Noel's Valentine's Day Gift Guide, 2023

Love comes in many forms, and so do great Valentine’s Day gifts!!

Click through the link at the end, and shop all kinds of goodies that can be personalized to suit the special someones in your life! From family and friends, to life partners and lovers, we guide you through making a gift truly magical with thoughtful enhancements.

HGTV Host and designer Noel Gatts in her kitchen with '“love” mugs!

Pictured above is one of my FAVORITE ideas! I bought adorable monogrammed mugs to spell out “LOVE” and I display them in my kitchen as a constant reminder of my values and goals. But, it’s an awesome idea for a Valentine’s Day gift, too! Try other sweet words like “joy” or “smile”

Sweeten The Deal!

sweet kitchen items for your sweetie

Add flavor to your Valentine’s Day with sweet tokens of your love! Fill up a cast iron heart with homemade favorites, or decorate a cake to present on a pretty cake plate. Attach a cocktail recipe to a copper mug or pink drink glass set and “toast” to your future! Wrap up pretty heart plates and present a restaurant gift card to your Valentine’s favorite place. These personal touches give a simple gift memorable meaning that can last a lifetime.

Soften the Heart

Gifting something soft and snuggly encourages cuddle time! Great for family members young and old, these gift ideas can bring hearts closer together. A comfy bath robe in a pale blush and silk pillowcases or sleep masks are stylish and practical, and along with a spa gift card they make a perfect Valentine’s Day gift. Some fun decorative pillows and a super soft throw blanket add fun and festivity to a home environment. Make it meaningful by providing a personalized playlist to dance OR cozy up together and listen to!

Heat Things Up

A hot cocoa recipe and little love note to accompany a cute mug or electric kettle will warm the heart long after Valentine’s Day is over. You could even put a mini bouquet of flowers inside for a fun twist on a classic! Add on a themed candle or coasters for flair, and keep an eye out for unexpected color and themes in little decorative elements like pillows, vases or art prints. As long as there is a thoughtful note or experience attached to your gift, it’s a heartwarming win!

Though there is no one right way to feel or celebrate Valentine’s Day, it can be a rewarding opportunity to take a moment and appreciate the universal experience of “love” in all of it’s manifestations.

Click through the presentation below for more! I may earn small affiliate commission for purchases made via these links.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide by HGTV Host and Designer Noel Gatts

Picking Paint! My method for a perfect palette

Painting the perfect palette can be A LOT for the average DIY home decorator!

As an interior designer, I have developed a pretty refined eye for coordinating colors, I use an amazing Design Presentation Software, and I’ve invested in a pretty incredible computer for true tone viewing… but I always want to gut check my instincts. The very best way to do that is to see samples in person.

example of a beam&bloom Digital design palette using microsoft surface pro

With your classic flat samples that can be gathered from the local paint or hardware store, you can certainly narrow things down. But, if you really want to be sure that the colors are correct, you’ll want to put up actual painted swatches in your space that can be viewed from various angles and in various lighting throughout the day and night. This used to be a super messy process, and left you with swathes of color dominating your walls until you find the time to complete your painting project.

But, now we have Samplize! Friends…this company changed my design life when I discovered them a few years ago, and now, I have the privelege of being an affiliate and spreading the word! Samplize allows you to order large scale, decal swatches that are actually painted! They’re not only so easy to order, but they are delivered fast with next day shipping available, making them super convenient. When you put them up, you are seeing the color and paint texture in your space, and you can easily remove them with no damage after you’ve had the chance to observe them from every angle.

Noel Gatts with Samplize swatches, Photo by carley storm

Why is this so helpful? Let’s explore an example or two.

It’s a common thought that “white is white” and “gray is gray”, and often when working with general contractors, if you ask for white trim in your house, you’ll get a generic white that is used in most homes. But, there are subtleties in undertone and reflection that can make or break the other colors that work with that white.

