Tara Lenney Design

We want YOU 🫵
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Our waitlist runneth over and we need all hands on deck. TLD is growing and are on the hunt for an experienced Interior Designer to join our Powerhouse Team.
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If you’ve been sitting in a Studio, slogging away as a CAD monkey, creativity slowly fizzling out, and thought “this is not what I signed up for,” come in a little closer, dear one.
It doesn’t have to be this way. You can actually LOVE your job. 🥰 Come and do what you set out to do in design school—and have a ton of fun doing it..
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We’re looking for someone with that special blend of creativity, technical skills, empathy, and passion. We LOVE what we do and who we serve. There’s tons of room for growth and learning, because we’ve got BIG PLANS. We want you to come, stay, and grow.
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***MUST be local to the Dallas, TX area***
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If this sounds like you—or someone you know—swipe through to learn more and reach out! Please share and help us find our next all-star! ✨
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From 90’s builder basic to Southern charmer 🏡✨
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There are two ways to tackle a home reno: piece by piece or all in one go. And let me tell you, our clients saved for the Big Show and went all in, and the results, well, just swipe and see 👉👀
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We took this home from dated angles, awkward columns, and cramped layouts to a fresh, east Texas-inspired dream. Gone are the 45˚ angles, the tiny second island (what even is that?!), and that massive corner garden tub.
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In their place: a reimagined kitchen, a stunning master bath, and loads of custom classic charm.
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What builder grade feature are you living with that you wish you could sledgehammer, like, yesterday? 🔨

BTS of a “totally calm and not at all stressful” photo shoot…😅📸🌩️ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​When I tell people I work with my husband full time, I get this face: 😲

Most people can’t imagine spending 24/7 with their one and only, but we’ve been doing this for almost 8 years! Here’s what it’s really like:

Normal Days: our roles are totally different. He is doing back of house things like invoicing, order tracking, and sales tax filings. I’m designing, collaborating with Parker and Rachel, strategizing, or very often not at home and gone to meetings.

Translation: we don’t step on each other’s toes because we’re in totally different lanes (and often zip codes!)

BUT when our work responsibilities do converge, it’s on photo shoot days. He’s TLD’s photographer, and I am TLD’s visionary (which is a very nice way to say a loving but slightly bossy b*tch who has a vision for these photos but has absolutely no vocabulary to translate that into the English language to help Steven out).

On this particular photo shoot day the weather outside was as tumultuous as my mood. 🤣 The rain was pouring down in sheets, the sky was completely dark, and in Interior photography you always shoot with the lights off. I literally didn’t think it would come together and that we’d have to reshoot the house.

But Steven PULLED IT OFF (with my “creative direction”). The final shots are bright, gorgeous, and were totally worth the creative disagreements 😉

In summary – working with your spouse is amazing, 99% of the time. And the 1% is still honestly not bad 😊⚡️

On a scale of HELL NO to HELL YEAH, would you ever work with your spouse full time?!?! 👇

Struggling with choosing paint colors?!🎨🔽
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Raise your hand if you’re guilty of putting 15 swatches on the wall, feeling paralyzed over the decision, and then just giving up and painting everything white!
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We get it. We aren’t all born with Special Eyes that can intuitively pull this together. Lucky for you, we were! And lucky for ME, other people are born somehow able to understand tax code. We all have our zones of genius.
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If you want your home to feel elevated, pulled together, balanced, and not like everyone else’s house, you’re going to need some not-so-obvious tricks.
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Curious? We’ve got 3 sneaky tips about using paint that’ll make you see color in a whole new way.
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And if you want more info, head to our blog with the full rundown on creating a whole-house color palette. There are several pre-made palettes for your house, ready to go, plus tips on making them your own.
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Trust us, it’s a game-changer.

https://www.taralenneydesign.com/post/4-steps-to-create-a-whole-house-color-palette

Want your kids to read more? Here’s how we do it...📚💙
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Parenting advice from an Interior Designer that you didn’t ask for 🤣 but other parents in our life DO ask me all the time, so wanted to share what works for us:
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📵 We are a low tech house. Our kids don’t have phones or iPads. They have a Nintendo switch, but they only get a couple of hours on it a week and they have to play together as a group activity. Don’t worry, they aren’t going to be left in the dust 💨 They still use tech for school and they can “check out” our phones for specific things if they need them (they’re big into learning to draw videos and cool LEGO builds on YouTube).
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💻 Exception - our oldest is a VORACIOUS reader, so he has his own kid’s Kindle with access to age appropriate books at his fingertips.
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📔 Be a reader yourself! If they see you always scrolling on a phone, they’ll do it too. But if you’re a bookworm, they are way more likely to pick up on that.
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🪟 Build them a window seat! In my *clearly biased* Interior Designer opinion, if you want to encourage a behavior, set up your environment to support it. This is officially the most sought after seat in our house. Reading nook surrounded by books leads to more reading, simple as that.
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Good design = happy kids. ✨
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Are there any book series your kids love?! Drop a comment below with your kid’s age and what gets them to read!

