Things That Inspire

Lamps in kitchens

2013-05-23T07:57:00.001-04:00

Last week, I had a sneak preview of the new Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, featuring a house renovated by architect Stan Dixon with interior design work by Liz Williams. Several years ago, I was able to see this house as it was being renovated, and it was gratifying to see how the owners decorated the rooms.

As I examined every picture in the article, the kitchen picture (above, photo credit Emily Followill, used with permission) caught my eye. I remember Stan saying how much he likes lamps in kitchens – lamps make a kitchen look and feel so much more like a decorated room. I’m not sure if the deep window space was part of the original house, or if Stan created it during the renovation, but it is certainly the perfect place for a pair of lamps. I wonder if the homeowners turn them on at night?

The June Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles is on newsstands now, and there is an Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles iPad app that has all issues available on the iPad for .99, and a year subscription for $7.99. As of the time of this post, the new issue was not yet on the iPad, but it should be soon.

Another Stan Dixon project was in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles last year, and featured lamps in the kitchen. I wonder whether this homeowner actually keeps them there on a day to day basis – they seem to be placed in a prime countertop area (especially given that there is no kitchen island). Interior design by Nancy Warren, architecture by Stan Dixon, photo credit Emily Followill.

Photographer Emily Followill shoots some of the most beautiful homes in the Southeast, and this one from her web site is no exception. Note the petite lamps on either side of the range – such a pretty touch.

I cam across this picture, attributed to Charlottesville architect Bethany Puopolo. The lamp by the sink, with its dark shade that reflects the dark knobs and light fixture, is a wonderful touch in this kitchen.

A kitchen in a house designed by Peter Block, interiors by Beth Webb. Note the lamps placed in front of the windows. This style of kitchen lends itself well to lamps, as it is long with ample counter space and no overhead cabinets along the wall. The rest of the house can be seen here; via AH&L, photo credit Erica George Dines.

This beautiful kitchen is in a house that is on the market in Atlanta, with architecture by Brad Heppner. Note the glass lamps on the long counter. Again, this is a great kitchen for large lamps because of the long counter with no upper cabinets.

Beautiful kitchen designed by Jackye Lanham features three lamps. I love so many things about this kitchen – the architecture, the tall arched windows that let in so much sunlight, the pewter plates, the lamps – but I always wonder why the stove doesn’t fit in the space!

Large statement lamps are a defining feature of this kitchen, with architecture attributed to McAlpine Tankersley. I have seen this light fixture seems in many kitchens (I believe it is by Dennis & Leen) – it is in one of the pictures above too.

John Saladino’s kitchen featured in his book ‘Villa’ has several delicate candlestick lamps on both sides of the kitchen. Rumor has it that Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi have purchased the house recently – see article here. See Saladino’s book on Amazon here.

Joni Webb’s kitchen (from Cote de Texas) features a charming small lamp that fits neatly under the cabinets, and provides a nice warm glow that is an alternative to undercabinet lights. Note how she has concealed the cord behind a plate.

Another frequently seen place for a lamp is on the island. This beautiful kitchen, with interiors by Michael Siller (via Cote de Texas) has a lamp that is key to the décor of the space. The rest of the house can be seen here.

Often a pair of lamps are a feature on an island; another kitchen featured in AH&L, found on Pinterest – not sure who designer is. Note how there is no overhead lighting (although I have heard that magazines often photoshop out those unsightly can lights!).

Ina Garten’s kitchen features lamps on the 18 foot long island. Note the novel approach to overhead lighting above the island.

I read somewhere that Ina Garten prefers the ambient light of lamps in a kitchen, and also appreciates that they make a kitchen feel more like a room, not a laboratory. This lamp was custom made for her kitchen. Clearly there are no cords (unless they have been photoshopped out), so I assume that they are built into the counter, with the electrical underneath.

After noticing the lamps on Ina Garden’s island, I started noticing other kitchens with this design feature. I suspect that the idea to have lamps on the counter was conceived as the kitchen was created, and there is a hole drilled into the counter for the plug. This beautiful kitchen is by Circa Interiors.

Another beautiful kitchen by Circa Interiors, featuring built in lamps on the island.

A mountain house featured in The Welcoming House has unique lamps on the island that are a central design feature in the space.

I really like everything about this kitchen – it looks like an excellent design for a long kitchen space, and I appreciate how the kitchen is situated in relation to the family room beyond – separate yet connected. Note the side by side double dishwashers in front of the windows, and the sinks on either side. I suspect that the countertop above the dishwashers is a key work area for the kitchen, which means that the lamps are probably not taking up prime working space. The lamps on the island are a beautiful and distinctive design feature of the room, and appear to be used instead of overhead lighting (cans or light fixture). Interior design by Circa Interiors.

I mentioned the new book by Circa Interiors – The Welcoming House – I read it cover to cover last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful houses contained within, as well as the great entertaining and decorating advice. Click here to view on Amazon.

What do you think of lamps in kitchens? Do you have a lamp in your kitchen? I am sold on the idea, if space allows – they are such a charming alternative or addition to can lights or light fixtures if the architecture and space allows for lamps. However, I realize that the architecture and space are a big caveat – putting substantial lamps along a wall in a kitchen requires no overhead cabinets (small lamps are probably better for ambiance rather than a significant light source) and putting lamps on an island requires a large island with ample surface area- the placement is very important, especially since the lamps often must be somewhat built in to avoid pesky cords.

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The design impact of a framed series

2013-05-09T08:29:00.000-04:00

I have always been a big fan of large grouping of framed series, and two rooms at the Atlanta Symphony Show House had dramatic examples of this design element.

The first room, a downstairs office by Courtney Giles, was striking because of the impact of the framed birds in a relatively small size space. Note how the framed birds go all the way to the bottom of the wall. Photo credit Design Indulgence.

The framed sea fans by designer Jimmy Stanton were the defining design element of the upstairs lounge. The designer was in the room when I saw it, and I marveled at how perfectly the frames were hung. Photo credit Jeff Roffman.

I thought I would look through my pinterest and inspiration files to see other examples of large, dramatic framed series. This one caught my eye right away. Source unknown.

A large framed series above a sofa always strikes the right note to me. Via ML Interiors.

Keeping with the botanical theme, this little nook was featured in Elle Décor (via Pinterest). The smaller sized framed botanicals go floor to ceiling, even wrapping around to the adjacent walls.

Interior design by S.R. Gambrel – this is a group of 21. The color of the frames and the colors in the botanicals are ideally suited to the room.

Again, botanicals, which seem to lend themselves perfectly to framed series because of their quiet subject matter. It’s the perfect solution to this space, and a group of 18 makes quite an impact.

This beautiful image, from Tone on Tone (I can’t remember if it is from the store website or Loi’s fantastic Tone on Tone blog) shows a unique and beautiful way to display a framed series of 12 or more.

When crafting this post, I remembered an old image of a kitchen that has always been one of my favorite examples of a framed series. This frames go from ceiling to the floor, and feature mushrooms – a great subject matter for a kitchen! Interior design by Carter Kay Interiors.

Occasionally paintings by the same artist are hung in a grouping, which is always dramatic. Via pinterest, art by Kirra Jamison.

A corporate install of Rana Rochat encaustics (via her website).

This is a recent example of a clever framed series, in the Coastal Living House, interiors by Erika Powell of Urban Grace Interiors.

An old picture from my files - I saved the picture because I thought the framed series above the sofa was beautiful. Interior design by Angele Parlange.

A small scale framed series makes an impact both because of the number of items, and the subject matter. Via pinterest.

I also love the look of a large framed series that is hung symmetrically on either side of an architectural element, as seen in this picture. Via pinterest.

Another example of this style – 7 on each side of the fireplace, in a pleasing arrangement.

In Atlanta designer Lori Tippins’ beautiful home, she knew from the time she started to construct her house that this wall was going to be reserved for a series of framed antique egg prints. Photo credit Emily Followill, via Traditional Home.

When I visited Lori’s home several years ago, I snapped a picture of a large framed series of soldiers that she has displayed in her son’s room.

In my old house, I had a framed series of antique egg prints.

Photographs are sometimes used for a dramatic framed series, often in black and white.

Framed intaglios also make a great subject matter for a large framed series.

A lovely group of 12 framed intaglios is a central design element of the entry of this house, from a local real estate listing.

Of course, no post on a large dramatic group of a framed series can be complete without a look at the iconic dining room by Betty Burgess, graced with over 20 framed intaglios mounted on a lavender mat.

What do you think of a large, dramatic framed series? I love them, and would like to incorporate one in my house somewhere. Although I appreciate original art on the walls, I admire the look and style of a framed series too, and often a framed series is simply more of an interesting choice for a space. It’s also an advantage to be able to custom size an arrangement to a wall or space.

If you have any great examples of framed series, please let me know – I find them very inspiring!

Four beautiful houses–the Peachtree Battle Friends Spring Home Tour

2013-05-06T10:19:00.000-04:00

For those of you in Atlanta (or willing to make the drive into town), a little reminder that this Tuesday May 7th is the Peachtree Battle Friends Spring Home Tour. After a one year hiatus, this wonderful tour is back, and the funds raised go directly to one of my favorite causes, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Although I have not seen the inside of the houses yet, I was given permission to take a few exterior pictures as an enticing preview of the tour. The house information is adapted from the brochure that is available on the day of the tour.

Habersham Road

This charming house was built in 1928, and has had only four owners. The current owners have transformed the traditional cottage into a comfortable family home with a modern edge.

Complimenting the timeless architecture of the home is the owners’ diverse art collection. The collection consists primarily of photography and paintings, and includes many photographs by the owner, photographer Angela West. For the interiors, the homeowners worked with designer Sara Steinfeld to capture their vision for a ‘contemporary cottage’ home. Throughout this artistic home, you will enjoy seeing the homeowners’ eye for beauty through their art collection and all of the home’s details.

A view of the charming bridge at the entry of the property. This property feels like a bit of the county in the middle of Buckhead; the lot encompasses almost two acres and has formal, vegetable, and herb gardens in the outdoor space design. The homeowners use the gardens as an extension of their living space, and spend as much time outdoors as in.

Habersham Road

A few years ago, I took pictures of a house that was on one of my favorite routes for walking my dog. I wrote a blog post about it here - http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2010/09/beautiful-atlanta-renovation.html. It was remarkable for me to see the complete transformation of the house and the lot; Spitzmiller & Norris were the architects who guided the renovation of the exterior in 2009, and aspects of the interior in 2011 (primarily, the conversion of an upstairs sitting porch into an additional bedroom and bathroom, and an excavation and renovation of the basement into a playroom and sitting area, a laundry, bathroom, and wine cellar).

I was delighted to discover that this house will be on the 2013 Peachtree Battle Friends Spring Home Tour, and I am looking forward to seeing the inside!

Here is a quick picture of the house as it appeared last week; the landscaping has grown in beautifully and the house looks wonderful (when I drove by late last week, there was a full crew of landscapers at work, tweaking and perfecting the property in time for the tour!). For the interiors of the house, the homeowners sought to embrace existing features of the home, including the abundant natural light, and incorporate fabrics and furnishings to achieve a fresh but relaxed atmosphere for the family. Walter Mazzatini of Abitato, Inc and Woody Yeomans of Mrs. Howard each provided valuable assistance in helping the family achieve their vision for the interior.

Habersham Way

This classic French style house was built in 1993 and designed by Spitzmiller & Norris; it was designed to emphasize classic symmetry, scale, and timeless detail. In recent years, the house was sold and the new homeowners enlisted Spitzmiller & Norris to update the house for 21st century living and style. The architectural integrity of the design was maintained, and significant updates were made to the kitchen and master bathroom. Beth Ervin of Beth Ervin Interiors was hired to help with finishes and paint colors.

Another significant renovation and addition occurred outside. A large outdoor living area was designed, which includes a saltwater pool, terrace, and pool cabana. Landscape designer Graham Pittman along with Caroline Rolander of Reu Architects worked on the design of the new outdoor spaces.

Rivers Road

This eight year old “English Country Manor” style house was designed by architect Yong Pak, with the goal of being unique to the Haynes Manor neighborhood, but appropriate in scale and design to its neighbors.

