An organized home is a happy home. In my work as a Dallas interior designer, I often recommend a home organizer to make rooms more livable, functional, and beautiful.
I’ve been working with Tonia Tomlin for ten years. She’s a compassionate and passionate professional organizer and founder of Sorted Out. For more than 14 years, Tonia has been making life easier for her clients by creating calm, uncluttered business and home environments; improving productivity; and saving time and money.
I use Sorted Out to help clients in many areas of their home, from closet design and functionality to lining and protecting new spaces. She also helps out by re-organizing existing spaces, such as closets, pantries, and garages.
I sat down with Tonia Tomlin to ask her a few questions about home organization and effective solutions for this week’s blog post.
Barbara Gilbert: What are the most common “problem areas” in a house?
Tonia Tomlin: The most problems areas in the homes we work in are home offices and closets. Busy professionals don’t have the time to allocate to organizing and setting up systems for long-term use. We as organizers are looking for efficient ways to set up a home office or closet to help people save time, money, and stress.
BG: What kind of solutions do you commonly advise?
TT: We recommend our custom solutions to fit the clients needs and desires. Everyone organizes differently so all of our systems are custom fit.
BG: What’s your philosophy or organization?
TT: We believe that everyone can be organized with our custom solutions. Our compassion for organization goes much more beyond the “stuff.” We are certified in chronic disorganization and ADD/ADHD. Through our techniques, we have found we are much more than just organizers. We are caring individuals, sharing our love for organization and ideas to help people get and stay organized!
BG: How can people better stay organized once you’ve visited?
TT: With our maintenance systems we help people stay organized with our tools we provide. Some tend to slip a little but that’s ok — it’s normal due to our chaotic world. But most of the time, our clients are able to keep up with the systems we provide.
Do you have your own organization hacks or tips? Leave us a comment here or on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram (don’t forget to tag @bgidesigner)!
We’ve got years of experience creating inspired, organized spaces — contact us today at 214-641-7897 or via the website form if you’d like to elevate the design of your home. We offer DFW interior design services in Dallas, Park Cities, Highland Park, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Southlake, and many more parts of DFW — please see the list of the areas we serve.
This is part two in our new series about Barbara Gilbert’s Dallas kitchen remodel. Read part one here.
I’m toward the end of a big kitchen renovation in my DFW home and I’ve got a few tips for surviving the process emerging with a smile.
This is a new home for my husband and me — we’re empty nesters and purchased a zero-lot-line house with good bones last year. The specific design of the kitchen wasn’t doing it for me, though. I saw room for improvement and started a kitchen remodel a few months ago. I had planned on completing it by June, but some life circumstances made that impossible.
So we tore it apart and started from (nearly) scratch in June.
The first thing to keep in mind is that there will be inevitable headaches. If they say four weeks, you’d better count on six. This is especially true in Texas where it’s so hard to get workers. I advise clients — and myself! — to keep their eye on the end goal: a beautiful, convenient kitchen where everything functions exactly as it should.
That perspective can be hard to maintain when the countertops are ripped out, cabinet doors off being painted, and fumes are everywhere, but nonetheless, it’s a goal!
Patience is the next piece of advice I offer. It simply takes time for all the changes to happen and there’s no point in getting upset during the weeks of work.
The third thing I always advise is to create a makeshift kitchen elsewhere in the house. Honestly, it’s best if one can move out altogether during a kitchen remodel, but that’s usually not possible. At my house, we used the upstairs laundry room and set it up with a small refrigerator. Unfortunately, there was no microwave. We used paper plates and disposable cutlery and got take-out more than usual.
With my Dallas kitchen remodel, all that’s left is some touchups on the cabinets and installing glass on the pantry door and cabinet doors — so close! The rest is done and it’s functional and gorgeous. We’re so happy with the results. I’ll be having professional photos taken and I will share them on the blog in the coming month.
What do you think of my ideas for staying sane during a kitchen remodel? Leave me a comment, or share your thoughts over on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram (be sure to tag @bgidesigner)!
Are you considering a Dallas kitchen remodel? Contact me at 214-641-7897 or use my website form. We offer interior design in Dallas, University Park, Highland Park, Allen, Frisco, Plano, Southlake, Westlake, and many more parts of DFW — please see a comprehensive list of the areas we serve.
One of my favorite nonprofits in North Texas is Dwell with Dignity. I am honored to be one of the Dallas interior designers chosen this year to help with Thrift Studio 2017, a design extravaganza and major fundraiser.
Thrift Studio is a 30-day pop-up shop created to raise monty for Dwell with Dignity. Dallas interior designers apply to help create one of nine 20-by-20 vignettes. Everything in these vignettes is generously donated and will be for sale: furniture, housewares, accessories, and high-end designer finds to the public. This is its sixth year and I can tell you, it’s a can’t-miss event for anyone looking for fabulous deals on seriously stylish home furnishings!
