There are some projects that are special, that mean a lot to me. My Country Club Hills project is definitely one of those, partly because it was a family affair. My brother and my sister-in-law hired me for a new build project in Raleigh, a ground-up design that let me really put my processes and systems to work. I love creating a gorgeous home out of literally nothing and infusing it with my clients’ personalities. Let’s take a tour of this home and I’ll describe how that process works!

Stage One: Consultation

Once I’m hired onto a project, I ask a lot of questions. But this is a critical point - all of those questions are going to lead me to the perfect design for my client. So I’ll ask how they plan to live in the home, what functionality they need, how often they entertain, whether they like to cook, what their hobbies are, and much more. Our team has created a seven page questionnaire that all clients receive to gather this initial information. The answers a client gives me will let me know what colors to choose, how many rooms are needed, which appliances would be best, and even what existing antiques might need to be mixed into the new design. In the case of this project, we were definitely using some family heirlooms (our grandmother’s sideboard is in the entry above). And I wanted to merge my sister-in-law’s Cajun culture from Louisiana and my brother’s traditional taste into a classic Georgian-style home for them and their three children. The end product is an elegant home that functions for formal entertaining and family fun alike.

Stage Two: Design

Once we’ve had an initial consultation and I’ve received all the feedback and questionnaires from my clients, we move into the design phase. This is a fun stage for my clients as they see their dreams of a gorgeous home coming true. I like to show them how I add personality to the home, and how I showcase what they love and who they are. For example, my brother is a UNC-Chapel Hill alum and we designed the home with ram accents throughout the house as a nod to his love of all things Carolina. The mascot can be found in the custom Louise Gaskill chandelier in the dining room above, on a vintage Sarreid brass coffee table, and in small bookends and accents throughout the interiors. Those are all subtle design cues that can really make the house feel personalized for the client.

From the beginning, my sister in law wanted to use a palette of classic blue and white with touches of warm reds throughout the house. We infused the neutral walls with color in rugs, pillows and art to make each room pop while carrying the common color scheme throughout the home.

Stage Three: Project Management

Once we’ve agreed on the design, my organization, processes, and systems really start to drive the project. After the start of construction, I will work closely with contractors and subcontractors to be sure we’re sticking to the design, to timelines, and to the budgets. I also visit the job site regularly to oversee the project and ensure that the work is progressing as planned. This is when the bones of the house start to come together, especially in the kitchen, bathrooms, and the layout of the home. There’s really nothing for my clients to do but sit back, relax, and know that every detail is being taken care of.

Stage Four: Installation and Reveal

Finally the big day arrives! When my team and I install the furnishings and accessories in a project, we style every detail, including fresh flowers and everything in its place. When my clients walk through the door, we want it to look absolutely perfect and ready for them in every way. All they need to do is come in and enjoy their new home. It’s a huge moment for my team to see our clients’ reactions - the big reveal is the most fun as they realize their dream home has become a reality. We love walking through with them as they see each piece that we selected and all of their family’s personalities infused in each room.

As you can imagine, this house has been even more special to work on as I continue to enjoy it with my brother and his family for holidays and special gatherings. Seeing his children with mine gathered around this table I know we’ve created a home full of joy and love for years to come. That is our goal for every client project, not just this one.

We love taking care of our clients and designing a home that meets their needs and exceeds their expectations. If you’d like to find out more about how we can work with you, just give us a call!

All the best,

Kara