Some gals dream of Louboutins and Gucci bags. This is what I dream about 🥰
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And she’s MINE!! 🎉
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For (count them) 21 YEARS this has been my dream car, and this weekend that became a reality.
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A 1982 Jeep Grand Wagoneer in deep Sherwood Green. With only 32K original miles! 😱
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Get ready to see this gal packed for her gills this fall with plaid and flannel. 🍂🍁🤎
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The boys are all pumped to learn how to change oil, replace gaskets, and all of that other car stuff that is outside my zone of genius. 🫠
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Finally- this car needs a NAME! I think she is a she, but otherwise we’re stumped at what to call this lovely lady. Drop a suggestion pleeeeeeeeeease ⬇️

A 3-person bathtub? Shocking. 😳 Your reno cost? Shouldn’t be.🛁😳
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We’ve seen some WILD things in our days, but this bathroom takes the cake. From the three-person hot tub (yes, really, and also, ICK) to a layout that was all over the place, this space needed a sledgehammer in the worst way.
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The good news? While a 3 person tub surrounded by mirrors is a shocker, your renovation cost doesn’t have to be. Our 2024 Renovation Costs Guide breaks down the real numbers based on our actual projects so you can plan without surprises.
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Though nothing in the world could have prepared me for that tub. 🙈 I may never recover.

https://www.taralenneydesign.com/renovationcosts

💫🖥️ Pick Your Fave - Home Office Edition 🖥️💫
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If you’re gonna be working, might as well make it pretty. 🥰
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Your home office should be as inspiring as it is functional—after all, you’re spending hours in there, might as well make it worth it!
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Here are 4 different offices we’ve designed, each proving that working from home doesn’t have to feel like, well, work.
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🎀 Pink, bright, and airy
🎨 Modern, colorful, and fun
🖤 Gray, moody, and masculine
🌿The small but mighty cloffice (it’s a thing), maximizing every inch of space
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So, which one would you love to clock into? Comment your fave! 👇🏼

The smallest room, the biggest impact. 🚽✨
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A Powder Bathroom might be our favorite spot to showcase our clients’ personality and style. It may be the tiniest room in the house, but it doesn’t have to be an afterthought.
Wallpaper is on of our favorite moves for turning these spaces into showstoppers.
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From bold florals that pack a punch to bold blues that turn up the drama, there are wallpapers out there for every style.
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Which one is your favorite? Let us know below! 🌿👀

Two words: kitchen goals 😍
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The before featured a choppy, disjointed kitchen with a 90s angled pantry (the bane of our existence), a rinky-dink center “island,” and a random column that awkwardly broke up the view between the kitchen and living room. Not *exactly* the heart of the home we were going for.
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And then there’s the after: We drastically improved the kitchen layout by removing the multiple entry and exit points and then used that wall space for cabinets and appliances.
The teeny tiny island and corner pantry? Gone. We opened up the kitchen to the living room and created a seamless connection to the dining room, setting this space up for some serious hosting.
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OUT with the dated textured walls, builder basic cabinetry and finishes, and IN with timeless, moody elegance. Think deep, rich colors, sophisticated finishes, and every organizational doo-dad you could dream of!
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Our client, who works for an organization company, wanted her decades of expertise to shine in her kitchen—and trust us, it does. ✨
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Swipe to see the transformation that takes this kitchen from dated and cramped to a show-stopping space that’s ready for anything. 🍽️

It’s just a little different. 🤣
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We gave these bathrooms and bedrooms a major upgrade from builder basic (and a little bit electric 🫨) to stylish, serene, and sophisticated (love the alliteration).
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Each space has its own unique flair, but we made sure a cohesive, sophisticated style flows through the entire house with unifying materials and color palette.
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To read more about how we did just that, comment REVEAL and we’ll send you the behind the scenes story on this project.
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Which room gets your vote for favorite?!

