Cotterill Remodel

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

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

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

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!