Demo has started and I couldn’t be happier! We’re making progress on our master bathroom, living room, powder room and master bedroom. It’s been a very long road. For some reason, it has taken MUCH longer for this renovation to start than our last two homes. We’ve owned the house since August and hoped to begin work in late fall or winter. But that clearly wasn’t in the books.

Why the delay?
When we initially bought the home we had planned to move the kitchen to an adjacent room of the house. However, that proved to be a costly idea. Not only did we have to install a beam in the ceiling but we also had to install a beam below the floor. Lots of beams = lots of money. So, we put that idea on the back burner and decided to give our current kitchen a refresh. On top of everything, the contractor that we’ve been working with from the beginning decided to leave the company! Luckily the owner stepped in and expedited our project. It’s been smooth sailing since (fingers crossed).

We’ve been fortunate to work with Harrison Design on the design plans and the Principal, Chad Goehring is awesome. He’s been helping us navigate the historical society + ever-changing plans for the house. He’s been a blessing for sure! I can’t wait to see his ideas come to life.

What’s The New Plan?
We’re focusing on updating the master bathroom, master bedroom, powder room and kitchen. We’re also painting the house inside and out for a good refresh! I’ll be sharing the progress via my Instastories if you want a BTS look.

In addition, we’re giving the guest bedroom a refresh! It’s actually one of my favorite bedrooms in the house because of the fireplace, tall ceilings and loads of natural light. We’re painting the walls Farrow and Ball’s Shadow White with Shaded White on the trim. For the ceiling, we’re actually adding a pop of color with Farrow and Ball’s Borrowed Light. It’s a beautiful blue that reminds me of a summer sky. A new coat of paint will make a big difference in the space!

What Are The Furniture Choices?
For my bed and bedside tables, I’ve turned to one of my favorite brands, Gabby Home. I’ve incorporated a few of their pieces in my St. Simons Island living room that was featured in Cottage Journal last year. Their transitional furniture with an antique touch can easily translate to an island home or a city townhome. To me, Gabby Home perfectly captures the essence of our 1852 Savannah Grey brick home. I’m especially excited about their upholstered Aria Bed in Bennett Glacier (similar to aqua). The sophisticated cutout wingback design will add an additional layer of softness. I’ve opted to accent the headboard with a brass nailhead trim for added detail. I’ve also ordered their Sophia Bench in Ceasar Spa (an aqua and beige greek key pattern) to anchor the bed in the room. These upholstered pieces will definitely add a serene and cozy feeling in the space. My nephew is planning to come stay with us in June (seriously can’t wait!) and I find myself designing this room for him. I also love a good monochromatic look and can’t wait to see how this bedroom turns out!

What Is The Plan For Bedding + Window Treatments?
I’m a firm believer that white bedding makes a room feel luxurious — so I’m going to incorporate Garnet Hill’s Scallop Embroidered sheets, duvet cover and shams. A nice crisp white bedding with the embroidered details will compliment the aqua upholstered bed. I really love Garnet Hill’s bedding — so much so that I’ve used it in the bedroom in our carriage house and our master bedroom in St. Simons Island, GA. I always get compliments on the sheets when family and friends stay over (right, Samantha?!). And it helps that they’re easy to clean.

Lastly, I’m obsessed with Thibaut’s Chardonnet Damask fabric. I chose this beautiful aqua pattern for the window treatments. Not only will the drapes tie everything together but they also work nicely with the aqua greek key pattern on the bench. Their Chardonnet Damask pattern is part of their Chestnut Hill Collection which is the same collection that the drapes in my dining room will also be from. Every time that I go to my local furnishings store, I’m always drawn to Thibaut’s timeless + quality fabrics.

Is The Lighting Going To Be Updated?
Lighting is so important to a space, especially a bedroom. I’m going to switch out the ceiling fan for a chandelier, I especially love the Hampton Medium Chandelier. I actually have this same chandelier in my powder room at my St. Simon’s home and I love it. It has such pretty detail and when the light is on it makes the prettiest pattern on the ceiling. I’m also planning to have two lamps on each bedside table. The Gourd Form Small Table Lamp in celadon from Circa Lighting will be a nice touch. The pale green will enhance the serene look and will provide some much needed height on the bedside tables.

You can find a ‘before’ picture of the guest bedroom below. I’ve also included my inspiration board so that you can see all of the pieces together!

Photography by Tamara Gibson