Every one of these beautiful Benjamin Moore colors when viewed alone seem….”white”. But, you can pretty clearly see the various undertones and hues when you view them together.

benjamin moore “white” colors

With grays, it’s even more pronounced! There are vast varities in saturation and undertone. Even though there may be a “gray” in the title, the actual color on your walls can look vibrant blue or olive green.

benjamin moore deep “gray” colors

So, take your time, and make a minor investment in the tools that will keep your from making costly mistakes. If you can, hire a designer with experience in color play! But, if that’s outside of your budget, take matters into your own hands, and use the resources that designers use. Check out the incredible selections from the most acclaimed paint lines, including Farrow & Ball, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and PPG at Samplize.com.

noel gatts design from season 1 of Home inspector joe, benjamin moore color silver mist, Azila tile , Adidas shoes, photo by carley storm

Samplize is the must-do final step in picking the perfect paint color!

I try to be very careful about the products that I endorse! So, if I’m writing about it, I’ve had great experiences.

I may receive affiliate commissions from links in this post.

Opportunity Knock Out!

HGTV’s Home Inspector Joe, coming January 2022

Joe & i with one of our projects

I’ve had a lot of questions about how I got into Design and how I snagged a Co-host/Designer role on a brand new HGTV renovation show! The full answer is too long for a blog post. The answer is in a series of situations and choices. The answer is in good fortune, privilege, hard work, tenacity and, yes, TALENT! Is it ok to say “I have talent”??? YES. Say it with me… “I HAVE TALENT!” Because you do. We ALL have talent. Own yours and work hard, and know that the future is wide open and full of possibility. I acknowledge that the path to meeting your potential isn’t always straightforward, easy or even clear, and that a lot of amazing talents are hindered by society and circumstance. I acknowledge that I was born with a level of privilege that has helped me along the way. Still, mine is a story of perseverance and perspective that is universal.

I was born into a loving family that gave me every chance to succeed I married my best friend at a young age, and we truly clung to each other through a lot of extreme challenges and triumphs. We had 3 kids, one of whom championed through a miraculous spinal cord surgery at only 5 months old, and I gave up a thriving musical theatre career to be the kind of mom and partner that I wanted to be. I worked several part time jobs from home to help pad our income while being a full time parent. Meanwhile, my handsome and heroic hubby was building a corporate Advertising career and rushing home to spend time with the wife and the littles. No vacations, no fancy date nights and no breaks for several years as we saved for a house in the burbs. (fun fact: we never went on a honeymoon!) But, we always had love and loyalty, and held on to the dreams of “one day.” I wasn’t sure that I wanted to return to performing again, but I was compelled to channel my creativity and compassion into a career that would help people live their lives WELL!

the home office/studio and birthplace of beam&bloom

The day finally came in 2014 that we found our perfect home, and we began slowly renovating our 1941 Fixer in Bloomfield, NJ! Reviving it took all of my savvy (and all of our savings), but I felt like I’d found a second calling. I dabbled in design by helping friends with their projects and then slowly starting to charge actual money for my time. I finally took the plunge and started my LLC in 2017 a year before my youngest was off to kindergarten…and it took off! I had a knack for business, a ton of support and a passion for balanced and delightful design with a focus on caring service. A year later, I was randomly “discovered” by a media production company online, and filmed a design tv sizzle reel as a Designer/Host, but the show never got picked up. Still, I was filled with gratitude for the excellent learning experience, and validated by the opportunity to meld my love for design and entertainment.

joe up close, me & crew in the background

BUT, in true full circle fashion, another door opened. A year later the opportunity arose with a new production company, RIVR Media, to co-host a TV show with my buddy and superstar home inspector Joe Mazza. Things happened FAST from our initial “zoom” sizzle reel…and here we are! With the help and creativity of an amazing crew, we’ve come a long way and overcome significant hurdles. We’re reaching the final block of filming our Premier Season of “Home Inspector Joe” for HGTV, and we are grateful and ecstatic about it every day. It’s a LOT of work when you’re as dedicated and involved in the work as Joe and I are. We wouldn’t have it any other way. We hope you enjoy the always joyful, often puzzling & sometimes messy ride of our first TV show!!! We have so much to share, and we hope that you feel our enthusiasm, integrity, partnership and gratitude through your screens come 2022!

