New month. New Home for our Haven Crew Topic! This month we are excited to dive right into styling. For sure a topic that is near and dear to all of us. If you’re new here or maybe finding these link ups for the first time we are a group of some super rad husband and wife friends that includes Lindsey and Chris from Building Bluebird, Sarah and Nick from Nestrs, Morgan and Jamie from Construction 2 Style and Katelynn and Uriah from The Inspiring Investment.
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Styling Shelves are hard, and can easily become overwhelming. I 100% get that. While each shelf, shelving unit looks different and not one outcome is the same, I’m providing you with my top 10 go to tips for styling shelves.
Start With Books + Art
I start almost every shelf I build with books and art. Kitchen shelves are the only ones I layer differently, which we’ll chat about that in my next tip. Books and art are the best way to add height, color and placement holders for all shelves. They also add a ton of character.
Use Big Pieces
Next up I add in any big items I have. I want to ensure these are spread out to have height on both sides of shelves. Providing places for your eyes to go. The best way to look at this is you want large items spread out while keeping heights different. With kitchen shelves I typically start by stacking large plates and bowls.
Height Matters
Every shelf needs a variety of heights. This not only allows your eyes to see each individual item but it ensures nothing gets lost in the same height category. Books can help you create height when you have two items the same height or if you are looking for an item to be a little higher than it actually is.
Groups of 3
Creating sets or vignettes of 3 is a perfect guideline when layering in items on your shelves. By using sets of three you are accomplishing a curated look. You want each item to have different heights.
Stagger Your Placement
What you want to keep in mind on each of your shelves is you want to make sure the item above does not perfectly align with the item below. Again you are looking for ways to have places for your eyes to see all the beautiful items you have curated for your shelves.
Negative Space Is A Good Thing
The last thing you want is an overstuffed shelf! It is ok to have blank spaces throughout your shelves. These negative spaces yet again provide you with a place for your eyes to rest…seeing a trend with this yet?!?
Use Things You Love
When styling your shelves start by shopping your own home. Make a collection of all the things you love and start there. These items are what is going to make you happy every single time you see them and the best place to start.
Layer
This is a great way to create depth on any shelf. You can layer in items by height with art or images behind them, and through greens or glass. Layers are what give your shelves added personality. Use your books to layer both vertically and horizontally.
Take A Picture
My best tip hands down is take a picture and walk away. Yes, you read that right. When you hit a point you just aren’t sure or maybe even think you’re done that means it’s time to take a picture of your shelf and walk into another room. This will help you actually see how your shelf looks. Trust me I know that sounds really weird but it works!
Come Back
It is ok to come back to your shelves. These things take time. I also like to stand back and look at my shelves and change things around as I work my way through them.
The holiday season is here in full force. And in Michigan that means snow a month before expected. We are beginning to gear up for gathering with friends and family to celebrate the season together and can’t wait to just take some time to be. We work so hard every day and the holidays are that time we look forward to for relaxation and memories with the kids.
To ensure everyone feels warm, welcomed and invited over here we decided to do a quick and easy room refresh in partnership with The Home Depot! Each of our bedrooms and bathrooms got a quick update to bring some much needed life back into the space. All products are available online from The Home Depot. We are beyond geeked to share with you all of our amazing finds from The Home Depot in hopes to inspire you to make the quick room refresh too!
Master Bedroom Refresh
Bedding
Our Master Bedroom was the first place Michael and I re-designed from start to finish almost 3 years ago now, and if you know anything about me you know that’s a lifetime ago. It was in need of a quick refresh that made a significant impact without breaking the bank. New bedding was an absolute MUST and I fell in love with this adorable StyleWell Cotton Flannel 4-Piece King Sheet Set in Biscuit London Taxis. Absolutely perfect for the holiday, and you guys the flannel is just so good. We snagged them in white too! I can’t get over how soft they feel against my skin without making me too hot at night!
We were in desperate need of new night stands. Our previous ones were from our days in Chicago, and we upcycled them to make them more appealing years ago. When I found theseHome Decorators Collection Newford 2 Drawer Shadow Gray Wood Nightstands with Diamond Trim it was a game changer. Not only was the style exactly what we were looking for but the drawers are generously sized for versatile storage, which we absolutely need. I can’t get over how well the color pairs with our existing wall color. We added the StyleWellBanwick Sable Finish King Platform Bed too.
Michael has been wanting to add a small sofa/loveseat to our room for the last several years, and with the boys getting bigger and spending more time in there we’ve been on the hunt for one. I stopped in my tracks when we came across Home Decorators CollectionGordon Blue Leather Loveseat. The tufted back and scrolled arms just got me. Not to mention the antique brass nailhead trim detailing to give the ultimate timeless touch. We are of course in love with the rich walnut legs that create a stunning warm finish and make my heart extra happy. This has quickly become a favorite piece for everyone to snuggle up with – you guessed it – the sherpa throw blanket! Both the sofa and throw come from the Home Decorators Collection brand which is es exclusive to The Home Depot.
