French Revival Project: Sneak Peek at the Stairs and Basement

There are so many exciting and fun details that we want to share about our French Revival Project! Everything seems to be moving at a much faster pace these days, and it's getting harder to keep up with every new little thing. But we promise we are doing our best to document all that we can and will work to keep you updated to the very end! 

This week we decided it was time to share a few pictures of the basement and the amazing stairs that you go down to get there. The stairs will be absolutely gorgeous, as will the basement, and we just can't wait to see it all complete!

Once through the front entry, you will come to this beautiful staircase that leads down to the basement. And we guarantee the space is going to be AMAZING!

Notice all the wires on the right side of the stairs? The stairs will have lighting going up/down, and it was a definite must for our clients. We agree that it is a detail everyone should enjoy as it creates a nice ambiance and is a safety feature as well!

Another look at the stairs and their magnificent "curves." We just love a good rounded stair.

This special space is for the all the cute kids that will be frequenting this beautiful home. It was important for our wonderful clients to have a space even the littles would enjoy.

At the bottom of the stairs you'll find the extra-large family room and this fun open theater and stage. When complete this spot will have theater seating, columns, and all sorts of other fun goodies.

Opposite the theater is the large open family/game/sports room area that will provide lots of entertainment for every age. Right now the French oak floors are covered for protection! At the end of the room are some beautiful windows and doors that goes out to a rock wall and garden that leads to the back yard and pool.

Pretty Patios: Black and White Edition

Have you started pulling out all of your patio furniture? We can't believe it's that time of year, but summer is definitely here! We've been doing lots of research when it comes to patios and have saved some of our favorite designs along the way. The look we are loving this year: black and white. Everything about a black and white patio feels crisp, clean, and totally classic. Take a look at some of our favorites:

Photo courtesy Great House Designs

We love the simplicity of this space with its natural log side table and darling black and white pillows. Everything about this patio feels beautiful and serene.

Photo courtesy Kirklands

While there's no black in sight, we love the white! One of our favorite combinations for just about any space includes woods with whites. It always makes a space feel fresh and crisp!

Photo courtesy The Urban Farm Girl

This sweet spot combines black, white, and wood. It is beautiful and inviting, and the greenery and bright pink flowers just add another fun element of interest. 

Photo courtesy Pinterest

This outdoor patio is the perfect example of cozy and intimate. The furniture and throw pillows are simple and the black and white stripe rug pulls it all together. Not to mention, the flowers and greenery are just breathtaking!

Photo courtesy HGTV

We love how fun and playful this painted checkerboard patio turned out. The simple black furniture paired with pops of red make this spot the perfect place to spend summer evenings.

Photo courtesy Our Happy Cabin

Another beautiful and cozy spot that features black and white as well as hints of gray and blue. It's a lovely combination that is totally timeless. We could relax here all night!

There are so many fun things to do with your patio space. We couldn't decide on a favorite, can you?

French Revival Project: Baseboards

While the discussion of baseboards may seem boring or cumbersome to some, we love what their finished look brings to a space. Our French Revival Project, of course, has the most beautifully crafted 14-inch baseboards and they are starting to go up all over the house. They look amazing even in their unfinished state, so we just had to share some of the most recent pics we've snapped. Take a look:  

While this will be an office when the home is complete, it is now serving as the baseboard room.

An up close peek at these beautiful, bold baseboards.

Just to offer some perspective on size . . .

Looking into the main room of the casita. 

Baseboards all down this amazing hallway.

Dining Nooks We Love

Lately, we've kind of had a thing for dining nooks and the many ways you can style them. They are so versatile and the perfect use of space, large or small. If you are looking for efficient ways to add more seating or want to brighten up a tight space, we have found some of the most darling dining nooks to help provide you with some inspiration!

Photo courtesy of Sweet Home DSGN

Photo courtesy Homedit

Photo courtesy Xuuby

Photo courtesy Cool Chic Style Fashion

Photo courtesy Decor Pad

Photo courtesy My Style Vita

French Revival Project: Antique Limestone Flooring and More

Remember last week's sneak peek of the antique limestone flooring going in our beautiful French Revival? Well, we've got more pictures of it fully laid!

Things are moving so much faster now, and we get so excited for every site visit because there is always something new to see. Whether it's flooring, trim work, moldings, or shower tiles, you can guarantee our excitement level is always on the up and up.  

Check out the new shots of the dining room below. We kinda love it!

This shot captures both the antique limestone tile in the dining room as well as the beautiful beams and windows that are directly above it. The beams are still wrapped for protection during construction, but it's still a gorgeous set up in our opinion!

Another great shot of this beautiful space! We've said it before, but we will say it again, the light in this room will be amazing!

