The Classic Hardware Style Amber Lewis Uses in Nearly Every Project

Interior designer Amber Lewis has launched her second collection with home furnishings brand Four Hands, offering a range of pieces that blend modern aesthetics with traditional elements. This new collection allows consumers to integrate Lewis's signature style into their own homes, building upon the success of their initial collaboration. The updated line features a more contemporary feel, incorporating soft, curved details with modern lines and rich materials such as walnut. Shoppe Amber Interiors serves as a direct retail channel for these items, making them accessible to both designers and homeowners. Key pieces from the collection highlight Lewis’s design philosophy. The Tova Dining Armchair, a favorite of Lewis’s, combines a woven-paper-cord backrest, an oak frame, and a linen cushion, showcasing a captivating mix of materials that can adapt to various decor styles. For surface styling, the Sumba Pedestal Set offers low display surfaces made from papier-mâché, ideal for showcasing small decorative items like incense, candles, vintage books, or catchalls. This set provides a refined way to elevate and organize tabletop accessories. Another notable item is the Maha Accent Stool, a two-tiered piece crafted from reclaimed wood, offering a fresh interpretation of nesting furniture with an antique-inspired look. It can function as a side table for entertaining or as a platform for creating dramatic mood lighting with candles. The Augusta Coffee Table, described by Four Hands’s vice president of design, Adam Dunn, as an “instant classic,” features contemporary cast-iron legs supporting two tray-style tabletops, providing an expansive surface for styling coffee-table books and other decorative objects. The Leyla Bed is a timeless piece that exemplifies Lewis’s design approach, juxtaposing a black iron frame with a soft, upholstered headboard. This combination creates a beautiful and enduring aesthetic for the bedroom. Additionally, the collection includes the Aurelia dining banquette, another linen-covered staple. The artwork featured in the collection holds personal significance for Lewis, as it includes pieces by her mother, Lori Marie, as well as works by photographer Shade Degges and artist Chelsea Fly, adding an intimate touch to the overall offering. This second collaboration between Amber Lewis and Four Hands expands on their shared vision of providing accessible, stylish, and well-crafted home furnishings. The collection emphasizes versatility and thoughtful design, allowing individuals to create curated and inviting living spaces. The focus on rich materials, contemporary lines, and functional yet elegant forms ensures that the pieces can seamlessly integrate into diverse interior design schemes, from modern to more traditionally inspired settings. #AmberLewis #FourHands #HomeFurnishings #InteriorDesign #FurnitureCollection #DecorInspiration #TabletopStyling #ModernTraditionalDesign

Amber Lewis, a Los Angeles-based designer, has launched her latest furniture collection with Four Hands, featuring over 80 new pieces. The collection emphasizes a layered, lived-in aesthetic, incorporating cozy textiles like shearling and stitched patchwork. A prominent item in the collection is a large oak cabinet, the Harding Cabinet, designed for displaying various curiosities. Lewis highlights the importance of shelves for personal expression, and this cabinet offers adjustable shelves behind sliding glass doors, along with shallow drawers and two roomy cabinets for storage. Key additions to the collection include a canopy bed, a vanity stool, and an outdoor ottoman coffee table, marking a first for Lewis in these specific categories. The Gwendolyn Accent Stool showcases Lewis's focus on new furniture that appears vintage, blending traditional fabrics, such as a whimsical Damask print, with contemporary silhouettes like a hammered bronze frame. This approach reflects her observation of current trends favoring vintage-looking pieces. Another notable material introduced in this collection is lacquered linen, applied to pieces like the Sasha coffee table, Mirabel sideboard, and the Paula 6 Drawer Dresser. This unique paint treatment, while visually appealing, requires careful maintenance due to its sensitive surface, necessitating protection from sharp objects, immediate spill cleanup, and avoidance of direct sunlight to prevent fading. The Jodie Canopy Bed, with its option for a mossy green headboard, is highlighted as a way to incorporate rich hues into home decor, particularly for updating spaces for colder seasons. Lewis also emphasizes the role of candles and scents in setting a home's tone, specifically recommending a peppermint and eucalyptus blend called September. The collection also features functional yet stylish items like the Tova Desk Chair, which boasts a paper cord-wrapped back and a plush foam cushion, and the Camino Ottoman, a patchwork-style ottoman designed for extra seating. The collection reflects Lewis's design philosophy of blending functionality with aesthetic appeal, creating pieces that contribute to a comfortable and personalized living environment. Her selections aim to provide versatile options for various rooms and design preferences, allowing individuals to infuse their spaces with character and warmth. #AmberLewis #FourHands #FurnitureCollection #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #DesignTrends #CanopyBed #LacqueredLinen #VintageInspired

