How To Mix and Match Dining Furniture

When I first walk into a home for a design consultations, one of the most common things I see is a matched dining set. Table and chairs purchased together, sometimes the matching sideboard or china cabinet. While this is ok some of the time, it’s definitely playing it safe. It’s MUCH more interesting and casual to mix things up. I’ve gone ahead and paired four great tables with chairs that I think would look amazing, especially for hosting. Which is your favorite?

Rustic Meets Modern

Chic, Sleek, Angular

Midcentury Kid Friendly

Organic Modern Mix

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Best Design Books for Browsing and Gifting

I have a bit of a collection of design and architecture books (to say the least). It’s one of my favorite things to shop for, and to flip through when I’m feeling uninspired or the online algorithms are just feeding me the same old stuff. As we approach the holidays, I thought I would share some of my favorite titles to give and get, and a few that are on my wishlist as well!

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Titles I have and love!

Must-Do's For a Functional and Beautiful Desk Space

Ah, September. The start of school, and this year, perhaps back to work for parents now that kids are at school in-person. Which means one thing - you need a desk space at home. Whether it’s homework headquarters for your teen, or a home office, I have some must-do’s for you to keep in mind to make this zone productive, functional and beautiful.

1. Have Something Pretty to Look At

Your desk should be a pleasant place to be - help it along with something beautiful to look at. Gazing out a window is great, but not always possible. Wallpaper, some art you love, or a pin board with inspiring images are all ways to spruce up your work space.

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2. Go Simple for a Budget-Friendly Design

If budget is tight (or you need multiple work stations and want to be conservative), go with a very simple desk. Simple lines, and a white finish will always look better than a cheap faux wood. This desk is from CB2 and is under $200, and the drawers are from Ikea. You’ll want drawers for pens, post-it’s, chargers, etc. With the money you saved you can put a little more into a comfy desk chair.

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3. Hidden Storage is Key

Having a home office comes with so much STUFF - and same for keeping a school supply stash at home for projects and 9pm requests for a folder that they need first thing in the morning. Ahem. My favorite way to add storage is with a very non-office piece like a dining room credenza, media console, or any cabinet that is stylish and has doors and/or drawers. Think printer paper, labels, glue sticks, tape, extra staples, construction paper, file folders… etc. Bonus, they are usually appropriately sized for a printer to sit on top.

P.S. If your credenza only has shelves, you may want to get some acrylic bins to help corral and organize the smaller supplies but still easy to see without pulling them out.

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4. No Dedicated “Office” Room? No Problem!

Maybe you don’t have a spare room that functions as an office. Or maybe your partner is using it to work full time and you need a second work-from-home space. Or maybe your kids are young and you’d like to keep an eye on them when they are at the family computer. A work space that is incorporated into the rest of the home (especially open concept spaces or apartments) is totally doable when you pick simple, attractive pieces and avoid the cubicle-style furniture found at the office supply stores. Add a lamp, some art, maybe a nearby file tray or printer (or get a small storage cabinet), and it will blend in seamlessly.

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Hope these tips help you get back to school and back to work! What other design tips would you like to see us cover here? I’m all ears!

6 Nursery Blunders and What To Do Instead

Going theme-overboard

I remember all the mommy blogs and pregnancy forums asking “What’s your nursery theme???” To which the answers seemed to be a chorus of Disney characters, types of vehicles, princess (aka all pink all ruffles), jungle/forest/under the sea complete with decals. It was not my scene. Not to say you can’t have a cohesive design statement. In our youngest son’s nursery, I did a loose “global” theme, and tried to incorporate maps/globes, animals from around the world, and prints and textiles that were from or inspired by a variety of cultures and locations.

Buying everything from a baby store

Furniture “sets” exist to make an easy buck off of people that are scared to make a misstep. Trust me when I say you absolutely do NOT need to buy everything matching, or even everything from a big box store or baby brand. That goes for the fancy brands too. Our crib was about $300, and it’s held up perfectly to 2 kids. Likewise, our glider was from Baby’s R Us, but was much more affordable than some of the upscale kid brands. Then we elevated the design with a vintage midcentury dresser (that doubles as a changing table while baby is still in diapers), a beautiful bookshelf from Crate & Kids, a side table from World Market, and a footstool from Article. An eclectic mix with a variety of price points.

Generic art

Perhaps one of my biggest pet peeves is overly cutesy art in nurseries that has very little personality. I much prefer vintage pieces. I hung a vintage world map over the changing table and a set of vintage original acrylic paintings of animals. Both of these were sourced online, but local vintage shops are also a great place to look for paintings, old movie posters, and textiles.

