Bluff and Bay Interiors

10/07/2026

Refined tastes. Messy life. Can we have both? Absolutely. 😊

For this classic Lowcountry home, my client loves the character of antiques peppered throughout—pieces that feel collected, warm, and timeless. She also has two young children, which means the dining table needs to welcome spilled drinks, craft projects, and whatever happens when someone says, “Mom, watch this!” 🫣

The challenge? Find a table with antique charm that doesn’t require a daily chorus of “Be careful!”

Smooth, polished finishes can make little surface scratches and fingerprints feel like the main attraction. Oak can be more visually forgiving, but the pronounced grain wasn’t quite right for the look we wanted.

Enter Woodbridge Furniture, with beautiful antique-inspired stains and distressing that give a new piece that lovely, lived-in character. When a finish already has a little history built in, the next little mark doesn’t have to become a family drama. 😉

Woodbridge also serves commercial spaces, including golf club restaurants and lounges, and offers an optional catalyzed lacquer finish for added resistance to moisture and heat. A little extra protection for a table that will see plenty of real life.

And the footprint? Small enough for everyday meals for four, with an extension for when company comes. Because sometimes the guest list grows faster than the children. 🍽️

As a mom of three boys, I’m firmly in favor of beautiful homes you can actually live in. A little character in the furniture leaves more room for the characters around the table. 💛

10/05/2026

Is two hours of my time worth saving $2,550? I think my client would say yes! 😊

Many people think of hiring an interior designer as a splurge—another expense on top of furnishing their home. But what if working with a designer could actually save you money in the long run?

Today, I saved a client $2,550 on just SIX dining room chairs. 🪑

The same chair is sold by multiple online vendors at different prices. Some include shipping; others add it at checkout. And the lowest advertised price isn’t always the best deal once you calculate the cost of getting it into your home.

In two hours, I compared options, researched alternatives, contacted my industry rep, and got a quote from a local furniture receiver. The result? A price $2,550 below what she would have spent buying those chairs herself online. I'm also ordering her a finish sample, which isn't available to the general public.

That research is part of my job—and part of what you’re paying me for.

Sometimes I save clients money by finding a more affordable alternative to something they love. Other times, it’s knowing where to shop, when to use a trade discount, or when ordering directly from a manufacturer and shipping to a receiver makes more sense. Cutting out a middleman can save money, even after freight and receiving costs.

And sometimes the savings come from avoiding an expensive mistake: the sofa that overwhelms the room, the rug that’s too small, or the piece that looks beautiful online but doesn’t work with anything you own.

These were just six chairs. Across a whole home, the potential savings can add up to thousands—and, depending on the project, even tens of thousands of dollars.

So when you consider hiring a designer, look at the full picture: the design fee, the potential savings, and the value of getting it right the first time.

A beautiful home, furniture that fits, and money better spent. That’s what I want for my clients. 💛

www.bluffandbay.com

10/03/2026

Building a custom home is exciting… until someone asks you to make one more decision, and you realize you no longer have an opinion about doorknobs. 😂🏡

Every faucet. Every cabinet pull. Every light fixture—and exactly where it goes. Where to put the outlets, which way the doors swing, how high the ceilings should be…

And we haven’t even started on the furniture. 🛋️

You’re making hundreds, if not thousands, of decisions that will affect how you live in that home every day. Add budgets, deadlines, and the occasional “We need an answer by tomorrow,” and yes—it can be stressful.

Being an interior designer did not make me magically immune to any of that when we built our home in Bluffton...

But now that we’re living with those decisions, there are some I would happily make all over again. From our hardworking back kitchen to storage planned around what we actually own, these choices have made everyday life easier—and our home more enjoyable.

Even my husband agrees we got these right. I probably should have gotten that in writing. 😉

I’m sharing the wins, the reasoning behind them, and a little perspective from being both the designer and the homeowner.

👇 Read the blog:
https://www.bluffandbay.com/post-7-things-we-got-right-building-our-home-in-bluffton

If you’ve built or renovated, what’s one decision that you have zero regrets over?