For a while now I have felt our bedroom rug was just too large for the space. We had a 9 x 12 rug under our king size bed, which is actually the size rug I like to place with king size beds. However, with the size and shape of our room this rug was feeling slightly overpowering to the space. During this year’s ORC project I relocated our bedroom rug to our living space. We replaced it with thisHome Decorators CollectionOld Treasures Gray 8 x 10 Area Rug and we are really vibing the distressed look with the dark grays and blacks throughout it. I think it truly polishes our room. The smaller sizing has made a major impact on how the room feels to me. I like how we can now see more of our wood flooring, and our nightstands are off the rug. We pulled the rug further out to allow for our feet to be on the rug when we get on and off the loveseat! Everything we showcased here you can find online from The Home Depot.
Boys Bedroom
Bedding
Since our boys share a bedroom one thing I truly want for them is to take ownership over their own bed space. To ensure this I had the boys pick colors they vibe with best – Enzo is red and Ziggy is blue. This has helped me design around their likes while keeping the room aesthetically pleasing to us as well. I love how we are able to mix prints and patterns together. The StyleWell 3-Piece Full/Queen Flannel Comforter Set in Cardinal Red and Stone Gray Plaid and Midnight Plaid were the perfect starting point for our dudes. The soft cotton makes it just right for our kids to cuddle up with.
From there I layered in two Home Decorators CollectionOversized Plush Sherpa Throw Blankets in the Red and Navy Plaid. Both boys have been layering this under the covers with them every night. I am pretty sure they are both obsessed with the way the plush face reverses to a fluffy and soft Sherpa giving them all the options for snuggling. It makes my mama heart happy to see them love something I’ve picked for them so much. I wanted to add a fun holiday kid vibe to their room, so I paired their comforters and blankets with these fun StyleWell Cotton Flannel 4-Piece Queen Sheet Sets in Multi Llamas. The plain weave lightweight fabric ensures our dudes won’t overheat. Yet the 100% cotton flannel, which is brushed on both sides of the sheets, provide ultimate warm and cozy sleep experience for them. All these products are available online from The Home Depot. It’s been fun to see what llamas each boy is drawn to, I bet you can guess!
Furniture
The boys had been using their dresser I bought when I moved to Chicago in 2006. Thank goodness Michael is skilled and could continue to repair that poor dresser. The boys new dresser gives me all the heart eye smiley face feels! The Home Decorators CollectionNewford Patina Finish 7 Drawer Dresser with Diamond Detail pairs perfectly in their space. The size couldn’t have fit better. I love the look of mixing a piece of furniture together with ones from a different collection. I think it creates a well balanced room that looks purposefully curated from top to bottom because, well, it is! For the boys nightstand I went with StyleWell Grantley 2 Drawer Ivory Wood Nightstand. The ivory helps balance the bright colors between the two beds and lightens the space. Plus the additional storage under the drawers has become a hot topic for what the boys can store there, the current winner being shoes. Just in case you’re dying to know! We updated their bed frames to theseStyleWell Grandon Midnight Blue Metal Queen Platform Bed with Slats.
Bathrooms
Towels + Rugs
Bathrooms might just be the best place to do a quick update for the holiday time because everyone loves a new clean towel and rug. I used this opportunity to refresh both bathrooms with new colors as well. In our upstairs bathroom I went with theseHome Decorators Collection Turkish cotton ultra soft bath towels in cherry blossom. Not only do I completely vibe with the look of these Turkish towels I am obsessed with how soft they are and how quickly they dry! I got the exact same towels in Turkish charcoal for our main floor bathroom. Both bathrooms got new hand towels from the Home Decorators Collection in cherry blossom and charcoal as well, and cotton reversible bath rugs in white and charcoal by Home Decorators Collection. I decided on a 20 in. x 40 in. white upstairs and the 17 in. x 24 in. charcoal for the main level. I am a huge fan that I can use both sides of the rug…it has a luxurious feel on my feet.
We are absolutely loving the refreshed look throughout our space. I’ve linked all our new refreshed bedroom and bathroom items below for easy shopping!
A huge thank you to The Home Depotfor sponsoring this post. Talk about a win win for this crew, seeing how we basically live there when we aren’t home. No joke guys if you ask Ziggy what his favorite store is he will proudly declare Home Depot!
Today I am excited to give you a holiday tour of our home filled with Christmas cheer. Even more exciting, all of my House to Home Haven ladies are sharing holiday home tours as well! You can find a link to each of their holiday tours below. Grab fuzzy socks and hot cocoa and enjoy the holiday tour!
Here you have it, a full holiday tour of our 1950 bungalow. Come take a walk through our home which is ready and welcoming for the holiday season. We are going to start from the outside and bring you in just like you’re touring our home with us. So sit back and put on some holiday jams as we dive into our simple modern holiday home design for the 2019 holiday season…the last one of the decade!
Modern Front Porch
Ok, I get it. There’s nothing simple about a full size tree on your front porch. But when it comes to our outdoor lighting situation this is where we went big. Our front porch is lined with lanterns and outdoor candles to create a magical and inviting look. To balance the full tree on the front porch we used a small tree on the first step. Both trees are lit for night time glow. We layered the rugs to create more texture. And our front door features a modern loop wreath that we had made for us last year from looped love.
