Well, my friends, we are officially closing out another year. Despite a strange 12 months in the world, we’ve managed to keep things vibrant and exciting here in the Blakely studio. And I have to say, no matter what’s going on in the world, it genuinely brings me joy to come into work each day.
Our studio is a place where we can get creative, support each other, and make a difference in our clients’ lives. I hope your home offers the same supportive environment for you, providing a place to feel restored and inspired, to live well, and above all, to feel fearless whenever you walk out the front door. That’s our mission.
(P.S. If you’re interested in designing a custom home, renovating your existing home, or furnishing your home in 2022, we’re here for you. Get on our calendars here and let’s get to know each other!)
But before we toast to the new year, I want to commemorate this one with:
- The year’s highlights from inside our studio
- Freshly photographed projects from 2021
- Our most popular blog posts this year
- What you can expect from Blakely in 2022
Grab a glass and come take a look…
Highlights from the Studio
- New COO and a team of 9!
Kristian Photopoulos (my husband) joined the Blakely team as COO back in February. After 20+ years in executive management, he is now involved in many aspects of the business, from operational excellence to strategic growth. I couldn’t be more excited for my partner in life to join me as a partner in business. Blakely already is and will be all the better for it!
We also added two more talented people to our team, our Project Manager, Morgan, and our Expeditor, Margaret. I’ll be honest, hiring and finding the right candidates for these positions was no easy feat. For example, we first posted our listing for a Project Manager in March, and we didn’t hire Morgan until August! Fortunately, our new team members were well worth the wait.
- A national feature and regional press.
This year, our Jersey Palm custom home was featured in Ocean Home Magazine, our first national feature! We were also featured on the cover of RI Monthly’s annual Nest Magazine and in a great article on Business of Home. This was 100% a team effort, and we couldn’t be prouder!
- Navigating COVID challenges with poise.
While navigating challenges doesn’t sound like it would be a highlight of the year (or very noteworthy), believe me, it is. COVID is still heavily impacting our industry, from extreme shipping delays to unexpected changes week after week.
While these challenges are completely out of our control, we can control our response to them. I couldn’t be prouder of how our team (and our clients!) have handled these setbacks with the utmost poise and patience. Despite these delays, we have been able to start and finish dozens of projects that are allowing our clients to live vibrantly through these uncertain times. Thank you, everyone!
Interior Design Projects
- The Cedar Hill New Build in East Greenwich
The Cedar Hill New Build involved custom designing the architectural features of this new home, including built-ins throughout the great room, mudroom, and jack-and-jill bathroom, along with a stunning fireplace, fresh kitchen, and a dramatic dining room with built-in wet bar. Yes, please.
- The Poplar Point Project in Wickford
Seen here first! The Poplar Point Project was a whole home remodel involving the entryway, kitchen, dining room, family room, laundry room, and several bedrooms and bathrooms. The color story and fresh use of materials (not to mention the stunning water view) makes this home one of a kind.
- The Anchorage Inn (In Progress)
We’re currently in the middle of designing 24 guest suites for The Anchorage Inn. Our dream of designing a boutique hotel (shared many months ago when we interviewed our design team) has now manifested! This project is set to be complete in early 2022. Stay tuned.
- The Narragansett Pier New Build (In Progress)
This project is going to be well worth the wait. We’ve fully designed all of the spaces in this Narragansett Pier New Build in collaboration with Gail Hallock Architect and Lawrence Builders. The home is currently under construction. Just look at that incredible ceiling! Be sure to follow us on IG for live stories as this project comes together.
Most Popular Blog Posts in 2021
Although last year’s top blog posts are still sitting in the top 5 spots for our most popular blog posts to date, these are the 2021 topics that received the most love:
- 6 Tips for Mixing Metals Like a Designer
- When is the Best Time to Hire an Interior Designer?
- The Capital Craftsman: A New Build with Global Influence
- 7 Ways to Create BIG Impact in Small Spaces
- How to Select the Best Lighting for Your Space
We also saw record numbers of downloads for our complimentary Interior Design Project Planner! If you’re hoping to design a new home in 2022, you’ll want to snag a copy, too.
What’s Coming in 2022
Next year, we hope to continue giving you inside peeks into everything that happens behind the scenes at Blakely Interior Design: the fun and colorful designs AND the business side of things. As any design firm or business owner will tell you, you can’t do one well without the other.
Our main focus will continue to be on new construction and large-scale renovations. Although we will still have our furnishings projects, we do our very best work when we’re brought onto a project from the beginning — and that excites us more than anything! I can’t wait to show you what we have in the works. 😉
Above all, I hope to continue spreading joy and inspiring fearless living in 2022. That’s my passion and purpose, and I hope you’ll join me in living vibrantly, no matter what the year brings. You deserve it!
Xoxo,
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