Search Results for: are house

ASO Decorators’ Show House & Gardens

April 28, 2014

Three cheers for a great weekend! I hope yours was great too!

Last Thursday I was invited to preview the 44th Annual Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Designers Show House and let me tell you, this is one of the best show houses I’ve seen in Atlanta in many, many years.

Built in the 1920’s, the Palazzo Rose is a beautiful Italian inspired estate that sits on West Paces Ferry Road, one of Atlanta’s most distinguished streets. This year, over 30 of Atlanta’s top interior designers and design firms were selected to design and decorate the home and every room was breathtaking!If you love touring show homes and live in the Atlanta area, you should definitely make time to see the Pink Palace. If you can’t make it, here’s your own personal tour of The Pink Place. Enjoy and be inspired!

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Organizing Around the House and the Pre-Storm Madness

February 10, 2014

Hi there,
If you’ve watched the news today you know that all of us here in Georgia are bracing for what they say is going to be a pretty bad ice storm. Given the events the unfolded two weeks ago Atlanta is not taking any chances. They have already cancelled school for Tuesday and Wednesday and are considering the rest of the week.

I think just about everyone in Atlanta hit the grocery stores today because it was sheer madness. I’m not talking just the milk and bread aisles being empty, the produce department was wiped out and there must have been 30 people in line at the deli counter.

Not a single banana to be had. Thank goodness I don’t have a pet monkey.

Not blueberries or blackberries which means no smoothie for me.

Most of the salad section was cleaned out. I guess everyone is planning on eating healthy while they are stuck at home.

I survived the grocery store and even snagged some salad. Oh, I also by-passed the deli line by ordering a deli sandwich and then asking the clerk to slice an additional 1/2 lb. of turkey for me while she was at it. Genius on my part!

On to bigger and better things.

I mentioned last week that several areas of my home were in bad need of organizing. The level of disarray is not normal for me, but I’ve slacked in the organizational arena and am going to blame it on having the flu.

The most time-consuming part of this project was purging and getting rid of unneeded things, especially in the bathroom.

Our small linen closet started out as this mess…

Apparently I have a cosmetic and personal care hoarding problems I wasn’t aware of. And yes, I have every gift-with purchase bag ever made from Clinic.

Within a couple of hours it looked like this!

$2.00 photo boxes from Michael’s make great storage boxes

Nice labels for the plastic bins

Baskets to add a little style

Cleaning products all together and easy to reach

The broom (from HomeGoods) is hung on the wall with a Command Hook

I added a over-the-door shoe holder from TJMaxx to hold items we use regularly {like cold and flu medicine}:)

Another area I tackled was some of my craft storage. My washi tape collection has grown and was overflowing…

A clear silverware caddy from HomeGoods solved that problem. I love that I can see all my tapes and access what I need without disturbing the other rolls.

My basket of ribbon rolls (sorry no before photo) now looks like this (x two). I told you I have lots of ribbon.

These kitchen pantry door racks from the Container Store are ideal for holding ribbon rolls.

So glad I got these projects crossed off my to-do list and can move on to more exciting things like cleaning out my kitchen cabinets. Ugh!

This IDEA HOUSE is full of Ideas

July 16, 2013

Have you had a chance to check out the photos from the latest Southern Living Idea House? Located in Nashville, this southern farmhouse is the perfect mix of style, comfort, coziness and warmth.

The color palette throughout the home is soft and calm but with enough depth to keep things interesting. I adore the bedroom in shades of cream and soft grey and especially love the window treatments.

The mocha infused living room is just so cozy. Again neutral textiles and accessories were used as a contrast to the natural wood tones of the floor.

This family room is just so inviting. The wood beams are from a 1890’s Tennessee barn and the furnishing and accessories are a mix of antiques, vintage and new pieces made to look old.

If you really take the time to look through all the rooms of this house, you’ll find inspiration around every corner….

Laundry Room Shelving

Front Porch Swing

Barn Doors Leading to the Kitchen

Guesthouse Bedroom Window Treatments

Kitchen Color Palette

Chevron Front Door

To view the entire house head here!

Enjoy and be inspired!

My Trip to GreenHouse Barn

February 4, 2013

So, did you have a great weekend? Mine was awesome! I got lots of work done, had some much-needed down time and loved watching the Super Bowl!
Beyoncé was fabulous and my favorite commercials were the Dodge Ram commercial about farmers, the Budweiser commercial with the Clydesdale and the Doritos commercial with the little girl and her dad.

