Good lighting in a home is sacred. Certain lights affect our mood and impact a space more than a paint color or piece of furniture. Lighting is impactful and there are so many inspirational ways it can be blended into home design. (Quick Writer’s Note: I am a big, big fan of good lighting in a home. I learned this from my mother, who deeply believes lighting can heal people. It’s a thing!) Whether or not it’s a S.A.D. lamp, a lotus pendant chandelier, a pink light bulb or sparkling string lights…whatever gives you joy is part of the solution here. Your home should be a place you want to spend time and lighting is a grandiose part of that.

Life truths are plentiful in life and one of them is, certainly, that a nice organized closet is a visual form of therapy. (Writer’s Note: What? You’re not perusing the #organizedhome hashtag on Instagram like I am?). Anyway, we’re assuming that’s why we find ourselves decluttering our homes in the springtime. The birds are out, the world smells fresh and the weather is warm. We feel good and organizing suddenly sounds right. However, why are we waiting for the spring to organize our space? We should be doing this in the middle of winter. It will free our mind, make us feel like the best version of ourselves and when anyone opens the linen closet during a happy hour Zoom call, 800 random items aren’t going to tumble out in front of your friends. Win, win!

When our clients bought their home in the 90’s they immediately updated the kitchen, but the design did not withstand the passage of time. Complete with white oak cabinets, a failing in-floor heating system, a non-functional island, dated appliances and a too small sink, they knew they needed an upgrade!

Functionality was a huge factor in renovating their kitchen; they simply did not have great counter space, the cook top on the small island was not ideal and the flow of the kitchen was impractical. Another concern for our clients was accessibility. Although there seemed to be plenty of storage, it was hard to access items in the upper pantry shelves, countertop appliances were stored down low making it difficult to access, also the microwave was far from the main cooking space.

Senior designer Becca Bastyr’s vision for the space was to provide better functionality and accessibility while also giving it a more updated aesthetic. By blending craftsman finishes, two toned cabinetry, smart storage solutions and all new appliances, our clients were over the moon excited for their new and improved space!

Our clients were in the process of getting their forever home built and wanted us to provide a stunning outdoor space for them to relax and enjoy the lake views that also complemented the new construction home. The lot had substantial grade change throughout, so senior designer Heather Sweeney had to design a space with a sensitivity to that, but also create a functional and useful space that the clients could maximize their outdoor living and entertaining area.

The designer not only provided a impressive outdoor area for the family to enjoy, she also worked around many tricky facets of the project including difficult grading, low hardcover allowance, working in conjunction with the home builder, tricky access to the property and strict setbacks.

In the end the clients are thrilled with the completed project! The space includes a cozy porch flanked with a fireplace wall and outdoor kitchen area, tiered landscaping with stunning retaining walls, a private beach area and gorgeous perennials that provide color throughout the year. They love it so much that we have already started the next phases of the project: the front and side yards!

I love to read. In my opinion, books are an intricate and sophisticated accessory for any room in the house. They offer in-depth stories and comfort, gorgeous color and are great conversation starters. A space is all about showcasing what we love, and what better way to do so than with books on display!

There are many ways to incorporate books in a space. Built-in shelving is a favorite of mine. But, coffee table books and valuable knick knacks also hold value. There are many ways to store them away and display them with pride, so we wanted to look at a few options for how best to use books, the way we enjoy them in our spaces, as an exquisite design feature.