I was recently hired to stage an older (yet very charming) duplex in Carlisle, PA. The home is vacant and had been a rental for the past few years. It has adorable wood moulding throughout, as well as hardwood flooring on the main level. Considering what the homeowner has invested in appliances and other repairs, as well as realtor fees, the budget for staging was right around $1000. This allowed us to bring in furniture, accessories, area rugs and wall art to really bring the home to life. Take a look at the before and after and see what a difference $1000 can make on a home! Before staging, the house felt drab and boring. The view of the neighbor’s peeling house paint outside the windows was a huge distraction from the potential of this home to be a warm and cheery place for a potential buyer. Ideally, I would have placed curtain rods and soft, white sheers over the windows to allow the light to stream in, yet help detract from the need for a paint job on the exterior of the neighbor’s home. However the seller’s budget didn’t allow for window treatments so my job was to use the furniture and accessories keep the eye and focus on the beauty of this home and help buyers to feel like this house could be their home. Seeking a real estate home stager in the Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle area of central PA? Contact Sherri today. No home staging job is too big or too small.

I was recently hired to stage an older (yet very charming) duplex in Carlisle, PA. The home is vacant and had been a rental for the past few years. It has adorable wood moulding throughout, as well as hardwood flooring on the main level. Considering what the homeowner has invested in appliances and other repairs, as well as realtor fees, the budget for staging was right around $1000. This allowed us to bring in furniture, accessories, area rugs and wall art to really bring the home to life. Take a look at the before and after and see what a difference $1000 can make on a home! Before staging, the house felt drab and boring. The view of the neighbor’s peeling house paint outside the windows was a huge distraction from the potential of this home to be a warm and cheery place for a potential buyer. Ideally, I would have placed curtain rods and soft, white sheers over the windows to allow the light to stream in, yet help detract from the need for a paint job on the exterior of the neighbor’s home. However the seller’s budget didn’t allow for window treatments so my job was to use the furniture and accessories keep the eye and focus on the beauty of this home and help buyers to feel like this house could be their home. Seeking a real estate home stager in the Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle area of central PA? Contact Sherri today. No home staging job is too big or too small.

I was recently hired to stage an older (yet very charming) duplex in Carlisle, PA. The home is vacant and had been a rental for the past few years. It has adorable wood moulding throughout, as well as hardwood flooring on the main level. Considering what the homeowner has invested in appliances and other repairs, as well as realtor fees, the budget for staging was right around $1000. This allowed us to bring in furniture, accessories, area rugs and wall art to really bring the home to life. Take a look at the before and after and see what a difference $1000 can make on a home! Before staging, the house felt drab and boring. The view of the neighbor’s peeling house paint outside the windows was a huge distraction from the potential of this home to be a warm and cheery place for a potential buyer. Ideally, I would have placed curtain rods and soft, white sheers over the windows to allow the light to stream in, yet help detract from the need for a paint job on the exterior of the neighbor’s home. However the seller’s budget didn’t allow for window treatments so my job was to use the furniture and accessories keep the eye and focus on the beauty of this home and help buyers to feel like this house could be their home. Seeking a real estate home stager in the Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle area of central PA? Contact Sherri today. No home staging job is too big or too small.

Engineered cedar siding creates beautiful gray-blue tones at the exterior of the home, while adding a textural element to activate the simple exterior design.

I was recently hired to stage an older (yet very charming) duplex in Carlisle, PA. The home is vacant and had been a rental for the past few years. It has adorable wood moulding throughout, as well as hardwood flooring on the main level. Considering what the homeowner has invested in appliances and other repairs, as well as realtor fees, the budget for staging was right around $1000. This allowed us to bring in furniture, accessories, area rugs and wall art to really bring the home to life. Take a look at the before and after and see what a difference $1000 can make on a home! Before staging, the house felt drab and boring. The view of the neighbor’s peeling house paint outside the windows was a huge distraction from the potential of this home to be a warm and cheery place for a potential buyer. Ideally, I would have placed curtain rods and soft, white sheers over the windows to allow the light to stream in, yet help detract from the need for a paint job on the exterior of the neighbor’s home. However the seller’s budget didn’t allow for window treatments so my job was to use the furniture and accessories keep the eye and focus on the beauty of this home and help buyers to feel like this house could be their home. Seeking a real estate home stager in the Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle area of central PA? Contact Sherri today. No home staging job is too big or too small.

