Before and after: see how designer Amber Lewis dramatically changed a cold, gray home into a warm and welcoming rustic retreat

Proving that it's more than possible to take a lackluster, dated home with no character and transform it into a serene and rustic retreat, interior designer Amber Lewis has worked her magic once again.

Known for her modern rustic style, Amber is the founder of ultra-chic homeware brand Shoppe Amber Interiors and a successful interior design studio. If you've been following Amber, you'll know she has the ability to take a space (of pretty much any description) and turn it into a space that's warm, rustic, and luxurious yet liveable.

Recently, Amber shared a before-and-after of a bland, all-gray home. She saw past the stark overhead lighting and cold surfaces, transforming the rather uninspiring spaces into welcoming rooms that each feel connected to her warm, organic design style.

Dining room

There was nothing wrong with the original dining room; it just lacked character, and felt a bit stuck in the early '00s. The initial space was a little cold; it had some nice furniture pieces, but the scheme was flat. The overall vibe was stark rather than that all-important welcome you expect from a dining room.

Amber totally transformed the space, revamping the walls with a chic lime wash and adding in exposed wooden beams to frame the room and bring depth. To build upon the rustic earthiness of the wall and ceiling finishes and features, Amber added some antique-style wood furniture that brings that all-important sense of grandeur and tradition, which is so fitting for this space.

We can't ignore the statement wall mural. The feature breaks up the layers of brown tones, and it's the perfect area of interest for guests to gaze at during meal time. It's a serene forest landscape, simple yet still prominent, that connects all the earthy and rustic elements and acts as the room's framing focal point.

Living room

Another room that feels unrecognizable, Amber reimagined the once bland gray living room, transforming the architecture of the space by adding a stone fireplace, wall paneling, exposed beams, and a rather enviable window seat.

The layout has been extended for the window seat, and the result is a living room that feels spacious and open, not to mention far more intentional. Getting rid of the conventional square layout, Amber added this separate zone for daytime relaxing, proving how much difference these thoughtful spaces make.

There are other characterful touches that make a world of difference to the space, like the fireplace that gives the living room a sense of subtle intricacy and grandeur, and adds age to a room that was once so typical of a new build.

Despite decorating with neutrals, the space feels interesting and inviting, proving that even the most subtle colors are welcoming when layered right. Amber's followed a real neutral color spectrum, scattering the palest creams to the darkest browns, all coming together to create a sense of luxury and snugness. Combine this with the chic organic materials like linen and wood, and you've got yourself a dreamy modern organic style living room that feels effortlessly cool and sophisticated all at the same time. A world away from all-gray everything.

Bedroom

The bedroom feels like a whole new space, it is a whole new space. From the windows to the bed frame, every single element has been elevated with Amber's signature rustic touch.

Changing the infrastructure of a room isn't always possible, but Amber proves that even the most mundane, stark spaces can be made to feel warm and snug. She's kept the new wood floor (luckily, the color ties in with the brown scheme) and covered it with a plush rug that provides plenty of warmth and coziness.

Creating an archetypal rustic bedroom idea, Amber has said goodbye to the rather dated velvet bed frame and switched it for a sophisticated upholstered style that pairs beautifully with the richer brown tones.

Another element she's transformed is the windows. They originally had stark black frames that created a really high contrast. Using the limewash finish, she's blended the windows and made them feel much more seamless and harmonious to the scheme.

Office

The built-in wood shelving unit is the first thing that stands out when you look at the home office. A practical yet stylish use of space, the wood creates warmth and naturalness that connects to the rest of the home. This room is definitely different from the others; it has a luxurious grandeur that radiates sophistication, perfect in a more formal office.

Matching the gold accents, Amber has added a bold gold desk bang in the middle of the space, offsetting the natural wood and creating a high-end feel. The desk sets the tone of the space, reminiscent of mid-century styles.

Amber has styled the shelves with all kinds of trinkets, vintage books, and other meaningful pieces that take the shelves from bare to characterful and interesting. The vintage-style picture lights create depth, the perfect aged accents to contrast against the new wood.