I recently photographed a project we finished at The Guest House Ocala – their community dining hall. The Guest House is a residential treatment facility that I’ve had the pleasure of working with the last two and a half years. I actually have to catch you up on all the previous spaces we’ve completed, but, maybe starting from most recent is the way to go.
Dining Hall: Before
The dining hall on the property is where clients eat all their meals while staying for treatment. In addition to the tables for dining, the other half of the space is a lounge zone for playing games and watching movies. When I first saw the space, it felt a little cold and barren. I was tasked with making it feel more like a restaurant and less like a high school cafeteria. To make the environment inviting; a welcome place to sit and enjoy a meal.
The space already had a few elements that we needed to work with: the floors, furniture in the lounge area, and the dining table and chairs. We had to work with what we had, plus build on it to make it better. One of the things I love about working on commercial spaces is the challenge of coming up with ideas and strategies to accomplish the objective.
Dining Hall: After
Since this was not a residential home, we couldn’t fill it with extra furnishings or too much fluff. We needed the impact to be off the floor. For that reason, I felt like a bold wall color was the way to go. We chose a blue that would make a big impact (Waterloo by Sherwin Williams). The other element I felt could make the space feel more like a restaurant was ceiling lighting. We added the two chandeliers to establish the different “zones” in the dining hall.
On the eating side of the dining hall, I think the piece that makes it feel most like a restaurant is the long banquette. Not only does it fill the wall as a focal point, but it also invites you to sit and stay for a while.
Instead of hanging the art directly on the wall, we chose a rail system to hang the frames from. We used a variety of different digital downloads from BFF Print Shop and Juniper Print Shop to get the images in the sizes we needed. Speaking of art, we also used several pieces from Sugarboo & Co. around the space.
Lounge Area
In the lounge zone, we did a few other tweaks to make it feel more home-y. We swapped the projection screen for a regular TV that would sit on a media stand. We added some chairs to balance out the sectional and feel more “conversational”. Finally, we swapped the neutral area rug for one with more color and movement.
Looking back at where we started, I feel like we accomplished what we were trying to do in the dining hall. The colors, lighting and art helped to elevate what felt like a plain box. Now the surroundings match the incredible meals the team serves up every day. I look forward to sharing more of the completed projects at this gorgeous property.
Today I wanted to share with you a lobby design I worked on last summer that I recently photographed.
Background
Faithfully Guided Health Center is an exciting addition to Ocala’s health scene. Jamie and Ashlee, the innovative founders of Faithfully Guided, are doing awesome work. Their mission is to help people reach optimal health through a collaborative and holistic approach to wellness. There is nothing else like it in town.
You may remember that I went to New York on a Wellness Weekend this past spring, I went with Jamie and Ashlee to explore what is new and awesome in the wellness-sphere. I love how committed to bringing the best of the best to our community.
Last summer, they asked me to design their new space. The lobby at Faithfully Guided Health Center was my first commercial project. Like with all things worth doing, I was a little nervous. It was so different than the residential projects I had been working on. Thankfully, they seemed to have confidence that I could tackle the lobby design for their new venture.
It turns out, not only am I happy with the result, the experience revealed that I actually would like to do more commercial spaces.
Since then, I have been doing a lot more commercial work and will share those projects in the coming weeks. But today, let’s jump into the lobby design at Faithfully Guided Health Center.
The Lobby Design Plan
When I came into the space, it was still under construction, but Jamie and Ashlee filled me on their objectives. They had a very clear vision of how the space needed to function. They knew from the get-go that this would be a hardworking multi-use space that needed to feel welcoming and inviting.
During the day, they needed it to serve as a waiting room for clients and patients. Knowing that most waiting rooms have a specific seating arrangement that people are used to, we included that in the plan.
Faithfully Guided really values community and relationships as an essential component of health and well-being. So they wanted the space to also support those needs. For that reason, we included conversational seating area and even a communal table.
