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!

Old Nebraska Home... 225 Lakeside Drive. Grand Island, NE.

February 21, 2021 TARA MILLER

Hello! Do you fall in love with old homes like I do? Finding super unique old homes on zillow is a guilty pleasure of mine… but it doesn’t stop there! I see the phenomenal bones of the home and I look at the current state. Then I imagine enhancing the uniqueness of the home while also bringing some of the finishes and fixtures into the 21st century. However, more often than not, I see the house for sale on zillow and I dream a thousand dreams for it, then it gets sold. Then it pops back up on the market and someone came in and painted the interior grey & white and try to sell it to make a quick buck. This breaks my heart. Does it break yours too? This is why I’m starting this series on my blog: Old Nebraska Home. I’ll post current listings of older Nebraska homes and I’ll share a few of my dreams to renovate it. If you ever fall in love with one of these homes and want our help at The Heartland Interior Design, we would love to help you renovate it and give it new life.

Above is the existing exterior of the home. Photos by Modern Real Estate Nebraska.

Above is my vision for the home: white siding, black roof and black brick planter boxes.

This home is located on a stunning lake just west of Grand Island, Nebraska. The address is 225 Lakeside Drive. Grand Island, NE 68801. I saw the phone on Modern Real Estate Nebraska’s Instagram and I fell in LOVE with the architecture of the home. Look at these incredibly large panoramic windows with spectacular lake views! I am smitten and I know my husband would love this home too because it is literally located on it’s own peninsula on the island. Aka: no direct neighbors. The only slight setback to commanding your own peninsula is the long driveway: think Nebraska winters. You’ll have some serious driveway snow-removal to do…. but that’s besides the point lol.

The home has incredible roof lines and multiple brick planters for tons of fun plants AND it has built in benches. There are so many different indoor & outdoor gathering spots on this property. It has room to accommodate anyone and everyone! If you go to the zillow page, I dare you to count all the exterior furniture groupings. It’s a dream place for anyone with large extended family or a big social circle.

I would say the toughest sell might be the approach to the front door. We can easily fix the landscaping. Add some stair stepped pavers. Remove the concrete blocks. Add some boxwood plants and maybe some white hydrangeas…. but there is the turret to discuss. What is a turret? It’s the part that looks like a castle. I would remove the top of the turret so it would just be a simple cylinder and then I would paint that whole thing white. You may not be able to envision it entirely, but I promise you it will help substantially. I would also restrain all the deck to a more natural wood-tone.

The entry is actually very nice. It is spacious and flooded with natural light. There is space to hang a stunning new chandelier and I would have the existing floor tile removed. Then I would replace the floor tile with a natural grey slate tile. It would add texture and warmth to the space while still being durable. I would paint the walls white and replace the windows to have black frames. Then I would also replace the front door with a metal and glass black steel door.

As you progress into the home you instantly see the height and scale of the home. The two story entry gets even better when the stairs cut up and down into the adjacent spaces. From the top to the bottom, you can see four different levels from one vantage point. Talk about a WOW factor! I would substantially clean up the stairs. I would start by removing the wooden handrails and replace them with sleek black metal handrails and balusters. Then I would remove the carpeted treads and I would have natural wood treads. Lastly, I would paint the stringers white so they are visually lighter but still keep the structural integrity of the staircase.

One of my favorite features in old homes is the sunken lounge. I absolutely love this concept because it’s cozy and social in a way that’s not designed around a TV. I think the sunken lounge promotes conversation and taking time out of your day to just be with the people around you. This sunken lounge could definitely use some updating because it looks tired and dated. I would remove all the carpet and install white oak wood flooring. I would paint the walls white. I would update the little stair railings. Then I would replace the brick surround on the fireplace with a marble surround for a more dynamic and contemporary look. Then I would reupholster the lounge cushions in a green fabric to add a pop of color. I would install a new light fixture, add a new table and different throw pillows for a much more unique space.