A view from further down the driveway reveals the rear neighbor, a residential high rise on Peachtree Road. The design of the house was specifically geared towards creating an intimate environment inside and out that would ‘turn away’ from the high rise. The result is a house that has beautiful scale and sits at ease in its lot and in the neighborhood, but with the majority of the rooms facing a side courtyard with Southern exposure, allowing extensive light throughout the house and a very private feel.

The homeowners are avid collectors of art, and in particular have an affinity for figurative contemporary art. Homeowner Molly Mears co-founded The Art Connection, an art consulting company, and assists clients in furnishing their own homes with art.

I couldn’t resist including this charming view of the entry to the property, which begins with a small bridge flanked by lanterns. The driveway curves up the front entrance, creating a sense of anticipation for what is to come. I am really looking forward to seeing this house (and all of the houses on the tour).

◊

For more information on the tour, please visit http://www.choa.org/hometour. Tickets are available at any of the houses on the day of the tour, for $30 each (all proceeds go the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta). As always, I highly recommend wearing comfortable shoes – several of these houses have classic Atlanta driveways that are steep and require sure footing.

About this Atlanta Charity Event

Please join Peachtree Battle Friends for the annual Peachtree Battle Home Tour Tuesday, May 7, 2013. Patrons will have the pleasure of touring four beautiful homes in the Peachtree Battle neighborhood. This is an event not to be missed.

Peachtree Battle Home Tour

Date:
Tuesday, May 07, 2013 - Tuesday, May 07, 2013
Time:
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location:
Peachtree Battle Neighborhood
Tickets:
$30 per person day of tour purchased at any of the homes.
Our House and Garden Tour locations. Note: You may begin at any of the homes.
2625 Rivers Road, Atlanta, 30305
2897 Habersham Way, Atlanta, 30305
3110 Habersham Road, Atlanta 30305
3198 Habersham Road, Atlanta 30305

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Vignettes from a show house

2013-05-04T14:23:00.000-04:00

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2013/05/vignettes-from-show-house.html

In my final post on the 2013 Atlanta Symphony Show House (part I is here, part II here, part III here), I am going to share some vignettes of the house, taken with both my camera (which was on a strange setting – I couldn’t get it to act properly) and my iphone.

There were many different spaces in this showhouse, all decorated with their own unique flair and style. This post only scratches the surface of the incredible display of talent featured this year. Personally, I appreciate this as there is really no better way to display what is current and fresh than in a show house, particularly one with lovely architectural bones.

The living room, a grand two story space, was expertly designed by Patricia McLean Interiors.

She often includes barometers in her designs – this one is charming.

Another vignette from Patricia McLean’s room – beautiful, and I love how the light was streaming through the windows at the particular time that I took the photo.

Here is a professional photo of the room, taken by Jeff Roffman. The room is so expansive it is impossible to get the whole thing in a photo (there is a beautiful section to the right).

Charming art in the master bathroom, design by Janie Hirsch.

The master bathroom had a groin vault ceiling, and this delicate chandelier was the perfect touch.

A close up view of that beautiful chandelier, in the family stair. This space was decorated by the Mercantile. Note the intricate pattern on the stair rail.

Glamorous hand painted panels in a vibrant shade of orange, a feature of the main stairwell. The inspiration was Kelly Wearsler’s foyer walls in her Beverly Hills home. Design by Bryan Alan Kirkland Designs.

The upstairs hall, which partially overlooked the living room, was beautifully designed by Traci Rhoads Interiors. The live kumquat trees were flown in from California for this space, and are the perfect touch.

Three encaustic pieces, the perfect size and scale for this little wall in the upstairs hall.

A series hung in a vertical display was a theme found in many of the rooms of the show house. This space is a secondary bathroom.

Extremely well done gallery walls were found throughout the house. This vignette is so pleasing to the eye – it’s a work of art in and of itself. The balance of the paintings, accessories, books, and lamp look like a still life. (I’m not sure what room this was in – if you know, please comment).

Another well done vignette, in the child’s room by Clay Snider Interiors.

My camera wasn’t cooperating in this space (an interior bathroom), but I thought that the wall arrangement above the tub was very clever and worth including. Not sure who designed this space….

A room in the showhouse featured an entire wall of framed bird prints – an amazing sight. Design by Courtney Giles, image by Jeff Roffman.

A view of the kitchen, photo credit Jeff Roffman. Design by Natalia Makarova, Karpaty Cabinets.

The terrace level bonus room – created by IKEA, entirely with IKEA products! To the right is a kitchenette space, also done with all IKEA cabinets, counters, and appliances. I was very impressed!

Have you had a chance to go to the Symphony Show House? Do you have a favorite room? If you haven’t visited, you still have time – the Show House is open through May 12. These posts have only shown a small glimpse of a fraction of the many spaces and designs, and I always notice many details when there in person that are not apparent in pictures.

The Atlanta Symphony Show House and Gardens is open through May 12. Tickets are $25, and can be purchased at the door. The house is located at 3495 Old Plantation Road, Atlanta. There is a shuttle service to and from the house, with parking at 3284 Northside Parkway. For more information, please visit www.decoratorshowhouse.org.

Hours:

Tuesday and Wednesday: 10 a.m.-3:30 pm

Thursday: 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m

Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m

Sunday: noon-4:30pm

Closed Mondays.

The Robert Brown designed dining room in the 2013 Atlanta Symphony Show House

2013-05-01T17:59:00.000-04:00

Another space that stayed in my mind days after visiting the 2013 Atlanta Symphony Show House was the dining room created by the talented team at Robert Brown Interior Design (for this room, Robert Brown and Lanah Jackson are credited).

There was a small preview of the space in According to Mr. Brown, the firm’s blog. From According to Mr. Brown: “Like the rest of this 18,000 square foot mansion, the dining room is quite large, but we will bring intimacy to the space by blending colorful artwork with rich fabrics and a very cool antelope-print rug. We plan to offset the formality of the room’s architecture with some distinctive pieces of contemporary furniture, several of which come from my own furniture collection”. (Image via According to Mr. Brown)

And here it is – the dining room picture taken by photographer Jeff Roffman.

A broader view of the room in a picture I took – without a special lens and with the width of the door, it was impossible to get a full shot, but this gives you an idea of the space. I wish I took a picture of the curtains!

I was particularly struck with the wonderful art used in the room. This vignette, on one side of an opening to the center hall, effectively stacks two contemporary pieces. The top piece is by Atlanta based artist Scott Ingram, whose nail polish drawings are very popular with certain Atlanta designers.

The other side of the opening features an equally interesting collection of art. Bob Brown is known for his exceptional eye when it comes to art placement in his designs, and this can be clearly seen in the room as the ASO Show House.

Another vignette that caught my eye was this small sideboard with a striking piece of contemporary art above it.

The chandelier appears to be the Dennis and Leen Queleze chandelier, which measures 40” in diameter and is 52 in overall height, and gives an idea of the scale of the room. I wish I could have taken out a tape measure to check the height of the ceilings, but my guess is 14 feet. This is a beautiful chandelier, and works so well for the space.

The chandelier that the homeowner purchased for the dining room space is equally beautiful – an antique Baccarat design with amethyst rock crystal pendants. As you know, I have an obsession with beautiful chandeliers, and this one is truly exquisite – I would buy it in a heart beat if I could - it would look great in my dining room! When the design team at The Mercantile (Barbara Heath, Tim Green, and Martha Douglas Peyton) saw that it was going to temporarily be taken down from the dining room during the show house, they borrowed it for the family stairway space. It’s wonderful in this space as it can be appreciated from so many vantage points. Photo credit Jeff Roffman.

So, back to the dining room space. What do you think? I love its elegance. I think everything Bob Brown does has such an incredible level of sophistication and nuance. The architectural detail in the room is also exquisite – note the painted paneled walls and the beautiful and intricate molding in the room. What a wonderful backdrop for an extraordinary show house room!

Hours:

Tuesday and Wednesday: 10 a.m.-3:30 pm

Thursday: 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m

Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m

Sunday: noon-4:30pm

Closed Mondays.

A peek inside the 2013 Atlanta Symphony Show House: the Melanie Turner designed master bedroom

2013-04-30T07:32:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite spaces in the 2013 Atlanta Symphony Show House was the master bedroom. The Bill Baker designed house is large in size, at over 18,000 square feet, so the relatively small size (relatively being the key term!) came as a very happy surprise. Personally, I like intimately scaled master bedrooms, so the architecture of this space had great appeal to me.

To get a perspective on where the master bedroom is located in the house, here is a picture of the back of the house, taken by photographer Jeff Roffman. The space on the right where the house extends into the back yard is the master bedroom. It is located on the main floor of the house and the majority of the space appears to be single story with no second floor space above it.

The interior design of the master bedroom is by Melanie Turner, who was the 2012 ADAC Southeast Designer of the Year. Photo credit: Jeff Roffman.

The color palette is neutral and soothing, and the room has a peaceful and soft look and feel. The beautiful Chinoiserie inspired curtains are made with Mary McDonald’s new fabric line for Schumacher (in the blush conch color) and the material was ordered with an 18’ drop. The crane sculptures are a playful nod to the crane in the fabric pattern. (I took the rest of the pictures in the post, including this one)

The settee also features fabric from Mary McDonald’s new designs for Schumacher. One of my favorite design elements in the room was the artfully arranged grouping of Todd Murphy drawings, which are in designer Melanie Turner’s personal collection.

Another special feature in the room was the antique chandelier, fitted with rock crystal pendants. This is also part of Melanie’s personal collection – I remember seeing it in the great room of her Bobby McAlpine designed house, featured in a recent blog post.

A fresh delivery of flowers arrived while I was in the room, and I couldn’t resist taking a quick picture! The alabaster lamps were beautiful and perfect for the room; several people commented on them while I was there.

Although hard to see in the pictures, the delicate hand painted design on the walls echoed some of the elements of the fabric and the room and were a lovely touch. The custom wall painting is by Brian Carter, who was featured in my post about the new Scout Guide.

So, what do you think? This room was one of my favorites in the house, both because of its architecture and design. The room itself faces east (which reminds me of pattern 138 from A Pattern Language - one of my favorite books on architecture) – in which the authors argue that the best orientation for a bedroom is facing the east, so that people can wake with the sun. I also like how the windows are designed; instead of windows on either side of the master bed, there is a distinct area at the end of the room where there is a large window, and two facing windows on either side (another favorite pattern from A Pattern Language – pattern 159, light on two sides) - this room actually has light on three sides. It is a pretty design that distinctly defines that area of the room, provides beautiful natural light from the south, the east, and the north, and provides an expansive view of the back yard.

Hours:

Tuesday and Wednesday: 10 a.m.-3:30 pm

Thursday: 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m

Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m

Sunday: noon-4:30pm

Closed Mondays.

2013 Atlanta Symphony Show House and Gardens

2013-04-26T08:04:00.000-04:00

Part 1: the house
http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2013/04/2013-atlanta-symphony-show-house-and.html
Part 2: the master bedroom -

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2013/04/a-peek-inside-2013-atlanta-symphony.html
Part 3: the dining room
http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2013/05/the-robert-brown-designed-dining-room.html

Photo credit: Jeff Roffman

I had the opportunity to get a sneak preview of the Atlanta Symphony Decorators’ Show House and Gardens last week, and once again it is a marvel to behold! This year’s house an 18,000 square foot house called ‘Tuffeau’, and is a chateau inspired design by residential designer Bill Baker. I always love the Symphony Show House, as it is by far the most ambitious show house of the year, and is a great way to get a feel for what is inspiring the top designers in Atlanta. This year over 40 designers created their vision for the 30 plus spaces in the house and on the grounds, and there is something to appeal to every design enthusiast – the traditional, the transitional, and the contemporary are all represented, with some common themes - bold use of color, amazing art, and well edited collections.

I have been working on a post for days, but finally decided to break it down into a couple of posts – it was getting too long! So, for those of you who subscribe to my blog by email, don’t be surprised to see more frequent posts over the next few days.

Photo credit: Jeff Roffman

Today’s post will be about the house. I have been aware of this house for years, as construction started in 2008, and continued during the timeframe when I was building my house. Over the past few years, I have often driven past this house to check out the progress.