Interior designer Amber Lewis, known for her distinctive style and custom furnishings, has launched a collaboration with wholesale home furnishings brand Four Hands. This partnership marks Four Hands's first-ever designer collaboration and provides a wide range of products previously only available as custom pieces. Lewis's Instagram followers and clients frequently inquire about her unique furniture, and this collection aims to make those highly sought-after designs accessible to a broader audience at an attainable price point. The collection includes over 100 products, now available to consumers through Shoppe Amber Interiors, Lulu and Georgia, Scout & Nimble, and Interior Homescapes, in addition to trade channels. Lewis emphasized her commitment to creating items she would personally buy and recommend to clients, focusing on designs that fill existing gaps in the market and offer unique interpretations of classic styles. One featured item is an extra-large cabinet, addressing Lewis's difficulty in finding sufficiently tall cabinets for homes with vaulted ceilings. The Dumont Bookcase, measuring 96 inches tall and made of white oak, is designed to provide appropriate scale for such spaces. Another significant piece is a version of Lewis's bespoke wicker banquette, which had previously garnered considerable attention in her own home. The Senna Dining Banquette, while similar in texture and style to her custom piece, features legs and is offered in various sizes, making it a more versatile option for consumers. The collection also reinterprets classic furniture forms, such as the wingback chair. The Amira Accent Chair maintains the familiar wingback silhouette but incorporates a modern woven texture, reflecting Lewis's approach to designing for longevity by updating timeless styles. A Parisian-inspired chaise, the Demi Chaise, draws inspiration from an antique bistro chair Lewis encountered in France, featuring distinctive curved iron detailing. This metalwork element is also present in the matching Demi lounge chair, which is a favorite of Adam Dunn, Four Hands’s vice president of design. For those who enjoy reconfiguring their living spaces, the Kent Sofa is designed with caster wheels, offering both mobility and an elevated aesthetic compared to standard fixed-leg sofas. Additionally, the collection features artwork from several artists, including Lewis's mother, Lori Marie, who was inspired by Lewis’s collection of vintage oil paintings to create new pieces. This collaboration aims to bring Amber Lewis's signature aesthetic and client-favorite pieces to a wider market, offering unique and stylish home furnishings. #AmberLewis #FourHands #HomeFurnishings #InteriorDesign #DesignerCollaboration #FurnitureCollection #WickerBanquette #AccentChairs #HomeDecor #DesignTrends

Interior designer Amber Lewis recently shared her design philosophy and practical tips on the podcast 'Lipstick on the Rim,' cohosted by Molly Sims and Emese Gormley. Lewis emphasized the importance of creating a home environment that evokes positive feelings, advocating for thoughtful purchases over fleeting trends. She advises investing in items that will be cherished for years, often found in vintage markets or through online platforms like 1stDibs. This approach prioritizes unique pieces with history or character, such as aged books or brass sculptures with a unique patina, over mass-produced decor. A significant portion of a decorating budget, according to Lewis, should be allocated to upholstery. She highlights the enduring value of well-constructed upholstered furniture, such as sofas, emphasizing their longevity. Even when the fabric eventually wears out or becomes dated, a quality frame allows for reupholstering rather than complete replacement, promoting sustainability and cost-effectiveness. This strategy ensures that foundational pieces remain relevant and comfortable over time, adapting to changing aesthetic preferences without necessitating entirely new purchases. Lewis also addressed a common design oversight in living rooms: rug placement. She strongly advises ensuring that all four legs of furniture, especially in a living room setting, rest entirely on the rug. According to Lewis, a rug that is too small or improperly positioned, with furniture legs extending beyond its edges, can make a room appear unfinished and create a sense of imbalance. She extends this advice to dining rooms, suggesting that rugs can enhance the formality of the space, but reiterates the importance of correct sizing and placement to anchor the furniture properly. Beyond permanent fixtures, Lewis provided insights into thoughtful gifting and accessorizing. She suggests moving beyond conventional host gifts like candles, instead recommending unique and practical items such as striking salad servers, elegant cloth napkins, or sophisticated water carafes. Lewis particularly champions the water carafe as an 'underrated accessory,' highlighting its ability to elevate a dining experience and serve as a distinctive present that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Finally, Lewis encouraged a departure from sterile, minimalist aesthetics in favor of timeless patterns and textures. She anticipates a shift towards more tactile and visually rich interiors, predicting that the current trend of hard lines and stark finishes is fading. Her advice centers on selecting classic pieces that can be easily refreshed with new accessories like pillows or artwork. This approach promotes a comfortable and inviting atmosphere, allowing for personal expression through varied textures and patterns while maintaining a sense of enduring style rather than chasing transient design fads. #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #AmberLewis #DesignTips #Upholstery #RugPlacement #VintageFinds #ThoughtfulGifting #TimelessDesign