There are so many simple updates I would do to this incredible home, but I just wanted to give you a little taste of my vision. If you are interested in purchasing this home, I would love to have a conversation with you about how we could renovate it together. I see so much potential here that I even tried to get my husband to move to Grand Island lol! (He works in Omaha and it doesn’t make sense for us to leave his job.) Luckily, I work all over the state (and we even have some potential jobs out of state) so I can really work from anywhere. Anyways, that is not the point. The point is, there are so many incredible homes in Nebraska and sometimes a real gem pops up on the market that catches my attention. If you see an incredible old home, please let me know! I’d love to see it too and maybe even share my two cents about the potential design direction. As always, thank you for reading and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Nursery Sneak Peek

December 8, 2020 TARA MILLER

Our little family was lucky enough to have Kimberly Dovi of Kimberly Dovi Photo come to our home and photograph our newborn son weeks after he was born. Our sweet little nursery was not even close to being finished, but we had the basics: a crib, a chair, a rug, a dresser and a mobile. It was not complete, but it was ours and we loved it. We hoped that our sweet little son would love it one day too.

My husband and I had already installed vertical wood slats on the crib wall and painted them a delicious dark green. In my previous blog post, I explained that I wanted to design a dark nursery that would feel cozy and promote sleep. I learned that as baby’s eyes develop, they see contrast the best. I am no child expert, or optometrist, but I read that early baby eyes see dark and light shapes best. If everything is light, or if everything is dark, they can’t see it very well because there is no contrast there. So I took this into consideration moving forward with the design. I chose dark walls (to feel dark and cozy, similar to the womb) and then I chose a bright off-white rocking chair, and a light rug with dark stripes in hopes that he would see these contrasting shapes and be interested.

There is so much more to tell you about our nursery and there is SO much more to show you now that it is officially done, and I promise I will show you those photos soon. In my next blog post, I will explain the depths of the design intent, and I will let you know where you can find all the furniture. :) If you want to read about where I found inspiration for our nursery, this blog post explains it very well. I searched high and low for unique and interesting nurseries that were far from status quo.

My Nursery Inspiration

November 29, 2020 TARA MILLER

Hello everyone! And welcome back to my blog! I haven’t posted in a minute (10 months to be exact). But I promise it’s for a good reason! I was busy growing and having our first child!! Phew! What a whirlwind. Our son is 4 months old (almost 5 months now) and I fiiiiiiinally finished his nursery. Have you ever heard the saying “the mechanic’s car is always broke down,” or “the dentist’s wife has bad teeth,” etc?? I think the sentiment behind these sayings is that whatever you do for your profession, you do it with all your heart and soul. But when it comes to doing that exact same service for yourself / your family, it falls to the absolute bottom of the “to do” list. Is this true for anyone else!?

Design: Studio Giancarlo Valle. PC: Stephen Kent Johnson.

Bone Street Trout Hall Design Team. PC: unkown.

I knew our son’s room wouldn’t be done before he was born. And I didn’t put that pressure on my first-time-COVID-pregnancy-self. I knew we would get it done eventually and he wouldn’t be able to fully appreciate the room right away anyway. So I dove into research mode. I researched designer upon designer. I searched with the basis that I wanted a few things: 1- a dark room to promote sleep. 2- a room rich with different textures 3- multiple sculptural elements to inspire creativity.

Designer: Dina Bandman Interiors. PC: Christopher Stark

I did not want a white room with blond wood tones because I heard that a little newborn has developing eyes and they see contrast the best. I knew if I did white + blond wood, that would be too “tone-on-tone” for an infant and therefore, not very exciting. I also did not want a white room because I wanted the room to be dark and cozy to promote relaxation and sleep. The sweet babe was in my pitch black uterus for 9 months so I figure he was used to a dark and cozy environment.

Design: Debbie Propst. New Canaan, Conneticut. PC: Alex Hemer.

Designer: Sarah Sherman Samuel. Michigan. PC: John Stoffer

During my search for colorful, contrast filled, textural and sculptural nurseries, I found some incredible spaces. I mean INCREDIBLE. I’d like to point out that my research included both kids rooms and “adult” rooms. Not every one was exactly what I was going for. (It never is!) I just thoroughly enjoy seeing well curated palettes. I joke that I admire 10 different interior design styles before breakfast each day lol. :) You will also notice that I was inspired by rooms for both genders because we did not find out our gender right away.

