Bold Design - Classic Home

Before continuing on my little journey across the south I just had to show you what caught my attention on the latest edition of Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Magazine. It is fun when you live in different parts of the country to see what others are doing.

This was the cover....I am usually drawn to most anything black and geometrics are a great way to update a traditional look. I like what the designer Margaret Bosbyshell said, "I like to think that my signature is helping clients create their own look." She has also said she is not known for one certain style. I can certainly relate....it stretches us as designers to explore other styles. There was no exterior picture of this home but it is purported to be one of the oldest in Buckhead.

The owners had moved from California and purchased the home that had been renovated in the early 1930's by architect Neel Reid. They wanted to preserve the home's original design elements but also give it some glamour. Throughout the home, the colors are bright and do not blend into one another with the color palette in the neutral tones. I adore the "Athens" chairs from Kravet and the geometric carpet. How do you like the acrylic coffee table from Travis and Company? Throughout the home the owners wanted to preserve the architect's original plaster molding. It is quite stunning.

This is the other end of the room. Isn't that mantel to die for? Another original by Neel Reid. I like the idea of the four beautifully upholstered chairs turned towards one another, great design for intimate conversations. Have you noticed that the color comes from the contemporary artwork? Just love it...simple, but WOW!

Originally a sunroom, now a dining room with the most intricate lattice-lined walls painted with Sherwin-Williams SW7012-Creamy. The dots on the chairs are hand painted....notice the window pane mirror to open up the room. Just beautiful.

This is an original entry and features Neel Reid's ironwork on the stair railing. Another geometric rug, a pop of color with the pillow on the chair.

By keeping the furnishings white, the wallpaper can be the focal point in this room. The custom linens provide continuity with that fabulous green.

The master bedroom with gorgeous Leontine linens and sitting area on the opposite side of the room with an oh so beautiful mantel and sconces.

Margaret Bosbyshell

The owners of the home are fans of Dorothy Draper and together with Margaret they incorporated many of her design elements. Graphic fabrics, neoclassical motifs and bold black-and-white striped patterns are seen throughout.

photographed by Erica George Dines

text taken from article by Sarah Gleim

Down on the Bayou!

I took a little road trip this past week and drove to New Orleans to visit my very dear friend Marie. She and her husband and family are survivors along with so many others of "Katrina".  Being in the city brought back many great memories of a city rich in varied cultures and community.  

While there, the "lagniappe" for me was meeting and visiting with Julie Neill,

 the Bayou Contessa,  a fabulous artist and designer of chandeliers, AND Valorie Hart  the  Visual Vamp who can be found most days at Perch an absolutely fabulous eclectic store of home and design goodies.

"Lagniappe" - a word that entered English from Louisiana French meaning "a little something extra."

Here I am on the left with Julie in the middle and Marie. These two ladies are real southern girls!  

And the very gracious Miz V! She is a New York gal who met her husband at a tango workshop and decided to make New Orleans their home.  I am so glad she did, her creativity and design savvy certainly fit the area!

Who knew that starting a blog last fall would bring me into a new world of friendship, learning, and sharing with other creative people?  

More to come on my little road trip....next stop, Fairhope, Alabama!

Wall Flower

Most of us have had to remove wallpaper at one time or another, and if the walls weren't prepared correctly, it came off in little pieces. Joy. Because of my experience in this I have steered clear of wallpaper. As of late, however, by reading design books, magazine and blogs, wallpaper has been growing on me, still not sure if I want it, but enjoy the beauty of some of it! However, it is still permanent, I can't sit still for very long and would want to be changing it all of the time.

Great rooms, lots of whimsey and fun!

This graphic dominates the room but the room's spaciousness keeps it from overpowering.

Keep in mind the scale of the other elements in the room when selecting the scale of the pattern on the wallpaper. If the sofa, draperies or a large rug are large in scale, opt for smaller scale on the walls. Small scale design on the paper works well to add a little interest to the walls and not make the walls the focal point.

This is a beautiful damask.

How about papering the ceiling? It softens the angles and blurs the edges of the room.

This is a great entry, bright, love the contrast of the yellow paper with the black door

This is a beautiful Gracie hand painted wallpaper. Putting paper in the dining room adds interest and pattern into a room that is typically hard, solid surfaces.

Brooke of Velvet and Linen used de Gournay hand painted paper in this fabulous dining room in one of the homes her husband designed.

This is another de Gournay....beautiful.

So what do you think....ia wallpaper in your design style? Do you think you will begin to incorporate it more in some spaces?

images from: Southern Accents,

Scalalmandre

de Gorunay

Garden Party

Come on over to my place to enjoy a beautiful spring day.  We will start off with a Mojito with lots of fresh mint served icy cold in one of my favorite monogrammed silver pitchers.   

Then won't you join me outside on the patio for lunch?  I did a special arrangement of some of my favorites; tulips and hydrangeas.

I know that Susan at Between Naps on the Porch is setting up her table on the porch, be sure and go see her lovely display, it is Tablescape Thursday after all!

images from Southern Accents

Settee Mania!

