Fall 2022

Fall is officially in the air. You can smell the crispness and hear the crunching of leaves. What makes you think of fall? Finally getting out your cable-knit sweaters? Savoring a hot cup of cider? We pulled together two mood boards that give us aaaaaaall the fall vibes. Check them out below!

 
 

“Fall is my favorite season. I love the cozy feeling of fall apparel & I love bringing that essence into home design as well. “ - Tara Miller

I’ve loved fall my entire life. I enjoy the simple things like saying “it’s boots & sweatshirt weather!” I like hearing the muffled sounds of a marching band on a Friday night. I feel like you can always smell fall coming in the air before it arrives. It’s beautiful to see the leaves turning and the deer in rut. The whole world seems to soften and quiet down a little bit. Except for the crackling of a candle wick and the crunching of leaves underfoot. Warm tones keep my soul cozy as the temperature starts to drop outside. I think of pulling a loved one in close & curling up under a blanket by a bonfire…… or snuggling up in a corner and reading a good book. Fall can be a very romantic season for people who capitalize on it. Think: apple picking, hay-rack rides, drive in movie theaters. Swoon-worthy. I love fall so much that I ignore the fact that winter is coming.

 
 

“Just give me a quiet cozy spot with a nice window view, a good book, and a warm cozy drink and I will be content for life!” - Chelsey

I wanted my Fall mood board to feel super warm and textural, and I wanted to evoke that through the images to give viewers that same homey feeling. During Fall, I love the coolness in the air and the warm coloring in the trees and grass. I also love staying in more and enjoying more cozy time with family. So many yummy textures to enjoy this time of year!


SOURCES for Tara’s Fall Mood Board

1 Home designed by Meghan Eisenberg and Jeff Troyer. 2. Books via Pinterest. 3. Bench. 4. Jessica Alba photographed by Adam Franzino 2017. 5. Living space design by Emily Seiders. 6. Accessories via Pinterest. 7. Terese Pagh Appears in the 'Bucolica' Editorial by Eric Guillemain 2011. 8. Staircase. 9. Range Rover via Pinterest.

SOURCES for Chelsey’s Fall Mood Board

1 Richard Gaston Photography. 2. Boots. 3. Roasted Pears by Brie Willy. 4. Car: Moskvich 408. 5. Chairs via Menu Design Shop. 6. Bone Jenga. 7. Amber Interiors. 8. Wood Bowls. 9. Sherling fabric via Pinterest. 10. Oak leaves via Pinterest.

HAPPY HUNTING - 09.20.2021

Welcome back to our second edition of Happy Hunting! We’re so glad you’re here! We’re back with another roundup of our favorite finds. From dresses to coffee book tables, we’ve got you covered with the best! This earthy palette is simple, earthy and timeless. We hope you love it as much as we do!

It finally feels like fall outside! As it gets colder outside we like to make it a bit cozier inside. You can easily add texture, colors and scent into your home to elevate your home during this season.

First up is this Libra Knit Dress from Reformation. First and foremost, I LOVE Reformation! All of their clothing fits like a glove for ALL body types and they are a very sustainable company. I did NOT know this dress was even called the Libra Knit Dress, but that makes sense because I’m a LIBRA and we’re entering Libra season, so I feel like that’s a sign that I need to buy this dress.

Item #2 is the Torso Table Lamp w is exquisite. Darn you Facebook and Instagram ads! How do they know me so well? That’s how I found this lamp and I couldn’t click fast enough! If you go to their website, the base of this lamp almost looks like a different color in every image. I think it’s because it’s made of raw stoneware that reflects light differently in different spaces. It has a fabulous linen shade and a brass touch dimmer switch. It’s very sleek, timeless and I love the earthy texture!

The best coffee table book you’ll ever need! Obviously, I chose this because I love green, but I also love Disc Interiors. If you don’t follow them, give them a follow because you won’t be disappointed! I’m obsessed with coffee table books and this one just adds the right amount of color on the outside of the cover, but there are also a lot of gems on the inside! It’s a great conversation starter, you can stack it with other colors, there’s a lot you can do with it. Plus, you can buy it from lots of different vendors.

I love this Amerock Edona Mushroom Cabinet Knob because in the Burnished Brass finish, it looks like it was salvaged from an old French Chateau. Have you ever walked into a new construction home and it almost feels sterile? Homes need textural elements so they don’t feel “flat.” This knob adds visual texture because it appears to be patinaed. It looks like it’s already lived a long life with lots of love & wear. Installing this knob on your cabinet will add that touch of character and personality that we all want our homes to have. And it’s a freaking steal of a price!