I care deeply about homelessness in DFW, and Dwell with Dignity serves that population in a creative way. Dwell with Dignity helps families escape poverty and homelessness through beautiful design — one household at a time. They design and install complete home interiors for families who desperately need an environment that will support health and wellness. I love that!
I’m a long-time member the Interior Design Society (IDS), and a group of us always volunteers to design a Thrift Studio vignette. I was paired with two enormously talented designers and IDS members, Ruthie Staalsen and Nicole Arnold. This year, we designed our vignette in memory of Dot Greenlee, a dear friend and IDS leader who passed away in July 2016. She and I were co-VPs of the Dallas chapter of the IDS, and I miss her greatly.
For our vignette, Ruthie, Nicole, and I chose a palette of happy colors: navy with orange and fuchsia. From that jumping off point, we started our work.
We took the armoire to Scout Studio, and they painted the inside orange. Kisabeth Furniture donated quite a few furnishings, including an orange bench. Another of our partners, Robert Allen Fabrics, donated beautiful textiles we used to recover pieces from the Dwell warehouse, a great source for donated items. We also have to thank Arteriors for their generous donations of the beautiful blue bowl on the round table, Stahl Timber for a coffee table, Dallas Rugs for the seriously chic navy blue cowhide rug, and Nomads Loom for the wonderful and colorful rugs!
I’m thrilled with how our vignette turned out! I hope you’ll make time to visit the Dwell with Dignity Thrift Studio — all decor items are sold at significant discounts and 100 percent of the sales benefit the nonprofit and help them break the cycle of poverty in Dallas.
The Dwell with Dignity Thrift Studio 2017 is located International on Turtle Creek Design Center, 150 Turtle Creek Blvd, Dallas. The preview party will be Wednesday, April 5 at 6 p.m. for VIPs; you can buy tickets here.
The pop-up shop opens the next day, April 6, and runs through May 5, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
This month, Barbara Gilbert Interiors is featured in a ten-page spread in Dallas Style & Design Magazine. This is thrilling for all of us, a real dream come true! I want to share the photos here, as well, so you can see my most recent work in a contemporary, colorful Frisco home.
This project was so much fun — this family loved color and was recently transplanted to Frisco, Texas, from Tokyo, Japan. Of course, homes in Tokyo are quite small. So when this family landed in Frisco, they bought a big, beautiful house and wanted something decidedly not cookie-cutter.
That’s where my team and I at Barbara Gilbert Interiors came in! Color is one of my passions and I’m Dewey Color Certified. This means I understand the intricacies of the psychology of color. This element affects us on a deep level and expertly mixing colors to achieve a harmonious balance is my specialty.
Memorable Entryway Design
The entryway of this home makes a grand statement, from the sweeping staircase and custom-made and colorful glass plates, to a nook with a navy settee and custom artwork. A patterned rug ties this Frisco interior design together. The result is a memorable and welcoming look.
One of the goals for this house was to create a casual-but-elegant vibe for a family with two young teenagers. The family wanted a place where the kids would be as comfortable entertaining as the grown-ups. Room by room, we set about to achieve that goal.
Dining Room with Wow Factor
The dining room is a burst of colors, from the fuchsia on the custom upholstered chairs to the orange lamps and blue wallpaper and custom window treatments. A large, contemporary piece of art ties it all together and adds a finishing touch. This dining room has major “wow” factor.
Elegant Living Room
When this family moved to Frisco from Tokyo, they didn’t bring any furniture or many belongings. Couple that with the fact that this was a brand-new two-story house, and you’ve got a true blank slate.
One of my biggest challenges as I worked in this blank slate was carefully creating color palettes that worked together room by room. I wanted to create seamless flow. As you can see from the photos, each room has its own personality, but the spaces work together, too. Nothing seems out of place.
The living room was a particular pleasure to design, with built-in bookshelves, arched doorways, and a vaulted ceiling. My team and I mixed color, texture, and pattern to achieve a transitional, colorful area. You’d be just as likely to kick back and watch TV as entertain and have friends over for drinks.
Crisp Kitchen
Crisp, clean lines dominated in this warm-contemporary kitchen. The homeowner wanted a modern look, but not stark at all. So we warmed it up with textural patterns, colorful accents against the white cabinets, and bright art above the fireplace. A kitchen is about family and time together, so we created seating at the table and breakfast bar.
Serene, Swoon-Worthy Bedroom
A master bedroom should be a serene space that invites relaxation and rejuvenation. Working with my color-loving clients, we envisioned the space above with hues of purple, silver, and gray. Multiple seating areas take the comfort level to, well, the next level!
The result is an elegant, curated master bedroom design that works both functionally and aesthetically. The pops of color aren’t too saturated or intense. My clients loved this room!