Interior designer Amber Lewis, known for her California design aesthetic, shares her insights and predictions for 2024's design trends, including her current preferences, pet peeves, and color opinions. Lewis attributes her design philosophy to her upbringing in Hawaii and Malibu, which fostered an appreciation for nature and earthy color palettes. Despite her consistent inclination towards natural hues, she embraces the idea of change in design. One of Lewis's current obsessions is deconstructed, neutral rugs, exemplified by her collection with Loloi, which she notes as a modern interpretation of traditional rug designs focusing on shape and color. Her biggest design pet peeve centers on homes, particularly spec houses, that incorporate traditional elements like plaster, wabi-sabi, arches, or beams without a cohesive design narrative. She emphasizes that design elements should tell a story and be integrated throughout a house rather than appearing as isolated features in a single room. Lewis highlights the importance of thoughtful and unified design, cautioning against the arbitrary inclusion of trendy elements. Regarding furniture, Lewis consistently gravitates towards classic, traditional lines, citing George Smith sofas as a prime example. She suggests modernizing these timeless pieces through subtle details, such as linen slipcovers, skirts, or a baseball stitch for piping, to achieve a more casual and approachable look. For an easy way to refresh a space, Lewis recommends upgrading table lamps with beautiful gathered fabric shades, a small tweak that can significantly elevate an item that might otherwise be common. Lewis also discusses a new style she is embracing, inspired by a 1937 lake house she acquired in 2020. The house, with its original details like hand-painted bunks, scallops, and paneling, prompted her to incorporate cozy, warm upholstery pieces with abundant patterns. She describes this approach as a "chintzy, kind of granny way" that creates a timeless feel, making it appear as if it could have been designed a century ago or in the present day. This demonstrates her evolving taste and willingness to experiment with different aesthetics. Her take on Pantone's 2024 Color of the Year, "Peach Fuzz," is one of dissent. Lewis admits it's an unpopular opinion, but she finds it too similar to "millennial pink," a color she aims to avoid. Despite her personal preference, she acknowledges and respects the process by which the Color of the Year is chosen. Conversely, the colors Lewis plans to incorporate more in the near future are whites with significant yellow undertones, moving away from grayish tones towards warmer brown and yellow-infused whites. She cites "Cream Wave from Dunn-Edwards," which she used to paint her lake house kitchen, as an example of a warm and appealing white. #AmberLewis #InteriorDesign #DesignTrends2024 #CaliforniaDesign #ColorPalette #HomeDecor #RugDesign #SofaStyle #LightingDesign

The author explores a design philosophy championed by interior designer Amber Lewis, which posits that every room, regardless of its size or function, benefits from the inclusion of a 'tiny table.' This concept challenges the conventional approach to furniture placement, where specific furniture items are typically considered based on style, functionality, or room dimensions. Amber Lewis advocates for these small tables as essential elements that bring character and charm, solving common spatial dilemmas and enhancing the practicality and aesthetic appeal of a home. The article recounts the author's initial skepticism and subsequent conversion to this idea. Inspired by Lewis's Instagram declaration, the author decided to implement tiny tables in various spaces within their own home. The motivation stemmed from a realization that despite efforts to create an illusion of space in smaller rooms by allowing larger furniture 'breathing room,' there was an underlying lack of functional surfaces. The 'chair + table + lamp hack' was a familiar concept, but the author initially feared it would lead to clutter; however, the emphasis on *tiny* tables proved to be the key differentiator. Upon integrating these diminutive furniture pieces, the author discovered their unexpected impact. In the bathroom, a tiny table transformed into a convenient spot for holding a candle and a glass of wine, elevating the bathing experience. In the bedroom, a small table placed beside a reading chair, adorned with a portable lamp, created an inviting and functional reading nook. These additions not only served practical purposes but also imbued the spaces with a more intentional and curated feel. A particularly insightful application was in the powder room, an area often overlooked for decorative or functional additions due to its confined nature. By introducing a vintage bobbin table, the author managed to elegantly house extra toilet rolls in a shell bowl, making an everyday necessity feel more refined. Similarly, an awkward corner in the kitchen, previously unused, became a purposeful display area for a candle and cookbooks with the addition of a tiny table. In the entryway, a narrow tiny table provided a dedicated spot for keys and sunglasses, streamlining daily routines. The author's experience highlights that these small tables are not just decorative accents but functional solutions that can address practical needs and enhance the overall aesthetic of a living space. They contribute to a sense of completeness and intention in areas that might otherwise feel neglected or underutilized. The article concludes by endorsing Amber Lewis's philosophy, emphasizing that even seemingly insignificant design choices can yield significant improvements in both daily living and home ambiance. The practical benefits, such as having dedicated surfaces for everyday items, are underscored as transformative, leading the author to recommend the approach to readers. The piece also includes a curated selection of tiny tables available for purchase, offering readers tangible examples to implement this design hack. These examples showcase a variety of styles, from antiqued metalwork to marble tops and rattan designs, catering to different aesthetic preferences and demonstrating the versatility of tiny tables in home decor. #InteriorDesign #TinyTables #HomeDecor #AmberLewis #FurnitureTrends #SmallSpaceSolutions #FunctionalDecor #StylingHacks #DesignTips