Flooring: A Love Story 🥰
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A little sneak peek of an upcoming project reveal. Alternative titles include:
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🤍 A tale of 4 bathrooms
🤍 Now I want to redo all of my flooring
🤍 Carpet: she’s making a comeback
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Stay tuuuuuuuuned!

💫🛋️ Pick Your Fave - Living Room Edition 🛋️💫
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The living room: if the kitchen is the heart of the home, this is the...butt...of the home? You know, where you lounge? With your b***y on the couch? This caption is going in a weird direction. 🍑 But you know what, I’M GOING WITH IT.
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It’s where the Netflix gets watched, board games are played, and laugh-until-you-cry conversations go down.
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A room that everybody sees and that you spend tons of time in, it’s the perfect space to showcase your family’s unique style. So, out of these seven stunning designs, which one is your fave?
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1. Fresh Southern
2. Cool Modern
3. Cozy Contemporary
4. Moody Lounge
5. Light Chic
6. Crisp Polished
7. Rustic Inviting
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They’re all different, just like our clients.. Which style speaks to you? Let us know in the comments! 🌟

Do you *really* need an architect for your home project?!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The short answer: Probably not. Most of the time, an interior designer can handle it all!

The much longer (and much more helpful) answer? Let me explain.

Interior designers are pros at managing most kitchens, bathrooms, wall removals, layout changes, fireplace updates, and more.

The only time you absolutely need an architect is for a home addition or (duh) a new build.

Head to our website to get your Project Guide full of even more helpful info to get your project started right.

https://www.taralenneydesign.com/plan

Home in every stage of life 📦
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Throwback to one one of our favorite transformations. A few years back, we updated this run of the mill ranch home into a modern, bright, and fun space with pops of color. Our clients were relocating from San Fran, and we did this project 100% remote (thanks to the power of technology).
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After a few years of enjoying this gorgeous space, the owners are moving on to the next exciting stage of their life— heading back to a chic apartment in San Francisco! 🏡➡️🏢
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Though they’ve sold the home (with a very nice appreciation, thanks in part to the fresh beautiful design), our journey with them isn’t over. We’re thrilled to be helping them furnish their new place too. 💃
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We joke that once you work with us, you’re in the TLD family for life! As your home, location, and needs change, we’re right there with you! 💞

Breaking News - Project Updates are Live 🗞️✨
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We’re thrilled to share with and the progress on our 1920’s Tudor remodel in historic Kessler Park here in Dallas.
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All of the charm that had been stripped out over 100 years of renovations is slowly but surely being added back in.
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Take a peek through the progress, the design plan, and the before of one of our favorite rooms, and then head over to the article to see the other rooms, read alllllll about the details, along with some of the surprises along the way and what’s coming next.
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Hard to pick a favorite feature at this stage, but all of the arches modeled after the original front door (the ONE original feature still standing) is wayyyy up there. What’s making your heart go pitter patter?! 💓

https://www.dallasnews.com/abode/2024/07/16/progress-report-designer-tara-lenney-offers-update-on-1920s-oak-cliff-tudor-project/

Swipe for an instant Kitchen overhaul (and a cute puppy cameo)! 😲🐶
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We first connected with this family when they approached us for 3 bathroom updates.
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Fast forward a few years later, they returned to us to tackle their kitchen. (Side note: we absolutely adore working with clients who keep coming back to us for transformations)!
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We started with a kitchen that felt dark, dated, and cut off from the rest of their home.
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Opening up the kitchen to the living and dining area was our first big move. Then, we added splashes of blues, sleek flat front cabinets, and flooded the space with natural light (hello, giant new window)... AND VOILÀ!
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If this was an HGTV episode, it would be called “From Drab to FAB.” 😆
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Drop a ❤️ if you would love this treatment on your house!

Construction by

Choose your outdoor oasis 🤔
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🥵🔥 It’s 100 degrees here in NTX, and with the humidity, it feels like one million (yes, that’s scientifically proven).
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With this insane heat, wouldn’t a little outdoor covered space be dandy?! Which would you choose (assuming we get something resembling a breeze 💨 and plenty of iced beverages)
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1️⃣ Cozy lake patio with a fireplace (because it will cool off eventually...right?! RIGHT?!)
2️⃣ Boho poolside retreat
3️⃣ Modern poolside seating area
4️⃣ Stunning backyard porch (this one has two ceiling fans, but don’t let that sway you...)
5️⃣ Seating for the whole crew (plus drop down screens to keep out the 🦟)
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Swipe through and pick your fave! Which one would you love to chill in this summer? Drop the number in the comments! 🌿🏡👇