I was recently hired to stage an older (yet very charming) duplex in Carlisle, PA. The home is vacant and had been a rental for the past few years. It has adorable wood moulding throughout, as well as hardwood flooring on the main level. Considering what the homeowner has invested in appliances and other repairs, as well as realtor fees, the budget for staging was right around $1000. This allowed us to bring in furniture, accessories, area rugs and wall art to really bring the home to life. Take a look at the before and after and see what a difference $1000 can make on a home! Before staging, the house felt drab and boring. The view of the neighbor’s peeling house paint outside the windows was a huge distraction from the potential of this home to be a warm and cheery place for a potential buyer. Ideally, I would have placed curtain rods and soft, white sheers over the windows to allow the light to stream in, yet help detract from the need for a paint job on the exterior of the neighbor’s home. However the seller’s budget didn’t allow for window treatments so my job was to use the furniture and accessories keep the eye and focus on the beauty of this home and help buyers to feel like this house could be their home. Seeking a real estate home stager in the Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle area of central PA? Contact Sherri today. No home staging job is too big or too small.

Dennis and Joe have a large, light-filled house. New construction meant lofted space and open floor plans with traditional styling. Running a busy dental practice by day and engaged in a rich social life by night, this couple needed a professional to take the lead on making their house a home. That’s my cue! They wanted to take risks, and stay away from “matchy-matchy”. We gussied up a plain ol’ TV room and gave it a healthy dose of luxury. Our plan was initially inspired by an abstract painting hanging over their stone fireplace. We brought in their love of the outdoors to make things cozy and used family furniture whenever possible for nostalgia and comfort. I took their love for one-of-a-kind objects and started making a design plan, aiming to solve their biggest frustration: the family room. They had a tortured relationship with a “forgotten family room,” a great space that was spacious and bright, but not at all cozy or joyful, and certainly not “them.” I wanted to create a cozy space functional for everyday curling up with puppies and watching TV after dinner, yet chic enough for hosting the pre-dinner kitchen overflow and cocktails during parties. I went looking for contrasting textures and materials. I wanted to balance patterns and scale, and use non-traditional colors as neutrals to create an overall sense of “BAM!” Dennis and Joe loved the nod to the classics juxtaposed with new and different globally-inspired pieces. For this project our design aesthetic can be described as Middle Eastern/tribal meets mid-century modern. We played to their sensible side with proportion and balance, and stayed as far away from boring/bleh as we could. You could say this room was pretty successful...It was featured in DC Modern Luxury. (#nobigdeal, right?) From there we moved on to other spaces.. We added colorful pillows and sheer drapery to finish off their formal living room. We kept an inherited bedroom set from Dennis’ Mom and added color, draperies, and pillows to overhaul the guest bedroom. Their project was not a rip-and-replace, we weren’t starting from scratch with a blank piece of paper. Rather, our goal was to take what was already there and make it better, more like them. Using functionality first, we focused on giving the house a soothing, joyful aesthetic. We upped the chic factor by a gajillion and helped them find their ‘happy’ at home. See more Safferstone stuff at www.safferstone.com. Connect with us on Facebook, get inspired on Pinterest, and share modern musings on life & design on Instagram. Or, send us a love note at hello@safferstone.com. Photo: Angie Seckinger