10/01/2026

Bluffton Design Project! Where do you start when designing a room? Sometimes, it’s with a whole-room plan. Other times, it’s with one piece you absolutely love. 🏡

Some projects come together all at once—everything ordered, delivered, and ready for the big reveal. Others happen in bits and pieces, layering as we go. This room is one of those!

My client wanted a British Colonial feel, incorporating furniture she already owned and her wonderful collection of Asian art from her time in Japan. We had plenty of personality to work with—and going bold with the rug was a priority. ❤️

So we started with this beautiful rug from Fletcher's & Co. in Yemassee. Its rich colors set the direction for the pieces that followed. The wonderful ladies at Fletcher's even brought 4 of their rugs out to my client's home so that she could make her final selections in the space.

Next came the sectional. Of course, the one she fell for was the Stockten from Bassett Furniture! With no Bassett showroom nearby, she drove more than three hours to try it in person. Now that’s commitment to a comfortable seat! 🚗 We then placed the order through a local showroom.

The hunt continued with the perfect British Colonial coffee table by Sherrill, which I found on the floor at Southeastern Galleries in Charleston. Then we ordered the end table, accent chair, and ottoman from Ethan Allen in Bluffton. 💙

Sometimes everything falls into place in one showroom. Other times, finding the right pieces takes a little hunting—and that’s a part of this job I love!

The room rendering shows my vision for where we’re headed, and the photos in this series show where we started and the pieces we’re bringing together. I can’t wait to see it all in place once everything arrives! On this project, we're waiting to get the main pieces placed before deciding where all her artwork will find a home. ✨

Are you an “all at once” decorator, or do you enjoy collecting and layering over time?

09/29/2026

Pillow talk… can a throw pillow really be worth $300? 👀

I’ve bought plenty of $30 pillows that were “close enough.” Didn’t love them. Replaced them. Bought more. Eventually, I could have purchased the ones I really wanted in the first place!

A beautiful custom pillow can be like art in a room. The fabric, the trim, the craftsmanship—it can be the finishing touch that makes a neutral sofa feel special. And yes, what’s inside matters, too. A quality feather or feather-blend insert adds that full, inviting look.

Do you need custom pillows everywhere? Absolutely not. But if your budget allows, a few special pillows in your living room or primary bedroom can be worth the splurge.

I work with retailer custom pillow programs and a workroom on Hilton Head to find the right fabrics and details for each project. There are often far more options than you’ll ever see online!

My husband used to think $50 was a lot for a pillow. After being married to me, he now considers $200–$300 perfectly normal. 😂 We have an understanding: he doesn’t question my pillows, and I don’t question his golf expenses. ⛳

Curious about what makes custom pillows more expensive—and when they’re worth it? Read more about the fabrics, finishing details, and craftsmanship behind the price in my latest blog:
https://www.bluffandbay.com/post-pillow-talk-are-custom-throw-pillows-worth-it

Are you team statement pillow or team HomeGoods treasure hunt? I think there’s room for both!

Builder liaison and interior design services for Bluffton, Hilton Head, Beaufort and Savannah. Furnishings, lighting, rugs, window treatments, artwork, décor and professional renderings to bring your vision to life.

09/25/2026

Building or remodeling a home? There’s a lot to think about before you ever order a sofa. 🏡

You’re making decisions about windows, lighting, cabinetry, and outlets while also trying to imagine how you’ll furnish it all. If you’re managing the project from out of state, those decisions can feel even trickier and more stressful.

That’s where I come in, bridging the gap between construction and a beautifully furnished, functional home.

Planning your furniture layout early helps us catch issues while there’s still time to address them. Will your bed fit between the windows with room for nightstands? Is the chandelier positioned over where your dining table will actually go? Will there be enough room to walk comfortably around the sofa?

Then comes the fun part. Love a rug from Serena & Lily, but a table from Ethan Allen? Found the perfect lighting at Shades of Light? ✨

Want to see them all together BEFORE you make those costly purchases?

