Fall Parade of Homes; Ernie White Wins; Lake James

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Ernie White Construction once again took home the prize for a home on the north side of Lakeland in a 55+ community, Lake James. Located off Banana Rd., this home was nestled between friendly neighbors, a huge lake and walking trails. Most communities of the such are significantly scaled down; not this one. Ernie makes quaint homes full of detail, trim and all the extras.

A home always shows better if it is staged with furnishings and accessories so I was extremely happy when this home actually sold during the parade of homes. With a putty, orange and gray color palette, this home didn’t have an exact style, just sheer yummy. The open floor plan allowed for the farmhouse table, stately wood cabinets and clean-lined sofas to all complement each other while be viewed together. The master retreat was a soft sanctuary of creams, blues and blue/grays. With nature inspired prints and vintage sconces, this room was the perfect combination of masculine meets feminine.

Congratulations to ?? who will soon take occupancy of this lovely home as well as many of the furniture items.

All of the remaining items plus a few extras to give it a new pop, were moved a few houses down which is now a spec & model home for Lake James. Completely different floor plan so this home looked very different. Thanks to my assistant, Amanda Bass, who helped me do this house in half a day! She is amazing and a great help.

 

Everetts-Fall Parade of Homes; Ernie Wins

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Ernie White spared nothing on this craftsman home in Highlands in the Woods, Lakeland. Thanks to Ann and Jim Everett, I was able to connect with their style and run with it.

From glammy baths to gallery art, this home was a mix of high end meets rustic. A relaxed modern approach, almost any family can appreciate and enjoy these aesthetics. They completely started over with their décor and brought with them only a bookcase. Jim and Ann, you were fantastic, trusting and fun! I can’t wait to do your dining and den! Emily, I hope you are enjoying your “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” inspired bath with all its jewels.

A HUGE congrats to Ernie White Construction for the taking home the prize in multiple categories including best overall. His craftsmanship, integrity and expertise never disappoint but always astound me. Ernie put his stamp all over this home from the octagon master tray ceiling to the pull-out laundry shoot. The tile work headed-up by Phil Kimmel from Ronnie’s Carpets was impeccable in the master and guest bath. Ernie’s carpenters always deliver top-notch quality and this was apparent in the custom built-ins, wainscoting and hidden pantry.

From the decorating side, my favorite was an old leaded glass piece I found from Dixieland Relics. It really pulled every element together and was made for the nook wall. Ann was not a “matchy-matchy” type of woman, which enabled me to be as outside of the box as I wanted. Her great room furniture was perfectly balanced but nothing was from the same collection. In the foyer, I hung real plants from an IKEA railing system with an old screen to frame in the art.  I also love how the mixed matched Wellborn cabinet finishes (Custom Kitchens) and Cambria tops (Counter Effects by Roger) came out in the kitchen. My favorite girls at Ferguson’s helped us get the plumbing and lighting just right.

It truly takes a team of organized, skilled professionals; putting their best foot forward to make sure a home is encompassing all that it should for the home owner.

 

Relaxed Country- King Job

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Autumn & Justin were a young couple, expecting their first child. Building their dream with Hickman Homes, provided me the chance to get to know them. Decorating on paper is only half the battle so I was completely excited and honored to be asked to fully furnish and stage their main living space and bedrooms. No frills in this house. This expecting mother was all about the country lifestyle and time worn feel. She even shot the buck I used on the wall!
I loved using the unexpected pops of cowhide chairs, plaids and Autumn’s favorite….horseshoes. Thanks Kings for allowing me to help you pull off your relaxed country feel in the area you now dwell every day and hold your new baby. You were fun and easy to work with.

 

Cotterill Remodel

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What started as a small bathroom remodel, soon turned into the entire home. Donna and Gary Cotterill built their Ernie White home back in the late 80’s to raise their 3 kids. After the remodel, it looked just as good or better than a new one, thanks to David Cochran Construction.
Their daughter, Hannah Cotterill, just finished college and was headed to live at home for a while. How fun to get to update her room with a Pottery Barn duvet and décor that was no longer “little girl”. Hannah loved teals, peach and antlers and I love how all of this came together.
Donna is a determined southern spirit and how nice it was to see her get a kitchen worthy of a Thanksgiving feast. Her kitchen complete with Cambria tops by Custom Granite Rocks and antique glazed cabinets by Gary Clements was completely redone and reconfigured. I suggested removing a wall which opened up the kitchen to the family room and gave them more bar space. The light color palette allowed light to flood in the main living area where it once was dark. A painted fireplace by Ed Ducar and repainted family table by Creative Refinishing helped add to the fresh, crisp feel.