The Four Fundamentals for Fantastic Interiors

When I began my career in Home Staging and Interior Design, I often found myself in the position of explaining a difficult process to homeowners preparing to put their homes on the market or invest in refurbishing. I found it best to approach every moment with ample compassion and clear communication to ensure that my clients knew that I not only had a plan, but that I had their best interests at heart. I boiled the overall process down pretty quickly to what I call “The Four Fundamentals”:

Author, Owner/Designer Noel Gatts

FIX

FILTER

FLOW

FINESSE

BEFORE beam&bloom interiors

AFTER beam&bloom interiors

For any home improvement project or re design, start by FIXING the things that you know are not working. To even define what needs fixing takes some thought and observation. Sit in your space. Look around at each wall and note the things that look worn or broken. Walk through and test the lights and doors and furniture to see if there are flickers, creaks or squeaks that could be improved. This could mean changing a light bulb, tightening a knob, patching a nail hole or finally getting that leaky pipe or broken fixture repaired. Once these little (or big things) are taken care of, you’ll not only feel better already with the functional improvement, but you’ll know what’s left of your budget!

BEFORE beam&bloom interiors

AFTER beam&bloom interiors

This next step is a freebie and maybe the most important with the most immediate impact. FILTER! Take stock of all the “things” in your space. Address their visibility, appeal, functionality & sentimentality. If they no longer rate over 90% in one or more of these categories, or if you KNOW they could serve another person or family better than yours and you feel good about sharing, then it’s time to let them fly. If things are really damaged or unsafe, then dispose of them appropriately. If they could be of use to someone, take the time to find the proper route for donating! We have loved giving through the VVA and local shelters and churches. If you could really use some extra cash, it’s so easy to post items to Facebook Marketplace or other local social media groups, being careful to take reasonable precautions and follow guidelines. I think that this step is the easiest and most accessible to truly anyone and everyone with a home base.

BEFORE beam&bloom interiors

AFTER beam&bloom interiors

Now, it’s time to consider the function and FLOW of the space. How do you want to use it? How do you want to move through it? Do you want to create more fluid energy, or a complete stop and stay mode? There are actual shapes and layouts that create certain energies. I’m not an expert in Feng Shui, but the little I do know about it I subscribe to fully. The energy that we allow to flow into and through our spaces translates directly to the energy that we propel ourselves with when we are in them. Use round coffee tables or edges to support more movement in a space. Rectangular pieces convince energy to sit and stay. Make sure that there are comfortable pathways for people and air to move throughout your space. So often this means PULL YOUR FURNITURE AWAY FROM THE WALL!!!! Am I yelling? My apologies. But, many interior creatives find it super frustrating that a majority of people seem to think that maximizing their space means leaving it empty in the middle. Nope. You can move behind and around chairs and sofas if it continues a comfortable traffic pattern through doorways and case openings. Try prioritizing the gathering of your seating areas around a focal point of a fireplace, TV or windowed view and simply ensuring that there is an easy way to walk around and sometimes through or in front of the seating. The general rule is 3 feet to comfortably create traffic flow, and much less to leave enough room around a coffee table. Just…try something new.

BEFORE beam&bloom interiors

AFTER beam&bloom interiors

The FINESSE is the fun part and by far the most personal. You can play with color and pattern in your rugs and throw pillows and art with little risk. A designer can be your best friend here by bringing their experience, eye, relationships and resources to view your space in a new way. If you know what you like, you’ve got this! Experiment a bit. Maybe pull various items in various color schemes from around your home and gather them to try different visual combinations. If you’re more bold, try a brightly colored or uniquely shaped or textural sofa or chair. Please, do not neglect the importance of ambient light, sound and scent! Consider a floor or table lamp to allow for evening reading or focused light. Install dimmers to set a mood or reduce stress and anxiety. Utilize recessed lighting or a chandelier to add life and vibrancy to a dark day. If you’re a music lover, ensure that you have a place to project the sound that soothes your soul or gives you energy for a long day. Consider natural candles and essential oil diffusers for a healthy indulgence of healing fragrance. Top it all off with plant life! A few small to medium plant pots go a long way to add that organic element and help filter the air a bit. Flank a console or fireplace, fill an awkward corner and/or center a pretty plant on the coffee table for an instant refresh.

