Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Home
  3. Before & After Photos
  4. Tour This Dreamy San Antonio Before & After Makeover

Tour This Dreamy San Antonio Before & After Makeover

Katherine Owen
By Katherine Owen
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Skip gallery slides
FB
Nicola McLaughlin San Antonio, TX Home Living Room After
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Texas designer Nicola McLaughlin proves that sometimes you do get your dream home on the first try.
Start Slideshow

1 of 13

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Taking on a Project

Nicola McLaughlin San Antonio, TX Home Living Room Before
Credit: Courtesy of Nicola McLaughlin

When interior designer Nicola McLaughlin and her husband, Michael, went hunting for their first home together in San Antonio, they wanted an old house—a project they could really “dig into,” she says. Then they stumbled upon this sweet 1949 gem—a 2,900-square-foot house that had a great layout and was surrounded by oak trees, all within blocks of both of their parents’ homes. Call it kismet. She says the structure mostly just needed a face-lift, not a full gut renovation. “It had good bones, and the exterior was charming,” she recalls. But the interior was dark, dated, and severely lacking in personality. So they dug in. Out went the clunky moldings, bleak color schemes, and oversize kitchen island. McLaughlin sought to fill their first house with pretty fabrics and airy design ideas, mixing high-end pieces with low-priced finds throughout to keep her budget in check.

1 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 13

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Design to Display

Nicola McLaughlin San Antonio, TX Home Living Room After
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Situated right off the entry, the living room is where the designer wanted to create the most refined space. She had always admired the look of costly de Gournay wallpaper, so she framed panels of the Badminton pattern instead, which let her use it as a statement without committing to the price or permanence. Plus, the framed panels can be moved, if needed.

2 of 13

3 of 13

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Boxed In

Nicola McLaughlin San Antonio, TX Home Entry before
Credit: Courtesy of Nicola McLaughlin

The entry was supposed to be welcoming, but felt cluttered with 3 major openings and lots of molding.

3 of 13

Advertisement

4 of 13

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Establish a Tone

Nicola McLaughlin San Antonio, TX Home Entry
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

McLaughlin was inspired by the beautiful arches of mission-style homes she saw in her new neighborhood. To bring San Antonio flair inside, she removed the molding from the square doorways in the living room, entry, dining room, and kitchen and then reshaped them into clean archways. “Since the rooms are small, they don’t need 8 to 10 inches of heavy molding around the cased openings,” she says. “Now, the doorways all feel very fluid.” The neutral palette also allows the space to transition seamlessly to the entryway’s adjoining rooms. A single palette runs throughout the home: Sherwin-Williams’ Marshmallow (SW 7001) on the walls and Farrow & Ball’s Wimborne White (No. 239) on the trim.

4 of 13

5 of 13

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Follow the Lines

Nicola McLaughlin San Antonio, TX Home Dining Room
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

“I didn’t want an intensely formal dining room, because I felt like it wouldn’t flow with the rest of the house,” McLaughlin explains. “So I aimed to combine old and new in here.” Fancy pieces such as the antique sideboard and gilded light fixture (Ruhlmann Large Chandelier; circalighting.com) blend well with more practical picks like the simple table (made by her carpenter), thanks to the uniformity of the lines. “Older furnishings that have clean and basic designs blend a lot easier with new pieces,” she says.

5 of 13

6 of 13

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Downsizing

Nicola McLaughlin San Antonio, TX Home Kitchen Before
Credit: Courtesy of Nicola McLaughlin

With lots of bulky storage and an oversized island, McLaughlin new she had some major work to do in the kitchen.

6 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 13

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Rethink the Workspace

Nicola McLaughlin San Antonio, TX Home White Kitchen
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

The designer created a better-functioning and tidier kitchen by moving the cooktop to the side wall, which expanded the surface area of the island. All the counters were replaced with Carrara marble. This material can seem formal, but McLaughlin says, “We kept our design fresh by finishing it off with a straight edge.”

7 of 13

8 of 13

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Throw In a Curve

Nicola McLaughlin San Antonia, TX Home White Kitchen Vent Hood
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

To contrast with the gridlike effect of the tiled walls, McLaughlin dreamed up this vent hood, which her contractor made from plywood covered with layers of plaster mesh and plaster. “Initially, I wanted to do a more triangular, straighter version,” she says, “but it would have seemed too dramatic. The curve of this one softens the room and looks so nice next to the arch of the doorway.”

8 of 13

9 of 13

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Stick to the Basics

Nicola McLaughlin San Antonio, TX Home White Subway Tile Kitchen Walls
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

McLaughlin covered the walls in subway tile that’s a win in every way. “It’s cost-effective and clean,” she notes. “And, depending on how it’s done, it can also be timeless. You could see this style in a 200-year-old restaurant in Paris.” To add dimension, she used tiles that have uneven surfaces and look handmade. “It’s not just a monotonous wall of white. The tiles each shine in a different way,” she says.

9 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 13

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Give Yourself a Real Den

Nicola McLaughlin San Antonio, TX Home Den
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

The couple wanted a space to watch TV without having to install electronics in the bedroom or formal living room, so they co-opted the bedroom closest to the front door. A few key touches, such as the slightly darker wall color (Sherwin Williams' Repose Gray, SW 7015) and Serena & Lily shag rug, transformed the extra bedroom into a hideaway. Woven poufs from CB2 plump up the cozy, textural scheme.

10 of 13

11 of 13

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Amplify the Sun

Nicola McLaughlin San Antonio, TX Home Master Bedroom
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

To make room for the large headboard, the designer applied drywall over a set of windows. But she kept the bedroom feeling bright and comfortable by opting for white linen curtains and selecting light, airy furnishings, such as a pair of chairs with open backs that let the sun shine through. “Without natural light, this space wouldn’t look nearly as inviting,” McLaughlin says.

11 of 13

12 of 13

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Upgrade Selectively

Nicola McLaughlin San Antonio, TX Home Guest Bedroom
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

“Incorporating a few nice pieces ties the space together and makes it feel special,” she says. The Serena & Lily white lacquered nightstands were a splurge to “bump up the room,” but she framed two inexpensive prints purchased while studying abroad to hang over the bed. A scalloped hanging shade from Circa Lighting adds polish and plays up the Matouk shams. 

12 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 13

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Spend Where You’ll See It

Nicola McLaughlin San Antonio, TX Home Guest Bathroom Blue and White
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

In this shared bath, McLaughlin covered the floor and shower in economical penny tile (Retro Rounds; daltile.com), choosing to have more fun with the light fixture and wallpaper. She says, “The penny tile is interesting, but it’s not a main feature of the room.” The designer splashed out on a punchy blue pattern (The Vase Wallpaper in Pale Blue; clarencehouse.com) and swapped out the original light for an eye-catching bubble chandelier from Pelle.

13 of 13

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Katherine Owen

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 13 Taking on a Project
    2 of 13 Design to Display
    3 of 13 Boxed In
    4 of 13 Establish a Tone
    5 of 13 Follow the Lines
    6 of 13 Downsizing
    7 of 13 Rethink the Workspace
    8 of 13 Throw In a Curve
    9 of 13 Stick to the Basics
    10 of 13 Give Yourself a Real Den
    11 of 13 Amplify the Sun
    12 of 13 Upgrade Selectively
    13 of 13 Spend Where You’ll See It

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Tour This Dreamy San Antonio Before & After Makeover
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.