I learned a few months ago that this would be the location for the 2013 Symphony Show House, and have been looking forward to getting a close look at the architecture of the house, both inside and out. Apparently the owner is a gentleman who sourced architectural components for the house from around the world, and used materials for some of the spaces (the kitchen counters, one made out of a beautiful quartz and another made out of a sprayed metal come to mind) that are incredibly rare or very new to the market.

According to the ASO website, this “Buckhead estate…is a grand chateau inspired by the great architecture of France. The house is considered to be one of William T. Baker’s finest works and is a testament to the fine craftsmanship and tasteful detailing characteristic of Baker’s architecture. The house is entirely clad in French limestone and, with its slate roof and zinc dormers, is a faithful interpretation of the great houses found outside Paris. The exciting interiors incorporate architectural antiques such as leaded windows, French paneling, and marble mantles. The wood parquet floors and casement windows with their decorative cremone bolts complete the effect.”

A close up of one of the windows on the front. The final landscaping was still going in when we were waiting to enter the house, which explains the mulch on the path.

A peek at the leaded glass windows in the front of the house. Leaded glass with intricate designs are a feature seen throughout the house. A glimpse of some of the décor inside can be seen.

A view of the stonework on the wings that flank the house. I always love quoins – one of my early blog posts (back in 2007) was about quoins as an architectural element.

A peek of the inside in my next post, featuring the master bedroom by Melanie Turner Interiors.

The Atlanta Symphony Show House and Gardens is open through May 12. Tickets are $25, and can be purchased at the door. The house is located at 3495 Old Plantation Road, Atlanta. There is a shuttle service to and from the house. For more information, please visit www.decoratorshowhouse.org.

Hours:

Tuesday and Wednesday: 10 a.m.-3:30 pm

Thursday: 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m

Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m

Sunday: noon-4:30pm

Closed Mondays.

The Scout Guide Atlanta

2013-04-20T10:12:00.000-04:00

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2013/04/the-scout-guide-atlanta.html

A few weeks ago, when visiting one of my favorite art galleries in Atlanta (Pryor Fine Art), one of the employees of the gallery told me that they had just received early release copies of the premiere issue of the Scout Guide Atlanta, and they let me take one home with me. Pryor Fine Art is featured prominently in the new guide – no surprise as it is one of the best galleries in town.

I had not heard about the Scout Guides (there are Scout Guides for over 25 cities around the US) but my experience with the Atlanta guide has been an excellent introduction. It is full of thick, superb quality, beautifully photographed pages that feature a highly curated group of many of the best shops, artists, and artisans in Atlanta. In a world in which so much is online, it is nice to see so much thought put into a tangible guide that can be used as a reference time and time again.

Page after page of my favorite businesses and design firms in Atlanta are featured, and there are many names that are new to me.

A few days after my introduction to the Scout Guide Atlanta, Christy Ford (one of the founders of the Scout Guide) contacted me to ask if I would be write a guest post on the Scout Guide blog about some of my favorites from the Scout Guide Atlanta. Click here to see my guest post on the Scout Guide blog, or visit http://thescoutguide.com/guest-blogger-things-that-inspire/. I would love it if you come over and read my guest post!

The Scout Guides are available at select venues throughout the cities that are featured; they can also be purchased online through the Scout Guide store.

Finding great art and artists on Pinterest

2013-04-09T18:50:00.000-04:00

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2013/04/an-artist-and-blogger-jenny-andrews.html

I am really into art these days. My art board on Pinterest is one of my favorite places right now – I am always inspired by art and color and how art is selected for and placed in a room.

I credit Pinterest for providing such an amazing source of inspiration for new (to me) artists. Pinterest is a visual feast and it is truly amazing to be exposed to so many images I never would have seen. Although I love looking at design, architecture, and food pins – it is the art pins that cause me to spend so much time on Pinterest. I particularly like it when I find an artist, then find their Pinterest page, then get a peek into what inspires them – whether it be other artists, colors, landscapes, fashion…

The very nature of Pinterest sometimes makes it a challenge to determine an artist’s name when I see a painting in the context of a room. When an image is featured in a magazine and even in a blog, the sources are usually identified (magazine, blog, designer, photographer, products). Much of the time, the trail is cold in Pinterest, when the image is completely separated from its source. However, for someone like me who likes to research and connect the dots, it is often a fun challenge to find something that has caught my eye on Pinterest.

Case in point: I saw this lovely room featured in a pin. I have also discovered that I have a major lavender obsession going on, and this painting, with its bright colors and splash of lavender, really caught my eye. Through the source of the pin, I learned that the room is the work of designer and blogger Jamie Meares, who writes I Suwanee. The rest of the house is just as fresh and youthful as this room; click here to see the blog post.

After emailing Jamie, I found that the painting was done by Atlanta blogger, Jenny Andrews Anderson of My Favorite and My Best. I have read her blog for years now, and was aware that she was painting, but was truly impressed and inspired with the beauty of her work and the development of her technique.

I contacted Jenny and asked her more about her work, when she started painting, and what her inspirations are. Her words (in italics) are interspersed with some of my favorite images of her art, both from her tumblr page and from client installations.

The first painting Jenny sold to a client

i have been drawing most of my life, but painting was never something i got into beyond high school because the idea of paints and buying paints and brushes intimidated me. i didn't know where to begin. i really enjoyed all of my art classes in school and was pretty good, but i found that being literal or figurative wasn't something i connected with. i guess i hadn't found my medium. once i started painting abstract i connected with it right away.

having the blog helped in that i had an instant audience and clientele. most of my readers are into interiors and art and just pretty things in general.

i paint in my dining room. mostly on the dining room table, but for bigger pieces i lean them against the wall and paint sitting down. i would love a studio. and a whole lot more paints and brushes! but for now, the dining room it is. ideally i'd love an out building to paint in, nothing away from home.

in terms of inspiration i sort of draw on that everywhere. i am inspired by what's in front of my eyes. i am inspired by how i feel, what i watch, what the weather is like...basically i draw inspiration from all around. also, pinterest is my best friend. i have a board titled 'color' that i refer to all the time for inspiration.

a lot of people ask what type of medium i use...that answer is varied. i experiment all the time- brushes and my fingers are the most used tools. but i also use scissors and serrated knives. for paints i use acrylic, gouache, oils, oil stick, charcoal...and i use them all together, usually. i love painting on paper. i recently painted a piece called "nectar head" on cardboard and found it to be a very easy surface to paint on.

my process is pretty simple...

i get some color ideas in my head, colors i want to see together...and i just start applying, wiping, smearing them and shapes take hold...i don't have a composition in mind or a story. those come pretty organically.

once i see the story unfold i just keep going where it takes me. that sounds totally hokey but it's so so true.

my goal is to move the story forward. i like to push the boundaries of weirdness and craziness. i don't take myself seriously at. all. like at all, at all. i don't take my paintings too seriously either. they are meant to bring a sense of wit and nostalgia, in some way, hopefully. i'd like to think that my paintings are like wes anderson movies. i think that his shot selections are the stars of his films. they are used to such great effect in such a singular, small moment. i'd like to think my paintings do something similar”.

Here are some more images of her art that caught my eye….

Jenny’s art (the large painting) is featured over the mantel. How gratifying it must be to have her art already in a published magazine spread! Style at Home Magazine

This bedroom is so pretty – and Jenny’s art is certainly the perfect touch for the space.

One of Jenny’s paintings at a client’s house.

This work on paper caught my eye – I am really into works on paper these days. I think they add an interesting and sophisticated element to a mix of art in a house, and often have a lighter touch than works on canvas.

This is a great nursery- it will easily make the transition from baby to child to teen, and I think that Jenny’s art will be a feature of the room for many years to come.

I have been admiring this painting in Jenny’s etsy shop – it’s really beautiful, so soft and luminous.

I hope you enjoyed this feature on the art of Jenny Andrews Anderson. Here is where you can find her:

Jenny’s etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JennyAndrewsAnderson

Portfolio of her work:

http://mfamb.tumblr.com

Jenny’s blog:

http://www.myfavoriteandmybest.com/

What about you – are there any artists whose work you love, or whose work you have discovered on pinterest or on blogs? Please post names or links – I am always interested in learning about new artists. Are you an artist who uses social media to expand your client base? I would love to hear about it! It seems like a very good time to be an emerging artist with talent and vision – there are so many ways to reach an audience in this day and age. (Email subscribers, comments can be made on the blog by clicking here).

A beautiful kitchen seating area featuring framed agates

2013-03-27T09:41:00.000-04:00

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2013/03/a-beautiful-kitchen-seating-area.html

I have sold quite a few beautiful custom items to customers around the country, and I love it when my customers send me a picture of their purchases hung in their home or their client's home.

In the fall, designer Caroline Beall Brackett of CBB Interiors contacted me about the purchase of a set of nine framed agates, and sent me a sketch of a kitchen eating area that was currently being constructed at a client’s site. We had a wonderful set of medium sized agates in stock at the time, teal in tone, and she felt they would be perfect for the space.

Here is the end result – Caroline’s camera battery died when she got to the client site, so these are iphone snapshots of the newly designed space. (More information on CBB Interiors later in the post)

Isn't this a beautiful space? The designers at CBB Interiors are so talented. I particularly love the unique element that the framed agates give to the space. Every group of agates is unique; they are creations of nature, and are one of a kind. This is what makes them so special.

We currently have a new batch of large framed agates in the store, and the frame is larger due to the fact that this particular group of agates are large (14”x18” outer measurement of the frame). This new grouping is beautiful – the agates are particularly wonderful, and have a vivid sapphire tone.

Update: all of the framed agates have sold. We will have a new group of framed agates ready in a few weeks; if you would like to be notified when the new group is framed, please email quatrefoildesign@gmail.com

To see the framed agates currently available, please visit http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/category/agates

Sold/Sold/Sold

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Caroline Beall Brackett has a full service interior design firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her firm’s work has been featured in Cottage Style Magazine and HGTV Magazine. Here are a few examples of her work, from her lovely website, http://www.cbb-interiors.com:

Images from CBB Interiors, http://www.cbb-interiors.com/

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If you are a past (or future!) customer of Quatrefoil Design, I would love to see images of Quatrefoil Design products installed in their new home! I will be featuring the work of Quatrefoil Design customers on my blog on occasion throughout the year.

Quatrefoil Design specializes in original art and custom framed items, with a focus on framed antique prints, custom designed intaglios, and framed agates. We can also custom frame any item to a customer’s specification.

To see our offerings, please visit www.quatrefoildesign.com. Questions? Please email quatrefoildesign@gmail.com.

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Five beautiful houses: Inspiration in Brookwood Hills–2013 Home Tour

2013-03-20T07:06:00.000-04:00

There is a wonderful tour of homes this Saturday (March 23, 2013), taking place in one of Atlanta's most charming neighborhoods, Brookwood Hills. The theme of this year's tour is inspiration, and I was invited to be on the ‘expert panel’ that had the opportunity to preview the houses and provide reflections and observations on the five houses featured on the tour.

I don't write about Brookwood Hills very often, as it is not on my beaten path (it is wonderfully located in Buckhead, but is fairly private because it is a completely self contained neighborhood). However, it is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Atlanta, with many older homes built in the 1920s - 1940s that have been meticulously maintained, and newer homes that are built to suit the eclectic character of the neighborhood.

I love this description of Brookwood Hills, from Buckhead.org:

Large Mediterranean, Georgian, Colonial and Tudor homes line streets shaded by towering oaks 100 years old. Lush ivy on walls and in beds keeps the area green even in winter. Lots tend to be small, often less than one-half acre, with homes set near the street, but the landscaping is lush and gardens are carefully maintained. Sidewalks and absence of traffic encourage walkers, joggers, bicyclists and impromptu street games. (Source)

The Home Tour takes place this Saturday, March 23rd, from 10 am to 4 pm. Tickets are $30 each, and proceeds benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Tickets can be purchased online through the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta website:

http://www.choa.org/Support-Childrens/Events/Brookwood-Hills-Home-Tour

Or, tickets can be purchased at any of the houses on tour (on the day of the tour).

Here is a sneak preview of the houses...