Outdoor Christmas Decorations
We’ve lined our roof in front and on the workshop, otherwise known as our garage! To give our windows some added love we hung these outdoor wreaths on each of the windows around our house and garage. I love the pop of red against all the white, black and wood design, making our house feel very festive for the season.
Entryway Decor
Inside we added these indoor/outdoor rugs at every entrance to our house. I could not be more obsessed with how well they absorb the water, snow and salt from this time of year. We realized with the early snowfall this year and all the traffic our home sees with employees, kids and family that we needed entryway rugs that actually did the job we needed them to. I also found these boot trays that not only look cute in our space, but are practical for the season.
Simple Holiday Shelves
When it came to decorating our new shelving unit I truly wanted to keep it simple. The last thing I wanted to do was completely take down and re-style.. Instead I added in some greens and santas that make my heart happy and our dudes excited for the season too.
Modern Christmas Decor
I love working with small vignettes throughout our home. Sets of three are my go-to when working any design. I think this is a great way to start and you can build from there. I added an adorable jolly santa with a fun modern tree and pine into our window with an evergreen potted in a concrete vessel on the opposite side. We of course styled in our new line of candles that pair perfectly with some greens and a baby jolly Santa.
I like to layer in holiday pillows with some of our everyday black and white to help create a balance. Layers continue to make my heart happy during the winter months. I used two throw blankets on the sofa and a couple more inside a copper basket for easy access for everyone to cuddle up on and enjoy our new fireplace and holiday movies together.
Colored Lights Christmas Tree
This year our tree is all kid focused. We went with colored lights, which honestly I think we both never thought we would do. These ones do switch to white as well but we’ve yet to switch them. I love the LED color they put off into the room too. All of our ornaments are from family adventures and happy memories together, or as we grew up as kids. Over the years we’ve given our kids ornaments that reflect their passions or interests of the year. It has been so fun to watch them find those ornaments year after year.
Simple Modern Christmas Mantle
This year the mantle was so freakin’ exciting for me. We haven’t had a mantle to style or decorate since we left Chicago. Michael made our mantle extra deep so I could add in all the layers. Again because I wanted to keep our holiday decor simple and modern I strayed from the typical garland mantel and used evergreen swag in small and large on the corners to create a perfect pop of winter. From there I changed out one glass vessel for a modern gold tree and called it a day. The art above our mantel is our tv, just in case you were wondering!
Dining Room
We use our dining room table every single day. I wanted to create a super simple low profile center piece that we don’t have to move each time we sit. I love the simplicity of the three small trees paired with the faux wreaths on both sides of the window. You guys get to see our table set for elf’s welcome breakfast! Don’t mind the snow, that was just a temporary surprise to make elf’s arrival even more magical in our home!
Boys Colorful Holiday Shared Bedroom
I wanted to create a bright wintery wonderland in the boys bedroom. I can honestly say that is exactly how this space feels morning, noon and night. I’m finding myself wanting to spend time here cuddling with my dudes and reading all the holiday stories. On their dresser I used these adorable glittery homes to make a magical vibe with a light up tree. The boys decorated their own tree which I love so much. We used all the layers in their bedding to create a bright holiday feel with multiple patterns. All things I love!
Neutral Master Bedroom
In our bedroom we wanted to create a neutral pallet so I used tans, white and greens to create a welcoming aesthetic to our space. I layered in patterns with solids to provide a calming feel to the space while still providing a warm wintery retreat for us to come relax at the end of a long day.
And there you have it! Our last holiday decor tour of the decade…hope you enjoyed it!
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Don’t forget to check out the rest of the House to Home Haven holiday tours below!
This post was scheduled to go love on November 2nd, but that day was spent with family and friends, and followed by a few more with higher priorities to be delivered. So we waited to push it until today. Hope you enjoy it.
November 1st. November 1st. November 1st.
This was a date I hammered in my head for the better part of a year. This was the day I told myself that I would be done with corporate, and fully dedicated to Clark + Aldine. November 1st. But June 2nd was the original date, a year prior, when we thought we knew what we really wanted to do with the brand. That date came and went as quickly as I had told myself June 2nd was the day. And for good reason…we were not ready. Not even close.
Clark + Aldine has been and will forever be a brand. A lifestyle brand. Whether it be home, family, travel or the everyday, we are about living a life of abundance. At first we thought our way in was photography; that was only a part of it. Then we thought it was marketing strategy; that too is part of it. But then we paid attention to the content in which our audience was resonating with and that lead us to where we are today. Our true passion – building, designing and curating spaces in our home – was what was “selling”. And we went all in on that.
Once we decided to shift our strategy we spent well over a year of planning and execution. It did not happen overnight. We had to rebrand and launch a new content plan, which meant a ton of investment in our home so we had new content to share. Danielle got her Real Estate License. I got my Residential Builders License…which is no joke to those considering it. Seriously, the most difficult task I have ever conquered. And we had to find clients. The latter happened by chance, and one that we talk about a lot (Nick and Kerry we friggin love you guys!).
But with all that came a huge task that neither of us were truly ready for, and honestly very few actually are. The financial implications. The risk. The belief and hope of a reward that constantly falls in the shadows of financial realities. We were scared shitless…and still are to an extent. But we believe if you’re scared then you are doing something right.
