Online beauty time: Neutrals

Showing posts with label Neutrals. Show all posts

Dana Wolter"s Fresh, Natural Approach to Holiday Decor

Dana Wolter has a beautiful organic design aesthetic that is largely textural.

I was honoured to interview her here.

I was chatting with Dana recently on twitter and

remarked that I would love to see how she decorates for Christmas.

She was kind enough to provide me with photos of her home,

featured in Birmingham Homes and Gardens November issue.

Now I can share her gorgeous home tour with you.

This home is stunning right from the moment you approach.

The banister is simply wrapped in greenery, and white tulips are a breath of fresh air.

A eucalyptus leaf garland frames the mantle,

while an angel watches over the tree and it's softly toned ornaments.

Looking at the details here:

presents receive the same chic treatment as Dana's home - simple beauty...

antlers and pinecones add interest without shouting holiday.

In another room, a single white tulip and some branches make for sculptural display.

Calla lilies dance down the dining table..

Dana's kitchen is incredible, isn't it?

Birch bark and that fresh green complement her muted palette.

Graceful lilies also adorn the powder room, the one with THAT sink. Love!

A rather talented woman, wouldn't you say?

Dana's take on holiday decorating:

"I use very simple, natural, textured materials mixed in with white and lime colored flowers to decorate for Christmas. I think some of the simplest decorations are the prettiest."

Couldn't agree more :)

Wishing you and your family the happiest of holidays, Dana!

til next time...

Yea or nay: The "Resto" Look

Reading the newest House and Home over the weekend

(the hard copy, I still love flipping pages..)

and was reading about Linda Reeves love of the "Resto" Look.

We know she is all about neutrals, so that is not surprising.

This refers to Restoration Hardware's current offerings:

pale linens, pale distressed woods,

architectural elements and industrial elements worked into furnishings.

I love the textures and patinas,

but what strikes me is the fact that their entire store is working from the same palette.

Everything on the grey side.

I have never seen a retailer so fully commit to one look.

They just had a sale on, and I went down and ordered new dining room chairs.

If you remember I found a set on Kijiji, but, let's just say that D. will never work as a furniture inspector!

It's not in the condition to live in the dining room, but I've found a spot for it, more on that later :)

These beauties will sit around our round glass/cast iron table,

for which we will order a larger top.

Did not order the pillows.

Going to find a to-die-for silk of heavily saturated color (thinking sapphire or emerald)

and make some of my own..

I'm not independently wealthy, and don't redecorate my entire home, at once, ever.

Like most, we add as we go, it's an ever-evolving process..

Yet, I'm sure some people have been led to fill their entire home with this trendy style.

So what happens in 3, 5, years when the aesthetic has worn itself out - redecorate?

I would never want a client feeling that way 3 years down the road.

Just wondering whether anyone is feeling resistance committing to this very distinctive,

albeit restful and beautiful, look..

til next time..

end-of-summer spectacular

So as summer rounds the bend,

I'm savouring the last moments of lounging with the family.

If there was anywhere I'd choose to be staying this week, it would be this space,
found a la The Diversion Project.

Some homes are about the decoration, and some homes are about the architecture.
This one is architecture, and it's wonderful to see it left at that, with the unobtrusive decor.

The open loft-feel, large expanses of glass and heavily horizontal planes

remind me of the stunning modular Dwell homes that I dream of building when we are retired :)

How cool is the kitchen window?
And that island, with it's concrete base and steel top.

Dreamy dreamspace.

I love the way the reclaimed timbers were brought all the way to the ceiling, for a wrap effect.

And staying in the second bedroom would be sleeping in a treehouse, no?

This is the killer bit - the pool.

The sparkling azure tile beckons,

and I think we all deserve an afternoon in that hammock, don't we?!

And this slice of bliss is built into the structure, at most separated by a pane of glass.

How's that for an end-of-summer paradise?

I'll be back to more regular blogging next week, once the darlings are back to school,
so looking forward to catching up with all of you in the next few weeks :)

(and getting our projects around here back on track!)

A Vanity With a Dark Side..Waking Up Neutrals

Every once in a while you find something that you really, really wish

would turn up uninvited on your doorstep..

like this vanity, from the portfolio of Stylist Kara Butterfield.

I love the lines, the detailing on the doors, and those wonderful pulls.

But what I really love about this vanity is the dark sink and faucet.

Graceful and elegant without glitz, they add balance to a very neutral space.

They give your eye somewhere to rest, without adding more color.

Here are two more examples of the use of dark accents in neutral spaces from her work:

The bold mirrors ground this ornate cabinet beautifully,

and another works it's magic in the powder room beyond.

(I had that wool Ikea carpet in my front hall,

it has met with a rather unfortunate end since meeting our new puppy :)

A replacement will have to wait until this chewing stage is over!)

The luscious color of that fireplace is one of my faves..

it reminds me of Mushroom, by Frazee.

