The Buzz

Sunny Days

2011-03-11T06:46:00.000-08:00

The weather has been nasty here all week and I constantly find myself daydreaming about warm, sunny days. I'm so OVER winter and couldn't be more happy to spring forward this weekend! But until the warm weather arrives, this sunny beach cottage will tide me over for now....

Perfection

AWESOME

HAPPY

BEAUTIFUL

stools, window seat, rug, elephant = LOVE

The rick rack on the roman shades is sooo cute!

FRESH

There aren't enough adjectives to describe how happy this beach cottage makes me. I hope it brings a little happiness to your day too! Have a great weekend!

Interior Design by Krista Ewart

Images via House Beautiful

Tour of Kitchens

2011-03-09T16:56:00.000-08:00

The Junior League of Atlanta's 14th Annual Tour of Kitchens is next Saturday, March 19th and Sunday March 2oth. There are some GORGEOUS kitchens on the tour, cooking demonstrations and tastings (YUMMY...the chef line-up is AMAZING !!), and much more. I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday or Sunday! Check out the program here and purchase tickets here.

The Mullet

2011-02-02T18:45:00.000-08:00

Mullet: a hairstyle in which the hair is short on the sides and top and long at the back

Illustration of a mullet...

Annie had her first hair cut today (tear). It was long over due and the mullet had to go...

Before...

Not so sure about parting with her lovely locks.

After...

So cute...

and ready to go home!

Here's to the fresh start.

2011-01-14T06:33:00.000-08:00

I love this image from Serena and Lily's website. My fresh start is officially going to begin next week, when I can finally get out of the house. 2011 has been put on hold for the last 2 weeks due to the flu and now snow & ice.

I am getting out today and heading to The Mart. Can't wait to check out all the new goodies for 2011. I'll be sure to post asap on all my favorites.

Have a great weekend!

Snowed/Iced In

2011-01-12T17:52:00.000-08:00

The Winter Storm of 2011 hit us hard here in Atlanta. We're going on day 4 of being snowed/iced in and we're about to go CrAzY!! We've actually ventured out twice, but the roads are terrible and I wouldn't trust myself driving on them. We've enjoyed sledding, lots of neighborhood gatherings and afternoon cocktails to keep us sane :).

I've been consumed flipping/scrolling through the new issue of Lonny and when I'm not doing that I've been attempting to organize my office.

I'm in awe of Bunny Williams' design library. It's AMAZING!

I'd give alot to have just 1hr in here, soaking up all her goodies AND if I could have just 1/2 of this room as my entire office. A girl can dream.

Accessorize Your Bath

2011-01-08T11:42:00.001-08:00

If you've been searching for the perfect bathroom accessories, search no longer. West Elm has you covered! Just check out pages 116-117 in their new catalog. I'm OBSESSED! Here are a few of my favorites....

Zig Zag Bath Mat

Porcelain Soap Dishes and Tray

Textured Nickel Plate Bath Hardware

Apothecary Jars

Honeycomb Tassel Hand Towel

Hammam Ceramic Soapdishes

Hope you are having a great weekend!!

2011

2011-01-07T18:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year (a week late)! I hope all your dreams come true in 2011!!

**If you're still reading my blog, sorry for being the worlds worst blogger in 2010. I'm going to work extra hard in 2011 to get The Buzz up and running again :). **

Lil

2010-12-15T18:01:00.000-08:00

My dear Grandmother, Lil, passed away last week. She lived an amazing 86 years and was truly one of a kind. Words can't express how much she'll be missed. This poem written by Holli Persall is an awesome tribute to Lil's life...

There was NO place like home!

When Lil opened her door,

You saw how she felt

About "1024".

The cards might be dealt

Or the onion dip made,

But one thing was sure.

"A spade was a spade."

If you asked for an answer,

She said what she thought.

Her advice and her wisdom

Could never be bought.

In her younger days-

When Tom was around,

Randy and Johnny

could also be found.

The dart board, the cocktails,

The music, the games.

That house was the hangout

For guys and for dames.

But then the time came

When Tom passed away,

And though she was stressed,

Lil welcomed each day.