I am crazy for settees...it seems no matter where I am I gravitate towards them in many different styles and fabrications.  Whether your style is traditional, contemporary, European or anything in between, you are sure to find one that will fit in perfectly!

One of my favorite blogaeratti, Valorie, who is the Visual Vamp's has this lovely in her home in New Orleans. The overall style, the nailheads, the pillows...hey Valorie, are you in Uptown or the Garden District?

Gustavian period sofa, Circa 1800...

...Swedish sofa Circa 1920.

These two lovelies come from Brooke at Velvet and Linen's

Swedish Antique store in Los Angeles, CA, visit her website here. If my decor only leant itself to these I would have them!  But you know how it is when over the years you have acquired things, it is not easy to "start over"! 

This is my own...

I think the carved wood on this is just beautiful.  The nailheads add great detail. It is delicate and I like that.

What do you think about this angled leather settee? It is elm wood with original leather in Albertina style. It actually  comes from a noble house in the Bologna-Parma area of Italy, Circa 1830.

This is vintage bamboo....I can see some bright fun fabric....perhaps my new favorite color....apple green!

Now where would you put these Arts and Crafts Settees?

These are neo-Egyptian style from England, Cica 1910.  I really like these, they are a bit edgy and fun!

This is a "to die for" French Napolean III black painted settee with gilt and polychrome and inlaid mother of pearl.  Gorgeous.

How about this folding daybed?

I have never seen anything like this, have you? Have I been hiding under a rock somewhere?

This is cool...my hubby would just love it.  Our basement pool room is "his" trophy room with hides and antlers from his hunts and this would be fab there!  PETA don't come after me. :>)

A Victorian Horn Settee.

This would be so much fun out on the deck for an outdoor living space.  Love the wheels and that there is lighting for reading!

What do you think?  Do you have jsut the right place for any of these?

unless noted, all images from 1st Dibs.

Puppy Settee

I think this puppy believes this settee is just for her pleasing. Don't you just love the big tulip oil? This is from Nina Campbell's home. More to come....

photography by David Parmeter

He Is Risen

CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN. 

Have a very bless-ed Easter.

 

Hooked on White!

I am totally hooked on WHITE  dishes!  I cannot go to Home Goods without checking out what kinds of odds and ends in all different shapes and sizes there are to add to my collection.  I don't NEED an even number or a certain number of one kind,  just about any shape will do.  I also like to find a few pieces of black too.  It would not be ME if there were not some black. 

Here are some of my collection.  Most are not ROUND but triangular, sort of square, some bowls with handles, sandwich plates, scalloped edged bowls...so much fun.

I did a little tablescape for margaritas and tapas!  We make the best margaritas in town.

Well, my hubby does anyway!

What are YOU hooked on?   Go visit Julia at Hooked on Houses

and see what others are "hooked" on!

Happy Passover!

The Passover celebration begins today at sundown as Jewish communities around the world gather to tell the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt.  Although I am not Jewish, I have many friends who are and I want to wish those of you out in blog-land a very blessed celebration.  

Family customs may vary the items served at the Sedar, but the following foods traditionally  appear on the Sedar plate: 

• Matzoh: Three unleavened matzohs are placed within the folds of a napkin as a reminder of the haste with which the Israelites fled Egypt, leaving no time for dough to rise. Two are consumed during the service, and one (the Aftkomen), is spirited away and hidden during the ceremony to be later found as a prize. 

• Maror: bitter herbs, usually horseradish or romaine lettuce, used to symbolize the bitterness of slavery. 

• Charoses: a mixture of apples, nuts, wine, and cinnamon, as a reminder of the mortar used by the Jews in the construction of buildings as slaves 

• Beitzah: a roasted egg, as a symbol of life and the perpetuation of existence. 

• Karpas: a vegetable, preferably parsley or celery, representing hope and redemption; served with a bowl of salted water to represent the tears shed. 

• Zeroah: traditionally a piece of roasted lamb shankbone, symbolizing the paschal sacrificial offering 

• Wine: four glasses of wine are consumed during the service to represent the four-fold promise of redemption, with a special glass left for Elijah the prophet.

Aren't these pretty tables?

Had to show you this kitty eating motzoh!

All images from Google.

Silver and Flowers

I love silver.....and ...flowers....fresh ones.  I  am not flowery in my decor but anytime I can find something silver and put flowers in it, I love it!  I recently bought this lamp from Tar-jay...isn't it great?  While I was on my trip this past weekend I found this little sterling jammer.  Mike (DH) was with me and said, "there are no spoons" and I said, "that's OK, I am going to use it for flowers!"

Since there are no floral shops near me I found an acceptable bouquet at the grocery store and tore it all apart.

I also found at Home Goods yesterday a little apertif glass and thought.....great for flowers.

I has just a touch of my favorite green in it....that's another post later!

So don't you think it came together nicely?

While a little "top" heavy, this looks like a nose-gay.  I got a bit carried away!