Imitation Is the Highest Compliment

Have you ever complimented a friend on a beautiful chair or a striking accent piece in their home, then casually asked, “Where did you find that?” Even if you know they just picked it up recently, they might pause and say, “Hmm, I don’t remember.” The conversation drifts on, but you’re left with a quiet feeling that maybe they’d rather not share, just in case you decide to copy them. When you think about it the truth is: imitation is one of the sincerest forms of flattery. When someone wants a piece of your style, it’s their way of saying, “I love what you’ve done, and I’d love to bring that same feeling into my own space.” Home design isn’t about creating untouchable, one-of-a-kind perfection. It’s about crafting spaces that speak to the heart, places your clients adore and others admire. The clients I work with embrace this spirit wholeheartedly. They love sharing the beauty of their homes, knowing that their choices might spark inspiration in someone else. Imitation isn’t just a compliment rather it’s a quiet, heartfelt way of saying, “You’ve moved me.” It’s like tending to a warm fire: the glow reaches others, and soon they’re adding their own sparks to the flame.
So, let’s peek into the living room of a St. Charles model, a space born from the warmth and inspiration of another client’s St. Charles home nestled somewhere in the heart of The Villages.

  •  Window Molding
The windows had previously been treated with dark fabric cornices installed just below the transoms. When light enters a room, anything positioned in front of it tends to appear darker to the eye. Those deep-toned cornices drew attention to that specific area, visually shortening the height of the windows. To enhance the space, we added substantial casement molding around the sliding glass doors and windows, giving them a more defined architectural presence. For the finishing touch, we installed white headers topped with crown molding. I love incorporating molding into window design for two key reasons. First, white trim reflects natural light beautifully, keeping the windows feeling bright and open. Second, molding adds lasting value, it’s a timeless detail that elevates the home. No buyer walks into a space with well-crafted molding and feels compelled to remove it. Fabric cornices, on the other hand, are highly personal and often come with a hefty price tag. In fact, the cost of the previous cornices likely could have covered the full installation of custom molding, an upgrade that’s both elegant and enduring.

  •  Create a strong focal point
The largest wall in the living room was designed to serve as a strong focal point, one that feels both expansive and light. We drew direct inspiration from a fireplace we had previously created for another client, allowing us to move forward with clarity and confidence. The concept had already been proven, we had experienced its visual and emotional impact, so there was no guesswork, just a seamless adaptation. The result is a feature that anchors the space with warmth, scale, and a sense of calm sophistication.

  •  Create balance
Before the entertainment unit could be built, we needed to address the asymmetry between the two adjacent walls. The wall near the sliding glass door was significantly longer than the one on the left, near the entrance to the guest rooms. To achieve the homeowner’s vision of symmetry, the carpenter crafted matching columns on each side, both equal in depth. He added a custom column to the smaller left wall, designed to feel original to the home. The column near the sliding glass door mirrors it in scale, providing a balanced, architectural frame and a sturdy foundation for the shelving.

  •  Stone center
The center of the entertainment unit features stacked stone in soft tan and cream tones, adding richness and warmth to the space. Its width was determined by the size of the TV that would be mounted on the wall, to create a balanced composition. We allowed at least two feet of exposed stone on either side of the screen, giving the feature room to breathe and allowing the texture to stand out as a design element.

  •  Fireplace
The fireplace box was purchased online and offers the flexibility to produce heat or display the flame without heat. The heating option is especially useful, as it can quickly take the chill out of a room. Electric fireplaces are a great alternative to traditional built-ins, particularly in Florida where the need for heat is limited to a short season. With an electric fireplace, you can enjoy the ambiance of a glowing flame year-round, without relying on colder weather to make it feel appropriate.

  •  Cabinetry
We ordered base cabinets from a custom cabinet dealer, which the carpenter installed as the foundation for the shelving. To create a seamless look, he crafted a beautifully routed top that blends effortlessly with the shelving above. Rather than using a separate material for the cabinet tops, we chose to keep everything cohesive, allowing the shelving and base to read as one unified piece.

  •  Shelving
The shelves are fixed in place, extending from the side columns into the stacked stone, creating a clean and sturdy connection. Their substantial thickness gives them a strong sense of proportion, visually balancing the scale of the entire wall unit. Beyond aesthetics, the shelves were designed to support heavier display items, so their depth and strength are both functional and necessary. To maintain a cohesive look, the shelves and the routed cabinet top were painted to match the custom cabinet boxes below. We used Emerald brand paint, which, after a thirty-day cure period, offers exceptional durability and a finish that holds up beautifully over time.

  •  Take it to the ceiling
This is one of the most important concepts in proportion, and it’s often overlooked. The wall itself is large and tall, so to stay in scale with the room, the homeowner chose to extend the wall unit all the way to the ceiling. At twelve feet high, the unit draws the eye upward, and the effect is striking; the space feels even larger and more open as a result.

  •  Lighting
Lighting is the finishing touch that brings the shelving to life. The type of lighting installed plays a crucial role in the overall effect. The goal is to experience the light itself without seeing its source. In this design, the shelves appear to glow from within, there are no shadows or dark corners, and every item is clearly visible. The substantial edge of each shelf conceals the lighting, allowing the illumination to shine through without distraction.
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Before and After Pics Below