Home By Design

Home By Design As a designer of 30+ years, I have seen exciting new trends come and go.

While comfortable working in all design styles, I tend to gravitate toward timeless, classic design that offers a sense of cozy, comfortable living.

One of the “pleasant dangers” in the design/decorating industry is the constant sourcing. And sometimes…well, things hap...
05/18/2026

One of the “pleasant dangers” in the design/decorating industry is the constant sourcing. And sometimes…well, things happen. I did find the rug I was sourcing and this one somehow ended up in my SUV as well. 🤷🏼‍♀️

It only took a day on FBM to sell my other one, so it is basically free- right? Like an invisible transaction.

📌Design Tip: Rugs are a go to “One and Done” design update hack. Give them credit, they have more impact in a space than you may realize.

Follow along .nc for more A+ design math solutions…with tips and a little inspo for your home on the side. 😉

Timeless style | Decorating layers | Sun Porch Styling | Chinoiserie Chic | Traditional Home | Southern Living | Game changing decorating tactics | Design tips

Home takes time - ENJOY EACH STEP. I am in a “celebrate the small accomplishments” stage of life. Sometimes we can be so...
05/11/2026

Home takes time - ENJOY EACH STEP. I am in a “celebrate the small accomplishments” stage of life. Sometimes we can be so focused on the “big” that isn’t done, out of budget, etc. that we miss the little touches we have added that really deserve more fanfare.

No. The rooms aren’t “done”. They aren’t magazine worthy. But. They HAVE made progress.
A thrifted treasure or two has been added, creating beautiful layers. A few pillows have been sewn. A key is found to open a thrifted cabinet. A collection finally is complete enough to make it on the wall.
Small projects that take time and thinking, more than resources, deserve a little limelight.

Honesty corner: We’ve had these wall brackets forEVER. They have been faithfully sitting on the floor (with another pair you will see eventually) since the day they were thrifted for $15 on FBM. Once I took a look at the mountings on the backs and saw what we were facing, I knew we needed an “extra special” day to tackle hanging them. I don’t know how anyone managed to hang them level - EVER, and probably why they were $15 for the pair! 😂 Three hours of our lives we don’t want to repeat. I need to wait awhile before I mention “wall brackets” again to Dave…

Follow along .nc and celebrate with me the all the little things that make home so special💙

Home is not built in a day | Little home projects | Celebrate the small | Enjoy the little accomplishments | Home tells your story | Decorating layers | Timeless style

Like all good decor stories, this one begins with“And then we went thrifting on a rainy Saturday morning…” There are pro...
05/04/2026

Like all good decor stories, this one begins with
“And then we went thrifting on a rainy Saturday morning…” There are pros and cons to thrifting with your husband. The “pro” here was that he definitely has opinions on what he likes (and doesn’t) and we usually are on the same page! He was the first one to spot this sideboard and pull me over.

We were on an anniversary getaway in Charleston, and let’s just say much rearranging was necessary in order to fit this beauty in the car for the drive home. (That MAY or may not be because of the OTHER thrifted goodies I had to pack in…😁🤷🏼‍♀️)

I have spent the better part of two years playing around with ideas for how I wanted to improve this space and never moved on any of them. It took all of 15 minutes with my husband to literally set everything in motion.😅

I am loving the new layout: moving the sideboard out of the corner and choosing a smaller one so it could be centered between the windows allowed for additional seating and better use of some empty space. (ADDING chairs actually made it feel bigger in here!)

This little sideboard fits our story perfectly and for now I have been playing musical chairs with what I have. Eventually though, I may go thrifting again with my husband and…find those perfect chairs to go along with it. 😉

Creating layers in home decorating | Timeless design style | Chinoiserie | Grand Millennial Style | Traditional Home | Thrifting score | The Thrifted Home | Ming cabinet | Blue and white | Green and white

04/27/2026

We decided to give this wet bar a little attention and it ended up being a lot more involved than what we planned. Isn’t that how it usually works?
We are still considering tearing out the mirrors and adding tile, but honestly there is something about how the reflection the mirrors enlarges the space that I can’t quite let go of. So for now, I decided to paint a dark rich color in the upper area and traded the solid wood French doors for glass paned ones. When the solid doors were closed, this looked more like a closet, and wide open, they covered the flanking builtins. The glass doors allow for the wet bar to be a contributing element to the space- not a detraction.