This low country style home, designed by architect Jack Davis, was built in 2006. The charming exterior (built with hand crafted bricks) and the large, peaceful lot inspired the current homeowners to make their second intra-neighborhood move. The wife, an interior designer, worked with architect and Brookwood Hills resident Stan Dixon to reshape the interiors to reflect the family’s personality.

The most dramatic aspect of the redesign came from reconfiguring the kitchen layout and adding new windows to bring in natural light. A new lighter and brighter color scheme was introduced, reflected in the painted cabinets (which were recycled from the previous kitchen design), the marble countertop on the island, and the stunning mosaic tile backsplash.

Throughout several areas of the house, wood beams and shiplap paneling were added to create a more casually elegant feel. Unique light fixtures are clearly a hallmark of the home décor, bringing charm and style to the spaces. Another highlight is the homeowners’ extensive art collection, built over time with a focus on what they love rather than simply for investment purposes. All this comes together to reflect the family’s style in a highly personal way.

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This charming, architecturally significant house was built in 1926 in the Tudor Revival style. So appealing is the exterior that it was listed as one of Atlanta’s top 10 homes in 1988. When the current homeowners purchased the house in 2006, they began a year long renovation in order to lovingly restore the home to its original beauty. Some of the original features were restored, including the cedar shake on the exterior, the walled garden, and the fireplace in the living room (the original mantel was found in the basement and was reinstalled). Many of the original windows are still in place, with their characteristic wavy leaded glass, so reflective of the time in which the house was built.

The most significantly updated element of the home is the kitchen, situated in the center of the house. The custom cabinetry and furniture in the kitchen were designed by Cb Miles and fabricated from a single rare Rosewood tree.

The homeowners have a passion for collecting and have a discerning eye for fine and unusual furniture and art. The resulting décor is highly personal, marvelously curated, and a beautiful reflection of the passions and interests of the homeowners. The combination of the classic and traditional architecture, and the eclectic and modern interior shows that the old and the new can be juxtaposed and even blended beautifully in modern day life.

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Built in 1931, this bungalow style residence was the childhood home of a current Brookwood Hills neighbor and has been remodeled three times. The most recent renovation was completed in 2009 by Paula and Glenn Wallace, president/co-founder and senior vice president (respectively) of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). The home features works by more than 50 talented SCAD artists, both alumni and current students.

The Wallaces personally redesigned the current interior, which includes a curated mix of European and American antiques and contemporary art, accented by a luxurious assortment of textiles from around the world.

While they refurbished much of the original kitchen cabinetry and millwork, the updated look is a superb complement to the home’s original character. During the recent renovation, the most significant structural change was the addition of a beautiful screened-in veranda that features slate floors. Antique wooden angel wings that flank the outdoor fireplace, another highlight of the space. Many of the items throughout the house were imported from France, including a set of vintage French dining chairs with original leather seats that came from L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.

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This 1920’s house was renovated in 2011 in order to meet the changing needs of a growing family. Architect Stan Dixon (also a Brookwood Hills resident) worked with the homeowners to create a design to update the spaces and make the house more functional for the family.

One of the highlights of the renovation is the kitchen, which was enlarged to create a magnificent light-filled space that is truly the heart of the house, and has ample room for a family of six. The design is beautiful, with gray and white marble countertops, a solid slab marble backsplash, and white custom cabinetry accented with dark knobs and handles.

A new screened porch with fireplace was added, which has become a favorite space for both entertaining and family time. The flow of the house was dramatically improved by creating a hall that connects the family room to the kitchen (eliminating the need to pass through the formal dining room en route to the kitchen). In addition, an exquisitely designed stairwell with a wall of windows was added to provide better access to the existing basement space.

The homeowner also redesigned the interiors during the renovation, working with designer Lauren DeLoach. The foundational elements of the rooms are soothing and neutral, with punches of the homeowner’s favorite colors: orange in the living room, green in the family room, blue in the dining room and kitchen. The neutral base allows the rooms to flow beautifully from one to another, and the unique colors give the rooms personality and individuality. This Brookwood Hills home has style and functionality that will endure for generations to come.

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This house is the quintessential classic Brookwood Hills home. Designed by one of Atlanta’s most renowned architects of the 20th century, Francis Palmer Smith (the architect of the Cathedral of St. Philip), this house has only been lived in by three families since it was built in 1924. The curb appeal of the house is storybook perfect, with its classic lines, great architectural beauty, and perfect scale for the lot and neighborhood.

The interiors of this home, primarily designed when the owner purchased the house in the early 1970s, have remained timeless and reflect the trend of bright décor that is once again in vogue today. Additions to the décor have been accumulated through the years and hold rich and dear family memories. The piano in the front hall and the sparkling crystal chandelier in the dining room are particular sentimental favorites.

A walk through this home poignantly reflects the way in which a charming Brookwood Hills house is full of memories, and is lived in, loved, preserved, and cherished through the years.

(As a side note, this house is featured in a new book on the architecture of Francis Palmer Smith – click here to see on Amazon).

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http://www.choa.org/Support-Childrens/Events/Brookwood-Hills-Home-Tour

Or, tickets can be purchased at any of the houses on tour (on the day of the tour, March 23).

On the market: the house with the iconic Jackye Lanham Southern Accents cover

2013-03-19T09:09:00.000-04:00

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2013/03/on-market-house-with-iconic-jackye.html

We had a beautiful weekend in Atlanta, so I took my dog on a long walk in one of my favorite areas of Buckhead, Haynes Manor. Spring is the selling season for Atlanta real estate, and this spring seems to have brought out many sellers that have been on the sidelines due to the weak real estate market in recent years. Although I can’t say this with any authority, based on my observations and things I have heard, the real estate market seems to be on much stronger footing these days in Atlanta, and there are many wonderful homes on the market this spring.

I walked by a house on one of my favorite streets, and made a mental note to check the real estate listing when I got home. Later, when I perused the pictures on the real estate listing, I had a small shock of recognition – the bedroom from the house was one of designer Jackye Lanham’s most recognizable rooms, and was on the cover of Southern Accents in January-February 2006 (I initially thought it had been in Veranda, but after looking through my stack of old Southern Accents, I quickly found it).

Unfortunately, I had ripped out many of the pages from the article, but based on what remained in my magazine, the interiors of the house are virtually unchanged from the way they appeared in the article.

Here is the cover of the Southern Accents issue…

And here is a picture from the real estate listing. It is wonderful to see the rest of the room – the display above and around the chest on the wall is charming, and (to me) classic Jackye Lanham – there is no one better at the art of the wall arrangement – especially when plates are involved!

A view from the other side of the room. I love the scale of this room, and the combination of soft colors and textures.

A wider view of the bedroom, from Southern Accents, shows that very little has changed in this room through the years. Baskets are on the nightstand in the magazine image, perhaps a nod to styling the space for the magazine, and the items on the corner shelf might be a bit different but other than that – the bedding, the curtains, the pillows, the lamps (although the charming blue shade from the photo shoot appears to be swapped out – or maybe the photo shoot image was color enhanced) – all are the same. And of course, the intaglios are still there – the intaglios are what ‘makes’ the room, in my humble opinion. The seem to be mounted on a custom fabric.

Of course, I have a fondness for framed intaglios (and have a wonderful selection available in my online store, Quatrefoil Design, and can custom design to any specification).

A view of the entry, from the real estate listing, also shows designer Jackye Lanham’s skill at wall arrangements (again, with plates and framed items, a great combination).

The dining room, according to the article, was designed with maximum furniture flexibility (and no chandelier to support even greater flexibility in furniture arrangement); apparently it is also a main passageway in the house as well as a dining room.

The bar caught my eye, with its lovely shaped stone backsplash, wall mounted faucet, skirt under the sink, and of course the masterful arrangement of paintings and illustrations.

A long view of the room that contains the recessed bar – it appears to be a sunroom. I remember this from the magazine, although this is one of the pages that I ripped out (perhaps because the bedroom was on the other side of the page).

A cozy library with beautiful library lights. I wonder what is over the door? The architectural detail above the door is beautiful.

A traditional living room, which appears to be virtually identical to the way in which it appeared in the magazine article (although, I only have half of the living room spread, as one of the pages was ripped out).

The kitchen, while updated, stays true to the roots of the original 1930s house. Apparently it had been remodeled by previous owners to open to the family room, but the current owners closed it off a bit in order to capture more wall space, and kept an ‘I Love Lucy’ opening to the family room.

And here is the charming exterior of the house( built in the 1930s), that is listed by Bonneau Ansley of Harry Norman. The Southern Accents article title is ‘Cottage Charm’, although the article notes that looks can be deceptive – the house actually has around 5,600 square feet (the house has a finished basement). Click here to see the listing – but hurry, as the house is under contract!

The current homeowners noted that the expansive yard was part of the appeal of the property – it is beautiful with a rolling green lawn and a charming playhouse is the perfect touch.

For more recent examples of Jackye Lanham’s work, please visit her website: http://www.jackyelanham.com/

I hope you enjoyed this small glimpse inside a former Southern Accents cover house! Do you have a favorite room? Mine is still the bedroom…there is a reason that it has become one of those iconic images in the design world.

One of a kind Atlanta antique sale II

2013-03-16T08:27:00.001-04:00

Just a quick note to let you know about a wonderful antique show going on this weekend, at the Buckhead home of New Orleans antique dealer Mignon Topping.

A picture of Mignon’s house, from her last sale (which I wrote about here). The house is located in the heart of Buckhead, at the corner of Argonne and Arden.

I did not have a chance to go over and get a sneak preview this time, but Mignon send me a few iphone photos.

In addition to antiques, Mignon always has a great selection of contemporary art too.

Hope you get a chance to go by and see what she has for sale this time – she is always on the lookout for the most beautiful things, which she brings all under one roof during her legendary sales.

Have a great weekend!

Antique French Documents

2013-03-10T17:19:00.000-04:00

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2013/03/antique-french-documents.html

I have always had a love for framed series, so when I saw this framed series in Veranda a few years ago, it caught my eye.

From Veranda, Nov/Dec 2010, via Cote de Texas, image source

A series of original antique French documents, framed beautifully in black with a bit of gold leaf on the inner lip of the frame. There is something so fascinating to me about the script, written by hand hundreds of years ago, preserved through the years.

Original antique French documents are hard to find, so I don’t see them very often. However, I currently have a set of six available in the Quatrefoil Design store. The documents are antiques, circa 1816, so they are one of a kind and totally unique. They are custom framed in a hand carved, rounded edge frame with a bit of silver leaf on the inner lip of the frame. The outer measurement of the frame is 13 1/2” x 17”.

I – priced at $425 (click here for store item)

II – priced at $425 (click here for store item)

III – priced at $425 (click here for store item)

IV – priced at $425 (click here for store item)

V – priced at $425 (click here for store item)

VI – priced at $425 (click here for store item)

They would look wonderful hung as a series! Note: the frame and matting is identical in all of the framed documents, but the lighting of the photography makes them look a bit different. They were framed to be hung as a series, and are very consistent in real life.

Here is a set of antique French documents that I had custom framed and finished in the signature Quatrefoil Design ‘gilver’ leaf (a warm silvery-gold). These sold to a designer back in 2010 (blog post on documents can be found here).

I have a large collection of unframed antique French documents also available, which we can custom frame to your specifications. Please visit the Antique French Documents section of the Quatrefoil Design store for more information.

Visit my ‘Art’ pinterest page for more inspirational ideas about hanging framed series.

Studies and libraries–what’s the difference?

2013-03-05T13:13:00.000-05:00

To see blog post with full scale pictures, please visit
http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2013/03/studies-and-librarieswhats-difference.html

As I perused pinterest recently, I came across many category boards called ‘den/study/library’. Sometimes the term sitting room was thrown in the mix. Perhaps because of my background as an English major, and my interest in words in general, I think it is fascinating to see how architects/designers/homeowners label the rooms in houses. In the end, I suspect it’s part function, part inspiration, and part aspiration.