In addition, they wanted the lobby to sit up to 30 people. And, they wanted the flexibility to move things around for special events and workshops.
With all that in mind, this is the design board that I presented to them initially. We ended up landing pretty darn close to it.
The Finished Space
There you have it! Faithfully Guided Health Center‘s multifunctional inviting lobby and waiting room. I hope that if you are local you will go by and check it out. Swing by for a yoga class, a cup of coffee or a restorative session in their infrared sauna. They would love to see you!
Today I wanted to share some photos from a beach rental property in Crescent Beach.
I realized the other day that since my styling and design projects are keeping me away from my blog, I should consider sharing more of that work here. Sometimes the most obvious answers are right in front of you. So here we are 🙂
The Backstory
The 1500 square foot townhouse unit belongs to our longtime family friends. They bought it more than 25 years ago, and now the adult children are taking care of the upkeep and rental needs.
Their condo is located in Summerhouse Condominiums in Crescent Beach. Like many people from Ocala, I have many fond memories of beach vacations at Summerhouse. We have continued to take our own little family back for summers, spring breaks and even a Thanksgiving in the past because we love this place so much.
Two years ago now, Summerhouse was impacted significantly by Hurricane Irma. In the case of our friends’ rental property, the immediate need was to replace the furnishings in the living and dining spaces as a result of mold that formed from rain coming inside through the sliding glass doors. Since the owners are not in Florida and I am less than 2 hours aways, they reached out to see if I could help them.
I happily accepted the challenge, and I’m happy to say that this is one of the projects I have enjoyed the most in the last few years. Phase I was completed in the December of 2018, and Phase II was finished this past Spring.
Condo Renovation – Phase I
We decided to take advantage of the low rental season (fall) to do as much as we could before the renters who were scheduled for late winter. Our goal during Phase I was to replace all the furniture on the main floor, and to create more sleeping space in the upstairs guest bedroom.
The project was fairly straightforward, and with the help of an incredible local carpenter/handyman and a painter, we were able to knock it out in a few months.
The unit was originally styled in a Mediterranean theme, utilizing photos from the owners’ travels. Their kids really wanted to maintain the spirit of the Greek villa feel, while freshening it up for a more updated look. I think we were able to achieve it!
Living Space – BEFORE
Living Space – AFTER
The iconic blue statement wall stayed, we just made it a little less French blue to a more vibrant Mediterranean hue. Since the wall is so vibrant, the furnishings we chose were more neutral. Pops of bright white around the space bring the feel of Greek villas overlooking the sea.
Dining Space – BEFORE
Dining Space – AFTER
In addition to a new dining table and chairs, we incorporated a fun and casual light fixture. We also edited down the photographs. By selecting fewer images framed in larger white frames, they make a bolder statement.
Condo Renovation – Phase II
Phase II, which was this past fall, was a bit more involved. The goal was to replace all of the carpet on the second floor, refresh the master bedroom, and renovate the two small bathrooms upstairs.
Because the scope was larger, we worked with a local contractor who was onsite working on many other units.
Master Bedroom – BEFORE
Master Bedroom – AFTER
The bed was a happy accident. We originally had selected and ordered THIS one, but when the delivery date started getting pushed back, we decided to cancel the order for something that would arrive more quickly. I think the blue upholstered bed is exactly what the room needed. Even better, was that it cost significantly less.
Because the master bedroom receives such nice natural light, we chose to go all white with the walls. To add a little more texture, our super carpenter/handyman added the vertical planking to the headboard wall. I love how it came out.
One of my favorite features of the room is the basket wall. The grouping allowed us to spread out onto the wall in a way that most framed art would not. The woven textures are perfect against the smooth white wall.
Master Bath – BEFORE
Master Bath – AFTER
Despite making no changes to the footprint, the master bath feels double the size due to the glass enclosure.
Guest Room – BEFORE
Guest Bedroom – AFTER
Our main goal in here was to increase the sleeping space. We did this by swapping one twin for a full bed and the other for a bunk bed. Now there is room for 4 to fit in here!
