High Point: the tiniest post

We got back from High Point around 1 AM last night & I'm swamped, so as soon as I can get a spare minute (or 30) I'll fill you in on all the details about our trip.  All that I can really say right now is that I finally got to meet some of my favorite blog friends and it was just amazing.  We bonded.  It's incredible how we create these relationships online and then meet and just connect.  Below is a photo of a group of us out to dinner one night at the Proximity Hotel.  (I am still thinking about my food there. Really. )

Photo  {me, Traci Zeller of Traci Zeller Designs, Angela Williams of Giannetti Home, Benji Gaines & Liz Morten of Dovecote Decor, Bobby McAlpine (yes-  I blubbered...  I have never been so affected by a design book.  Dave's read his book too and was so excited to meet him.) Brooke Giannetti of Velvet & Linen, Maria Killam of Colour Me Happy and Dave (my husband ;)  ... Steve Giannetti took this picture and Dave & I are also totally in awe of him.  I promise to write more- I met & saw so many amazing bloggers, designers & good friends, and we're all exchanging pictures, so as soon as I can, I'll post. 

I missed my little guys so much so I'm off to hang with them!! 

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

ps- And I have to mention that Traci brought a beautiful red tricycle that her twins don't use and gave it to me for Christian!!  After reading my post about our plastic one, she contacted me.  Does it get any sweeter?? I'm still in awe & so grateful.  Thank you Traci!!!!!  xoxoox

The Osage Orange & then some

{image from Rough Ideas by Catherine White...  her pottery is gorgeous}

I might have found something I love more than mossballs.  (yeah, yeah, I read the posts, moss balls are so done- but I still love them ;)  Anyway, my client, Sandy, gave me some little green balls from the farmer's market, saying they would keep crickets out of the house, and they're so beautiful to me!

{Image from Pens & Beetles Studio}

And they smell so good too.  Sandy had a plastic bag filled with them from the farmer's market and she had planned to place them around her basement to scare the crickets away.  She left them in the bag a day or so and before she even had the chance to place the balls around the room, the crickets had left! 

Sandy emailed me letting me know they're called osage oranges, so I did a little reserach.  (And by "did a little research" I mean I googled 'osage orange.')  According to wikipedia, they grow on trees and are not actually closely related to citus fruit but are actually in the mulberry family, called "Moraceae."

And how crazy is this:  "Recent research suggests that elemol, another component extractable from the fruit, shows promise as a mosquito repellent with similar activity to DEET in contact and residual repellency."  So not only are they beautiful & they smell good, but they really do keep bugs away!  I'm going to have to try to put some in the boys' playhouse shed because spiders looooove it.  (Last Fall, we had an insane spider crickets invasion in our basement when Eddie & Jaithan came to visit, so the first thing Jaithan asked me before they visited this Fall was, "Are they gone??" hahha)

The wikipedia article goes on to say, "The fruit has a pleasant and mild odor, but is inedible for the most part. Although it is not strongly poisonous, eating it may cause vomiting. However, the seeds of the fruit are edible."  hmm... so there goes the answer to my question of 'what do they taste like?'  I'll never know. 

It's interesting that most native animals don't use it as a food source because typically seeds are dispersed by animals.  "One recent  theory is that the Osage-orange fruit was eaten by a giant sloth that became extinct shortly after the first human settlement of North America. Other extinct animals, such as the mammoth, may have fed on the fruit and aided in seed dispersal.   An equine species that went extinct at the same time also has been suggested as the plant's original dispersal agent because modern horses and other livestock will sometimes eat the fruit."

