If you’re considering redesigning your home but nervous to make the first step, you’re not alone. Unlike a new car, your home’s design is a longer commitment that you can’t necessarily test drive … up until now. At Karr Bick, we acknowledge that this first step can be the hardest. We want you to feel confident in your home’s design and your own personal preferences.  When you’re booking your next vacation, consider skipping out on the generic and bland hotel chains. Instead, take a shot on somewhere more boutique. While not only providing more enjoyable surroundings, you’re also getting first hand experience with some design elements that you may consider adding to your own home.  Take this opportunity to sample elements of a space. Whether that be wallpaper, colored cabinets, patterned tile, or color combos. You’ll get the chance to live in it yourself, which will give you more confidence making those decisions within your own home.  While visiting Nashville, Kitchen and Bath Design Assistant Melissa explored her design preferences further by staying at a local B&B. Buffalo Soul, a contemporary bed & breakfast designed to fit all musical needs. It soon became Melissa’s design compass. During her stay, she […]

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate and/or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy at the bottom of this post. As a day filled with fireworks, parades, and countless patriotic symbols, Fourth of July is a day to do one thing: celebrate. Though this year may call for more backyard parties than in the past, your friends at Karr Bick hope that your day is full of stars, stripes, and pure American love. In honor of the holiday, we’ve compiled some of our favorite festive tips, table setting ideas, and a list of the items in our shopping carts to help honor the day.  Our Decorating and Party Tips Quick and Simple Tablecloths: To get more bang for your buck, buy fabric and make your own tablecloths. Not only is it super easy to do, but you can pick from an endless array of choices while spending less. This is especially handy for larger tables.  Buy Flags in Bulk for Decorations: Not only are American flags more than fitting for the holiday, but they also can make great decor accessories. By putting them in vases, potted plants, or straight in the ground, you can elevate your festive decorations.  Use Plastic Plates […]

In spending extra time at home, you may have noticed some spaces in your house that seem to attract dust and clutter rather than smiling back at you.  Are these nooks and crannies not living up to your expectations? Maybe it’s time for you to consider fixing that. There are a lot of changes you can make that allow you to get the most out of your square footage without drastically changing the footprint of your home. Whether it’s the extra room that the in-laws stay in while they’re visiting, the shed out back, or the basement, transforming your space into a refreshed creation can ultimately revamp your home. Though serving a purpose when originally built, a local family didn’t feel the once carriage house served them fully. With a large family and a passion for entertaining, the clients wanted to reconstruct the space into a pool house.    In collaboration with Designer Wendy, the family created a space that has evolved to have many different functions while still ringing true to their pool house dreams. From an outdoor shower, retractable glass doors, and impromptu bar, the pool house has become a sanctuary. Even with these modern details, the casita […]

According to Merriam-Webster, small is defined as “having comparatively little size or slight dimensions” or “minor in influence, power, or rank.” While we don’t disagree on its first meaning, we’d like to argue the latter. Like many people, the dictionary forgets the power that the small holds. Within a home, people often hone in on the larger problem areas at hand, disregarding their small spaces. Let us be clear though: Small spaces should never be underestimated.  Originally, a client approached Designer Wendy about a major kitchen remodel. In their collaborations, they decided to tackle a space that soon became a newfound mudroom. The step-down closet that wasn’t working for the family began to take a new shape. Now, this small space makes a grand gesture in welcoming visitors back.  One of the stand-out points of the room includes a piece of art that had been passed down within the client’s family. While not only speaking to the aesthetic of the room, it was also close to the heart of the family’s story. By having the courage to ask a small space for impact, the client was answered with a more comprehensive picture and their #NothingOrdinary. Oftentimes, people undervalue their small spaces […]

“My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go,” Oscar Wilde once stated about his fleapit of a Parisian hotel room. Nowadays, however, wallpaper isn’t limited to the drab floral print from your grandmother’s house. Regardless of if you prefer sleek and stylish, hip, or historic, wallpower has the power to take a room to the next level.  As Designer Wendy puts it, “wallpaper is the ultimate MVP in taking something to #NothingOrdinary status.” With the right balance, it has the potential to give a space the extra push it needs to create something truly magical.  Whether you favor geometric, botanical, or something more abstract, your wallpaper choice allows a piece of your personality to be showcased. Not only is it taking the space up a notch, it includes a reflection of who you are. It has the power to enhance a happy and cheerful vibe, or a more pensive and relaxing feeling. By embellishing the overall mood of a space, wallpaper can easily become a star player.  In Owner Jenny’s eyes, “Wallpaper is that thing that takes a project from good to great. It ties all the colors […]