Dennis and Joe have a large, light-filled house. New construction meant lofted space and open floor plans with traditional styling. Running a busy dental practice by day and engaged in a rich social life by night, this couple needed a professional to take the lead on making their house a home. That’s my cue! They wanted to take risks, and stay away from “matchy-matchy”. We gussied up a plain ol’ TV room and gave it a healthy dose of luxury. Our plan was initially inspired by an abstract painting hanging over their stone fireplace. We brought in their love of the outdoors to make things cozy and used family furniture whenever possible for nostalgia and comfort. I took their love for one-of-a-kind objects and started making a design plan, aiming to solve their biggest frustration: the family room. They had a tortured relationship with a “forgotten family room,” a great space that was spacious and bright, but not at all cozy or joyful, and certainly not “them.” I wanted to create a cozy space functional for everyday curling up with puppies and watching TV after dinner, yet chic enough for hosting the pre-dinner kitchen overflow and cocktails during parties. I went looking for contrasting textures and materials. I wanted to balance patterns and scale, and use non-traditional colors as neutrals to create an overall sense of “BAM!” Dennis and Joe loved the nod to the classics juxtaposed with new and different globally-inspired pieces. For this project our design aesthetic can be described as Middle Eastern/tribal meets mid-century modern. We played to their sensible side with proportion and balance, and stayed as far away from boring/bleh as we could. You could say this room was pretty successful...It was featured in DC Modern Luxury. (#nobigdeal, right?) From there we moved on to other spaces.. We added colorful pillows and sheer drapery to finish off their formal living room. We kept an inherited bedroom set from Dennis’ Mom and added color, draperies, and pillows to overhaul the guest bedroom. Their project was not a rip-and-replace, we weren’t starting from scratch with a blank piece of paper. Rather, our goal was to take what was already there and make it better, more like them. Using functionality first, we focused on giving the house a soothing, joyful aesthetic. We upped the chic factor by a gajillion and helped them find their ‘happy’ at home. See more Safferstone stuff at www.safferstone.com. Connect with us on Facebook, get inspired on Pinterest, and share modern musings on life & design on Instagram. Or, send us a love note at hello@safferstone.com. Photo: Angie Seckinger

Another beautiful Bungalow kitchen remodel in the Northrop neighborhood of South Minneapolis. These homeowners contacted Castle planning for a whole kitchen renovation, which included opening the existing kitchen into the dining room so the family could enjoy a more multi-purpose space. The original (1927) built-in buffet cabinet between the kitchen and dining was re-homed to a vintage salvage room in Minneapolis for a new future life. The homeowners did not want a boring kitchen. We also focused on matching the original style/feel of the home but rejuvenated. A fresh traditional kitchen design was planned to provide better function for the family’s needs and also a beautiful style to the heart of their home. New hardwood floors carry into the kitchen to match the existing hardwoods. New custom-built flush-inset cabinetry was designed with a wonderful two-tone color scheme. The new cabinetry includes custom storage, glass uppers and accessories; silverware tray divides, trash pull-out, outlet docking drawer for phones to charge, custom shelf roll-outs and lazy susan corners. Castle selected historic paint colors by Benjamin Moore to keep within the period of the home. The base cabinets are painted in Benjamin Moore, Tarrytown green and the uppers in a soft white (BM, Ballet white). By doing two cabinetry colors, Castle was able to create some unique interest and anchor the base cabinet to the floor while still having light walls with the white cabinetry. New marble patterned Cambria Quartz countertops were selected in the luxurious and classic Torquay design. To complete the walls, traditional white subway tile was installed. Along with the beautiful finishes, we also improved light quality in the space. New windows were installed increasing from 2 windows to 3 windows with an additional window to the backyard. We also installed 2 Solatubes for additional natural lighting. The Solatubes also include a solar-powered night light and additional light kit for night time use. Overall, the new traditional kitchen is much like a spring day – light, airy and inviting! Come see the space on Castle’s Educational Home Tour, Fall 2018!

