Welcome to the blog, I’m Sabine! Interior Designer, candle creator, mom of 2, and lover of calm, beautiful spaces. I help busy women create homes that feel intentional, functional, and full of joy - one room at a time. Grab your coffee, get inspired, and let’s make your home feel like you again.
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5 Easy Steps to Designing your Nursery Room
nursery room design
Creating a space for your precious newborn is something that you will only get to do once in your baby’s lifetime. As a parent, you want to cherish every stage and moment that you can in your baby’s new life. Designing a nursery should be a special experience that is shared with both parents without feeling like another task that has to be done before the baby arrives.
As a new mother, I was personally excited about designing my daughter’s nursery. I had many questions. Where should I start ? What is my theme for the nursery ? What room in my house would be the best place for the new baby? Professionally, I knew that I would have to become my own client. Here are five decorating secrets I used for designing the perfect nursery.
1. What’s your Theme or Color Palette?
Start with a clean blank palette, bare walls and no furniture. You can now start the process of decorating the room from vision to completion. Think of a theme or a color palette.
By theme, I mean think of something that makes you smile whether it’s butterflies in the sky, or the appreciation of animals, flowers, or even sports! If a theme doesn’t work for you, maybe it’s a certain color palette.
nursery color themes
Colors have a way of creating a mood in any space. For example, yellow is the color of energy, green is the color of growth and nature, lavender and blue are calming, relaxing colors. When choosing colors you may want to have a main color as the base for your palette then choose a contrast or complementary color as your secondary or you may want to have a pair of complementing colors as your main colors and have neutrals as your secondary colors to create a balance.
Another option is to have a monochromatic palette, where you use different tones and shades of one color. In any palette, it is important to balance it with neutrals such as whites, grays, browns, tans, blacks, etc.
2. The Must-Haves
When designing any room it is important to begin with planning. Part of the planning process is having a space plan or floor layout of how your furnishings are going to be placed in the room. This saves a lot of time and headaches by making sure all the furniture will fit in the room. As an interior designer, I know how important of a process it is to measure and determine the proper placement of furniture and decorations. Make sure you measure first the room including the windows before choosing furniture and accessories. After space planning, it is also important that you make sure you include all your needed items. Start with your largest pieces, such as the crib, changing table, dresser, armoire, and a comfortable chair. There are many new crib regulations, so make sure you do your homework before purchasing one. Also, consider opening a baby registry at your favorite baby retail store to include your furniture. Every piece of furniture should have a functional purpose, for example if the room doesn’t have a closet it is a good idea to include an armoire as a storage unit for your baby’s clothes and blankets. When you are buying furniture be sure to think of multi-functional pieces, this will save space and money.
"It’s so important to think of their nursery as a transitional space that they can grow into."
3. Be Transitional
Your little precious baby may seem so little and tiny now, but as they say “they grow so fast”. It seems like just the other day I held my daughter in my arms for the first time at the hospital and to think that was almost four months ago is unbelievable! She’s already out grown her little newborn clothes and soon she’ll be sitting and crawling, then standing and walking. Before you know it she’ll be too big for her crib. As much as we as parents want our little ones to stay small and innocent as long as possible, time waits for no one. It’s so important to think of their nursery as a transitional space that they can grow into. The needs of your child change so fast between now to the time they are teenagers. When purchasing large furnishings such as a crib, find out if it can be configured into a full size bed or buy a toddler bed before purchasing a large bed. Make sure you are purchasing quality pieces that can withstand your child’s wear and tear.
4. It’s Not Only a Baby’s Room...but it’s YOUR Baby’s Room
Who says that your nursery has to look like, predictable, or like a catalog picture, or showroom set-up nursery. This is your nursery so claim it and make it yours!. Get creative and have fun with it! This is your chance to bring out that little child spirit inside of you out. As a designer, I like to mix and match furnishings to give the room a unique style. Allow your room to tell a story through it’s uniqueness. If your grandmother or older sister gives you an old table that you can possibly use but it’s not the right color or the chair has an old fabric...change it and make it your own! Every room needs something old and classic, whether it’s an old lamp base with a new shade or an old picture frame. Add a custom look by mixing a matching used with new pieces. Create a “grown-up” nursery that is mature and sophisticated yet innocent and playful. Make it a nursery that your child can grow and mature into. For example, when choosing window treatments select floor panel drapes or a soft roman shade in an accent fabric. This will create that unexpected design that will make your nursery look like a “custom design”.
