Before and After: Watson Project





On Facebook and Instagram I recently posted some highlights of a local home I got to work on. Sometimes with my e-design clients I don't always get to see the finished product. I get SO excited when I see my designs come to life! This time I got to work with the cutest family of 7! They were such a joy to and we aren't done YET!!!

Before they purchased the home I was called to look over the home and see if it was something we could work with, that wouldn't require too much to fix design wise. What they should work on now, and what could be held off until later. I made some suggestions, and they gave me a call after they had moved in!

We worked first on the entry and main living area. It was very important to my client that they had a nice place for their family, as well as for others. I feel we accomplished the goal. The home is easy for them to take care of, nothing is too precious, but it still looks stylish!

First was the floor plan. We worked together to come up with a fix for this awkward space that would house toys and could look pretty in no time! They requested a sectional and a place to hold some extra chairs from their kitchen dining area. We incorporated some of their previous furniture with some updates, and added more storage where we could. The area on the right is for the kids to play and the sofa table houses baskets for a quick clean up!


Next was the mood-board. Although this client was local, I love to do these to help them get the vision of the space. We worked together with a shared Pinterest board of ideas. By going with the fixed elements throughout their home (St. Cecelia Granite) We were able to have a color pallet that looked fresh and let them keep the existing granite instead of over renovating.




And for the big reveal we have the before...







And AFTER (entry included!)







Amazing transformation if I do say so myself!! :)  Here is a beautiful testimonial I got from the cute now family of seven:

When my husband and I, and our 4 young children moved into our new home,  it was obvious the place would need a lot of work before we could really call it our own! The colors, the layout, well so many things really just weren’t working for us. I called Annie, desperate for some help, and that is where the magic began. Annie asked us lot of questions and got to know what we were looking for when it came to design, function, and the general feel of each room. I was worried that the task would be too much to take on, what with a tight budget, and needing a very kid friendly, yet classy and well designed environment throughout. I wasn’t sure if our “dream” living spaces were even realistic with young children in the home, but Annie made it possible!

After our consult, she came back with amazing idea boards that had everything that was important to us incorporated in them. I was blown away at how she was able to take our likes/dislikes and within days create these beautiful boards that had us speechless! It was obvious that she knew exactly what we wanted. She not only paid close attention to all the details in the colors/textures/function of each piece in the room, but she also took into consideration things that I would have never thought of like where the Christmas tree would best fit etc. She was always a step ahead, and planning for those things that had not even crossed our minds yet!

  Annie took us through each idea board and explained the functions and “why” of each item. She also sourced each one, so I knew exactly what I needed and where I needed to go to get it. Having her to work with took away all the indecisiveness that comes with the normally daunting task of choosing home décor.  With Annie there was a plan, and we understood the beginning to the end and the why of it all. We were excited to do it right the first time! Having Annie’s idea boards and sources meant saving us money and time, as we would not be buying things not knowing whether they would work long term or not and we wouldn’t be caught painting coat after coat trying to find that perfect shade!

  First on our list was our dysfunctional living room and entry, and boy it went through such a drastic transformation! Thanks to Annie’s design and talent we were able to get that classy yet comfortable living area that is clean and inviting, yet kid proof and kid friendly, so there was no need to fuss over anything getting ruined or worn out. I love that my family room functions so well for my family now and that everything has its own space so that clean up is quick and easy and done in a matter of minutes. 

Our entry way is perfect! Thanks to Annie’s suggestions I was able to use some of my own creative talents along with her direction to make it unique and a true reflection of our family. I love inviting our friends and family to come over and relax in these areas, and I always get so many compliments when I do. I also love that after the effort and work we put forth to create these spaces with Annie (and do it right the first time), my family and I can just relax and enjoy them and I don’t have to worry about shopping for more decorations or trying a different shade of paint etc. It’s done and it’s perfect!

***


I hope you guys enjoyed seeing a little of the process of the design of this project! Next up is their beautiful Master Bedroom!

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1 hour promo

I am in a silent auction and thought I would post the promo I made. The photos are of my remodel with more to come soon! Enjoy.


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What I've been up to...