Best thing I ever did was believe in myself. A lot of times when we’re growing up, we have big dreams about what we want to do, who we want to be and what we're excited about in this world - and then life happens. Whether that’s someone saying that market is oversaturated, or you won’t get into that college, whatever limiting mindset it is… One thing is certain: this world has a way of watering down our dreams, and I’ve recently gotten to the point where I believe we have to be our #1 cheerleader. We don’t need other people’s permission, approval or endorsement to go after our own dreams. Passion was put into our hearts for a reason! If you want to start a new business, hobby, or move to a new city - if a thought keeps popping up in your mind, take the steps to reach that goal. No matter what you do or don’t do, the #1 thing you have to do is believe in yourself! Look yourself in the mirror and say, “I believe in myself!” and you’ll start programming your brain to do that!

Loloi is an incredible rug brand! I worked at a large design firm before I started my own business, and we were a Loloi dealer. When I found out they have select rugs on sale on Amazon, I was SHOCKED! I love the colors in this rug because it’s gray and ivory which means it has some warm and cool tones. Since the color trends fluctuate every ten years from a cool and warm palette, I’m a huge fan of putting both tones in your home so your space always feels balanced!

I’m seeing a lot of lovely, little wall sconces that feature a scalloped edge or an organic shape. This light fixture is no exception! It was designed by Sarah Sherman Samuel for West Elm and it is significantly better priced than a lot of other organic light fixtures that I’ve been seeing recently.

One thing I love about lighting is that it can completely set the mood for a space. There are two types of lighting in a space - the main and the ancillary lighting. This chandelier will not be the main source for the room, but it will set a major mood. It’s a rattan material is handcrafted by a Moroccan seamstress, and she uses sustainable palm tree materials. The light will filter through the strips and create an intricate shadow pattern across your room. It won’t be super bright, but it WILL be super romantic and moody. I would love to sit in a room where these chandeliers are casting light & shadows all around.

Jenni Kayne has a fabulous home that she worked on with Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen. You've probably seen it all over Instagram, but might not have known it was hers. Besides living in a swoon-worthy home, she also is also a businesswoman who sells clothing, shoes, home decor and more. I love good simple packaging and this candle has just that! The black vessel with a simply printed label would look perfect on any coffee table or bookshelf.

HAPPY HUNTING - 08.19.2022

Introducing… Happy Hunting with The Heartland!

This is a new blog feature we’re doing because we want to share some of the great things we’re finding! We’re constantly searching for unique items for our clients and we fall in love with so many cool products that we find. We are going to be sharing our favorites with you! We could share good deals, unique items, vintage finds, clothing, furniture etc!

Hopefully you like this new series and you will check back every month to see what we’ve found! We’ll provide links so you can add these goodies to your home if you’d like to.

Today’s feature is an earthy mixture of items to help elevate your home in a way that steel feels warm and homey.

I freaking love ceramics! I can never get enough. This one is made in the Midwest by none other than The Object Enthusiast in KC. So cool! Check out all of her work. It’s all so dreamy. You could easily put some pears or strawberries in this circle dish for an elevated kitchen experience.

NEXT is the freaking mushroom cookie jars! I mean how cute are those!? They give me 100 Acre Wood vibes. Very Winnie the Pooh, don’t you think? I like whimsical little details like this because I have a 2 year old son and he just loves playful items like this. Plus, I love bringing the outdoors IN. You can mix and match the different heights and use them for flour and sugar if you don’t want to fill it with cookies. Or if you’re a smoothy lover like me, you can fill it with flax seeds, and all the fixings for your smoothie bowls! Yum!

The seductive lamp of your DREAMS! Definitely a splurgey item. This stoneware lamp was handcrafted by using slab-construction techniques. The base features a dipped glazed finish in the color “hide.” I love it! It has antique brass fittings and is even on a dimmer! I like their attention to detail because even the cord is fancy: it’s a twist beige cloth-cord. So neat! Definitely a conversation piece.

Funky fun green pillows! Yes please! I love a good scalloped edge. It’s something different than the standard knife-edge or corded edge of regular pillows. I envision these thrown on a king sized bed with a cozy throw blanket. Where would you put them?? I want to know!

Romanticize your life!

You can’t go wrong with a good piece of landscape art. It adds a tranquil feeling to any room and the natural colors are timeless. This is a piece you’ll be sure to love for ages. This is a very affordable piece because it is a downloadable file so you can print it yourself. It’s not a real piece of hand-painted art, but it looks so nice! There are thousands of options when it comes to landscape art. If you’re not supporting a local artist, and you’re trying to stick to a budget, this is a great way to go!

You can do anything, but lay off of my of my tan suede boots! (Singing that out loud right now haha.) Okay, that’s not how the song goes, but it’s a great song and these are great boots! My gosh they’re gorgeous!! Don’t you think? I’d love to style them with some casual jeans and a white tee. But I strongly believe you could dress these up or down depending on how you feel. How would you wear them? I honestly just want to pet them. They look so soft :)

Casual Swanky Dress Alert!!! You know that look that looks effortless, but it’s not? I think this dress embodies that. It looks like a casual frayed linen dress that seems to say “I’m so chill and laid back,” but the price point says luxury. Hot dog that slit is everything! And the bustier-styled top is just the right amount of sex appeal to make a mama feel like her younger self again ;) And HELLO! There are POCKETS. Score.

