nest egg

Lonny Be Good.

Every time I think about Lonny magazine I can't help but hear Chuck Berry singing THIS SONG in my head. 

Go Lonny Go.. Go!

Lonny be good.

Aaaaanyway, have you seen the latest issue?

I know her! She's my new friend, Callie Jenschke. (Isn't she pretty?)

I say 'new' because I just met her recently. One of my best friends introduced us at a party in NYC knowing we would hit it off. Did we ever. 

Co-founder of Scout Designs, this girl brings a whole new meaning to bohemian chic. Check out her home...

 

Callie and Nicki (from Scout Designs) admit to "studying their clients wardrobes in order to better understand their style."

That's funny because the second I met Callie I noticed her stylish ensemble. She had on a patterned dress that (if I remember correctly) resemble the sheets below, 

  

a pop of color with some red lipstick, 

And an awesome leather bag/clutch that I was drooling over- (looks alot like this vintage chair she has in her home)...

 

Read Lonny's article to find Callie's suggestions on how to take decor cues from your wardrobe. It's brilliant! (Clients' closets beware.)

And I love her quote here:

 

Lonny strikes again with another great issue. 

Including Vincent Wolfe's beach house/slice of heaven...

 

You should go {lonny,go} read it. 

Good job, Callie! I'm so proud.

Click here to subscribe to Lonny mag

Click here to visit Scout Designs in NYC. (They have a blog too!)

  

 

Kitchen Living

Let's be honest- nowadays people live in their kitchens. And I love seeing houses that attempt to blur the line between the kitchen and living room. Or kitchen and dining room. Thinking outside the traditional layout of a home and creating a space that is more functional for their family.

I saw this kitchen recently and really liked the concept- (and the design, of course)...

 

 

 

Can't decide between having a table in the kitchen vs an island? This way you have both! They put a slab of stone at the end of the dining table (raised to counter height) so it would feel like a part of the kitchen. I love this idea.

So, the question is: "Where is all the stuff??" 

In a working pantry adjacent to kitchen/living area. I've learned that the best way to combine a kitchen/living/or dining area is.....to have a bigger pantry.

 

 

A 12' long secondhand sink that they found at a restaurant supply place. Very cool... and very functional.

 The owner, Ruard Veltman, says: "I'm torn between two things: a very clean, modern kitchen with everything hidden, and a very utilitarian space with everything on open shelves — glasses, dishes, equipment, food. By having two rooms, I can have it both ways." 

Another kitchen I could see spending a lot of time in...

   

The owner is Richard Norris (who is the business manager for Mcalpine Tankersley in Montgomery, AL- meaning: he had GOOD help!). He wanted the kitchen to have the feel of a traditional dining room. So the sink area acts as a buffet/sideboard and the oval island a dining table.


Wow...

Where's all the stuff? In the pantry.

Lastly, 

Ina Garten's kitchen definitely doubles as a living area. 

Where's the Barefoot Contessa's {endless supply of} stuff??

My point exactly.

On another note, thanks again for all of your incredibly nice comments from my last post. Seriously, y'all are too good to me. 

 

(1) Designer: Ruard Veltman via House Beautiful; photo credit: Eric Piasecki (2) via House Beautiful; photo credit: William Abranowicz (3) via House Beautiful; photo credit: Simon Upton

Garden & Gun

Remember when I posted about the barn swing being the highlight of my year? Well apparently it's the gift that keeps on giving. 
Little did I know that this special swing would find its way to the cover of a magazine. .!!?

From the second I got the news I have been speechless since.  I am beyond honored to be a part of this awesome magazine and among the list of talented southern designers and artisans. (Including my friends, Matt & Carrie, from the hippest store in Nashville- Imogene and Willie.)

Really... Speechless.

Full of soul and Southern charm, Garden & Gun has become one of my very favorite magazines. It's not just for Southerners! Once you pick up a copy you'll see-  It's effortlessly cool. Their writing, photography and approach to stories is so down to earth and REAL. No bells and whistles. No team of stylists. What you see is what you get.

Haskell Harris, the {effortlessly cool} associate editor, called and said "OK, we're sending a photographer over in one week to photograph you at Ronnie's barn."

I panicked.   "But.. what do I wear?!!"

 "Well... what do you usually wear when you go out there?" she asked.

"Uhhh....jeans and my cowboy boots." 

"Perfect."

 

*Thanks to all of you who have sent me sweet, encouraging emails and comments. I am so very grateful.

 Garden & Gun, August/September Issue 

Go getcha' one!!