Her boys had married

And moved out of town,

But she toughened right up

And never seemed down.

The grands made a difference,

And Annie- Oh Gee!

Just how proud -

Could a great grandma be?

Lil was a saver-

And could make you smile,

When she took every dollar

And stretched it a mile.

Even as her days

Began to fade,

The day a bill came

Was the day it was paid.

Tom would have been proud

Of his mate and his wife

As she read her Bible

Making the most of her life.

We will miss that gal

And the home that we knew,

With lots of good memories

And lessons learned too.

Lil's love of golf,

The Braves, "Dawgs", and state-

The slip of her tongue

The "bird portions" she ate-

Will all be our memories

But we do thank her so,

For she did us so proud,

And that--- we all know!

You might remember this post from last February when we were moving Lil to Atlanta...

Vintage

My Mom, Annie and I have been in Albany, GA the past 2 days packing up my Grandmother's house (my excuse for not posting). We are moving my Grandmother (we call her Lil) to an assisted living home in Atlanta, just minutes from both my house and my parents house. We are so excited that she is going to be so close by! We are now starting the process of packing up her home that she and my Grandfather built 55 years ago. In each drawer, cabinet, or closet we opened there were many treasures to be found and stories to be told.

Doesn't this look like a den straight from the pages of Domino....haha?!? Nope, this is Lil's den that hasn't changed a bit since 1955. This is true vintage! Don't' you love the smiley face pillows?!

How about this one?

Annie has dibs on all the silver! Don't overlook the beautiful orange shag carpet :).

Lil's measuring spoons were the perfect teething toy for Annie.

Here's a great pic of Lil and Annie, when little boo was 8 weeks old. Annie turned 8 months old yesterday (I can't believe it!!) and she is now way too much of a wiggle worm to sit in her Great Grandmother's lap (tear).

Love you Lil!!

Humpty Dumpty...

2010-10-14T11:58:00.001-07:00

...sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great FALL.
Poor Annie had a great fall the other day, and her precious face has scrapes to prove it :(.
No need to panic though, it only took a paci and some Elmo to put this little humpty together again. She was back in action in no time and painted me this beautiful fall leaf at school.

Hope you are having a wonderful fall!

treasure hunting

2010-10-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

It was a good month at Scott's. I went to the show with a long list of items that I needed for clients, and after a full morning of treasure hunting, I was able to mark off a few. Here are some of my treasures...

LOVE these side tables. I needed something small, but with lots of character to sit on either side of a sofa and these awesome tables are just perfect.

When I found this mid-century bamboo chest, my heart melted. It's in mint condition and the natural bamboo color is growing on me. It would look amazing painted though. This baby is going to look perfect in my client's living room with a pair of lamps and awesome painting or mirror over it.

This painted bench with a tufted burlap cushion is going in a client's foyer. I've been looking for THE bench for this foyer for a while now, and this little one makes me very happy.

Did you make it to Scott's this month? Find anything cool??

Ice Cream Sandwiches

2010-09-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

Annie LOVES them!!

She could eat a whole box.

They make her very happy. This is her smile when you ask her to say "cheese"...don't you love it?!

Now go get yourself a box. I'm sure they'll put a smile on your face too...just be sure to steer clear of all things white, they can get pretty messy!

This Atlanta home, designed by Margaret Bosbyshell, is to die for!! But, definitely not suitable for ice cream sandwiches.

If only this was my office..

These fabulous dining chairs could possibly camouflage Annie's grubby little finger prints....maybe?!

**Click here to see more images and read full article. Photos by Erica Dines via Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles**

Summer's End

2010-09-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

It's been one heck of a summer...with trips to the beach and lake, birthday and anniversary celebrations, numerous weddings, fresh vegetables from the garden and afternoons outside soaking up the sun. I can't believe that it has already come and gone. It's time to hang up your seersucker and pull out your jeans and sweaters. Usually I hate to see summer end, but this year I'm welcoming fall with open arms and looking forward to cooler days ahead.

Have a fabulous Labor Day weekend!