I say all of this to get to November 1st. Which didn’t happen. I left my exit meeting at exactly 12:41 on Friday November, 2, 2018. A day late. Walking out early on a Friday afternoon just seemed so much more appropriate, don’t ya think? So I sit here now reflecting on a year of everything new and the three things that I have learned along the way. And I am sharing them with you…and trust me, there are plenty more but we can talk about those later.
Get Used to Being Uncomfortable
The shift is a little weird. After a year I am used to it but it took a long time to get there. After managing teams, talent and clients for more than 10 years, it’s an entirely different beast doing it for yourself. When it is your company, your brand, your product you have to make decisions to get things done and make a profit. As a GC I have a reputation with my subcontractors and vendors that I pay on time, in full and without low-balling bids. And sometimes that means I don’t pay myself as quickly, which means I have to work more or wait…and bills don’t wait so I work more. Which leads to my next point.
You Still Have to Work
See, all of these memes about “follow your passion” and “love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life” are about half true, but it is that half truth that has to get you to believe. To believe you are capable of pulling it off. Capable of changing your life and providing for your family. Capable of failing and not giving up. But it is still work. It is absolutely still work. More work than you’ve ever done in your life. But it is different. And it is worth it.
The flip side is this – all those memes about “work work work” and “I work 30 hours a day and get 4 hours of sleep a week” are flagrant lies. That is a false narrative that no one should pay any attention to. Turns out, it really isn’t cool to just live your work. You can live your brand, be a true reflection and walking example of what you stand for…but that doesn’t mean just work. That is all BS. Don’t fall for it.
Family Is Everything
There is no lesson more important than this in my book. Family has always been everything to us, but it has a much deeper meaning now. We wouldn’t be here without the help of our family – each and every person. We’re a family company who works with families to create functional and purposeful spaces. Our team, they are family. The work we secure provides for families. Together, we are strong and we’re growing quickly.
As I wrap this up, I feel as if I am rambling, but it’s all heart and it’s all me. I hope you enjoyed the read because I enjoyed writing it.
It is here!!!! It is finally here! It is week 6 and we are pleased to finally reveal our Modern Living Space design with a brand new fireplace, and a whole lot more. This space has received a full refresh from top to bottom and is full of custom built elements that reflect our style, our product and deliver more overall function to our lives.
If you found us for the first time through the ORC, holler! We’re Danielle and Michael Gutelli. A husband and wife design to build team based in Plymouth, Michigan. You can learn more about us as a brand here and see some of our client projects here, here and here. Just in case you missed the last three weeks post don’t worry we got you: week 1 here (Project concept + Mood board), week 2 here ( Demo + Project planning), week 3 here (setbacks + custom mantle build), week 4 here (how we made an impact with enlarged photos of our crew) and week 5 here (custom oak bay window update)
Before we go any further we think it’s only fair to do a walk down memory lane with all the fun before and after shots. Let’s be honest, we all love a good before and after of a space! And while our before images aren’t horrendous by any measure, they certainly didn’t reflect our style. Seeing as we design and build spaces everyday for our clients, our spaces always fall off the immediate radar and get deprioritized.
BeforeAfterBefore
After
Last week we dove pretty deep into our newly customized bay window, so no need to go much further on that. Just be sure to check it out here…and see all of the new additions below!
Custom Smart Gas Fireplace and Mantle
There are a couple of changes that make a huge impact in this space, the main of which is our fireplace. When we moved to Michigan from Chicago we were met with a harsh reality – most homes in our area did not feature a fireplace, and boy were we used to having one. And now we do and it is every bit of amazing. We purchased a 42” Napoleon Ascent fireplace and built out our custom surround to fit it. Michael was adamant that our fireplace would be smart, and he found a way to do it using a Lutron Caseta smart switch with relay (we promise, we will do a post on this soon).
Once we had the buildout complete (all framing, electrical, venting, fireplace install, drywall, mud and paint) it was time to add personality. We partnered with Metrie for all of the molding surrounding our modern gas fireplace. We chose the 3-¼” casing from their Modern Farmhouse collection for our entire surround, and you guys it is absolutely stunning. We decided to paint the molding the same as the base of the surround and it couldn’t be more perfect. And while Metrie products come pre-finished with optional color matching caulk and hole filler for your brad nail holes, painting on this product is a breeze.
You’ll also notice a significant mantle space, which includes a hidden outlet on the side our build-out. Michael made this out of red oak that he joined together with his biscuit joint and fit to size. The natural oak provides such depth when paired with the Sherwin Williams Peppercorn floor to ceiling surround color. I can not wait to style this for the holidays.
And finally the showstopper in the room, the piece I have been craving for quite some time. We made the decision to splurge a bit on a new 49” Samsung The Frame TV above the fireplace. We also added a birch surround to pull in more natural color into the space, and ran the wiring to the One Connect box through the wall and into the built-in on the right side. The flush mount truly makes it appear as a piece of art (which it really is) when we’re not enjoying a movie for family pizza movie night, or a basketball game (GO LAKESHOW!).
Custom Modern Built-Ins
We’ve had this entire wall sketched out for years and the reality that it is now here has set in. Seeing as we moved two large pieces of furniture out of this space, we were at a bit of a storage loss. And we can always use more seating for entertaining. The built-ins on either side of the fireplace provide that and so much more.
