

Before and After: Roots Collective Hair Salon

September 11, 2018 TARA MILLER

It was early April and Addis Browne was taking a leap of faith by opening her own hair salon. She wasn’t just opening a salon in an existing salon building. This wasn’t some change of ownership ordeal. No. She was going to open her hair salon in an empty space on the second story of an old building in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska. I immediately fell in love with that goal.

This bold pursuit energized me and I reached out to Addis in order to offer her my interior design expertise. I wanted to be a part of this neat salon coming to downtown Lincoln. I worked on many renovation projects in the past where I helped give new life to old spaces so I knew it could be accomplished. I also knew that Addis had a knack for bold and colorful looks, so I wanted to help materialize her style into the interior design of the salon.

All professional photos taken by Nicolette Wagner with Life Unbound Photography. — All professional photos taken by Nicolette Wagner with **Life Unbound Photography**.

When I first met with Addis, I wanted to know all about her vision for the space. I loved listening to her describe her dream salon. I asked questions about her favorite colors, the clientele, timeline, budget and more. After gathering enough critical information, visiting the site, and gathering all necessary dimensions, I got to work designing a beautiful and functional space for Addis’s hair salon.

I began my first design approach by giving Addis everything she specifically asked for in a salon. It included the exposed brick, bright white walls, and the typical ‘coffee-shop-style’ interior design that we see so much of. She immediately loved it! I was pleased, but told her I had a couple of tricks up my sleeve. I asked her to bear with me and explore another design option that I created based off of the information I gathered about her personal style and her target clientele.

“I asked her to bear with me and explore another design option that I created based off of the information I gathered about her personal style and her target clientele.” - Tara Miller

This is when I let my talent shine through. This is when I delivered her with an interior design direction that took her wants and needs and elevated them to the next level. That is what an interior designer’s job is. It is my goal take the client’s wants and needs and turn it into an even more fabulous space than the client could have ever imagined on their own. It is my job as an interior designer to do that, and make sure that the space meets building code for life and human safety, fire and egress codes. (Basically- rest assured that your building will be safe.)

I showed her a design direction I created based on her vision for the salon but I added some specific things to make it stand apart from the rest. I suggested things like bright colored orange chairs, a large-scale bold wallpaper print for a statement wall right off the entry, I switched up her lighting with a knockout chandelier she hadn’t seen before, and I made the suggestion to keep the orange laminated ceiling beams ORANGE instead of cover up their raw beauty with white ceiling paint.

When Addis saw the elevated design that I created based on her other likes and interests, she loved it! I was over the moon excited because when my client’s are excited, I know that I have done the first part of my job well. From there we moved on to the second part of my job: Project Management. I helped Addis by providing a detailed list of where different lighting, furniture and accessory pieces could be purchased.

During the construction phase I draw floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, elevations and 3D renderings of the space. These drawings precisely communicate the client’s desires to the contractor and electrician. These detailed drawings leave little room for misinterpretation. I made finish specifications, furniture selections, lighting selections and so much more. We made it our goal to follow her budget and source as many local pieces as possible. Her salon features of mix of items found at Home and Closet Vintage, Craigslist and new products sourced both online and in store.

“We made it our goal to follow her budget and source as many local pieces as possible.” - Tara Miller

Before and After: Julia Mason Art Studio

August 7, 2018 TARA MILLER

When I heard the incredible news that Julia Mason was going to quit her full time job to follow her dreams, I was immediately inspired. When I found out that her new endeavor involved sprucing up a cute little shop to use as her retail storefront, I quickly offered my interior design services. To my amazement, she graciously accepted and we quickly got to work. I began the process with a secret inspiration board on Pinterest that I curated to fit Julia's aesthetic.

At our first site visit, we discussed ways to freshen up the exterior with some simple paint options. I used Photoshop to show Julia different exterior paint colors and signage options. Julia showed me around the charming little studio and explained how she wanted it to function. She told me that she planned to use the space to display her work, sell her art, and work on current projects. She shared her love for natural wood finishes, her need for display, and that she wanted her art to be the focus of the space. She told me that the main design challenge within the space was how to address the two windows and a door that led to a different part of the building that the landlord owned. She mentioned that when people entered the space, their first comment was, "What is behind these windows and that door?" We did not want this to be the focus of the space. I took measurements of the space to draw a floor plan in CAD and quickly got to work.

I mentioned that we could utilize peg board to fit precisely within the trim of each window and door. Then customers could not see beyond the space, and we could utilize the peg board for product display. I shared my secret Pinterest board with Julia and showed her some bold statement walls that were covered in faux greenery and featured a neon sign hanging the middle of it all. Julia loved this look and utilized it as both a way to cover up the windows, and a way to showcase her work. Brilliant! We also incorporated an encouraging neon sign over the greenery of the second window. It reads, "DO WHAT YOU LOVE." This inspirational quote was spoken by Julia's father and it is a special personal touch within the space.

Julia told me that she wanted a streamlined look. It would be very clean and intentional. I was fully on board! I spoke with Julia about her process and the different types of artwork she produced. It became clear to me that this space would be primarily used in three different ways: to sell "LOCAL" art, to promote her "CUSTOM" capabilities, and to work on projects currently in "PROGRESS." This simple understanding lent itself nicely to signage throughout the space. We achieved this when Julia hand-painted these three words onto separate pieces of wood, and mounted them in pre-selected areas in the studio. This not thoroughly explains how the space is laid out and what Julia is selling, but it also draws our eyes up towards Julia's high ceilings.

" It became clear to me that this space would be primarily used in three different ways: to sell LOCAL art, to promote her CUSTOM capabilities, and to work on projects currently in PROGRESS. "

- TARA MILLER

In order to further connect with her customers, I suggested that we create a "sign in" area where people could put their names and e-mail addresses if they wanted to be kept up to date via Julia's e-mail newsletter. I sketched a simple sign in table made of natural plywood that fit into this little spot next to the stairs. This is a great spot to capture e-mails while customers peruse from the "CUSTOM" to the "LOCAL" display section of Julia's studio. (Check out those adorable totes too!)

The storefront windows flood the space with gorgeous amounts of natural light. I thought this would be the optimal spot for some seating and a little accent table. This snug seating area could be utilized for a one-on-one sit down meeting with a customer to discuss their custom art piece. The seating area lends itself to great conversation while being out of the main circulation paths throughout the space.

Initially, I pulled together a few seating and accent table options for Julia and I to work through. She landed on a stunning duo of pink metal chairs + a ceramic accent table. The accent table came in right away, but the original chairs got delayed for MONTHS. I love perusing through local shops and boutiques and luckily, I had just picked up a gem. This lovely chair was upholstered in a peachy/ pink vinyl and it had intricately carved bamboo wooden legs. It didn't work for the first spot I tried placing it at, but when I brought it to Julia's studio, I knew it was magic. It worked perfectly! HUGE shoutout to the great people at Starts With Vintage for helping me source these amazing pieces. Thank you so much! #supportlocal