And the tiles are perfection.

But it wouldn't be half as lovely without the ebonized interior, would it?

Simple birch logs function as sculpture within.

Do you use hits of black or other dark tones to wake up neutrals?

Or do you prefer to bring in pops of color?

til next time..

An Interview With: Dana Wolter (Dana Wolter Interiors)

Dana Wolter's desire to create harmonious living spaces

led to her to redecorate her family home in her youth,

quite often as a surprise while her family slept!

She ended up attending school for journalism, and working in sales,

before two friends approached her for help renovating their home.

Dana's creative spirit was unleashed,

and Dana Wolter Interiors was born.

I met Dana on Twitter, and after exploring her site and learning more about her,

thought you may like to, as well.

Dana's spaces feel as though they have evolved over time,

rather than having been "done".

Let's get to know her a bit better, shall we?

10: You mentioned that growing up the chaotic environment of a large family triggered your interest in creating serene environments. Is that desire for serenity still at the core of your design style?

DW: Most definitely! To this day, whether for my clients or for my own home, I still feel a sense of peace when I am being creative. My quest for calm in my own life has switched from trying to find calm in a house full of siblings to finding calm in a house full of my own children and their friends.

This definitely carries over to my work, as I want to create cohesive interiors, yet I want them to look like they have been collected over time. I think many families lead stressful lives and desire the same thing. A person's home should be a retreat, a relaxing place they look forward to coming home to each day. Life is hectic, but your home doesn't have to be. It has nothing to do with how much money you spend on making the space your own, but has everything to do with making it a calm, inviting space that is a reflection of you and your family.

10: You are a working Mother. What design elements have you incorporated into your own home to make it function better?

DW: With my own family, I like to think of myself as a Mother first and interior decorator secondly, though many times they go hand in hand. With three children, a husband, a dog, and a revolving door to my children's friends and our large family, our home receives a lot of activity and we would not have it any other way.

I use the same materials in my own home that I use in my client's. Materials that, in my opinion, wear better the more they age. I love marble, waxed pecky cypress, crusty antiques, Belgian linens, leather, velvets, etc..

If I am designing a built-in, such as a banquette, for a client where there will be food and drink, I try to use a commercial grade fabric or a fabric with a high double rub on it. Not to say things do not get their share of wear and tear in my own home, but hopefully it adds character as a home should look like people live in it.

Favourite item in my house? Hands down it would be our warming drawer as I think every household needs one. We love ours and I am not sure what I would do without it. So many nights we cross paths due to activities, and it is a great way to save a meal for someone.

10: Your interiors are notable for their many layers, and the mix of finishes and styles. How do you include such a variety and still achieve a cohesive look?

DW: In order for a room to work, it has to have balance, and layering is a great way of achieving this and giving a space dimension. I also try and have one "eye-catcher" in every room, whether it be a large, old mirror, an upholstered wall, a custom built-in, etc..

A great way to add interest to a room is to use contrasting finishes and styles. For example, if you have a wooden table, try an metal or glass lamp on top of it. Using contrasting textures, as does contrasting styles, keeps a room from feeling too boring. I have been known for placing a modern piece of art or a clean-lined table just to shake up a room a bit.

Not sure if it is my practical upbringing or quest for serenity in my own life, but I almost always use a neutral fabric on my big upholstery items for myself and for my clients. These fabrics are almost always a solid or a fabric that reads as a solid. I like the idea that you can move a chair from room to room. I achieve a cohesive look by taking one color, playing off the different shades of it, maybe throw in an accent color, and then pull the room together through artwork, patterned pillows, accessories, etc.. These pieces are usually the items that pull my room together.

10: The majority of your work is based around a fairly muted palette. What is your favourite color?

DW: If you asked my girls, they would say it is chocolate brown without hesitation, but I have to say I am in love with the slate grey color that is so hot right now. To me, it is the new black. It is a neutral and looks great with creme, chocolate, and tan, but definitely is heavy enough to give a room some weight.

10: What's next for Dana Wolter Interiors?

DW: We have been so blessed as my little design business has grown tremendously. We are doing work outside of the state of Alabama, my work is being featured in print media, and I am doing a few segments of design ideas for a television station here in Alabama.

More importantly, I want to continue growing and challenging myself as a person and a designer. A year from now, I want my work to look even better than it does now, as that is what life is all about.. Taking our God-given talents and turning them into all they can be.

I love this lady!

Thank you, Dana, for graciously taking the time to answer these questions -

you gave us a lot to think about in our own homes..

favourite quotes:

"A person's home should be a retreat,

a relaxing place they look forward to coming home to each day."

"A home should look like people live in it."

"I like the idea that you can move a chair from room to room."

"A year from now, I want my work to look even better than it does now."

Quite sure, with her refreshing attitudes, abundant talent, and practical sensibilities

that we will be hearing more about Dana Wolter.

Many of Dana's client are given custom banquettes,