The inspiration for this little glow up was the new hardware we chose to put throughout our main level. And eventhough these doors caused fits of frustration since they were warped in ways you couldn’t tell until
install, working with was an absolutely seamless experience. The quality y’all ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
In the end, we can still say we are thankful that this stunning hardware pushed us to make the swap- and yes, we’d do it all over again. Home projects are often full of hiccups but gorgeous finishes make it all worthwhile.

Chambord crystal k***s
Carré backplates/ Timeless bronze

Time period hardware | Old home style | Time period home | Luxury hardware | Grand Millennial Style | Chinoiserie | Timeless home style | Traditional home | Wet bar glow up | Southern Home style | DIY Home Projects

Looking for a unique Mother’s Day gift idea?Truly the easiest and most versatile DIY project (with amazing impact) you c...
04/20/2026

Looking for a unique Mother’s Day gift idea?
Truly the easiest and most versatile DIY project (with amazing impact) you could decide to tackle- NO SEWING SKILLS REQUIRED and the only tool needed is a pair of scissors!
Think of the possibilities! It’s such an easy seasonal refresh and so many fabrics out there are art in and of themselves.

I have so many old designer fabric samples and am in full on creative use mode. I have used them to create frame mats (I shared that in stories awhile back and will share again today) not to mention all sorts of crafts, but this tray idea might be my favorite and l plan on making several of these to give as gifts.
Be sure to share with me if you try this and follow .nc for more home and garden inspiration.🤍

Mother’s Day Gift Idea | Simple no tools home DIY project | DIY tray idea | Repurposed home decor | Creating layers in home decorating | Timeless design style | Chinoiserie | Grand Millennial Style | Traditional Home |

Confession time:Significantly impacted by my Depression-era grandmother, I save/repurpose/reuse EVERYTHING. (Sometimes t...
04/13/2026

Confession time:
Significantly impacted by my Depression-era grandmother, I save/repurpose/reuse EVERYTHING. (Sometimes to the dismay of my husband 😅) My home storage is literally a treasure trove of odds and ends that I see potential in. There is value there- I am always sure of it!

I love finding like-minded friends on this app and was absolutely giddy when reached out and offered fabric remnants from past projects, if she had any I thought I could use. (She also believes nothing should end up in the landfill!)
Hello! YES!!! I’m that person in the store that has to touch everything and there is ZERO possibility that I wouldn’t fall in love with something and find a use!
Well, now my little project ideas are multiplying like bunnies and I am in full on creating mode- stay tuned and be sure to follow .nc for more!

DIY home projects | Simple sewing projects | DIY pillow covers | Repurposed home decor | Creating layers in home decorating | Timeless design style | Chinoiserie | Grand Millennial Style | Traditional Home |

We often fall into the trap that in order to have BIG impact in our spaces we need to do BIG projects and/or renovations...
04/06/2026

We often fall into the trap that in order to have BIG impact in our spaces we need to do BIG projects and/or renovations. However, sometimes the greatest impact can be in the details (and this is a hill I’m willing to die on)!

Hardware can set the tone and be the element that you don’t even realize is pulling your spaces together. It creates continuity and interest (if you give it a chance)!
We realized that our existing hardware did not match the beautiful architecture of our home and that upgrading to something that fit better with our Georgian Colonial would feel more authentic.

Because we were so impressed with our exterior door hardware last year, we decided to work with again and install their stunning Chambord crystal k***s with Carré backplates in their new timeless bronze finish. (Did you know that Grandeur Hardware is completely customizable???)

