Designer Spotlight - Georgia Barnes
This week instead of Good to Know, we’re doing another Designer Spotlight! Georgia is one of our talented designers, and she has worked on many of our projects, including Dutch Fields, Dallas, and Spring Road.
All images courtesy of Georgia Barnes.
Georgia here! One of my lifetime goals is to eventually purchase and renovate a historic home, but my husband and I aren’t quite ready to make the plunge. However, that doesn’t mean we’re waiting to design a place we love right now. In this post, I’ll walk you through the main living space of the home I share with my husband, Mitchell, and share my best advice for finding the right pieces for your space.
Making the Most of Smaller Spaces
We did it. Amidst this crazy pandemic, my husband and I bought our first home. It doesn’t have a yard or even a dining room, but we absolutely love all 1300 square feet. Due to our limited space, I wanted each piece to not only look beautiful, but to be functional as well. There are some pieces I splurged on and some that I saved on, and there is still a lot I want to do. However, my home is coming together in a way that feels cozy and timelessly chic.
The Sectional
Our main living space is small, which meant I needed to maximize the seating area without it feeling heavy. Cue this absolutely gorgeous sectional. I chose a bench seat square arm sectional with a classic shape and beautiful performance fabric in a neutral color. This a piece we splurged on; since my husband and I are working from home more than ever, we’re spending lots of time together in here. The sectional grounds the room while providing ample seating for the two of us (and the eventual friends we’ll have over once social distancing measures are lifted!).
The Media Console
Instead of opting for the traditional media console, we chose to put a dresser in our living room to store blankets and games. This maximizes our storage space without taking up too much floor space. We finished the room with a mini round marble coffee table that is solid and neutral.
The Rug & Wall Art
Now let’s talk about the rug. I wanted so badly to buy a beautiful, vintage, hand-knotted wool rug. . . but I couldn’t find anything I loved in my budget. So instead, I searched high and low and eventually came across this beautiful rug that is a “vintage” printed version of the rug I really wanted. Because it’s a flat rug composed of a poly-blend, it’s super easy to clean and gives added character to the room, a total win-win in my book! To finish up the room, I hung some beautiful vintage prints of Utah and the Grand Canyon, paying homage to the two states I’ve lived in.
The Counter Stools
We don’t have the space for a dining room, so our kitchen island is where all the action takes place. My husband and I love cooking, which means we practically live in here. As such, I wanted to splurge on our counter stools since I wouldn’t be buying a dining table or chairs. These backless stools completely tuck under our counter and are so comfortable and sturdy, providing great support without being bulky. I get compliments on them every time guests come over and pull one out to sit, which is all I can really ask for as a designer.
The Right Pieces for the Right Spaces
When designing a room, figure out the main activities you’ll be doing in the space and invest in really great pieces that will complement those activities. Making sure you’re putting money towards where you’re spending the most time will make the investment worth it. Save where you can on smaller, neutral elements that bring the room together, and keep your eye out for really exclusive finds, which can be worth the occasional high price tag. Nothing is stopping me from scanning Pinterest for historic home ideas and saving them for the future, but getting to do it from a house that’s filled with pieces I love and can afford right now makes it even better.
Shop My Home
If you want to follow the design process on my own home well as my other projects, be sure to follow me on Instagram. I share my favorite finds, behind-the-scenes looks at what I’m working on, and the occasional puppy picture (because, hey, I can’t help myself!).
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