Inside Nina Dobrev's Stunning European Style Home

Jami-lyn Fehr, the founder and creative director of MODISTE, a luxury women’s boutique in Nashville, TN, has extended her expertise in fashion, beauty, and interior design to a rental property called Maison Modiste. Situated in a downtown Nashville location, Maison Modiste is an impeccably styled apartment capable of accommodating up to four guests, featuring a king-sized bed and a queen sleeper sofa. This rental property reflects Fehr's commitment to curated aesthetics, offering guests a unique blend of high style and homely comfort. The design ethos of Maison Modiste is deeply influenced by Parisian architecture and interiors, a result of Fehr's travels to Paris in April 2023. She meticulously incorporated elements such as embossed ceilings, striking light fixtures, a charming mantle, and cozy upholstered furniture to evoke a Parisian ambiance within Music City. The apartment successfully merges sleek contemporary design with vintage touches, lending it a distinctive personality that is both chic and welcoming. Fehr emphasizes three key design principles utilized in creating Maison Modiste. First, she advocates for travel as a source of inspiration, particularly highlighting the architectural and interior details observed in Paris, which guided her choices for columns, doors, and intricate ceiling tiles. This approach allows for a global perspective to inform local design. Second, Fehr suggests combining old and new elements to craft a unique and personalized space. This philosophy is evident in Maison Modiste, where modern sleekness harmonizes with vintage finds, ensuring the apartment feels sophisticated yet comfortable and inviting for its occupants. Finally, the designer recommends sourcing pieces locally. In the case of Maison Modiste, many vintage lighting fixtures, as well as the mantle and art, were procured from local vendors. Fehr particularly values the mantle, noting its significant contribution to the character of the entryway's sitting space. This practice not only supports local businesses but also imbues the space with a sense of place and authenticity. Overall, Maison Modiste serves as a testament to Fehr's multifaceted design talents, transforming a rental apartment into a stylish and unique retreat that offers a taste of Parisian elegance in the heart of Nashville, while adhering to practical design strategies that blend cultural inspiration, a mix of periods, and local sourcing. #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #RentalProperty #NashvilleLiving #ParisianStyle #VintageModern #LocalSourcing #LuxuryAccommodation #JamiLynFehr

Derek and Cliona Hosty embarked on a nearly decade-long journey to transform a modest 1930s two-bedroom Dublin home into a spacious dwelling suitable for their family of seven. The initial phase of their ambitious renovation project faced an unexpected obstacle when their first redesign proposal was rejected. Upon submitting an alternative plan, planning permission was further delayed due to objections from Irish Water regarding the relocation of a water pipe in their back garden. Despite adjacent properties receiving approval for similar alterations, Irish Water insisted on a six-meter access on both sides of the pipe, a requirement that could not be met due to space constraints. Cliona took direct action by visiting Irish Water's offices without an appointment. During an impromptu meeting with the officials handling their case, she presented their plans and explained their desire to divert the pipe along the back garden. This direct engagement proved successful, leading to Irish Water's agreement and the subsequent approval of their planning permission. This challenge with Irish Water was one of many encountered by the couple over three years from purchasing the house to finally moving in. However, their determination to create an ideal home for their family remained unwavering. Their commitment eventually paid off, culminating in a home three times the size of the original, earning them a spot in the top three of the "Home of the Year" final. The house is meticulously designed to cater to their family's needs, featuring abundant natural light, expansive living areas, smart storage solutions, and innovative design elements. This achievement is particularly notable given the turbulent Irish property market they navigated and their experiences living abroad in Norway. In Norway, Derek worked for Telenor, and the family appreciated the country's work-life balance and affordable childcare, which cost less than €300 per month. They observed a more equitable distribution of parental duties, with many fathers actively involved in school pickups. A memorable experience in Norway was the birth of their fifth child, Seimi, where hospital stays were remarkably affordable. Despite the advantages, the social integration with Norwegians proved challenging, and the harsh climate, with snow from October to May, eventually prompted their return to Ireland in January 2018. Back in Ireland, they secured a mortgage by leveraging Derek’s employment history to avoid probation issues. They soon found a two-bedroom house in Ballinteer, an area they admired for its amenities and walkability, which they saw as a blank canvas for their renovation aspirations. Initially, their plans were deemed "overbearing" by planners, necessitating a reduction of 25 square meters from their proposed floor plan. This setback prompted them to rethink their design, focusing on creating a kitchen island large