Southern as Sweet Tea: Client Project

Today I am sharing a client “first” with you guys with the reveal of this modern glam clothing boutique. Be sure to scroll to the bottom for affiliate links to decor used. For your convenience, I have made this post shop-able!

When my girl boss of a client first approached me about my design consulting services last summer, I was a little nervous because, at the time, I had zero experience decorating commercial venues. She explained that she had first discovered my work thru my low-budget, kitchen renovation  and was hoping I could work some of that same kind of magic on her clothing boutique.

While this client didn’t have a large budget to work with, she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty with some DIY hacks which really made all the difference. With a little DIY magic, we were able to achieve a modern glam look without breaking the bank.

Before:

So when I first met with my client on site, I am not gonna lie, I was kind of freaked out with just how dark the space appeared. (Ya’ll know I like things light and airy). To my surprise, the paint, flooring and ceiling design choices had already been executed and she simply needed me to help with furniture, fixtures, layout and general theme.

During the consultation, I got the sense that my client was craving something different from her usual aesthetic( which was more industrial “southern as sweet tea” farmhouse), but was not sure exactly how to go about it. Convincing her we needed to lighten up the space with sleek, white furniture and pops of shiny, light-reflecting gold, I initially felt a bit of hesitation . You see… in the South, we love our oil-rubbed bronze hardware, wooden farmhouse furniture and bible verse wall art -so I was definitely rocking the boat with my modernist visions. After some awkward silence,  my client jumped on board with excitement.I was relieved she could finally dig my vision.

Here is what we were able to accomplish …..

With some help from Ikea, gold pray paint and the Target clearance section (can you believe that’s where those fabulous gold cubes came from?), we transformed a dark rectangle of a space into a glam girl’s paradise.

Be sure to scroll to the bottom to shop this look!

Unable to find a white table that was sleek,  affordable and substantial, my client simply painted a dining table purchased from Ikea white.  Having the same issues finding a sputnik chandelier that met all of out criteria, I found  a cheaper (albeit oil-rubbed bronze) version online and simply instructed my fabulous client to  spray-paint it gold. All of the clothing racks, which were formally industrial oil-rubbed bronze, were powder coated in gold.

Another element that really brightened the space and added some architectural interest was the whitewashed brick accent wall photographed above. Serving multiple purposes, the accent wall is also a backdrop for clothing models- creating a picture perfect Insta-feed. As a result, we decided to forego the wall art here.

And holding true to the infamous saying, “You can take a girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country from the girl”, my client was still able to inject some of her Southern flavor with these little SEC accessories.

Because  Modern glam girls can still be Southern as sweet tea at heart!

Directly below is the shop-able portion of the post with affiliate links to products similar to those we included in this design. Please note that we did use gold spray paint for some of the items that weren’t originally gold (like the tufted bench).

Shop the Look:

Now get out there and design some good vibes!

Welcome!

My journey in interior design and home improvement began with transforming my first fixer-upper home, all while managing a budget and raising two young boys. My work, a reflection of my passion for creating beautiful, uplifting spaces, has been recognized by top publications like Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, HGTV, and more. I invite you to explore my site and witness the transformation of my home and the vibes we've designed.Read more...