Today I wanted to share photos of a new vintage shop I recently visited but first I have to give you a bit of background…

Have you ever met someone and wondered why your paths crossed? I have. Take Kenya for example. Last year I attended a workshop at Anthropologie with my friend Tina. I was one of the first to arrive and sat at the end of one table. As more people arrived they sat at various places around the tables leaving several spots near me vacant. Two more people showed up and took the seats next to me and Tina. During the course of the workshop the four of us chatted a bit and share a bit about our professions and hobbies. Come to find out that all of us love vintage and love to shop flea markets, estate sales, garage sales and thrift stores. Come to find out that Kenya loves vintage so much that she was planning to open a little shop in a barn in Senoia, GA, outside Atlanta. As we all chatted it was clear to me that our paths crossed for a reason.

Before we parted ways, I gave Kenya one of my business cards. She was interested in looking at some of my handmade jewelry which I sell on my Etsy shop, and wanted to keep in touch. Kenya and I talked a few times in November of last year and one of the things we discussed was putting some of my jewelry pieces in her soon to be shop. As Kenya and I got to know each other, I thought again that our paths were meant to cross!

Kenya opened her shop, Greenhouse Barn in December last year and it was a big success. I had plans to get some of my pieces in the shop for the opening but my feature in Country Living Magazine and my holiday design work kept me too busy to make it happen. Well, fast forward to last week when I took a little drive to the Greenhouse Barn to see Kenya’s dream shop and to discuss plans for selling some of my pieces in the store. I was blown away at what a cute little shop the Greenhouse Barn is.

The barn is located one block off the main street in Senoia, GA, about an hour and 15 minutes outside Atlanta. Senoia is known not only as being a quaint little southern town but also because it is where the show The Walking Dead is filmed. Greenhouse Barn is a rustic little red barn that sits behind a historic Inn and is filled with lots of vintage wares ranging from furniture and accessories to salvaged and reclaimed pieces. And oh is it a charming little shop!

Enjoy the virtual shopping tour…

Greenhouse sits on a pretty piece of property and the charm starts on the outside.

Loved these slated tiles!

This mailbox was super large and so cool!

The view looking into the shop from the front door.

I’m proud to say that some of my jewelry and other handcrafted pieces will be available for sale at Greenhouse by mid February.

Thanks Kenya, I’m so glad our paths crossed!

For those of you living in Atlanta, I hope you’ll plan a trip to Greenhouse and for those of you that don’t, stop by and Like the Greenhouse Facebook page and stay connected that way!

GreenHouse Barn

252 Seavy Street,

Senoia, GA

Open Thur., Fri., Sat. 10:00-5:00

House Beautiful and HSN

May 7, 2012

Have you checked out the collaboration between House Beautiful and HSN (Home Shopping Network)?

While I’m not a big TV marketplace shopper, when I read that House Beautiful was involved, I couldn’t help but be intrigued.

House Beautiful has partnered with HSN and developed the House Beautiful Marketplace. Every month, HB creates a curated collection of their favorite items, all available for sale on HSN. With the HB endorsement, you’ll find some really stylish and on-trend pieces, at a great value.

Here’s a grouping of my favorite items from this month’s HB picks!

Safaveih Hampton Pillowtop Bench $359.95

Liora Manne Ikat Diamonds Pillow–$41.99-$48.99

Layfette Clear Crystal Table Lamp–$340.20

Mercutio Acrylic Nesting Tables–$179.95

Paisley Armchair–$469.95

Floral Brocade Pillow–449.95

To learn even more about the HB Marketplace, check out this piece by HB editor-in-chief Newell Turner!

Happy Shopping!

Tricks-of-the Trade Retail Shopping Tips

March 20, 2014

Where’s the first place you head when you walk into a big box store like HomeGoods, World Market or Target? If you’re not shopping for something specific do you start at the front of the store and make your way around the store or do you head to your favorite department first?

I have a system when I walk into one of these stores, a system that comes from having worked in the retail industry for over 20 years. My years working in a department store, as a buyer and retail executive have given me an insider view of the tricks-of-the-trade that most retailers use when it comes to merchandising products.

