Meet Ya at the Beach!

Have a great weekend and get out and PLAY!

Barbara Westbrook, Atlanta Designer

As a relative newcomer to Atlanta, I have enjoyed getting to know this great city through the 
monthly publication of Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles.  The May 2010 issue is chalk full of talent and inspiration.  

...is known for her design from West Palm Beach to Buckhead, a much desired area in Atlanta.  About four years ago she scaled down from a larger suburban home to her home in Whittier Mill Village Historic District, a small in-town neighborhood along the Chattahoochee River. The village which dates back to the 1880's - laid out in a crescent around an old cotton mill - was the first to be reestablished after the civil war and is today one of the oldest residential communities in Atlanta.

She styled her 1000 square foot home with creativity for the small space.  The high ceilings give it a spacious feel along with her great design.   

She renovated her home in 6 weeks adding a new custom kitchen and two 8-foot floating walls to separate the living, sleeping and dining areas, and of course a new coat of paint to freshen things up. 
I love how she blends the rustic with contemporary here.  The white chairs are from Donghia, the rusted lantern adds to the charm of the room and she has an identical one in her office. One would never know that hiding behind the linen panels.....

...are her shoes (which she admits to a wee fetish!) , neatly organized and stacked. It also provides storage for essential home items.  Looks like Mr. Kitty is keeping watch perched on the stool to reach high places.

I like the way Barbara mixes textures and decorative elements.  Here she has a beautiful Swedish armoire (I wonder what story it could tell?) and a lamp with a formal flair, notice the architectural design on the shade.  I would not have thought to have used a piece of petrified wood for an end table.  It works and adds to the charm of the room. 

I love her bedroom.  The iron bed with the beautiful linens flanked by the gilded Art Deco chaise in a gorgeous heather gray wool. Mmmmmm.

The paint she uses throughout her home is SW Pemetic Trail, a warm neutral that Barbara says goes with just about everything.  I am going to add it to my paint collection. 

In the article, Barbara says, "the thing about space like this where storage is limited, is that it keeps you from collecting too many things you don't need - you have to put things back where you found them - there's a spot for everything, or it's chaos.  You are tempted to accumulate things like you would in a house with a big basement, when many times you don't even know what's down there."  As a person that has moved frequently and had to make things fit in new places, I certainly appreciate this.

It's one thing to know a designer's work, but it's another to see how they live in their space.  I like her scaled down life and simple but lovely style.  I like decor that is inviting and this certainly is.   Does this appeal to you or do you like something more opulent? 

(Text is taken from the article written by Kate Abney and Erica George Dines took the fabulous pictures that I have scanned, albeit not too well).  

Project Monday

In an attempt to keep myself from procrastinating (don't we all?) most Monday's are going to be called PROJECT MONDAY!

There might be a tip or two along the way that might encourage or inspire you to get busy yourself!

Because I cannot make up  my mind what type of  barstool I want,or find some that I would need Oprah's bank account to afford this is what sits under the bar presently. HORRIBLE.

Did I mention that I am lazy?  Well I am, and I didn't want to sand this puppy down.

Trick #1 - I painted with a flat paint FIRST, it covers nicely and sticks to varnish.  YAY!

And since my favorite colour is black, I just happened to have some paint in the garage!

After the 'flat' paint has dried, THEN you can paint 'gloss' over it!

Much better. 

I am on the hunt for 3 'interesting' barstools.  I don't like 'normal', I am drawn to contemporary, but steel legs really don't fit in (I don't think?).  

This new blogger picture uploading is driving me nutzzz, anyone with any suggestions?

                                           Hehe!  
Do any of you have any good suggestions for fun barstools?

Fabrics and Upholstery

I love beautiful fabrics and get so excited for new projects because that means I get to 

go spend time in the showrooms.  Along with picking out fabric is designing the way it 

goes on furniture or window treatments or however we are going to use it it.

The images really caught my eye and I thought I would share. 

Take a look at how this fabric is gathered on this little French chair.

Stunning....

....this is across the room, beautiful fabric on these chairs

but does it bother anyone else that the fabric is not lined up on the sides?  Really?