Designer: Design Loves Detail. PC: Travis J Photography.

Designer: Alexa Pulitzer. New Orleans. PC: Morgan & Owens Photography

This blog post features some of the luscious nurseries I uncovered during my research. It took some digging and a deep dive into the design world, but once I was hot on the trail, I uncovered a pandora’s box of incredible nurseries- so I had to share with you!!!

Designer & Photographer: The Animal Print Shop.

Designer: Annie Portelli. Eltham UK. PC: Caitlin Mills.

While this post ISN’T my son’s nursery, it does feature some of the inspirational spaces that helped shape his nursery. Photos of our nursery were recently taken and I will share my son’s FULL nursery reveal with you very soon. I hope you enjoy these photos for now and I can’t wait to share our dreamy little nursery with you in the future. Thank you for reading! Have a great week : )

Designer: Michelle Gerson. Manhattan, NY. PC: Michael Partenlo.

Shop the Look: Dollface on HULU

December 2, 2019 TARA MILLER

Have you ever daydreamed about what the perfect office would look like? If you’re me, you do all the time. I dream about different styles and layouts of offices based on the user’s needs. But when I dream of a super chic all-female power office, I dream of the Woom on HULU’s original series “Dollface.” I tried doing some research to find out who their set designer is, or where this gem of a spot is, but I came up empty handed. Please let me know if you have any insights into the amazing interior designer behind Woom.

Photo belongs to HULU’s original series Dollface.

As HULU slowly takes us through the day-to-day life of Jules, we see her working at Woom in the most incredible office environment. What makes it so awesome you might ask? Intentionality + creativity.

The conference room has glass (safety glazing) walls and a custom drapery rod around the top so the room can be closed off (via a curtain) for privacy at any time. Safety glazing is required by the IBC (International Building Code Section 2406) in any area that may be subject to human impact. Also- have you ever not been able to fit all the people in a conference room at once? Making the walls out of glass (safety glazing) allows chairs to be pulled up outside of the room as well. SPEAKING OF CHAIRS- who doesn’t love THESE chairs!? The gorgeous Loren Club Chair can be found on Wayfair and AllModern.

This custom built sunken lounge with custom upholstery is an incredible creative breakout area and it doubles as a quiet place to make a phone call. All that cushioning and pillows allows for substantial sound absorption and a little privacy. Imagine you and your team in the sunken lounge brainstorming new ideas. While the sunken lounge is a custom feature, there are millions of places to find pre-made velvet pillows. World Market has the widest range of colors at the most affordable price around. The key to getting the look above is to go with KNIFE EDGE pillows without fringe or welts around the edges. This gives the pillow a crisp & clean look. Very confident and matter-of-fact. (As matter-of-fact as a pillow can look lol.)

If you noticed the cluster of clear-bulb lights hanging above the sunken lounge, you’ll see ELK’s 7 light Boudreaux Chandelier in the Satin Brass finish. It is stunning. It is available in the two different sizes as shown above: the 7 light fixture (as seen in Woom’s office) and the larger 17 light chandelier. Besides purchasing this light from your local lighting company, it can also be purchased online at Shades of Light and Overstock.

Photo bleongs to HULU’s original series Dollface.

Adjacent to the sunken lounge is the break area where a large wall mural says “You Look Like a Snack.” Haha cute! Next to this kitchenette is a large communal dining area where employees eat lunch. The chairs at this table can be found on many websites and are available in multiple colors as well. A few similar styles that I like can be purchased at AllModern, Overstock and Urban Outfitters.

The sconces on the walls are an old CB2 model that is no longer for sale. It’s actually really difficult to find something similar. If you’ve seen something comparable, please let me know! I’m guessing they either had a bunch of these when they built the set, or they loved the shape (how could they not) and had them custom made.