Tonight, I sit in the bar my husband painstakingly and perfectly created, to tell you the story of our shield.  I tend to write better when things are deeply personal. And when I have a drink in hand and good music playing, the cage that holds back emotion finds the key. (see the bar here) I think it best to start at the beginning, so hang in there. I will get to it. Fourteen years ago this April, Todd and I walked blindly into the world of the small business ownership.  It helps to be young and stupid when stepping feet first into an abyss that is completely foreign and really has no end.  I mean, thank goodness for all the brave fools who decide to own businesses. Small business accounts for some 60 million jobs which is roughly half of all employment. Seriously, half!  For most of us, business ownership starts with a dream, not so much a plan.  The plan eventually comes, but it’s rough and gory and pretty much like throwing darts while blindfolded.  Where the small business warriors lack sometimes in planning, we make up for in agility.  When things need to change, we change them.  […]

The screen is blank. As I stare at the curser before me, I am paralyzed by the task of finding the perfect words. How do you properly describe a project that lived inside a craftsman’s head for the past 20 years? Now it lives outside for everyone to see. A bar designed and built by the dreamer.   You almost have to adjust your lens when you first see it. You can’t expect the latest trend or some crazy use of color. You must instead understand the link from the past to this very present moment. The scale and detail that creates lasting architecture that will stand for 100 years. Unchanged. There is drama in its darkness.  There is mystery in its light.   What invites you to this place to drink and talk with friends? The answer is complex. This is not your typical basement bar. It’s nestled into the front porch, stealing its long length from a little more than half of the old screened in area. There are original glass French doors that lead directly to the formal dining room. Light comes from all sides, yet the mood is dark.   The beam ceiling was created from a dying white oak […]

Hello, friends! We’re back with another addition of “Friday Favorites.” We get asked all of the time about how and where to buy the best bar and counter stools, so today we are tackling the subject. When we are working on a design project, the bar stools are what complete the look. They are the shining beacon added to the island that says, “alas the project is complete!” What a sigh of relief when we get to this point, and I think that our clients would agree wholeheartedly. So, where do you begin?  There is such a vast assortment of stools out there that it’s hard to know what to do. Here are some great tips and tricks for choosing the perfect seats for your space. WHAT IS THE PERFECT SIZE FOR MY BAR STOOLS: The standard height of most kitchen islands is thirty-six inches high. When choosing your stool, you will want to go with a seat that is 24-27 inches high. This is a counter-height stool. Going with anything higher is going to be uncomfortable and look awkward in your space.  If you are choosing a seat for an island that is higher, such as a standard pub […]

Hi Friends! Welcome to “Friday favorites.” You asked for tips, and we listened. We’ll be sharing great ideas and inspiration to help you create the home of your dreams. Spring has sprung and we are ready to get outside! So, this week let’s talk about creating the perfect outdoor living space. It is very easy to create an inviting gathering area for family and friends with just a few easy steps. 1. Pillows We love pillows and adding them to your outdoor space gives you not only the perfect pop of color, it provides a sense of coziness and comfort. We suggest outdoor fabric to prevent mildew and dirt build-up. You can find them almost anywhere and in a large variety of prices to fit your budget. A few great sources are Target, Williams Sonoma, Wayfair, Overstock, Amazon, Ballard Designs, and Pottery Barn just to name a few, but there are loads of retailers out there. Outdoor pillows are a great way to use bold colors if you usually stick to neutrals, and want to change things up. Here are a few different looks for this season: bold stripes, colorful prints, geometric patterns, and pillows with icons are all great […]

“Every once in a while I take a giant step outside my normal confined “kitchen/bath lady” role. I agree to take on a project that includes an entire renovation from top to bottom. That means window selection, HVAC discussions, fighting for old doors to be used and dreaming of details that would do justice to a home. The thing that these projects all have in common is not what you might think. The thread that ties them all together is the people. Really dang good people. If you have been on a journey like this with me it’s because I really like you. I also at some point along the way have fallen deeply in love with your home. I am fully invested in its happiness. These pictures were taken yesterday. The day before move-in day. It’s one of my favorite days to be on site, listening to the panicked scramble and hustle and bustle. So much happens in this day. Lights get hung, paint gets a final coat and door hardware finds it’s home. I get asked a million questions about Where? How? When? and I love to make those quick decisions that keep it all moving. It’s where […]