Since I took these photos for the rental listing after Phase I, they do not reflect the addition of the wood floors. Here is an iPhone photo I took of the floors after Phase II.
Guest Bath – BEFORE
Guest Bath – AFTER
What a difference in this guest bath, huh? Similar to the master, we added a glass enclosure and kept the walls white. My favorite touches are the floor tile and vanity, both of which were very reasonably priced.
What I learned on this project
One of the best parts of working on so many different projects is the opportunity to grow and learn with each one. With the Crescent Beach Condo project I learned:
The importance of getting all of the selections to the builder quickly to make the project move more quickly.
That I really enjoy working on rental properties. I love analyzing hotel room design choices as well as AirBnB’s. Getting into the mind of a vacationer and trying to meet their needs is a fun challenge!
That it is worth taking at least one risk in every room.
That collaborating with good people is extremely satisfying.
I’ll be back again soon to share more projects and the lessons I am learning along the way.
If you are interested in renting this specific unit at Summerhouse, just send me a message or leave me a message in the comments and I will gladly send you the unit number so you can request to stay here!
The other day I was buying a shirt online, and realized that it was the 3rd time I had purchased the same shirt from Madewell. Different colors and patterns, but still the same shirt. I started thinking about how many Madewell items I’ve re-purchased through the years. Quite a few, actually.
An edited-down approach
I spend very little time shopping for clothes and have gotten into a bit of a system that works for me. You may remember THIS post from years ago diving into a capsule wardrobe approach. I’m happy to report that I still loosely follow this intentional process.
One of the ways I streamline the time I spend thinking about getting dressed is by having a narrow list of places I shop. Madewell being one of them. Another way is by sticking within a narrow range of styles and colors.
What I love about shopping from a limited number of places is that you can start knowing the fit and fabrics like the back of your hand. Since I am so familiar with their inventory, it is very easy to buy what I need and no more. It also helps that Madewell’s style is in line with a pared down, utilitarian aesthetic, which I am drawn to.
Here’s a little round-up of the Madewell pieces I have purchased over and over. And one that I plan on re-purchasing as soon as I wear it out.
My staple Madewell pieces
Central Shirt. The way the shirt drapes is perfect, as well as the length, and how wonderful it is in warm weather. I even included it in THIS roundup of my most used travel wardrobe staples.
Simple cross-body bag. This Madewell purse is simple, small and lightweight. I have it in two colors.
Shape Study Earrings. The Shape Study Earrings have been good to me, so when I lost one a while back, I just went ahead and re-ordered the same ones.
Highpoint Tank Dress. I have this dress in 4 colors. It is as Plain Jane as they come, but also the most easy breezy thing to throw on.
Whisper Cotton V-Neck Pocket Tank. Probably one of my first Madewell purchases ever. The Whisper Cotton line is always available with new colors phasing in and out through the seasons.
Summer Ryder Cardigan. I love the longer relaxed length of this cardigan as it has a less stuffy vibe than your typical cardigan.
Medium Transport Bag. The Transport Bag is the only item on today’s list that I have only purchased once. But that is because it is still going strong! When the time comes, I will re-buy it.
Huston Pull-On Crop Pants. These are my newest Madewell discovery and I already have two pairs (chambray and rust).
So now you know my weird habit of just re-buying the same things for the sake of simplicity. What approach do you take to your wardrobe? Is there anything you repurchase again and again?
It’s been a while since I have check in with my little corner of the internet. There is so much I have been wanting to share. I guess the best way to do that is to just start.
If you’ve been reading along for a while, you know I love New York City. Any excuse to go back, I am there. I especially love finding unique New York experiences depending on who I am traveling with. With the kids, it’s one itinerary. A couples trip is another.
A couple of months ago, I went to New York City with two girlfriends who are as passionate about wellness and self-care as I am. We thought it would be fun to go to the Big Apple with a focus on visiting innovative businesses in the wellness-sphere.