Wall sconces (and for the most part, pendants and chandeliers) are known as “accent lighting.” This means that they are not the sole reason the room is lit. These kinds of lights are like “jewelry” for the space and are intended to add character, style and impact. General overhead lighting is what actually illuminates the space. These types of lights have totally different lumen output and kelvin temperatures. We can get into the differences between these in another post. For now, back to Woom!

The basic task chair is a total basic bee of chairs right now. It is on literally every website imaginable- and for a good reason- it’s cute. It’s plush and it’s available in almost every color under the sun. A few similar styles can be found at Wayfair, Joss and Main, and Hayneedle. The desk dividers are most likely plastic, resin or some sort of tempered plexi-glass. They cannot be made out of regular glass for code compliance reasons. As mentioned earlier, it is against the IBC (International Building Code 2406) to have that much glass at those levels because if someone accidentally kicked or bumped into it, it would shatter and harm the person. Therefore, the USA has laws about things like this in order to keep the general public safe. I believe these translucent work-space dividers are a custom order from someone like 3form.

One of my favorite chairs OF ALL TIME is in the bossy lady’s office. It is the light pink guest chair with it’s asymmetrical sexiness. While this is not a one-of-a-kind piece, it is also not a cheap piece. This lovely lady starts at $1,095 for one chair. It definitely makes sense that it is in the owner’s office and not strewn about the office like Halloween candy. This is the Elroy Chair and it is available in three different versions: the left arm chair, the chair, and the right arm chair. Pictured above is the left arm chair. It is available for purchase on Mitchell Gold + Bob William’s website.

While I was not able to find the exact desk and executive desk chair for the boss’s office, I did find some similar styles. The desk is made of two columns of legs that have three brass legs each. The top of the table is made of one simple piece of glass. The chair has an extra-tall back in order to support the neck.

You may have also noticed three pendant lights hanging over the desk. These gold/ brass and a frosted glass shade can be found on many websites depending on what size and quality you want. The three lights pictured below are from Build.com, CB2 and Rejuvenation.

Finally, I want to make a confession to you… while this office is wonderful, it might not be perfect for you and your business. Read on to hear me out.

What I’m trying to say is your office could be even COOLER than Woom’s office. You could be in an office that is perfect for your business needs, your client needs and your BRAND needs. While Woom’s is super cool and attractive, I think it serves as a great example to show us that office design can be stunning when it’s focused on your mission, your brand and your clients.

YOU ARE WHAT MAKES YOUR OFFICE UNIQUE.

If you are interested in an office remodel, or building a new office, I would love to hear your vision, learn about your business and your clients. Then we can create the most incredible office you’ve ever seen! It will be WAY better than Woom’s office because it will be curated especially for your business. If you ever get to that point in your life, please reach out to me. I’d love to work with you.

Sincerely, Tara Miller

Heartland Home: Local and Thrifted

March 7, 2019 TARA MILLER

Welcome to the vibrant and colorful home of the Bruner family! Our second Heartland Home features an oasis nestled in Lincoln, Nebraska. With all of this winter weather we’re having, you will LOVE to feast your eyes on this fresh and colorful space. Lo Bruner answers the door with a huge smile and welcomes us into her home. Her house immediately smells like heaven because she has lots of local Wax Buffalo candles burning all at once.

All photos taken by Life Unbound Photography

Nicolette Wagner and I walk into her home and head straight for the kitchen to take photos. I saw this space about a year ago on Instagram and knew that it was a special gem that had to be shared with the world! It’s vibe was so unique and appealing. I couldn’t wait to see it in person! Lo tells me that the natural light immediately drew her to this house. The home is nestled up against a wildlife conservation which makes for an epic backyard. The kitchen originally had blue counter tops, a chicken tile backsplash, and the floor was severely uneven.

With a lot of work, the Bruner family was able to create a space that is uniquely their own. Lo’s husband Aaron is a jack of all trades. He made a concrete mold and made a new countertop for them. It was created in two sections and adds some masculine texture to the space. Lo painted the bottom cabinets pink, but left the upper cabinets the natural stain.