FInesse by beam&bloom interiors

Though I still provide home staging consultations, my studio has transitioned to full time interior design…and still these “Four Fundamentals” guide our process! Our specialty has always been less about glam and luxury, and more about creating functionally creative spaces that suit the lifestyle and express the taste of our clients. To best really serve their needs, we need to FIX the things that cause stress or dysfunction, FILTER the things that no longer serve you, FLOW the energy and movement to suit the rooms purpose, and FINESSE to allow the space to tell a story and set a tone through color, texture, art and decor.

Faux It Til You Grow It

When it comes to adding the color and vibrancy of plants to your home decor, Fake it till you make it. Or, as I like to say (with my penchant for coining phrases), Faux it till you grow it!! 

Sneak peek of an ikea faux ficus, design by beam&bloom interiors. cost plus world market pillow

The fancy French is much more apropos for the synthetic plants on the market today. Both the materials and manufacturing have come a long way from the shiny green plastics of days past, and are not only higher in quality and realism,  but more accessible and more affordable than ever.

tiny succulent from the $3 bin at target! Styling by beam&bloom interiors

Walk into your local Target, Homegoods or Marshall's, and you’ll find little faux plant treasures to add to your home decor. Search IKEA for single stemmed eucalyptus and peonies and for trees and potted plants, Cost Plus World Market for large and small scale succulents, Pottery Barn for pretty florals in “water” in a glass vase, or really up your game and search New Growth Designs for incredibly realistic magnolia leaves and a treasure trove of other blooms and greens.

We use faux plants and arrangements constantly for interior styling and photography, and for finishing touches in homes where our clients lack a green thumb. 

pottery barn faux peonies in vase

mix of live & synthetic plants. eucalyptus garland, hearth+Home from target

You can use single stem synthetic flowers and greens in vases, pitchers, centerpieces or tablescapes to glorify any dinner party, place them in groupings on trays to display on consoles and ottomans, or fill empty corners of large rooms or hallways with the vibrant green of faux trees or topiaries at varying levels.

one fake and one real plant! design by beam&bloom interiors

Faux Fiddle leaf fig & basket from cost plus world market

Flanking a mantle or fireplace with artificial pieces helps with balance and symmetry. You can even pick your own plant pots to set each piece or bouquet inside of to truly express your style, but we’ve been Thrilled with the quality and options of the plant pots that come with many pieces. We also love the idea of grouping some synthetic plants with some real plants. We recommend finding gorgeous living plants that are easy to take care of, like the snake plant or a Pothos plant, to add to your faux faves. Just make sure to reality check before you water!

mix of faux & real plant life. design by beam&bloom interiors

Click Here to read more great advice on incorporating synthetic plants into your home in an article featuring beam&bloom interiors for ApartmentTherapy.com!

Embracing Digital Design

The Interior Design industry has a reputation for being a bit snobbish when it comes to digital design.

We understand why! Trained and experienced high end designers spend countless hours honing their skills and building relationships with their vendors and artisans. They then spend countless hours with each luxury client, curating every detail of a space to create a true work of art. Even in the luxury market, these established designers are finding that some clients want to “shop” online to see what they can find and to try to score a “deal",” and this creates a lot of frustration for designers and their clients alike. Designers find themselves having to justify cost of product and their knowledge and experience from time to time, and clients can feel cheated even though they are usually getting a truly top level quality design when they trust in their designer.

Noel Gatts, Owner/Designer at beam&bloom displays a digital e-design mood board

As a young, grass-roots boutique studio, our perspective on digital design is different. We’ve always worked with a middle market clientele and hand in hand with the current climate of online shopping and digital presentations. We specialize in affordable digital design packages while still being able to offer high quality full service design packages. In any instance, we aim to charge appropriately for our time and expertise, and offer product purchasing when it’s mutually beneficial, which is always the case through full service design packages but can be an option even with e-design.

Many people are curious about our process, so we thought that we’d share a bit about it here, and show some examples!

Digital Design, or “e-design”, allows us to work and present to clients remotely, and allows our clients to save money by doing some of the legwork on their own. We call this our “budding” package.

