nest egg

This house makes me happy.

You can almost feel the breeze in this room...

 

 



 

 

via Country Home; seen on Greige      

red. white. blue.

   

 
 

 

     
 

 
   

 

 

Happy Independence Day!

(1) via Country Living, photo by Michael Luppino (2) via House Beautiful, design by Healing Barsanti (3) design by Gary McBourni (4) China Seas fabrics (5) design by Suzanne Kasler (6) design by Steven Gambrel (7) yummy desserts and cocktails by Martha Stewart, ofcourse (8) Wisteria (9) via Elements of Style

 

Lately...

 

• There just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day. I had a friend one time say "If I had ONE wish right now it would be that the world would just STOP for a few hours- so I could GET STUFF DONE!" It makes me laugh because.... seriously??? THAT would be your one wish?? But let's admit- we've all felt that way at one point. For me? It's been lately.
• Working Hard. Playing Hard. 
• And trying my best not to melt in this HEAT!

Lately.... 

• I've spent time on a plane. 
• Meaning... time to sketch up ideas and rooms. Something I love to do. 

  And YES the people sitting next to me usually inquire:

"Is that your bedroom, honey?" -woman in window seat

"No ma'am. It's just a room I sort of designed." -me

"Mmm-hmmm....For a SCHOOL PROJECT ??"

(Can't blame her. I look like I'm 18 and travel with my pillow for crying out loud.)

 Before I can answer the gruff man from the aisle seat chimes in-  "My wife just bought a bed like that.... cost me a freakin' FORTUNE!"

Hmmmm....Well, highschool is a dream. Excuse me while I pull out my neon pink chewing gum and turn up my ipod. 

• Time in the plane also means: time to look through all my catalogs.!! Seriously guys- they're some great stuff out right now.  Here is what I've found:

Slipcovered sofas for DAYS...

Love this! From none other than.... Z Gallerie? Oh yes. Rock ON, Z!!

The Ikea slipcovered sofa (click HERE to read Joni's post on this at Cote de Texas- it's a good one)

 

The Wisteria

 
from West Elm.

 

West Elm is looking masculine lately.. and I like it! Especially the rug-

And I can't decide if I like these pillows or not... very Nashville, I must say. 

 

I actually like them better in this picture:

And these martini tables are awesome!! You can tuck them in anywhere.

 

Garnet Hill is now carrying Brahms Mount throws! These chevron cotton ones are SO soft and great... Trust me. You want one.

This rustic headboard from Sundance Catalog caught my eye...

    

So did this one from Anthropologie...

 

Some cool barstools from Wisteria...

 
 
And I'm loving this Darth Vater alarm clock from Urban Outfitters...

Kidding!! 

Wake UP, everybody! 

It's Tuesday....And it's HOT. again!

Be back soon. 

 

MAQs.... let's try this.

I've gotten a lot of emails and comments asking details about projects I post on the blog. I am truly flattered that you ask!! Really, I am. But since my clients pay me to come up with a plan for their home and implement the design I can't share every detail of their project on the blog. That wouldn't be fair to them. It's the tricky part of this business... and blog. 

BUT- here's what I will do. Any time I post projects that I've done I will answer the most asked question (MAQ). I've thought about this for a while and it seems like a happy medium. 

***The MAQ from my last post was- what is the dark paint color of the cabinets?

Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze.

(It's a great color- I use it often.)

 Thanks for understanding and I really, really appreciate your encouraging comments. It means SO much to me!

 

Dressed to Renovate

I'm back... and I finally have some recent projects to share with you. 

Today- A kitchen renovation! I especially enjoy these kinds of projects because a) I love kitchens and b) I love knocking out walls. Being able to transform a space by removing/adding walls is fascinating... it keeps me up at night. (in a good way :) ... (if there IS such a thing?)

To hold your attention here's a sneak peek: 

 

 This particular client is a super talented wardrobe consultant here in Nashville- Tina Adams from Tina & Rebecca. Tina and I love to discuss the parallels in our jobs... we both assist people in makeovers- whether that's your wardrobe or your living room.  She told me in the beginning- "I dress like I decorate my house: mostly whites and caramels  in classic shapes with some subtle modern touches thrown in for good measure.  Pops of color here and there.  Love vintage."

Now, when a client says this to Tina she thinks: "a fitted white blouse with knockout jewelry," and when she said this to me I immediately thought: "Splurge on the marble countertops- then add rich paint colors and interesting lights."

= 
 

So we did just that.

(Drumroll please..)

before

 

during...

 

after !

(If it came with a sound effect it would be THIS.)

After our first meeting I came up with a rough plan that involved some minor demolition... 

 <We ended up changing some things that are on this plan but you get the idea>

 The main concept was getting rid of the "breakfast room" attached to the kitchen and expanding into that unused space. 
 

before (you can see breakfast room in the back)

 

 after !

Ahhhh.. so much more space!

before

   

 after !
 

I snapped this picture shortly after Tina made me the best slice of sourdough bread I've ever had. Her client from Knoxville has nursed/fed this dough for years! I had it toasted with jelly on it... Amazing. I'm going to need to get in touch with this Knoxville client ASAP.

Anyway, back to the kitchen...