Several things came to mind when thinking about this subject. During my teenage years, I lived in a contemporary style house in Connecticut, and the room that we used most frequently (in truth, it was the room my mother spent most of her time in) was called ‘the den’. This room was cozy, with a sectional that wrapped around the room, and had a wood burning fireplace that was lit every night during the fall and winter. It was a room for reading (although not a place where books were stored), a room for watching TV; however, it was more the TV that the adults watched, and the room was primarily used by my parents (really, my mother). To me, this is a den – a casual, informal room for the family, whose purpose is relaxation and entertainment.

But what’s the difference between a study, a library, and a sitting room? Is it just nomenclature, or is there a functional difference? I started paying attention to the labels that were attached to some of the rooms that I have long admired, and have put in my own ‘libraries/offices’ board on Pinterest.

Wikipedia defines a study as “a room in a house which is used for paperwork, computer work, or reading. Historically, the study of a house was reserved for use as the private office and reading room of a family father as the formal head of a household, but today studies are generally either used to operate a home business or else open to the whole family. A typical study might contain a desk, chair, computer, a desk lamp or two, and bookshelves”.

There was a room in the 2012 Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Christmas House that had great appeal to me – it was called ‘The Gentleman’s Study’ and was designed by Birmingham, Alabama based designer Tammy Connor. The room was accessed through a door on the far side of the entry, and the space itself was on the other side of the entry wall. It felt tucked away and private, and the warm color scheme (Farrow & Ball olive) made it feel cozy and luxurious.

Here is a picture of the room, from AH&L, interior design by Tammy Connor, photography by Emily Followill. The desk is beautiful, a vintage piece from Parc Monceau Antiques.

On the other side of the room was a niche with a chest and a striking starburst clock.

Here is a wider view of the room, from Tammy Connor’s blog; I couldn’t remember if there was a sofa or a chair on the far wall, and this picture answers the question! The lantern used in the room, as well as the grasscloth wallpaper on the ceiling, can be seen in this image.

Also from Tammy’s blog, this vignette from the 4th wall of the room. There are a few books here, but this is not a bookshelf. Please visit Tammy’s blog for a behind the scenes perspective on the design process for the room, and the source for most of the items that went into the room.

To me, this is a great representation of a room that is a study – it’s a place in the house that is more like an office, a private space more geared towards an individual’s use. It’s not a room that is devoted to entertaining others.

In the 2010 AH&L Christmas House, there was a room called the ‘multipurpose retreat’, with design by Amy Morris. I love the terminology, but if this room was part of everyday living, the owner certainly would not call it this (let’s go sit in the multipurpose retreat, shall we? ).

So what would you call this room if it were in your house? Although there are freestanding bookshelves in here, their purpose is decorative. To me, this is more of a study, due to the presence of the desk and the absence of a TV. Upon further reflection, I might be inclined to call it a sitting room, due to the numerous (and luxurious) seating options available. Via Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, image source.

Sitting room/study comes to mind when seeing this room, which is in designer Suzanne Kasler’s home – and ‘master sitting room’ is how it is labeled in Architectural Digest. This room is actually part of the master suite – it is a separate room, an outer room to the master bedroom. It is definitely a private room of the house, due to its location in the house – however, the desk lends it an air of a study as well.

This room is called the ‘paneled study’ in the AH&L article that featured it; the interior designer, Betty Burgess (no website!), notes it is the darkest room in the house, and used the vibrant royal blue as a ‘pop’. I really love this room – it serves all sorts of purposes: bar ( as seen to the left of the fireplace), sitting room, decorative library. The desk is one of my favorite parts. It’s definitely a public room in the house, based on its location off the entry, but it also seems like a cozy and private sanctuary. This house has sold since it was published, and I would love to see how the new owners are living in it…

Now, on to libraries. I found some interesting examples of English libraries when looking into this subject, and realized that the nomenclature for rooms in old English houses was very much tied up with social status and position (Jane Austen was a master at knowing which was which, and the rooms that her characters possessed and the associated names of the rooms said a lot about the characters and their relative position in the social hierarchy).

According to dictionary.com, a library is defined as “a place set apart to contain books, periodicals, and other material for reading, viewing, listening,study, or reference, as a room, set of rooms, or building where books may be read or borrowed”. To me, a home library is a room whose design, purpose, and function is devoted to books first and foremost, with built in bookcases that grant permanence and prominence to the placement of books in the room. Personally, I like a home library to be filled with books that have meaning to the home owners – books that reflect the owners’ interests and hobbies. Home libraries should serve as a place to both store the books and enjoy them.

When I think ‘library’, I think about the beautiful long library in Bleinheim Palace. I saw this house in 1997, at it made such an impression on me. It houses 10,000 books, and was designed to be a picture gallery as well as a library. On one end is a magnificent organ. It reminds me a bit of the library in Beauty and the Beast.

Perhaps more typical of an English library is this one from Dunrobin Castle in Scotland. With its warm paneled walls and shelves lined with old books,a desk and a fireplace flanked by two chairs, even a globe, this room seems designed for work, study, and contemplation.

And of course, a new favorite English library is the one at Highclere Castle, where the series Downton Abbey is filmed. In the series, this room is used for the Earl’s business meetings, and is also used by the family for more intimate family gatherings before and after lunch and dinner (I don’t recall ever seeing anyone actually read a book in here!). Apparently this library houses over 5,000 books collected by the family over the generations, some of which date to the 16th century.

Looking at modern day American examples of rooms that are designated as libraries, if one were to judge from the leading shelter magazines, the home library is alive and well. Some might say that the printed word is on the way out, but based on these lovely examples and my own experience, I think there is still a strong link to books and the places in which they are stored.

Architectural Digest has an interesting feature on the ‘Stunning Home Libraries’, and notes that a home library is a “window to the mind – and style – of the owner”. All of the rooms have the common thread of many books – all of them in built in bookcases, creating a beautiful backdrop to the room. However, the rooms often function in other ways – as dining rooms, studies, offices, living rooms. So it seems that the term library has become fairly broad in American architecture in the 20th and 21st century.

Here are some of my favorite examples of rooms designated as ‘libraries’.

These days, it seems like the presence of bookshelves filled with books seems to define a library versus a study. A Suzanne Kasler designed room is off the main entry, but is also tucked away and clearly designated as a more private space. The books are beautiful, but clearly they are for decorative purposes and probably are not read (I would even hazard a guess that they are written in Swedish, as many of the antique leather books sourced in Atlanta seem to be from Sweden). Image via Veranda.

I saw this library on the Peak of Chic – it is in the Paris apartment of Jansen president Pierre Delbee. This is just one small vignette from a decent sized room (for a city apartment); the rest of the room can be seen on the Peak of Chic. The ambience and décor of this space seems quintessential library to me.

I am not sure where this picture came from, but to me this is a great example of a library done on an intimate scale. The room contains beautiful books, a few individual chairs designed for great comfort, special and specific lighting (reading lamps, library lights, and a pretty chandelier) as well as an antique desk. The animal print rug brings it all together. Perfection. It seems to be a ‘dead end’ room, with only one point of entry, but this works well for the intent and purpose of the room.

A close up shot of the same rooms shows the charming lamp on the desk, and a gallery wall of art.

A gorgeous library (interior design by Miles Redd) in author and Veranda contributing editor Danielle Rollins’ house. This room is actually upstairs – on the right of the picture, a desk can be seen, and this room is also used as Danielle’s office. I recently had the opportunity to see this room when the house was on a home tour – I had a private behind the scenes tour as the upstairs was not open for viewing, and this room was full of projects and inspiration boards – a room that is truly used day in, day out. I also love that the books seem to be ‘real’ books – design, architecture, landscape, fiction, and non-fiction books that have been collected and read through the years.

Here is the other side of the room, where the desk can be seen clearly.

Danielle’s house actually has two libraries - the downstairs library is off the foyer. Again, note that the books seem to be real books, not collections of leather bound editions selected for looks.

There is an antique console that can used as a desk, but based on the objects decorating the surface is used more as a place to display pretty items. Interiors by Miles Redd.

There are countless examples of beautiful home libraries, and when researching this post, I have enjoyed perusing the web site Beautiful Libraries (http://www.beautiful-libraries.com) for ideas and inspiration.

As proof that the home library is still alive and well, Joni Webb from Cote de Texas recently profiled the conversion of her home office to a library…

Here is the end result (as profiled on http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-remodeled-library-finally.html). To me, this is truly a library, as the purpose of the room is a place to keep her extensive collection of design books, as well as a peaceful retreat. It is a beautiful and functional space now – a place to hold all of her design books, which in her line of work (designer and blogger extraordinaire) are essential to providing information and inspiration.

This is one of those times that the original intent of my post morphed into something else entirely – in fact, I ended up removing my original pictures and putting them in the beginning of another post! However, the idea of how rooms are defined, what they are called, and how they are used is an interesting one to me, and I often ask people how they use their rooms and what they call their rooms when I see a house.

What are your thoughts? Do you have a study or a home library, and what do you call the rooms where you (or your clients) read, store books, or work? I would love to read your thoughts! Email subscribers, please click here to comment.

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An evening at architect Norman Askins' Italian Villa

2013-02-21T12:42:00.000-05:00

To see full blog post with large scale pictures, please visit
http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2013/02/an-evening-at-architect-norman-askins.html

The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art (ICAA) Southeast and Joane and Norman Askins hosted a wonderful evening last fall to celebrate the publication of architect Gil Schafer’s new book, The Great American House.

In addition to the wide array of lectures and educational opportunities that the ICAA-SE offers to its members, the ICAA-SE will be hosting members only events at notable houses around Atlanta. This clearly has great appeal to members like me, who are architecture, art, and design aficionados and enjoy seeing first hand some of the privately owned architectural gems in this city.

Last year was the beginning of this quarterly series, and there were several amazing events – the cocktail reception for Gil Schafer at Norman Askins’ house (featured in this post), a Bobby McAlpine lecture at a house he designed, a cocktail party at a magnificent and historic 1920s estate in Buckhead (with comments by the architect and landscape designer who worked on the renovation). More ICAA-SE members only events are planned for this year – later in the post I will link to the membership page of the ICAA-SE for those who are interested in joining.

But first, a glimpse into the wonderful event last fall at Norman Askins’ house.

On a beautiful fall evening, Joane and Norman Askins’ lovely Italian style villa was the setting for an ICAA-SE sponsored cocktail party celebrating architect Gil Schafer’s new book, The Great American House. Mr. Askins (pictured above, greeting guests as they arrived) is one of Atlanta’s most treasured architects, and continues the great architectural legacy of the most revered classicist architects from Atlanta’s past. His own house is exquisite, and the perfect setting for an event that featured another architect (Gil Schafer) who continues the tradition of classical architecture in America.

The Askins’ villa is beautifully placed in its environs, rising on a crest above the street. Although the house is only 10 years old, it is so perfectly at home in its surroundings that it appears to have been there for generations.

A picture from Norman Davenport Askins Architect website shows another view of the house, perhaps when it was only a few years old – the creeping fig and the landscape design had just started to take root.

The evening began with a cocktail hour in the Askins’ charming walled garden in the back. When you are in the garden, it is truly easy to forget that you are in Atlanta! Although it is hard to see in this picture, there is a beautiful fountain in the center of the garden.

A view of the garden from above – as the sun set, the twinkling white lights in the trees looked beautiful.

Chairs were set along the edge and in the loggia, ready for the presentation by architect Gil Schafer.

Mr. Schafer signed copies of his new book The Great American House before he spoke to the group.

The sun had set by the time Mr. Schafer spoke. It was not a prepared lecture, but rather an informal question and answer time with the rapt audience. Mr. Schafer spoke of his childhood influences (which include his grandparents pink plantation in South Georgia), and what inspired him to write the book.

There was an elegant buffet set up in the dining room. The table was covered with a beautiful tapestry, and candles lit the room from all around.

A picture of the Askins’ dining room from Norman Davenport Askins Architect website shows the other side of the room, and the items collected from a lifetime of travels.

The passageway between the dining room and the living room features an interesting antique – I can’t remember what it is, although I know someone told me! Note the groin vault ceiling and the gorgeous lantern. Photo from Norman Davenport Askins website.

The living room was soon full of people, but this is as it appeared before the party got started.

A professional picture of the same room. The rich colors and beautiful textiles make the room very warm and welcoming. Photo from Norman Davenport Askins website.

The seating area near the fireplace, on the other side of the room. Photo from Norman Davenport Askins website.