 

*Special thanks* to Haskell (read her stylin' blog!) , Ingrid, and the G&G team- y'all rock! *to Tina Adams for helping me put those jeans and cowboy boots with the right tops and accessories:),* to Hollis Bennett- the incredibly talented photographer that is responsible for these pictures, *to my encouraging and patient husband, Hoyt- for sitting there at the shoot and telling me when my hair was stuck to my lip gloss * to RD and Janine- for letting me take over your swing, and for challenging me to be the most creative I can be.  *Thanks y'all*

Nashville

 I have had several people email me when they are coming into Nashville for a weekend wanting to know what home decor shops they should hit up. I have lived here for 3 years and still feel like I'm being introduced to new stores. But, for what it's worth- I have compiled a list of my favorites.

First of all, if you want to know hot spots in this town you need to visit my trusty Nashville blog- Style Blueprint. You'll find everything you need to know about the hip spots in this town. I basically stole most of these pictures from their blog so a big THANK YOU to them for doing all the busy work and going above and beyond.

(And because I feel for all of you who are directionally challenged like myself -I linked the titles to the maps of each place. If you click on the name it'll take you to the spot on google maps.)

Now, let's go shopping!

In Green Hills you'll need to go to Bandywood Drive...

 Digs

 

Owned by Meg Turner and Becky Webb, Digs Interiors recently opened their very own retail store.  You'll see beautiful antiques, lighting, and other unique finds. (I've always been jealous of the name they chose for their interior design firm- Digs. So clever and catchy!!) Oh, and they're also on Taigan. 

Then right across the street you'll find AshBlue

It's a really cool store that has everything from furniture to jewelry. Great gifts! You can also shop online- here.

And before you leave Bandywood go by The Perfect Pair. My good friends, Casey and Whitney, own it and they have the coolest shoes in town. Seriously, you can't leave Nashville without a good pair of cowboy boots!

 
 

Now on to Berry Hill...

Gilchrist & Gilchrist

 shabby chic, vintage, charming

You walk in and feel like you're in a winter wonderland. Gina, the owner, is so helpful and sweet. You've seen her fabulous house before in this Christmas post!

 Seriously- you can't help but smile when you walk in. Especially when the face that greets you at the door looks like this:

That's Norman.

Next door to G&G you'll find an equally charming store-

Manor

Amy and her husband Earl Smith have an eye for style. Their taste is spot on! If you love this blog you'll love this store. Trust me. 
 

On 8th Avenue...
 
A la Maison

French style with New Orleans flair

This store always has something to offer. Lots of quirky antiques, beautiful artwork, and unique accessories- and I find that they are very affordable!  

Down the street you'll find....

Preservation Station

 

Full of architectural antiques that will make a statement in any room... old salvaged doors, chandeliers, mantles, newel posts, hardware, the list goes on... I love to add pieces like this to a home. It adds instant character!

 If you like this sort of thing then you'll LOVE

 Garden Park Antiques

 It's kind of off the beaten path but only because it's attached to their giant manufacturing facility. Think goggles and propane torches.

 But what's better than a hidden secret resource? (Consider yourself an insider:)

Everything is grand, large in scale, and jaw dropping.

Keith Merry, the owner, is a master artisan. And he has the eye to go with it!! He's also really fun to collaborate with. Here's a custom outdoor coffee table he just finished for one of my clients...

 

(shop online here)

If you have time and you really like to shop you need to venture out to Franklin, TN. About 30 minutes south of Nashville, this quaint town has SO much to offer!

Scarlett Scales

 When I first saw the outside of this store I knew it would be one of my favorites.

 

If you've ever been to a flea market you've probably felt overwhelmed at some point and thought "Gosh, I just wish someone would pick out all the good stuff FOR me." Well, good thing Scarlett has done it for us! She has such a unique sense of style... and is sweet to boot.

(why yes, that would be me in the background- from when I went shopping with Liza. I told you I stole her pictures! :) 

Next door is the Arbor Antique Mall.

If you're the type that likes to sift through junk to find quirky things (ME, Me!!) then you'll love the antiques stores like this one. There are several great ones on that same street that will keep you entertained for HOURS. (i.e. leave your husband at home for this one).

A funky old typewriter?

or a creepy clown mannequin? Yes please. 

 

The Iron Gate

This is probably my favorite store in the Nashville area. If you want to know what my style is... this is it. I will gladly take anything in that store and put it in my own home. 

You can atleast come home with one of their amazing candles.  

I'm SURE I left out some great stores but these are the ones I go to most often. 

I think you'll like them too... 

Happy shopping, Y'ALL! 

 

I have been working on this post for a while and just got around to finishing it- so I apologize if you emailed and I didn't get back to you in time! (first picture is from Hatch Show Print, others by Style Blueprint and the stores websites)