{Image via Weird and Funny}

So...  after getting a couple osage oranges from Sandy and loving the smell (I have a wolf's noze & am really affected by smell... so much that I keep them on my desk just so I can smell them all day long) we were out driving this weekend and I saw what looked like a tennis ball on the side of the road.  I knew right away it was an osage orange and then looked closer and saw there were a ton of them all along the sidewalk near the park we were driving by.  Dave pulled over (gotta love him) and Christian and I hoped out after emptying the  "returns" out of a  plastic Target bag we had in the car.  I had to go into the woods to get to the pretty ones & got a bit scratched up but it was worth it.  (Christian did warn me, "Be careful mommy, don't get owies.")  Now we have a ton!!!  I couldn't even fit them all in this bowl:

And now I know I can get them every year!!  They're said to grow in the midwest and clearly they grow around Virginia too so keep your eyes peeled.  They're now all over my house, which of course called for me to do a mini photo shoot.  Here they are in the little shelf in our entry:

I love having such a tiny little shelf when we first walk in because there's only room for a teensy tiny amount of junk to accumulate.  (Eeeeek but that doesn't really stop us from using the floor.)

Right now on our storage bench I'm using the wrong side of a Calico Corners remnant:

{I don't remember the name but they still sell it & chances are Jan Jessup of CC will comment to let us all know-  thanks Jan! ;}

The photo is of my handsome father-in-law, John:

 He thinks we only put it out when he comes to visit but here's proof.  (Will that get me brownie points?? ;)

Lately I've also been loving this little creamer I found at a flea market which perfectly hides my messy wad of keys:

{Another "product" for my online store that I am keeping... oh boy}

Speaking of stores & what's up with me, here's the lastest.  I'm opening up an online store, "Pure Style Home" and am working on finalizing the web design and picking inventory.  I'm still having issues and my husband makes fun of me....  "HERE, PLEASE COME TO MY STORE....  I AM SELLING ELEVEN ITEMS.  OH WAIT?  YOU WANT THAT ONE?  NO THAT ONE'S NOT REALLY FOR SALE...  IT'S ONLY BEEN IN THE STORE FOR A WEEK.  PLEASE COME BACK LATER."  So yes, I'm definitely opening the online store but am still having issues choosing exactly what I want to sell.  I know many of you have inquired about the rugs and yes, I will be putting them in the store.  The 8x11 handmade wool antique look sun-washed rugs are in the $3,400- $4,000 range.

Now, I mentioned that I was going to be joining with with my friend Elise of the Loudon Design Center to have a Pure Style Home store open on the weekends and this has changed a bit.  Elise is still planning on opening the store the first week of Decemeber but instead of having part-ownership of the store on the weekends, I've decided that it might be better if she carries some of my pieces...  We're working on a line of fabrics & furniture and there will be one of a kinds too but the store will also carry a lot of other amazing companies like Hickory Chair & Sferra.  I would love to start this venture head-first and fully diving in, but I've realized that I really can't spread myelf too thinly.  I need my family time and I know having a store of my own with my name on it would take up way too much time & energy right now.  We're all hoping that having a separate store carrying a few of my things will be a good compromise.  We head to High Point tomorrow to square away some details.  So much is changing and so quickly, so I really don't know 100% what will happen, but this is my new plan.  ;)  I'll keep you posted

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

ps- If you didn't get to see my previous post on Market, check it out & let me know if you're going!

To buy a fat pig...

Yes!  I'm going to Market, to Market!!  It's my first time so I'm a total newb.

For anyone who doesn't know about High Point Market, you can check out details here.  Since I've never been myself I really can't quite conceptualize it yet but it sounds like a city of trade-only design showrooms.  Really, a city...  No actually, the mecca.   14 million square feet of showrooms I think??  So it's going to be humanly impossible to see it all but I'm going to try to hit as much of it as I can.  My goal is to find some beautiful new (to me) companies to work with & I can't wait to see it!!  It's seriously intimidating to be honest, but right now I'm waaaay more excited than nervous.

Anyone else going?  I think a few (hopefully a bunch!) of bloggers are planning on meeting up for drinks one night so let me know. If you are going ,check out this post by Elizabeth Morten guest blogging over @ Velvet & Linen.  Does anyone have any recommendations for showrooms to visit?  Tips?  Events to attend?  Would love some advice!!