Amber Lewis, a renowned designer, consistently incorporates a specific luxurious detail into her bathroom designs: completely enclosed showers. This design choice, featured prominently in her new book, 'Call It Home,' aims to create a warm, enveloping, and cozy showering experience, contrasting with simpler glass shower doors. Lewis emphasizes that bathrooms should feel like a beautiful and refreshing space, inspiring her approach to each design with brightness and a sense of reset. Lewis offers four key tips for achieving a luxurious shower. The first involves making the shower door a focal point. She prefers working with skilled metal artisans to craft stunning shower doors using rust-resistant materials like solid brass or stainless steel. These materials are then powder-coated, often in colors like gray or black, and a patina is applied, making the process labor-intensive but resulting in a visually impactful element. Her second tip addresses the functionality of steam showers. For completely enclosed showers, proper ventilation is crucial to prevent mildew. This is achieved through mechanisms like a transom window that can be opened to vent steam or an actual operable window within the enclosure. This practical consideration ensures the longevity and cleanliness of the luxurious space. The third recommendation focuses on material selection, specifically advocating for the extensive use of marble tile. Lewis suggests using beautiful marble on all surfaces within the shower—walls, floor, and ceiling—to create a super-impactful, refined, and chic aesthetic. This holistic application of marble contributes significantly to the overall luxurious feel of the space. Finally, Lewis advises sticking with classic plumbing fixtures. While some clients request rain showerheads, she personally prefers traditional showerheads, finding them more practical and less overwhelming. She also highlights the utility of a hand shower for specific needs like shaving or not washing hair. For quality and timeless appeal, she typically recommends fixtures from brands like Waterworks or Samuel Heath, suggesting that investing in classic, high-quality plumbing pays off in the long run. These consistent design elements collectively contribute to the distinctive and luxurious character found in Amber Lewis's bathroom projects. #AmberLewis #BathroomDesign #LuxuriousShowers #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #MarbleTile #PlumbingFixtures #DesignTips #HomeRenovation

Interior designer Amber Lewis, known for her 'California cool' aesthetic, has launched a new collaboration with custom window coverings brand Everhem. This partnership introduces a collection of four distinct window fabrics designed to elevate the often-overlooked area of window treatments in home interiors. The collaboration aims to bring Amber Lewis's signature timeless yet elevated style to a broader audience through customizable window solutions. The collection features four light and airy fabrics that embody the elegance of California casual style through both print and texture. A notable design in this collection is 'Paisley,' a linen adaptation of a popular wallpaper style from Amber's home brand, Shoppe. This fabric is praised for its timeless elegance and rustic charm, demonstrating the significant impact window coverings can have on a room's overall design. All fabrics are versatile and suitable for year-round use, with a particular emphasis on their ability to create a cozy fall ambiance, perfect for updating curtain ideas as cooler months approach. The collaboration between Amber Lewis and Everhem's founder, Haley Weidenbaum, is a natural progression of their previous successful projects. Amber Lewis sought a partner capable of producing high-quality, elevated aesthetics with a truly customized experience, and Everhem proved to be the ideal fit. Haley Weidenbaum highlights Amber's clear vision for both the fabrics and the functional design of each product, emphasizing how Amber’s signature touch, such as the overlay on drapery panels and relaxed options for shades, makes these pieces unique and exclusive. Beyond the 'Paisley' print, the collection includes two additional floral fabrics, which are reimagined versions of existing wallpaper prints from Shoppe. The remaining two fabrics are new striped designs, described by Amber Lewis as versatile options that can be incorporated into various spaces to create a warm, lived-in, and elevated atmosphere. These fabrics are fully customizable, allowing them to be fashioned into different types of window coverings, including cafe curtains, box pleat drapes, Roman shades, or pinch pleat drapes. Amber Lewis emphasizes the broad applicability of these treatments, suggesting their use in bedrooms, living rooms, and even kitchens, given the flexibility in style, lining, and hardware. For those new to custom window treatments, Haley Weidenbaum advises considering the room's function, desired feel, and overall design when selecting options. She stresses that window coverings should not be an afterthought but rather a crucial element that ties the entire room together. Recognizing the influence of window treatments in space design can open up possibilities for custom solutions, including layering multiple window treatments, to enhance the visual appeal and functionality of windows and the broader living environment. #AmberLewis #Everhem #WindowTreatments #InteriorDesign #CaliforniaCoolStyle #CustomCurtains #HomeDecor #FabricCollection #WindowDecor

