The Best White Paint Colors

Frequently, I’m asked for my “favorite” white paint color. While I don’t have a singular favorite, I do know that I have several that I will always check in a room needing white paint. They are the ones I’ve used several times with great success, often getting compliments from the homeowner’s family and friends, and even the painters! They are definitely worth checking out, especially if you’re in the PNW and have similar, regular overcast skies and muted light.

My own bedroom is painted “White Dove” by Benjamin Moore. I like it so much, I also painted my studio the same white. It’s a little creamy without being yellow, especially with lots of natural light. Click here to order a sample!

The first time I used “Cloud Cover” by Benjamin Moore was in this Kirkland living room, and I’ve used it several times since. A perfect soft white against the overcast skies of the PNW. Click here to order a sample!

Ahhhh, this spa-like primary suite “Silver Satin” by Benjamin Moore - a little on the cooler side, but not stark. Click here to order a sample!

As with all paint colors, I recommend narrowing down to 5 or fewer options, then painting large swatches on the walls (or order a painted sample from a paint store or company like Samplize). Check on all the walls, at different times of day. Sometimes a white that looks beautiful in the morning takes on a yellow cast in the evening under artificial light. Or if you’re in our service area, we offer paint color consults as part of our 2 hour consults.

Do you have a favorite white I should check out? Let me know in the comments!

How To Style a Coffee Table

Earlier this month, we shared 8 of our favorite coffee tables, so now you might be wondering what to put on it?! While your coffee table styling will differ based on your household or aesthetic, there are some basic tips and tricks you can turn to for an instantly polished look.

I pulled together three different looks using items I had around my house to demonstrate! Let’s get started!

Plant + Tray + Candle

A living plant (or faux) is not the most expected item on a coffee table, but they last longer than a floral arrangement, and are sculptural and cool. Trays I use all the time - they help make the table not feel so vast, give a sense of “zones” and are a handy place to store the remote, coasters, your latest read, a decorative object, etc. I added a candle and a coaster to the table. A word on coasters - please buy something beautiful and not just cardboard ones. Natural stone looks lovely, or brass and wood. These are old but they are petrified wood.

Book + Bowl of Photos + Flowers

I used a large art book here in a similar way to the tray in the first arrangement. It helps give a definitive zone, but it’s also something beautiful to look at. It anchors a candle and pretty bottle of matches. I filled a decorative brass bowl with mini polaroid pictures - fun for guests to leaf through! You could also do postcards or something else collected. Just add a vase with some flowers. I cut these from my yard. Easy!

Books + Open Book + Natural Touches

I wanted to go a little more minimalistic and maybe a little masculine here. A stack of favorite art books, with one open to a particularly striking page. Great way to display art if you don’t have much wall space. Two handmade ceramic bowls filled with beach combing treasures, and a wooden sculpture. I like the juxtaposition of the man-made art with the found objects from nature. Using bowls or dishes that are vintage or handmade is a great (affordable!) way to collect small items for a bigger visual impact.

Essential Styling Tools

Here’s a little cheat sheet you can refer to next time you’re shopping for accessories!

1. Tray

2. Small basket

3. Lidded box

4. Potted plant or vase for flowers

5. Nice coasters

6. Art books (I also love photography books of places I’ve traveled)

7. Candle

8. Something from nature.

9. A collection (3 or more items)

8 Coffee Tables We Love

Coffee tables come in all shapes and sizes, and can completely change the look of a room. Round, rectangular, marble, or wood… there’s no one-size-fits-all. Here are 8 of our favorites!

(left to right)

1. Freeform Coffee Table by Baker, to the trade.

2. Santoro White Quartz Coffee Table by CB2, $1099.

3. Parchment and Wood Coffee Table by A. Rudin, to the trade.

4. Malcolm Square Coffee Table by Pottery Barn, $999

5. Nickey Kehoe Round Coffee Table by Nickey Kehoe, $4700.

6. Bronson Coffee Table by Lawson-Fenning, $3475.

7. Justice Oak Coffee Table by CB2, $799.

8. Nolan Cocktail Table by Baker, to the trade.

Maggie Stephens Interiors Studio Tour

Welcome to our design studio! We’ve been in this office space for one year, moving in right before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Washington and the world as we knew it. It was a scary time to be a small business owner, especially having just increased my overhead! But having a space to safely be away from home, to focus on work and my clients, proved to be my saving grace in 2020. And this year, we are expecting our best year yet! Have a peek at where the interiors magic happens…

We’re located on Bainbridge Island, but also have clients in Seattle, the South Sound, and virtually. Our whole space is around 300 sq ft, including a back storage room with a bathroom and kitchenette. I knew I needed space for two desks, file storage, sample storage, and a seating area - where I’d envisioned hosting clients and vendors - has turned out to be a great place to spread out samples when I’m getting started on a project.

