Making a Splash with Your Backsplash

Having a great kitchen backsplash can really make your kitchen pop. Kind of like the cabinets are you outfit and the backsplash is your accessories. It can really make or break the look of your kitchen.

Now choosing a great backsplash might not seem like all fun and games. There are a lot of things to think about such as what kinda of tile, what design, what color grout, what if it doesn't go, what if I hate it?

While choosing the perfect backsplash for you seems overwhelming it is really not with a few tips and tricks.

1) Choose a tile or tiles that you like that coordinate with your cabinetry and countertops.

Most stores or showrooms will let you either have or purchase samples. Take advantage of that. There is no easier or better way to tell if a tile will work in your space than taking it home and seeing it where it will go.

2) Don't be afraid to choose a color.

Most people will say to go with a neutral because you don't want to get stuck with a trend. And this is wise advice, but what if you are dying to add some color? DO IT. It's your home, if you find a tile that you think is fabulous and will go with what you have then I say don't be afraid to go for it.

3)Trends are fleeting.

Tile is a semi permanent thing. While I love the chevrons every where now, in 5 years I might not. Be sure to choose a tile that you will love for the next 20+ years.

4) Layouts, layouts, layouts.

Now once you have chosen a tile, you still have to figure out how you want to install it. The options are almost limitless. A good way to get ideas is to look at design magazines. But one popular and gorgeous design is to do some sort of tile rug above the stove and keeping the rest of the backsplash simple.

These are just a few things to think about when updating your backsplash.

Happy Designing - Erin

More babies!!!

Yes! Another baby shower :)

This time, my good friend, Susan, is expecting a little girl in December.  Not one to waste any time, Susan and her husband, Vincent, have already named their little bundle Charlotte.  I am thoroughly excited for Susan's little addition and was thrilled to help her mom out throwing her a baby shower. 

Her invites were covered in umbrellas and we flew with 'shower' theme but added some spunky colors and polka dots.

Susan's mom was so clever; she found pink umbrellas for party gifts but also made little 'umbrellas' filled with pink M&Ms.

To spice things up - I found some little temporary tattoos of various mustaches.  Mini mustaches for your index finger :)  College friend Liz is on the Left.... Susan is on the right.

Since the Onesie decorating was such at hit at my sister's shower, we brought the supplies over, bought some new white onesies, and went to town!  It was amazing how excited... and serious people were for the onesies.  Several people set their Champagne and Pink Lemonades down, stopped socializing, and got to work. 

Here are just a few of Charlotte's new clothes!

Here's my favorite onesie of them all - in honor of Vincent's profession, my sister made one that says, "my daddy can arrest your daddy" complete with handcuff!

During the gift opening, we played Bingo.  Each guest got an empty Bingo card and was responsible for filling in the squares with items they thought Susan would receive.  As she opened the gifts, you would mark off the item if you had it on your card.

This is going to become a staple at all of my parties! Not only did it give something for the guests to do while presents were being opened, it got people interacting with each other. My favorite is when Susan would receive something obvious that everyone forgot about... while Susan would be ecstatically thanking someone, the entire room would groan!

Susan's Grandmas and friends :)

Susan and Geraldine

Geraldine and Shirley

Ms. Shirley made this amazing quilt for Charlotte!  Nobody thought of that as a possible gift :) 

Party! Party!  Can't wait to meet little Christmas baby Charlotte! Surely pictures to come....

Southern Bachelor Pad

No two client is exactly the same... even if two people have similar styles, there are always unique quirks that set them apart. A tile, piece of furniture, or paint color will never be used the same way twice.  That's the amazing things about design... no wrong answers, just millions of possible solutions. 

Recently, a project wrapped up with a client that is entirely unique and someone I know I will never work with the likes of again.  A true Southern gentleman who wanted a rich, warm, and elegant home.

Not only did I spruce up his furniture, lighting, and window treatments, Keechi Creek Builders, Accent Cabinets, and I revamped his entire living space including the kitchen.  Accent Cabinets was  instrumental in the beautiful kitchen design and Keechi Creek made sure all of the various parts and and pieces fell into place. 

Take a tour of this warm traditional home!