You know how there are “it girls.” Well this is an “it range.” Sure, I just made up that term but it’s true! Everyone is loving the oven / stove combo’s that are more unique than that all stainless steel look we’ve seen for so many years. It’s fun to combine finishes in your kitchen! This model is available in many different base finishes and has multiple options for hardware finishes as well. I love the white base with the Brushed Bronze hardware option because it adds just a bit of warmth. I imagine this next to white-oak cabinets. What color combo do you like best?

People! This was SO much fun!!! I love sharing these things with you. Do you like this? Should I keep this up? Would you like me to keep sharing our favorite finds every month? We call it “happy hunting” because I’m always on the hunt for those hard to find items. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did! Please let me know if you end up adding any of these items to your home or closet. (If you do I’ll be jealous!!) I don’t make commission on any of these so I have no way of knowing if you like the things I’m showing you or not. So please tell me what you like!

Thank you for being here! Have a great day everyone!

-Tara

Cute Stylish Bikes and Trikes for Toddlers and Children

My baby boy is turning TWO soon!!!! And my mother-in-law said she wanted to get him a bike or a trike for his birthday. How sweet!! My husband came to me with a few bikes & trikes he found on the internet and they looked…. not very cute lol. So I dove into the world wide web on a hunt for the cutest bikes & trikes around. Here’s what I found! Enjoy! - Tara

 
 
 
 

1. Banwood Red. 2. Banwood Pink. 3. Foxrider Yellow Sun. 4. Mini Bike. 5. Retrospec Green. 6. Toyni Tricycle.

I know we typically associate good design with big price tags, but I found affordable bikes on amazon, super pricey designer bikes and everything in between!

 
 
 
 

1. Iimo Red. 2. Tokyobike Momo. 3. Lil Dutch Matte Gold. 4. Cool Mint. 5. Banwood Green. 6. Cub Navy.

My search for cute bikes and trikes was SO much fun! I love the options above because they have a bit of a vintage vibe with the chestnut leather seat detail. I tend to like the bikes with black tires, but some of the bikes came in such fun colors, I had to include them! What do you prefer? A neutral white or a bold pop of color? Then the next question is… what helmet to get?! If you know of any good helmet websites, please let me know! Thank you!! - Tara

Source: cute trikes and bikes

Summer 2022

Here at The Heartland Interior Design, we are excited about summer! We like the vibrant colors and all of the seasonal outdoor activities. We also noticed how much we love summer foods! :) We put together two mood boards that give us ALL the summer feels. The funny thing is, we did NOT tell each other WHAT we were putting on our mood boards, however they both came up with a YELLOW + PINK theme. How cool is that!? Enjoy!

 
 

“Summertime vibes make me think of vibrant colors, fruit and time spent outdoors.” - Tara Miller

The above mood board was created by Tara Miller, the owner of The Heartland Interior Design. “The first thing I think of when I hear the word ‘summer’ is the HEAT,” said Tara. “Then I think about ways I cool down from the heat. Pools and lakes come to mind, followed by cold drinks and sweet treats. Then of course spending some time in air conditioning haha. I love bright and saturated colors for summertime. Warm tones like yellows, oranges and pinks remind me of summertime Barbie editions and for some reason I still vibe with it today.”

“I picked the shower image specifically because of the feeling of showering off chlorine or lake water after a long day in the sun. The yellow mosaic tiles made me think of the yellow sunshine and I LOVE how the tile visually connects the wall with the floor. I chose the ombre staircase shot because it is INCREDIBLE. But also because it progresses from warm tones at the top of the staircase to cooler town down at the bottom and that makes me think of how heat rises. Lemonade is my go-to summertime drink, but when I saw that lemon/ lime frozen drink I thought ‘I have to try that!’ so I included it in the board along with watermelon, and ice cream. Why? Because watermelon and ice cream are summertime staples for me!” :)

 
 

“Summer makes me think about going to ice cream shops, since that’s what I did a lot with my family during this time of year.” - Chelsey Segura

The above mood board was made by Chelsey Segura. When talking about her summer mood board, she said, “I created this mood board around ice cream since that is what reminds me most of summer. I was inspired by the many ice cream shops I would visit with my family where I grew up in Upstate New York. The experience of going out for ice cream bring back a lot of happy memories for me. Isn’t making happy memories what summer is all about anyways?

I’ve always wanted to design an ice cream shop, so I had a lot of fun making this mood board. Getting ice cream is a really happy and fun experience for many people, so I wanted to reflect that in the colors I used. Shades of bright yellow, pink, and blue work great together and feel super fun and uplifting. The light sconces I found made me think so much of ice cream cones, and the countertop I used was inspired by the very popular cookies and ice cream flavor. I stuck in many references to looking for shade and cooling off, since I feel like that represents both summer and ice cream so well!”