Let’s start on the right. Our initial plan was to fill both sides with firewood, as it is an aesthetically pleasing and calming feature even knowing we’re using a gas fireplace. And while that is gorgeous, it was just a bit much, so we opted for half firewood on the right side and the other half storage. Michael built this custom to spec with a few points in mind – the top would fit into the window sill, the main shelf could accommodate our media components and the storage would be suited for our needs. The right side also sat above a floor heat register, so we had a boot made for it to bring the heat directly to the toe kick. This side also features a single shaker style door with soft close hinges to hide interior shelving that houses our napkins, placemats and card games for family game night.
Now for the left side (and Michael’s favorite). The design of the base cabinet is the same, except the inside has no shelving and is faced with dual shaker style door with soft close hinges…because inside is our bourbon collection. And yes, it fills the entire space! The upper shelf can be used for books as well.
We painted each of the built-in cabinets and surround molding using Sherwin Williams Origami White in Satin, and finished with a custom made oak top to mirror the mantle. And above each built-in is another amazing addition to our space…lighting! We ran all new electrical each Sazerac Stitches Adjustable Kelley Scone, both of which are connected using a Lutron Caseta smart switch. We just love being able to tell Siri to turn things on and off for us, and our boys get a kick out of it too. The matte terra cotta and brass sconces just pop, and provide a new level of ambience to the space.
Custom Modern Shelving
Once we made the decision to relocate the TV above the mantle we knew this wall needed something. It was too big and blank to just leave there, and art alone was not the answer. Michael was inspired by maker and friend Adam Weekley of Weekley Design and Build, who created a very similar shelf for his wife. It was just the thing we needed to pull the room together, and was coincidentally the last piece Michael built. Sourcing the wood became a challenge due to availability in Michigan, but our awesome friend Rob of Warehouse 28 had some live edge oak in his shop and was happy to pay it forward to our home (we love you Rob)!
Once we landed on the design and had the lumber in hand, Michael had to mill down the oak and get it ready for use. He started by running each board through his planer, then cutting the live edge with his plunge saw and rail setup. From there he cut each shelf down to 36” x 8.5”, sanded smooth, and marked for placements on studs. For this install he chose to install using pocket holes that he created using his Kreg Pocket Hole Jig. Normally we would hide all of the screw holes, but this piece looks really rad when you’re sitting and see how it was installed. That and we plan a larger remodel for our kitchen and dining space, which means this wall will go…removing and reinstalling elsewhere will be a breeze.
Now for the decor. We chose to include things that mean a lot to us. The most touching pieces are the clocks, which are set to the time each of our boys were born. We got this idea from our clients and friends Tiffani and Chris, from our Otter + Howell project. Next are the books, each of which are powerful and important to us and our continued education in life. The plants were hand picked and potted locally, and add a significant amount of life to our space. We have wanted real plants forever but never had ample space to house them, nor did we feel we knew enough about them. Emilie (Creative Director at Clark + Aldine) inspired us to go for it and educated us on what to get and why. Now that we have them we don’t know how we went so long without!
Decor
A lot has changed in this space…some things have stayed, others gone, and a lot of new has come inside. Some new additions include a mid-century modern bench and end table combo, which provides additional seating and storage for our remotes, keys and coasters. We also updated the end tables at each end of our sofa. We found some new art and books during our weekend in Traverse City, some pillows, candles and a tree. The rug in the space is new as well…well, it is new to the space. This is the rug that was in our master bedroom but it was truly meant for this space. And we also updated our entryway a bit with a wall mounted coat rack.
One thing that stayed yet received an update is our coffee table. Michael trimmed some of the remaining metal top from it, sanded it down and finished with a matte polyurethane. We love this piece so much and are happy it is here.
We wouldn’t have been able to pull this off while simultaneously managing our client and brand projects, running a business, being parents of two energetic little men, or any of the in between with the daily chaos without help from our incredible team and family. Chuck, Rose, Ryan, Matt, Josh, Emilie, Kell and Rob…thank you so incredibly much. Each and every one of you are incredible.
And to our awesome sponsors Metrie and Sazerac Stitches, thank you! It was a pleasure to work with you and is amazing to enjoy these finishes in our new space.
We had so much fun during this One Room Challenge and can’t wait till the next one. Thank you so much for following along.
Ok, this is the week. The week where things are really beginning to transform and make an impact on our home, our eyes and our souls. All the time spent planning is coming to fruition, and the work we’ve put in shows. We could not be more excited for our new living room space…but getting to the finish line is going to be a race. Not only are we deep in a new client first floor renovation, we have multiple custom builds happening, a slew of new things wrapping up with the Clark + Aldine brand, Halloween and a long weekend road trip to St. Louis to visit family and friends. Yes, we are a little crazy but this is us…and this is where we are with our space!
If you found us for the first time through the ORC, holler! We’re Danielle and Michael Gutelli. A husband and wife design to build team based in Plymouth, Michigan. You can learn more about us as a brand here and see some of our client projects here, here and here. Just in case you missed the last three weeks post don’t worry we got you: week 1 here (Project concept + Mood board), week 2 here ( Demo + Project planning), week 3 here (setbacks + custom mantle build)and how we made an impact with enlarged photos of our crew in week 4 here.