**images via Mary Ruffle**

Fabric Love

2010-08-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

While shopping at one of my favorite ADAC showrooms, Travis & Company, I came across this fabric and instantly feel in love. It's by Mally Skok Design, a new line at Travis, and I'm crazy about it.

LOVE the colors! It's got Annie's big girl room written all over it. I'm thinking pinks, turquoise and some navy blue...yummy.

This little one's not moving out of her nursery any time soon, so I've got a while to plan :).

What I've been working on...

2010-08-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

2 project in the works...

Family Room Fun...

My client had the coral chairs which I love and we added in some turquoise, greens,white, and taupe to really make the room come together.

Love the lines of this sofa! I've used it in a couple of different project. The camel back is so pretty, especially when the view from the kitchen is the back of the sofa.

I think these stools have to be my favorite part of the room.

Although the side table and coffee table are a close second!

**these pics where taken with my phone, so please excuse the terrible photography :)**

Case Closed

2010-08-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

WOW...never in my WILDEST dreams did I think that both Celerie Kemble and Christina Murphy would respond to my last post!! How I LOVE the blog world! THANK YOU Celerie and Christina for clearing things up. I greatly admire both or your work and I didn't mean to step on any toes with my little investigation :).
See comment below from Celerie and email from Christina....The case is now closed!!

Celerie said...
I just saw your post and thought I could probably set the record the straightest. Christina Murphy is a designer who oversaw and lead the project you are admiring while at Kemble Interiors. (We worked together happily for years. She remains one of my best friends and is now an admired colleague.) She is a fantastic designer -- as you can see by her site and deserves full credit for her excellent work especially on this project. In no way is she taking illicit credit for for something that was mine nor is there any sort mix up. I'm very happy to see such beautiful work celebrated on your site and thank you for your kind words about the book! Please keep up the great blogging! xo Celerie Kemble

Christina Murphy to me...
Hi There!
Thanks for including my work on your website from Sept House Beautiful, I'm so flattered.
The project you see in Oyster Bay is mine, I used to work with Celerie and let her include it in her book since I worked there but rest assured its entirely my own work.
Your blog is great, happy someone sent it to me!
Best,
Christina

The Buzz Investigates

2010-08-05T08:58:00.000-07:00

I was pumped when my September issue of House Beautiful arrived in the mail, especially when the first page I happened to open up to was this fab upholstered headboard. This headboard & room looked very familiar though, and I knew exactly where I had seen it.... in my favorite book, Celerie Kemble, To Your Taste. BUT... the designer of this Oyster Bay beach home wasn't Celerie, it was Christina Murphy. Hmmmm, I thought, what is this Christina Murphy doing copying Celerie's EXACT bed & bath??!

(The 2 above photos are from the Sept. House Beautiful)

I ran to find Celerie's book to investigate what in the world was going on.....

This is a must have book!!

As you can see from the above pic (pg.104 in To Your Taste) it is Obviously SAME room!!

So...I googled Christina Murphy to find out that she used to work for Celerie (my dream job). My only conclusion is that Celerie is letting Christina take credit for this AWESOME home. BUT WHY??!! If only I could call Celerie and get some answers :)... I wouldn't mind talking with Christina either.

I was drooling over Christina Murphy's website. All of her designs are VERY similar to Celerie's...no wonder why I LOVE all her work!!

Images via Christina Murphy Interiors
This investigation is still open and I'd love some more insight into what in the world is going on!

you are my sunshine...

2010-07-29T07:50:00.001-07:00

*framed art print from Sugarboo Designs*

On the hunt...

2010-07-26T13:23:00.000-07:00

I am always on the hunt for inexpensive, interesting accessories for my clients. You always need that special something to add that extra pop to a bookcase or table top. My favorite place to hunt for such items is at Scott Antique Market (of course!). Here are some of my finds from this months show...

Wooden Spools

Seltzer Bottles

Pair of turquoise Foo Dogs

Lovely cabbage leaf creamware dish

more creamware...in my opinion, you can never have too much creamware in your home!