The fronts are done beautifully though with the little box pleats, but then there are those

horrid arm protecters.  One would think for the photo shoot those would have been removed.

I do spy though two pretty little chairs in front of the fireplace, the stripes ARE lined up!

This sofa is so yummy.  I have touched and drooled over this beautiful silk fabric. 

It is so plump and comfy looking, I'm ready to get my book and sit for a while.

The whole room is gorgeous, those candlesticks, I want them!

Slipcovers, are they you?  They are not really me (because I don't want to take care of them) but I do like these.  They are not too prissy, more classic with straight lines.  Keep the fellers away when they are eating ribs! ha

Simple linen, hard to tell in this photo but there is a contrasting band along the bottom edge.

Cute room.

If you like formal, the damask on these barrel chairs is beautiful.  

If you want a different look with the furniture you have, why not try changing the look by changing the style of upholstery?  If you did not see my post on tufting, check it out here.  

Chair Finale

It's been a busy couple of weeks and my attention to blogging and bloggy friends have been neglected.  Sorry.
Work and life get in the way sometimes of our good intentions.  

A few weeks ago I posted here to get off my butt and get a project done of my own.

When my fabric (Robert Allen, Oval Circle, Safari) came,

I asked you:

By a majority, horizontal won.

 One comment from Acanthus and Acorn  sealed it,

 " It will look more modern and less like a stripe."

..and that's what I wanted!  

Old chairs doctored up a bit...

I'm over them but not in the plan to replace any time soon.




Next project:  the dining room chairs!

Roughing It

This time of year I begin to think about how to expand our living area beyond the 4 walls of our home.The warmer temperatures call for opening up all of the windows and letting the nice breeze in or hanging out outside. 

Growing up for the most part of my life in southern California, I am particularly partial to being on or near the water.

I'll take my champagne out here!

Later in the summer, the foliage will be full and protective.

This would be a great space in the mountains.

What a fabulous iron arbor.

Covered under the brick arches moving to outside, same brickwork flows inside and out

this reminds me of a southern Cali backyard

Perfect for a small spot...love the slate tile, coy pond and just the right amount of gardening for me.

How about a balcony space?  I imagine the view at night is quite nice.

Do you have a favorite or a special outdoor space?

Images via Coastal Living,

TLC.discovery.com

Google Images

the Resurrection

The tomb is empty...Christ came to this earth and did all that was prophesied in the days before Him. He was tormented and scourged, hung to die a lonely death, buried in the tomb and sealed with a large stone. On the third day after the Cross, it was with a great earthquake, the stone rolled away and revealed an empty tomb.  Christ had risen just as He said. God gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not die but have everlasting life.
THIS IS OUR EASTER CELEBRATION,
for without what Christ did on the cross there would be no celebration.

Some things to ponder...I hope you do

1. Do you realize that I came to meet with you?
2. Do you have any idea how much I love you?  How taken I am with you?
3. Do you know that I have never forsaken you nor will I ever reject you?  I was there all along.  I always will be.
4. Do you realize I knew everything about you the day you were conceived?  I anticipated your life and planned for it.
5. You do have an enemy, My Child.  But it is not Me.  He wants you to think it is.
6. I am for you.
7. Do you think you need to prove yourself lovable to Me?  Deep down inside, are you trying to earn My love and attention?
8. As you strive to love Me more, do you realize the key to loving Me more is to let Me love you more?
9. Why are you resisting Me?  Why are you running from Me?
10. To whom have you compared Me, and with whom have you confused Me?
11. I’m not like them.
12. I know what’s happened.  I know what’s on your mind.
13. I alone know the plan for how this turns out well.  I alone know how to prosper you through this.
14. My eyes and My affections are on you right now.
15. Quit trying to be so strong.  Let me be strong for you.
16. I love you unashamedly.  Even now My banner flies over you.  Everyone in the heavenlies knows how I feel about you.  I’d leave you red-faced over My love for you…if you’d let Me. 

Loving Well ~ Beth Moore

xo Renae

Fabric's here

Fabric arrived today for my kitchen chairs....yippee!

Now, my conundrum is; do I upholster horizontally or vertically?

I'm thinking horizontally....weigh in.

xo