I really enjoyed researching and digging around for places that would leave us inspired and coming back rejuvenated.
Below is a quick synopsis of what we did on our NYC wellness weekend. If this type of travel sounds like your idea of fun too, save this post for your next trip. We found some great little spots I think you’ll enjoy.
Clean Market
One of the first places I found in my research for this trip was Clean Market. This Upper East Side destination is a wellness mecca. It is part cafe, part green beauty boutique, and part spa. The whole vibe is fresh and modern.
For services, they have some really great offerings: infrared sauna, cryotherapy, cryofacials, and vitamin IV drips by Nutri-Drip. We chose to try a Nutri-Glow drip along with a cryofacial.
The Nutri-Drip experience is basically just like having an IV put in. Instead of antibiotics or whatever you would have at the hospital, ours was filled with glutathione, a powerful antioxidant.
While we were relaxed on their comfy chairs and the drips were going, the cryofacials came to us. A cryofacial is basically a heavy dose of very cold air shooting at your face. This cold air shocks your skin and makes you all rosy and fresh.
One thing we didn’t do but also looked incredible is the infrared sauna followed by a full-body cryotherapy session. We knew we were heading to dinner afterwards, so showering and getting ready wasn’t in the cards for us…this time. If you have time, definitely do it!
Tip: If you just want a little taste of a wellness experience on your next NYC visit, this is a perfect contender.
Rise by We
Are you familiar with WeWork? They are pioneers in the shared workspace movement. If you live in a medium to large city, odds are you have heard of WeWork. Rise by We is an wellness offshoot of the We Company. In their words,
“Rise by We is The We Company’s vision for the complete wellness experience. Leading with movement, community, and rejuvenation, Rise celebrates social wellness as the key to elevating quality of life.”
I mean…really. How much better does it get??
In addition to a worthy mission, the workout rooms and spaces are decked out to support each of the different workouts. The “Flight” room is filled with cardio equipment for Orange Theory style workouts. The “Insight” room was designed for yoga and more mindful movement. And finally, the “Turf” space was equipped for a more athletic conditioning experience. I booked us into the 7am Turf Performance class on our first morning in the city.
The Turf Performance class was… So. Much. Fun. Our instructor, Robin, led us through an active warm-up, then a tabata session with kettlebells, followed by sprints. From there, we broke up into pairs and went through a varied circuit of athletic movements, changing stations every minute.
After the class, the plan was to head back to our hotel, but we took a peek at the spa, and got totally sucked in. We sauna’d, steamed, face masked and took full advantage of all the spa amenities.
Tip: A day pass to Rise by We is $35. If you plan to visit, bring a bathing suit and a change of clothes so you can take advantage of the spa after your class. Towels, toiletries, dryers and such are all available.
Stretch*d
If you are exercising on a regular basis, shoot, if you are SITTING on a regular basis, you need Stretch*d in your life! Stretch*d is an assisted stretch studio. A team of trained stretchers are at your service to help stretch out your joints and muscles, leaving you loose and limber.
Stretch*d is the brainchild of Amanda Freeman, who created the SLT class we took the next morning. The concept came out of a need for athletes and desk jockeys alike to get the much needed movement to keep our bodies agile.
Tip: We did the 25 minute Quick-e session, but if you can swing the 55 minute session, I would definitely try to do that. Wear stretchy clothes.
FaceLove
When I was on the Stretch*d website looking through their options, I noticed something called “FaceLove”. Immediately, I was intrigued. Turns out FaceLove is a separate company that works in partnership inside the Stretch*d studio. According to their website,
“Their core principal is that massage should be a routine human maintenance, to help offset certain adrenaline-producing consequences of modern life. Helping inflammation, tension, and pH imbalance within your body. What they were craving for themselves – the perfect sensory surrender experience to be accessible, affordable and spontaneous- is what they now provide, for you.”
The experience was beyond dreamy. Thirty minutes of head, neck and face massage. If I could describe it, I would say it was like a blend between a massage and a facial – but so much more.