Cool iron and brass accessories

Of course all of these items are vintage, which makes them even more awesome! The August Scott's show is just around the corner, August 13-15, so mark your calenders and get ready to hunt.

p.s.- I really can't believe it's almost August!! Where has this summer gone?!

Dining in Style

2010-07-19T08:25:00.000-07:00

I have no idea where I found this image, but I love everything about it!

Dining Room Delight

2010-07-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

I recently finished this dining room (minus some accessories) that I've been working on for the past couple of months, and I couldn't be more delighted with the outcome. My client was so awesome and I had so much fun working with her on this project. We also just finished her family room and I will have pics of it up soon.

What time is it?

2010-07-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

...time for me to get my act together and start blogging again!! I'm going to have to start by taking baby steps though because I'm a little rusty :).

So, here is what I'm loving now... this distressed European wall clock from Wisteria. Isn't it beautiful? The best part is you can get if for only $59!! Time to get shopping.

Back to Reality

2010-06-21T18:24:00.000-07:00

For the past 2 weeks, we have been living the good life at the beach and wedding hopping (we've had 3 weddings this month and have our last one this weekend...CrAzY!!). It has been so fun being constantly surrounded by family and friends and soaking up the sun. BUT reality sure does hit hard....loads & loads of laundry, a delinquent coffee table and damaged fabrics, a birthday party to plan and an anniversary to celebrate (3 years tomorrow!). If only there were more hours in a day!!

While we were at the beach, Annie officially started walking and I don't think she has sat down since. Baby girl is on the move and into EVERYTHING!! She is also turning ONE on Thursday!!We are having a small family get together (which ends up being 30 something people) to celebrate. It's going to be a very special day...if I can get my act together and start planning :).

11 MONTHS

2010-05-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

Another month has come and gone and Annie is now 11 months old. It's been a busy month and Annie has grown and developed by leaps and bounds!

She can stand on her own for a LONG time now, but no first steps yet.

She loves being outside and helping daddy in the garden.

She had her last music class today until the fall. Over the past 16 weeks, she's learned so much and loves tapping her sticks although they usually end up in her mouth.

She cheered on daddy at his softball game!

She laughs A LOT... I think she might be the most ticklish baby in the world.

Eating might be one of her favorite activities. We rarely find a food she doesn't like and she insist on feeding herself...this leads to a very messy baby.

It's so hard to believe that Annie will be ONE next month....I'm in shock and need to start planning her party. Better get to work!

Ikea Rug

2010-05-19T17:35:00.000-07:00

I saw the Alvina Ruta rug from Ikea in Charlotte Magazine's Home & Garden last week, and immediately fell in love. When I was flipping through my new House Beautiful issue today, I fell in love all over again....there was Alvina Ruta in the left corner of the rug section. Even though I don't have a home for it right now, I might have to fork out $149.00 (WHAT A STEAL), and put it in storage for my next house or the perfect client.

Craving Photos

2010-05-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

Since Annie was born, I have taken at least a dozen photos of her a day. I have all the photos in albums and some in frames, but lately I've been wanting to pull them out and display them in some way or another. It's crazy to look back and see how much she's changed, and I want to have all the photos in front of me all the time.

I love this birdcage memory board from RH baby and child! It is a nice size, 22"w x 32"h. I think I might order 2 to go on either side of Annie's crib.

I've been eyeing these old baskets at Scott's. I have the perfect place for it, and think it would be so fun to clip photos all over it with small clothes pins. Thoughts?

How do you display your photos?

Ballard Winged Chair

2010-05-10T05:58:00.000-07:00

Ballard Winged Chair + Duralee 36041-76

=

Perfection

This is a sneak peak at a project I've been working on. I LOVE the way these Ballard Winged Chairs turned out. They are the perfect size and scale for dining room hosts chairs and the fabric makes the chairs even more awesome! We are waiting on the side chairs and draperies to come in and then I can show the finished project. I can't wait for it to all come together!