Mood Board for an e-design client by Noel Gatts at beam&bloom interiors; Crate & Barrel bookshelf, World Market media console, Interior Define Sofa, Article chairs, Cb2 poufs, plant pots and lamp, West Elm arched lamp, Annie Selke rug, houzz coffee table, Lulu & Georgia blue pillow, Loloi mustard pillow

For exclusively digital “e-design”, we start with a complimentary phone consult, then send clients a detailed questionnaire to fill out along with photos and measurements of their space. From there, we turn around an initial draft of their design within ten business days per room. This includes a Mood Board, 3D renderings of their space with actual product, and 2D Layout floor plans.

3D Virtual rendering for an e-design client by Noel Gatts at beam&bloom interiors

2D Layout for an e-design client in NYC by Noel Gatts at beam&bloom interiors. YES the room was crooked!

We await feedback, and tweak as needed over the next 15 business days. Clients leave with a clear path to purchase, and directions to set up their space!

actual client space BEFORE beam&bloom local e-design hybrid package services. A big challenge here was the requirement that we keep the sofa. We did shift the chaise.

For our local clients, we always recommend our “e-design hybrid” option which we call our “beaming” package. This includes an initial on site consult where we take the necessary photos and measurements of the space. The client still fills out the relevant portion of the questionnaire, and then we are set to start designing.

We spend a lot of time referring to our “BEFORE” pictures to ensure that the measurements all make sense. It also helps us find hidden decor gems from time to time. The initial draft and feedback are the same process as our e-design package, but at the end we come do a “styling session.” This means a Designer and an assistant come on site to set and adjust furniture and rugs, help hang art, place decor items and style shelves. The value of this is immense!

Mood Board by Noel Gatts, beam&bloom interiors. Crate and Barrel multicolor pillow and fireplace candelabra, Cb2 black and white pillow, curtains, brass bud vase and acrylic coffee table, West Elm geometric pillow, World Market teal Ombre pillow and brass side table, Target.com tripod lamp, wallpaper and vases, Ahart geometric black and wood end table, Parazza white rug, beach art, half moon art, rOUND MIRROR

3D Digital rendering by Noel Gatts, Designer beam&bloom

Actual client space after design implementation AND STYLING by Noel Gatts, beam&bloom

Another view of the actual space AFTER design implementation and styling by beam&bloom interiors

AFTER styling by beam&bloom interiors

AFTER styling by beam&bloom interiors

The proper placement of rugs and furnishings and the well thought out position of art and decor items can make ALL the difference in a space, and many people who struggle with design really need this help. Sometimes there are improvisations required depending on the client’s available art etc., and we find that changes here and in the original concept of lighting and pillow placement can be adjusted for an even more balanced space. We love to give our clients the refined and styled finished product that only an in person visit from their designer can provide.

Noel Gatts, Owner/Designer at beam&bloom interiors

Our clients are busy professionals, first time homeowners, overwhelmed parents and/or folks who just don’t have the skills to make their house a home. They need the helping hand of a talented designer without having to spend a fortune on custom finishes or hours shopping for themselves. Many of them benefit from the convenience of digital design. We started in this digital market, and it still has our heart. We also love to provide full service design for more luxurious spaces with higher budgets, and we add these projects into the mix. But, we’ve found a way to make design an “affordable luxury” that lasts, and to make it attainable to almost anyone. We plan to continue to learn, grow, improve and provide a new generation of clients this unique opportunity to hire a dedicated interior designer with ease.

Sun Shine Design

To usher in the summer, beam&bloom was invited to dress up a garden table and furnishings for the Van Vleck House Roses to Rock Gardens tour. We had such a delightful time, and wanted to share our experience as well as links to shop for our favorite elements of our design!

The Van Vleck House is an esteemed historic house and gardens in Montclair, New Jersey that is open to the public. To keep things up and running and gorgeous as ever, they rely on donations and this annual fundraiser. The Roses to Rock Gardens tour allows ticket holders to view several of the most uniquely curated local gardens.

Private Glen Ridge, New Jersey Garden on the Van Vleck Roses to Rock Gardens Tour

Mediterranean Outdoor Cushion Lounge, Target outdoor poufs, Target rug, Custom Stout Textiles “boxwood” green velvet lumbar pillows

My assistants and I had the opportunity to work with a wonderful Glen Ridge, New Jersey garden and gardener. The days were sunny, warm and tranquil. The grounds were fluid and unstructured. The plant life was abundantly green with pops of color and eclectic touches throughout.

