The Secrets of a Stylist

“As designers, we love what we see in magazines, 
but truthfully we want our clients to be able to 
live in their homes and have it be practical,” 
-Kelly McGuill

Kelly McGuill Home strives to create an environment for each client that he or she is able to truly enjoy and live in. Living in a home that is constantly looking immaculate is not a realistic way to live. Yes, in magazines and catalogs houses look stunning and effortless; however, the truth is those spaces are styled by professionals. Stylists take out pieces of furniture to create a better composition and sometimes even fake the perspective of furniture for the perfect shot. Here are some easy methods to help style your own home

LESS IS MORE

As one of Kelly's favorites mantras goes... less is more. Spaces begin to come alive when there is not a lot of clutter. Clutter can be a distraction from the focal furniture and accessories. The photo below highlights the pieces of furniture with subtle accessories - simple coffee table tray and books, as well as understated shelving decor. 

NAKED COUNTERTOPS

Reducing the number of objects on your countertops can make a huge difference in making a space seem instantly larger and more orderly. Kelly enjoys using glass jars, fresh fruit or flowers to make a space come alive. 

SHELVING

Shelving can seem to be an impossible feat when faced with the challenge of filling it. A great way to transform your shelves is to create a balance in various types of objects. For example, you may have some stacked books (horizontal and/or vertical) glass accents, prized objects (trophies, small sculptures, etc.), candle sticks for height and small plants to add some life. A solid balance throughout will make for a both interesting and attractive display.

COFFEE & SIDE TABLES

An easy way to accessorize is with a few smaller books or a couple larger books, try a neutral tray or even fresh flowers or a small plant for some volume. Here's a great side table to add some flare!

Here's to beautiful homes everywhere! Let the charm of your own personal style show and let us know some ways you bring life into your own home! Keep in touch with the Kelly McGuill Home Design Team on our Instagram and website throughout the holidays! 

These are a few of my favorite things...

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,
Brown paper packages tied up with strings,
These are a few of my favorite things..." 

       Here at Kelly McGuill Home we'll show you how we put our own groove on a space!  These are a few of our favorite things that we believe can be used in any home to help any space come to life!

NATURAL FIBER RUGS
A go-to of ours because they are a great way to add texture and interest to a space.  They come in a range of prices depending on your budget.

GRIDS OF ARTWORK
A basic grid layout of art can be a simple solution to a tired wall and really pull a space together.  An easy way to put a fun spin on any room; arranging a grid above a console table in a living room, adding interest in a long hallway, or having an entire gallery wall in a master bedroom.

BARN TRACK DOOR
An alternative take on a doorway, the barn door introduces an unexpected twist on a room with the exposed track and hardware. The door may also be a natural or distressed wood for a neutral accent.

CARRARA MARBLE
Carrara marble is an investment that is both timeless and durable. It will always be a classic and beautiful look that never goes out of style.

Visit us on Instagram - @kellymcguillhome for more day-to-day happenings here at Kelly McGuill Home!

Going to have to start cooking again...

The McGuill household has been without a kitchen for about a month and a half now. While we have enjoyed exploring the endless local restaurants and not having to cook dinner after a long day of work, we are beyond excited and very ready to have the heart of our home back!

 Here is a look into the before, the demo, and the (almost) after of our kitchen renovation…

This kitchen's birthday would be coming up on twenty-two years old. As much as we loved the simple and functional space, we were ready for our kitchen renovations to get underway!

Here are the bones of the kitchen exposed and ready for a facelift…

We said good-bye to this lovely window as we welcomed three larger windows over the sink.

The wall to the butler's pantry was taken down and already letting more light into the space!

Voila! The (almost) after: the cabinets, appliances and counters are in, as well as the floors refinished.
The space looks amazing with more light than ever

All remaining on the to-do list is install the sink faucet, lighting, open shelving, and finish of the hood. Once that is completed, in will come the furniture, artwork and all the pretties!

 These new, wider french doors replaced the old doors onto the back porch allowing even more light.

 Here shows off the new space with the removal of the wall into the butler's pantry!

We are so pleased with the progress and results thus far as we are full speed ahead to the finish line. We promise to share our kitchen renovation as soon as the finishing touches are completed!

Timeless Style and Endless Change

While trying to organize some of the millions of pictures we have in the database here in the office, I came across some absolutely stunning pictures of the McGuill home a few years back. The pictures themselves go to show you that timeless style exists. Not only do these pictures prove that, but they take you through a journey of a loving family and the change over time as the kids grow up, people come and go, and the furniture seems to weasel its way into new spaces. The simplistic nature of Kelly's designs truly withstand the test of time as you can see below. Any of these images would be as beautiful today as they were years ago.

You can see some of the updated images on her website, but here are some from years ago that are just as wonderful.

… and an old kitchen picture in lieu of the new renovations that we promise to share as soon as they are done!

Just looking at the pictures of the office made us laugh. The business itself has grown so much and we have been honored to have so many lovely clients.. which also meant adding several new desks and computers, and a lot more storage space to the area!

xoxo Kelly McGuill Home Design Team