Our shelves hold files, project binders, vendor catalogs, and some of my favorite design books, perfect for inspiration when Instagram and Pinterest get too redundant.

The table is the perfect place to spread out.

All our fabric samples are in this mid-century inspired dresser, and our tile and wood samples are on display shelves above - although we’ve already outgrown them and I have more boxes in the back!

If we have a Zoom call, chances are I’ll be sitting here!

The custom pinboards hold inspiration for projects, product I like, reminders to myself, and project info and design boards.

All the chairs in the studio are on casters, so they are easy to move around.

Thanks for taking a little tour with me today!

Shopping for Rugs on Instagram

UPDATED Fall of 2022

Dip even one toe into the design community on Instagram and you'll find an account slinging vintage rugs. My favorite sellers tend to curate their selections into "batches" of 5-20 or so rugs, all unique, but the seller's personal taste and preference shines through. 

The main hurdle in shopping for these rugs IS that they are unique. I'm often looking for particular dimensions (or a range of dimensions), a tone or color palette, and a style (flat-weave, shaggy, etc.). And having all those elements line up into the perfect rug isn't going to happen without sifting through lots of beautiful rugs that are too small, too bright, the wrong texture.

So I follow quite a few "rug slingers" on Instagram so I can pounce on the perfect rugs when they are featured. Saves me time (I don't have to visit dozens of websites, I can just scroll through instagram) and there is a lovely sense of community there as well. I've rounded up some of my favorite accounts in case you too would like to shop for rugs on Instagram.
 

All photos from the featured seller's Instagram account.

Jean Palmer Home. Specializes in the worn, faded palette that I love right now.

Woven Abode. My entry rug is from them (sneak peeks on my instagram...). A lot of pretty rugs.

Vintage Rug Shop.  Since writing this post, the Vintage Rug Shop is now a full-blown brick and mortar store with furniture, accessories, pillows, and (of course!) rugs. You’ll find lots of area rugs with the worn-in look, including darker color palettes.

Rug and Weave. Husband & wife team (and an adorable baby). I've bought a rug for clients from them. HUGE variety and very knowledgeable about where the rugs come from, etc.

Loom and Kiln. These ladies have a whole shop with other goods (pillows, ceramics, art), but they do round up some gorgeous unique rugs. 

Frances Loom. Another shop with some beautiful muted tones coming through.

The Southern Loom. She has a great variety of sizes, from very big to narrow runners and tinies.

Kennedy Rose Interiors. Jessica always has the most unique rugs! She shows great close up videos so you can see all the detail (just ask if there is one you'd like to see closer!).

Cloth and Wool carries the most beautiful rugs in the soft, faded tones that are so popular right now. Lots of large rugs, too!

District Loom - Heather has a great eye for the prettiest rugs. She also offers presale to subscribers.

New England Loom has a great variety of size, color tones, and styles. Don’t miss the pillows, too!

Curio Rugs is one of my favorite sources for larger rugs at a good price point, especially when things go on sale. Our office rug is from here.

Now I know I am missing some for sure, but these are some of my very favorite sources for vintage rugs for my own home and for clients! Please share other favorites in the comments!

Travel Diary: Los Angeles

In the spring, our little family traveled down to Los Angeles for a long weekend - from San Jose it's approximately a 6 hour drive (give or take, depending on traffic and the temperament of our kiddo). We hit some of the beautiful shops I've followed on social media for ages. What a treat!

First up was Lawson Fenning - both Ryan and I felt like we could have just packed the whole store into a truck and driven straight back to our house. Love those clean modern lines and all the unique lighting.

Then was Galerie Half. I loved this minimalist, curated store. Such a beautiful mix of rustic antiques and mid century shapes.

On Saturday we visited Hollywood At Home, where I bought several pillows for clients and made a wishlist for textiles I hope to incorporate into future projects.

Then headed over to Nickey Kehoe. Once again I loved that mix between rustic and modern... and gorgeous ceramics.

And it wouldn't be a trip to LA without a side trip to Disneyland! With a day of driving on either end, it was a perfect weekend escape. We can't wait to go back.