Blending Households: Mixing Masculine and Feminine Tastes to Create Your Shared Space

One of my favorite types of projects to work on is creating a blended family space.  I have had so much fun working with newlywed clients with children, seeking to blend their styles to create the ideal space for their newly blended family.  The challenge of creating a space that fuses two possibly distinct sets of taste is one I always look forward to because the end result is so stunning.
Mixing in masculine design elements can be just the ticket to creating a space that represents all members of the family and here are a few of our tips to pull it off!

Incorporate Earth Tones in Your Color Palette

Bold, Thoughtful Splashes of Color

Mix In Clean Line Furniture

Pattern Mix: Think Solids, Stripes, and Plaid

Texture: Concrete, Steel, and Leather Are Your Friend!

Adding that masculine spin can create a refined and functional finish that will get everyone talking!  For more masculine flairs, be sure to check out more of our inspiration, especially this powder room we recently finished for a client and love!

Have a great day,

Curb Appeal: Garage Edition

  One simple way to enhance your home’s curb appeal and simultaneously increase your home value is to kiss good bye to your old, drab garage door and create something that will add to the stunning silhouette of your home.  And as we finish our month dedicated to the men in our lives, what better way than to wrap up with one of their favorite zones!  Your garage renovation will of course be part of your larger structure so considering the architectural style of your home is key to enhancing it.  And we aren’t simply talking about trading out that garage door but expanding, enhancing, and polishing your home’s exterior look.  This can be achieved through adding a beautiful pergola, stunning color, or chic hardware.  And there is certainly a look for every style of home, complementing traditional, transitional, and contemporary.  Check out some of our favorite finds!

Traditional

Via Tea2 Architects

Via Traditional Home

Transitional

Via Barn Light Electric

Via Molly Wood Garden Design

Contemporary

Via Dwell

Via Home Design Lover

  For even more inspiration for your home’s exterior check out our Curb Appeal Pinterest board for fresh ideas to re-envision your home.  And we want to hear your story!  Recently renovated your own garage?  Share your before and after photos on our message board!

Have a great day,

Celebrate Father's Day Charlotte Style

Father’s Day is almost here and if you’re still looking for a great way to celebrate Dad, we have some exciting events in the local Charlotte area to spend the weekend enjoying some of Dad’s favorite activities!  

U.S. National Whitewater Center
Kicking off the weekend on Saturday morning is the Brew Dash 6K through one of the beautiful trails on the grounds followed by the 4th Annual Brew Stash Bash featuring live music and delicious craft beers. 

Pops In The Park
Pack up a picnic of all his favorite treats and head over to South Park to see the Charlotte Symphony!  On Father’s Day, the theme is “A Night At The Movies” featuring classic film theme songs from Star Trek, The Godfather, Frozen, Aladdin, and more!

Charlotte Knights Game
The Charlotte Knights are playing the Indianapolis Indians through the weekend with games on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.  A great way for the family to spend the day together!  

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery 
Olde Mecklenburg’s new location is fantastic and they have really been cooking up a storm over there, adding a full kitchen!  This Sunday, they will be featuring a special Father’s Day menu and Dad get’s a free 6-pack to take home with dinner!  

I’m looking forward to the weekend and there are so many good choices!  We’d love to see photos from your celebrations!  Share with us #rdicelebrates 

Have a great day,

Outdoor Living Spaces: Kitchens For Him

We can all quickly conjure up images of Dad by the grill, making the perfect dinner for the family.  So why not create a space for the man in your life to enjoy that mutually beneficial pursuit of cooking the perfect medium-rare steak!  Outdoor living spaces allow you to maximize your home and take advantage of every inch of space.  Creating a functional and beautiful outdoor cooking area will invigorate and delight your family’s chef and allow them to shine.  Entertaining becomes a snap with a simple, delicious al fresco meal, wine, and laughter with friends.

