All posts by Sarah @ 702 Park Project

Interview With The Designer: Liz Carroll

August 11, 2014Categories: Interview With The DesignerSarah @ 702 Park Project

I am super excited to be kicking off the new series, Interview With The Designer, with one of my absolute favorites: Liz Carroll!

Liz Carroll Interiors is a full service interior design firm located in Wilmington, NC and is known for creating elegant, yet functional spaces. Liz’s designs have been featured in numerous outlets, including HGTV and Coastal Living Magazine.

When and why did you decide to become a designer?

My mom and two sisters are all interior designers, so I grew up wanting to do anything EXCEPT design. So, I went to business school and got a job at a Fortune 5 bank where I worked for 8 years. During my time in “corporate America” I always felt a creative itch that wasn’t being fulfilled and a calling to do something own my own. After my first child turned one, I gathered the courage to leave my “safe” corporate job and start my own design company. I LOVE being an entrepreneur, owner of a small business and designer!!

What has been your greatest challenge as a designer?

Design takes time and helping to educate clients that it’s worth the wait is a challenge. Sure, you can utilize retail and in stock items to meet deadlines, but some of the best design comes from pulling together items from a number of different resources and designing custom items, which takes time to design and manufacture once designed. Plus, companies keep little to no inventory after the economy turned, so waiting is part of the process.

How would you characterize your style?

Hip Traditional. Functional and fresh. Clean, airy, light. Happy.

Does your personal home fit your design style?

Our home is my testing ground. I’m constantly changing things and trying things out in my house. It’s a definite job hazard. As I grow as a designer and my aesthetic evolves, our home has been reflective of that. For example, baby #2 has a room that is painted raspberry, with gray and tangerine accents…it’s BOLD! Baby #3 came recently and I used a much more subdued color palate…ivory with a hint of mint and powder pink. But whether the room is bold or quiet, my house is a hip traditional style…always functional (you have to be with 3 kids)…and feels fresh and happy!

How has living in Wilmington influenced the way you decorate?

Being in a coastal town has a strong influence on the way I design for clients. Everything needs to be functional…fabrics, flooring, furniture. Living at the beach comes with bare feet, wet clothes coming off the boat, and lots of guests during the warm months! For the most part, Wilmington is a casual, laid-back town (which I love!) so home design is reflective of that lifestyle. That being said, I am a firm believer that homes can be elegant and sophisticated while still feeling welcoming and livable.

What was the focus of your first paid design project?

A friend bought a new house and asked me to help her with her living room. I was so excited to have my first “gig” and was so thankful for her trust in me.

Where do you find your inspiration?

So many places. My sisters are super-stylish and I always like to see what they are up to. We all have our own unique style, but I love to push myself creatively with new ideas, and we love to share those with each other. I have some amazingly creative friends in other fields…fashion, graphic design, jewelry design…and I love to stay on top of all their new ideas and projects. Seeing new places and traveling is an amazing way to gather inspiration and see things first hand. I also am fortunate to have a strong network of designer friends throughout the country who constantly inspire me. And…I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Pinterest….LOVE it!

What is the best advice you’ve received?

Take fear out of the equation and just do it.

Who has been your greatest professional influence?

Tobi Fairley has been an amazing mentor to me. She has a business background like me and obviously a very successful design business, so I really connected with her. She has been an incredible influence on me personally and professionally.

What is your favorite design era?

Estate homes of the late 19^th century and early 20^th century fascinate me. The way homes like Downton Abbey (on TV) and the Biltmore House (in Asheville, NC) evolved during their times as functioning estates is so interesting. I can’t help but imagine what it would have been like to live like that!

What is your go-to hostess gift?

Wine!

What’s at the top of your bucket list?

Travel, travel and more travel. I have a Pinterest board dedicated to all the places I want to go!

Design Services • Facebook • Pinterest • Twitter

All photos via Liz Carroll Interiors.

The Sunday Currently, #37

August 10, 2014Categories: This Week's LinksSarah @ 702 Park Project

Happy Sunday, lovelies! I hope you’ve had a wonderful weekend so far!

Charles was off hosting my brother’s bachelor party this weekend, so Friday was the first night I’ve spent alone in the house. Eeeek! I was so nervous! I lived alone for years before we got married, and I’ve never had trouble staying by myself, but let me tell you something…no matter how brave you are, your first night in a big, old, creaky, noisy, 112-year-old house is scurrrry.

Chelsea Handler

Currently:

Reading– This thought-provoking post on bloggers getting paid. What’s so wrong with making a buck off of something you love to do, anyway?

Thinking– There were some pretty spectacular home tours out there this week. I especially loved the homes of Tory Burch, Darius Rucker, and Tiffany Leigh! (And while we’re at it, how about this trailer makeover?!)

Wishing– I had a green thumb. But check out these FREE printables from Julie…a garden journal, garden guide, garden plans, and notes.

Hoping– I never have house guests that need the #1 item we always forget.

Wearing– OPI Taupe-less Beach on my fingers and OPI Paint My Moji-toes on my toes!

Loving– Sarah’s entry reveal. Those floors!!

Wanting– These coasters. So cute!

Needing– To install our vanity hardware, hang our vanity mirrors, paint the front screen door, refinish a dresser, hang a gallery wall… you know, just a few small things.

Feeling– Nervous about painting our wing-back chairs. But the case of navy paint from Rustoleum came this week, and I’ve been reading up on these success stories, so here goes!

Clicking– Michaela’s compilation of design do’s and don’ts.

And because I just can’t resist sharing, this.

In case you missed it this week…

PS- I added a couple new Pinterest boards last week. Check them out: Styling and Gallery Walls!