Open base squarish modular sofa. Large sofa with a squarish look. SQUARE fits perfectly into contemporary interiors. The exposed “pinched” double-needle stitching that runs along the edges of the backrest and seat cushions is the distinguishing feature of SQUARE, both in the leather and fabric version. The multi-density expanded PU foam seat cushions with a layer made from a blend of down and polyurethane guarantee a pleasant feeling of wrap-around comfort and a long life. This modular sofa offers a wide range of elements and compositions to meet any furnishing need. Also the feet are provided in different versions and finishes. Available in several leather and fabric finishes, the SQUARE sofa can be interpreted in many different ways to best suit your style.

Our clients purchased a condo in the heart of Chicago after deciding it was time to move from their longtime suburban home and embrace their dream of living downtown. Leaving their family home where their children grew up meant that our work needed to do two things for the family: help make the most of their new city life and create a warm and welcoming home for their two college-aged children. We used grays, browns and creams accentuated with pops of orange and yellow to transform the condo into a warm, modern space. We sourced unconventional light fixtures and custom rugs for each room, as well as an assortment of clean-lined furniture including modern classics like a black Eames lounge. Each room features original art—everything from a three-dimensional installation to abstract paintings and photography. Modern amenities, such as power-operated window treatments and an electric fireplace, were seamlessly integrated into the home, ensuring that the client can enjoy their space with a flip of a switch. The personalized, comfortable atmosphere meant that the clients live and entertain with effortlessness and joy. Ted Glasoe Photography

Another beautiful Bungalow kitchen remodel in the Northrop neighborhood of South Minneapolis. These homeowners contacted Castle planning for a whole kitchen renovation, which included opening the existing kitchen into the dining room so the family could enjoy a more multi-purpose space. The original (1927) built-in buffet cabinet between the kitchen and dining was re-homed to a vintage salvage room in Minneapolis for a new future life. The homeowners did not want a boring kitchen. We also focused on matching the original style/feel of the home but rejuvenated. A fresh traditional kitchen design was planned to provide better function for the family’s needs and also a beautiful style to the heart of their home. New hardwood floors carry into the kitchen to match the existing hardwoods. New custom-built flush-inset cabinetry was designed with a wonderful two-tone color scheme. The new cabinetry includes custom storage, glass uppers and accessories; silverware tray divides, trash pull-out, outlet docking drawer for phones to charge, custom shelf roll-outs and lazy susan corners. Castle selected historic paint colors by Benjamin Moore to keep within the period of the home. The base cabinets are painted in Benjamin Moore, Tarrytown green and the uppers in a soft white (BM, Ballet white). By doing two cabinetry colors, Castle was able to create some unique interest and anchor the base cabinet to the floor while still having light walls with the white cabinetry. New marble patterned Cambria Quartz countertops were selected in the luxurious and classic Torquay design. To complete the walls, traditional white subway tile was installed. Along with the beautiful finishes, we also improved light quality in the space. New windows were installed increasing from 2 windows to 3 windows with an additional window to the backyard. We also installed 2 Solatubes for additional natural lighting. The Solatubes also include a solar-powered night light and additional light kit for night time use. Overall, the new traditional kitchen is much like a spring day – light, airy and inviting! Come see the space on Castle’s Educational Home Tour, Fall 2018!