I have been really busy lately with client projects and my family, sometimes a girl needs to take a break and this blog was one of them! Just keeping this post short and sweet to tell you about what's new. We have been trying for another baby for about two years now. It is not news to us that it takes us a long while to get pregnant but this one has been taking longer. I personally have friends who have tried for 7-8 years before having another child (with multiple miscarriages in between) they are my heros. We were lucky enough to get pregnant a few months ago but it sadly ended in a miscarriage. I feel incredibly lucky to have two kids (one of each gender) but we feel that there is at least one more out there.... I have taken up an affirmation from one of Louise Hay's books that says "Divine right action is always taking place in my life. I love and approve of myself, all is well." She always seems to have everything worded just perfectly. Saying the affirmations each morning in the mirror to myself seems to help too.




On the other hand I have also been extremely busy getting everything ready for our home remodel. We really love where we live and hope to be here for a long time. Our home desperately needs some love and care as it was sitting for over a year when we bought it. We have been here for two years saving till we can get this done the right way. I have been pouring over details on how we can make this home be less tract home and more of a classic home.

 I live in Arizona and because the architecture of my home leans this way, I am looking to a Spanish Colonial style but a bit more updated. In fact, this home is a good representation of where I am going with it (on a much smaller scale of course). When I saw it I literally yelled YES!!! It was what I had been thinking of but hadn't seen done yet. I have discovered that I am a very visual person, so it helps to see things and get ideas.  I really wish more home builders here in Arizona would go back to more classic designs, but that is a topic for another day!!


The other day I came across this wonderful quote. I decided to make it "pin-worthy" and to share it with all of you! The photo is from my father-in-law Michael Rytting, taken in Arizona. I thought it was the perfect image for the quote.


Enjoy!
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Designer Challenge:Which Desk?

Today is a great day!  First, because I am off to Little Rock to see Tobi Fairley at Design Camp A-Z! I am beyond excited! Make sure to follow me on instagram and twitter for updates and tips!

Second, because I am part of the Designers Challenge at Satori for Design Living. Thanks Shauna for the opportunity!


Come check out which desk I chose to create a room around? Is it the one you would have chosen?

Designer Challenge Desk One- Dorothy Draper Pink Desk- OKL

Designer Challenge Desk Two- Anika White Laquer Desk

Designer Challenge Desk Three- LaCourte Upright Desk- Williams Sonoma


* Interested in bringing some style into your home? Check out my services, I'd love to work with you!* Pin It

Bright and fun entry for a young family

I have the opportunity to work with a great family. We are slowly making our way through their home bit by bit. They are a young family with 4 kids and a turtle! :)

First up is the entry

As I said before the entry is a sneek peek into the rest of your home. Make it a great one!

* Interested in bringing some style into your home? Check out my services, I'd love to work with you!* Pin It

Online design board sale!



Hi everyone! Did you enjoy my unplanned summer hiatus? Things were so busy around here with the kids that I decided just to take some time off from blogging to spend with them while they are little. We had a blast!

Now that school has been in session for a few weeks and things are back into a routine I plan to get back into one too for this blog. Thanks for sticking around...you shall be rewarded

How?

As I am sure you have noticed store are putting out the holiday decorations earlier and earlier every year (that is for another post, another time...)


Since you all are already thinking about the holidays anyway I thought I would let you know of the sale I am having!

If you book any online design board between September 23rd to October 23rd 2013 I will offer you $50 off! Get your home perfectly styled for your upcoming guests!

What will you get with my online designs?

1. A scaled floorplan of your space and where things will go.

2. The design board showing the items suggested for your design.

3. The details! A product source list and purchase information (all suggested items are available through online retailers)



I have done a lot of design boards this year and here are a couple you haven't seen yet!




For questions about the design boards or process please contact me at annievincentinteriors@gmail.com Pin It

Moodboard Monday-Coffee table edition

I am excited to share the newest Moodboard Monday!  Sarah is hopefully snuggling her newest little one by now (or soon). So Anna from My Design Ethos is graciously co-hosting it with her.

I have made two previous Moodboard Monday designs, a living room and a bedroom. This time I thought it might be fun to do a library!

The inspiration pieces were all coffee tables

1. Parson Rectangular Coffee Table-Wrapped Metal from West Elm




3. Shanti Coffee Table from Pottery Barn

4. Ludlow Trunk from Pottery Barn



I chose the Origami Coffee Table. I loved the sculptural quality of the base and the beautiful bone tiled top. It seemed the perfect choice for my cozy industrial library!