Our living room has always been ok. It has been somewhat cozy during the holiday times, and we were suffice throughout the rest of the year. But now we don’t want to leave it and we’re not even done yet. While we have a ton of progress to show we are going to keep it to our updated bay window. This is the statement when you look at our home from the outside, as it is the tongue and groove cedar wrapped section that adds significant depth to the curb appeal. We mirrored the design with an all oak makeover!
Custom Oak Bay Window
Demo was easy for this one. We just removed the base seat, bottom trim and viola…that was it. Then Michael went to work on all of the custom oak…so here he goes with a run down.
Hey all! Michael here. First, thank you with following along with us for the first 5 weeks. This has been an insane transformation for us and we could not be happier as we approach the finish line.
For those of you who don’t know, I love woodworking. And my favorite wood to work with is oak. We work well together and this build is no different. I began with the base that is made up of 3 1 x 6 x 11 pieces of red oak that I ran through the jointer, glued up with biscuits, sanded down for hours and cut to a perfect fit. I then cut and installed both sides using read oak plywood, and the top with red oak plywood as well. The reason for the plywood is simple – it is covered significantly with 1 x 1 rips of red oak slats, spaced at an inch, to create a cool textured pattern around the 3 sides.
Next, I trimmed out the entire window, which featured no casing prior to this install, with 1 x 4 red oak. I know, a ton of oak. And we questioned it quite a bit. But it makes a statement with a calm, relaxing and inviting effect, which is what we are looking for here. We want this to be a space where we gather as a family and with friends and enjoy conversation, a good movie, or just be.
The final touch was filling the holes from brad nails, sanding and sealing with a coat of triple thick matte polyurethane. It is ready to be styled seasonally and provide the boys with an additional place to climb and eat snacks at.
Make sure to follow us on instagram and tune into our stories. We also have a new client project beginning at the start of Week 4, so plenty of action happening for your viewing pleasure! AND be sure to check out all of the amazing spaces being created for the One Room Challenge! Seriously, there are some absolutely stunning spaces being created!
Tile is a design element that feels a lot more permanent than most finish choices. Probably because, well, it is. You can’t just redo tile in an afternoon like you can with paint or even wallpaper! So when it comes to making a bold choice with tiling we’ve found some clients avoid it all together. But we are here to showcase why creating a statement tile truly makes an impact on your space and how you can choose a statement tile that makes a statement without being too bold!
Statement Bathroom
Bathrooms are the place you can go wild with tile from floors to walls. The decisions made in a bathroom can impact the entire room, but not overwhelm the flow of your home. You can have a statement floor tile and a classic wall tile to create a happy balance. We also love playing with tile placement, which allows us to create different and unique statement designs.
Statement Kitchen
Kitchen backsplashes are another spot to create fun designs. We love using the space behind the range for statement tiles as well as the entire backsplash footprint. What’s fun about a kitchen space is you can work with two different tiles and layer in the trim pieces to have a cohesive design. Laying tile to create different backsplash designs is also a fun way to make a statement. Vertical, horizontal, and herringbone patterns all create unique looks to the space.
Statement Laundry Room
Laundry rooms are another space where tile can play a fun role. We have used laundry room floors to create a bold statement, while leveraging the walls to add color or pattern tile to create a fun aesthetic in an unexpected space.
One thing we’ve learned over time is tile can completely change a space, for the better or worse! Tile can make a room worse when it’s not done right! Laying tile is an art form, and if you’re doing it yourself for the first time we recommend working with larger tiles. The smaller the tiles, the more challenging the job becomes. We also recommend using the correct grout with appropriately spaced grout lines. And for larger spaces, or for tile projects where you’re just not comfortable…hire a really good pro. You’ll be glad you did.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, we love a statement ceiling design! Honestly we both believe it completely transforms a room in an unexpected way that leaves the room feeling completely polished. Dark ceilings are hands down our favorite statement ceiling designs but we don’t shy away from a lighter color either. Today we are going to showcase 3 ways you too can create a statement ceiling!
If you’re just joining us welcome to October’s share group link up! We are geeked to pull together another topic for the next month. This month’s topic is Statement Design! One that reads so true to my heart. In case you’re joining us for the first time or just missed out last month we started our first weekly link up with some super rad husband and wife friends: Lindsey and Chris from Building Bluebird, Sarah and Nick from Nestrs, Morgan and Jamie from Construction 2 Style and Katelynn and Uriah from The Inspiring Investment.
To get in on the action, all you have to do is drop your link to any blog posts, photos, or videos at the end for this post. Then everyone who stops by can see all the things you do too!
Here are the Party House to Home Haven Rules:
Link to a relevant topic
Link to a specific post, not a homepage
Share the love!
Paint
Let’s kick it off with the simplest and most affordable way to make a statement ceiling, paint. One of my favorite parts of a dark ceiling is how it makes the room feel so much larger than it actually is. Basements are a great place to incorporate a black ceiling. As weird as it sounds a black ceiling will read as a neutral space once it is actually designed. Slanted/angled/sloped ceilings are another place to have fun with. We’ve transformed an entire attic space into a moody bedroom by painting the ceiling the same colors as the walls. We have also created a playful kids bedroom by painting the ceiling a bright blue while leaving the walls white. And we’ve transformed a sunroom into a relaxing retreat by painting the ceiling gray and pairing with a matching trim finish.
