Madhavi Raman Blackburn 10/6/21 Madhavi Raman Blackburn 10/6/21

Hardwood Floors - Budget Breakdown

I’m going to give it to you straight - this was an expensive project! Even after we modified our original scope. Read about the full budget breakdown here…

Madhavi Raman Blackburn 9/29/21 Madhavi Raman Blackburn 9/29/21

The Swap is Complete! Install Day Drama, The Reveal, & Our Primary Bedroom

The road to get hardwood on the third floor of our house was a bumpy one, it was well worth it. I LOVE them!

I have kept you waiting long enough…so check out the Before/After!!

Madhavi Raman Blackburn 8/29/21 Madhavi Raman Blackburn 8/29/21

A Difficult Decision + A Creative Solution - Our Flooring Saga Continued…

Upon buying our house last year we knew we wanted hardwood floors throughout. We didn’t realize quite what a challenge it would be to make it happen, but, here we are getting ready to make the post-close-of-escrow swap from carpet to wood!

Here’s a summary of a difficult decision, a creative solution, and a “before look” at our carpeted floors.

Madhavi Raman Blackburn 8/25/21 Madhavi Raman Blackburn 8/25/21

From Carpet to Hardwood - The Beginning of our Flooring Saga

The beginning of our flooring saga….going from carpet on the third floor and staircases to hardwood.

Madhavi Raman Blackburn 8/18/21 Madhavi Raman Blackburn 8/18/21

A Textural Touch For Any Home; Woven Baskets + Planters

I am a strong believer in layers. Layering various pieces, colors (whether they are all within the same tone or not), materials, and textures. And I absolutely love thoughtfully designed decor, especially anything that is handmade or has a handcrafted feel to it…

Madhavi Raman Blackburn 8/11/21 Madhavi Raman Blackburn 8/11/21

News Flash: It’s Not All About Me…

With buying and developing your first house, or possibly any house, comes an opportunity for learning and personal growth. In my experience, a LOT of learning and personal growth, haha! And one of the greatest lessons I have learned, as both a designer and a person, is that it is not all about me — what I like, what I want, and how I see it…

Madhavi Raman Blackburn 8/4/21 Madhavi Raman Blackburn 8/4/21

Designing During Construction, My First Purchase, and a Round-up of My Favorite Armless Sofas

If you have been following our journey with this new house on Instagram or here on the blog, you know that when we bought our first house in California back in October 2020, it was just a dirt lot.

That said, as an interior designer I couldn’t wait to pick out furniture, decor, and everything else!

Madhavi Raman Blackburn 7/28/21 Madhavi Raman Blackburn 7/28/21

The Kitchen Design Decision I Made and What Helped Me Get There

Last week I left you all in suspense about which kitchen countertop option I ended up selecting, and, what helped me make the decision…*Drumroll Please*…

Madhavi Raman Blackburn 7/21/21 Madhavi Raman Blackburn 7/21/21

Being Asked to Reselect our Kitchen Counters - Just 2 Months Before Closing

At the start of this month, we received an email from our TM designer letting us know they had experienced a material delay for our finish package and that the original quartz countertop was no longer available.