Want to make it your own? Here is a list of sources for you:

Chandelier: I chose this to compliment the coffee table in shape and industrial vibe.

Sofa: I love this sofa! Curves and a timeless quality about it. I added an indigo striped fabric and antiqued brass nailheads to compliment the warm and cool color story in the room.

Sofa pillows: Beautiful velvet pillows 22-24" provide a good compliment to the patterned sofa and provide more coziness to the room.

Chair: Mimicking the lines of the sofa the slipcovers lend a casual yet tailored feeling.

Chair pillows: Bringing in some more blue into the room the pattern on the pillows also references the pattern on the rug.

Rug: An antique oushak with a beautiful pattern plus warm and cool tones.

Artwork: The room was feeling a tiny bit heavy and stuffy. So I added this abstract to lighten the room up and also to pull even more of the blue tones throughout the room.

Sconces: I love the cozy and flattering light that sconces can bring. These are in a yummy antique brass color.

Bookcases: I chose a rich warm wood tone because I loved the cozy feeling it brought, white just seemed too stark in this design.

Curtains: There was a lot going on in the room so I decided to frame the window with a solid curtain to  make sure the focus was on the other pieces in the room.

Paint color: Manchester Tan HC-81 is a great neutral that lends itself well to the other colors I have in the room.

If you enjoyed this room please check out the other beautiful rooms!



*Interested in bringing some style into your home? Check out my services, I'd love to work with you!*

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Summer time....



My kids recently got out of school and I am going to be spending a little time with them getting some routines in place. I'll be back soon, promise!



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A tale of two kitchens....


I have been busy recently with some e-design clients and wanted to share with you two kitchens I have recently worked on. They are both very different in style and scope of work. It was so fun and exciting to help both of these families out!

The first one called for a chic and simple update

 

This client was keeping existing items (countertops, cabinets) but was open to painting both! So I gave her some options for that and updated the rest of the finishes where I could for her!



The second one was a bit more involved.


With the exception of the floors and appliances we were replacing the cabinets, counters and backsplash. So I gave them some options and added a little extra to coordinate with their eat in kitchen area as well.

There are budget friendly items in each kitchen and yet they both look fabulous.

*Interested in bringing some style into your home? Check out my services, I'd love to work with you!*

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Yours truly...

Some of you have asked for more information about me. I am flattered! So here is a little about me. Some of you might all ready know this about me and some you might not!

Enjoy!


1. I love love love LOVE jewelry.




2. I use LOL, :) , and !! way too much for my own good. 

3. I love to laugh.

4. I am not the best at making new friends, but I am trying to do better.

5. I have a love/hate relationship with my curly hair

6. I was born at 25.5 weeks and weighed 1.15oz. 

7. I love to take pictures, although sometimes I need reminding to bring my camera and take it out! 

8. I am a procrastinator but I like to make “to do” lists.

9. I love music and play 4 instruments. (I play more but not as well.)

10. I like to dance while I clean. BTW- salsa music is the best to clean to. 

11. I don’t really have favorite things like colors, food, music etc. For the most part it is always changing.

12. I love to teach music and my dream is to finish up my degree and teach strings.

13. I tend to do WAY too much research on things.

14. Sometimes I wish my siblings were closer to me in age, it’s lonely at the top! 

15. I love to travel even if it’s just a short trip. Although getting to use my passport is the best!

16. My husband is a sweetheart and I wonder every day why he chose me.

17. I hate baths, I am a shower gal all the way. I especially love those nice big steam showers…ahhh

18. I have never been much of a public speaker, journal, or blog writer, I think it’s because I don’t think I would have anything interesting to say. I always think I have to say something profound...

19. I love to try new foods and new restaurants.

20. I am always mistaken for, Italian, or from somewhere in the Middle East or surrounding areas. No one ever says Mexican, which I think is hilarious.

21. I am way too sarcastic for my own good and it gets me in to trouble sometimes.

22. I love classic designs in decorating and fashion, but with a twist. 

23. I never knew you could love your kids so much and that they could drive you so crazy at the same time.

24. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to cook and try new recipes. Gas ranges are the only way to go!! 

25. In case you didn’t know this my husband and I have our own show on TV maybe you heard of it….The King of Queens….It’s us all the way.

Hope you enjoyed that little snippet into my life.
What is something about you that people would be surprised about??