SOURCES for Tara’s Summer Mood Board

1. Yellow Shower. 2. Cowgirl Shadow via Pinterest. 3. Ice Cream via H&M Kids campaign. 4. Watermelon via Pinterest. 5. Ombre Staircase. 6. McAlpine Pool Courtyard. 7. Beach Babe via Pinterest. 8. Restaurant Louie Louie. 9. Pineapple Margaritas.

SOURCES for Chelsey’s Summer Mood Board

1. Plaid Tile Flooring. 2. Bar Height Table. 3. Bar Height Chair. 4. Gallery Wall Art. 5. Beach Painting. 6. Countertop. 7. Wall Sconces. All remaining images via Pinterest.

Spring 2022

Here at The Heartland Interior Design, we love spring! We like saying goodbye to the frigid cold of winter and hello to sunnier days. Plus, we love watching the grass turn green and seeing seasonal florals in bloom. We’re ready for back patio hangs and short sleeves. We put together two mood boards that capture the spirit of what we each love about springtime.

 
 

“I created this mood board to have a soft feminine feeling.” - Tara Miller

The above mood board was created by Tara Miller, the owner of The Heartland Interior Design. When speaking about the mood board she said, “I was inspired by the exterior paint of this Irish home in Wicklow County. When the sun sets, the paint takes on a pale pink color. So I started with that pale pink color and moved onto other things that inspire me like English Gardens, brass fixtures and stone garden ledges. I also feel like Spring has a sense of delicacy since flowers are so delicate, so I chose a delicate light fixture to play off of that feeling. I like the ‘lived in’ feeling of antique brass and aged marble so I tried to let that shine. I recently saw the custom staircase on Rachel Halvorson’s instagram and I was drawn to the newel post. It’s metal, which is a heavy material, but it’s done in such an intricate and subtle way. I absolutely love it.

 
 

“Spring is the transition from old to new. The new growth of spring is so inspiring to me.” – Chelsey Segura

When asked what she enjoys about spring, Chelsey said, “I love to spend time at home and admire the new growth of spring.” She also added “[I] appreciate things that are in the past, old and worn.” She likes the “mixing of old vintage pieces with greenery and natural elements” during this time of year. “The first thing I thought of when creating this mood board was bringing the outdoors in… I focused on using wood tones and shades of green and brown in this mood board. I love this combination of color for the spring because it makes me think of a new budding tree, soil and greenery, and so much more.”


SOURCES for Tara’s Mood Board

  1. Architectural Digest. 2. Pinch London. 3. Pinterest. 4. Pinterest. 5. Sotheby’s International. 6. Rachel Halvorson Interior Design. 7. Inside East Designs. 8. ABC Stone. 9. Pinterest.

SOURCES for Chelsey’s Mood Board

  1. Huey Lightshop. 2. Huey Lightshop. 3. Zak & Fox. 4. Pinterest. 5. Pinterest. 6. Studio McGee. 7. Shoppe Amber Interiors Art + Etsy Frame. 8. Studio McGee. 9. Heirloom Art Co. 10. Salt Creek Mercantile. 11. Pinterest.

The Heartland Interior Design's Holiday Gift Guide 2021

The holiday season is here and we wanted to put together a little curated list of items for you all! ( We felt like Oprah putting together the “Our Favorite Things” collection!) It was so much fun! We selected items all over the board price wise and all over the board when it comes to categories! We found tangible products and service based options as well. Can’t give your mama some slippers this Christmas? Maybe give her a coupon for an uninterrupted nap! I promise you it will be just as good (if not better!) :D This is our first time curating a Holiday Gift Guide so we hope you like it! We centered the aestehtic around warm earthy colors like beige, green and we threw in some black for contrast. Enjoy!!

 
 
  1. Sweater. 2. Candle. 3. Book. 4. Blanket. 5. Kettle. 6. Slipper.

Cotton Citizen is a really cool brand that dyes many different cotton apparel pieces in a wide array of colors. This summer I found their “Desert Mirage” colorway and bought a dress in it to wear to Vegas. I love the Desert Mirage colorway because it’s reminiscent of an elevated camouflage. Luckily, they have sweatshirts, tank tops, lounge pants and many more pieces available in this color. The “BAKING DAY” candle is my new favorite candle and THAT is saying something. I bought it at Of the Earth Florals in Lincoln, Nebraska and they created it in collaboration with Wax Buffalo. My old favorite candle was 9 years old and I found the scent in Weston, Missouri. But this candle now holds the #1 spot in my heart. The green coffee table book by DISC INTERIORS is definitely one that you need to add to your collection. It is jam packed full of great interior design inspo! The “WINTERS BLANKET” from Amber Interiors is so soft & cozy. Perfect for cuddling up on a cold winters night. The SMEG tea kettle is also just what you need to quickly make a hot cup of cocoa or tea. This stylish kettle is available in many different colors and would look great on anyone’s countertop. While I showed the champaign finish here, it also is available in a lovely matte white and matte black finish. Lastly, the plush black slippers are sure to make anyone feel luxurious… even if it’s a mom stepping over Legos lol.

