Moving Up

For these homeowners, it was time to renovate and add onto their home and bring it up to date. They had a huge back yard to expand into, but we also saw an opportunity to add some character to the home by going up. So we did both! We were able to add a couple bedrooms and a new bath upstairs and open up the main floor for continuous flow from the dining room and formal living room to the kitchen and new great room.

We were able to gut and expand their existing kitchen and open it up to the new great room that we added on. Now it’s ready for nights of entertaining and for the family to gather together in every day.

We decided to go with a creamier white cabinet, trim and wall color to reflect the natural light in the space without making it feel too stark with brighter white. We also added some contrast with the warm oak floors and stained island. We made sure to fit as large of an island we could (without crowding the kitchen) so that they had plenty of space to cook, work on homework, and entertain with!

Upstairs, we created a large open space for the family and kids to use and then built 2 bedrooms and a large bath for the family to use. Everyone has their own space now!

Deborah HartmanApril 21, 2020Comment

2020 Spring Interior Decor Trends You Should Know

Spring has sprung, and as the last frost thaws, you’ll need to break the ice on today’s interior décor trends. The new decade brings change, excitement, and a refreshing look to the modern home. We’ve consulted home design experts like Designed for Downtown to bring you the best tips to invigorate your home in 2020.

We’re All Looking to Evolve

As you set your goals and resolutions for the future and evolve into a more advanced version of yourself, interior décor is following right along. That timeless look we’re all seeking is transforming into something more. Rather than buying quick fixes or filling up a living room with furniture, we’re drawn more toward minimalism and exceptional quality. That could mean fewer chairs or tables overall with an emphasis on high-end items. Evolution also means more ethical purchases. There’s a higher demand for eco-friendly materials like acacia and rattan in furniture.

Built-In Seating

When you’re short on space, which many modern homes tend to be, you can turn a wall into a sitting space to add function and character. Whether you create a reading nook to curl up with a good book or an oversized window for a great view, you can’t go wrong with built-in seating.

Bring on the Color

Neutrals are safe, but they aren’t what’s hot. Saturated hues, jewel tones, and warm colors are on the way up. Shades of pink grounded by earthy tones and lush fabrics bring the look together. Whether you’re tackling cabinetry, walls, or tiles, you can’t go wrong with splashes of color.

Curvy Furniture

We’re taking a few tips from the 70s with wavy, often asymmetrical shapes being used for couches and even chairs. The playful designs make for stellar centerpieces that are easy to build around.

Textural Artwork

When it comes to thinking outside the box, nothing compares to fiber artistry. Beautiful tapestries, elaborate quilts, and other statement-making wall hangings are in. They work as a conversation piece hung above a couch or a soft complementary piece hung in the kitchen.

Art by Japanese fiber artist Kazuhito Takadoi

Connecting with Nature

A more natural take on luxury items is at the forefront of style this spring. Marble finishes and marble accents like vases and bowls have a strong appeal in both bathrooms and kitchens. Rustic wood, whether in the form of a shoe rack, bookshelf, or table, can bring a room together, especially when complemented by houseplants or other natural materials.

Photo provided by Link Apartments; not a project of DfD’s.

A Sense of Calm

Your home needs to be your Zen. That’s why an emphasis on relaxing styles that promote wellness are popping up this spring. Casual fabrics, optimal natural lighting, and minimizing clutter and décor, especially where you first enter your home, can create a feeling of calm that you never knew was possible.

This article is brought to you by Link Apartments® West End, a luxury apartment community in downtown Greenville offering stylish & modern homes available for lease in an unbeatable location!

Deborah HartmanApril 8, 2020Comment

A Classic Kitchen Renovation

Like many home renovations, the goal for this remodel was an open kitchen, dining, and living experience for the main floor. Before, the home had an awkward layout of an l-shaped kitchen than winded into separate living spaces and a sunroom. This new floor plan gave room for natural light and the perfect open space for entertaining.

A classic white kitchen with marble veining quartz countertops sets the perfect tone for the home to transform with every season.

The bar area is set as a focal piece on the back wall with access to all areas of the main living space: kitchen, dining room, and outdoor space. The built in wine storage area with beverage cooler is centered between accent glass cabinets for a formal and elegant space.

Frosted 15-lite pocket door separates the kitchen from the large walk in mudroom and pantry space.

Deborah HartmanDecember 31, 2019Comment

Traveler's Rest Custom Home Design

Designed for Downtown, designs in the urban and close to town neighborhoods in Greenville, SC. Typically lots range from 50 feet to 60 feet in width, with an occasional needle in a haystack lot that is wider. This particular home site was a needle in a haystack. Located on a quiet drive in Traveler’s Rest, this lot featured acres of land for this home design to stretch and be as it may on the beautiful, natural landscaped site. There were minimal constraints as to how the home had to be built, what it’s setbacks were, etc.

Being it a custom home, DfD was able to work with this family of six to create the home that they had always dreamed of. As I sat with the homeowner at the end of the project, we discussed family life and where theirs had begun. A small 1000sf home was the first that welcomed the first of their children, moving to a larger home in the urban development where they would raise four daughters to now, a modern home design that creates individual spaces for each with room to expand, open concept living, kitchen and dining for holiday entertaining and views throughout the entire home to help bring the outdoors in.

AJH Custom Homes, LLC was able to take the design of this home from the ground up creating a beautiful modern farmhouse in the midst of its appropriate setting.

Let’s take a closer look!

Curb Appeal

White houses are so popular, but this white façade is the perfect contrast against the natural elements of living landscapes that surround. The white causes the black window and door accents to pop.