Proud Momma

2010-05-09T17:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all of you mommas out there! We have had an AMAZING mother's day weekend. Annie was able to spend the weekend with both of her grandmothers, all 3 of her great grandmothers and most importantly, her very proud momma.
We spent most of weekend with Vinna and Buzz in Macon. Annie loved swimming in their pool and playing in the sun all day!! We made it back to Atlanta just in time for a Mother's day lunch with my side of the family. Celebrating my first mother's day has been truly special, and I wouldn't be here without my WONDERFUL mom. She has taught me everything I know about being a mother and I don't know what I would do without her. I LOVE YOU MOM!!

Annie, Reg and I had a fun dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, La Fonda.

Annie got a little fussy, so we had to get our food to go. When we got home she devoured her cheese and spinach quesadilla and black beans and rice.

She was a mess..

and in much need of a tubby!

We finished the night reading a book and snuggling in bed. It was a perfect day! Being a mother is the greatest gift in the world and I am truly blessed to have the cutest baby girl ever! I am one proud momma!!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Dream Pools

2010-05-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

As a child, I always dreamed of having a pool in my back yard. I mean, how fun would it be to walk out your back door and dive into a beautiful pool.
Ellen Pompeo's pool, featured in this months Elle Decor, is so dreamy! I love when the grass goes all the way up to the edge of the pool

This is another one of my favorites from Elle Decor. Love the square tiles around the pool and all the lush, green grass.

This is my ultimate dream pool, another one from Elle Decor. HEAVEN!!

For now, this little pool will have to do! Annie loves it and if she's happy, I'm happy.

Eclectic

2010-05-03T19:01:00.001-07:00

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of eclectic is "composed of elements drawn from various sources", and this photo from Domino just about sums it up.

My FAVORITE Warehouse Sale

2010-04-28T17:07:00.000-07:00

A Trio of Scott Antique Dealers present a fabulous Antiques Warehouse Sale!
Priced to Sell!!
Some items marked down 75%!!

Thursday, April 29 & Friday April 30, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sale includes: Antique Furniture, French Architectural items & Mirrors Lamps, Oil Paintings,19th C. European pottery & ceramics Vintage Fabrics & Pillows

3924 Green Industrial Way(behind Acura dealer)
Chamblee, GA 30341(off Peachtree Industrial Boulevard)
One mile South of 1-285.Exit 31A at P'tree Ind Blvd
1mile then turn right at 3924 Green Industrial, at theAcura dealership.
Go to END of street to a round about between 2 brick buildings (Martinez Co and Dog Training).
Turn left and come inside the fence.

This is a sneak peak of some of the awesome items on sale. This is my favorite sale of the year and I never leave empty handed. I will be waiting at the door at 9:00 sharp and hope to see you there!

Time...

2010-04-27T06:46:00.000-07:00

It flies these days!! I blink my eyes and doodle bug is 10 months old! It's hard to believe.

She loves the pool,

playing at the park,

and spring flowers.

She is the cutest and happiest doodle in the world , and she melts my heart!!

Obsessed

2010-04-26T07:08:00.000-07:00

After scoring this awesome painting on eBay, for quite a steal, I'm officially obsessed with buying art on eBay. Thanks to Jenny, from Little Green Notebook's post on eBay art, I now know how to search for inexpensive art.

This is Jenny's favorite search-
Paintings, original, oil, pre-1800-1969, $0-$200.

Here are a few of my favorites available now...

Old Impressionism Oil

Stunning Sunfilled Old Painting

Flowers- Oil on Canvas

Original Russian Oil Realism Impressionism Painting '57

Happy Hunting!!

Vacay

2010-04-14T18:57:00.000-07:00

I'm heading to the beach tomorrow for a much needed girls weekend. I can't wait!!

If you need me, you can find me here.

Although, I will be missing this little one.

*image via Costal Living*

Loving...a mirror over the sofa

2010-04-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

I am also obsessed with the new issue of Lonny! Sean McNally's one bedroom Manhattan apartment (below) is packed full of color, personality and over flowing with trinkets and treasures.