Pictures:
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Quick and easy tips for eating healthier

I hope you all had a great weekend. I love spring, everything is so fresh and new and it just makes me want to be better and eat better!



I recently finished a 3 day juice fast and real food has never tasted SO amazing!! Along with design I love food. (I mean really who doesn't) But in my world it's like ratatouille and I am always looking for ways to eat healthier. I also love trying out and swapping new recipes and recently had a party where the theme was salads, it was a hit! A friend was there and a few weeks later asked me to speak for our local women's group on healthy living tips. I thought you guys would like a few of the tips I used...

First off. I am not an expert or perfect. And I don’t pretend to be. The tips that I will share with you today are not things that I do all the time but they are what I strive to do and be.

Meal planning- 
Plan meals for a week. Just planning dinners for the week takes a huge weight off your shoulders. The average family only eats about 6-7 different dinners over a month and then repeats them. Use some family favorites or expand on your meals..A great place for new recipes is trade some with friends, pinterest and even the library.


Trash the bad food in your pantry-
After the holidays we have chips and cookies and brownies and just “yucky” foods. TRASH THEM. And I would add don’t buy them again! Think about what food you are providing in the home. Stop buying junk for your bodies.


4.2 grams of sugar are equal to one teaspoon of sugar. How much sugar is in what YOU are eating or drinking?


Commit to not eating out...At the very least lessening it-


If you think you can’t do it for all 7 days, start with something doable – say, “I will not eat out 4 days a week.” Or one day a week. Every little bit helps.

Get your indentured servants working for you....become friends with your crockpot or make and freeze meals ahead of time.


Replace certain foods in your house with healthier options-


For example, replace your white rice with brown rice. Replace your white flour pasta with whole wheat pasta. Replace your white bread with 100% whole wheat bread. Small changes like that can go a LONG way.

Fact: did you know that some food labels says just “wheat flour” instead of “Whole Wheat Flour” Make sure it says WHOLE in front of it.


Go meatless-one day or one meal a week


Meat takes a lot of work from your body to digest. Give your body a break sometimes! :)
A good meal for this is to make stir-fry dishes.Do all your prep work beforehand. Cut up the veggies a day or 2 before… or even in the afternoon after the kids come home from school. It just cuts down on the prep time when it’s actually dinnertime. It allows you not to be overwhelmed when you have some of the work done.


What are the two biggest deficits in the American diet? 
 
#1 Enzymes
help in all our body functions, including digestion. Digestive enzymes help us break down food so we can process our food.


#2 Overall plant fiber
Because fiber is removed from processed or refined foods Americans eat an average of only 5-10 grams of it per day and the USRDA recommends 25-30grams.

Get that plumbing moving and eat food with more fiber, it sure tastes better than Metamucil!

Here’s a success secret of people who have lost 30 lbs., on average, and kept it off, according to a study published in the medical journal Obesity:

They find healthy foods they like and stick to them.
They “automate” one meal daily so that it’s not a struggle.

What do I choose???

I choose Green Smoothies


Every day, you KNOW what one meal will be: a quart of green smoothie (and any other healthy foods, if you need more calories, for playing sports). I usually have mine for lunch!

A quart of green smoothie a day
(12-15 servings of raw greens and fruit) about 200 calories


It takes 10 minutes a day and is one of the highest and best use of your time and best changes you can do for your health. massive amount of nutrition in a green smoothie. lowest calorie- highest value of macronutrient foods (vitamins, minerals, enzymes... the good stuff)

People what to eat right but they don’t know how anymore. We have lost track of what good nutrition is. Most of us can’t look to our mothers and grandmothers on how to cook

Doing this one habit will provide you with better digestion, weight loss and more energy. Try it for 30 days and see how it makes you feel.



A few of my favorite sites, books, and movies





Books In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

Movies (currently on Netflix)

Forks over Knives
Food Matters
Hungry for Change
The Engine 2 Diet
Sick, Fat and Nearly Dead Do you have a favorite meal? Do you love salads like I do? Or do you have a big sweet tooth? Shhh so do I! ;)


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Happy Easter!

I have been busy lately! Remember the mass amounts of people I hosted for Thanksgiving? Well they are coming again!!  But it's okay, I love to have my family in my home it just causes me to be a little busier.

I hope you all enjoy this wonderful time of year.



Make sure to come back on Monday for some tips on healthy eating!