Interior designer Amber Lewis transformed a bland, all-gray home into a warm and inviting rustic retreat. Known for her modern rustic style, Lewis, founder of Shoppe Amber Interiors and a successful design studio, demonstrated her ability to infuse character and warmth into previously uninspiring spaces. The renovation focused on creating a luxurious yet livable environment, emphasizing natural materials and a subtle, layered color palette. The dining room, initially lacking character, was revitalized with a chic lime wash on the walls and the addition of exposed wooden beams, introducing depth and a rustic feel. Antique-style wood furniture was incorporated to lend a sense of grandeur and tradition. A serene forest landscape wall mural served as a focal point, breaking up the brown tones and connecting the earthy and rustic elements of the room. Accessories like a rustic gold candelabra, a vintage-inspired wall mural, and a burl wood console table were highlighted as key pieces to achieve this aesthetic. The living room underwent a dramatic change, moving from a bland gray space to a spacious and intentional area. Architectural elements such as a stone fireplace, wall paneling, and exposed beams were added. A window seat extended the layout, creating a dedicated zone for relaxation. Despite using a neutral color scheme, the room felt interesting and inviting due to careful layering of creams and browns, combined with organic materials like linen and wood. This approach created a modern organic style that felt effortlessly cool and sophisticated. Key items for the living room included a brown glazed terracotta vase for sophistication, a Salvador end table for rustic charm, and a deep brown velvet throw pillow cover to add warmth and luxury. These elements contributed to the overall cozy and luxurious atmosphere, moving away from the initial stark, all-gray appearance. The bedroom was completely reimagined, with every element elevated to reflect Amber Lewis's signature rustic touch. The existing wood floor was complemented by a plush rug, adding warmth and coziness. A dated velvet bed frame was replaced with a sophisticated upholstered style that harmonized with richer brown tones. The stark black window frames were softened with a limewash finish, blending them seamlessly into the scheme and creating a more cohesive and harmonious look. High-quality organic linen bedding and a stylish Calabria Rustico table lamp were suggested as ways to emulate this rustic bedroom aesthetic. Finally, the home office was transformed with a focus on functionality and elegance. A built-in wood shelving unit provided practical storage while adding natural warmth. This room exuded a luxurious grandeur, enhanced by a bold gold desk placed centrally to contrast with the natural wood and evoke a high-end, mid-century style. The shelves were meticulously styled with vintage books and trinkets, and picture lights were added to create depth and highlight the aged accents against the new wood. Marble candlesticks and a Rome-themed coffee table book were recommended to achieve the sophisticated and elegant office ambiance. #InteriorDesign #HomeRenovation #ModernRusticStyle #AmberLewis #HomeTransformation #RusticDecor #NeutralPalette #OrganicMaterials #LuxuryDesign

The article focuses on a bathroom design by Amber Lewis and her team at Amber Interiors, which prominently features exposed brick walls as a striking design element. Traditionally, bathrooms are adorned with tiles, paint, or wallpaper, making exposed brick an unconventional choice. However, in this desert-inspired home, the rustic finish of the brick walls is highlighted as a natural and fitting selection that elevates the space. The design successfully integrates these rustic elements with softer textures to create an inviting atmosphere. Large, sheer window treatments framing the bathtub complement the ruggedness of the brick, establishing a visual balance. A spacious bathroom rug adds warmth and comfort to the open floor plan adjacent to the vanity and tub. The vanity itself is crafted from warm wood tones, which harmoniously contrast with the cooler hues of the brick and align with the paneled ceiling. A stone countertop introduces a sleek and luxurious touch to the overall aesthetic. A key aspect of the design is the shower area, which provides a contemporary contrast to the rustic theme. The walls around the shower are smoothly plastered and painted in a warm neutral color, offering a minimalist reprieve from the more textured brick. The shower partition is composed of a wooden base and a clear glass screen, contributing to this modern and balanced look. This intentional juxtaposition allows the exposed brick to serve as a focal point without overwhelming the room. Decorative objects further enhance the scheme by tying together the various design elements. A rustic vase filled with seasonal branches draws attention upwards in the vanity area, while a wooden stool near the bath offers both storage and a continuation of the wood theme. The soft texture of the rug not only adds coziness but also provides a sense of privacy. Each detail is meticulously planned to create a balanced, chic, and timeless bathroom. The article concludes by suggesting that this design is a masterclass in incorporating exposed brick effectively, demonstrating how it can make a bathroom less mundane and create an authentic feel, particularly in older or rural homes. This approach encourages a reconsideration of exposed brick's potential in interior design, extending beyond just bathrooms. #BathroomDesign #ExposedBrick #RusticInterior #AmberInteriors #HomeDecor #InteriorDesignTrends #MaterialContrast #TimelessDesign #NaturalElements