Lonny

Domino

Domino

House Beautiful

Amy Morris Interior Design

Yellow

2010-04-08T06:44:00.000-07:00

When I walked outside this morning everything seemed to have a yellow tint to it, due to the massive amounts of pollen covering EVERYTHING. I've been sneezing constantly, my nose is running and my eyes are itching. It's even bothering Annie and we can't have that. For the first time in a while I'm praying for rain, to wash all this yellow mess away.
It seemed only appropriate to post rooms with a splash of yellow today...

*Images 1-3 via Southern Accents and 4-8 via Domino*

Brackets

2010-04-05T18:02:00.000-07:00

Well, I didn't do so hot in my basketball bracket that I/Reg picked, but I adore these brackets....
I've been so impressed with Restoration Hardware these days and the RH Baby & Child distressed wood shelving & scroll iron brackets make me so happy!

One of my all time favorites, Anthropologie, also makes some fabulous iron brackets.

Here is a little DYI project I can handle-

1. purchase a pair or two of Anthro brackets

2. head to Home Depot and purchase a piece of wood that is the size of the shelf you want

3. stain or paint your piece of wood

4. hang your fab brackets and screw piece of wood on top

**WARNING- I have NOT attempted this DYI project and actually have no idea if it's this easy. I'm just hoping it is! I'm so not a d0-it-yourselfer ( I wish I was, but I'm not), but I AM going to attempt this project one day. **

Jill Brinson also loves her brackets. See the distressed wood shelf on iron brackets right above the bottom of the chandelier. I love the little birds sitting on the shelf too!

It's hard to tell in this picture but the shelf is sitting on iron brackets....so AWESOME!!

Do you see the shelves to the left of the windows? I've posted this kitchen before and I could honestly stare at it all day. It is BEAUTIFUL!!! You can see more images of Jill Brinson's home from the House Beautiful article here.

gotta have...a mini french wing chair

2010-04-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

This chair is perfect in every way! I know what Annie is getting for her 1st birthday. Who needs a swing set when you have a mini frech wing chair. She'll understand, she's my little interior designer in training. Check out the mini french wing chair from Restoration Baby and Child here.

Happy Everything!!

2010-04-02T06:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to the BEST...

Dad

Husband

and dancer in the world!

We love you!

AND

Happy Easter to everyone!

Hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend!

South of Market Blog!

2010-03-31T06:16:00.000-07:00

I was so excited when I opened my email last week to find this...

Check out the SOM blog here and enjoy.

Nine

2010-03-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Annie turned nine months last Wednesday (yes, this post has been in the works since then)!!

After over an hour long wait at the doctor's office, Annie had a great check-up! She is now 19lbs 12oz and 29" long.

She is all over the place these days...crawling, pulling up on everything, and keeping her mama very busy!!

My favorite find under NINE dollars this month....

This fabulous chevron fabric that I found on Caitlin's blog for only $7.99 a yard!!

For $7.99 a yard, I had to see for myself if this fabric was as good as it looked. IT IS, and I'm going to make 2 pillows for my living room sofa out it and then another smaller pillow out of the beautiful Romo fabric shown above. Do you like??

Make A Wish!

2010-03-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

I had an amazing birthday on Sunday, and had so much fun celebrating with family and friends. Thank you to everyone for making the big 27 truly a special one!
Here are a few of my bday wishes...

More time in the day....between being a mom to a 9 month old on the move, pulling fabrics, drafting, blogging, visiting grandparents, and trying to keep a somewhat clean house, I feel like there just isn't enough time in the day!!

ORGANIZATION

This FABULOUS painting from Gregg Irby Fine Art by Katherine McClure. I love this gallery!! It features emerging, contemporary artist and has awesome, yet affordable pieces.

AND I would love for this AWESOME Shoshana tie-dye dress to magically appear in my closet. I can't find it in my size anywhere.

Of course, I can't tell you what I really wished for or else it won't come true :).

Work Hard...Play Hard

2010-03-19T11:26:00.000-07:00

Annie and I have been working hard all week and now we're ready to play! My birthday is on Sunday and it's going to be a weekend long celebration. Let the fun begin! Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Bungalow 5 ...All Things Green

2010-03-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

Happ Saint Patrick's Day! To celebrate this wonderful day, I thought I'd share a few green pieces from my favorite furniture line, Bungalow 5.