Wood
Last year we tackled our very small first floor bungalow bathroom. We desperately wanted to make this space have some unexpected design to it. To make a true statement we went with a burnt cedar tongue and groove ceiling. Yes you read that right. Michael and I burnt the cedar prior to installing it and then installed those boards into our bathroom for a statement ceiling!
Wallpaper
If wallpaper goes on the ceiling do you get to call it ceiling paper? I’ve been thinking about that one for a while…clearly. But honestly I love love love the look of a wallpapered ceiling. It is completely unexpected and makes a total transformation of the room. We are going to leave you with a few absolutely stunning wallpapered ceilings that just might take your breath away too!
This space is slowly but surely coming together. I am excited to say we’ve got one of the four walls completed! Feeling like that is absolutely worth celebrating! Now, we’ve just got a little less than two weeks to compete the other 3 and we will be good to go.
If you found us for the first time through the ORC, holler! We’re Danielle and Michael Gutelli. A husband and wife design to build team based in Plymouth, Michigan. You can learn more about us as a brand here and see some of our client projects here, here and here. Just in case you missed the last three weeks post don’t worry we got you: week 1 here (Project concept + Mood board), week 2 here ( Demo + Project planning), week 3 here (setbacks + custom mantle build).
This week has been nothing short of progress, just not as quickly as we’d like to see it. We ran into a few setbacks unrelated to this project but around our brand that were unexpected and needed our attention. Therefore putting this project on hold for a bit. When you run a business, your personal projects always take a back seat…but we never miss a deadline! Needless to say we are working quickly to catch up and are happy to showcase our family photo wall + our tiny entryway that finally feels like a purposeful spot in our home.
Our entryway has been a spot I have felt needed some actual purpose ever since we moved in. Since getting new exterior doors earlier this year I haven’t been able to let this area rest in my mind. I added this round mirror to help create a larger feel to the space with the reflection. Below the mirror we hung this rad coat rack and I am loving how it has made this space have an actual purpose. We’ll make sure not to allow it to collect too much stuff.
HOW TO MAKE OVERSIZED PRINTS
Statement Family Photos
I like to consider them statement photos but I am pretty sure the internet and pinterest like to refer to them as engineered prints. Technically ours are not engineered prints because they are actual photographs and they are not printed on plott printers. We first saw this ideas on Chris Loves Julia’s site several years ago. I absolutely loved the idea of having our kids become the focal point of our living space. While we didn’t follow the exact same steps as them we used their concept to draw our inspiration! I didn’t want to mess with the background of our images so we used the outside of our house with the white brick. From there we set the kids up one at a time. I basically took anywhere from 50-100 images of each kid and our dog to ensure I had one that I liked. Make sure you are taking your photos vertically.
Because we wanted the boys to look natural we started with having them stand and just started shooting. We then made them laugh, used bribery and hoped for the best! We used our camera and shot in raw form, but in all honesty the new cameras on phones are freakin’ amazing. Actually for this post we shot everything from the new iPhone Pro! It has been our go to ever since we got them a month or so ago, and trust me when I say they are worth their weight in gold!
When it comes to image editing we used Adobe Lightroom to do all our edits on our computer, creating the black and white prints you see. I have a set of presets I love to work with to keep consistency within my images. But what’s so great about today is there are about a million different apps that you can use to create a beautiful black and white image and they all have presets ready for you. A few of my favorites include color story, vsco and lightroom.
Sizing + Framing
The major impact on these image is the size. These images are printed in 24×36. We had ours printed at Walgreens. That was the most affordable we found and we could get it printed that day. And the quality is spot on! Our frames are from Framed + Matted. They are the Muir with no matt. What I love so much about this online framing and matting site is you not only get to build your frame and matt but you can upload your image to see it in real time. We have Framed & Matted throughout our entire home, because I clearly love them that much!
How To Hang The Family Photos
This might just be as important to the process as taking the pictures and editing them down to black and white.
Prepping the frame
When you purchase any ready to hang frame online, or in store, it’s not really ready to hang. You need to peel away the film on the plexi or plastic front and clean it. We like to lay a large bath towel down on our dining table as a prep surface. Then we peel away the film and clean each side using glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth. We’ve been using Invisible Glass Cleaner for years and highly recommend it. Once both sides are clean it’s time to pop in your matt (or not), your print, then insert the backing. We always do a final cleaning once the frame is hung.
Prepping the wall
We always start by holding the frame up on the wall and finding the height. Michael always holds and adjusts, I find the right height and one of us marks the top based on how heavy the frame is. Once we have the height it is time to mark a centerline, followed by a side line that will be used to mark where the D rings are. Michael always starts from the left, making his marks and squaring them with a level. Once the hooks are in place we always clean up the pencil marks with a magic eraser!
Hanging oversized images
We always like to follow the rule of the eye – meaning we center the image where our eye hits. Obviously this can vary based on the size of the space, height of a wall, etc. but it is a general rule of thumb to go by as you are placing art and images. When you’re hanging two or more together, space them apart according to the size of your space. Trust yourself and find what is just right for you.