If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Living with what you love

I'm sure you've heard the buzz in blogland about Monica Rich Kosann's new book Living With What You Love, but if you haven't, here's my take.  The book's underlying philosophy (Living with what you love) goes hand in hand to me with creating a home.  We see so many beautiful images of homes every day, but how many of them seem personal and special to the homeowners?  The ones that speak to me the most are the ones that feel real and loved like a "real" home.  (vs a showhouse)  The book addresses  such a simple but core issue in a hands-on way that makes you want to get to work on your own home right away.

{How adorable is this?  I might have to stuff my parrot and keep him there.. haha totally kidding!}

Ove the years, Monica, a portrait photographer found that her clients were also looking to her to help them find special ways to display the beautiful photos she'd taken.  Her "job" expanded and not only does she help families take photographs but she helps them fit them into their homes in ways that are personal & beautiful. 

It's the final layer, the accessorizing, where we can very easily inject ourselves in our homes.  I have so many photos I've saved over the years "to be framed" or "to be hung" or whatever.  Monica's book inspired me to finally get around to doing something with them.  Her book's full of creative ways to display family photos and special items.  I love the little pages of a photo album casually piled on the table below:

Living With What You Love was so great to sit down with and inspired a few projects in our own home that I can't wait to get started with...  One of them being a hallway full of kids' art projects and family photos.  The hallway leading to our bedrooms is & has been totally blah since we moved in.  We addressed most of the main areas in our house& now it's time for the hallways, and smaller spaces, which can make all of the difference.  I'm going to take my time with this one and I want it to grown over the years almost like a huge inspiration board.  

What about you?  Do you live with the things you love?

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

You can click here to buy the book :)

The Beads

After I put my new profile picture up last week, I got a few emails asking me about my wooden beads.  They're by Kayce Hughes, one of our super-talented sponsors, and are my absolute favorite.  I wear them all of the time and they always get compliments.  I wanted to let you know that Kayce's having giving away the beads on her blog!!  Click here to enter.  If you don't know Kayce yet, make sure to read through her beautiful blog...  She's a successful fashion designer, mother to 7 beautiful kids and has a seriously stylish home... You'll love her. 

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Teensy Peek of a Client's Project

Remember this design plan for my clients Aimee & Dave that I showed you last week?

Well, the upholstered pieces arrived and look so awesome!!!!  Now, in a perfect world, everything arrives undamaged and flawless...  well, in real life, sometimes there are issues.  Aimee & Dave's custom sofa arrived with some damage so I'm working on getting it fixed with the manufacturers delivery company.  Have you ever heard the saying, "There's no such thing as a design emergency?"  Well, I have and for the most part have to agree...  no matter what, it's not a life & death situation and shouldn't be stressed over... BUT in this case, I have to admit that I totally felt sick to my stomach.  Luckily, Aimee's really understanding and was so excited with the look of the pieces that she sent me some pics. 

We still have to finish flushing out the plan with curtains, pendant lighting, pillows, art work, rugs (potty training right now ;) and accessories but I had to show you what it's looking like. Here it was mid-construction:

And here it is now:

I just LOVE the orange Thibaut fabric!!!  Oh my gosh.    I can't wait to see all of the soft goods in place!! 

Have an awesome weekend!!  Today is Dave's & my 5 year anniversary.  We're celebrating tomorrow. 

I can't believe it's been 5 years - it went by so quickly- and yet it feels like it's been forever in another way.  We met when I was 20, my junior year (his senior year) of college in English class.  He was this cocky guy from New York and I fell for him. hahaha  But seriously, any guy who can take this like a champ is my hero:

We've become "grown-ups" together and I couldn't imagine any of this without him. 

.... maybe not quite grown-ups yet...  but honestly, does anyone ever feel like one???

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

My new dust jacket

I had such a great time at the Darryl Carter book signing today!!! 

{Darryl & me}

My supersweet friend Rachel James (below) invited me today and I'm so glad she did!!   My partner in crime was Michele Ginnerty of My Notting Hill and we (once again!!) forgot to take a picture together.

