Inspiration in the Studio

This Labor Day weekend we wanted to shine a spotlight on some of our favorite American-made manufacturers that we love to support! One of the most important elements we incorporate into our designs is quality craftsmanship ensuring our clients can enjoy their homes for many years to come.

LEE Industries creates high-quality home furnishings that are fully customizable to our designs in our home state of North Carolina.

We love using Dunes and Duchess lighting and furniture in brightly colored finishes as pops of color! These hand-turned, hand-finished pieces are always a fun addition to any home.

This Dunes And Duchess dining table and Kari Fisher  roman shades play well together in our Southern Living Inspired Home on Bald Head Island.

Lucy Smith‘s handcrafted metal furnishings are produced in Alabama, in collaboration with her family’s long time steel business.

Tracy Glover uses traditional Italian techniques to craft her artisan glass lighting. Each piece is handblown to order in her Rhode Island studio.

Hickory Chair is another go-to source of quality, American-made furniture for our client’s homes. These customizable pieces will become your family’s heirlooms for generations.

We hope you gather as much inspiration from these American-made manufacturers and designers as we do!

It’s just a sampling of the beautiful work happening right here in the good, ole USA!  Happy Labor Day!

Today we’re revealing Part II of our Charlotte Charm Project!  This project was another collaboration with New Old Custom Homes in The Bramble, a Southern Living Inspired Home community.

Upon walking through the arched front door, the foyer makes a grand first impression.  The trim detail on the walls and herringbone hardwood flooring are architectural elements that incorporate visual interest into the space.

The open floor plan allows for a flow between the kitchen, dining, and family rooms.  Creating a cohesive look between the three while giving each room it’s individual personality is an opportunity for our creativity to soar.  We love the mixture of fabrics and patterns in the combination of the area rug, custom window panels, blue velvet chairs, and textured weave sofas.

Natural wood in the flooring, sofa console table (notice the live-edge detail), and mantle wall bring warmth to this family room.  These tones, along with brass and gold lighting and accessories, contrast the cool blues and grays of the color scheme.  And check out those windows – bright sunlight is the best accessory!

A powder room with personality!  The patterned wallpaper with a bamboo-framed mirror give this powder room a natural, organic vibe.  The mirrored bamboo sconces round out the look, and the vanity drawers provide a lot of necessary storage.

This round dining table is the perfect place to gather and have great conversation over a family meal.  The dining chairs have a remarkable level of detail thanks to the brass nailhead trim, patterned fabric, and cutout back.

In the kitchen, both the island and the ventilation hood are covered with an unrefined wood paneling (amazing craftsmanship from the New Old team).  Visual interest is achieved through the contrast between the rustic element of wood and the polished look of cabinetry, lighting, and hardware.

An apron-front sink under an oversized window is the ideal place to do the dishes.  There is even a built-in espresso machine for coffee in the morning.  Stay tuned for Part II of the Charlotte Charm Project Reveal!

Builder : New Old

Photography : Dustin Peck Photography

Last week we joined together in the Studio with some of our invaluable vendor representatives for a “Gratitude Gathering.”  These are the people that represent some of our favorite brands across the industry.

It was wonderful to sit down and share meaningful conversation with this team of people over great food.  We didn’t quite know what to expect when we planned the evening, but we knew that bringing together this group could only create positive energy.

The Southern Studio team took turns drawing the reps’ names out of a jar and sharing the qualities we value about each person.  We shared memories of times they came to our rescue and went the extra mile to help us “make it happen” when things didn’t go according to plan on a project.  It sparked terrific conversation about the industry of interiors and everyone walked away with a new perspective for why they do what they do.

These reps have worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to make our projects come together flawlessly on install day.  It takes a village, and we’re so grateful that this group of people is on our team!

It’s time to reveal Part I of our Charlotte Charm project!  Take a look as we unveil more spaces in this warm, cheerful home we designed with New Old Custom Homes. Collaboration with talented architects, builders, trades, and clients is what makes our job rewarding!

This mudroom is the perfect landing pad as you walk in the door.  Custom cabinetry design by the talented New Old boasts lots of storage space to minimize clutter, and charcoal tile flooring will hide dirt that may get tracked inside.

This office space is formal without feeling too stiff.  Large windows let in lots of light, and the standout driftwood chandelier is a main focal point.

Another bathroom, another statement wallpaper!  This feather pattern is a charismatic addition to this guest bathroom.

A clean, modern master bedroom is an excellent place to rest and recharge. Sometimes less really is more!

Last but certainly not least – the master bathroom!  Luxurious brushed gold hardware, plumbing, mirrors, and sconce are a glamorous accent to the white shiplap walls.

And that perfect freestanding tub to soak away the stress of a long day.

Although this home is simple and fresh, it’s character still shines through in all the details.  This is what we do best – creating a haven for special families.

This is the perfect feel-good post to kick off Easter weekend! The Green Chair Project has an impressive mission: to reuse donated household furnishings to renew lives of participants referred from area programs who are recovering after homelessness, crisis or disaster. Martha has been having a little fun over the past several weeks to help the cause. The CHAIRity Designer Chair Auction is a collection of repurposed chairs created by local designers. The top four chairs will be included in the live auction at the Heart & Home Housewarming Benefit on April 18, 2015.

Please consider voting for Southern Studio Interior Design’s Chair created by Martha here.

And now the real story behind the chair!  This was a slipcovered chair that was well used and abused as Martha’s desk chair every day for several years. She spent many hours creating beautiful designs while sitting in this chair. When The Green Chair Project asked us to participate in this event, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to repurpose the chair for a great cause.  Check it out…

BEFORE

AND AFTER

A very special thank you to Dan McKenzie and our friends at Finish Pros for donating their craftsmanship in reupholstering the chair! To purchase tickets to the Heart & Home Housewarming Event on April 18th, click here.  And, for all of our clients who ask what they should do with their well-loved furnishings that are no longer needed, please consider supporting and donating to the efforts of this great organization!