David and Angel Wilson, owners of Coastal Homes & Design in Lewes, Delaware, designed and built their 4,500-square-foot home as a personal project, showcasing their company's capabilities. Angel Wilson describes the home's style as transitional, blending classic elements with modern hints, and emphasizing timeless finishes over fleeting trends like rustic farmhouse. This is not the couple's first self-built home, but it represents a significant upgrade, accommodating them, their two adult children, and their dogs. The exterior of the four-bedroom residence features visual variety with a mix of stone and custom-painted board-and-batten façades, creating an imposing yet welcoming appearance. The design incorporates multiple gables and varied rooflines, along with windows of different sizes from Marvin's Elevate line. Inside, the color palette is primarily white and cream, accented by subtle touches of green and blue, and assertive metallics like brushed gold and polished nickel, with a hint of black, used for cabinetry hardware. The main floor features an open-concept living space that flows into the kitchen. A notable feature in the kitchen is the Wolf range, equipped with brushed-brass knobs, and custom-made cabinetry from Hershberger Cabinet Shop in Virginia. Angel Wilson highlights that these cabinets are Amish custom-made, emphasizing their unique, non-mass-produced quality. All millwork, including doorway trims and window casements, was custom-designed by David Wilson before being fabricated by Hershberger. The great room is characterized by double-height ceilings and six oversized windows that overlook the pool area. A mezzanine connects to the upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms. Furniture for the living, dining, and main bedroom areas was sourced from Mitchell’s Interiors in Laurel. Coastal Homes & Design also custom-built the frame and mantle for the Napoleon gas fireplace in the living area. The entire downstairs is covered with 8-inch white-oak planks. Coastal Homes & Design, the Wilsons’ 28-year-old firm, typically undertakes eight to ten new builds annually, alongside various renovation projects. The company specializes in fully custom homes, which typically take between nine and eleven months to complete due to the intricate details involved. A key marketing strategy for the Wilsons is the proximity of their home to their company's design center. They often offer prospective clients tours of their personal residence, allowing them to visually inspect the quality and craftsmanship of their work, down to practical details like spice rack and pot storage, which has proven effective in securing new business. #LewesHomeDesign #CoastalHomes #TransitionalStyle #CustomCabinetry #LuxuryHome #InteriorDesign #ArchitecturalDesign #DelawareRealEstate

Lenleys Home, an independent, family-run furnishing business, is approaching its 90th anniversary, having been established in 1936 by Lavinia Watts’ grandfather and his business partner in Canterbury. Lavinia, now the third generation to lead the business alongside her cousin, reflects on its enduring legacy and adaptation within a changing retail landscape. The company maintains core values of excellent customer service, quality products, and reasonable prices, while continuously modernizing its offerings. The business prides itself on offering a comprehensive range of home furnishings, including a dedicated flooring and interiors department that handles curtains, blinds, awnings, wallpapers, and fabrics. This allows customers to complete full renovations under one roof with expert guidance. Lavinia’s entry into the interiors world was influenced by growing up around the furniture industry, with her father running the business and her mother possessing a keen eye for interiors. Her academic background in fashion further honed her interest in colors, trends, and consumer journeys. Lavinia shares insights into her favorite and least favorite projects. She enjoyed introducing high-end furniture ranges like Duresta in collaboration with Matthew Williamson, known for bright colors and extravagant prints. The rebranding of Lenleys Home in Canterbury and Maidstone was a rewarding, albeit time-consuming, endeavor. More recently, she organized a successful independent makers market in the Canterbury showroom to support local artisans during the Christmas period. Her least favorite memory is the challenging period of closing showrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time marked by uncertainty and the heavy responsibility of navigating an 84-year-old business through unprecedented times. When asked about famous homes she'd like to explore, Lavinia expresses a desire to see Sophie Robinson's home for its pattern clashing and bold colors, and Victoria Beckham's home, which she imagines to be incredibly polished and sophisticated. She finds inspiration for her work from various sources, including international trade shows in Paris and Milan. Her fashion background also prompts her to observe emerging fashion trends, which often filter into the interiors and furniture sectors, albeit at a slower pace. Social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram are valuable resources for style ideas, and she continuously seeks inspiration from hotel and restaurant interiors, and small independent stores during her travels. The buying aspect and the opportunity to travel are among her favorite parts of the job, along with working with her family and the dedicated wider team. Despite her professional immersion in interiors, her own home life with a toddler and another baby on the way means her personal interior design projects are often secondary. Her favorite rooms include her dining room, characterized by a ceramic table with pops of color from artwork, and her bedroom, a calming space with high ceilings, natural light, earthy tones, and natural fibers, featuring a comfortable Vispring bed. Lavinia concludes by offering ten tips for home design, emphasizing the importance of physically experiencing investment pieces, having a clear vision, consulting experts, planning layouts, defining a color scheme with accent colors, trusting instincts, testing samples, using rugs for impact, painting skirting boards the same color as walls for a sense of height, and supporting local businesses. #LenleysHome #FamilyBusiness #HomeFurnishings #InteriorDesign #CanterburyRetail #DesignExpertise #RetailLegacy #HomeDecor #LaviniaWatts