enough for seven people and incorporating ample storage and sleeping arrangements for their growing family and occasional guests. They also decided to lower the ground floor level to achieve higher ceilings. While awaiting final planning approval, they proactively undertook demolition work, removing the old kitchen and bathroom extensions, and stripping the house of its ceilings and floors. The renovation journey was financially demanding, as they simultaneously paid rent on their temporary accommodation and a mortgage on the house undergoing renovation. This led them to temporarily relocate to Galway, staying with Derek’s parents, until construction commenced in December 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic further disrupted the project, halting construction in March 2020. Once work resumed, Cliona and Derek personally managed the build, traveling frequently between Galway and Dublin to oversee progress while juggling work and childcare responsibilities. They finally moved into their dream home in July 2021, three years after its purchase. The old house underwent a complete overhaul, with replastering, insulation, underfloor heating, and full redecoration. Significant structural changes included relocating the front door to the side of the house and replacing the original entrance with a window, creating two living rooms downstairs and two bedrooms upstairs. The new extension features a large open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area with a spacious island, innovative lighting, and customized features like symmetrically placed ovens. The house also includes a new downstairs bathroom and an upstairs en-suite bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe. Another bedroom boasts a unique sleeping unit accessible by a ladder, designed to accommodate multiple children or guests. Cliona's minimalist aesthetic, influenced by her time in Norway, is evident throughout the decor. Her passion for interior design, sparked by decorating one of her children's bedrooms, led her to develop a significant social media following. She meticulously researched suppliers, opting for cost-effective solutions like laminate flooring from Tipperary and concrete lights from New Style Lights. The couple views their challenging three-year renovation as worthwhile, having resulted in a family-centric, practical, and aesthetically pleasing home filled with fun and unique touches. #HomeRenovation #FamilyHome #InteriorDesign #DublinProperty #DIYRenovation #HomeOfTheYear #IrishWater #NorwayLiving

The Designer Show House, a biennial event sponsored by the Village Improvement Association in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, showcases diverse interior and exterior design inspirations across its 6,000 square feet of space and nearly an acre of outdoor areas. This event serves as a platform for regional designers to present their expertise and offers visitors a wealth of ideas for their own homes. One featured space is a sunken living room, designed by Kate FitzGerald-Wilks of Timeless Design in Landenberg, Pennsylvania. This room embodies a West Indies aesthetic, characterized by bold lines, soft sandy hues, and rich textures. Key elements include vintage stick bamboo chairs painted black, adorned with Kuba cloth and Ralph Lauren zebra-stripe pillows on a slipcovered camel-backed sofa. A mid-century hutch is repurposed as a cocktail bar, complemented by sculptural metal and glass console tables flanking the fireplace. Wood mirrors with faux tortoise shell lean against textured wallpaper, while modern sculptures and art blend with antique books and global treasures. FitzGerald-Wilks also designed the dining room, aiming for a dramatic effect with a backdrop of 200 wine bottles and a striking Dolcetti chandelier crafted from shells and crystals, evoking sea glass. An 8-foot-long reclaimed wine rack sits atop a buffet. The room's color palette consists of soft creams and tans, punctuated by emerald green accents in the chandelier and wine bottles. Windows are framed with woven ikat print panels. An airy sunroom, conceived by Alfred Wolf Home (a new venture from Design Center of Rehoboth or DCOR), was designed to create a light-filled, contemporary transition between the house and garden. This involved removing existing French doors and window grills, painting the room in various shades of white and French gray-green, and incorporating textural elements of white canvas, iron, and marble. The family room, also by DCOR, maintained the warmth of its original paneling and fireplace stone, setting the foundation for a soft khaki and cream palette. The room is furnished with herringbone, tweed, and leather fabrics, offset by tortoise shell wood finishes and local tidal scene artwork. Mary Stewart of M. Stewart Interiors in Bear designed the upstairs hobby room, named "Just Us," intended as a shared family space for various pastimes like painting, photography, reading, chess, and Lego building. The room features updated cherished family heirlooms and is painted simply white to highlight paintings by Nadia Zychal. Nile Johnson of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, designed the second-floor paneled library, drawing inspiration from Rehoboth's laid-back yet cosmopolitan atmosphere. This space offers an updated interpretation of a classic library, decorated in layers of sandy tans. Cyndi and Ron Oronzio and Cathie Sheetz of Dreamweaver Interiors of Rehoboth Beach decorated a bedroom and bath, inspired by vibrantly patterned fabrics. They