We began at the beginning!

As guests said “hello” to the garden, they were welcomed with a little bonus seating area. 3 jute poufs on a simple but striking rug added an element of surprise, and a dreamy vision of relaxation.

The real center of our work in this stunning outdoor space was the dining table. We were inspired to create a lush and vibrant Mediterranean setting that felt like a European escape.

Tablescape by beam&bloom, World Market White Plates, serving bowl, cloth napkins and macrame table runner. Target flatware and tablecloth. At Home chargers and bowls.

My first thought was…”lemons”! My friends know me as a lemon-lover. The flavor, the smell, the color, the texture just harkens sunshine. We elevated them front and center of our tablescape. While we were looking at produce, the artichokes caught our eye! The pattern, texture and color of these vegetables add so much character.

White, black, wood, green and neutral Mediterranean tablescape design by beam&bloom with lavendar, artichokes, greens, lemons and mason jars.

Mediterranean white, black, green and wood Tablescape by beam&bloom, World Market White Plates, serving bowl, cloth napkins and macrame table runner. Target flatware and tablecloth. At Home chargers and bowls. Photo Credit: Campbell Minister with Decorated Interiors

The tablecloth was a clean, simple and incredibly versatile find! It set the scene for us to add our decorative elements. The macrame table runner brings the textiles up a notch with just the right touch of rustic craftsmanship and pattern. For added fragrance and interest, we used sprigs of lavender and rosemary nestled to our frayed ivory napkins by a simple black satin ribbon.

Mediterranean Tablescape design by beam&bloom with artichokes, lemons and greens

We peppered the tablescape with black and white and deep greens in various shades and tones. The bowls were an absolute perfect topper. The pattern was dynamic without being overwhelming.

We softened each table seat with a beautiful woven and tasseled indoor/outdoor pillow. Further into the garden, we enhanced the outdoor lounge area with several throw pillows in monochromatic ivories and multiple varieties of texture. Another pop of citrus color in the center with limes and mandarins and more aromatic lavender.

Global outdoor lounge area. Ceramic and wood Lazy Susan, World Market Outdoor Lumbar pillow, Target pillows (discontinued), Ikea pillows

Outdoor lounge design by beam&bloom

We so enjoyed our time designing out in the sunshine! We hope this inspires all of you, our “design enthusiasts”, to explore and find inspiration in your surroundings and create your own summer oasis.

Kristin & Liz. Two of the most beautiful assistants in the world.

Owner/Designer, Noel Gatts, setting her table design

Designed For Sale

Today is all about Occupied Home Staging! ‘Tis the season, and it’s really such a big life event to buy and sell a home!! It deserves some tender attention. 

We should all have the opportunity to create living environments that envelop us in comfort and inspiration. Often, when people prepare to sell, that’s the goal. Really it’s the goal for them AND for their buyer, right? To find a space that allows them to breathe and live their potential without over stressing their wallets OR their souls. 

So, when I’m called upon to Stage an Occupied property for sale, my first thoughts are with the current homeowner, and caring for them while maximizing their home’s future potential. My next thoughts are with the new home buyers, and allowing them to envision their often diverse desires for their property investment.  There IS a way to create a win/win here, and I’ve fallen in love with helping seller’s re-design their spaces in a way that rocks their sale and empowers them to move on with style! 

Most often, the investment of some key new pieces (bedding, coffee tables, rugs....sometimes a sofa) is the best bang for their buck. They pay what they would to rent furnishings, but end up with something that they love that can easily fit in their new space. 

Shall we explore a kickin’ example of “Designing for Sale”? 

The incomparable Vanessa Pollock of Pollock Property Group approached me with a challenge. There was an adorable home with lovely owners that were ready to relocate, but hadn’t had the time to invest in the design of their home. The market is hot, but the homes here come with high expectations, and we just knew that this house had high potential!

BEFORE, lIVING rOOM

bEFORE, KITCHEN/DINING ROOM

BEFORE, OFFICE/SUNROOM

I came in for the initial consultation, and was first blown away by the warm heart and character of the homeowner. I then quickly realized that with the right paint, a complete downsizing of furniture and re-org of collectibles...we still would fall short of presenting this property in it’s best light. We approached the homeowner with a plan to get all the necessary work done, remove the necessary items...and spend some money on super affordable furniture with a super high style factor for their main living space.