Make sure to follow us on instagram and tune into our stories. We also have a new client project beginning at the start of Week 4, so plenty of action happening for your viewing pleasure! AND be sure to check out all of the amazing spaces being created for the One Room Challenge! Seriously, there are some absolutely stunning spaces being created!
We are beyond thrilled to showcase our Crestwood + McKinley first floor remodel. This is hands down our biggest project to date, so it is extra exciting for Michael and I to reveal this stunning transformation to you. Our clients Sarah and Matt had been saving, waiting and dreaming for this kitchen renovation for years. It is our pleasure to show you where this space started and just how we created this Farmhouse Kitchen Remodel of their dreams in just 6 weeks!
BeforeBeforeBefore
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Floor Planning
The biggest part of this first floor modern farmhouse remodel was space planning. We redesigned every inch of the space. By pushing the kitchen into the dinning room and moving the dining room into the front of the house we gained space for a massive 10 foot island. From there we were able to add a dry bar where the eat in kitchen area once was. Planning to have a true triangular kitchen principle between the refrigerator, stove and sink played an important part of the redesign. By placing the sink in the island we were able to make easy access to all 3 important kitchen appliances.
Our next obstacle was the two windows that were at a different size and height windows along with the windows being off center to the entire space. To create some optical illusion here we placed farmhouse style sconce lighting above one of the windows to draw your eye up. We also used a patterned backsplash behind the range to draw you eye there. Since the range is not directly in the middle of the two windows we layered in trim pieces to help transition between the two tiles and ease your eye from one space to another. We found these ideas to be the perfect solution for this modern farmhouse kitchen remodel.
Designing a Modern Farmhouse
Cabinet Fronts
Our clients were looking to create a farmhouse feel for their kitchen while still creating a timeless design. We went about this in a few ways. First, we started with the cabinet color selections. All cabinet bases are from IKEA. We truly believe they create a solid base cabinet at a super affordable price, and given that they come standard with soft close hinges and drawer slides it’s a major selling point for us. For fronts we went with Semihandmade in both the White Supermatte Shaker Door for Sektion and the Clove Chris Loves Julia Shaker Doors. The white cabinet fronts created the timeless look while the clove pulled in the farmhouse kitchen feel. To add a modern element to the cabinets we went with these knobs and pulls in matte black.
Tile
Backsplash tiling created a farmhouse kitchen accent with a true statement design. This farmhouse kitchen design idea impacts on the overall feel of the space in all the good ways. We used these pattern tiles behind the range and this elongated beveled subway tile throughout the rest of the space. To create a complete cohesive look we tiled the entire back wall all the way around the windows and onto the wall with the refrigerator. We used 3 different tile trim pieces to layer in the pattern tile with the subway tile. We started from the pattern tile and used a black trim from there we use a subway chair rail and finished with a bullnose. We bullnose around the windows and the end of each of the tiling sections to create a polished feel. The grout inside the pattern tile is black and we used a natural gray for the subway tile.
Seating + Storage
We wanted to carry the farmhouse vibe into the dining area. A farmhouse kitchen table was a must. This one stopped us in our tracks and the price point was too good to pass up. Talk about a farmhouse kitchen find on a budget! We layered in seating with these black farmhouse accent chairs and this bench. In the living space we were looking to create additional seating for easy relaxing and more overall conversation gathering! These two chairs in navy were the perfect find. The shape helped to create a farmhouse look while the color brought a pop of fun to the space. For bar stools we used these leather vintage style in counter height! The stools help create the modern yet classic look to this rustic farmhouse kitchen. Michael built this custom built-in mudroom bench to fit the space perfectly. There is even a built-in garage door opener there…can you find it!?! The top is sized for basket storage while the bottom fits winter boots! These black hooks create the perfect modern farmhouse accent piece providing the final touch to that space.
Lighting
Having the correct lighting throughout the entire space is an essential part of this modern farmhouse remodel design. To create the farmhouse kitchen look, accenting with the right lighting was a must. We used these Zinc Wall Lanterns above one set of windows in the kitchen and again above the floating shelves in the dry bar area. Over the island we wanted to have some statement lighting without overpowering the amazing pattern backsplash. These modern bell shaped glass pendant lights with wood accents were the perfect find for a modern farmhouse accent piece. To carry the farmhouse kitchen into the dining room area we landed on this black metal Modern Farmhouse Pendant. Next to the mudroom in the entryway we used this sconce, bringing all the spaces together with the perfect grouping of modern farmhouse kitchen lighting!
Decor
Adding in farmhouse kitchen decor was the final touch for this space. The custom floating shelving provides a great layout for all our favorite farmhouse kitchen accents. We used sets of three to balance out the design elements and layered in vases, books and plants. Behind the dining room table we wanted to add a more ch, which we did by using black and white pictures of our clients family. By using the black frames we were able to bring the kitchen and dining room together. We used this rug to soften the space and their existing table. The mudroom area backs right up to this space and it is killer. We layered soft whites against the naval to create a cohesive pleasant look.
We hope you love this space as much as we loved creating it, and as much as our clients love living in it.