Today I’m going to share a few of those tips with you so you can find the best deals and avoid the retail traps.

Let’s start with Target. When they receive a new collection of product, one of the places they display that product is on the front end of an aisle also known as a End Cap. This product placement allows shoppers to see what’s new at a glance before they head down the aisle to take in the full offering of merchandise.

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While seeing what’s new at the front of the aisle is always good, it’s the back of the aisle, the back end cap that will usually yield you the best bargain shopping. The back of an end cap is typically where stores place their sale items and once items are part of a markdown cycle this is where you’ll find your best deals. Target is currently in the midst of taking markdowns on lots of home décor items and some good clearance deals are landing on the end cap. Here are few bargains I spotted earlier this week.

This black and white duvet cover was a great deal at $21.98 for the full/queen

I loved this mustard yellow quilt. It was on clearance for $19.48 for the full/queen

Fun wall plaques for under $5.00

Geometric pattern embossed lamp shade for $ 9.48

This was a great looking wood and metal tray for $17.48. Great for a men’s gift.

This gorgeous peacock blue glass jar was marked down to $31.48

I shared these rattan tables on Instagram. They were clearance priced at $34.98 and were are stuury with a nice tight weave. (The Northpoint Target had about 10 of them in stock)

And there were lot of picture frames marked down and all under $10.00.

Another tip for shopping big box stores is to look in multiple places for trend product and new collections. Many stores like HomeGoods and Target will double expose products that are a seasonal trend statement in a group with related pieces and also in the specific department where those items are housed.

Lampshades may be merchandised with a collection of items and also in the lamp department/aisle.

A third tip to remember is that not all stores are created equal. When major department stores take a markdown on an item that markdown typically happens at all stores across the country. Most product that come into a big box store are coded with a barcode that includes the receipt date. This receipt date is usually the trigger for when a markdown is taken.

If one store received an item weeks earlier than another, one store may have the item marked down while the other still has it at regular price. I’ve seen this happen a lot at Target and typically if you bring it to managements attention the store with the full price item will look it up and honor the sale price.

This point is also good to keep in mind because with different receipt dates triggering markdowns, you may find the same item on sale and also in the regular price section. The sale item will be towards the back of the store or on a back end cap because the store hopes you’ll pick up the regular price piece first without ever making it to the sale area.

It’s been proven that the majority of people turn right when they enter a store (because most people are right handed) so retailers often place new item displays or even more expensive items to the right, inside the door.

Did you know that in many stores, especially clothing stores that sale racks are kept messy on purpose. Stores don’t want to make it easy for you to shop the sale area hoping you’ll get frustrated and shop the regular priced, well-organized and well stocked racks. This trick works on me more times than not.

The trill of the deal can only last so long before I need to move on to calm and clutter free!

And the final shopping tip I want to share with you has to do with the cash register area. The impulse items placed near the cash wrap are there because they are proven to be items that people will pick up without much thought. Sometimes you can find some bargains in this area but most of the time this area is planned as an easy add-on sale for the stores. TJMaxx, HomeGoods and Marshalls are the master of cash register sabotage and I’ve fallen into the trap by picking up a roll of gift-wrap, stationery, paper products and even a treat or two (just yesterday as a matter of fact) 🙂

I hope you enjoyed these tips. The next time you get caught at the register with an impulse item, leave me a comment and let me know what you bought.

Happy shopping and happy first day of spring!

Organizing Tips that Help Me Get Organized When Clutter Takes Over

February 3, 2014

Happy February!

I am typically a very organized person. But since packing up my Christmas and holiday décor I’ve struggled with keeping myself and my home organized. Being disorganized has left me feeling uneasy and scattered and because of that I am not working as efficiently as I can or should be. This week I’m setting aside some time in my schedule to get things around me organized and back on track. I’m going to be sorting, purging, consolidating and organizing each space that I’ve neglected.

To get the job done, I’m going to rely on the organizing habits I’ve used for years, tips that always work for me. I’d thought I’d share those tips with you today and come back later in the week and show the before and after of a some of the areas I’m organizing.

Organizing Tip #1–SORTING

The first step for me when I’m organizing is SORTING! When things are in a state of disorder it usually means piles and stacks. Sorting through the things you have will help you organize like items together, move items to the room and spaces they belong in and it will also help you decide what stays and what goes.

