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Written by: Lindsay Webster We Gave This House More Than a Facelift
Kitchen - Before and After
The kitchen, while adequately sized, was dark, outdated, and secluded from the spacious, open dining and living area that has lovely views of the Teton mountains. Our main goal was to open up the bar area so the family could see into that space from the kitchen, making it easier to stay connected during gatherings. We also set out to improve the layout by refining the work zones and flow, while incorporating high-end appliances and polished finishes to bring in a clean, mountain modern vibe.  Dining Room - Before and After
 Living Room - Before and After Despite all the warmth and natural light pouring in through the many windows, the living room still felt dark and heavy. After updating the floors and paint, all this space needed was the right furniture to bring it to life. Space planning is our jam — and the transformation speaks for itself in these before and after photos. The room’s unique trapezoid shape and corner fireplace made it a challenging layout to crack. Before, the space felt disjointed and unsure of its purpose, but now, it’s a welcoming, cozy gathering place! Primary Suite - Before and After
 Basement - Before and After The entire basement was updated along with the main level — from the kids’ bedrooms and the bathroom to the family room and game room. What were once dated and cluttered spaces are now modern, cozy rooms that provide the perfect backdrop for the family’s art collection to shine.     Artwork - Before and After  Before Hopefully you noticed the family Art collection was intentionally sprinkled throughout the home. We had the help of KC Framing Corner a local framing shop here in town. They have been doing custom framing since 1978 so we knew we were in good hands. Over the course of a few months we hand selected frames, matte, and glass for all 40 pieces. This was quite the process but, in the end it was so worth it. The family was thrilled and I think the artwork appreciated the facelift too!
Written by: Lindsay Webster Our Recipe for Success This is not my yummy banana pudding recipe, but nonetheless, if you're looking for a delicious design tip, you're in the right spot! Some would argue that all your furniture fabrics should match. A few might even say your furniture should all be from one collection. But we're not convinced that this is the best method for an elevated design. We are here to say you can ABSOLUTELY MIX AND MATCH your furniture! We actually encourage it here at SBD, so we decided that it's time to share our recipe for success when building a room design that feels cohesive with mix and matched fabrics.  First, you need to FIND YOUR COLOR SCHEME INSPIRATION PIECE. This will determine what colors you will pull to create your palette, thus reducing future choices, which in turn helps reduce overwhelm. Here are some ideas for your color scheme inspiration piece:
 At this point you've got the room, your inspiration piece, and your color palette. Now you can START TO LAYER fabrics. Let's say you're working with a living room, for example, so you may need two sofas and a couple of accent chairs. We suggest the BIGGER furniture pieces be your solid fabrics since you likely won't want to replace those often. HAVE NO FEAR, we use "solid" as a loose term. It can be a leather, a textured solid, a boldly toned solid or even a small pattern. The goal is that from far away the bigger pieces look more solid. The choice is yours—use a color from your inspiration piece or keep it neutral. JUST HAVE FUN AND MAKE IT YOU! Next, small furniture pieces like accent chairs or ottomans can be a great option for the patterned element. A patterned fabric can TIE EVERYTHING TOGETHER and act like bridge between your "solid" fabrics and the inspiration piece. Remember to pull colors from your inspiration piece. This will help you stay cohesive. Finally, once you have your furniture pieces figured out, you can add all of the perfect touches with pillows, throw blankets, drapery and decor. Sprinkle in the bolder tones in these pieces because they are easy to switch out in the future. Also consider mixing pattern sizes. If you chose a large scale fabric for the chairs, consider a smaller scale pattern for the pillows or drapes. JUST KEEP LAYERING. Additional things to consider when selecting furniture fabric:
When it comes to mixing and matching fabrics, this is our recommended way to get started if you've been feeling stuck. Do what works for you and trust your instincts! We hope this tip gets you thinking outside of the box. If you want to see an example of how to do this in real time, visit our Instagram to see how Sonia puts a living room together using a rug for inspiration. Visit our Instagram @soniabarneydesign
to follow and get more tips like this one. Written by: Lindsay Webster There's something so wonderfully satisfying about a drastic transformation.Using our creativity and skills to help our clients with design challenges, seriously makes us so happy! And we love sharing good before and after photos. They are the perfect way to showcase how small and big design elements can make a huge difference. This older home received three bathroom remodels, along with new paint, flooring, and a few other great design elements. We don't want to spoil it for you though, so keep reading to see all the great changes for yourself. Tranquil, cozy, elegant, inviting and warm are just some of the words our client used when describing how she wanted to feel when walking into her updated home—so that's exactly what we gave her. This entry (above) had all the right features and all the wrong colors. We simply lightened everything with new stain, paint and a beautiful light fixture—and voila—she's better than new! This stubborn old banister did not want to strip its darker stain, but we were able to do a faux finish with new spindles, giving it a fresh new look. What once was a dark and unwelcoming entry is now inviting, light and airy. Next, we head into the dining room. Not a ton of work was needed here, but isn’t it amazing to see how new flooring, paint, an updated light fixture and drapery created a charming new ambiance? Window treatments can make your room feel more elegant and, in most cases, help elongate the walls by moving your eye upward. This warm and cozy dining room is exactly what our client needed. This powder bathroom was not so elegant when we arrived on the scene, but by the end of it, we called it "The Little Jewel Box.” We can't turn down a fun wallpaper, and while the plaid wasn't horrible, we had other plans. In addition to the floral wallpaper, we added beadboard wainscoting to give it a touch more character. Speaking of character—check out the details of the vanity, countertop and lighting, as these are thoughtful design decisions that we care about at Sonia Barney Design. "The Little Jewel Box" wasn't the only bathroom to get a full-blown remodel. Each one was able to get its own unique look, while keeping a cohesive look throughout. This final bathroom turned out as elegant as its counterparts! The beautiful floor tile really elevates this bathroom and the one above. See how we were able to make minimal but impactful changes throughout the rest of the home to give it the refresh it deserved (below). Renovations can be both overwhelming and daunting. If you’ve been inspired by these before and after photos and want to get started on your own renovation project but don’t know where to start—we’re here to help! There are always solutions to your design dilemmas, and we would love to help you find the right solutions for your home or business. We have the experience, expertise and creativity to help you get it done.