Harmonious Home Office
A home office should be a place of concentration and productivity, but not too serious. To achieve that look, I used a subtle wallpaper, circular rug, contemporary desk, and fun pops of color everywhere.
Marvelous Media Room
The final room I want to show off in this colorful Frisco home is the game room and home theater. With teenagers, this space took on special importance — they’ll want to invite friends over to relax in this space! But with a sophisticated look, adults will be at home here, too.
If you’re thinking about interior design in Dallas (or elsewhere!), please contact Barbara Gilbert Interiors today at 214-641-7897!
I’m thrilled to tell you about a brand new service I’m rolling out, Design in a Binder. I created this for people who love the look of a Barbara Gilbert Interiors-designed interior but don’t live in Texas, or want to have a more hands-on approach to their home.
Design in a Binder is a perfect option for clients who like to roll up their sleeves and manage their own design project, but need professional expertise in creating a plan. I’ve heard from DIY enthusiasts who say this is exactly what they want!
Design in a Binder is also a thoughtful solution for people who want to work one room at a time or are trying to stay within a certain budget, but still want a professionally designed home. This allows them to implement the design plan when time and finances permit.
My team and I create Design in a Binder projects to reflect the same design aesthetic as my full-service interiors. Clients provide us with room measurements and inspiration images, plus answers to a design style questionnaire to get started, and we take it from there.
After reviewing all information and creating a design plan, clients will receive a beautiful box with all their design essentials to get started on their project. The box will include their custom-designed binder with all the details about the project, including a floor plan, a packet of reference materials like paint swatches and fabric samples, a shopping list, and instructions for making it all come together.
All selections made in Design in a Binder projects are available for purchase online or in local shops, as opposed to the custom and trade-only options used for my full-service design clients. You decide what items to buy and when to buy them.
Design in a Binder also offers custom drapery and throw pillows as a purchase option to add some exclusive designer style to the projects. My team and I will select the fabric from our collection of designer patterns and have the window treatments or pillows fabricated and shipped.
For more information about Design in a Binder, CLICK HERE or call us at 214-641-7897.
This is an exciting summer! A few weeks ago, I launched Design on Demand, a new service that offers clients the opportunity to spend four hours with myself and another designer to tackle their interior design needs.
Today, I’m proud to introduce the Barbara Gilbert Interiors Shop. This is a curated collection of home furnishings and goods, personally selected by me. All the items are for sale, and the selection is huge.
So often, people ask me about where to find the kind of furniture they see in my interior design work. Now I have a place to direct them where they can buy everything from furniture and art, to accessories, rugs, mirrors, and lighting. It’s a one-stop shop for inspired design.
Some of my favorite brands are in the Barbara Gilbert Interiors Shop: Currey and Company, Hudson Valley Lighting, Kichler, Global Views, Regina Andrew Design, Cyan Design, Surya Athena, and more. Throughout this post, you’ll see examples of the items for sale by different manufacturers.
The overall feel leans toward a contemporary/transitional style, and there are other more traditional pieces included, as well. And can we talk about color? This is a great place to find colorful vases and rugs, pillows and accessories, furniture and mirrors. Of course, I have picked plenty of neutrals, too, since too much color can overwhelm any room.
I hope you’ll take a moment to visit the shop and browse the categories. I think you’ll be delighted with the design offerings and price points. I’ve created a place where design aficionados and those newer to home furnishings and accessories can both find what they’re looking for, and a few things they didn’t even know they needed. Enjoy!
This month, I’m introducing a new and exciting service at Barbara Gilbert Interiors. Design on Demand offers clients the opportunity to spend four hours with myself and another designer. During that time, we tackle their interior design needs.
Design on Demand is perfect for people who want help with their homes, but don’t have the budget for full-service interior design. We can look at one room or space, or do accessories and artwork for multiple rooms.
We spend four hours planning the design and when we are finished, clients have a curated purchasing list of retail sources that contains pictures and sizes and a furniture layout plan along with a strategy that allows them to implement the design plan when time and finances allow. Perfect rooms for this service include:
- Master bedroom
- Living room
- Dining room
- Guest bedroom
- Children’s bedroom
- Playrooms
We just met with our first Design on Demand client and sketched out the room, as you can see below. We curated a list of items to buy, including a new sofa, coffee table, end tables, accessories, rug, and more. They were thrilled with the results!
I’m excited to expand our offerings into this area because there are so many people who need and want better design, but they don’t know where to start. I like the idea of a one-day project that offers such immediate results and gratification.
We’re limiting Design on Demand to only a few clients per month and we’re already getting calls. If you’re interested in this new service from Barbara Gilbert Interiors, please contact me today for more information. I look forward to working with you to make your home more beautiful!
Today, I’m bringing you a first look at a recent project, a kitchen remodel in North Dallas. This space went from outdated and not functional to Transitional chic with a light and bright feel and excellent function.
