Style Q&A: Niña Williams

What is your design style, and how do you incorporate those decorating decisions within your home?

I have a coastal farmhouse style that is bright and airy with touches of soft pastel colors. I keep my house pretty neutral, but I add light colors and rattan/wicker textures for my decor. Even though farmhouse is part of my style, I like to include brass finishes for that timeless and classic look. The color I gravitate towards is a light blue color, and you’ll see that throughout my house. I also prefer lighter wood tones, so for the ceiling beams in the living room, master bedroom, kitchen, and four seasons room, I went with a whitewashed look.

Where do you find design inspiration?

I love getting inspiration from Bria Hammel, Kate Marker, Caitlin Wilson, and Studio McGee.

When starting a design project, how do you organize and plan for it?

First, I determine what style and what colors I’ll be using for the space. Then, I go on Pinterest and start saving some inspirational images. If I know what light fixture or decor pieces I’ll use for the room, I take screenshots of those pieces online. The last thing I do is take all those images and create a mood board.

While building your new home, were there specific rooms or spaces that were more challenging than others? Why?

Kitchen hands down. My family spends the most in the kitchen, and it is the heart of the home. For me, that was the essential room to design. I wanted that space to be pretty but also very functional. Also, I loved our kitchen in our old house, so I was constantly thinking, “How can I top that?!”

How did you choose the hardware featured in this project?

I wanted the new house to feel more custom, so I was on the hunt for door hardware that made a statement. I instantly fell in love with the products from Nostalgic Warehouse! What caught my eye was all its vintage-inspired design. I picked the New York design because of its clean and classic look. The door hardware combination we did for most of the house is the New York long plate with the New York knob. I changed it to crystal knobs for certain rooms where I wanted it to feel fancier.

Did you learn any tips and tricks about door hardware along the way you think would benefit others?

When selecting doorknobs for the whole house, it was easy for me to decide on the style/finish, but I also had to determine what type of knob function I needed for each door. Here are the types I had to consider in my house:

Passage: These knobs don’t lock but do have an active latch when you turn the knobs. I have these in areas where I need the door to close but not lock. Passage knobs were in these doors: my office, interior pool house, foyer closet, linen closets, four seasons room, and utility closets. I also have passage knobs for the doors that require a deadbolt.

Dummy (single or double): These knobs don’t turn. A single dummy is used on one side of the door, and a double dummy is used on both sides of the door. I used single dummy knobs for the kids’ closets and upstairs laundry. I used double dummy knobs on my dining room french doors and one of our master bathroom doors. Our master bathroom doors are double doors, so one of the doors has privacy knobs, and the other has double dummy knobs.

Privacy: These knobs lock and are used in bathrooms, bedrooms, and any other room you want to lock. I have this for all the bedrooms and all the bathrooms.

A lot of people want to get involved in large remodeling projects or build a new house. How did you go about choosing where to build, which house plan, etc.?

Location is so important when building! In our previous home, we had to open enroll our kids in their school, so we made sure it was in the school district when we were looking for land. We also wanted less gravel when driving to our house. We loved our old house because it was on acreage and had a beautiful view of the countryside, but driving through three miles of gravel got old. Also, we love living out in the country but wanted to be closer to the school and church. With four kids and all their sports/school activities, we wanted to be closer to town.

Nick and I have owned three houses, and after living in them, we realized what we want and don’t want in a home. When I was working on the floor plan, I kept our priority wish list in mind for the new house. We went with a two-story floor plan instead of a 1.5 story to feel cozier and inviting.

What are some tips for readers who want to make a small transformation in their house?

If you want to do a little transformation, consider changing the light fixture. One change can make such a significant impact! You can also change minor details like cabinet hardware and door hardware. With decor, I like to shop my own house first. Take a rug or decor pieces from a room and switch it to a different room. You’ll be surprised how it can change the look of the space. You might even get people asking, “Is that new? Where did you get that?!”

Also, consider changing out your throw pillows. You can add color with throw pillows, and if you want to stick with neutrals, play around with different textures. I also like to switch up the pillows for holidays and seasons.

Please give us some more details on your blog. How did you develop it, and what sets it apart from the rest?

When we were building our old house, I created an Instagram account to document our new build. I was a stay-at-home mom at the time, so it became my creative outlet. I decorated different areas of my house and would share the images on Instagram. Eventually, I started working with brands, and that’s when I began blogging. I used to be a lifestyle and wedding photographer, so my experience in blogging was sharing client sessions.

I feel like I’ve always had a creative eye for styling, color coordinating, and of course, photography. The only thing that changed is that instead of styling sessions and photographing people, I am now styling homes and photographing my house.

What is next?

We moved into our home at the end of January 2021, but there’s still so much to do. I’m glad we’re finally in the house, but it doesn’t feel like “home” yet. I know that takes some time, and my focus right now is to start decorating the house to make it feel like home. Even hanging stuff on the walls will make a difference!

There are also some areas of the house we still want to finish. The list includes limewashing a fireplace, finishing the breakfast nook, wallpapering three rooms, and adding brick to some of the pantry and kitchen walls. I hope you follow along!