I get that question a lot. At what point can you do it on your own, and when do you need a professional? There are a couple factors that go into any decision, and often times it’s the bank account choosing for you before you can even consider it. Obviously, designers don’t work for free. I get it, I truly do. But before you make the final decision, consider my few points of why investing in a designer is a valuable decision… even for your bank account.  1. The Value in a Positive ExperienceA real estate website recently polled homeowners who completed new homes in the last couple years. They found that 88% of homeowners wished they had made different decisions and 59% of people felt stressed and anxious during the construction process. Source I am sure it comes as no surprise that construction and moving can be one of the most stressful times in our lives outside of marriage, health, and financial turmoil. It is a messy, long, and expensive process filled with sleepless nights, second guessing, and a laundry list of decisions that you have to make.  But what if we could wave a magic wand and get both an amazing design and keep your sanity? A good designer is the expert in your back pocket that will take the majority of weight off your shoulders. Using their knowledge and experience, they will guide you to make the best choices for your home and will help you know what to expect during each phase. Imagine sitting back and having someone take your thoughts and interpret them into your dream home. All you have to do is say, “yes, I like that,” or “no, show me something else.” A good designer will take what can be a really frustrating, scary process and make it a clear, enjoyable experience. 2. The Value in Good Design Have you ever walked into an awkward space and thought, “what was this person thinking?” I am going to let you in on a secret, sometimes they aren’t. Not everything built is actually well thought out. I have seen countless times (even in new construction) where a living room can’t fit normal sized furniture, a kitchen doesn’t have enough drawers, and a window was not centered on the wall. Those seem like obvious things, right? When it comes to construction, getting it built sometimes takes precedence over considering how people will want to use the space when it’s complete.
From floor plan to finishes, color scheme to lighting, and even furniture to décor, your lifestyle and values affect everything. That type of customization and consideration has incredible value. Don't waste your money on a design not well thought out. 3. The Value in Confident DetailsThe devil is in the details. No truer statement than when dealing with construction. There are so many details to consider and your contractor will expect you to make them on the spot. But did you know that if you make one choice now it can affect your options down the road, such as where you can place stone on the exterior or where you can add lighting? The last thing you want is to make a flippant choice now, because you are tired from decision fatigue, and find out later that you painted yourself into a corner.  Hire a designer to help you sift through those decisions early on. At Sonia Barney Design we specialize in creating design books after we have gone through the whole design process so that you have all your decisions organized at your fingertips. Then when your contractor asks if you want this or that, you can refer to the book and give him confident answers.
Bank Account Bonus!!!Hopefully you can see that a designer will add incredible value to the experience and the end result of your project. But we still can’t get away from the fact that designers cost money, and not just a couple bucks either. So let me list the ways that a good designer can help your project’s financial success.
DIY Design Packages Are you about to start your journey into a new project and just don't know where to start? Never has it been easier to get expert design advice right from the start. Sonia Barney Design is excited to offer design packages curated for our DIY clients.
- Expert design direction at minimal cost - Get one-on-one design advice in your home or space - Look at all your concept images and samples and help you pull together the right look - Measure and plan out the space in real time - Answer any and all questions to help you to confidently implement an amazing design Availability is limited so secure your spot today for your Designer-for-the-Day or Walk Thru Design Consultation in 2023. These make great gifts for loved ones as well this coming holiday. Click below for more details. We can't wait help you elevate your space! |
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AuthorSpark your creativity and implement ideas with our SBD Studio Blog - The Spark. This is where we share with you our take on upcoming trends, favorite things, and even give you seasonal shoppable looks.* We can't wait to see how you incorporate these amazing ideas into your home. And please share your pics with us on Instagram @soniabarneydesign. |
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