There’s a very real “embodiment” when somebody first walks into your home. The sights, the smells and the sounds all act in a harmony of first-impression that can never be forgotten. Ask any realtor this and he or she can tell by the looks on their faces, the client either wants to see more or they want to turn around and leave…within seconds.

Let’s concentrate on those first few seconds in the entry of your living space.

SMELL - From a design sense, you can work this both visually and sensory. If you set a vase of  realistic silk flowers with stems in real water, just the presence of the floral is comforting as long as the arrangement is shook out and dusted frequently. The visual will enhance the auditory in this case. A rustic wooden bowl with fragranced pine cones says fragrance lives here. As well, a crystal bowl overflowing with dried fruit slices and large blossoms or pods speaks fragrance at the sight of it.

Candles are a great way to perfume a home’s entrance , however they usually are only fragrant when lit for about half an hour and the oils collect. Another popular option are the perfume and oil diffusers which can be exposed or carefully hidden, and a highly effective fragrance option for a entry or grand foyer is a hidden plug-in that releases fragrance all day long as well.

SOUND - This design element is far more obvious but also often forgotten. Music has such a play on our experience overall and of course the type being played can brighten or lift a mood as easily as it can calm or settle a mind. Most luxury homes have audio in each room attached to the home center control panel, but all homes should improvise to create their own experience.

Placing a small unit in disguise in your entry with a CD on repeat is easy as pie. Simply finding an extra or used player and speakers and placing them under a piece of draped fabric whose edges are tucked and puddled creates a pedestal for a plant if you like. Music really should always lift their spirits the minute they walk into your home.

SIGHT - I can’t express this enough when it comes to an entry: OLD paired with the new. No matter your style: contemporary, minimalist, traditional, eclectic, farmhouse, luxury, or post and beam y’all - OLD paired with the new. Let’s face it, we love stories. We do - and heritage and history will always speak through design elements without saying one word. An antique vase, an old photograph in an oval frame, a worn baseball glove, or an antique sled leaning against the wall speaks to nostalgia and our childhood hearts. 

All of this said, what first impressions are your surfaces also speaking? The flooring, the walls, and the counters are foundational to also telling a story. TODAY would be a great day to ask the professionals at ASD how they can help you tell the best story your beautiful home could tell. 

Please call us for a free in-home consultation at ---

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY from all of us at Artistic Stone Design! 

With holiday entertaining right around the corner, now is the best time to make sure that your powder room appears as festive as your guests are.

Great design starts with great surfaces, so let's get started!

​If your slab surface is in a warm tone such as almonds, taupes, caramels, browns or dark chocolate, the traditional red and green decor and towels will jump to traditional attention. But to add an easy touch of glam, go with some gold and white to pop a bit and give it a more contemporary lift. Glitter and gold pair marvelously with the warm hues in your surfaces. A glittered snowflake, some snow covered twigs or some sprayed pine cones would all put some magic in the air.

If your slab surface is deep grays, charcoal soapstone, absolute black or black that shimmers, the royal palette of colors will shine best for your guests. Scarlett red, royal blue, emerald green or even amethyst will make things majestic or even whimsical depending on the accessories. It’s totally okay to bring some glass ornaments into the space to create festive color and texture. Velour towels rather than loop would also rise to the occasion.

If your powder room is decorated up with crisp white, white veined, or white flecked surfaces then nothing could be more festive than red, red, and more red. It’s your choice if you pair your color with either gold or silver accents as the cool white will carry the silver accents and the warm red will gravitate to the gold tones, so either one will have great, festive impact. Of course red is the obvious festive color, but any of the royal colors would be at home here as well. Never hesitate to bring poinsettias into the space and they’ll be happy there all winter!

Thinking about doing something different with your slab counters? It’s not too late for holiday installs. All you need to do is contact ASD for a free estimate. Their talent, skill and luxury service will be the best gift you could give yourself this holiday season!
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Happy Holidays from all of us at ASD!