Since we’ve bought our house, I’ve concentrated so much on renovating and decorating the interiors that I’ve neglected the exterior, especially the landscaping. Besides painting the brick, we really haven’t done much to improve curb appeal or even make the space more enjoyable to spend time in. So when I found out about Tilly and their easy to use online platform for landscape design, I signed right up.
Some of our biggest challenges with our exterior are our really, really long front yard with no trees, our slender driveway, and wanting a little more privacy between our house and our neighbors. Working with my Tilly designer, we talked through our challenges and hopes for the space, the types of plants we like, budget, and how much time and care we want to spend on the landscape. I filled out a quick survey, we had a video call and I confirmed all the measurements of the space, and then they put together our plans. It was so easy! And so affordable for a custom design. Our renderings are gorgeous and I hope to put them to practice soon!
The breeze block walls were one of my absolute favorite elements to the design, they are such a fun addition to our midcentury ranch and really helped cut down our elongated front yard. And the succulents were exactly the Palm Springs aesthetic I was looking for. My designer noted my love for our Italian Cypress trees and added three more to the other side of our yard. I’m also so excited to spruce up our deck and firepit with some hardscaping and planting around the existing beds. It really elevates the space.
If you’re looking to enjoy your outdoor space this spring and summer, now is the time to get started planning. Tilly is a women-owned online landscape design firm, founded by a landscape architect that makes designing your outdoor living space custom, easy and beautiful. And if you’re like me and don’t know where to start, use code Margaret10 for 10% off your custom design today.
*This post was sponsored by Tilly.
Finishing touches.
After all the dust settled from construction, the next step was styling the space and filling it up. I optimistically thought this would take maybe a week, tops. I was very much wrong. A lot of the reason why is because I was sourcing a lot of the decor secondhand and vintage, which requires patience. Lots and lots of patience. And another reason is because I refuse to settle when I have a vision in my mind of what I’m looking for. Right off the bat, I knew I wanted some hints of terrazzo in the space. I’m so glad to see terrazzo making a comeback, it’s such a fun, eclectic and earthy look, it reminds me of the desert. So when I found these terrazzo lamps by Mitzi, I knew they were the right fit for the space.
In the bathroom, I was looking for something modern, clean and minimal, with rounded edges, to give some relief from the busy lines and bold moves the rest of the space is making. These circular sconces from Hudson Valley Lighting were exactly what I was envisioning.
Modern lines with vintage rugs and plants on plants. There’s nothing like a good mix of old and new, am I right?
*Sponsored by Hudson Valley Lighting.
I shared the beginning of our design process earlier this week. Now I’m sharing the details.
My gut wanted all matte black for the space. I had already selected and fallen in love with my indigo blue vanity with gold cabinet hardware and I thought mixing the two finishes (black and gold) would be more interesting and allow each to shine, as opposed to doing all one or the other. I think in a smaller bathroom or powder it makes sense to do all one finish, but when you’re talking two mirrors, two sinks, cabinet hardware, 4 towel racks, a shower and lighting, one of my good friends who works in interior design taught me that it could either become overwhelming or the opposite, get completely lost. So I did something unusual and mixed the finishes, which I ended up really loving.
We chose the Signature Hardware Rotunda collection for the sinks and bath towel bars. I thought the rounded edges would be clean and modern, and a nice contrast to the angular lines of the tile. The hand towel bars were actually out of stock when I was ordering so I think we mixed in the Delta Trinsic collection for those, they went together pretty seamlessly.
I also sourced the toilet from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery through their Mirabelle line. I love the streamlined and modern look of the skirted Bradenton model.
I discussed the shower kit in the previous post, but here I will mention that, yes, it does introduce another hardware tone in the mix. However, I was hard pressed to find a clawfoot conversion kit that wasn’t chrome or brushed nickel! Signature Hardware does carry a few polished brass options, but in the end I decided the silver tone would almost disappear against the white bathroom and be less distracting than mixing the shiny brass with the brushed gold finishes I was using in the room, and I think it turned out just right.
One of my absolute favorite features in the bathroom is the look of the matte black hardware against the white tiles and how clean and minimal it feels. It’s calming, which is exactly what I wanted to space to communicate.
Sponsored by Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
Product provided:
Signature Hardware Clawfoot Tub Conversion Kit
Signature Hardware Rotunda collection sink faucets and towel bars
As an interior and architectural photographer, I’m passionate about capturing great design and the heart of a space. Today, I’m taking those skills into spaces to tell the stories of designers, architects, and builders, and the beauty they create. When I’m not behind a camera, I’m probably somewhere near a charcuterie board, at home renovating and designing my midcentury ranch or hanging with my goldendoodle pup, Hyran.