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How to feel like you are on vacation all the time...

Spring break is coming up for a lot of people and it will be nice to get away for a few days, unplug and relax!  Wouldn't it be great to bring that feeling back home?

I recently finished a great e-living room board for a client who has some great memories as a child, and still loves taking vacations to the beach but didn't live anywhere near one.

How do you take inspiration like the beach but not go full blown theme? I like to do it through mood and color.

Now there are a couple literal translations here...the sunburst mirror and white sea urchin from Nate Berkus but when you look at this room it doesn't scream I have a beach themed living room. Yet, you still get the feeling of the beach and feel relaxed each time you walk into the room.

Thanks C.T. for the opportunity to bring your vacation, home!


*Interested in bringing some style into your home? Check out my services, I'd love to work with you!*

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Isabelle Abramson-Ceramics

So I was taking a look around the web the other day and literally stumbled upon the work of Isabelle Abramson. Take a look at these beauties.....



There are more on her website. I only took a couple classes in ceramics and it is tougher than it looks! I really appreciate the work and dedication Isabelle has to her craft.  Take a look at her website and see if it strikes up a creative chord in you!



 


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My favorite highlights from Design Camp Atlanta!


I am so excited to share with you my experience at Design Camp in Atlanta. I was so blessed by the generosity of Lori Dennis, Kelli Ellis and Traci Zeller to be able to attend. I have to admit when I took a look at the awesome list of camp counselors I was a little intimidated to be going. I would be learning from some major superstars! I was so surprised to find many genuine, warm, caring individuals that were so gracious in sharing and helping each other. Each minute of camp I was inspired and knew that I was learning things that would take my business to the next level!



The first highlight for me was Barry Dixon. 



It is obvious that he is a world renowned incredible designer but wow, what a humble and inspiring man. I would have been happy listening to him all day! Some of my favorite takeaways were:



“The house is also a client in every project...make it a part of the dialogue.”



“Take the client backwards to take them forward, and then put it in the room.-The history of people, hidden in plain sight”

“The goal at the end of each project is that the world is a more beautiful place because we crossed paths”

I am pretty sure I heard everyone give an audible sigh after that last statement....



We also learned about the modern bathroom from Jason McNeely of Hansgrohe. Their products are manufactured in the USA. He showed us some innovative items in their product lines, and as a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), has a soft spot for the baby boomers generation.

Here is an interesting tidbit he mentioned: All designers need to learn how to design for our aging population. 50% of remodels are for this aging group.  Hansgrohe have products like floor handles that are  flush to ground, & sensor based! Everything  could be hands free! So useful for the aging loved one in your life, or just for yourself!




 One of the sinks with lots of options for fixture placement.



He also surprised all of us at the end by gifting every camper with a FREE Hansgrohe E 120 Hand shower! Maybe my bath remodel has moved up the list?!?!




Susanna Salk was another I was anxious to see. She, along with Clinton Smith from -Atlanta Homes and Lifestyle magazine and Leslie Rascoe of Veranda talked to us about getting published. Something I think every designer wants!

Some of their tips were:



"Instagram is like bread crumbs to getting published"



Make sure all your “systems” are in place (blog, online presence etc.)...so you can be published”


"As a designer, your own home may be your best calling card" (You know I will be taking this to heart!)





The icing on the cake for me was Kimberley Seldon. Not only is she a sought after designer but she is also an author, and Editor in Chief of Dabble Magazine. I first heard about her from Maria Killam and she raved even more about her in her True Color Expert course that I took last year. Kimberley’s focus was on branding. Your brand is more than a logo...



“My brand is the experience of working with me”






She was an absolute thrill to see her in person telling the designers how to take charge! I am looking forward to diving into her books and would LOVE to attend her workshop.





We were fortunate to have camp at the renowned Fox Theater! I went on a quick tour of the building after the camp. I wish I had a something other than my phone camera, what an incredible building!






So many of my fellow campers and friends posted great reviews about Design Camp. Please check them out!








Thanks to Tawna Allred for being a great roomate and a fun new friend! Another special thank you to Traci for being a wonderful mentor and friend, it was so fun to finally meet you and Deb. Finally, a huge thanks to my family for making it possible for me to attend.




What will you do for your business this year? I highly recommend Design Camp. The next one is in Seattle May 1-2, 2013 early bird registration is going on now!  Don't miss out!
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