 

I have to admit- my favorite part of the entire renovation was the jewelry light fixtures. (Shocking, I know- Rachel loves light fixtures!?)

 
 
 

I had seen these lights online (new design by Suzanne Kasler for Visual Comfort) but had not seen them in person. Since they were a Kasler design I knew they had to be fabulous so I bit the bullet and ordered two.  

Tina and I both squealed when we opened up the box. Then squealed again when they were hung, and ... you get the picture. I'm obsessed with these light fixtures. They add so much to the room- like Tina says: "They're the perfect pair of earrings"... or Steeplechase hats?

 
 I couldn't imagine these lights against any old white ceiling... so we had the ceiling painted Sherwin Williams Magnetic Gray in satin oil finish for a soothing backdrop.

We also tied in a vintage look with the hardware. The egg shaped knobs and the pulls are both in antique brass from Restoration Hardware. Not too shiny, not too dull- a great mix.

 

 

 We used an existing piece (a flea market find by Tina) for the 'kitchen island'... I like how it adds a feminine touch to the kitchen. 

 

   
Makeover Complete.

Now it's time for my wardrobe!

 To find out more about Tina & Rebecca Wardrobe Consulting check out there great blog! HERE.

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 

 

 

Lanterns

I'm still here.

And am in the mood for a good lantern!

I LOVE lanterns and have been putting them everywhere lately. I really like seeing them over an eating area or dining table. It's unexpected and sets a casual tone for an otherwise dressy room...

via my home ideas; photo by Matthew Gilson 

 

J Randall Powers viaHouse Beautiful

via urban electric 

via Things that Inspire 
 

 
Erika Powell, via Southern Living, photo by Erica Georges Dines

 

Nancy Boszhardt via House Beautiful

 

Jill Sharp via House Beautiful

Melanie Pounds via BHG

via Things that Inspire/ Traditional Home

TTN: When picking out a light fixture to go over your table don't forget to consider a lantern!

Is anyone doing anything fun over Memorial Day weekend?

 I'm going on a quick vacation but will be back next week!

 

Bring on the Burlap

Just when I thought I was tired of seeing burlap...

Burlap bed and side table from Noir (available to the trade)

  

Burlap side tables from Ballard Designs (left) and Wisteria (right)- I prefer the one without fringe.

 

Cube ottoman from Aidan Gray Home

 

   

Burlap table overlay and table runner from Pottery Barn- both are great for parties!

 

Dome chandelier from Restoration Hardware

 

Stylish, burlap shoes from anthropologie

 

Burlap pendant from Currey & Co.

Loving this ottoman by Noir

Last But Least $

 Great looking tote bags from Ballard Designs, only $20!

 
 

Hope for Haiti.... and Nashville too.

Most of the time on this blog I love to talk about pretty, beautiful interiors and how much I love my job (I do). But there are other times when I can't bring myself to talk about table skirts and lamps- and all I want to do is adopt an orphan, save puppies from puppy mills, build a school, feed the homeless, pretty much-   change the world. (Sounds like a reasonable side job ??) Because while most people just want to change a few things in their homes, there are plenty of people out there who don't even have one.

I continue to juggle these two worlds (don't we all??) and since there seems to be a lot of NEED going around lately I want to share a few ways to help. 

First: Nashville.

Even though the water has gone down people are still without homes. Their cherished belongings are now a soaking pile of trash in their front yard. And most people have gotten the news that insurance will not cover the damage! They need all the help they can get. Here are a few unique ways to give back:

 
You can show your support and getting a cool poster! Win/Win. Click HERE to see others.

The first one with the guitar is my favorite- at the bottom it reads "Love your neighbor". Could be a year-round piece of art!

I also just saw over at Style Blueprint that you can actually EAT OUT (TONIGHT ONLY!) in Nashville to support the cause.  A huge list of restaurants have agreed to donate 50% of tonight's meals to the Flood Relief!   Are you kidding??? (I  Nashville.)

 Click HERE to read more and get the full list of restaurants. And go EAT!

While we are on the subject of still needing help in a big way...

 

Haiti.

This upcoming weekend I am helping with a fundraiser one of my dear friends is putting on in Nashville. It is actually a sale. (The magic word around here!) It is a supporting Haitian women and children through a program called Centre Lumiere. This self-help program provides income for hundreds of women, and teaches them about the bible, health, and home ec skills- primarily: sewing. They are given a chance to provide for their families and more importantly- they are given HOPE.

 
Ever since the earthquake their community has been flooded with refugees. With the increase in orphans the women are caring for 5-10 more people than they normally would. !! Can you imagine 7 more kids showing up at your house one day? ... and then staying?

So needless to say- they, also, need ALL the help they can get. And we can support these women and children by buying some of their beautiful hand made items at the sale. (including pillows, dish towels, aprons, hats, purses, table linens, etc.)

  

Here is all the info:

So if you are in the Nashville area this weekend please come by!

*If you can't make it to the sale and would like to make a donation to support this cause, you can send donations to: Beth Jones; 5008 Wyoming Avenue, Nashville, TN 37209

Write checks to: "Loving Shepherd Ministries" and write "haiti" in the memo line.

 Thank you for listening. Tomorrow I will be back with burlap.

 Did I mention I like to juggle?

for more information on Centre Lumiere in Haiti click here.