“The main thing I love about my home is that it feels warm.” - Lo Bruner.

She describes her style as, “Jungalow” and tells me how all the greenery compliments the pink in the room. She said that she really got into plants about three years ago. Lo explains that her daughter is really into plants and frequently gives them as gifts. They are not just for aesthetic purposes though, as her pothos vines produce oxygen which provide clean air for her home. She loves to cook and says that she needs fresh food in the house too. You can see pops of color throughout her home in the form of plants, fruits and fun little accents like her fluffy pink fur throw! This fluffy fur was sourced at Nebraska Furniture Mart along with the mirror-front Credenza that they use as a kitchen island.

Lo has collected her decor over the years. She says, “I’ve always had a thing for wicker baskets and my grandma had a wicker peacock chair.” She’s picked up many items at local thrift stores, Home and Closet, and Hutch. She says that the large hide on the floor adds a lot of warmth to the space. She got the large one at Junkstock from Cactus Creek. They’re this AMAZING store in Weston, MO. They have tons of great finds! I’ve been to Weston, MO on girls trips with my aunts and cousins, and it is a fantastic place. Lo got the smaller hide from Stella Collective in Lincoln, NE.

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

Heartland Home: Bright and White

August 29, 2018 TARA MILLER

The midwest is full of inspiring people and places. "Heartland Home" is one of the topics I'll be exploring in order to highlight some of the amazing homes throughout our central region. The homes in this area are just as inspiring and beautiful as the people who call the heartland home.

All photos by Nicolette Wagner with Life Unbound Photography

Our very first home of the series is nestled in the capitol city of Lincoln, Nebraska. I'd like to thank Erin and Dusty Stanczyk for opening up their house and being featured as our very first "Heartland Home." You may recognize Erin and Dusty from their awesome social media presence titled "EAT MOVE REST." But did you also know that they have a knockout home?! YES! It's true! They put their very heart and soul into their house and have created a wonderful space. I couldn't think of a better way to start off this series than to show you this amazing home.

Their handsome dog Beau rests in his favorite spot in the house.

Loving this stylish drop zone right off the entry.

While their Instagram is plum full of vibrant colors, their home sets the stage as the perfect neutral space to eat, move and rest in. Dusty and Erin moved into their home during Thanksgiving weekend in 2015. They fell in love with the white kitchen cabinets right off the bat. The windows had beautiful white wood shutters that filtered the natural light perfectly. However, the kitchen was walled off from the rest of the space.

Before long, Dusty kept asking Erin if he could start demoing the house already. Erin said "yes" and came home after work to a pile of rubble. Their goal was to open up the space and let as much natural light in as possible. They achieved this by installing French doors and tearing out the walls that separated the kitchen from the rest of the space. Now, they are able to open up the French doors and enjoy the fresh air on a nice night.

The current sitting room used to be the dining room, and their current dining room used to be a carpeted living room. The first thing they did when they moved in was paint all of the walls white. They used Home Depot's Behr paint in the color Painter's White. This brightened up the space immediately.

They wanted white marble countertops, but were advised not to invest in them since the natural stone stains easily and can absorb red wine, beet juice and more. They replaced their original blue countertops with a white quartz and couldn't be happier. They purchased their dining room furniture and the kitchen island as a set, but they added a slab of white quartz on top of the island to give it a more permanent feel.

They removed the walls surrounding the kitchen to open it up to the other spaces.

They spend most of their time in the kitchen because they love to cook and entertain guests. The open floor plan makes their space the perfect location for a get-together. They can have a dinner party with some people in the formal dining room, some people in the sitting room with coffee, and more people standing with drinks at the kitchen island. There are multiple gathering areas within the one large space. This layout enables a group to be in close proximity without being separated by walls.

This lovely sitting area used to be the dining room. The space is now flooded with natural light from the gorgeous French doors they installed.

"Everything we have is a mix of old and new." -Erin Stanczyk

Not only can the Stanczyks tear out walls and install new doors, they are also talented artists! The cocktail table in the sitting room was found on Craigslist. They proceeded to sand and white wash the table until it turned out perfectly. The painting in their dining room was originally pink and blue, but Erin painted over it with neutral tones. The finished product adds texture and contrast to the large white wall.