I couldn’t resist including a picture of the kitchen. As the room is separately defined from the main rooms of the house, it was not on the path of the party (the caterers were set up in here), but it is so charming and European that I thought my readers would enjoy seeing it. I always love seeing a narrow European style kitchen table in the heart of a kitchen. Photo from Norman Davenport Askins website.

The breakfast room/sunroom. Photo from Norman Davenport Askins website.

The powder room is very special. Photo from Norman Davenport Askins website.

Many thanks to the wonderful hosts of the evening, Joane and Norman Askins. Norman’s firm’s website can be seen here - http://www.normanaskins.com/ – it is full of many beautiful and inspiring projects that his firm has completed over the years.

Many thanks to architect Gil Schafer, for writing such an inspirational book and giving his rapt audience an insider’s look into the process of writing the book and some of the houses featured in the book.

And finally, thank you to the ICAA-SE and the sponsors of the evening, who made the event possible: Design Lighting Group, Soiree Catering, Parc Monceau, Ludowici Roof Tile, Vintage Lumber, and Custom Artisan Group.

To purchase Gil Schafer’s new book, please visit the Amazon page. It is a wonderful book (Bunny Williams wrote the foreword), and is full of incredible pictures of many of Mr. Schafer’s projects, and details the thought behind the design or restoration of the houses, the landscape, and their interiors. The book is divided into two parts – the first part covering the philosophy of Mr. Schafer’s approach to architecture, landscape, and interiors, and the second part covering four specific houses (including their floor plans and a detailed story of each house).

As an added bonus, many of the houses are decorated by some of the most well known interior designers in the industry (Miles Redd, Michael Smith, David Netto to mention a few), as well as nationally recognized landscape architects. Each project is different, and the book beautifully discusses the unique process that makes each house a home. I particularly appreciate the floorplans of the houses, which helps me fully understand how the houses flow.

I purchased the book as soon as it was published last fall, and read it cover to cover the day I received it. I highly, highly recommend it. When writing this post, I pulled it out and read it again – it is an exceptional architecture and design book. Click here to see on Amazon, and read some of the reviews (I loved Penelope Bianchi’s review).

To join the ICAA-Southeast, please visit http://www.classicist-se.org/membership.html. To see the chapters all over the country, please visit http://www.classicist.org/membership-and-chapters/. Individual membership is $75 a year, and is fully tax deductible.

Party photos by Tom Carpenter, used with persmission.

Spotlight on Art: 2013 Artists Market

2013-02-05T17:17:00.000-05:00

My favorite Atlanta art event began yesterday, and continues through this week (February 5-9, 2013). The 'Spotlight on Art' Artists Market is my ideal kind of place- thousands of paintings and works from hundreds of artists, all under one roof, in a very relaxed atmosphere. Virtually every genre is represented - contemporary art, pop art, impressionism, realism, sculpture, folk art, whimsical art, children's art. This year, over 350 artists are participating; there are many established gallery quality artists, as well as up and coming emerging artists. Plus, there is a wonderful jewelry area featuring unique pieces from some of the most talented jewelry designers in the Southeast.

I was able to get a sneak peek while the Artists Market was being set up, and saw so many incredible pieces of art.

I love the ‘Whimsical’ section – there are so many great paintings in this section every year!

Another section of Whimsical art.

The Contemporary art section is always a favorite.

A few panels in the Contemporary section.

Realism/Impressionism was still setting up, but I managed to get a few shots.

Realism/Impressionism in the foreground, Folk Art in the background.

Realism/Impressionism.

The Sculpture/Pottery section is fun to explore.

The Children’s and Youth section.

A view down the Folk Art section.

More Folk Art.

The Home and Garden area.

This sketch of Beethoven caught my eye.

A beautiful wood sculpture makes a wonderful centerpiece on this table.

A new artist in the Contemporary area – this painting caught my eye.

These map sculptures are incredible. The top right is Miami, bottom right is NYC, and I believe the left one is St. Simons.

The paintings of this artist caught my eye – they are highly textured and full of life. The bicycle is my favorite!

New art comes out throughout the day, as the art on the walls sells. This sweet little painting was in the inventory area, ready to come out once there is a spot on the wall. I visit the Artists Market every day, as there are so many new things to see every time I visit.

Looking through my house, so many of my treasured paintings are from the Artists Market. After getting a special preview of the market, I pulled out one of my favorite purchases from the past and placed it in a new location – and I definitely have my eye on a few pieces at the Artists Market to fill in some of the empty walls that I have in my house!

The jewelry section was not yet set up when I got a preview of the market, but it is always amazing so be sure to check it out when you visit the market. It is located up on the stage in its own area.

The Artists Market is open daily through Saturday, February 9th. There are so many wonderful artists, so many great pieces of art and jewelry; it is possibly the most inspirational place in town right now! Everything seen in this post is available for sale (of course, unless it has already sold), and more art is brought out every day.

Questions? Please visit the Spotlight on Art website, www.spotlightonart.com.

Mixing metal finishes–what are your thoughts?

2013-01-24T16:23:00.000-05:00

This vignette caught my eye when I saw it on the HGTV Remodels Facebook page. The beautiful brass lamp, the artwork casually leaning against the wall, the burst of purple from the unusual flowers, the interesting metal medallion made into art – it’s a beautifully composed scene. Image source.

I really love the lamp (does anyone know who makes it?). It is quite sculptural, and the aged brass finish is one that has really grown on me over the past few years.

The image was featured in a Facebook post from HGTV Remodels about whether all lighting fixtures need to be the same finish in a room, and how this question applies to an open concept house. Click here for the blog post by ‘The House Counselor’ Laurie March to see a video on her thoughts on the topic. Although the initial question was about light fixtures, I got the impression that she discussed more broadly the concept of metal finishes rooms in general, not just light fixtures – two finishes can be friends, but three is a crowd when it comes to finishes in a room. The general conclusion, though, is that mixing finishes is definitely fine and is very common in European design.

When I was working with my designer and architect on some of the finishes in the house, we had a lot of discussions on finishes, although I was quite surprised at the overall low level of concern about ‘matching’ finishes with cabinet knobs, plumbing fixtures, lighting, and door knobs. One of the first ‘finish’ decisions, and one that was important to my architect,was on what to select for the door hardware. My architect wanted the door hardware be consistent throughout the house, and we decided to do an unlaquered brass lever from Baldwin, which has attained a nice mellow look now that we have had it installed for over a year. That set a tone for the house, and the other metal finishes that were selected, particularly with the installed lighting (chandeliers and sconces and such) were made after the lever color was selected.

The plumbing finish decisions seemed to be more standalone – we decided to use either polished nickel or chrome for the plumbing fixtures, and the knobs that are in rooms with these fixtures are the same finish as the plumbing fixtures. I have several rooms in my house where the plumbing and knobs are polished nickel or chrome and the lighting is brass. I even have one room – the master bathroom – where the sconces are polished nickel, and the bell jar light is unlaquered brass. Since all of the levers on the doors throughout the house are unlaquered brass, that is a common finish found in every room and allows flexibility in deciding which finish for the fixture.

I would have to say that we definitely use at least two metal finishes in most of the rooms of the house. In the kitchen we have three – the plumbing and cabinet knobs are polished nickel, there is a polished nickel sconce, the chandelier is a dark metal finish, and the door levers are brass. Perhaps because the door levers do not dominate, I never really thought about the fact that the kitchen has three metal finishes until writing this post!

I would be interested in hearing your experience. What are your rules of thumb for selecting the finish for door knobs, cabinet knobs, plumbing fixtures, and lighting? Do you think two finishes can be friends, but three is a crowd? I would also be interested to hear what finishes you are working with these days.

New on the Market: The Blind Side house

2013-01-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

For full post with large scale pictures, please visit
http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2013/01/new-on-market-blind-side-house.html

Georgia has been a hot spot of movie and TV production over the past few years; in fact, Georgia is one of the top five states in the country for film production. Georgia’s many scenic urban and rural settings are a draw, as well as its mild climate, however the biggest factor is probably the generous tax incentives for filming in Georgia.

It is a fairly common to see production crews in Buckhead, and a small cottage industry has sprung up – renting your house to be used as a filming location (or even as a temporary abode for a famous movie star).

Several years ago, the movie The Blind Side was filmed in Atlanta. After Hooked on Houses did a post on the house used in the movie, I kept my eye out for the house, but it did not look familiar and I did not ever find it. Photo source.

After inquiring with a real estate friend, I learned where the house was located that was used in the film – however, only the interiors were used. The exterior shot seen in the film is a different house.

Here is the exterior of the house that was used for the interior shots in the film – and it has just been listed for sale (see listing here), which offers an interesting peek into how the house looks and is used on a day to day basis versus on a film set. The house is located in a prime area of Buckhead, a prestigious area of Atlanta just minutes from shops and restaurants, and is on a large piece of land with an expansive and private yard. According to the listing, the house has over 11,000 square feet on three finished levels.

The rear elevation of the house, from the real estate listing. Given Atlanta’s sloped and hilly topography, it is quite common for the rear elevation to show three levels. I think the architects, Spitzmiller & Norris handled the rear elevation beautifully – it is an interesting and charming view of the house.

It was fun to compare the pictures of the movie set (from the Hooked on Houses post) to the real estate listing. Initially I was a bit disoriented when trying to figure out which room was which. Apparently the set designers used some of the rooms for different purposes than the homeowners. I ended up used the trim and moldings to figure out which room was which.

The set designers changed the function of some of the rooms, perhaps because of better filming angles. For example, the above picture shows the dining room in the movie. Photo source.

In the real estate listing, the same room is actually used as a living room. The homeowners’ décor is much more streamlined than the set décor (and I love the pop of purple from the pillows), which highlights the architectural details of the rooms. It is also important to note that real estate photography emphasizes the volume and character of the spaces, which was not the focus of the movie. By the way, I think this is particularly nice real estate photography – the pictures are beautiful.

The movie living room is the place where a lot of the important family meetings take place. Note the heavy curtains, and the window to the right of the fireplace. There is a bay window seen to the right. Photo source.

Here is the same room, in the real estate listing. This room is actually the dining room in the house. Note how a mirrored ‘window’ is placed on the other side of the fireplace to give a symmetrical and balanced feel to the room. I wonder if there is a door on the other side of the large chest, perhaps leading to a bar.

A picture from from the real estate listing shows the view from the front door to the back. Note the detail on the stairs….

Seen in the movie picture, with the view from back to front. Photo source.

A view from the movie set ‘living room’ to the front hall. I suspect that the hall seen through the arched opening leads to the master bedroom (the real estate listing says master on main), although in the movie the master bedroom is depicted as being upstairs. Photo source.

Here is a picture of the arch door hall, as seen in the real estate listing. This is a lovely picture, and a great axial view.

Hooked on Houses noted that there were not many good movie views of the kitchen or the family room, as the scenes were shot rather close up. Here is a picture of the kitchen from the movie. Source.

From the movie set, a view from the kitchen to the family room. Photo source

Here is a real estate picture of the kitchen. What a beautiful space!

A view from the kitchen into the family rooms shows the dramatic difference in how the movie set was decorated, versus how the homeowners decorate in real life (I wonder who the designer is?). The pictures are beautiful quality, but this really shows the beauty of the architecture and how light-filled the spaces are.

A picture of the family room from the movie – there are multiple TVs that enable them to watch multiple sports games at once. The sectional sofa makes for a great place to watch TV, but it closes off the room. Photo source.

It’s hard to believe this is even the same room. I understand that the movie was about the family and the characters, and not the house – and the house décor was supposed to reflect that of Leigh Anne Tuohy, whose story was the basis for the movie. Still, it’s interesting to see how different the space looks when the furniture arrangement opens up and the emphasis is on the décor and architecture. I really like the absence of window treatments in this room; they make the space very airy and light. Note the cabinet doors on the right side of the picture – so pretty. The southern light exposure is ideal in this space.

After writing this post, I received an email from the design firm who created the lovely interiors of the 'real life house' - T. Duffy & Associates. They have a wonderful website, full of an incredible portfolio of work.

There aren’t great views of the master bedroom in the movie, but these images show the dark and fabric filled décor scheme used on the movie set. Photo source.

