Inspiration in the Studio

It never gets old.  Witnessing the joy of a client moving in to a new home that looks and lives just as they dreamed is what we live for here at Southern Studio!  And collaborating with Rufty Homes to construct and design this traditional, but light and bright, showstopper has been a dream project from beginning to beautiful end. We’ve named this home our Timeless Beauty project.

Those gorgeous curved double front doors practically beg family and friends to enter and to stay awhile!

Soaring ceilings with gorgeous wood beam details are stunningly dramatic, but plenty of comfortable seating in a classic and soothing color palette keeps this great room snug and restful.

The custom sliding doors open the indoors to the outdoors in the most beautiful way.

The large center island anchors the kitchen. The mix of creamy white painted and stained cherry cabinets brings a fresh twist on traditional design.

The dining room combines an extensive collection of family heirlooms layered with beautiful new textiles and lighting.

Great clients and a fabulous builder – well, that’s when the magic happens.   We loved bringing this project to life for beautiful clients!

Photo Credit: Dustin Peck Photography

Building a custom home takes time and patience and lots of details! On a hot summer day last June, I spent the day with clients selecting the perfect natural stone. Since all of the exterior design elements need to work together, we had lots of samples with us (roof shingles, window colors, brick samples, mortar, and paint colors). All we had to do is put together the perfect combination…easy, right?!

Actual sample panels were then created on the job site. Thank you Scott Daves Construction for going the extra mile for your homeowners!

Well, construction is progressing beautifully and the stone is being installed….so awesome! There’s nothing like the beauty of natural stone and a fantastic builder who manages a meticulous installation.

I can’t wait to see this home completed….classic design with natural materials is timeless!

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. I think the saying is appropriate for this project. We were fortunate enough to work with some wonderful clients throughout the construction and furnishing of their beautiful home. Kudos to Alan Blankenship, an incredibly talented builder with Blankenship Custom Homes!

Love this keeping room….cozy and comfortable!  I actually stopped by recently and found myself lingering a bit too long in that swivel chair.

This is a dream kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances. Notice the beautiful finish on the hood!

The finishes in this dining room are stunning….the faux finish walls and exquisite window treatments.

Now this is an office! Not a bad place to spend the day.

And, the bathrooms…let’s just say details are key!

Thanks, John and Lauren for sharing your home!  When we first met many months ago, we knew we’d be spending a lot of time together. I have to say, we’re missing you these days. Enjoy it all!

Photography by Dustin Peck

Wow! We have been surrounded by sticks and stones and bricks lately!  It’s exciting to see some life in the housing market again.  Check out another beautiful home that’s beginning to come to life in Raleigh…..

The exterior selections are crucial. Just wait until this beautiful stone is installed….love natural stone!

I have enjoyed every moment working on this home!  You can’t see it yet, but it’s going to be awesome….great design details and architectural character. It’s starting to come to life.

During these chilly and dark winter evenings, I’ve found a new design obsession. For years, I’ve spent hours reading magazines and tearing out beautiful spaces and creative ideas. Organizing and then finding my favorites again has always been frustrating. I think the days of piles of magazine clippings are coming to an end (although I’ll never give up the magazines). Like everything else, the web is taking over.

Anyone who is considering building or remodeling their home (or just has a passion for design), needs to be on these sites!

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that allows you to organize and share

all the beautiful things you find on the web.

Houzz is a leading destination site for home design

enthusiasts — professional and homeowners.

You can follow me on Pinterest here or find Southern Studio on Houzz here.

Beware, you can quickly get sucked into these sites….the ideas and inspiration are endless. It’s an addicting guilty pleasure that goes well with a glass of wine! Enjoy.

Vicky