As you can tell from the photos, they have some seriously amazing plants- and they are ALL REAL! The Fiddle leaf fig was an anniversary gift that Dusty gave Erin years ago. All of their plants started off tiny and have grown extremely tall over the years. They thrive on the natural light from the large windows.

The credenza in the dining room was originally dark brown, but they painted it a nice neutral grey color and swapped out the old knobs for some fun ones from Anthropologie. The dining room is filled with great plant variation. When they started renovating their space, their goal was to have a bright white space with lots of plants. They definitely accomplished that goal!

Erin explained that part of her wants to be super minimal, but her and Dusty both like interesting decor items. A perfect example of this is the head sculpture from Restoration Hardware in their entry. "It makes it interesting," Erin says. "Not everything has a story." They have the perfect balance of repurposed and new pieces to give their home that "homey" vibe.

They also painted all of the doors and trim in the space white because they used to be dark brown. This brightens the entire space and adds to their light and airy aesthetic. Speaking of "light"- they searched high and low to find the perfect light fixtures for their home. They typically start by finding a fixture they like on Pinterest and continue the search from there. Erin said, "Dusty goes to Home Depot almost every other day and they have really good priced fixtures as well." The light fixtures in their space draw the eyes up towards their lovely high ceilings.

Read the note above to find out what the Stanczyk's love most about the home they've created.

Their back patio is just as lovely and inviting as the interior of their home.

Don't forget their back porch! The "bright and white + plants" aesthetic continues into their backyard as well. The Stancyk's could not have created a more perfect spot for relaxing outside. Their home is absolutely gorgeous and is in the heart of Nebraska.

If you live in the Midwest and have a home that is uniquely "you" and beautiful because of it's own special qualities, please reach out to me via our "contact" page. I would love to feature your home in the Heartland Home series.

If you have a friend or family member that has a wonderfully special space that people find themselves drawn to, please reach out to me about them. Erin and Dusty were happy to have their home shared as the first Heartland Home and I look forward to sharing many more. It is up to each homeowner to choose if they would like their identity to be revealed in the post or not. The goal of this series is to celebrate the uniquely beautiful homes of throughout the heartland.

[ All photos in this blog post were taken by Nicolette Wagner with Life Unbound Photography ]

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

Left: Interior Designer Tara Miller with The Heartland. Right: Artist Julia Mason with Julia Mason Art.

Floor plan drawn by Tara Miller at The Heartland Interior Design

All photos by Nicolette Wagner with Life Unbound Photography.

Shop the Look: The Grove Juicery

June 7, 2018 TARA MILLER

I love supporting local small businesses. Most of the time, when I’m wanting or needing to purchase something, I ask myself, “can this product be sourced locally?” From there I take a moment to rack my brain or do a quick google search to see if there are any local businesses or makers that I can go to. I would much rather stimulate the local economy an purchase something from a big chain.

Photo @justbebalanced

Photo by @kimberlydovi

Photo by @cait.perman

Photo by @kimberlydovi

Photo by @anrosen

Photo by @cait.perman

Photo @wellesleylauren

Photo @uglyhumanbeing

Photo by @kat_foster_

From time to time I’m going to share a few local businesses on the blog that I enjoy. The Grove Juicery and Wellness Cafe opened it’s doors to the public on Monday May 28th and it has been quite literally taking over the internet ever since. Instagram feeds are plum full with shots of the trendy interior and their colorful juices. *Swoon* It is dreamy for sure.

It took me about a week to find the time to stop into the cute little spot on 24th and Farnam. I stopped there on my lunch break to see what all the buzz was about and experience not only the beautiful atmosphere, but also to drink some epic juice. Once I looked over the menu (and realized how hungry I actually was) I opted for their Açaí bowl instead of the juice. I had multiple appointments afterwards so I didn’t want to buy a bunch of juices and let them sit in the heat of my car for the remainder of the afternoon.