The fabric conceals the fact that there is a niche of sorts where the desk is placed. Photo source.

The master bedroom, from the real estate listing. The contours of the room can be seen much better, and it is interesting to see the rich brown and blue color scheme used in the space.

That’s it for the house comparisons, but there were some interesting pictures in the real estate listing worth checking out.

A casual basement sitting room. Many houses in the area where this house is located have a full basement (which is often called ‘the terrace level’), which is often used for rec rooms, guest bedrooms, wine cellars, exercise rooms, and/or media rooms. These spaces add a lot of square footage to a house, and are common features in large Buckhead homes. I am not a big fan of basements, but people in Atlanta seem to love them and they are highly desirable. Some people won’t even look at a house without a basement.

From the real estate listing – this is on the terrace level, and opens directly to the back yard.

From the real estate listing, a media room that is probably in the basement of the house. Clever to have a scene from The Blind Side on the screen!

So, what do you think? I think it is a great house both inside and out. It can be yours - the house is on the market, and the full listing can be seen here. The architects who designed the house, Spitzmiller & Norris, are two of the top architects in the Southeast, and many of their houses have been published in national magazines. They are known for the beauty and quality of their designs, and the casually elegant nature of the houses that they create.

The beautiful interiors of the 'real life house' seen in the real estate listing were designed by T. Duffy & Associates.

The Queen’s Diamonds

2012-12-31T16:03:00.000-05:00

I love the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, when the pace of life seems to slow down and I typically delve into the books that I received for Christmas.

I have mentioned that my favorite Christmas presents are always books. I posted on my book ‘wish list’ in late November (post seen here), and received several books on the list under the tree.

Click here to view on Amazon.

The best book that I received was not on the list and was a huge surprise. It is called The Queen’s Diamonds, by Hugh Roberts, and was published this year on the occasion of the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.

I am a lifelong Anglophile, and given that my mother was born and raised in England, a love and appreciation for England and its history has always been a part of my life. My sister and I are avid royal family watchers, and I always visit the Crown Jewels when I am in London – they have a unique fascination to me.

This is truly a gorgeous book inside and out, and is full of amazing photography of both the jewels themselves (many of the pictures were newly commissioned for the book), as well as the royalty who have worn the pieces through the years (each piece is discussed in depth, including the origins of the piece, and the times it has been worn in public by its various owners). It is fascinating to see newer members of the royal family, including Camilla and Kate, wearing some of the pieces that have been in the family for generations.

The book is uniquely presented by placing the jewels in their historical context, starting with Queen Adelaide in the 1830s, going on to Queen Victoria, Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Elizabeth II. The story of each piece is detailed, including the changes to each piece through the years based on the personal taste of the owners and the fashions of the times.

Source

I leave you with my favorite piece from the Queen’s Diamonds (which is also on the cover of the book), and one of her favorites too given the number of times she wears it – The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara. It was originally a gift to Princess May of Teck (the future Queen Mary) in 1893 as a gift for her wedding to King George V. Interestingly, it has been altered several times through the years; it was originally topped with large pearls, and the base was removed for years before the current Queen Elizabeth reattached the tiara to the bandeau base.

Source

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara.

Were any good books under your Christmas tree, design oriented or otherwise?

Best wishes for a happy and safe New Years!

◊

Merry Christmas

2012-12-25T13:38:00.000-05:00

To see full blog post with large scale pictures, please visit

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/12/merry-christmas.html

The tree is trimmed, the stockings are hung, the gifts are wrapped, the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals are planned, the table is set. Today is full of joyous anticipation, the excitement of children, the tradition of the Christmas Eve candlelit service to celebrate the Holy Night that ushers in Christmas Day.

Here is a collection of my favorite Christmas images to provide a little seasonal inspiration (all images from Pinterest; I do not claim ownership of any of the images and do not know the sources).

Yes, I have a little obsession with holly….

Red Velvet Trifle recipe here.

May you and yours have a wonderful Christmas! I leave you with this Irish Christmas blessing that I found recently…

The light of the Christmas star to you,

The warmth of home and hearth to you,

The cheer and good will of friends to you,

The hope of a childlike heart to you,

The joy of a thousand angels to you,

The love of the Son,

And God’s peace to you.

Visit my online store, Quatrefoil Design: www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com

The gift of art

2012-12-17T08:09:00.000-05:00

To see full blog post, including large scale pictures, please visit
http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/12/a-gift-ideathe-gift-of-art.html

I am passionate about original art, so no surprise that I think it makes a wonderful gift.

Year after year, small paintings always sell extremely well in the Quatrefoil Design store during the holiday times. Art makes the perfect gift – each painting is an original, and is truly one of a kind. There are so many different ways to display small artwork in the home.

We are shipping until Wednesday, December 19th, so it is not too late to get that extra special piece of art for someone special on your list!

Melissa Payne Baker’s art has been in the Quatrefoil Design store for years. I love how versatile small pieces of art can be, to make a special spot come alive. (Photo credit Emily Followill).

I particularly like using small pieces of art to balance out bookshelves.

Many of my customers display art on side tables or chests.

Angel in Gold, 8”x8”, $285

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-melissa-payne-baker-8-x8-angel-in-gold

Nest in Gold and Blue, 8”x8”, $285

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-melissa-payne-baker-8-x-8-nest-in-gold-and-blue

Butterfly in White, 8”x8”, $285

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-melissa-payne-baker-8-x8-butterfly-in-white-i

Tweet II, 6”x6”, $200

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-melissa-payne-baker-6-x-6-tweet-ii

Angel in Yellow, 8”x8”, $285

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-melissa-payne-baker-8-x8-angel-in-yellow

Nest in Rust and Blue, 10”x10”, $305

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-melissa-payne-baker-10-x-10-nest-in-rust-and-blue

Angel in Aqua, 8”x8”, $285

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-melissa-payne-baker-8-x8-angel-in-aqua

Dragonfly II, 10”x10”, $305

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-melissa-payne-baker-10-x-10-dragonfly-ii

Abstraction in blue and gold, 10”x10”, $305

http://www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-melissa-payne-baker-10-x-10-abstraction-in-blue-and-gold

Angel in Pink, 6”x6” $200

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-melissa-payne-baker-6-x6

Charming 3”x3” Itty Bitty paintings – can hang anywhere (on the bulletin board, on a knob, on a window latch).

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/products?search=itty+bitty&search-submit=

To see the entire collection of Melissa Payne Baker paintings available for sale, please visit:

http://www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/artist/melissa-payne-baker

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We still have a good selection of the lovely Lisa Moore paintings available.

6”x6”, oil on board, $275

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-lisa-moore-painting-xv-6-x6-oil-on-board

6”x6”, oil on board, $275

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-lisa-moore-painting-xvi-6-x6-oil-on-board

9”x12”, oil on canvas, $425

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-lisa-moore-painting-xii-9-x12

To see full selection of Lisa Moore paintings, please visit

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/artist/lisa-moore

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We have a small selection of original Christina Baker paintings available.

Silver Key, 6”x6”, acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, $250

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-christina-baker-silver-key-6-x6

Broken Lock, 6”x6”, acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, $250

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-christina-baker-broken-lock-6-x6

Washed Away, 8”x8”, acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, $295

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-christina-baker-washed-away-8-x8

Set Free, 8”x8”, acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, SOLD

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-christina-baker-set-free-8-x8

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New to the store in 2012 is a collection of whimsical and charming abstract pencil and watercolor sketches. These paintings are favorites of top Atlanta designers and work so well as part of gallery walls or as striking collections. I have some of these beautiful sketches in my library bookshelves, displayed in pairs.

To see the entire selection, please visit http://www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/artist/original-watercolors

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We still have some wonderful Jennifer Ferris paintings available.

In the Garden I, 5.5”x8.5” mixed media on wood, $95

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-jennifer-ferris-in-the-garden-i

Fashion Explosion, 5.5”x8.5” acylic, ink, collage on canvas,$95

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-jennifer-ferris-fashion-explosion

Circles & Blue, 5”x7” acrylic on canvas, $65

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-jennifer-ferris-circles-blue

Peace on the Horizon, 16”x20”, acrylic on canvas, $375

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/product/original-art-by-jennifer-ferris-peace-on-the-horizon

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We have a group of 7 beautiful custom framed intaglios, in our signature gilver finish frame, available for immediate shipment. This is a special collection and will only be available this month.

These are specially priced at $325 each (regular price is $365), and measure 13”x16” each. To see items in store, click on intaglio image or visit: http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/category/intaglios

For future reference, we have a full selection of custom framed intaglio designs, but the typical lead time is 4-6 weeks. To see full range of custom intaglios, please visit the intaglio section of the store - http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/category/intaglios

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Finally, we have a gorgeous new set of 22 framed blue agates available for immediate shipment. Since I first posted on these, I have not been able to keep them in the store – they sell immediately, even before I put them in the store.

This group of framed agates are particularly beautiful – the blues are primarily sapphire, but given the nature of the agates, vary from sapphire to blue to teal, some with touches of taupe or beautifully crystaline structures. They are large size agates, so they we framed them larger, 14”x18”. They are stunning! Click on individual picture to go to store item, or visit http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/category/agates to see framed agates currently in stock.

Agates are creations of nature, and are one of a kind. This is what makes them so special and unique. As a natural stone with crystalline structure, it is often difficult to capture in a photograph the variety and richness of color and grain pattern that is evident to the naked eye. Flash photographs capture the brilliance of color and the special way in which the agates interact with light, but at times make the colors appear more saturated than they appear to the naked eye. Please carefully read the color description of the agate in each item listing, and do not hesitate to emailquatrefoildesign@gmail.com if you would like additional information and pictures.

Designers favorite books: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2010/12/designers-favorite-books-and-mine-too.html
2012 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/11/books-for-my-christmas-list.html
2011 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2011/12/my-book-list-christmas-2011.html

To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store (newly updated!).

To subscribe to my blog by email, click here.
To follow my blog on Facebook, click here.
Twitter: @TTIBlog Instagram: http://followgram.me/ttiblog/modal
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ttiblog/
Visit my online store, Quatrefoil Design: www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com

Our Christmas Tree(s) 2012

2012-12-14T17:19:00.000-05:00

To see full blog post, with large scale pictures, please visit
http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/12/christmas-trees-2012.html

This is our second Christmas season in the house, and we decided to get two trees this year. We have the traditional live tree in the living room, and we also have an artificial tree in the library. I would have liked two live trees, but my husband is in charge of putting up the tree, and I think one 9 foot plus live tree is his limit! I always insist upon lots and lots of lights, as well as a large tree, so it takes quite a bit of time and effort to get the live tree set up.

Here is our tree this year. It is always hard to predict how a tree we pick at Pike’s (which is where we get our trees – it’s a local garden center) will look in the house. I think we picked a great one this year – the height is perfect, and the tree is nice and full. We always use colorful lights on the tree, as this was both my husband's family and and my family's tradition growing up. We tried white lights one year, and it just wasn't right for us.

The main tree has some of our favorite ornaments, in particular the cherished needlepoint ornaments that my mother-in-law creates for each one of us every year. These ornaments are truly a gift of love – they take a tremendous amount of time (and talent) to create. This is my ornament for 2012 – I love the unusual bell shape. Note how my name is stitched into the roofline! I didn’t notice that until looking closely at this picture!

One of my favorites – this is such a tender scene.

This is a great ornament because it so accurately reflects where our golden retriever spends much of his day when we have the tree up!

My youngest daughter has a head full of auburn curls, so my mother-in-law carefully picked the color of the thread to make the sleeping child look like my daughter.

We have quite a few Santa themed needlepoint ornaments.

A Raggedy Ann made for one of my daughters when she was young. Note the detail on the hair.

My children are all very musical, so we have a nice group of music themed ornaments.

We have a large collection of snowman ornaments too. We are very fond of snowmen in this family!

I love the combination of colors in this one, and the stitching of the background.

This one is very special to me – it was the first ornament made for my middle child. Although she was just a baby when this was made, it perfectly reflects her sweet and cheerful personality!