AFTER, lIVING ROOM. pAINT COLORS, CLASSIC GRAY AND SIMPLY WHITE BY BENJAMIN MOORE. Novogratz vintage tufted sleeper sofa. Art by Pamela Viola for Minted. DESIGNED FOR SALE BY BEAM&BLOOM INTERIORS. THE BLACK ACCENTS AND WASHES OF WHITE WITH POPS OF BLUE PERFECTLY SUITED THE SPACE AND THE ROCKSTAR FAMILY.

aFTER, KITCHEN/DINING ROOM. pAINT COLORS, CLASSIC GRAY AND SIMPLY WHITE BY BENJAMIN MOORE. STAGED BY BEAM&BLOOM INTERIORS.

AFTER, OFFICE/SUNROOM. pAINT COLORS CLASSIC GRAY AND SIMPLY WHITE BY BENJAMIN MOORE. STAGED BY BEAM&BLOOM INTERIORS.

There were some big expenses and big time commitments for them, of course, with necessary repairs and painting. They understood that they’d see a return on these investments! For Home Staging, they trusted us. It WILL pay off to spend some money here. But, incredibly, our total budget for Staging and purchasing several new pieces (couch, rug, bedding, plants) PLUS my services totaled about $1,800.  

BOOKSHELF BEFORE

BOOKSHELF AFTER. STYLED BY BEAM&BLOOM INTERIORS.

ENTRYWAY DESIGNED FOR SALE BY BEAM&BLOOM INTERIORS. Target bench and pillow. world market basket.

First and last, I love helping people improve their lifestyle by improving their home’s style. The impact that our environment has on us is permeating. Especially for these clients, they’re home’s re-design was an awakening for them. It was a way to see the impact that interior design has on the way that they live and do and see everything. They now get to move on not only with some incredible and affordable new pieces, but with the knowledge and power to set up a new home based on the editing and styling that we discovered with their staging. They’re now “designed to sell” and set up to thrive.

Update! This home sold quickly for above asking! Home Staging works.

The ONE DAY Re-design!

The One Day Redesign

A design tale of Brooklyn proportions

Let’s immediately dispense with the BEFORES & AFTERS, shall we? That’s the eye candy. That’s the heart of the home makeover story, right?

But, this is a different story…where the home could not possibly outshine it’s occupant. We just wanted to elevate it to be worthy!

And that is the story of this one day redesign on a cold but sunny January day on Elliot Street in Brooklyn, NY, when Team beam&bloom took a whirlwind 5 hours to try to give a beautiful person the beautiful space that she deserves.

after

Before

after

before

after

before

after

before

Noel & Becca….hugging and lounging. The only thing missing is chewy chips ahoy.

My dear friend, Becca, has been a steadfast part of my life for…many years. We’ve grown up together in a myriad of ways. We’ve been friends since sophomore year of high school. We’ve seen each other follow different life paths, but always with shared values, interests and dreams for ourselves, our families, our friends and our world.

We’ve both had an especially intense year, full of highs and lows. There were joyful family births, new and old friendships, career successes and falls and then, for her, an unwelcome health issue that took some wind out of the sails for a bit. But, in proper Becca fashion, she has weathered the storm to come out stronger, wiser and as determined as ever to live every moment of her beautiful life without limitation. She truly embodies the strength and beauty of the beam&bloom mission, and the integrity and creativity that I strive for in every design project.

So…

I decided I wanted to give her the gift of a transformed space after a transforming year. Really, it was a gift for the both of us in a multitude of ways. To start, she got some pampering, and I got some creative freedom to “surprise” her with a one day re-design of her space! And, off my team and I went for a whirlwind day of decorating!

Actually, it was 5 hours on the nose.

Team beam&bloom

Kristin K., Jackie l., liz l., liz f., noel g.

It took a few weeks of planning, gathering, purchasing and plotting to make it possible, but we had an absolute blast spending the day making her little “house” a home.