5. Accessories Make the Room
This is the fun part! No matter what room you are designing, the room isn’t complete without the final touches of accessories. The accessories in your nursery will define the style of the room. When accessorizing be sure to use accessories that have colors from your palette. Take this opportunity to make the room personal, after all it is your little one’s room. Tell a story by framing pictures of you and your baby and using that as wall decor. Think of the entire room including flooring, wall decor, and the ceiling. If you have hardwood floors, you may want to think of placing an area rug near or under the crib to add softness, texture, color, or pattern. These final touches give you an opportunity to add sentimental items that you can share with your child as they get older. Adding baskets or textured bins and boxes are great examples of how something can be decorative and functional as storage, because every nursery needs storage. Take this time to create a dream nursery that you can cherish with your baby as they grow.
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Happy Designing!
Looking to design your nursery from beginning to end? Tell me more about your project at sabine@georgettemarise.com.
5 Valentine's Day Ideas
Just in case it slipped your mind, Valentine's Day is this Sunday. No need to panic and get nervous if you forgot, I have some quick and simple ideas that will make your significant other feel special.
love letter
Take it old school and start off with writing a love simple letter on paper to your significant other. There's something about writing your thoughts and feelings on paper that is sincere and genuine. Sometimes you end up sharing feelings that you would've never communicated verbally.
breakfast with coffee, croissants & fresh strawberries
"It's the simple things that make the biggest impact. "
Valentine's Day doesn't have to be celebrated over dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant. Surprise your loved one with a romantic breakfast to let them know how much you appreciate and love them. Not a chef? Warming up some buttery croissants, brewing their favorite coffee or tea and a fresh bowl of strawberries will do the trick.
lit candles
Nothing sets a romantic ambiance like candles. Candles bring a sense of warmth to a space while spreading a pleasant fragrance. If you are worried about leaving the candles burning unattended a great alternative is to get flameless candles. Tip: Use odd numbers when arranging candles. This will create aesthetic balance.
romantic dinner
Everyone is going out to eat on Valentine's Day, so why don't you be different and cook a romantic dinner for your loved one. Set your table with fresh flowers, lit candles, wines glasses and your finest dinnerware. After all, this is a special occasion. Again, not a chef? No worries, order take out from your loved one's favorite restaurant and serve it on your best dinnerware.
chocolate dessert
There's something about the richness of chocolate that screams romance. However, you don't have to be cliché and purchase a heart shaped box of chocolate. Be specific to what your significant other likes. If they love a certain brand or type of dessert than that is what you should get. A great alternative to a box of chocolate is to make a cup of homemade hot chocolate with dusted chocolate flakes. That is sure to warm your hearts together.
However you decide to celebrate Valentine's Day I hope you get the opportunity to reflect and appreciate the loved ones around you.
Share your favorite Valentine's Day idea with me by commenting below. Don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list to get your FREE copy of my Designer Tip Sheet!
Must Haves to Decorate your Closet
It's a New Year and that means it's time to get organized. Whether you have a tiny closet or a large walk in closet you can have a beautifully designed space that is an extension of your bedroom. An organized closet showcases your wardrobe by incorporating beautiful finishes and accessories. Here are some must haves for decorating your closet.
Decor Items that will help organize your closet
- Area Rug/Carpet. Compliment your closet storage system or furniture by adding a large area rug or wall to wall carpet. This will help create a relaxed look in your closet.
- Lighting. Lighting is key in any room but especially in your closet. Add a chandelier if space permits to add a decorative touch to the space. Accent lighting may also be needed to highlight your wardrobe.
- Hangers. Use the same style hangers throughout your closet, this will create consistency. Make sure you use quality hangers that will support your clothing.
- Drawer Organizers. Keep your socks, personal items and jewelry clutter free with drawer organizers. Knowing where to find your items saves you so much time and frustration.
- Drawer Hardware. Adding hardware to your drawers can serve as a decorative and functional accessory to your drawers.
- Mirror. Just like every clothing boutique has a mirrors, every closet should have a mirror of some form. Use a floor mirror to look at your outfit in whole but if space doesn't allow make sure to add a small accent mirror on a wall or table surface.