Like a moth to the flame I made a bee-line towards the electric navy sofa after placing my order. Who doesn’t want to sit on lush velvet? There I waited for the barista to take the orders of the numerous people in line behind me. During that time, I was able to really look around and soak in my surroundings. While doing this I realized that I recognized many of the beautiful furniture pieces and light fixtures in the space.

I am an Interior Designer. Therefore, I am constantly shopping for furniture, light fixtures, etc, for my clients. You can say I’m on the internet – a lot – and that is how I can sometimes easily identify products.

In this blog I’m going to share with you how you can “get the look” of The Grove Juicery and buy the pieces for yourself. Most of the products can be easily sourced online and shipped directly to you. I hope you enjoyed reading this and I hope you'll like the quick work I did on identifying the charming elements in The Grove Juicery and Wellness Cafe.

The Velvet Lyre Chesterfield Sofa from Anthropologie can be purchased in a variety of ways. You can click here to order it in the "Forest" green colorway with the dark hickory legs on rollers. If you want additional options, you can click here for a full list of all the fabrics and leathers the sofa is available in. See the "Velvet in Navy" color code in the adjacent photo for additional information on the blue sofa.

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The Jewel Round Side Table via Target's Opalhouse collection is made of rattan and adds natural warmth and texture to the space. This piece is available in both the natural and a black finish. It is approximately 19.75" in diameter and 19.75" high. Click here to see additional information on the side table.

Each table is accented with the Pari Ratan Arm Chair from Anthropoloie. This rattan chair is not only comfortable to sit in, the fact that you can see through the chair makes it visually "light" within the space as well.

The Safaveiah Leda Rattan Bar Stools can be purchased through a variety of vendors such as Hayneedle, Houzz, and Overstock.com. Be sure to check the dimensions on each website to see if they are selling the counter height, or the bar height version. This information can typically be found in the 'product info' section or under the 'dimensions' section.

(Scroll down to see information on the lighting, tiles and paint in the space.)

The Basketweave Bamboo Pendant Shade can be found at WorldMarket.com and is available in both natural jute and a black finish. This product is hand woven onto a metal frame and is sold separately from the actual lightbulb and chain. You can see WorldMarket's Electrical Cord and Swag Kits here.

My favorite finish in the space is the original mosaic tile flooring. These intricate pieces compose a striking pattern on the floor and give a freshly acquired look. They tell a story of a time when developers, real estate agents and business owners invested in the hard surfaces of their space. They weren't worried about if the pattern would affect resale value, and they didn't argue over wheather it was "timeless," or not. They knew that mosaic flooring was a great investment and they just did it. It's simple, and it is magnificent.

While this look may be from another era- there are tile manufacturers today that are creating similar looks at a decent price point. Jeffrey Court came out with a tile line last year called Chapter 18 - Rotunda. This collection features many magnificent tiles, but a few particular styles lend themselves as an exquisite alternative to this historic look.

If you click on the Junaeu Mosaic, the Montpelier Mosaic, or the Augusta Mosaic, you will see dainty compilations of mini-square tiles. These tiny pieces create a large floor pattern similar to the flooring at The Grove. Each of these patterns are available in two colors: Nero Marquina (Black), or Tunisian Grey.

You could easily put Jeffrey Court's Rotunda mosaics in your home, office or business to create a striking floor pattern, and I guarantee people will love it! (Not everyone of course, but the majority of people will be drawn to it.) Be bold! Be different. Be you! If you like pattern, then I'd like to encourage you not to be afraid of it! :)

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Last but not least, let's talk about those WHITE WALLS. We see photos of white interiors everywhere. But have you ever gone to the store to pick out a white paint color? There are literally MILLIONS of white paint options to choose from. So how do you know which white is a good white? The last thing you want is to have all of your walls painted "white" and then end up feeling like they're peachy, or that they have a green undertone.

Some of the brightest stark whites in the business are Sherwin Williams -Pure White (SW7005), Benjamin Moore's -White Heron (OC-57), PPG's -Commercial White (1025-1), and BEHR's Home Decorator's Collection's -Nano White (HDC-MD-06). However, a paint selection depends so much on the flooring, the furniture, the lighting and many other elements in the space. So these whites might not be the perfect fit for your space.