I am sure there are all sorts of rules for photographing a tree at night, and I don’t know a single one of them. But, this picture captures the glow of the tree after the sun goes down. I love how the star on top glows at night.

I have always wanted to have two trees, and last year I wished I had put a tree in the library. This year I purchased an artificial tree at Costco, and I have been so happy with it! I bought pre-lit a 7.5’ tree, mainly because it was all I could handle getting into a cart and into my car (I kind of wish I had bought the 9’ tree). I thought that white lights would look nice in the room and on this tree, so I bought the white light version. I am loving having both a vibrant and colorful tree, and a serene white tree.

On this tree, we have all of the lovely glass ornaments that a family member has given my girls through the years. We have quite a collection now! The tree skirt is a needlepoint snowman design, which I decided to keep with the artificial tree as the red of the backing has a tendency to run when it gets wet, and I did not want to get red dye on the carpet in the living room.

I am secretly planning on having three trees for our 3rd Christmas in the house - maybe a tabletop tree in the family room....I was very inspired by Loi's beautiful tabletop tree that he featured in his recent post: http://toneontoneantiques.blogspot.com/2012/12/our-christmas-tree.html

I think Christmas trees are a wonderful way to express family traditions, or as a means to create beautiful memories through the years. I love seeing trees of my readers and fellow bloggers – feel free to send me a picture or a link to a link to personal Christmas tree blog posts in the comments!

Designers favorite books: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2010/12/designers-favorite-books-and-mine-too.html
2012 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/11/books-for-my-christmas-list.html
2011 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2011/12/my-book-list-christmas-2011.html
Small art, perfect for special, one of a kind holiday gifts or hostess gifts!http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/category/art
To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store (newly updated!).

To subscribe to my blog by email, click here.
To follow my blog on Facebook, click here.
Twitter: @TTIBlog Instagram: http://followgram.me/ttiblog/modal
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ttiblog/
Visit my online store, Quatrefoil Design: www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com

My daughter’s bedroom–continued

2012-12-12T10:41:00.000-05:00

To view full post online, or to comment on the post, please visit
http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/12/my-daughters-bedroomcontinued.html

In a recent post, I documented the progress of my daughter’s bedroom, from the original framing of the house when it was being built, to the slow but steady progress that we made over the past 18 months. Above is a picture of the room after the basics went in. It looked nice, but a bit bland and sedate. My daughter wanted a splash of color and pattern, which was definitely lacking in the room!

My daughter and I worked on the décor of the room together, and we worked in the opposite order of what most designers recommend – we started with the paint (because we had to pick something when the painters were there painting all of the interiors), and ended with the fabric. Most designers seem to recommend starting with the fabric, because fabric colors are so much more specific than paint colors (it’s much easier to find a paint color to go with a fabric than the other way around). This definitely would have been a better way to go – it took me a year to find a fabric that worked with the walls and the color of the headboard fabric.

As many of those who follow my blog on facebook can attest, I spent quite a bit of time looking for a good accent fabric to use for Julie’s room. I quickly realized that we had different ideas and tastes for pattern. I like the trellis and geometric fabrics that are so prevalent in design today – Riad, Palace Fret, and others all had beautiful colors that looked great in the room. My personal favorite was tulips by Galbraith & Paul (3rd from left) in the mineral color (we almost used this in our master bedroom). Julie did not like any of these fabrics. She wanted more of an organic and colorful style. So I found some more organic looking fabrics in the right colors, but these did not appeal to Julie either; they were too sedate, too mature, or too monochromatic.

Then I stumbled upon this fabric, mint fleur by Caitlin Wilson Textiles; I am not sure where I saw it, but I had a feeling that it would work perfectly. This pattern is fun and fresh, and very youthful – and had the look that Julie wanted for her room. I ordered some swatches, and showed Julie the pictures of Caitlin’s website. She loved the mint fleur, both because of the organic floral pattern, and because of the bright punch of color of the coral/pink.

What I love about Caitlin’s fabrics (above image via Caitlin Wilson Textiles) is that she has recommended collections that are a definite mix of patterns, and yet coordinate beautifully together. I can’t say I would have normally mixed and matched a coral chevron with a flowery pattern, but after seeing it on Caitlin’s site, I loved how it all worked together. I did not tell Julie about the chevron ahead of time, as she would have probably rejected the geometric pattern – but when the pillows I had made appeared on her bed, it looked so pulled together that she loved it.

Caitlin’s fabric line does not have a solid coral to coordinate with the patterns, and we wanted a monogrammed pillow for the bed. So I pulled a few samples of solid linens that would look good. Surprisingly, it was not hard to find a good candidate – Duralee to the rescue once again! I used the solid coral for an accent pillow monogrammed with a ‘J’ surrounded by a laurel leaf motif.

And this is how Julie’s room looks now – not quite finished (we still need to re-cover the loveseat seen on the left side, and get a light fixture and perhaps some more wall decor), but well on its way! The room now has the soothing spa like elements that Julie wanted, with the foundation of aqua and cream, but also has a lively punch of pattern and color from the accent pillows and the fabric on the bench.

Originally we were just going to have a few pillows on the bed, and some of the pillows were going to be on the loveseat, but Julie liked the look of all of the pillows on the bed – and she diligently makes her bed every morning, making sure to place every pillow is in its spot.

The Simon Pearce lamps were in my master bedroom in the old house, and were in my dining room for a while, but I like how they look in Julie’s room. I think they have found a new home!

The final element that was put into place – a Louis XV chair that Ballard Designs invited me to create as part of their ‘blogger challenge’. Keith Arnold of Suzanne Kasler Interiors came up with the design based on the fabrics that I had collected, and specified an 8” stripe front and back. The stripe is the perfect touch – created by seaming the pale green/aqua of the same fabric that was used in the headboard with the coral/pink fabric that I used for the monogram pillow (which picked up the color of the flowers in the fabric). The chair was painted in Benjamin Moore white dove, which is the color of the trim in the room. This chair is now my daughter’s desk chair, and is used on a daily basis!

Julie is thrilled with her room, which makes me happy. It has taken a long time to get to this point, but I think this is a room she will be pleased with for years to come.

Now on to my oldest daughter's bedroom....stay tuned!

After my last post on cookbooks, and in particular, my love for crock pot cooking, I received many emails with questions and several with good crock pot recipes. I updated the original post, but since it was days after I first posted, thought I would answer the questions here too. The top question was what brand I recommend to go with my favorite crock pot cook book, Slow Cooker Revolution .

Slow Cooker Revolution on Amazon.

The authors of Slow Cooker Revolution (America’s Test Kitchen) tested many brands, and like the Crock Pot programmable touch screen model (seen above) best. Amazon has an excellent price on it, click here for link.

The crock pot I own is made by the Crock Pot brand (like the one above), but I bought it a long time ago so the same model is not available. The size seems to be the same as the one above (6 quart, which I like), and it has the time set and high/low/warm function. In general, I think the best feature of a crock pot is the ability to set the time to the half hour. When the time is over, the crock pot goes to warm, preventing the food from being overcooked and allowing the cook to be away when the meal finishes cooking.

Designers favorite books: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2010/12/designers-favorite-books-and-mine-too.html

2012 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/11/books-for-my-christmas-list.html

2011 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2011/12/my-book-list-christmas-2011.html

Small art, perfect for special, one of a kind holiday gifts or hostess gifts!http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/category/art

To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store (newly updated!).

To subscribe to my blog by email, click here.
To follow my blog on Facebook, click here.
Twitter: @TTIBlog Instagram: http://followgram.me/ttiblog/modal
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ttiblog/
Visit my online store, Quatrefoil Design: www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com

Favorite cookbooks and recipes (updated)

2012-12-10T07:33:00.000-05:00

To see full blog post, please visit

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/12/cookbooks-pinterest-and-food-bloggers.html

(Sneak peek of my #1 pinterest found recipe)

Usually I buy a several cookbooks every year, but this year I have found that pinterest and blogs have provided me with quite a few great recipes, and I have not bought as many cookbooks. In fact, I think I only purchased two over the past year. One of them is my new favorite fall/winter cookbook, and the other I have not tested out yet.

Without a doubt, Slow Cooker Revolution has been my favorite cookbook of the year! I am a huge fan of slow cookers in the fall and winter – they enable me to put together recipes in the morning or at lunch time, and the meal cooks all day or afternoon and is ready when I get home from hours of driving the kids. What I love about this slow cooker (or crock pot, as I call my beloved machine) cookbook is that the recipes are much fresher and healthier than so many of the old fashioned crock pot recipes. I have made quite a few recipes from this book, and so far my favorite is the chicken gumbo. Some of the recipes require a decent amount of prep as many of the ingredients are fresh, but the prep is done when I tend to have more time to devote to it. However, other recipes are very easy prep and these are highlighted within the book. Click here to see Slow Cooker Revolution on Amazon.

Update: many of you have emailed asking for a crock pot recommendation. The author's of Slow Cooker Revolution tested many brands, and like the Crock Pot programmable touch screen model (seen above). Amazon has an excellent price on it, click here for link.

My crock pot is made by the Crock Pot brand, but I bought it a long time ago so the model is not made any more. The size seems to be the same as the one above, and it has the time set and high/low/warm function. The ability to set the time to the half hour is key. When the time is over, the crock pot goes to warm, preventing the food from being overcooked.

The second cookbook I bought this year is The Homesick Texan, written by a Texas raised food blogger living in NYC. I have enjoyed flipping through the cookbook, but have yet to cook anything from it. Does anyone have a recipe from this book that they could recommend as a starting point? Some of the Amazon reviews rave about the jalapeno mustard roast chicken, chipotle pimento cheese and the Tex-Mex meatloaf. Click here to see on Amazon.

I checked out the top cookbook section of Amazon, and there are a few that look interesting.

Here is another one written by popular food blogger Deb Perelman (her blog is The Smitten Kitchen), and it has great reviews. Click here to see on Amazon.

I have tried some of the Pioneer Woman recipes from her blog (crash hot potatoes are a wonderful side dish with steak), but don’t own any of her cookbooks. Food From My Frontier is her newest one (click here to see on Amazon); her original is The Pioneer Woman Cooks .

There are several cookbooks by food writer Robb Walsh on the best seller list – his specialty is Texas cuisine, and his cookbooks get rave reviews. Click here to see his Amazon page, which has all of his books listed.

I smiled when I saw this Downton Abbey Cookbook – the reviews are quite good, and supposedly it has many traditional English recipes updated for 21st century American cooks. This would be a fun gift for the Downton Abbey fan on your list! Click here to see on Amazon.

Barefoot Contessa has a new cookbook out – I have all of her cookbooks, and really enjoy them. I love the title – Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust. Click here to see on Amazon.

I like to read cookbooks almost like some people read magazines, so this is making me want to order some cookbooks and get some inspiration!

Last year, I posted about one of my favorite reference cook books, The New Best Recipe in this post (click here for link). I use this cookbook frequently as a reference and for recipes, and I highly recommend it. Click here to see on Amazon.

I mentioned pinterest recipes as a great source of inspiration this year. Here is my favorite pinterest found recipe – Cilantro lime chicken made in the crock pot – it is so, so good, and extremely easy. I make it with low sodium taco seasoning and Pace regular salsa. Image and recipe via Pip and Ebby. Click here for the recipe.

I would love to hear about any pinterest found recipes, food blogger recipes, or good cookbooks that you could recommend! I might be asking for the Barefoot Contessa and The Smitten Kitchen cookbook for Christmas, but would love to know about any others whether new or old.

There are still some wonderful Jennifer Ferris paintings available for immediate shipment!

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/artist/jennifer-ferris

Yesterday's blog post on Jennifer:

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/12/introducing-paintings-of-jennifer-ferris.html

Designers favorite books: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2010/12/designers-favorite-books-and-mine-too.html

2012 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/11/books-for-my-christmas-list.html

2011 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2011/12/my-book-list-christmas-2011.html

Small art, perfect for special, one of a kind holiday gifts or hostess gifts!http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/category/art

To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store (newly updated!).

To subscribe to my blog by email, click here.
To follow my blog on Facebook, click here.
Twitter: @TTIBlog Instagram: http://followgram.me/ttiblog/modal
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ttiblog/
Visit my online store, Quatrefoil Design: www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com