Taboret side table/stool

Renee lamp

Orchid Tray

Jacqui console/desk

Butterfly Study...I love the green ones!!!

Christina Lamp

Have a great day!

Urban Electric

2010-03-16T11:01:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite lighting companies, Urban Electric, has opened a store in Atlanta and I am sooo excited!! Actually I am ecstatic, and it's at White Provision on the west side, so shopping will be even more enjoyable. Check out their website here and enjoy. Their fixtures are AMAZING and I can't wait to meet them in person!!!

My favorite kitchen...

2010-03-12T07:17:00.000-08:00

This is one of my all time favorite kitchens from Cottage Living. I LOVE the windows above the sink with the sun shinning in (rain, rain go away), the white cabinets, marble counter tops, open shelving, stainless appliances, and blue wicker chairs! This kitchen is perfection and if I remember correctly, I think this home is even in Atlanta. Maybe I'll get to see it in person one day :).

Have a wonderful weekend!!

new purchase

2010-03-11T06:23:00.000-08:00

You might remember this knotastic knob from this post a while back. Well, while cruising the mall yesterday (trying to entertain Annie in this rainy weather), I stopped in Anthro and purchased 2 of them, and I must say that I'm very pleased. They gave my beat up console (that I purchased 3 years ago at Ballard Backroom for $175) a pretty little face lift.

Before

After

They make me very happy! What makes you happy these days?

Spring Green

2010-03-09T06:27:00.001-08:00

The weather has been AMAZING in Atlanta the past couple of days and Annie and I have been soaking it up! I love all things green and I find myself craving some green in my life these days. The images below from Coco & Kelly are some of my favorites....

*images via coco & kelly flikr photostream*

Crazy

2010-03-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

One word to sum up my week....CRAZY! The weekend can't get here soon enough.

Come play....

2010-03-01T05:33:00.000-08:00

I was checking out Atlanta interior designer, Barbara Westbrook's website and came across this
amazing playroom. Does it not make you want to pull out your bucket of chalk and start coloring? I'm soo ready to play!

*images via westbrookinteriors.com

You can have this super FUN playroom too, all you need is....

Hudson color chalkboard paint

available in all of these FUN colors!!!

Ikea Stockholm Rand Rug

Pottery Barn Kids Carolina Craft Table

Pottery Barn Kids Carolina Chairs

2modern.com- Boom Child's Modern Chair
I had a hard time finding the orange upholstered chairs, but I thought this one was pretty darn cute. The only problem is it's $300....not going to spend that on a mini chair!

Target- floral burst tufted kids chair
Much better price! It received good reviews too.

Now all I need is an extra room in my house that I can transform into a playroom....minor detail.

R&R

2010-02-26T05:50:00.000-08:00

It has been a whirlwind of a week and I'm looking forward to some rest and relaxation this weekend. I would love to curl up in this bed or the lovely settee at the foot of it. This bedroom is just dreamy. Hope you have a great weekend!!

* image via Amy D. Morris Interiors

Vintage

2010-02-24T17:50:00.000-08:00

Annie has dibs on all the silver! Don't overlook the beautiful orange shag carpet :).

Lil's measuring spoons were the perfect teething toy for Annie.

Happy Monday

2010-02-22T11:25:00.000-08:00

I'm still recovering from the weekend, so today's post is going to be short and sweet. As I was looking through my saved images, I came across this bedroom and it brightened up my day. I absolutely love everything about this image...the mirrored bedside table, upholstered headboard, orange lamp, and dog painting. Everything about this room screams vintage and it's perfection. I hope it brightens up your day too!
*Image via Domino

The Power of a Pillow

2010-02-18T19:09:00.000-08:00

It's amazing the power a pillow can have on a room. It can change the whole feel of a room and really brighten it up! It's a very budget friendly option to give an old sofa, chair or bed a new look. Here are a few pillows I'm loving right now...

Zenyatta Mondatta Pillow
Plum Cushion ..... I love Melanie's etsy shop (I know everyone and there brother have blogged about it) and she also has a blog.

