Between the Layers | Design Guide Series

Cocktails

The Perfect Fall Cocktail

October 25, 2022

Apricot Blood Orange Vodka Martini

Looking for a festive and delicious cocktail to serve at your next fall gathering? Look no further. This cocktail, courtesy of yummly.com, is the perfect compliment to any fall comfort food you may be serving. We paired it with clams in white wine broth the other night, and it was oh so good!

Apricot Blood Orange Vodka Martini

1 EGG WHITE

2 OZ VODKA

½ OZ SIMPLE SYRUP

2 BLOOD ORANGES, JUICED

½ LEMON, JUICED

1 TSP APRICOT PRESERVES OR JAM

1. ADD ICE WATER TO MARTINI GLASS TO CHILL WHILE PREPARING COCKTAIL

ADD EGG WHITE TO A SHAKER. SHAKE FOR ABOUT 30-40 SECONDS UNTIL EGG WHITE IS FROTHY. FILL SHAKER WITH ICE. ADD ORANGE JUICE, LEMON JUICE AND APRICOT PRESERVES. SHAKE WELL UNTIL COMBINED, ABOUT 30-40 SECONDS. PLACE ICE INTO GLASS AND STRAIN CONTENTS OF SHAKER INTO CHILLED MARTINI GLASS. ENJOY!

Let us know if you give this a try… we promise you, you won’t be disappointed. We may or may not be shaking one up right now!

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Conceptualizing- this is the first phase of every project!

We start by creating a palette that evokes the feeling we want to convey. We talk about the architecture of the home, but we also lean into the vibe we want for each space. Is it energizing, soothing, comforting?

I love to start pulling imagery, tactile elements like fabrics and stone, even household items like dishes, a vase or even a piece of clothing or jewelry that speaks to the overall vibe we want to create.

This helps us as we move forward with every decision. Referring back to the items we started with. It’s not just picking pretty things, it’s making sure each aspect of the space actually supports the overall feel of the home. Honestly one of my favorite parts of the process!

Do you need help setting the overall vision for your home?

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Conceptualizing- this is the first phase of every project!

We start by creating a palette that evokes the feeling we want to convey. We talk about the architecture of the home, but we also lean into the vibe we want for each space. Is it energizing, soothing, comforting?

I love to start pulling imagery, tactile elements like fabrics and stone, even household items like dishes, a vase or even a piece of clothing or jewelry that speaks to the overall vibe we want to create.

This helps us as we move forward with every decision. Referring back to the items we started with. It’s not just picking pretty things, it’s making sure each aspect of the space actually supports the overall feel of the home. Honestly one of my favorite parts of the process!

Do you need help setting the overall vision for your home?

Atter designing more kitchen renovations than I could ever count (and recently finishing renovating our own kitchen) I can tell you that where you invest matters. Not because every kitchen needs the highest-end everything, but because some decisions have a much bigger impact on how the space functions and feels over time.

When clients are planning a renovation, it’s easy to get pulled toward the finishes. The paint colors, the hardware, the details that photograph well.

But the conversations we spend the most time on are usually about the things that will affect daily life for years to come.

Subscribe to Between the Layers (link in bio) for more renovation insights, items shaping our designs, and the inside scoop of what we are working on!

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One of the most common things I hear from homeowners is, “We’re trying to make this work for a few more years.” And I completely understand that mindset. But what I’ve noticed is that those “few more years” often turn into five or ten.

In the meantime, people spend money trying to make a space more tolerable. They buy the storage baskets. Add the extra shelving. Replace furniture. Reorganize the same closet over and over again. Move things around hoping the room will somehow function differently.
Sometimes those improvements help.

One of the reasons I love jumping on a discovery call is because they give people clarity. A better understanding of what is actually causing the frustration and what options might exist to solve it.

I’ve had plenty of conversations where someone who thought they needed a major renovation and they didn’t. I’ve also had conversations where someone had been spending years trying to work around an issue that could have been addressed much sooner with a plan.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start, that’s exactly what the discovery calls are for. Send us a DM or schedule through the link in our bio. I’d love to hear more about your home and what isn’t quite working

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One of the most common things I hear from homeowners is, “We’re trying to make this work for a few more years.” And I completely understand that mindset. But what I’ve noticed is that those “few more years” often turn into five or ten.