Dennis and Joe have a large, light-filled house. New construction meant lofted space and open floor plans with traditional styling. Running a busy dental practice by day and engaged in a rich social life by night, this couple needed a professional to take the lead on making their house a home. That’s my cue! They wanted to take risks, and stay away from “matchy-matchy”. We gussied up a plain ol’ TV room and gave it a healthy dose of luxury. Our plan was initially inspired by an abstract painting hanging over their stone fireplace. We brought in their love of the outdoors to make things cozy and used family furniture whenever possible for nostalgia and comfort. I took their love for one-of-a-kind objects and started making a design plan, aiming to solve their biggest frustration: the family room. They had a tortured relationship with a “forgotten family room,” a great space that was spacious and bright, but not at all cozy or joyful, and certainly not “them.” I wanted to create a cozy space functional for everyday curling up with puppies and watching TV after dinner, yet chic enough for hosting the pre-dinner kitchen overflow and cocktails during parties. I went looking for contrasting textures and materials. I wanted to balance patterns and scale, and use non-traditional colors as neutrals to create an overall sense of “BAM!” Dennis and Joe loved the nod to the classics juxtaposed with new and different globally-inspired pieces. For this project our design aesthetic can be described as Middle Eastern/tribal meets mid-century modern. We played to their sensible side with proportion and balance, and stayed as far away from boring/bleh as we could. You could say this room was pretty successful...It was featured in DC Modern Luxury. (#nobigdeal, right?) From there we moved on to other spaces.. We added colorful pillows and sheer drapery to finish off their formal living room. We kept an inherited bedroom set from Dennis’ Mom and added color, draperies, and pillows to overhaul the guest bedroom. Their project was not a rip-and-replace, we weren’t starting from scratch with a blank piece of paper. Rather, our goal was to take what was already there and make it better, more like them. Using functionality first, we focused on giving the house a soothing, joyful aesthetic. We upped the chic factor by a gajillion and helped them find their ‘happy’ at home. See more Safferstone stuff at www.safferstone.com. Connect with us on Facebook, get inspired on Pinterest, and share modern musings on life & design on Instagram. Or, send us a love note at hello@safferstone.com. Photo: Angie Seckinger

Perfectly embedded on an acre of land overlooking a pond, in the heart of Willow Bend of Plano, this dated, traditional home got more than a complete facelift. The wife is a “farmer’s daughter” and could have never imagined having a home like this to call her own one day. Finding a 15’ dining table was a tall task… especially for a family of four. Using a local craftsman, the most gorgeous white oak table was created to host everyone in the neighborhood! The clients told a lot of stories about their past and children. The designer realized that the stories were actually treasures as she incorporated their memories and symbols in every room. She brought these memories to life in a custom artwork collage above the family room mantel. From a tractor representing the grandfather, to the Russian alphabet portraying the roots of their adopted sons and some Cambodian script, there were meanings behind each piece. In order to bring nature indoors, the designer decided to demo the exterior wall to the patio to add a large folding door and blew out the wall dividing the formal dining room and breakfast room so there would be a clear sight through to the outdoors. Throughout the home, each family member was thought of. The fabrics and finishes had to withstand small boys, who were extremely active. The use of outdoor fabrics and beautiful scratch proof finishes were incorporated in every space – bring on the hotwheels.

Dennis and Joe have a large, light-filled house. New construction meant lofted space and open floor plans with traditional styling. Running a busy dental practice by day and engaged in a rich social life by night, this couple needed a professional to take the lead on making their house a home. That’s my cue! They wanted to take risks, and stay away from “matchy-matchy”. We gussied up a plain ol’ TV room and gave it a healthy dose of luxury. Our plan was initially inspired by an abstract painting hanging over their stone fireplace. We brought in their love of the outdoors to make things cozy and used family furniture whenever possible for nostalgia and comfort. I took their love for one-of-a-kind objects and started making a design plan, aiming to solve their biggest frustration: the family room. They had a tortured relationship with a “forgotten family room,” a great space that was spacious and bright, but not at all cozy or joyful, and certainly not “them.” I wanted to create a cozy space functional for everyday curling up with puppies and watching TV after dinner, yet chic enough for hosting the pre-dinner kitchen overflow and cocktails during parties. I went looking for contrasting textures and materials. I wanted to balance patterns and scale, and use non-traditional colors as neutrals to create an overall sense of “BAM!” Dennis and Joe loved the nod to the classics juxtaposed with new and different globally-inspired pieces. For this project our design aesthetic can be described as Middle Eastern/tribal meets mid-century modern. We played to their sensible side with proportion and balance, and stayed as far away from boring/bleh as we could. You could say this room was pretty successful...It was featured in DC Modern Luxury. (#nobigdeal, right?) From there we moved on to other spaces.. We added colorful pillows and sheer drapery to finish off their formal living room. We kept an inherited bedroom set from Dennis’ Mom and added color, draperies, and pillows to overhaul the guest bedroom. Their project was not a rip-and-replace, we weren’t starting from scratch with a blank piece of paper. Rather, our goal was to take what was already there and make it better, more like them. Using functionality first, we focused on giving the house a soothing, joyful aesthetic. We upped the chic factor by a gajillion and helped them find their ‘happy’ at home. See more Safferstone stuff at www.safferstone.com. Connect with us on Facebook, get inspired on Pinterest, and share modern musings on life & design on Instagram. Or, send us a love note at hello@safferstone.com. Photo: Angie Seckinger