utilized Robert Allen fabrics as wallpaper for an accent wall, building the room's design around this print. The team selected fabrics for their depth, crisp patterns, contrasting textures, and detailed embroidery, incorporating a bright coral pink accent color and rhinestone embellishments for a feminine touch. Brenda Carder of blcINTERIORS of Rehoboth Beach designed a small guest bedroom, combining natural cotton and linen fabrics with metal and reclaimed wood. Crown moldings add formality. To compensate for limited sunlight, the room was kept light and bright, with a deep navy blue accent wall and touches of bright yellow for warmth. The second floor features art by Libby Zando of Zando Designs and Art Affects in Milton, alongside works by award-winning regional artists. Boardwalk Builders of Rehoboth transformed a hallway into a gallery space by adding wainscot paneling, creating an updated cottage aesthetic that visually broadened the hallway. Mark A. Polo of The Urban Dweller in Boonton, New Jersey, designed the master suite, aiming for comfort with soft textural colors ranging from taupe to blue. The furniture is upholstered to enhance the room's softness, featuring taupe draperies of embroidered sheer linen and silk edged in leather and freshwater pearls. Blonde floors are softened by a long-fiber rug. Outdoors, Erin Walls and Justin Bartels of Bella Terra Landscaping in Lincoln repurposed existing flagstone patios and walkways, adding new stones to create a Celtic-inspired design. The layout divides the space into a grand area for social gatherings and secluded nooks for quiet retreats. Creative Concepts Furniture of Lewes and Ocean View furnished the patios as outdoor rooms with bright coastal colors, including a sectional, loveseat, dining area for six, and lounge chairs, inviting visitors to envision themselves in the setting. #DesignerShowHouse #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #RehobothBeach #DelawareDesign #LuxuryInteriors #OutdoorLiving #DesignInspiration

This article highlights the design philosophy and home transformation journey of Dana Dore, a professional stylist, blogger, and Instagram influencer known as Adored House by Dana Dore (@adoredhouse). Dore, residing in Farmingdale, Monmouth County, New Jersey, has garnered significant attention for her ability to infuse charm and color into her family’s 1,700-square-foot, builder-grade home, making it appear older and larger than its 12 years and 8-foot ceilings suggest. She emphasizes that with clever decorating tricks, any house can become a dream home, a sentiment she lives by through her personal renovation projects. Dore's design approach relies heavily on vintage decor, which she believes offers unmatched quality and appearance compared to new items. Her home features a variety of pre-loved pieces, from antique art and furniture to restored cabinets, contributing to its unique character. Even the landscaping, with its mature garden beds overflowing with hydrangeas and roses, gives the impression of an established, vintage setting. She attributes her DIY skills and appreciation for antiques to her parents, who fostered an early interest in home improvement, painting, and collecting. This upbringing naturally led her to study art and design, culminating in a 14-year career in retail display before she transitioned into social media content creation. Her family home, shared with her husband Bob and their two daughters, is situated in a quiet, rural community but remains conveniently close to popular New Jersey Shore beaches like Belmar and Manasquan. This proximity influences her design choices, incorporating nautical references and timeless beach objects throughout the interior. Despite initial reservations about purchasing a new colonial-style house that lacked the charm she desired, Dore proceeded with the assurance that she could personalize it extensively. Her philosophy, "Love the one you’re with," encourages homeowners to transform their spaces regardless of the property's original character, especially given the current real estate market's limited inventory of older homes. The transformation of her home began in 2016, focusing on first-floor living areas, the primary bedroom, and her daughters’ room. Her daughters actively participated in designing their "sisters suite," a collaborative effort that reminded Dore of her own teenage experience renovating her bedroom with a Victorian theme. The home showcases an exuberant color palette, particularly favoring summery yellows and greens, complemented by classic patterns like stripes and gingham. Dore's passion for unique finds is evident in pieces such as her indestructible ship-hatch door coffee table, which is ideal for family game nights. She is an avid thrifter, frequently utilizing Facebook Marketplace to source vintage items within driving distance, including her daughters' twin beds, the kitchen table, and a spacious TV cabinet. For a quintessential summer home with a Shore vibe, Dore recommends white bed linens, fresh flowers, and homemade treats made with local Jersey peaches, ultimately advising homeowners to fill their spaces with cherished items for their loved ones. This article showcases Dore's expertise in interior styling, her ability to blend vintage elements with modern comfort, and her dedication to creating a personalized and inviting living space. Her journey from a retail display artist to a prominent design influencer illustrates the power of creative vision and hands-on effort in making a house a beloved home.