nest egg

Hoppen

Let's play catch-up.

REWIND: to my Highpoint market trip back in... November!

One of the highlights of my trip was meeting the famous London based interior designer- Kelly Hoppen.

 

(Here I am at Highpoint with my designer friends! Kelly in the middle- with the effortlessly gorgeous hair.)

She's a total bad*ss. Like- the Queen of England awarded her an MBE for her contributions in the field of design- THAT kind of woman.

She started her own design business at the ripe age of 16- i repeat- SIX.TEEN. And is now designer to the stars, has her own home furniture line, lighting line, several published books and has even started Kelly Hoppen School of Design in London. (My friend went- she said it changed her life.)

 Anyway, we went to hear her speak at Highpoint and I took notes... And sketched her hair. 

(Not sure if the "really listen" message was intended for myself or part of her message ???)

Here are some of her quotes (with photographs of her work)-

"Home has finally become what it really ought to be."

"You don't need so many overhead lights. Consider the reflection and shadows. Light up textures, surfaces, art…"

Only ONE STAR piece per room.

"Trends are all a bit bubble-gum. Great designers stick to who they are."

"It's all about compromise."

(All of my couple clients: NOD your heads. :)

"Get involved with the spirit of the home before you start work on it."

One of my favorite comments she made was when she was talking about the influence of growing up and going in her grandmother's home- 

"It wasn't the way it looked- it was the way it felt."

Love that. She's speaking my language.

I could hear her talk about design all night-- preferably on her London rooftop terrace...

 

…maybe with The Queen?

To see more of her work visit Kelly Hoppen online. Her books are great too! 

Piggy went to Highpoint Market

I realized today as I was looking back through my blog that I have posted 4 times in the past month.!! I really have been slacking. I'm going to get back in the game- not only for you readers but for myself! I need the inspiration-- the less I blog/catch up on other blogs, the less inspired I get. I start to feel stagnant. I try not to blog during work hours (which is why you may get a blog post before you get a returned email or phone call-sorry!), but it's important to me to make time for this creative outlet. And I'm trying my best to find balance... if that even exists.?

Soooo.... we have some catching up to do. Let me back up to a few weeks ago... when this little piggy went to Highpoint Market! I had never been before and it was quite the trip. This post could last for days (my intention,perhaps?) so I'll start out with my a few highlights:

In the Oly Showroom I had to pick my chin up off the floor... several times.

 

Feast your eyes!

Moving along to some more rustic finds...

One of my favorite spots was the Hickory Chair showroom- After a day of seeing a lot of "trends" it was SO refreshing to see quality pieces that stand the test of time. 

And the people!! Everyone that works there is so friendly and great (Ron!)... I could have stayed and talked for hours. Not only that but I was lucky enough to be in the presence of some of the most talented designers in the industry. STARS, if you will. :)

Then I found myself smack dab in the middle of them for a picture..?

Left to right: Barry Dixon, me (in heaven), Melanie Benecki, Mariette Himes Gomez, and Suzanne Kasler.!! Seriously... I'd like to get in each of their heads for a day.- even an hour. 

Suzanne and me- after I gushed about her furniture line, her lighting line, and everything in between. She couldn't be more friendly and gave me some great advice.

Then I met Alexa Hampton at her book signing- she's so down to earth..and hilarious! 

That blurry ghost of a human being on the left? That would be me. Doesn't that always happen when you meet someone famous? You muster up the courage to even ask for a dumb photograph in the first place- This is it. Don't blink, don't blink. The picture turns out bad but you're not ABOUT to ask her again: "Oh, hi- Alexa? Can you stand up one more time so I take another picture with you? This one looks like my face is melting off-Thanks." 

Remember that post I did a while back about the creative couple in Atlanta, The Beneckis? Ran into them there too... 

And for the record- they are not only talented (and attractive), but they are so sweet. As well as the girls that work for them. And they all read nestegg- which is crazy- and awesome!!! (hey guys!) 

Anyway, I loved the Hickory Chair Social Hour.. I would like to attend it monthly (minus) heavy market bags +(plus) cocktails. Ron Fiore?? Can you make it happen? :)

 

Much more to cover, but sleep comes first.

 

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!)

  

 

Holy Tile

If you love  hardwood floors like I do- you'll love Nashville designer Jamie Beckwith's floor "tiles"... Oh yes, people- it's hardwood. Feast your eyes on this...

Made from quarter-sawn white oak, these exotic hardwoods come in all sorts of shapes and sizes....

       

Installed?

 

 

 

 

And not just for floors.

There's the line called Projection that can be installed on walls, ceilings,... wherever! 

 

 

I think it would be a great backsplash...
 
 
 

 
 

How cool is that??
   

To see more (and find retailers near you) visit Jamie Beckwith's website, HERE.

 
  

Please enjoy the music while your party's being reached...

 

 

Interior Design by Mary Clarke

Architectural Renovation by Bill Ingram

Photography by Chris Little

  Photos from Bill Ingram website and Verdigris Vie
 

Interior Design by Sara Scaglione

Photographs by Luca Trovato

pictures via House Beautiful 

 

 

She works hard for the money...

I recently subscribed to Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles... simply because I'm addicted to magazines and am stocking piling inspiration for fear that these hard copies will cease to exist. Y2K all over again. I'm slowly making my way cross country with these subscriptions. (I signed up for Birmingham H&G too but haven't gotten one yet? Any other states I might need?)

Anyway, I'm loving AH&L. I got the May issue in the mail and flipped open to... My new dream office. 

I'm dead serious. This is it. 

And I should have known it would be none other than Suzanne Kasler's...

 

I"ll tell you why it sings to me...

• Lots of work surfaces.. I NEEEED that desperately. 
• It's Cozy.... Feels like the upstairs loft of a home.