- Storage Basket & Bin. A closet is meant for storage, however it doesn't have to look boring. Use large color fabric bins with lids for storing larger items and small baskets with labels for storing smaller items.
Redefine your storage space by turning it into the closet of your dreams!
Need help solving your storage dilemma? Purchase our Furniture Layout or Inspiration Board to get started!
His & Hers: How to Create a Space That Will Reflect Both Styles
Do you and your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend have disagreements about "her style" or "his style"? Do you wish there was a way to have your home look both masculine and feminine? As an interior designer I often sit down with couples who struggle to find a balance between masculine & feminine decor. Can a room really be both? The answer is YES!
"In order to break the rules of design, you must first know what the rules are."
What do you think of when you picture a feminine room? Light & cheerful colors, florals, curvilinear lines, soft & plush pillows, vases, and lots of details.
What do you think of when you picture a masculine room? Rich & dark colors, stripes & plaids, straight forward lines, texture, and very few details.
Masculine vs. Feminine Decor
Want to know how to combine both a masculine & feminine look, while still showcasing your individual styles? This is where hiring a professional designer can save you a lot of headache, stress and arguments. Here are some some key points to keep in mind.
Discuss Your Likes and Dislikes. If one of you dislikes plaids and the other dislikes greens, don't incorporate plaids or greens into the design. Often times it's easier to start with what you DON'T like before figuring out what you DO like. Once the two of you figure out what you dislike, find common ground on what the both you like. For example, if comfort is important make sure you both shop for seating together. I had a client who had to have a wingback, leather reclining chair to watch t.v. That was the only item in the living room he cared about. So one of the first things I did was find the perfect location in the layout for his chair and started shopping for a wingback chair.
His & Her Living Space
In this design, the husband loved grays, browns, leather and wanted an industrial looking light fixture. The wife on the other hand loved pinks, florals and small details. So I married the two likes by incorporating a grey fabric sofa accented by soft, rose colored geometric pillows accompanied with a brown leather chair and a soft pink colored throw draped on the arm. I also used a cream and teal geometric pattern area rug on top of their existing walnut hardwood floors. I added a floral wall art and grey colored grommet panels for a more masculine look. I also added an industrial inspired ceiling fixture to add a modern, yet vintage element.
Compromise. Being in a relationship is all about compromising, right? Well, same thing with designing a room with more than one person involved. You have to meet in the middle. Once you know what your likes are, prioritize them into a "must have" list. Take your "must have" list to your designer so she can incorporate them into the design.
Bring It All Together. After you find common ground, find things that will compliment each other. For example, if you have a black leather sofa use soft, patterned pillows with a light tone area rug to add contrast and a little feminine touch. It's all about pulling all the components that the both of you love.
To save you time, headache, and stress call me today at 610.921.2780 or email me at sabine@georgettemarise.com to start on the room of your dreams!
5 Things You Should Do When Working with an Interior Designer
Things you should do when working with an interior designer
Do you go through pictures on Houzz, Pinterest, or Home Decor Magazines thinking, "Why can't my home look and feel like that?" or "That room is beautiful! How did they do that?". Most likely they used the assistance of a professional interior designer or decorator.
Your home should be a reflection of your personality. How do you achieve that and make your home look beautiful and be functional at the same time? Hire a professional! A professional interior designer will allow your personality to shine while taking your lifestyle, space, and budget in consideration. It is important to hire a designer that you will enjoy working with. A great designer achieves more than a beautiful space, they change the way you LIVE in your home.
Here are some things I suggest to all my clients that they do prior and during our working relationship.
1. Ask your Designer Questions
If you've never worked with a designer before, you probably have a lot of questions as to how they work. When working with a designer, there's always a process. Ask what the process is so you know what to expect. As designers we never want to create surprises for our clients. Don't assume if there's something you're unsure about, just ask. Have questions about our services? CLICK HERE
2. Have a Budget
Unless you have an unlimited budget, plan ahead of how much you can afford to spend on your total project from beginning to end. Many designers charge by the hour, percentage, or by project, so have an idea of how much you can afford and let your designer know that. The worst mistake, is when you tell a designer that you don't have a budget and they design a beautiful project that costs 30k and you only have 10k to spend. That will waste the designer's time and you'll be mad that you can't have what they presented.