Dining Room

Custom upholstered chairs are wrapped in fabrics that resist liquids... spill some wine? No problem! While the host and hostess chair backs are adorned in a striped fabric, the guest chairs have a beautiful Ralph Lauren pattern. 

Family Room

In the back corner of the comfy cozy family room lies the newly expanded wine grotto complete with storage for hundreds of bottles of wine, stone floors and ceiling, and a beautiful herringbone pattern created out of beveled travertine tiles on the back wall. 

Family Room Fish Tank

Since it is Texas after all, the client opted to remove the fireplace on the first floor and replace it with a gigantic salt water fish tank!  

Guest Bathroom

The upstairs guest bathroom is one of my favorite bathroom projects... ever! I love how taking a classic material - ceramic subway tile - and jazzing it up a bit complete revamps a material that most people don't want to see.

Guest Bedroom

Each bedroom also received a new look with custom bedding and window treatments.

Guest Bedroom

While each bedroom is unique, they all have a similar color scheme and flow easily from one space to the next. 

Guest Bedroom

Living Room

The client's favorite painting has a place of prominence in the living room. In stead of opting for a traditional seating arrangement in the living room, this room is full of various chairs and a chaise accompanied by small side tables. It's the perfect place for a group of friends to relax and chat over a glass of wine.

Big, BIG thanks to Keechi Creek and Accent Cabinets!! For more info on these two amazing companies, click on their names to be directed to their websites. 

Don't drink the water!!!!

There's definitely something in the water.... if you're looking for a major life event, start drinking the water in Texas!  We recently celebrated a wonderful couple expecting their first baby.  If you want to know more about this awesome couple, check out their blog, The Dan Wam Fam!

Danielle and Dan are expecting their first child sometime in December and my sister wanted to host a cute little shower to get the baby mania going!  My sister, Adrienne, is a party planner extraordinaire!  Super detailed and even more organized, I just show up at her house and do what she tells me.  And Voila.... beautiful party!

Variety of delicious food including fruit cups, chicken salad sandwiches (I had three), and the best pasta salad I think I've ever had! (Adrienne, please blog the recipe!!)

My sister's a genius! Spray painting ball jars gold for vases.... beautiful!

These Macaroons from Ganache were amazing!!! Now I'm crazing meringue cookies.....

Danielle and her sorority sisters :) I love how corny this photo is!

Sisters-in-law unite!  So, Katie and Ari are not technically related... not by blood anyway. But everyone kept commenting on how much they look alike.  Apparently so much so, that when I posted some of these photos on Facebook, the computer kept trying to tell me that they were the same person!

Kelly and Joan

Danielle was so funny, she brought her sonogram photos to prove to everyone that she is actually pregnant! :)

Oscar's new friend!

Katie and Joan.... adorable photo!

Here are lots of present opening photos!  Danielle was so kind to go through and really appreciate all of the amazing things people gave her.... diapers, blankets, onesies, and some really personalized gifts that make every ooh and awe :)

So, while everyone around me is jumping on the baby-making bandwagon... I'm still holding out.  Here's my box of diapers to D where I Sharpied mustaches on all of the babies' faces....

Party time!  

Danielle's grandmother makes the most extraordinary quilts.... 

Katie W. made an awesome gift for the nursery, a large frame with photos of Dan when he was a little tyke and an open space in the middle for a picture of the new Dan :)  I'm pretty sure everyone had a few tears in their eyes!

I'll leave you with the LSU gear!

Can't wait to meet little Dan!!! :)  You both are going to make amazing, loving, and spirited parents!

Kids Play :)

One fun challenge every Interior Designer will face in their career is doing a kids room! Kids can be just if not more challenging than adults. Adults at least have a filter...Kids not so much, if you give them something they don't like you will know it.

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When doing a child's room it is important to remember that like adults, kids are unique individuals. What might work for one child's room will not always work for another. It is important to keep in mind a child's likes and dislikes when putting together their room.

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Another good thing to remember is that kids grow up. Just like trends kids change and what they want changes. It is important to keep in mind when designing to make a room that a child can grow and develop in. A few changes like new posters or bedspread can make a 4 year old's room feel like a 14 year old's room.

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Hope these few little tips help next time you find yourself faced with designing the perfect kids room.

 - Happy Designing,


Erin