So...  Do you remember how yesterday I wrote that I was a little embarrassed about the condition of the dust jacket on my copy of the book.? (I've had it for almost 2 years & it's gotten a lot of use... I didn't want my messed up dust jacket to give the impression that I didn't care about the book.)  Well, today when I brought my weathered & worn copy of The New Traditional to the book signing, there was a new dust jacket waiting there for me with my name on it.  They'd read my post yesterday and gotten me one!

There's no other way to say it other than that I just felt so special.  It was such a simple thoughtful gesture and it made my day.  Darryl Carter is truly all that he seems and it's so awesome to find that someone you've set on a pedestal is deserving.  He's warm & fun and has this great energy about him.   He dresses just like his rooms too; he's got such a handle on his style in every way.

There are so many projects brewing with him & his company and I cannot wait to see everything unfold.  If you haven't read it, you will love the book.  My mom gave it to me for Christmas almost 2 years ago and I remember reading it cover to cover right away.  But then I kept going back to it...  sometimes not wanting to really think, just perusing the eye candy, other times devouring & digesting every line and image, making mental notes and figuring out why I loved something & how I could incorporate it somewhere. 

I'm off to bed but today was just so great.  When I went to pick up the kids at daycare today, the director of the daycare (who's pretty serious with me for the most part) said, "How are you?"  when he walked by me in passing and I just heard myself say, "AWESOME."  hahaha he totally didn't laugh which made it even better.  But it's true, right now, I'm still pretty excited.  awesome.

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Darryl Carter

Meeting THIS guy tomorrow:

{Darryl Carter & his German Short-haired pointer...  well, sadly not he pointer, but hopefully Darryl}

I'm going to a book signing!!  (And embarrassed to show him my slightly destroyed copy of the book which has a torn & messed up dust jacket...  It looks like I don't care about it but it's really the opposite--- I've read it too much and messed it up!!  Dust jackets just aren't made for people like me.  ;)

{in Elle Decor}

{Elle Decor}

I could go on & on posting pictures but I'm not going to because I know you've probably already seen & drooled over most of them before.  (In case you haven't, check out his website here.)

I have the tendency to creep people out when I'm a fan of theirs & I first meet them so I'm really going to try to reign it in at the book signing.  (It's @ the tabletop Trade Show in Vienna!)  I get a little excited (no, seriously,  crazily, giddy, blabbery... ) because I feel like I know them.  I've had conversations about them, I've read their books, I've devoured their portfolios and philosophies...  I wonder "what would Darryl do?" haha yes, see?  first name basis.  

  SO,  I'm not sure if my plan  to chill out will work or not because I am

SO.  FREAKING. EXCITED!!!!!!!!

Will let you know how it goes & hopefully I can get a picture.

ps- Grandmother, if you're wondering who he is, he's the guy you showed me in the Washington Post waaaaay back when I was just getting interested in decorating & designing.  You thought I should try giving him a call to see if he needed any help so I could learn from him.  :)  I love you.

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Fall's here!!

 Fall just might be my favorite season.  I love it.  I love the feeling in the air, the clothes, the boots, the smell of the wet leaves right now (been raining a lot) and I love that cool tinge of excitement it gives me every year...  Here are a few pics that call it to mind..

{Our mantle}

{image from Country Home}

{Honey bear last year}

{Our entry viewed from lower level family room}

{our living room}

{Mm mm mm!! Stone Soup "how to" here}

{Christian last Fall...  me behind the camera: " Hold the pumpkin!  Smile!!  Good boy.  Yeah now put it on your head! Say cheese!".. poor kid}

{Country Living}

I can't get enough of it.  Today's perfectly gloomy weather has me in a thoughtful mood. 

So, I'm off to eat soup and think ;) ;)  hahahah

  

Have a great day!!

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Rome and Lazio interior design

Ancient Rome's architecture inspired the Neoclassical movement, thus the city was a major epicentre for interior design made according to that style. Giuseppe Valadier was famous for making Roman Neoclassicism unique, including his bold and grandly-sculpted tables.

He was also famous for giving the city a dramatic facelift, restoring many of the ancient monuments and making grandiose classical marble tables, which were often gilded in gold to give a dazzling effect of wealth, just like in the Roman times.