 
 
  1. Chair. 2. Pillow. 3. Sofa. 4. Book. 5. Rug. 6. Lamp.

I love a good swivel chair because it creates a flexible furniture grouping and gives the person in the chair the option of which way they want to face. Swivel chairs work extraordinarily well in spaces that you want to be for gathering with others, but can also swivel towards a TV. Either or. I love a good moody pillow with some large-scale pattern. This color ties in with the rug as well. I LOVE this sofa because the back literally curves into the arms in one single line. I also love that it is velvet. Don’t wait for your “forever” home to buy a piece you will love forever. If velvet isn’t your thing, this stunning frame is also available in performance linens, cryptons and leather options. Who doesn’t love another good interior design book?! I know I do! Sign me up for aaaaaaaall the interior design books please! :D The area rug. Rule #1- Always always always make sure the rug is big enough for your room and for your furniture grouping. Ideally, the front “legs” of each piece in the room should at least be on the rug. This black rug is also perfect because it adds visual weight to the room and can really anchor your furniture grouping. THE LAMP. This is the lamp of all lamps. It is unique, stunning, gorgeous, all the good words can be used to describe this lamp. It is much more than a lamp. It is also a sculptural art piece for your home.

 
 
  1. Jacket. 2. Lamb on pinterest. 3. Boots. 4. Landscape Art. 5. Boot Art. 6. Vintage Bronco.

On the “country” board I have to admit it is my version of a modern edgy country lifestyle ;) as you can see. I absolutely love the “cowboy” jacket but I do wish it said “cowgirl” instead. I’ve been obsessed, literally IN LOVE obsessed with Valais Blacknose Sheep for years. Probably 9+ years. They’re a gorgeous breed of sheep from the Valais region of Switzerland and I love them so much. I dream of having a few of them one day when we have some land. When it comes to cowgirl boots, I actually bought myself my first pair from a real store for my “push” gift before I gave birth to our son. I say that they’re the first pair I really bought because I bought them from a boot dealer and not from a thrift store. Anyway, the point of this story is they are TALL boots and I never knew what I was missing. All my thrift store cowgirl boots are regular height, but the taller shaft cowgirl boots are so much better! Now I’m eyeing these Ariat’s because they’re tall and I love the white stitching contrast on the black leather. Very sleek. If you know me, you know I love supporting local artists. I’v been a big fan of Tori Swanson (@toridenaeart) for a while now. I specifically love her landscape paintings because I feel she captures the true beauty of Nebraska. Next is a highly customizable funky cowgirl image printed on 6 individual pieces of wood from an online company called Society 6. Last but not least is a version of my dream vehicle: a vintage Ford Bronco in the boxwood green color. But completely rebuilt (of course) and with automatic steering because I haven’t mastered a stick shift yet, even though that is on my bucket list!

 
 

When I became pregnant with our son, I started reading all the mama books and following all the pregnancy/ motherhood/ postnatal / parenting accounts on Instagram. One account posted an intriguing post around the holidays titled “What New Mom’s Want for Christmas,” and they said, “She wants a 30 minute nap, an uninterrupted shower, and a full meal all in one sitting.” Then in a small text below it said “(You read that right.)” I felt that to my core. I was recently chatting with a cousin of mine about motherhood and we agreed it’s basically a super long fast because you can NOT get any food down while your baby /kids are awake lol. I literally can’t eat until my son goes to sleep because he’s always taking my food or doing something that needs saving haha. Anyways, I decided to make a list of “gifts” for mamas this holiday season and my friend messaged me and said, “I pick the last option because you can get all those gifts in an adults only vacation.” And she’s not wrong! Such a smart woman.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this light-hearted holiday gift guide. It’s my first ever “gift guide” so please take it easy on me and enjoy your holiday season with the people who mean the most to you! Focus on only entering into peaceful gatherings this holiday season and avoid the ones with people who mistreat and disrespect you. Inner peace is the greatest gift you can give yourself and your family. Happy Holidays!

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

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 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.

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.

225 lakeside drive2.jpg
225 lakeside drive2.0.jpg

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.

exterior update.jpg

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.

enry update.jpg

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.

stair update.jpg

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.

fireplace update.jpg

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!

Our Nursery Reveal

Wow. Motherhood is an incredible and indescribable journey. It is the wildest ride and the biggest life-changing experience I’ve ever had. I can’t believe our son is now 5 months old. Where did the time go?? As I mentioned in a previous post, I knew that we would not have our son’s nursery ready before he was born and I was totally okay with that. I did not want to stress over getting every last nursery detail squared away before his arrival. I was more focused on trying to set the business up for success in the days prior to our induction, and I was trying to take care of myself too. #2020struggles

All photos by Mandy McGregor Photography.

All photos by Mandy McGregor Photography.