Tip: Do NOT miss this! Probably my favorite experience of the whole weekend.
ReCover NYC
ReCover is a studio solely dedicated to recovery modalities. No matter the stressor, whether it be internal stress, sports, or injury, ReCover has something to help you heal.
Their services include infrared sauna, hydromassage, air compression, PEMF, and NuCalm. The NuCalm caught my eye because I had never heard of it. The description said that a 30 minute NuCalm session had the same restorative benefits of a 2-3 hour nap! Of course that is what we signed up for.
Our NuCalm session started in a comfy chair that reclined all the way back. Our guide gave us some Gaba cream to put on our necks and electro pads to put behind our ears. Then, we got some mask goggles and headphones.
Apparently the way it works is that the electromagnetic waves along with the audio puts you in a Theta sleep stage. Theta is a light level of sleep with excellent restorative benefits. The way I describe the experience is that you feel like you are in that state when you are dreaming, but if someone talked to you, you would easily wake up. Cool, right?!
Tip: If you are chronically exhausted or stressed, give this a try for a deep rested feeling and all the benefits that come from rest.
SLT (Strengthen – Lengthen-Tone)
Researching what fitness classes we should try during our brief time, SLT stood out pretty quickly. Using a platform called a Megaformer for the whole 50-minute experience, it was intense. Per their own description,
“If cardio, strength training and pilates had a baby, it would be SLT.”
The instructor sailed through the directions which involved turning around and grabbing on to different parts of this contraption. It seemed like there was an endless supply of handles, pulleys and positions we could get in. Sweat poured out of every pore. I kept looking at the instructor with each command thinking he was kidding, but turns out he was serious. Whenever I was clueless as to the next move, I kept sneaking a peek at the girl next to me who seemed to be having zero problems keeping up. Apparently there was a reason for that.
Turns out the “girl” next to me was the founder of the class and concept, Amanda Freeman. She talked to us afterwards and was super gracious. We told her we had tried her new venture, Stretch*d, the day before and she filled us in on how the concept came about. It was really a treat to meet the woman behind two of our incredible NYC wellness experiences.
Tip: Try this class for an amazing full-body strength and lengthening experience. There are studios all over the city!
Sundays Nail Studio
During a quick visit to the new Hudson Yards…neighborhood/mall/complex, we made a pit-stop at Sundays Nail Studio. Sundays is a non-toxic nail studio that has a completely different vibe than most nail places I’ve ever been. Light and airy, this salon feels more like a minimalist’s apartment than a nail salon.
Although it had been on my list, it didn’t make the cut for official reservations. So we got in for a a couple different quick services. I loved my express manicure, but wished I could have stayed longer. Next time, I would definitely reserve a spot for one of their meditation manicures, which involves listening to a guided meditation while getting your nails down.
Tip: Book a guided meditation manicure!
Where we ate:
We did not have one bad (or even mediocre) meal during our visit. Each place varied in it’s level of elegance and price, but they all had nutritious and delicious offerings. I would be happy to return to any of these places.
ABC Kitchen – farm-to-table restaurant where the veggies are the star of the show.
Divya’s Kitchen – a heavenly Ayurvedic vegetarian restaurant
Dig Inn – a fast casual chain all over the Northeast, but still something we don’t have near us, so we enjoyed every bite.
Hu Kitchen – another fast casual restaurant that has all of the healthy ingredients we want more of, but none of the yucky stuff (like soy, gluten, refined sugar and more).
So Much More
Our three nights flew by and left us with so many places left to try. Fortunately, the spots we hit up all lived up to our expectations. Not one dud. The only downside was knowing how many more experiences were out there that we didn’t get to! We decided it was just a reason to return 🙂
I'm Ale (rhymes with Sally) and I'm glad you're here. As a design enthusiast and podcast-junkie, Outside & In is where I share what I'm learning and exploring at the moment. Subscribe below to get freshly published posts straight to your inbox.
