Dabbieri Blog

5 Ways to Incorporate White/Neutral Design Themes

White and neutral design themes have long been a trending staple in interior design, with their simple colorways reflected in the fashion world through monochromatic style. Neutral hues are often a safe bet for larger household items like flooring, paint colors, and appliances because they're such timeless hues. These colors never go out of fashion. It's easy to mix and match whites, beiges, taupe, and grays through comforters, pillows, sculptures, and art, but how do you tie these tones into the fundamental architecture of your home? 

With Tile Accent Walls

Catch Ivory Matte Ceramic by Emser Tile

White tile is a staple of any bathroom, and while a lot of people choose it as a floor or a shower accent tile, it also can add an eclectic retro look as a wall tile! Find large format wall tiles to make small spaces appear more extensive, or go for small penny tiles in the spacious bathrooms to designate specific areas like the washing station or the bathtub. Neutral tile accent walls work well in kitchens, as well as backsplashes and mosaic inlays. Tile is naturally waterproof, so it functions well in moisture-prone areas of the house. It also bolsters your interior design by adding layers of texture to make a space feel warm and dimensional.

Cozy Light Furniture

Barre City Silverado carpet by Dabbieri

Layer a range of monochrome neutrals by adding comfortable furniture such as white velvet loveseats, a beige sectional, or off-white ottomans. When it comes to your larger items, like couches, laundry machines, and the refrigerator, chances are you want to make this purchase last as long as possible. Choose colors for these big-ticket purchases wisely, and try to stick to a white-neutral palette, as these tones can withstand the changing of trends and still look modern. 

White Window Treatments

Pleated shades by Graber

Window treatments are often an afterthought; however, these can do wonders when you're decorating with whites and neutrals, especially in the summertime. Light neutral tones tend to brighten up your room and allow more light to refract off their surfaces, so blinds and shades are always helpful to block out some of that afternoon sun. And, you can easily find window draperies and blinds that match your existing décor and keep to the theme of white-neutral. We carry a line of exclusive Hunter Douglass products that include honeycomb blinds, double cellular shades, and Luminette privacy sheers that softly diffuse warm natural light while also giving you complete control over your privacy.

Light Flooring

Linden Oak luxury vinyl by Coretec

Light floors are another great way to gravitate towards neutral colors. White oak hardwood, soft white carpets, light neutral stone tile can all work to complement your neutral décor. White oak is perhaps the hottest flooring trend on the market, as it has a clean grain, versatile color palette, and fits well with contemporary décor. Plus, white oak isn't just available in hardwood; you can get luxury vinyl and laminate options that mimic white oak's natural look and feel with the added benefit of waterproof surfaces. The best part about installing neutral-toned floors is that they will look great with any trend, and you can easily dress them up with a fun area rug or two. 

Neutral Wall Colors

Niland Chestnut luxury vinyl by Coretec 

And last but not least, one of the simplest ways to incorporate whites and neutrals into your home design is through paint. Choose ceiling and wall colors that complement the floors in your room. You can play with a bit of contrast here, choosing to go for a light neutral white for your walls, while your floors might be a medium oak finish. In the kitchen, you might try plastering drywall around the oven hood so that you can match the paint above the cooktop on the walls. This also opens up your overhead kitchen space, so it feels light and airy. Don't worry about your walls feeling too dull because as you layer more neutrals with furniture and art, your room will start to take on new textures. You can even add pops of color to your bookshelves, coffee tables, and walls with flower arrangements and décor.

How to Make Your Home Warm Minimalist

With colorful styles like cottagecore, grand millennial, and japandi on the rise, you might think, "is minimalism passe?" Now that we've begun to embrace our bold patterns and fall back in love with our vintage pieces, you might think yes; but don't be so quick to write minimalism off altogether! Warm minimalism is making its debut in the interior design world. The great appeal of minimalism remains with its uncluttered spaces and simple lines, but it's not always attainable, especially when your home seems to be filled with necessities. Warm minimalism is an excellent alternative to the stark interiors of minimalism and lets you keep your personal flair! 

Neutral Color Palette

Coretec 7 luxury vinyl in Marsh Oak

The first step in attaining a minimalistic look is to limit your color palette. Choose several hues that will blend well together. Warm paint colors like beiges, browns, creams, and off-whites can work to infuse your space with a soft base palette. Play off of these original colors as you begin to select functional pieces for the room intentionally. Your palette can even influence the design direction you would like to take —do you want the space to feel more formal, or are you looking to create a tranquilly natural setting with your warm minimalism? Don't be afraid to use colors other than neutral to create an accent with pillows, throws, or decor. Pastel tones like sage green and baby blue are great in warm minimalist settings as they add visual interest while maintaining a bright and playful aesthetic.