Transformation complete! Pardon the iPhone photos, but this story was too good not to share...🏡✨
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We love working with clients through all stages of their lives—and their families’ lives. 💞
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This time, we had the honor of updating a home for one of our favorite client’s parents. Relocating from a larger home and moving to be close to kids and grandkids, they were downsizing into a smaller space that was in need of a little love.
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We made quick work of it, alongside of one of our favorite GC’s, remodeling, by updating the kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, fixtures, and even adding built-ins to create a cozy den and a butler’s pantry.
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Here’s what our client had to say:
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“Words cannot express how grateful I am to y’all. Today is a major day. Very emotional for my parents, but they walked in and fell in love with the house instantly. Truly forever grateful for carving time out of your very busy schedule, picking perfect selections, amazing quality and craftsmanship, and finishing so fast and on time!”
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Honestly, this is why we do what we do. ❤️ We always tell our clients that once you’re in the TLD Family, we’re here for life.
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This cutie little house is the PERFECT size and is so stinking cute in real life. And we were able to do some pretty great things on a modest budget and without moving any walls to bring it together. ✨

When you trust the process ✨
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When our clients first came to us, they had some seriously solid ideas of what they wanted in their home. I’m talking a full binder with sketches and inspo images, and even a floor plan. My Type-A heart skipped a beat.
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But here’s where it gets really good. They’d done their homework, but then turned over the creative reins to us. We had some ideas they hadn’t thought of and pushed the envelope beyond their expectations.
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The result? A bathroom layout that is WILDLY more functional, and aesthetically beyond what they could have imagined.
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I mean, bare concrete floors and original 1970’s fixtures had set a pretty low bar in terms of improvement, but still 😂
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The easy button would be to take what they had and just apply some new finishes. But why do things the easy way when you can do them the right way.
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We opened up the floor plan, added a door to the newly updated backyard, and revamped the shower, bath, toilet room, and vanity.
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Then added some unexpected touches with moody colors, patterns, and a surprise stunning wallpaper.
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What’s your favorite part of this bathroom reno? Let us know in the comments! 🛁✨

Problem: too much space?!
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This new build had a somewhat unique problem - SO MUCH ROOM! How do you fill a space just the right amount - not overstuffed, but not empty!?!?
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We created zones, used rugs to define space, played with scale (so important), and a thousand other designer tricks to add some coziness and personality to this new build without having to throw a hammer.
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What’s your current design dilemma: too much space, or not enough???
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📸:

✨🛁Pick your fave - Kids & Guest Bathroom Edition🛁✨
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The kids bathroom. Probably the most ignored room in your home.
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I know it.
You know it.
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So instead of neglecting these spaces, why not give them the style they deserve?
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That’s what we did in these 6 stunning bathrooms. They range from stark and masculine to soft and chic, with a little bit of everything in between.
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1. Pretty in pink
2. Masculine patterned
3. Modern green
4. Craftsman jungalow
5. Blue beauty
6. Black magic
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Swipe through and tell us your favorite! 🛁✨

Which spot would be your ultimate vacation relaxation zone?
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Choosing just 9 was TOUGH because this entire Broken Bow home is a haven of gorgeous spots to chat, relax, or sip a cocktail. 🍸
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For me, the tufted leather chair with the adorable sheep friend and that INSANE view was a solid choice 🐑🌄, but scroll to the end to see where I wound up.
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What about you? Drop your fave spot in the comments! ⬇️

🛁✨ ON DISPLAY ✨🛁
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The before wasn’t terrible (except for that viewing window from the shower into the bath—WHY?!), but it wasn’t quite cutting it for our clients.
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We got rid of the awkwardly placed garden tub, the dark vanities in our clients’ least favorite color (brown), and boring floor and brought in a sleek freestanding tub, a luxurious double-headed shower (without any windows in weird places!), and European style vanities to modernize this bathroom. 🌟
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Design:
Contractor:

Builder Basic No More➡️
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Before, this kitchen had too many entrances, too small and island, and (let’s be honest) way too much tan.
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It wasn’t nearly as functional as it could have been with a strange layout and all cabinets with hardly any drawers - such is the way of builder kitchens!
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And (as is common when clients begin to contemplate a renovation) all of the appliances started dying. 💀🤣
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We fixed all of that (and then some) and then went ahead and made it a STUNNER! If we do say so ourselves 😉
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Hard to believe it’s the same space!