An up close and personal look and the antique limestone. Check out the various colors and textures! The fun thing about this floor is that the pattern was not predetermined—it was laid at random according to how each individual piece fit. We love how it turned out!

This view from the kitchen provides a straight on look into the dining room. Sigh.

And just for fun, here's another look at more of the wrapped beams. This shot shows the beams located over the main great room area that looks out to what will be an amazing backyard (more to come on that later!).

This is the second beam that is part of the same great room space. Just behind it you can see the inside of the largest turret (see our turrets post!) and some of the lighting prep going in!

French Revival Project: Beams, Sheetrock, and Flooring

Such a fun update today for our French Revival Project! We are finally to the point where we have some great pictures of beams, Sheetrock, and flooring to share. This project has been ongoing for quite some time and seeing it all come together (we love walls!) has been so exciting.

We've been so lucky to be able to work with such amazing clients who have a "vision" and the patience to make sure everything is just right. Picking out every detail for each lovely room of their home has truly been a joy. And we'd be remiss not to mention our contractor and the talented team from Impressive Homes who amaze us with their handiwork each day. 

We hope you enjoy these pictures as much as we do!

These over-sized beams are definitely one of our favorite architectural details found throughout the house. Here they are prepping to stain them a deep, rich espresso color. 

Even though the lighting in this shot isn't ideal, we just had to take a picture once the staining was complete! The dark stain will be such a beautiful contrast when all is said and done. 

This beautiful antique limestone flooring is what was chosen for the dining room and kitchen. Behind that you can see the piles of wood flooring as it climatizes pre install. The beams were covered and taped off to ensure total protection during construction, as well as the antique fireplace.  

Another shot of the flooring in the dining room. Fun fact: There is no pre-determined pattern here, just laying pieces together as they fit. A big beautiful table will be here before we know it! (And aren't these windows looking out to the backyard amazing?)

We decided on French Oak wood flooring for the office found near the front of the house. Another wall of amazing windows will make for bright space!

A look at the front of the house again, just for fun!

Mother's Day Blooms

Mother's Day is less than a week away, and we decided it might be fun to share some of our favorite spring floral centerpieces that can be used on brunch tables wherever mom is being celebrated!

Obviously spring is the perfect time to take advantage of fresh blooms, regardless of them being from your garden or your florist. Some of our favorite springtime flowers include lilacs, tulips, hydrangea, peonies, and early roses. Below are some beautiful arrangements that will hopefully provide a little inspiration for your Mother's Day gathering this year.

Photo courtesy A Burst of Beautiful

A beautiful combination of soft peach, whites, and bright greens! 

Photo courtesy Laurel Lane

Lilacs are so sweet and are gorgeous piled into any vase.

Photo courtesy Pretty Life Girls

We love the look of any flower in mason jars. So simple, yet clean!

Photo courtesy Stone Gable Blog

More gorgeous lilacs in a variety of colors. The various shades offer a little more depth and we love it!

Photo courtesy Town 'n' Country Living

Nothing beats a simple arrangement of tulips, but the bright pink tulips paired with crisp white really caught our eye.

Photo courtesy Yellow Bliss Road

Another beautiful arrangement in a mason jar. We love the sweet doilies tied with twine around the vase. It adds the perfect finishing touch while keeping things simple!

Photo courtesy The Knot

These bright and beautiful peonies look stunning in their small and simple vases. A look that truly anyone can create at home!

Kitchen Lighting: Picking the Perfect Pendants

Let's talk lighting today! When it comes to picking the perfect pendant for your kitchen island, there are so many options available now, and the choices are so much better than they used to be. So how do you choose the right fixture for your space? We thought you might ask and decided to share a couple of things to consider when it comes to picking your pendants.

First, those small teacup-sized pendants are a thing of the past. Now kitchen lighting fixtures are a bit more over scaled and offer a new type of visual aesthetic and design element to one of the most frequented rooms in your house. We love the look of one or two larger pendants over an island—this set up really pops!

Second, don't forget about functionality. What is the purpose of your pendants? Are you looking for ambient lighting or something more task based? Or do you simply want lighting that serves as an accent or decorative piece? Finding your focus when it comes to functionality can help narrow things down when selecting your fixture.

And third, what other lighting fixtures are visible? If there are other fixtures that are close in proximity or at least visible from your kitchen, there should be at least one element that ties them all together. Whether it's matching metals or other related material is up to you, but doing so looks like you took the time to consider all the elements.

Below are some of our current favorites when it comes to pendants:

Photo courtesy Décor Pad

Photo courtesy Alyssa Rosenheck/Castle Homes

Photo courtesy Edmondson Interiors

Photo courtesy House Trends

Photo courtesy Kitchen Island Lighting