In the months leading up to our delivery day, my husband and I worked hard at transforming our spare bedroom (which was mostly a catch-all storage room at this point) from bland to baby-ready. The walls were neutral, the trim was original and the lighting was horrible. I was set on having a room with dark walls to replicate the dark cozy feeling the baby was used to in the womb. I knew I wanted high contrast furniture and rugs so that the baby’s developing eyes could clearly see things around him. As his eyes continued developed, I wanted interesting and sculptural elements to stimulate creativity and imagination. I’m so happy to say we incorporated all of this into our son’s tiny nursery. I’ll go over these things, and some of the biggest nursery DO’s and DON’Ts.

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I wanted the room to be dark, but also timeless. What is one thing that never goes out of style? Nature. I knew that if I rooted the room’s design in nature, the look would last for many years. At this point, I knew I wanted dark green walls. I rounded up all my paint decks and quickly narrowed the color choices from hundreds down to five, and then three. My husband preferred the slightly lighter green, and I preferred as dark as he’d let me go.

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My husband and I went to Menards and got lots of wood slats that we then primed, painted and installed on the soon-to-be crib wall. My husband painted the remaining walls the same dark green as the vertical slats. I landed on PPG’s Dark Sage (PPG1124-6) for the wall color and I am still in love with it. We left the ceiling white and all the trim remained it’s original warm oak color. Ideally, I’d like to change the trim stain, but it actually isn’t that bad with the green walls.

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I wanted to incorporate both local art and art that was inspired by nature into the room. A few years earlier, I had two very talented friends make an incredible piece. My friend Nicolette Wagner is a trained designer, and spends her days traveling the world, taking incredible photographs and hosting workshops for others to attend. She took a stunning photo of the Nebraska Sandhills and I was so in love with it, that I had my other friend paint it! Rael Belke is a phenomenal painter based in Lincoln, Nebraska and she translated that photo onto canvas with her beautiful brushstrokes. I had this piece in a different room, and I thought it might be too small to hang above the crib, but then I saw Kelly Wearstler hang a tiny piece of art above a fireplace at the Charmaine’s Restaurant, and listened to her talk about scale and proportion in her Masterclass, and I decided my painting would fit just fine. The piece brought in so many lovely colors inspired by nature and it makes me so happy to look at it because it reminds me of how beautiful our state is.

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My husband and I spent a long time looking for a crib that we could agree on. I was looking for a specific wood finish and my husband is always looking for the best deal. We searched through so many crib options and most of them were out of stock. That was a trend we kept noticing: during the early months of COVID everyone must have stocked up on baby room supplies, or the vendors simply weren’t shipping anything. I fell in love with the Harper 3-in1 crib designed by the incredible Novogratz in the walnut finish, but it was out of stock everywhere. I signed up for every e-mail list to be notified when it would be back in stock. The months rolled by, and nothing. Then, one day, my husband saw it in stock one some website. (I honestly don’t remember which one at this point.) We bought it immediately! It was a total miracle.

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I knew I wanted a rug with some subtle pattern, but that also felt neutral and timeless. What pattern is timeless? Stripes! I wanted a low-pile or thin-piled rug so that the door swing of the closet could easily open and close without making the rug curl up. Getting a rug that is too thick is a “Nursery Don’t” for me because it can get in the way of door swings, it could be a tripping hazard, and dimensional rugs tend to be higher-maintenance in the cleaning department. I have a dimensional rug in my fireplace room, but I didn’t want one in our nursery. I found a flat-weave, striped rug with a lovely oatmeal-colored background with slate-blue stripes on it. It was perfect! A big interior design tip is: don’t buy rugs that are too small. You want the rug to take up as much of the room as possible. Ideally, I’d like every piece of furniture to have their front “legs” on the rug. That way the rug feels like it is truly anchoring the room, and not floating in the middle of it.

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Having a mix of materials was important to me. I didn’t want the room to feel like it was all wood and walls. So I incorporated a brass mobile which brought metal and reflection into the space. I was so excited about this metal mobile since the website showed it above the crib, but when it arrived it had a paper stating that it was not allowed to be hung above the crib. I was sad, but it also made a lot of sense, so we hung it in the corner of the room near the crib, but not above the crib. Our son Wesley loves looking at it! The air from the floor vents make the mobile dance and he just loves watching it.