Dennis and Joe have a large, light-filled house. New construction meant lofted space and open floor plans with traditional styling. Running a busy dental practice by day and engaged in a rich social life by night, this couple needed a professional to take the lead on making their house a home. That’s my cue! They wanted to take risks, and stay away from “matchy-matchy”. We gussied up a plain ol’ TV room and gave it a healthy dose of luxury. Our plan was initially inspired by an abstract painting hanging over their stone fireplace. We brought in their love of the outdoors to make things cozy and used family furniture whenever possible for nostalgia and comfort. I took their love for one-of-a-kind objects and started making a design plan, aiming to solve their biggest frustration: the family room. They had a tortured relationship with a “forgotten family room,” a great space that was spacious and bright, but not at all cozy or joyful, and certainly not “them.” I wanted to create a cozy space functional for everyday curling up with puppies and watching TV after dinner, yet chic enough for hosting the pre-dinner kitchen overflow and cocktails during parties. I went looking for contrasting textures and materials. I wanted to balance patterns and scale, and use non-traditional colors as neutrals to create an overall sense of “BAM!” Dennis and Joe loved the nod to the classics juxtaposed with new and different globally-inspired pieces. For this project our design aesthetic can be described as Middle Eastern/tribal meets mid-century modern. We played to their sensible side with proportion and balance, and stayed as far away from boring/bleh as we could. You could say this room was pretty successful...It was featured in DC Modern Luxury. (#nobigdeal, right?) From there we moved on to other spaces.. We added colorful pillows and sheer drapery to finish off their formal living room. We kept an inherited bedroom set from Dennis’ Mom and added color, draperies, and pillows to overhaul the guest bedroom. Their project was not a rip-and-replace, we weren’t starting from scratch with a blank piece of paper. Rather, our goal was to take what was already there and make it better, more like them. Using functionality first, we focused on giving the house a soothing, joyful aesthetic. We upped the chic factor by a gajillion and helped them find their ‘happy’ at home. See more Safferstone stuff at www.safferstone.com. Connect with us on Facebook, get inspired on Pinterest, and share modern musings on life & design on Instagram. Or, send us a love note at hello@safferstone.com. Photo: Angie Seckinger

Dennis and Joe have a large, light-filled house. New construction meant lofted space and open floor plans with traditional styling. Running a busy dental practice by day and engaged in a rich social life by night, this couple needed a professional to take the lead on making their house a home. That’s my cue! They wanted to take risks, and stay away from “matchy-matchy”. We gussied up a plain ol’ TV room and gave it a healthy dose of luxury. Our plan was initially inspired by an abstract painting hanging over their stone fireplace. We brought in their love of the outdoors to make things cozy and used family furniture whenever possible for nostalgia and comfort. I took their love for one-of-a-kind objects and started making a design plan, aiming to solve their biggest frustration: the family room. They had a tortured relationship with a “forgotten family room,” a great space that was spacious and bright, but not at all cozy or joyful, and certainly not “them.” I wanted to create a cozy space functional for everyday curling up with puppies and watching TV after dinner, yet chic enough for hosting the pre-dinner kitchen overflow and cocktails during parties. I went looking for contrasting textures and materials. I wanted to balance patterns and scale, and use non-traditional colors as neutrals to create an overall sense of “BAM!” Dennis and Joe loved the nod to the classics juxtaposed with new and different globally-inspired pieces. For this project our design aesthetic can be described as Middle Eastern/tribal meets mid-century modern. We played to their sensible side with proportion and balance, and stayed as far away from boring/bleh as we could. You could say this room was pretty successful...It was featured in DC Modern Luxury. (#nobigdeal, right?) From there we moved on to other spaces.. We added colorful pillows and sheer drapery to finish off their formal living room. We kept an inherited bedroom set from Dennis’ Mom and added color, draperies, and pillows to overhaul the guest bedroom. Their project was not a rip-and-replace, we weren’t starting from scratch with a blank piece of paper. Rather, our goal was to take what was already there and make it better, more like them. Using functionality first, we focused on giving the house a soothing, joyful aesthetic. We upped the chic factor by a gajillion and helped them find their ‘happy’ at home. See more Safferstone stuff at www.safferstone.com. Connect with us on Facebook, get inspired on Pinterest, and share modern musings on life & design on Instagram. Or, send us a love note at hello@safferstone.com. Photo: Angie Seckinger