3. Communicate
You and your designer are a team, so if there is something you're unsure about make sure you communicate exactly what you mean. Many of my clients have their own idea of a style or design they saw, sometimes the best way to communicate something specific is through pictures from magazines.
4. Do Research
Find out more about your designer and their background. Have they been formally trained with a degree in interior design or architecture? How many years experience to they have? Are they a designer or decorator, there is a difference.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DECORATOR & INTERIOR DESIGNER
A decorator is a creative professional who can accessorize and change any surface to make it look aesthetically pleasing. An interior designer is professionally trained to design a space from beginning to its completion. They take into account structural elements, lighting and functionality of an interior.
Here are some other ideas to research. Do they have a website and portfolio? Do they have referrals? What is their specialty? Are they a full-service company with a team of workers? These are all questions that you should ask when hiring a decorator/designer or company.
architectural drawings
5. Trust your Designer
You have paid money for a professional, tell them your needs for your space, your likes and dislikes...now it's time to allow your designer to gather all of your information, add their expertise, and produce a functional and beautiful space that reflects you!
Ready to get your project started? Contact me TODAY at 610.924.2780 or sabine@georgettemarise.com to begin the process to achieving your dream space!
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5 Items Under $75 that can Change any Living Room
Happy New Year! Are you ready for a change? It's a New Year so why not spruce up one of the rooms in your home. Let's start with your Living Room! Let's create a new look that reflects your style. Here are some great updates that can change any living room without spending tons of money.
Change your layout. Switching the layout or setup of your existing furniture is one way of giving your room a new look. If your room allows, place your longest piece of furniture (usually the sofa) on the longest wall. This will improve the flow and traffic pattern of the room. FREE
Paint.Paint.Paint. Changing or adding paint to the walls is one of the least expensive ways to create a completely new look to any room. Decide on the mood you want to achieve. For example, to create a relaxing, yet inviting living room think of sage greens or taupes. Since you are using your existing furniture, use some of the colors from your sofa, chairs, and/or loveseat. $30 - 60 gallon
Pillows. Pillows are a key accessory to any room. They can add color, texture, and prints to enhance a room. If you want a new look add a pair of pillows on your sofa and/or a small kidney pillow on an accent chair, if you have one. Don’t be afraid to blend different pillows together. For example, if you are using a swirl pattern pillow on the sofa use a woven textured pillow alongside it to add a contrast. $25 & up
Display of accent pillows designed by sabine.
Lamps. Lighting is key to any room, especially the living room where you have company over and where the family gathers. Although your living room may have a ceiling lighting fixture or recessed lights, it is important to add lamps as a task lighting source. Lamps also add to the overall design of the room. Choose a floor lamp to place beside an accent chair and two table lamps on each end table beside your sofa. For a contemporary room, choose a lamp with a rectangular or round shade. For a more traditional room, choose a lamp with a bell shade. If your room is half contemporary and half traditional choose a simple shade like a round or rectangular with a detailed base. $30 & up
Wall Decor. Other than the furniture, the second place that stands out to the eyes are the walls. What you put on your walls and how it is hung defines the style and design of your living room. Focus on the largest or longest wall space in the room and add a collage of family pictures or place a set of 2 - 3 pieces of artwork. Make sure you hang your artwork at eye level, which is typically 4 ½ - 5 feet from the floor depending on the ceiling height. $40 & up
grouping of artwork designed by sabine. looking for custom artwork? LEt us make one for your space. custom artwork.
Start the New Year with a fresh new Living Room!
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Celebrate the New Year with these Sparkling Decorations
There are many options of how you can bring in the New Year, but my favorite way to celebrate is to gather with loved ones in a personal space. I love hosting people at my house with laughter, music, food and drinks. To make the gathering even more festive I love to dress up the house with glamorous decor to compliment my existing Christmas decorations.
Here are some sparkling decorations to use for your New Year's Eve party!
New Years Decor
Streamers. Hang black, white and silver streamers from the ceiling to create a cheerful, fun setting. Fill the room with floating balloons and hang the attached ribbons to have the same effect.