Via Digs

Via Home Stratosphere

Via Style Estate

Via Home Bunch

Via BHG

Can you envision your grill master whistling away on a Saturday evening over his latest culinary triumph?  With so many possibilities it can be daunting figuring out where to start and that’s where we come in.  From learning about your lifestyle we can create that special outdoor cooking and entertaining area to provide comfort and function with a splash of beauty!  Don’t forget to check out our Pinterest board dedicated to some fabulous outdoor spaces.

Have a great day,

The Inspired Home Office: For Him!

Creating a study or home office tailored to the man of the house takes a bit of consideration and even a creative investigation!  During the creative investigation we start to pull ideas from the client about their likes and dislikes to begin to create an overall aesthetic.  As our function kings, men value the comfort and utilitarian function of a space and its furnishings, but to create a personal aesthetic we often need to dig deeper.  One place to begin is from a man’s own wardrobe, as it reflects color, texture, and pattern that catches his eye and boosts his confidence.  From there, you can extrapolate what they like! So for instance, if you have a man that loves pinstripes, plaid, or fine herringbone in his wardrobe, why not use it in his home study?  Pinpointing those things that are enjoyable to look at can help propel the design aesthetic and allow us to create a curated and enjoyable space.  We pulled some images of home studies we adore for the man in your life!  

Via Jeffers Design Group

Via StylishEve

Via House Beautiful

Via Home and Garden Design

Via Tami Owen Design

These studies present a more masculine feel but could be an exciting addition for anyone in the home!  Does the inspire your own home office transformation?  For more office spaces you'll love for him, check out our Pinterest Board!

Have a great day,

Master Bathroom With A Masculine Edge

As we continue to celebrate the men we love this month, I wanted to share a project that I so enjoyed working on.  This master bathroom remodel brought a contemporary, masculine feel to this space in need of some TLC.  Creating this space was so much fun to work on because I love getting to know my clients and create their ideal space, and in this space we created a sophisticated aesthetic and harnessed the beautiful natural lighting.  I still swoon for the wallpapers we used!

Stay tuned for more photos from this shoot and check out our website as more images from this project are posted!  Can you imagine this space delighting your husband and you? 

Have a great day,

All About Dad

This month we are celebrating the special men in our lives.  Fathers, grandfathers, brothers, husbands, and puppy daddies alike bring joy to our lives! Creating an atmosphere to stimulate everything we love about the men in our lives is a rigorous and rewarding process.  It is crucial to understand how the space is used to create the right solution, and hey, it makes sense that men are advocates of form follows function!  We hope you will follow our blog posts on Tuesdays and Thursdays this June to check out interior design solutions, tips, tricks, and photos to drool over for the special men in your life all month long!

Creating The Ultimate Space For Dad: The Man Cave

We all joke about the term "Man Cave," but wouldn't it be great to have that perfect space for watching the game or poker night?  Here are a few tips when thinking about creating your own Man Cave.  

Dedicate A Space

Figure out the best location for you Man Cave that is its own space, because after all it is a retreat,  Whether a spare bedroom or the room above the garage, find that ideal location!

Planning, Planning, Planning

As exciting as the project can be to it's tough to not grab the ball and run with it!  Take a step back and think about all the things you'll need and how you'll use them.  This is definitely a place where we come in to help you make the best decisions from phase one to help you maximize your budget.

Via Joel Kelly Design

Have Fun With Your Theme

If the man in your life is a football enthusiast dedicate the space to maximum comfort and function for game watching with even a dedicated Fantasy Football station.  Is he a poker player?  Pool enthusiast?  All of these questions can help you determine what elements to put together to make the space more than just a room with a pool table in it.  

Give It Some Style!

Once you have your theme, then you can really jazz it up!  A Man Cave isn't destined to be a dark room with worn leather sofas and a La-Z-Boy recliner, it can express just who the man in your life is while serving as a comfortable retreat. Creating a cohesive style will create just the mood for the space and make it a destination place in your home.

Via Michael Abrams Limited

Hope you enjoyed our tribute to Dad this month and stay tuned for more!

Have a great day,