Quotable Friday

August 8, 2014Categories: Quotable FridaySarah @ 702 Park Project

To see more of my favorite quotes, click here. Have a splendid weekend! :)

Rearranging

August 7, 2014Categories: Decor, FurnitureSarah @ 702 Park Project

Now that we’ve officially been living in our house for about 3 months, we’ve pinpointed a few things we love and a few things we don’t love about the current state of our house. One of those things is the furniture layout in certain rooms…particularly the formal living room. So, on a random Monday night, we decided to get going on a little rearranging.

We moved the piano out of the living room and into the foyer. Now before all you musicians go telling me this is not the place for an instrument such as a piano, hold up. Neither of us play, and the piano is really just a sentimental item for us. Plus, this is the only place for it right now. So that works for us.

I centered up the rug in front of the fireplace and moved the couch to the far wall opposite of the bay windows. The wingback chairs, which will be painted navy soon, are going across from the couch. There’s still A LOT to decide on, but it’s a start, and I’m already happier with the outcome. Plus, I can’t wait to get started on my gallery wall above the couch!

The rest of the room, however, is a complete and total wreck.

While we were at it, we moved a few things around in the newly painted dining room as well. Here’s a sneak peek — the full reveal is coming soon! (Please excuse our dirty floors…the painters don’t like to wipe their feet!)

Scotch Hall Preserve

August 6, 2014Categories: Guest BloggersSarah @ 702 Park Project

In case you haven’t noticed, I love love love living in North Carolina! I’ve traveled the country and been to several other countries, and each time I enjoy returning to NC more and more. We’ve got the mountains, the beach, beautiful landscapes and all four seasons. You really can’t beat it!

So when the coastal town of Scotch Hall Preserve approached me, I was eager to learn more.

————————-

Everyone needs a getaway from time to time, right? Why not get away to coastal North Carolina? Take a weekend and discover the charming coastal t own of Scotch Hall Preserve, a master-planned community that captures everything that makes active relaxation popular. If you are already in North Carolina, you don’t have to travel far from home to feel like you really got away.

The Location

Scotch Hall Preserve’s location makes it an ideal place for a retreat. Sitting on the Albemarle Sound, Scotch Hall Preserve has a choice waterfront property with tall, mature trees and beautiful coastal areas. A boardwalk along the water helps you take it all in, while hiking trails through the forests help you enjoy the quiet of nature all around you. Nestled in the midst of these natural wonders sits a collection of waterfront cottages that embrace coastal living at its finest.

Relaxation Designed for Active Families

Scotch Hall Preserve offers you the chance to relax, but in an active way. Imagine waking up each morning to the sound of the water and the smell of the forest outside your window. Spend your weekend away enjoying championship golf, swimming in the sound-side pool or watching the kids play for hours on the playground overlooking the water. Bring your boat and spend some time fishing or boating on the Sound. Everywhere you look, opportunities for active relaxation are abundant in Scotch Hall Preserve.

Check Out Scotch Hall Preserve’s Real Estate Options

When you come to Scotch Hall Preserve, you may find that you fall in love with the community and all that it offers. If you do, take some time on your weekend to explore current real estate options. Scotch Hall Preserve has a variety of home sites and home styles available for purchase, so you can come back and enjoy the relaxation whenever you want. For vacationers, fully-furnished Legacy Cottages are the ideal choice.

Whether you come for a weekend or decide to stick around longer by purchasing your own property, you will be glad you experienced Scotch Hall Preserve. Book your Discovery Weekend today!

————————-

What do you think? Would you like to visit?

Author Bio: Joe Restivo, a seasoned marketing consultant, is originally from Ohio, but relocated to North Carolina because of its proximity to both the coast and mountains, as well as the benefits it offers to living an active lifestyle.

{Interested in contributing to 702 Park Project? Contact me here!}

702 Archives: Haggling 101

August 5, 2014Categories: Furniture, ShopSarah @ 702 Park Project

You may remember this guest post from a while back, and today I thought I’d bring it to my home page for a little more love.

haggling

I love to shop second hand at thrift stores, antique shops, auction houses, yard sales, and estate sales for our home as well as my online shop. So today I’d like to share with you some tips on one of my favorite parts of the shopping experience: haggling! I feel like sometimes haggling gets a bad rap, but in many cases it is actually expected, and it can be lots of fun.

1. Room for negotiating is almost always factored into the price. Unless the price says “Firm” there is a little wiggle room. Most of the antique shops that I visit automatically give you a 10% discount, sometimes without you even having to ask.

2. Group things together. Sellers are more likely to give you a better deal if you are buying more from them.

3. Bring cash. Sellers would always rather deal in cash than credit cards and checks, and will often give a discount for paying with cash.

4. Revisit. If you see something you love but just aren’t willing to pay the high price, test your luck and wait it out. If you go back later, say in a few weeks or even months, and the piece is still there, bring it up to the seller. Mention that you’ve seen it there for a while and offer a lower price. Sellers are usually motivated to sell older items to make room for new finds.

5. Ask this question: “Is that your best price?” I’ve gotten a great deal on many pieces just by asking this question. Sometimes it leads to an awkward silence, but just be patient and wait for the answer. You might be surprised!

6. Be willing to walk away. If the seller can’t get the item into your price range, leave it. I have walked away disappointed plenty of times, but time and time again I quickly learn that there will be others like it.

7. This one is just a personal belief, but I don’t like to haggle at charitable stores like the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc. To me, it just feels wrong.

The most important part of vintage shopping? Have fun! If you’re like me, you’ll quickly find that haggling is not only an exciting game, it’s addicting!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram to see all my latest finds!