Organizing Tip #2–PURGING

PURGING something that you no longer need or that is no long useful to you is a great feeling. It takes discipline to sort through and get rid of items you once loved, but holding on to things that have gone unused for months or years is not doing you or your state of well-being any good. Letting go of unnecessary stuff will allow you to enjoy and appreciate those things that you keep and really use.

Organizing Tip #3–EVALUATE

Once you’ve sorted and purged its time to EVALUATE WHAT YOU HAVE. In my closets, kitchen and craft space I know that I function best when the items I use most often are organized in a way that makes accessing them quick and easy. Do a second sort of your items and put them into stacks labeled A, B, C and D. ‘A’ represents the things you use most and ‘D’ represents those things that are used less often. Now is also a good time to take a look at those items in the D pile and see if anything more needs to be purged. When it comes time to place things on shelves or racks, the things you use most will be front and forward.

***if you’re organizing your closet, this is also a good time to make a list of wardrobe essentials you need to shop for

Organizing Tip #4–MAKE IT VISIBLE

One of my keys to effective organizing is to MAKE IT VISIBLE. For me this means creating organization that allows me to see the things I have. Plastic containers, open baskets, hooks, racks and binders are a few of my favorite organizing tools. If I see it, I use it and if everything has a home its less likely to end up in a pile.

***plastic over-the-door shoe holders are great for holding all sorts of things

***I rotate my bath towels on the shelves after I’ve done laundry each week. This way all the towels we own get used and washed on a regular basis which helps keep the color consistent in all of them

Organizing Tip #5–CONTAIN YOUR STUFF

On the flip side of my wanting to have things visible is my desire to HAVE THINGS CONTAINED and orderly. This is where creativity comes into play. I use Command Hooks to hang all types of things around my house, my rolls of crafting washi tape are housed in a kitchen storage piece and I use hanging shoe storage to hold scarves. Think about how you ideally would want to store and organize items and then look for a solution that works for that function. It may not be an item that was originally meant for that purpose.

***baskets are one of your best organizing investments–they keep things contained and keep the space looking pretty

***this is a great idea for making plastic storage bins look more attractive–paper fronts

Organizing Tip #6–MAKE IT PRETTY

MAKING AN ORGANIZED SPACE LOOK PRETTY while it also functions well is one of the best parts of organizing to me. Incorporate pretty jars and containers into your desk top organization or create a fun display board using a pretty frame to hold your jewelry. When a space looks nice you’ll want to keep it organized.

***cover cardboard or poster board with wrapping paper to make inexpensive shelf liners

***incorporate decorative accessories into your organization

***I love the idea of covering paint cans in decorative paper for craft storage

***I often use vintage milk glass pieces for storing jewelry and cosmetics

Organizing Tip #7–LABEL IT

LABELS are your best friend when it comes to organizing. It helps identify the contents of a basket, helps when you are sorting items and labels let you add a personal touch to your organizational system. If you’re looking for unique and inexpensive label options, check the $1.00 section at Target and Michael’s for fun tags or chalkboard stickers.

***small picture frames also make stylish labels for boxes and baskets

So there you have it…my go-to organizing tips. Good organization really comes down to having a system in place that makes the task of keeping your world clutter free easy. Now that I’ve given myself a refresher course on the tips I use, I’m off to organize my world. Stay tuned for the results!

Oh Christmas Tree | Holiday Home Tour 2019

December 18, 2019

Hi there friends! In case you’ve been wondering, I’m still alive. This year has been all kinds of crazy at our house so my blog posts have been sporadic at best. However, I’m determined to end the year on a high note and am finally sharing my holiday decor with you.

To kick things off, today I’m sharing my Christmas tree decor and tomorrow I’ll be back to share my Christmas tablescape. The holiday season is my favorite time of the year so I’m thrilled I was able to pull things together and get my home decorated. Yea for taking life one day at a time and getting things done!

If you’ve followed me during the last few holiday seasons, you know that I typically host a holiday blog hop called The Merry & Bright Holiday Home Tour. The tour has been going strong for 5 years but given all the shenanigans life has thrown my way, I decided not to host the tour this year. Don’t fret, I’m planning to host the tour again in 2020 to bring you lost of holiday decor and magic.

So…with only 7 days until Santa arrives, I’m here to share my holiday home! Enjoy & Merry Christmas!

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