Natural Textures

Orchard Dawn Matte/Satin Porcelain by Emser Tile

Use as much natural material as possible in your warm minimalist design. Wood, textiles, plants, and natural fibers are great ways to include sustainable materials in your home. By bringing in a bit of the natural world, you add warmth to your space. Warm minimalism is all about being eco-friendly, which inherently means buying less stuff. Be purposeful and deliberate in what you bring into your home. Recycle old furniture, find driftwood on the beach, grow your plants as decor and use that old vase you made back in high school pottery class as a focal point for your mantelpiece. 

Personalize the Little Things

Coretec 5 luxury vinyl in Norwegian Maple

From your furniture to your wall art, every bit of decor should be chosen by you and have a purpose in the room. Warm minimalism allows the mix of styles and patterns through mismatched furniture and accessories. This is ideal for those wanting to keep some of their old furniture pieces and tie in some new ones. Just be sure to try to stick to similar materials and colors to create a sense of visual cohesion throughout. And remember, accessories are great, but accessories that function are even better. Limit yourself to the essentials, with the goal being practicality infused with sentimentality. Find pieces that have storage space so you can store away your extra items, leaving clean site lines.

Soften with Curves

Citizen Civilian Matte/Satin Porcelain by Emser Tile

Whereas minimalism is all about clean lines, warm minimalism adds a slight edge by softening with curves. You can add curves through small accessories patterned pillows or round lamps, or you can go bigger and decide to use structural curves from doorways to curved tiling. Whatever way you choose to go, embedding curves throughout your space is critical to warm minimalism as it softens the living space. Curves draw your eyes to specific focal points and visually enhance the room, so it flows. 

Tips for Remodeling Your Guest House

Now that summer's in full swing, many of us are taking advantage of the warm weather to visit our family and friends. Reunions can be fun, but sometimes your house can feel cramped with all those guests under one roof. This is where a guest house or even a guest suite comes in handy. Entertaining family can be less stressful when everyone has their own space. 

Plus, guest houses can be used as additional income when you aren't hosting family. You can easily rent out these spaces to vacationers in the area, all while increasing your property value. When designing a place for guests, functionality is key, so we've assembled five simple tips to keep in mind when remodeling your guest house.

Keep It Simple

Daroca Attar matte/satin porcelain by Emser Tile

One of the most important things to consider when remodeling your guest house is what the space will function as. Ask yourself the big questions like how many rooms do you need? Who will be hosted here? Evaluate your square footage and recognize the essential functions of a guest house. These typically include a separate bathroom, bedroom, and living space for the guests. 

Maybe, you don't have the property to build an entirely separate guest house. You can still design a separate unit like a single guest room loft or a basement guest suite. The most important thing is establishing a clear line between your space and the guests' to increase privacy. This tends to help guests feel more comfortable when they have an area of their own —and it keeps them out of your hair when you just need some time to yourself.

Design a Guest Bathroom with Amenities

Technique Carbon Matte/Satin Porcelain by Emser Tile

It's always a bright idea to have a bathroom that's designated just for guests. Guest bathrooms are great in theory, but in practice, they usually require a lot of amenities. These include the basics like towels, a shower, and some soap. Sometimes an open concept layout with the bedroom and the bathroom connected can save space and make your suite user-friendly for all ages. Consider putting together a basket of toiletries with various sundries like shampoo, conditioner, cotton balls, and toothpaste because we all know someone will forget a toothbrush.

Choose Practical Floors

Coretec 5 luxury vinyl flooring

Conceivably one of the most critical elements in your guest house is the floors. It's always safest to install a durable floor throughout the guest suite so that you don't have to worry about spills or guests tracking in dirt from outside. Installing the same floor throughout the entire guest home also keeps the space cohesive and helps carry a similar design theme across the home. Luxury vinyl planks and tiles are great for guest houses as they tend to be less expensive than their natural hardwood or stone counterparts. Luxury vinyl is pretty easy to install and can withstand all types of messes, so you can rest easy knowing that your floors are protected.

Create a Space for Relax and Reprieve 

Graber solar sliding panel 

Every great guest suite should have ample room for guests to escape to for a relaxing moment. Having a private bubble to relax in is crucial for any getaway, no matter how short. Plus, this can double as an extra living space and a place to find some serenity when you want to duck away from your own family house. 

Consider Adding a Kitchen Space

Havana White Matte/Satin Ceramic Emser Tile

Cooking for a whole group of guests is exciting for a couple of nights, but it gets to be overwhelming when you are responsible for three meals a day. Install a kitchen or kitchenette in your guesthouse so that your extended family and friends can take over some of their own food prep. Additional kitchen space is also useful around the holidays when you're cooking large feasts or hosting dinner parties, as you can use the extra refrigerator and oven space to your advantage.

Show us how you've remodeled your guest houses and suites, and incorporate some of these valuable tips!