If you ever need help picking a paint color, or anything else that has to do with interior design, feel free to shoot me an e-mail. I am happy to help!

I hope you enjoyed this blog post covering the ultra-trendy interior of The Grove Juicery and Wellness Cafe. Go for the atmosphere - stay for the juice. It's divine. <3 #shoplocal #interiordesigner

Not Your Basic Backsplash

March 26, 2018 TARA MILLER

Marble Systems

People tend to gather in kitchens. Whether you're throwing a party, it's the holidays, or the kids have some friends over. Somehow, people tend to congregate in the kitchen. With all of the attention your kitchen gets, it's wise to make sure that your kitchen is a place you enjoy. There is nothing wrong with loving your kitchen! It is basically loving yourself. :) If you are going to spend plenty of time somewhere, you want to make sure that it fits your lifestyle and your actual style.

Fatima Field Tile from the Duquesa series by Walker Zanger. Hand-painted terracotta tiles.

Currently, white subway tile backsplashes are all the rage. ALL. THE. RAGE. We see it all over the internet, your insta feed and pinterest boards. Subway tile is a simple solution that gives you a clean finished product. It's easy to maintain, it comes in various shapes and sizes, and is relatively easy on the pocketbook. I will be honest with you and tell you that I do like subway tile. I think it is a good design solution with a timeless style. However, it has become extremely mainstream and I know that some other tiles are getting overlooked because people get "subway tile tunnel vision."

Walker Zanger

Maybe you are a free-spirited funky small business owner. Or maybe you're a minimalist first time home owner with a great side hustle. Maybe you own a killer bachelor pad, or hunting lodge. No matter who you are, or what you do, you are unique. You are truly one of a kind. You have options! If you are looking for something different than the standard subway tile, this post is for you! Maybe there is a backsplash tile out there that you could LOVE. Why not find something that is so absolutely "you" for your backsplash? It doesn't hurt to see what options are out there. If you don't see anything in this post that strikes your fancy, call me up and we can design something that is perfect for YOU. I am always happy to help. :)

Walker Zanger- Shingle

Shingle close up

Why are white subway tiles being installed in almost every household in America right now? Perhaps because people love the idea of a bright, white, fresh and airy kitchen. That is a great thing to want! However, it can be achieved in many ways. White backgrounds offer a great neutral canvas for us to display things that are uniquely personal to us. In a kitchen, a white background can help set off a neat brass faucet, a custom forged range hood, funky knobs and pulls. Or you can set a bowl of fruit, or a fresh bouquet of flowers in front of it. Any color looks good in front of white! This is all true. However, the subway tile is not the only fresh white look for your potential kitchen backsplash. There is an unlimited amount of options and maybe there is an option out there that you could fall in love with. There might be a tile out there that is uniquely "you." #youbeyou #thinkoutsideofthebox #notyourbasicbacksplash

Walker Zanger

If you continue to scroll through this post you will see various kitchens with fresh designs that incorporate backsplashes of interest. These kitchens have a little bit more personality in their backsplashes. Since backsplash tiles cover a vertical surface, they can be a form of "wall art" for your space. You are free to have subtle interest, texture or even - color- if you want! But you know that. Perhaps you just aren't aware of all of the fabulously awesome tiles that are out there. Hopefully this post helps show you that there are many options out there and perhaps there is a tile better suited for your style. Maybe the standard subway tile is the perfect choice for you. That is great! Rock on! But if you have found something else you like, that is cool too. Enjoy!

Walker Zanger- Clover

Jeffrey Court - Island

The design world is full of infinite options in everything- not just tile. There are many options for flooring, walls, lighting, counter tops and SO MUCH MORE. If you found this article helpful and would appreciate the design assistance from a professional Interior Designer, please click here for residential design assistance, and please click HERE for commercial Interior Design assistance. Thank you for reading this post. Have a wonderful day!