 

• It's effortlessly stylish. 

 

• It's realistic! And it looks like cool people work here.

  

• Wall to wall seagrass. Check!

• Here's the thing I have learned over the years about the office(s) of an interior designer. (Mainly-mine!) They are ticking time bombs. Like clockwork- every 24 hours a 'creative bomb' -or two- goes off and there is a minor explosion of fabric samples, papers, materials, purchase orders,..you name it. You can clean it up? But more than likely you don't have time as you frantically run out the door (10 minutes late-always) with fabric shrapnel attached to every corner of your stylish black outfit while you sling around your bag of bricks. Literally people- sometimes it IS bricks!) And you can't have anyone else clean up after you because your stack/vision is placed strategically in a way that only YOU (and people who speak freaky-deaky-Dutch) could figure out.  And By the time you get back you definitely don't feel like tidying up so you gently place your 'stack' aside shielding it from tomorrow's bomb. Hence: stacks all over the place! 

So when I saw this picture I thought- YES! Put those messy little stacks in baskets!

• Organized clutter. (My favorite)
• It's open but still has private nooks. 
• It includes a chic lobby for stylish clients (like my friend Holly from Things that Inspire. Holly, if you're reading- do you meet with Suzanne here or at home? Just curious... It's win/win either way I'm sure!)

 

• A synchronized crew.? Yes, I'll take two.

   

After going through this article with my mouth hanging open gasping at the turn of every page, I can officially say:

a. I'm SO jealous it hurts 

b. I'm equally inspired.!! 

c. So my new goal: work hard for the money so I can get an office like this that'll treat me right. !!

(Go ahead and listen to it) it'll be in your head all day regardless. SORRY

In the mean time I will just go to the next best thing: The office Kasler styled for Ballard Designs...

Very pretty!

But I like the real deal. Bigger space, less stacks, more time, 

Tick, tick, tick, tick...

 

PS- If you are a designer, work for one, or deal with fabrics daily- would you please mind sharing your organizing system? I've tried organizing them by color, by style, and it still just doesn't feel right. IT could just be me! but I would love to hear your tips. Thanks. :)
 

All images via AH&L magazine. Photographed by Erica George Dines.

 Go get a subscription! 

Knock Knock

Who's there?

Oh, it's Rachel....and she's moving in.

 I know this house has been all over the blog world and on the front of a magazine but I had to put it on nestegg. I couldn't help it! Must be love...

 

Jill Brinson, interior designer and creative director for Ballard Designs, has an knack for style. Her house is rustic, timeless... and effortlessly cool. 

I don't have time to tell you all the reasons I love this house so I'll just pick ONE favorite thing about each room. (deep breath- this is going to be difficult)
 

• the feminine (almost diva) touches to this room against the rustic, masculine pieces. EX: the splash of pink, the shiny sconces. Brilliant MIX!

 

• the white washed cabinets with chicken wire
• oh and the lanterns! AND the wicker chair... this is clearly impossible.

 

• the fact that she got this gazebo from the anthropologie store in the mall

 

• the UH MAY ZING iron window

 

• the different cased openings on either side of the fireplace. She's not matchy matchy-! We're going to get along great.

 

• the old shutters used as closet doors

 

• The soothing gray outdoor furniture....who is ready for spring?

 

• I don't know if I can choose just one. But I think the main reason I love this kitchen is the span of windows above the sink instead of upper cabinets.

 

• The fact that this beautiful wallpaper is unexpected yet perfect.

 

• The chairs... and the view. Are we seriously in Atlanta??

 

• The unique vanity with a small mirror (from Target) in between the sinks rather than spanning the length of the wall.

 

• The tub. (Everything about it.)      *I did not notice a guest room so I'll just put my things in here thank you. Wake me up in a few days...

Did you love this house as much as I did? Would love to hear your thoughts.

      

 Click here to read the article.

All photos taken by Simon Upton via House Beautiful

Eye Candy Friday

Benecki Homes. Stan Benecki (luxury builder in Atlanta) and his wife Melanie Turner Benecki (of Turner Davis Interiors) are quite the creative couple. Here's a look inside one of their Atlanta homes:

 

 

 

I rarely see a theater room that is done tastefully... But this one?? Very cool. (I call back-middle!)

 

 

Love the pecky cypress. Anyone recognize the rug? It's from Pottery Barn. 

 

 

 

Great bedroom. 

A Barbara Barry chandelier in my walk-in closet? Yes Please.

 

Then I remembered a Bobby Mcalpine home I've always loved in Rosemary Beach. And guess what? It is a Benecki house too! (look at me connecting the dots on a friday night :)

Fabulous architect + luxury builder + great designer = Power House

 
  

 
 

 
 

 

 

  

 I'm pretty sure this power house created a lake home too but I'll save that for another Friday night. :)

Have a good weekend. And stay warm!... wherever you are.

 

Images via Benecki Homes, ajc, and here
 






           

green & amber

I recently came across one of my favorite House Beautiful features styled by one of my favorite architect/designer combos: Bobby Mcalpine and Susan Ferrier.

Remember this one?

 

When I saw the pictures again I remembered only two parts of the article:

1. Apparently the clients were redheads so Susan used an amber and green color palette to complement their coloring. 

2. Everything I loved in the pictures came from Paris. (go figure!)

This kitchen and that light fixture... drooling over here.

The attention to detail is amazing. I recommend scrolling through the pictures one more time... 

To read the full article click here.

photos via House Beautiful

Cheryl Tague

Last week I (somehow) stumbled upon the work of New York designer Cheryl Tague. Her website only contains 3 different homes- each one beautiful in their own way.  Her work is simple and edited, a good mix of old and new, and reflects her impeccable attention to detail...

 

 

 

 

 

All images from Cheryl Tague's website, click here for more info.