Donna and Gary spared no expense in their master bath. What once was dated and non-functional now reeks of luxury. Donna decided to do her entire shower walls with Cambria (quartz) allowing for no grout to clean. The tub was removed and shower was enlarged.

Thanks to David Cochran Construction for being so easy to work with and just darn good!

A special thanks to this family for trusting me with the structural details down to the bedsheets and dish towels. I loved bringing your home up-to-date for you.

 

Dentmon Job- Nevada Rd.; Coastal Craftman

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Billy, Tiffany and their super sweet girls was like decorating for my sister (who I’ve never had) and her fam. Building a new home is quite a process. When I first met Tiffany to discuss the vision and talk about the exterior features, I knew that we were in sync indeed. I quickly understood her style to a tea; thanks for her many hours of Houzz and Pinterest pics. Tiffany was raised similar to me and has a keen ability to stretch the dollar. I love that about her! We also share a common spiritual thread, making it easy for her to be completely humbled throughout the entire process, most aware of where the blessings were flowing from. She would keep telling me, “I don’t deserve this” and “I can’t believe this is my house”. She allowed me to gather all new items for their home. They only brought in their food, dishes and clothes when they moved in; okay….maybe it wasn’t quite this easy Tiffany, but my readers get the point.

 

This was craftman all the way on the exterior and certainly more vintage coastal with hints of glam and cottage charm on the interior. My favorite part had to be her master suite with their romantic master bath and stand-alone tub. Thanks to Harper Homes, I was able to be a part of the designs from the very beginning and do things such as tile rug inlays, barreled ceiling colors and wainscoting. Judy Madeg created bench cushions in both the nook and master. I also used Judy to do sliding panels on her sliding glass doors which was a nice alternative to verticals. Tiffany had so many great ideas like the ladder leading up to the girls’ reading loft above a closet and the sliding barn doors for the girls’ closets.

Tiffany- please, please, please build again so I can work with you!! Miss ya!

 

 

 

Spring Parade- Harper win; Hickman win

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In the spring parade, the Harper Homes entry in Highlands in the Woods won best overall in its class. This was a traditional Tuscan style with faux textures and gilded fixtures. With an open floor plan and a 9’ island, this home had all the traditional classics of royalty yet casual enough for the average family to live everyday life comfortably. A neutral color pallet made this home easy as we played a lot off of textures instead. I had a blast working with Sherrae and Michael Myers. Although they didn’t get to move into their home, her tastes were quickly admired as a new family, the Chiques’, quickly took ownership.

 

Hickman Homes won in its class as well. The nature inspired home on umpteen acres of land belonged to Casey & Emmett Andrews. They have 4 kids and wanted space, land and freedom from the everyday grind. Boy they got it! Their home was spectacular and the decorating on paper from beginning to end was smooth sailing. No flaws in this house. Just a wonderful fam, proud to move in. Casey- I can’t wait to put the finishing touches on. Invite me over!

 

 

 

Spring Parade of Homes; Ernie White

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This year for Ernie White’s spring parade entry, I decided to do something a little different. I actually rented out all of my main living furniture to Ernie White. My family was really sitting on lawn chairs for a while!

My furniture felt so cozy and welcome in this Highland in the Woods home of Mindy Miller and Jevin Herman. What a great couple to get to work with! Mindy is hilarious with her dry humor and Chicago charm. Yes I say charm because anyone who is not from Polk County sometimes just feels neat and trendy. Mindy has such a clean, casual modern flair that I adored. Basically it was all geared around a home conducive to raising her two adorable boys. These boys are the most mannerly boys I’ve ever met! She’s a super educated woman who is taking the time off of work to raise her boys and raise them well. She’s my biggest fan.

 

Ernie’s construction here was so clean and open. His carpentry work on the office walls was flawless not to mention the tilework from the main patterned floors to the mix of patterns in the baths. The back porch will be the highlight of entertaining for years to come with the stained wood ceiling, stone fireplace and stately pool by Pool Blue.

 

Now, my furniture that I rented out is a mixture of Mingama’s old console or a treasure I found and redid from the side of the road; pieces given to my husband and I over time and some you just make work because they have a story. Seeing my furniture in this home was an extra treat that made me want to build an Ernie White home just like it!