Actually, it’s a studio apartment in the lovely Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY.

In Becca’s neighborhood next to Spike Lee’s Studios

The “Living Room” is actually an entryway/living room/kitchen/dining space. We wanted to make an impact with the dynamic fireplace wall in a stunning Dark Teal by Benjamin Moore. We painted the “fireplace” itself a semi gloss black to reflect the light from the Hearth & Home Candelabra that we chose to add height, interest and ambiance.

White terra cotta opalhouse vases, ikea lanterns and a vintage gold mirror on a benjamin moore deep teal wall

Hearth and Home antique brass candelabra by joanna gaines

The white Opalhouse from Target vases are versatile, simple and striking against the teal wall, while still allowing the stunning vintage gold mirror to shine.

The kitchen got a little face lift with some editing, organizing, creative design and some remnant Magnolia Home chalkboard (you can actually chalk on it) removable wallpaper from a previous project. This sweet little feature was expertly papered by the lovely and talented beam&bloom project manager, Kristin K.! The teal metal “eat” sign is a pop of color, and nice reminder!

Becca’s story is everywhere in her home. We even picked a pretty teal book to display called “The Boy Who Fell off the Mayflower” about HER ancestor! We topped it with a little Gloria Steinem for balance of old and new tales to tell. The glass coffee table with a milky glass bottom shelf adds some shine and clarity to the open space. The global style poufs provide seating for visitors, a comfy place to rest your feet while lounging on the sofa AND the colors of the rainbow! The plush rug is bright, soft and neutral enough to brighten and blend with any space.

Magnolia Home wallpaper, wood work space, world market tin sign and some black boxed Capital Teas

glass coffee table & multicolored global poufs

Becca is a bibliophile (and a genius…but I digress), thus we HAD to keep her double sided bookshelf which we flipped on it’s side to keep the “entryway” separate but the floor plan nice and open. My talented project manager, Liz F., created a book rainbow! The color and life that it provides is amazing, and, oh, the stories it tells. If one could read every book on this shelf, one would be better for it.

Ever the explorer, Becca has art that she has collected from all of her favorite geographical locations. She studied in Virginia, Austin and London and has traveled extensively. Her background and profession in Theatre Arts gives her an eclectic and global view of people and places, and an incredibly positive perspective on the beauty of humanity despite the symbiotic darkness. We created a gallery wall of some of her favorite people, places and things anchored by a modern mini sofa, a super soft throw blanket and some pretty plush pillows.

We didn’t forget the bedroom! …or, I suppose more appropriately the “sleeping nook.” It’s a GIANT walk in closet, but tiiiiiiiiiiiny bedroom. We opened up the space with narrow storage bins from Ikea, a couple of mirrors to bounce light around and a bright curtain to cover the clothes rack. The rattan Opalhouse mirror from Target adds the perfect touch of boho style.

We put in bright white basket storage above the clothes, and laid down the beautiful bright colored rug that was previously in the living room. We brought a few touches of gold in with a jewelry area mirror, flecks in the clothes curtain and the reading light. New bedding adds a bit of personality, and a soothingly comfortable place to curl up with a book at bedtime under the pretty new wall mounted plug in sconce.

Et voila! I could not be more pleased, my team could not be more supportive, and Becca could not be more gracious and thrilled with her one day redesign.

Now, she has a completely refreshed space to come home to…to cook in…to rest in….to host in…to read in….to plan and dream, and eat and sleep…

and LIVE in.

“i feel like i’m living in a hotel!” - becca

Happy Birthday, beam&bloom!

My Dear Interior Enthusiasts,

On September 1st, 2018, my little biz and big dream, beam&bloom, celebrated a successful 1st year of business LIFE!

With very few growing pains, and lots of help, we have been lucky enough to build strong client relationships, join an inspiring network of professionals and connect with our community on a personal level. I can think of no greater gift!

Thank you to all of my supporters, clients and mentors for welcoming this little business, and allowing me to pursue this passion project of creating comfortable, functional and beautiful spaces for so many. My little team and I hope for another fantastic year of honorable service, inspiring design and fast friendships. Cheers to our first year!!!

…and many more.

xoxo,

Noel Gatts

Owner/Designer

beam&bloom interior design