Using industry design software, I create floor plans down to the inch to show how everything will fit, along with renderings that bring your vision to life. We can combine pieces from your favorite stores, furniture you already own, and new finds into a home that feels thoughtfully pulled together and uniquely yours.

Whether you live right around the corner or several states away, I help connect the decisions you’re making during construction with the way you’ll actually live in your finished home.

Bluff & Bay offers a more flexible approach to interior design, with guidance tailored to your project and the support you need.

👉 Learn what makes us different and how our process works.
https://www.bluffandbay.com/post-a-more-flexible-approach-to-interior-design-in-bluffton

09/24/2026

Coastal doesn’t have to mean seashells, coral, fish or beach signs. 🌊✨

The best coastal rooms don’t scream “beach.” They simply feel like they belong there.

Think more Nancy Meyers, less souvenir shop. 🤍

I like to build the look in layers:

🏡 Start with the architecture. This is the most important part. Judge’s panels, wainscoting, crown molding, shiplap and beautiful trimwork add depth and character before a single piece of furniture comes into the room. Keeping it all white or soft ivory makes it feel classic and timeless.

💡 Then add the furniture, lighting and artwork or mirrors. This is where coastal texture can quietly come in. A capiz shell light fixture. A mirror with a grasscloth-like texture. Warm woods. Natural materials. Nothing has to be literal.

💙 Finally, layer in the finishing touches. A soft blue rug, a chinoiserie pot, fresh florals, books and a few beautiful decorative objects are enough to give the room personality without turning it into a “beach-themed” space.

The goal isn’t to decorate with coastal objects. It’s to create a home that feels relaxed, collected and completely at ease in the Lowcountry.

Classic. Coastal. Timeless.
Done professionally, without the seashells. 😉🐚🚫

Read more here:
https://www.bluffandbay.com/post-the-nancy-meyers-aesthetic-coastal-home-without-cliches

09/23/2026

Why settle for a generic vanity cabinet when your powder room can have a little personality? 🛁✨

One of my favorite tricks is turning a beautiful chest into a vanity. You can start with a new piece from Ethan Allen, Lexington or Serena & Lily, or go antiquing and find something completely one of a kind. 😍

That’s exactly what I did in my own powder room with an Ethan Allen Adelaide chest. We cut the top for the sink and plumbing, and it became the focal point of the room.

A few things to consider before you try it:

📏 Depth matters. Mine is about 19" deep, and I would not go any shallower. You need enough room for the sink, faucet and plumbing.

📐 Height matters too. Somewhere around 32" to 36" can work, with about 34" being a nice sweet spot. Mine is 36.5", so it is a little taller and works especially well for adults.

↔️ Width depends on your wall space. A small powder room may need a compact chest, while a larger wall gives you more options.

🚰 Check the sink size first. Make sure the sink will actually fit the depth and width of the piece.

💦 Skip rattan and raffia finishes. Around a sink, I prefer something that can better handle splashes and moisture.

🔨 Most importantly, check with your builder, contractor or plumber before buying. Drawer construction, sink depth and plumbing placement all need to work together.

And if you want something with real history and character, go antique hunting! I put together a guide to some of my favorite places to shop for antiques from Charleston to Savannah and Jacksonville:

👉 https://www.bluffandbay.com/post-where-to-shop-for-antiques-and-eclectic-finds

Generic cabinet or something nobody else has? I know which one I’m choosing. 😉✨

09/20/2026

We all love our blues here in Bluffton and the Lowcountry. My own house is full of light blue, so I certainly understand the appeal! 💙

But sometimes it’s fun to take the less obvious direction.

Can brown look coastal? Absolutely. 🤎

The secret is in the textures. Woven rattan on the chandelier, warm grasscloth wallpaper, a horn-and-bone mirror, tropical greenery, natural brass, and a softly patterned rug give these deeper brown tones a relaxed, layered look that feels completely at home in the Lowcountry.

Coastal design doesn’t always have to be blue and white. Sometimes brown is anything but boring. 🌴✨