Inspiration in the Studio

It’s hard to believe that after an entire year of planning, meeting, designing, more planning, more designing, and lots of pandemic pivoting, we are ready to share the Southern Living Showcase Home. We were so fortunate to work alongside our partners at Southern Living, Paragon Building Group, and LifeStage Home Designs to bring this beautiful vision to life in Riverstone Estates in Pittsboro, North Carolina.

We do not want to spoil the tours, but we will share a few behind-the-scenes shots from our install day. A year ago, we were developing the architectural plans, selecting windows, and beginning the cabinetry designs. Fast forward twelve months and it’s down to the final details, from making the beds …

… to carefully placing accessories …

… to hanging the most beautiful original art.

We are so proud of our team and our partners. There were many trades and vendors who contributed to this project. It truly takes a village and we are grateful to our fearless leader, Josh Mauney with Paragon Building Group, who trusted our vision from the very beginning.

Tickets are now available and the home will be open for tours from Wednesday through Sunday until December 12 (with the exception of Thanksgiving weekend). We hope to see you there!

The building block to any great design starts with luxury material selections. A kitchen is often considered the “heart of the home” and we’re sharing our tips for maximizing your kitchen’s functionality while remaining a beautiful space for gathering. 

Our Principal Designer, Vicky Serany, recently participated in a panel discussion during The Luxury Design Summit presented by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. The bottom line is that no matter how big or small your kitchen or budget, design the space to meet the needs of your lifestyle – and take the time to pay attention to the details.

Design your kitchen the “Southern Studio Way”. . .

Invest in High Quality:

Appliances – In order to select the right appliances, you must first assess your lifestyle. Are you entertaining often? Do you have small children or grandchildren? Do you cook a majority of your meals? The technology is there for smart home appliances, so why not take advantage and have this functionality as a helping tool.

Bar / Counter Stools – Every kitchen island needs a set of stools. Invest in the best quality your budget allows since these are some of the most used pieces of furniture in the home. Focus on performance fabrics, leather, or even faux-leather (don’t cringe – the new vinyls are amazing) because in a well-loved kitchen spills are inevitable!

Functionality First: Consider the overall layout and determine what works best for your lifestyle, whether it’s open shelving, deep drawers, or a walk-in pantry!

Create Your Perfect Lighting: Statement lighting with an impact! Add dimmers to your pendants to create task lighting depending on your day-to-day preference and needs.

Elevate Your Hardware: Spruce-up your cabinetry with hardware that adds a special touch, such as pieces with an elegant gold finish, but doesn’t overwhelm!

Count On Your Countertops: Selecting the right countertops is key in any kitchen. In today’s kitchen design, there are so many beautiful options. They’re used as a surface for cooking, working, and even homework time, so make sure they are as durable as they are pretty!

Find Your Perfect Hue: You can never go wrong with a white base for cabinetry but don’t stop there – we love a good pop of color and sometimes a touch of navy blue is all you need! We’re seeing a trend towards warmer finishes in 2021 and a beautifully stained natural wood is something to consider.

Check-out some kitchen items we’re loving!
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For more ideas, we’re happy to share NKBA’s The Luxury Kitchen magazine for more inspiration! Enjoy.

Hot off the press! We are proud to share the latest issue of Style + Source. In this issue, we’re revealing two new waterside retreats with a common theme – “Relaxed Living” at any stage of life – a beachside oasis and a lakeside custom build (a beautiful collaboration with Loyd Builders). Our team is here to help turn your visions into a reality, creating “Dream Homes” at any stage of life. We’re also sharing some “Value in Versatility” when it comes to making the most of the spaces in your home. The issue will wrap with our Studio Selections including the “finishing touches” for any space: wall art + accents.

For our local friends, we encourage you to take note of our favorite finds “Around The Triangle” – We’ve pulled our favorites for eating, drinking, shopping, and adventuring around the Triangle and we hope to see you at our favorite spots this summer!

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Southern Living and Paragon Building Group to design the 2021 Southern Living Showcase Home in Riverstone Estates in Pittsboro, N.C. Our team is not new to designing homes for the Southern Living team, but we are especially thrilled that this will be our first in the Triangle.

Our design for the showcase home centers around a livably sophisticated aesthetic with a warm, inviting color palette, and layers of texture throughout. It’s especially exciting that the entire team has embraced Universal Design features throughout the home. We truly believe that quality design must be both beautiful and functional. Take a look below for a sneak peek!

It takes a team and we are thankful to be a part of something this spectacular. A special thanks to all of our partners working so hard to bring this project to life.

Builder: Paragon Building Group

Architect: LifeStage Home Design

Landscape Architect: WildFlower Landscape Design and Drafting

Sponsors: Southern Living Custom Builder Program, Riverstone Estates, Fonville Morisey Barefoot

We are pleased to announce that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Hope Renovations, a local charity that envisions a world where all women can support their families, and seniors can stay in their homes their whole lives.

Hope Renovations’ Mission: At Hope Renovations, we inspire hope in women and older adults for a joyful and fulfilling future. We do this by empowering women to pursue living-wage jobs in the construction trades via our hands-on training program, while our construction program provides repairs and renovations that enable older adults to stay in their homes as they age.

Ticket Sales: Opening for Tours Oct 2021 https://paragonbuildinggroup.com/TICKETS

We invite you to follow this process with us as we turn our design vision into a reality!

Leading up to the launch date, we will be sharing design details and more sneak peeks on social media and on the blog. Be sure to follow #SouthernLivingShowcaseHome2021.

Our team made the short trip to High Point Market last week where we were able to pinpoint the latest trends in the home furnishings and decor industry, connect with our design family, and spend time with our trusted vendors that help make our job possible. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes to bring a beautiful design to life and we cannot wait to share a few favorites from High Point Market.

Inspiration to Innovation – “Market is a great place to strengthen relationships in the workplace and network with other design teams from around the county.  This is definitely my favorite part of market! The opportunity is so beneficial to our team and the nuggets of information are so inspirational. High Point Market is a must for our business and is a win-win all around (except for our tired feet!!!)” – Crista Davis, Studio Administrator

Wood Detailing – “So many fun wood details throughout market! We saw many showrooms with creative leg styles and incorporating wood into the overall design. A simple touch to elevate a classic silhouette!” – Paige Adams, Junior Designer

Sophisticated Upholstery – “I am always inspired by unique and unexpected upholstery details! I loved this striped contrast welt which elevated the feminine look of this Century bed.” – Annie Gray

Playful Patterns – “There were quite a few showrooms that combined multiple patterned fabrics on one piece which adds an unexpected detail to a simple piece. We are always trying to create one of a kind pieces for our clients so I can’t wait to apply this in an upcoming project!” – Kayla Cook, Junior Designer

Outdoor Serenity – “We are so fortunate to experience the best our industry has to offer. The Verellen Showroom was filled with amazing energy in the most peaceful oasis!” – Vicky Serany, Founder + Principal

It is always refreshing to take a trip to High Point and we cannot wait to incorporate some of the latest finds into upcoming projects!