WOAH. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! I cannot get over the impact. The only person more starry-eyed over these k***s than I am is Dave, who from the moment he started installing them has been crushing on every detail and hasn’t stopped. Just ask him, but be forewarned, you may not get him to stop!

Time period hardware | Old home style | Time period home | Luxury hardware | Grand Millennial Style | Chinoiserie | Timeless home style | Traditional home |

Spring tablescapes just take a few elementsand only one mindset: Make It Fun. When you walk in the room, it should draw ...
03/30/2026

Spring tablescapes just take a few elements
and only one mindset: Make It Fun. When you walk in the room, it should draw a smile.
I love this time of year when it feels like there is an amazing symbiosis between the outdoors and within our walls. What we love in nature is brought in and our spaces some alive with the vibrancy of LIFE.

It’s such an easy time to decorate:
🤍Flowers & Botanicals
🤍Natural rattan, bamboo for warmth
🤍Mix of pattern and color to make it fun and interesting!
Have a blessed week everyone, I hope you enjoy precious time with your families!

Blue and white | Green and white | plate wall|Tablescape essentials | Spring floral arranging | Gallery Wall | Colors for spring decorating | Grandmillennial dining room | Nancy Meyers aesthetic | chinoiserie style

A true house story- behind the scenes. If you dropped by today, this is what would greet you: a little peek inside my mi...
03/23/2026

A true house story- behind the scenes.
If you dropped by today, this is what would greet you: a little peek inside my mind (scary place y’all).
What started as a vintage find on Etsy and two “minor little changes” has now brought down full and utter wall chaos. Think wall art dominoes.
I am determined to source as much as possible from my own collections so it makes it a little more challenging.
What can I use frame wise? Art wise? What do I want to take apart? What would I be better off selling and using the money to buy something better suited?
There are also a lot of memories attached to most things so I’m sitting in all that nostalgia which doesn’t help decision-making wise, but the funky combos and weird heights from using existing wall hooks has my skin crawling so I’m going to have to decide SOMEthing soon. 😂
Be sure to follow along .nc to see how this all comes together (or not😅). Obviously at this point it could go either way!

Home takes time | Blue and white | Using color in design | Chinoiserie | Grand Millennial Style | Home and Garden | Timeless Style | Nancy Meyers aesthetic | Classic Traditional Home | Your home your style

My search started at garden stools, drifted to garden statuary, and rounded out with chinoiserie. This I can say: Lowe’s...
03/16/2026

My search started at garden stools, drifted to garden statuary, and rounded out with chinoiserie. This I can say: Lowe’s has eye candy in every category I can dream up.

Lion statues have been on my anniversary/birthday wish list since we first got married and I am proud to share they have finally been added to the family. What do you think of our new guardians? (Check out my stories for their sweet names)
Aaaaand.
I don’t know what sparked the idea to search blue and white on Lowe’s, but I’m sure glad I was inspired (and honestly a little surprised to find GORGEOUS treasures staring back at me!)

Take away: When shopping online, think outside the box; you never know what you might discover. sure knocked my socks off 🤩.

Blue and white | Chinoiserie | Grand Millennial Style | Home and Garden | Timeless Style | Nancy Meyers aesthetic | Classic Traditional Home

Do you have any favorite whimsical finds that really make you smile? Homes, like people, like to have a little fun. Incl...
03/09/2026

Do you have any favorite whimsical finds that really make you smile?
Homes, like people, like to have a little fun.

Including a little whimsy in our spaces adds charm and provides opportunities for interesting conversations. Those little unexpected elements can often be what makes everything come together.
One of my favorites is the ikebana lotus vase Kela found for me on the third slide and my antique jade calligraphy brush on the fourth-did you notice the little jade horse??? I would have to say though, my animal canes in the entry are usually the best talk of the town!

🌼I purchased the floral stems from .bvintage (I have both yellow and white, these are a few years old and still a fav!)

Homes curated over time | Classic cozy traditional home style | Layered and collected design | Cultivate your home with intention | Home takes time | Your home tells your story | Creating a personal home style | Adding the unexpected | Adding conversation pieces in decor

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