My clients both love to cook, and their former kitchen wasn’t configured properly and had no work triangle. On my advice, their contractor took four feet from the huge dining room to add much needed space to this area without compromising the other room’s purpose.
With that extra square footage, we created a larger island and separated the oven, cooktop, sink, and refrigerator. Now when they’re working in the kitchen together, they’re not bumping into each other. They also have plenty of counter and storage space to do what they love.
For the look, the couple wanted something clean, fresh, and updated. I recommended a Transitional look, and they loved our proposed design drawings.
For the cabinets, we chose a simple Shaker style, in a beautiful gray neutral by Sherwin Williams called Online (SW 7072). We painted the walls and island grays in the same color family, and the result is harmonious. The pulls are a brushed nickel.
We installed the hardwood floors in the kitchen for a timeless feel. For the countertops, we chose Silestone quartz in platinum with steel sparkles, an elegant, sophisticated choice with clean lines and a contemporary look. We selected BC Flooring Studio white Carrera Marble tile for the backsplash because it’s a classic, refined choice that will look stylish for years. For a wow factor, we installed a herringbone tile accent area over the stove. It’s the Glacier Blend Chicago pattern by BC Flooring Studio. I love the effect!
I advised the couple on appliances, as well, and they chose stainless steel ones by Wolf for the double ovens and stove. The dishwasher is Asko, refrigerator is KitchenAid, and sink and faucet are by Blanco. The overall feel is cohesive and tasteful. New, top-of-the-line appliances will also make a huge difference in my clients’ ability to enjoy their kitchen.
For this project, we also redesigned the couple’s wet bar area, and it went from lackluster to luminous. We used the same Silestone quartz counters, but went with stainless steel Gladio tiles for the wall. They create depth and big visual interest in this small area as the light plays off the tile. We also installed two glass shelves so the bottles would almost appear to be floating. They love it!
This project was a lot of fun and I appreciated my clients’ commitment to the design process and patience during implementation. I hope you enjoy the photos.
Color abounds in this transitional home that leans toward the contemporary side. Today, I’m showing it off on the blog for the first time. My team and I had the exciting challenge of creating a colorful, contemporary residence that didn’t go over the top or look too trendy with its vibrant hues. We carefully selected the furnishings and accessories for this house, and created a fun, stylish retreat with high-end touches throughout.
Stained wood cabinetry and beams add a pleasing aesthetic and make the home feel warm and cozy. I commissioned custom art throughout the home to pick up and enhance the colors of the fabrics used in pillows, custom window coverings, and upholstery. Beautiful glass plate art accentuate the wall in one living room, and custom glass tile decorates the wall behind the wet bar in a game room/media room (this element won an ASID Design Ovation Interior Design Award for a residential custom-designed element).
Other one-of-a-kind pieces include a navy blue custom leather headboard in the master bedroom, custom Midcentury Modern chandelier in the formal dining room, and custom leather-and-fabric banquette in the game room/media room. Our clients love the results and we do, too! Please leave a comment with your thoughts, and enjoy the photos!
The new year is off to a remarkable start! Barbara Gilbert Interiors has received two Best of Houzz awards for 2016, as well as an award for 2016 best home theater design in Dallas. What an wonderful surprise!
Barbara Gilbert Interiors won “Best Of Design” and “Best of Customer Service” awards. The design award means our work was among of the most popular with the 35 million monthly unique users of Houzz last year. Only 3 percent of the 35 million active home building, remodeling, and design industry professionals receive these honors.
Customer service honors are based on several factors, including the number and quality of client reviews we received last year, as well as our interaction with the public on the site.
The third award we received was for a home theater we designed in Dallas, which is pictured above. All of the winners are featured in this ideabook. This award was chosen by Houzz editors based on the number of photos saved to ideabooks. We created a bright, inviting, and cozy space, with an unusual palette for a home theater. Our goal was to design a glamorous and inviting retreat in hues of cream, silver, and gold accents, with super comfortable seating and custom artwork.
Houzz is an indispensable tool for me as an interior designer. I ask clients to create Houzz ideabooks of their likes and dream rooms as we begin to work together. From these photos, we glean inspiration for everything from color palette and overall style, to specific details, like tiles, light fixtures, and furniture pieces.
Houzz also gives me an effective platform for showcasing a portfolio of my own work and creating my own ideabooks. This leads to interaction with a huge community of users from around the world, which I enjoy so much.
So you can imagine what an honor this is for me to receive these awards. It’s actually the fifth consecutive year Barbara Gilbert Interiors has been recognized by Houzz, since we created a presence on the site in 2012.
All of us at Barbara Gilbert Interiors are grateful for these prestigious awards, as well as the active Houzz community and our fantastic clients, whose enthusiasm for our work made them possible.