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The next element I wanted to add in was leather. At first I looked at was this stunning leather rocking chair, but my husband was not a fan of the price. So I kept looking. I reverted back to the fact that I wanted a lot of contrast and the rug alone wasn’t enough. So I began searching for a white rocking chair, but I was also looking for a very particular arm shape. I did not want a scroll arm, a pleated arm, a saddle arm, a key arm or any ruching or nail heads.  I wanted it to be clean-lined, but not as harsh as a track arm. I wanted a slight curve to it too. (Am I picky or what?! Lol.) I also did not want a low-back chair because I wanted to be able to lean my head back and rest on it. Most of the chairs I found had short backs and were WAY TOO LARGE. That is the # 1 “Nursery Don’t” that I see happen is when people buy furniture that is too big for the space. Oversized furniture is for sale everywhere, and can be very affordable. But that doesn’t mean it fits in your space. Finding furniture that fit well into the scale of your room is so important to maintain balance in the room as a whole. When looking at recliners and gliders, you also have to take into account the additional space behind and in front of the chair for when the piece is in motion. I frequently see oversized chairs measuring 36” wide x 36” deep stuck in the corner of a nursery. But they are so big that they basically sit in the middle of the room. I drew the entire floor plan up in AutoCAD and knew what size of chair could fit in our room. I ended up with a cream swivel-glide chair that measures 25” wide x 32” deep by 37.5” high. It fits like a glove! Not too big, and tall enough for me to lean back and rest my head.

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It came with a matching fabric ottoman but I ditched it and kept looking for my leather element. I always wanted one of those leather Moroccan poufs so I thought now was a good time to finally get one. They are sold on almost every website so it was easy to find many different options. I wanted a cognac leather color and I wanted the pouf to be tall enough that I could comfortably use it as an ottoman replacement instead of the matching one that came with my rocking chair. I believe we ended up getting our pouf from Wayfair because it was less expensive by a hundred dollars or so, but I can’t find it anymore. Here is the West Elm pouf but it is considerably more money than what we spent on ours.

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I wanted an itsy bitsy table to put next to the rocking chair. I checked my floor plan dimensions in AutoCAD and knew I could barely afford the room, but I knew something out there would work. I’d seen many drink tables and “martini” tables before so I figured I would find something similar. I ended up going with this super cute little metal table in an antique brass finish. I love having it in the room at night to set the bottle on after a feeding. It’s just the right size. :)

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Now it’s time for the dresser/ changing table. I really wanted to pull in a dark navy dresser with brass accents and I completely fell in LOVE with this one from Crate & Barrel but it was way too wide. (54.75”) It would technically fit in the space, but it would have felt crammed in there and would have scrunched into the seating area AND I would not have had room for my Oobi or trash can. I searched high and low and ended up finding this one that is on many different websites, and it was slightly smaller at 45” wide. I noticed that it was not exactly a “navy” color but more of a slatey-blue-grey color. I was hoping it was just a bad photo and I prayed it would come in more navy, but alas, it did not. So it’s not my ideal dresser but I think it still works in the space.

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Since I only had room for a little dresser, this meant I basically only have room on top of the dresser for the changing pad and some wipes. This meant that I could not have a regular sized lamp and I had to go with a floor lamp. I wanted a sculptural floor lamp that wasn’t typical. I wanted it to be sculptural so that when my baby looked at it he would see interesting shapes. I didn’t want it to be just a simple straight line. I LOVED this one but my husband did not like the price tag. Luckily, he came up with a solution. He found this lamp at Target and I really liked it in the Espresso finish. It works great!

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I wanted a sculptural piece of art above the changing pad because I wanted something interesting for our son to look at. I wanted a piece that would spark his imagination and creativity. I searched high and low for that perfect little something that I just couldn’t put my finger on. Then I finally remembered a local Midwestern maker I’d been following on Instagram for a while: Candice Luter. She’s an incredible fiber artist and I had been wanting to use her work in one of my projects. I was happily surprised when my own home was the first project I included her work in. She has so many incredible options. I selected the Ecru color for the fringe and brass slat detail to tie into the other brass elements I had throughout the room. I measured the height from the top of the changing pad to our ceiling to determine which size of art would feel most balanced on that wall. I am extremely happy with the purchase and highly recommend her work! The funny thing is, our son was incredibly shy and almost afraid of mirrors when he was born. (How could I have known that?!) But he LOVED the gallery wall in our living room. After finding that out, I decided to put a mini gallery wall in his nursery right behind the rocking chair so he could look up at it. And he loves it! :D I pulled together a bunch of different frame sizes, colors and textures. I wanted this to be a dynamic little moment. But I still created balance. Then I filled each frame with super cute photos of Wesley. (UPDATE: He also loves mirrors now. He smiles at himself and me all the time. Phew!)

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I was pregnant during COVID and had our baby during COVID. So both of my baby showers were virtual. We were so lucky and received many new fluffy teddy bears and I was excited to incorporate them into his room. I also included vintage bears too! I grew up with my black and brown teddybear named “Teddy” so I put him in Wesley’s room too. My husband’s grandma gave us her vintage orange-ish / tannish bear and I put him on our window ledge too. I love to mix old and new items together. It’s so important to include sentimental and personal items in a nursery. It adds to that extra special feeling.

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Overall, designing my son’s nursery was incredibly fun. But I have to be honest, it is even MORE fun now that he’s alive and IN the space. I love watching him stare at the mobile, reach for Candice’s art (ah! lol.) and explore his surroundings. I feel like he knows that this space is his and I believe he feels most comfortable there. I love him so much and I’m very pleased with how his nursery turned out. Thank you for reading along! I hope you’ve enjoyed this post.