Dennis and Joe have a large, light-filled house. New construction meant lofted space and open floor plans with traditional styling. Running a busy dental practice by day and engaged in a rich social life by night, this couple needed a professional to take the lead on making their house a home. That’s my cue! They wanted to take risks, and stay away from “matchy-matchy”. We gussied up a plain ol’ TV room and gave it a healthy dose of luxury. Our plan was initially inspired by an abstract painting hanging over their stone fireplace. We brought in their love of the outdoors to make things cozy and used family furniture whenever possible for nostalgia and comfort. I took their love for one-of-a-kind objects and started making a design plan, aiming to solve their biggest frustration: the family room. They had a tortured relationship with a “forgotten family room,” a great space that was spacious and bright, but not at all cozy or joyful, and certainly not “them.” I wanted to create a cozy space functional for everyday curling up with puppies and watching TV after dinner, yet chic enough for hosting the pre-dinner kitchen overflow and cocktails during parties. I went looking for contrasting textures and materials. I wanted to balance patterns and scale, and use non-traditional colors as neutrals to create an overall sense of “BAM!” Dennis and Joe loved the nod to the classics juxtaposed with new and different globally-inspired pieces. For this project our design aesthetic can be described as Middle Eastern/tribal meets mid-century modern. We played to their sensible side with proportion and balance, and stayed as far away from boring/bleh as we could. You could say this room was pretty successful...It was featured in DC Modern Luxury. (#nobigdeal, right?) From there we moved on to other spaces.. We added colorful pillows and sheer drapery to finish off their formal living room. We kept an inherited bedroom set from Dennis’ Mom and added color, draperies, and pillows to overhaul the guest bedroom. Their project was not a rip-and-replace, we weren’t starting from scratch with a blank piece of paper. Rather, our goal was to take what was already there and make it better, more like them. Using functionality first, we focused on giving the house a soothing, joyful aesthetic. We upped the chic factor by a gajillion and helped them find their ‘happy’ at home. See more Safferstone stuff at www.safferstone.com. Connect with us on Facebook, get inspired on Pinterest, and share modern musings on life & design on Instagram. Or, send us a love note at hello@safferstone.com. Photo: Angie Seckinger

Rustic-Modern Finnish Kitchen Our client was inclined to transform this kitchen into a functional, Finnish inspired space. Finnish interior design can simply be described in 3 words: simplicity, innovation, and functionalism. Finnish design addresses the tough climate, unique nature, and limited sunlight, which inspired designers to create solutions, that would meet the everyday life challenges. The combination of the knotty, blue-gray alder base cabinets combined with the clean white wall cabinets reveal mixing these rustic Finnish touches with the modern. The leaded glass on the upper cabinetry was selected so our client can display their personal collection from Finland. Mixing black modern hardware and fixtures with the handmade, light, and bright backsplash tile make this kitchen a timeless show stopper. This project was done in collaboration with Susan O'Brian from EcoLux Interiors.