In the meantime, people spend money trying to make a space more tolerable. They buy the storage baskets. Add the extra shelving. Replace furniture. Reorganize the same closet over and over again. Move things around hoping the room will somehow function differently.
Sometimes those improvements help.

One of the reasons I love jumping on a discovery call is because they give people clarity. A better understanding of what is actually causing the frustration and what options might exist to solve it.

I’ve had plenty of conversations where someone who thought they needed a major renovation and they didn’t. I’ve also had conversations where someone had been spending years trying to work around an issue that could have been addressed much sooner with a plan.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start, that’s exactly what the discovery calls are for. Send us a DM or schedule through the link in our bio. I’d love to hear more about your home and what isn’t quite working

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about hiring a designer is that people assume our clients don’t know what they want. In reality, most of them know exactly what they want.

They know they want a kitchen that feels warm and collected.
They know they want a patio they’ll actually use.
They know they want a home that feels finished.

What they don’t know is whether the white oak cabinets work with the soapstone counters they pinned six months ago. Or if the layout they’re considering is going to annoy them every single day once it’s built.

That’s where we come in. Not because you can’t make decisions. Because some decisions are expensive.
And it’s nice to have someone thinking through all the details before you start ordering materials and moving walls.

So, If you’ve ever looked through our portfolio and thought, “I want my house to feel like that, “this service was designed for you! Or you can explore our other offerings on our website and schedule a discovery call to determine which one is the perfect fit for you!

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I think one of the biggest misconceptions about hiring a designer is that people assume our clients don’t know what they want. In reality, most of them know exactly what they want.

They know they want a kitchen that feels warm and collected.
They know they want a patio they’ll actually use.
They know they want a home that feels finished.

What they don’t know is whether the white oak cabinets work with the soapstone counters they pinned six months ago. Or if the layout they’re considering is going to annoy them every single day once it’s built.

That’s where we come in. Not because you can’t make decisions. Because some decisions are expensive.
And it’s nice to have someone thinking through all the details before you start ordering materials and moving walls.

So, If you’ve ever looked through our portfolio and thought, “I want my house to feel like that, “this service was designed for you! Or you can explore our other offerings on our website and schedule a discovery call to determine which one is the perfect fit for you!

Hot take but... perfectly matching furniture, fabrics, and finishes is usually what makes a home feel the least personal.

I know it seems like the safe choice, but it’s also what makes everything fall a little flat. The spaces that feel the most interesting (and the most “you”) are the ones that mix things a bit.

Old + new
Structured + relaxed
A little unexpected but still makes sense

It’s less about following a blueprint and more about building something that feels collected over time. Because no one wants their house to feel like a showroom!!

If the idea of curating a beautifully layered home overwhelms you-that’s where we believe we shine the most! Reach out so we can chat how we can help.

📸: @zeewendell & @emilykennedyphoto

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Hot take but... perfectly matching furniture, fabrics, and finishes is usually what makes a home feel the least personal.

I know it seems like the safe choice, but it’s also what makes everything fall a little flat. The spaces that feel the most interesting (and the most “you”) are the ones that mix things a bit.

Old + new
Structured + relaxed
A little unexpected but still makes sense

It’s less about following a blueprint and more about building something that feels collected over time. Because no one wants their house to feel like a showroom!!

If the idea of curating a beautifully layered home overwhelms you-that’s where we believe we shine the most! Reach out so we can chat how we can help.

📸: @zeewendell & @emilykennedyphoto

Most people think they’re stuck because they haven’t chosen the right style. So they take the quiz. They save more inspiration.

They toggle between two aesthetics. And somehow... they feel more unsure. But the problem usually isn’t the style. It’s that they haven’t decided how they want their home to feel. Because you can execute the exact same aesthetic in completely different ways, and end up with two entirely different emotional experiences. One can feel grounding and cocooning. Another can feel airy and serene (like our past Westgate Stay project). Same category. Different outcome.

And if this sounds like you, don’t worry! This is exactly where most people get tripped up. The good news? We’re going to fix that by shifting the question. Comment ‘ME’ if you want to read more on Between the Layers

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Apricot Blood Orange Vodka Martini

Apricot Blood Orange Vodka Martini

explore

Inside a Virtual Design Project: From Concept to Execution

The Best Blue Paint Colors I’ve Ever Used

Tile Patterns To Try If You Love Checkerboard But Are Tired Of Seeing It Everywhere

get inspired

follow along

Join Between the Layers

Inside a Virtual Design Project:
From Concept to Execution