Creating A Sophisticated + Modern Mood Board

Inspiration Pic: (Image credit: Charlotte Parker)

Hello friends! and happy Monday. This week we created a few mood boards for a client which we will be sharing with you today. One of the biggest challenges for homeowners is that when they embark on a home design project, they are quickly overwhelmed by the amount of options available. That’s where we come in! One way we help narrow down those choices is through planning of a mood board. Mood boards are essential in the planning process because it helps clients visualize the style, textures, pieces of furniture, lighting, etc. in a design proposal. Creating a clear design concept from the very beginning helps client get a real understanding of the design and feel of a room. 

The goal for the mood boards was to carry the pink, blue, black or cream from front living room into both the sunroom and family room. We also wanted to add some flair by incorporating prints as focal points for each of the rooms.

Check these out bellow!

Before and After: Bringing a Dated Colonial Kitchen to Modern Times

Hello! It’s been a while!

We are so excited to share these before and after photos of this breathtaking 1920’s colonial house remodel. Everyone loves the before shots because they are fun and they make you appreciate the after so much more. This project was all about numbers- it’s 5300 soft, 6 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, 80 years old, 75 new light fixtures, 40 hours of wallpaper removal, 80 gallons of paint, and was 3 years in the making. This now modern colonial home is our biggest remodel yet! Originally built & owned by American philanthropist, David Kruidenier, and his wife, Elizabeth, this home embodied and reinforced progressivism in Iowa. Kruidenier’s leadership and personal philanthropy in support of music and visual arts were integral in Des Moines’ success in the development and expansion of the Des Moines Art Center and in the construction of the Des Moines Civic Center.

We will be breaking down this massive house by room into several posts so we can share even more details about the process, including layouts and selections!

Kitchen: Before and after

Of all the rooms, the kitchen went through the biggest transformation of all. What was once a dim and closed off space, is now a bright and open oasis. This dollhouse kitchen had so much potential and charm. Once the kitchen and butler’s pantry were demoed, drop ceiling was removed, and one of the doorways was enclosed we had all the room to make this spacious and fully functional kitchen.

We refreshed the kitchen by upgrading to a large kitchen island, open floor plan with full view to dining room, and modern fixtures. This kitchen is hardly recognizable from the before photos.

We created unison by using the same brass finishes in both the kitchen and dining room.

We will be sharing more of this house soon, so stay tuned!

Behind the Scenes Habitat For Humanity Home

Hi everyone! This month we had the exciting opportunity to collaborate with Habitat For Humanity and the Homes for the Holidays for a home reveal in Pleasantville, Iowa! We couldn’t believe that we had the chance to work with not only one, but two exceptional organizations that continue to improve the lives of many people all over the country. Habitat for Humanity helps homeowners build their own homes alongside volunteers while Homes for the Holidays focuses on providing assistance to single parents and their children. They surprise single-parent families (who are actively working to support themselves) with home furnishings. Everything we did had to stay under wraps as this was going to be a total surprise to the homeowner. We volunteered to help with furnish selections, styling, and installation. First, we met with the Habitat for Humanity and HFTH team to discuss the details of the project including design aesthetics, etc. Once we established perimeters, we were ready to roll and took off shopping for anything and everything one would ever need to fully furnish a home! We filled up 16 shopping carts with everything from office supplies to outdoor furniture, rugs, and tabletop. Our designer Holly took the lead on this project, and we were absolutely blown away by her attention to detail and incredible dedication to this cause. It was truly a joy and an honor to be able to turn this house into a home and work alongside such amazing volunteers and organizers.