2016 Decorated Bottles. To create the New Year party theme make your own decorations with 2016. Spray empty wine bottles in gold with sparkling, gold ribbon hanging from the top then glue gold painted 2-0-1-6 numbers to the individual bottles.
New Year Headband. Start the festivities as your guests enter your home by welcoming them with a sparkling Happy New Year headband.
Wine Glasses & Serving Tray. Greet your guests with a cocktail served on a shiny tray to help them feel welcomed.
Disposable Dinnerware. Gracious Home - New York offers designer friendly, disposable dinnerware to add elegance to your party. Create a formal look without the work of doing dishes.
Happy New Year Ornament. Compliment your existing Christmas ornaments with Happy New Year ornaments. Place them on your tree, garland, or party table for decoration.
Countdown Tumbler Glasses. For a fun way to countdown the New Year, pass out champagne in glasses with removable numbers representing the last 10 seconds.
As you welcome 2016, remember to reflect on the lessons from 2015 and be grateful for another year! I look forward to bringing you more inspiration through design in the New Year!
Happy New Year from our family to yours!
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Gift Guide: Last Minute Gifts
Christmas is officially 2 days away! If you are missing some gifts from your list, no worries. Here are some great last minute gift ideas you can grab for your mother, sister, girlfriend, co-worker or any other special person in your life.
last minute gift guide
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Are you using these 15 tips to bring the Christmas spirit into your home?
1. Tie your throw pillows with holiday ribbon to resemble a gift for Christmas decor.
2. Hang up a string and clothespin your greeting cards along the line all month long.
3. Place white ornaments and silver metallic votives on top of red doilies to create a dramatic effect.
4. Place a bunch of candy canes in a clear vase for a cute and easy decoration.
5. Have any neat branches outside? Pick them and spray paint them silver and gold for elegant and vintage reminiscent decor.
6. Don’t have Christmas stockings? Buy some large sized holiday socks to hang from the mantel!
7. Fill a vase with cranberries and water for an elegant centerpiece.
8. Use wrapping paper as holiday art in simple frames.
9. Take a bunch of old wine bottle and spray paint them in holiday colors and fill them with twigs for a stunning mantel display.
10. Fill clear vases with water you tint with food coloring in holiday colors and float a votive! Great centerpiece!
11. Wrap your front door to look like a Christmas present!
12. For your dining table centerpiece, try a runner with round glass ornaments spread down the length. Quick & Easy!
13. Instead of nametags for guests at the table, create cookies and write their names in icing to place at their setting!
14. Add garland to your staircase with lights and ornaments!
15. Use candelabras and place decorative round ball ornaments on top in a cluster for a great centerpiece.
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Master The Art Of Christmas Mantle Decor With These 5 Tips
If you have a fireplace you know it is an architectural feature and is one of the focal points to your room. It should also be a focal point to your Christmas decorations, however there is no need to go overboard on decorations. Keep these tips in mind when you are decorating your fireplace mantel for Christmas.
1. Create a Theme or Style. If you are trying to achieve a modern Christmas look keep it simple with a few statement pieces. For example, you can get 3 or 5 clear, round glass jars filled with ornaments and spread them across your mantle by placing the tallest jars on the ends.
If you are going for a more classic, traditional Christmas decor use items that are timeless and ornate. For example you can drape fresh, pine garland across the length of your mantle wrapped with white Christmas lights or a decorated wreath above your mantle to achieve an elegant and festive look.
2. Add Personalization. The beauty of decorating your mantle is that it allows you to add your personal touch. Personalize your mantle with monogram stockings or add 1-2 festive picture frames of your family.
3. Use Variation. For visual interest use items that vary in height, color, or texture. For example, if you are using candles choose 3 or 5 candles with different heights. If you are placing green garland across your mantle, accent it with small ornaments that hang down or tie fabric ribbons for contrast.
4. Use Odd Numbers. A rule of thumb when you are accessorizing is to use odd numbers to add appeal. Place one statement piece in the middle of your mantle or use groupings of 3 or 5 objects for visual interest.
5. Be Consistent. Decorating and designing is like telling a story. Your fireplace mantle decorations have to flow with the Christmas decor throughout your home, make sure there is a connection. For example, if your Christmas tree is decorated with white lights and all red ornaments be sure to add at least 1 or 2 red colored items to your mantle.
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