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 recent time change has us exploring all the additional lighting needed to really illuminate a home! Sconces and picture lighting over bookshelves are two examples of accent lighting that are best incorporated into a home during the construction design phase of a project.

Planning for the proper placement oftentimes requires a multitude of decisions.  For example, determining the placement of sconces in a bathroom, require the exact dimensions of the fixture along with the mirror and vanity selection.

Read more

We were recently featured on Redfin’s blog on common design mistakes that many first-time homebuyers make and how to avoid them. One of the most common mistakes we see could easily be solved with a little patience:

Rushing the process and losing sight of the big picture

In the excitement of purchasing a new home, oftentimes homeowners move too quickly without a big picture plan. Our best recommendation is to not make any significant purchases or begin any remodeling projects without having an overall plan and budget. Too many people give us a call when they get stuck after making bad and uninformed decisions, like that sofa they fell in love with that’s not quite the right size or the paint color that is just a shade off. Take the time needed to plan properly for long-term enjoyment. –Southern Studio Interior Design

Read more

It’s always a challenge for clients to visualize a design.  Communicating ideas effectively is one of our primary goals as designers (which could very well explain our Pinterest culture….a picture truly can tell 1,000 words).

Interior millwork is one of those details that adds depth and customization to any new home (or your existing home!).  It’s the work of many hands – a collaborative effort between designer, homeowner, contractor, and carpenter. For this home’s dining room we began with the trim design of full wall wainscoting.

These details were carried throughout the full room and incorporated into the architectural doorways.

After all millwork was installed we added wallpaper to the paneling insets to take this neutral dining room to the next level of sophistication!

This trim and wallcovering duo is the perfect combination of detail and elegance for this traditional home. This dining room is dinner party ready for a beautiful family !

Photography: Dustin Peck

Builder: Rufty Homes

Last week on the blog we revealed the interior of this beautiful Cary home. This week we are focusing on the amazing outdoor living spaces!

Sometimes it’s a good thing when two worlds collide — the main living space opens completely to the outdoor dining space, which is separated from the indoor dining room by glass walls. Both spaces are flooded with natural light!

The seamless transition from outdoor kitchen, living and dining creates a space we could stay all night cozied up by the fire. Don’t miss the pizza oven and beer tap at the bar!

The spa and pool complete this peaceful retreat, making it the perfect stay-cation home!

If we’re not at the studio, you just might find us here during these hot summer days!

Builder: Loyd Builders

Plan Designer: Frazier Home Design