The field of hardware design is currently dominated by a strong emphasis on simplicity and versatility, moving away from complex aesthetics towards more functional and understated approaches. This trend is evident in various aspects of hardware, including color palettes, shapes, operational mechanisms, and the overall quantity of hardware used in a space. Both residential and commercial applications are embracing these streamlined principles, with a particular focus on creating cohesive and accessible environments. One significant development is the move towards more versatile hardware that can be applied across different window and door models. This approach not only simplifies the manufacturing process for fabricators but also facilitates the coordination of matching hardware throughout an entire space, contributing to a unified and aesthetically pleasing design. The objective is to achieve a consistent look and feel, enhancing the overall design integrity of a building. Ease of use has become a paramount consideration in hardware design, especially for multi-family buildings where occupants' ability to operate windows and doors is crucial. This focus on user-friendliness extends to accessibility, with an increased demand for hardware solutions that accommodate individuals with disabilities. For instance, traditional hung and slider window hardware often presents challenges for wheelchair users due to latch height, prompting a shift towards styles like casements and tilt-turns with operators that can be positioned at lower, more accessible heights. Furthermore, hardware is incorporating features for the visually impaired, such as handles that provide an audible click when operated. Innovations like one-touch hardware and antimicrobial finishes are also gaining traction, simplifying cleaning and reducing the spread of germs. Another key trend involves minimizing visual clutter to allow windows and doors to better showcase views. This is achieved by reducing the number of hardware pieces through multi-functional designs, where a single component performs several tasks. Concealed hinges, primarily used in tilt-turn or turn-only windows and balcony doors, also contribute to a cleaner aesthetic by eliminating visible hardware and color-coordinated cover caps, simplifying installation and enhancing the sleek appearance of the window. Black hardware is experiencing widespread popularity, serving as a foundational element in contemporary Euro-inspired designs. Whether integrated as black-on-black or black-on-white combinations, this color choice offers a sophisticated and minimalist look. Additionally, matte finishes are favored for their understated elegance, receding visually to allow exterior views or interior furnishings to take prominence. This design preference is heavily influenced by Scandinavian and European aesthetics, with consumers increasingly seeking matte finishes as the most popular hardware option. The demand for statement doors and high-end hardware finishes is also on the rise. Consumers are looking for opportunities to customize and elevate their window and door systems, opting for more advanced and stylish options such as tilt-turn, tilt-slide, and lift-slide doors. European suppliers offer chic statement hardware that consumers are willing to wait for, indicating a strong desire for unique and high-quality components. Finally, the trend towards larger windows and doors, designed to connect indoor and outdoor spaces and maximize light infiltration, necessitates stronger and more robust hardware. Bi-fold, hinged, and sliding doors, along with floor-to-ceiling windows, emphasize open floor plans. To support these larger, heavier sashes and ensure efficient operation, manufacturers are continuously increasing the strength and durability of their hinges and handles. #HardwareDesign #HomeAutomation #ArchitecturalDesign #WindowDoor #InteriorDesign #BuildingMaterials #AccessibilityDesign #ModernAesthetics