Skipping the blackout shades

Do your sleep-deprived self a favor and spring for some blackout shades or drapes. On a budget, the pull down blinds from the hardware store will work in a pinch, just soften that up with some simple curtain panels that work in your color scheme.

Not thinking ahead

Babies are cute and tiny, and while you’re in the thick of the newborn stage, it feels like they will be little and screaming and not sleeping FOREVER. But don’t blink, because before you know it, they are literally running circles around you, climbing over that crib rail, potty trained, and have a ton more stuff. The prepared nursery is adaptable, prioritizes storage, and isn’t so overly cutesy BABY that everything has to be redecorated for a toddler or preschooler. Use some furniture that has a bit of seriousness to it (like a MCM piece), and don’t spend a ton on a rug in a theme that only a newborn would love. By the time they are 5 or 6 they will have their own opinions and want to redo everything anyway, you might as well make it last until then.

Not prioritizing safety

Interior design gets a reputation for being all fluff and no substance, but really the job of a designer is to make homes that are livable and not just pretty. That is never as true as it is for nurseries, in particular when it comes to your baby’s safety. Follow safe-sleep guidelines, even if that means skipping the cute crib bedding set with the bumper and the pillows. Secure all furniture like dressers and shelving to the walls, and put cords for electronics and window treatments out of reach, or secured to the wall so baby can’t pull at it. It’s also popular to hang art over the crib, but in an earthquake-prone state, I advise against it unless you’re using some really secure hanging mechanism AND sticking everything in place with some museum putty. Even then, I usually recommend something lightweight over the crib, that baby can’t pull down. *Note, these photos were taken when my son was over 18 months and can sleep with a stuffed animal, but the pillow is not in his crib for sleeping.

Photos by Moch Snyder Photography for Maggie Stephens Interiors.

Design Advice: Adding Color in Unexpected Places

Check out the recent Redfin article we were featured in:

Don’t Stop at Walls! 23 Unique Places You Probably Haven’t Thought of to Add Accent Colors In Your Home

Nothing refreshes a room quite like a fresh coat of paint. And although your walls get the most attention when painting a room, there are many overlooked areas in your home that can be brightened up with a splash of color. Whether you're looking to paint an entire wall or add subtle hints of color to perk up your living space, we've got you covered. 

Redfin reached out to us and other experts from Vancouver, BC to Las Vegas, NV, to reveal unexpected places where you can get creative and add accent colors to liven up your home. Check out our ideas to get inspired!

Don’t Stop at Walls! 23 Unique Places You Probably Haven’t Thought of to Add Accent Colors In Your Home

Photo by Delbarr Moradi Photography for Maggie Stephens Interiors.

Project Reveal: Bainbridge Family Home

I first met with this client mere days before the whole world shut down in March 2020. She and her family were moving internationally to Bainbridge Island, and while the pandemic certainly had us off to a rocky start, we were able to furnish their living and dining rooms, and two home office spaces. We finally went back to shoot the finished project, and I’m so excited to share with you!

My clients have traveled and lived all over the world, and had an existing collection of African baskets and textiles and batiks that we tried to incorporate throughout the home. Often I’m asked if working with a designer means getting rid of everything you already own - no way! Our job is to make each home authentic to the client; that includes pieces you’ve gathered on your own that have personal significance.

We skipped window treatments in the living room because the room overlooks a wooded gully and there are no privacy issues. We love seeing those cedars right out the window. The console was a special find - it’s made from reclaimed architectural decoration from India.

This dining room pushed my neutral-loving heart to more saturated color, and I love how it turned out! We wanted to echo the strong blue seen in the neighboring sitting room slash playroom. The dining room is mostly used for entertaining, so we could go bolder than I might otherwise. The rug adds great pattern and rich color (and is actually an indoor/outdoor rug, if you can believe it!). We went with a refined version of a live edge table - very Pacific Northwest - and elevated it slightly with some elegant chairs.

Both parents work at home, and needed a dedicated work space. One is in the primary bedroom, and the other is in a multipurpose bonus room. I really enjoyed pulling together two distinctly different work spaces. Now that so many people need a work area at home, this is something we’re seeing a lot of requests for! The second office space holds the shared wireless printer, and we used a low credenza to hold office supplies and the like.

I felt very honored to welcome this family to Bainbridge Island and help make their house a home during a pandemic! Would love to hear what your favorite part is! Leave a comment below :)

All photos by Miranda Estes Photography.

Styling by Elizabeth Lockhart Design.