NURSERY DO - Design your room to scale.

NURSERY DON’T- DON’T buy oversized furniture.

NURSERY DON’T - DON’T use under-sized rugs.

NURSERY DO - Have fun! Design a space that is colorful and exciting.

NURSERY DO - Design a room that goes with the rest of your house.

NURSERY DON’T - DON’T design a space that can’t grow with your child.

NURSERY DO - Purposely include CONTRAST to help your baby see the environment.

NURSERY DON’T - DON’T fill the space with tone on tone shades that your baby’s developing eyes can’t differentiate between.

NURSERY DO - Include funky shapes that will stimulate your baby’s creativity! (Think different types and shapes of art! Think funky mobiles! Think sculptural lamps!)

NURSERY DO - Include both new & old items. Vintage and store-bought. Items that have sentimental value, and new items that will be sentimental in a few years.

NURSERY DO- Hire me to help you design your nursery! This was so much fun and I’d love to help you make a special space that is uniquely for your little one.

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Nursery Sneak Peek

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.

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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.

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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.

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My Nursery Inspiration

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.

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

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

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

Design: Kelly Wearstler. PC: unknown.

Design: Kelly Wearstler. PC: unknown.

Bone Street Trout Hall Design Team. PC: unkown.

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

Designer: Dina Bandman Interiors. PC: Christopher Stark

Design: Chad Wood. PC: Jenna Pefflely.

Design: Chad Wood. PC: Jenna Pefflely.

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.

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

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

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: Design Loves Detail. PC: Travis J Photography.

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

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

Designer: Ginny McDonald Interiors.

Designer: Ginny McDonald Interiors.

Designer: Unknown.

Designer: Unknown.

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: Unknown.

Designer: Unknown.

Designer & Photographer: The Animal Print Shop.

Designer & Photographer: The Animal Print Shop.

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

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: Amy Berry Design.

Designer: Amy Berry Design.

Designer: BHDM Design.

Designer: BHDM Design.

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

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

Designer: Bria Hammel Interiors

Designer: Bria Hammel Interiors

Designer: Unknown.

Designer: Unknown.

TRAVEL: Airbnb near Ellsworth Kansas

Some of you were very curious about the Airbnb that my husband and I stayed in over the new year. It’s far away from everything and everyone and was the perfect escape. The remote location gave us time to focus on our relationship and our goals for the upcoming year.

Photo via Airnbnb host Linda.

Photo via Airnbnb host Linda.

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If you’re anything like me, you want to stay in a good looking Airbnb and not some dive. Being an interior designer I tend to look through hundreds of Airbnbs before I find one I’ll consider staying in. I found this gem a while back and knew we’d stay in it sometime.

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This little cozy cabin is listed by the superhost Linda. She has 214 reviews and the space comes highly HIGHLY recommended. If you want to get away and find some peace and quiet, this is the place for you! I love art history and architecture history. They were two of my favorite classes in college. Luckily I’ve been able to travel the world to see incredible wonders, but there is still something nice about the Midwest. Linda’s guests write in a little guest book and it’s fun to read because she has people from ALL around the world stay there. It’s fun to read about people’s experience visiting America and the Midwest in particular.

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If you visit the cabin during a cold/ wet month, I highly encourage you to take a vehicle with 4-wheel drive or all wheel drive capabilities because you do have to drive down a dirt road. We went over the new year and the snow had melted which turned the dirt roads into greasy mud roads. It was fun! But messy.

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Linda provides the guests with plenty of free snacks and beverages. That was greatly appreciated! The kitchen includes a mini-fridge, a sink, and a microwave. No oven or stove top so pack meals that are easy to prepare.

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The bedroom is lofted above the kitchen so guests must be able to climb a staircase. There is also a slight step up to enter the cabin, and a slight step into the shower so mobility is key. The limestone cabin has been on her family’s land for hundreds of years. She recently had it renovated as a guest house and lists it on Airbnb. If you are interested in booking, I encourage you to book early because this oasis is almost always booked.

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The historic cabin is tiny and quaint which makes it perfect for someone who is good at entertaining themselves. My husband and I brought board games to play, paper to sketch on, and books to read. We also took a walk around her property and drove into the town of Ellsworth to look around. It was New Year’s Day so nothing was open, but it was still fun to do a little exploring. If you appreciate life’s simple pleasures then this cabin is a must visit for you! I hope you enjoy your stay!

Shop the Look: Dollface on HULU

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.

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.

Photo belongs to HULU’s original series Dollface.

Photo belongs to HULU’s original series Dollface.

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.

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Photo belongs to HULU’s original series Dollface.

Photo belongs to HULU’s original series Dollface.

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.)

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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.

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.

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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!

Photo belongs to HULU’s original series Dollface.

Photo belongs to HULU’s original series Dollface.

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.

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Photo belongs to HULU’s original series Dollface.

Photo belongs to HULU’s original series Dollface.

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.

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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.

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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

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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