Digital creative and brand consultant Lucy Williams embarked on her first renovation project, transforming a Victorian terraced house in west London into a home that reflects her distinctive style. Despite initially not wanting a Victorian terrace, Williams and her husband, Ruaraidh, found a house in late 2020 that, while well-maintained, offered the scope for a significant renovation. Their previous home, a "cavernous" two-bedroom flat, prompted a desire for a change of pace and a project that hadn't been updated in decades. Williams collaborated with Chantal at Flower Michelin Architects to achieve a balance between preserving the house's original character and integrating contemporary design elements. The renovation process began with the kitchen, where Williams learned the intricate interconnectedness of design decisions, likening it to a game of Jenga. A key starting point for the kitchen's design was a window seat, envisioned as a comfortable spot for their dog, Finn, and a feature that would connect the indoor space with the generous, south-facing garden. The garden itself, a rare private outdoor space in London, was a significant draw for the couple and was transformed into a "mini English country garden" with the help of Butter Wakefield, featuring abundant alliums and aquilegia. The design ensures the garden is visible from all ground-floor rooms, integrating the outdoors into the home's overall feel. The overarching design philosophy for the house was practicality and comfort, aiming for a space where guests could relax without being overly cautious. Williams intentionally designed the home to suit their actual lifestyle, rather than an idealized, more chic fantasy. The living room, for instance, boasts a bold blue color palette complemented by a large orange Maker & Son sofa, catering to their shared love for television. The kitchen was designed with entertaining in mind. Williams allowed herself one 'fantasy' space: a second reception room located between the kitchen and living room, featuring a travertine fireplace and sheepskin-covered antique chairs, where she envisions enjoying an evening glass of whiskey. Inspiration for the home's aesthetic draws from diverse sources, including the Copenhagen home of Ganni founders Ditte and Nicolaj Reffstrup, and California-based Reath Design. This blend of Californian and Scandinavian influences is evident throughout the house. The main bedroom and bathroom exude a west coast vibe with their relaxed ambiance and neutral colors, featuring an enormous, waved headboard and a custom-designed wardrobe. In contrast, other areas like the spare bathroom and attic room showcase vibrant patterns and prints, reminiscent of Beata Heuman's style. The master en suite includes an arched microcement shower inspired by Mediterranean summers, while the vanity was custom-made to provide ample storage while maintaining a sense of space. The house also incorporates a mix of vintage and antique finds alongside bespoke pieces. Reclaimed flooring and tiles were extensively used, and furniture was sourced from auctions, markets, and vintage shops. Unique elements like the bespoke kitchen by Browson Design, painted in 'Sky Blue' with Beata Heuman hardware, and a custom red pendant light by Beata Heuman in the dining area, highlight Williams's bold use of color. The hallway features 'Soho Pink' walls and reclaimed quarry tiles, with a vintage pine wall light as a favorite find. The study combines a 1950s Gio Ponti desk with a vintage chair reupholstered in mustard cord and vintage Poul Cadovius wall shelves. Even practical spaces like the guest bathroom, with its geranium wallpaper, and the utility room, located upstairs for convenience, are thoughtfully designed. The loft bathroom, clad in tongue and groove panelling and painted in 'Cavendish Cream,' includes sauna lights and a vintage rope mirror, demonstrating attention to detail even in smaller spaces. Williams views the house not as a 'forever home' but as an adaptable space perfectly suited to their current needs, a testament to thoughtful, personalized design. #VictorianTerrace #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #WestLondonHouse #LucyWilliams #BoldColors #VintageFinds #GardenDesign #CustomFurniture

The Lockwood Brass Core range, designed and assembled in Australia, offers a diverse collection of compliant lever styles aimed at seamless integration with architectural designs. This range prioritizes aesthetic continuity throughout a building's various elements. The Lockwood Brass Core Range features the most extensive selection of door handles designed to meet Australian access and mobility regulations. This collection challenges the notion that compliance and style are mutually exclusive, demonstrating that design can be both inclusive and elegant. It harmonizes form and function, addressing a broad spectrum of architectural and user requirements through its innovative approach to door hardware. The range also includes a product configurator accessible on its product page, allowing users to explore different examples within the Lockwood Brass Core Lever Range. These levers are compatible with both Brass and Artefact door furniture series, offering versatility in design choices. In 2020, the Lockwood Brass Core range received the prestigious Good Design Award in the Building / Hardware category, underscoring its innovative design and adherence to industry standards. #ArchitecturalDesign #DoorHardware #InclusiveDesign #AustralianStandards #GoodDesignAward #LeverHandles #BuildingMaterials #InteriorDesign #ProductInnovation

Interior designer Amber Lewis recently partnered with The Container Store Custom Closets to reorganize her home's closets, offering a masterclass in streamlined and aesthetically pleasing organization. While her entire home received an organizational makeover, the hall closet, a high-traffic area, particularly stood out due to her specific approach of customizing every inch to maximize its utility. Lewis's design philosophy for these spaces emphasizes thoughtful planning and tailored solutions to keep them functional and tidy. One of the primary tips extracted from Lewis's hall closet redesign is effectively wrangling misfit items. Accessories like hats and gloves, which are often oddly shaped and difficult to store neatly, were addressed by placing a large decorative basket at the base of the closet. This method allows for easy storage of these challenging items, preventing them from being misplaced or creating clutter. It provides a convenient spot to toss such necessities upon entering the house, ensuring they are easily accessible when needed without rummaging through coat pockets or other areas. A second crucial tip focuses on managing the common problem of an overflow of shopping bags. Many homes struggle with where to store reusable shopping totes, often finding them stuffed into drawers or under sinks, leading to disorganization and forgotten bags when heading out. Lewis ingeniously tackled this by dedicating a wicker basket on the top shelf of her closet specifically for these carryalls. This designated spot ensures that the bags are neatly contained, easily visible, and within reach, making it simple to grab one when rushing out to the store. The third key takeaway from Lewis's organization strategy emphasizes the importance of maximizing vertical space. When planning storage solutions, layouts are essential, but neglecting vertical dimensions can lead to underutilized capacity. Lewis designed her closet shelves to extend to the very top, effectively using every available inch. This approach creates ideal storage for bulkier, less frequently used, or seasonal items, such as large suitcases or sports equipment, by placing them higher up. This strategic placement means a step ladder is only occasionally required, keeping daily-use items more accessible at lower levels and reducing visual clutter by storing less-needed items out of immediate sight. #ClosetOrganization #HomeOrganization #AmberLewis #InteriorDesign #SpaceSaving #StorageSolutions #HallCloset #CustomClosets