Diamond Dog Pillow
Plum Cushion

Katsugi Linen Pillows

Plum Cushion

Twill Tape Stripe Pillow
West Elm

Orange Suzani Pillow
Wisteria

Francesca Green Pillow
Roberta Roller Rabbit ...this pillow would be perfect for a beach house and the price just right!

Amanda Orange Pillow

Roberta Roller Rabit

Pic Vert Needlepoint Pillow
William Sonoma Home

Safi Suzani Throw Pillow.... this one's for Sissy over at Blue Hydrangea. I know she loves this fabric and I do too!

Kathryn Ireland Home

Hedge Ball and Chain
Hable Construction .... I love Hable and want everything on their website!

Water Birds Pillow
Hable Construction

Galbraith and Paul Domino Pillow.... you new I had to have atleast one G&P pillow.

Room and Board

Galbraith an Paul Zinnia Pillow...this one is my all time fave! I heart Galbraith and Paul.

Room and Board

Zebra Pillow

West Elm

Zebra Crewel Floor Cushion

William Sonoma Home

Jute Braid Pillow...I love this pillow to use as a base and then throw a smaller, fun, patterned pillow in front of it....perfection! The price is nice too.

Pottery Barn

Have a great weekend!!! Annie and I are off to a play date at the park. We are loving this warm weather.

Craving Color

2010-02-17T07:34:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I have every been soooo ready for spring! I am over this drab, cold winter and craving color...the sun, flowers, pretty dresses and I want it NOW!

Domino

Sally King Benedict
Stay in Lines
Greg Irby Fine Art

A little side note on Sally Bededict, she is an Atlanta native and extremely talented. I love her work and it's available at Greg Irby Fine Art. Greg Irby represents emerging, contempary artist and all of the pieces at the gallery are awesome and very resonable!!

Tibi
Calla Lily Dress
Shop Bop

Knot again...

2010-02-16T06:25:00.001-08:00

Yes, Anthropologie has done it again....they've come out with yet another picture perfect knob! I've always loved Anthro's cabinet hardware, but I think the Coiled Rope Knob might just be my favorite. It's simplicity and texture make it the perfect addition to any cabinet, dresser, or chest.

The Weekend

2010-02-12T13:47:00.001-08:00

This past weekend was quite a whirlwind. Friday and Friday night snow was dumping from the sky. We woke up Saturday morning to a beautiful winter wonderland! We were able to enjoy it with Annie for about an hour before we had to jump in the car and head to Charlotte for a friends engagement party (we were supposed to leave Friday, but were delayed due to the snow). We had a blast in Charlotte Saturday, but were on the road again early Sunday morning to get back to spend Valentine's day with our little love bug.

In typical Atlanta fashion the snow had all melted by Sunday and it was in the 50's. Perfect weather for a fun Valentine's day at the park! Annie loved the slide and the swings.

We then headed home to open a few gifts. Annie was very excited. This is her new pose for the camera...don't you love the wink?!

Hope you had a great weekend and have a fabulous week!

Some much needed improvements...

2010-02-10T18:08:00.000-08:00

As you can tell The Buzz received a little face lift over the past couple of days!! What do you think about the new header and my new logo....all compliments of Ashly at Kidlark? Ashly is a graphic artist and helped make all my crazy ideas come to fruition. Due to the fact that I'm incredibly computer illiterate, I needed all the help I could get in the graphic design department! THANK YOU ASHLY! You can check out her website/online store here and blog here.

Also, thank you to Jennifer over at Modgirl (one of my new favorite blogs) for recommending Ashly! You can check out her post about Kidlark here.

Let me know what you think!

Small Bathrooms

2010-02-09T18:28:00.000-08:00

I LOVED Brooke from Velvet & Linen's recent post, "how to make a small bathroom fell bigger". I am dying to redo the 2 very small bathrooms in our house and Brooke's post really inspired me. Check out the post here. Here are a few more small baths that make me happy....

Cottage Living

House Beautiful

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez

2010-02-07T19:05:00.000-08:00

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL....Go Saints!!!
I thought I would celebrate the Saints big victory by posting one of my favorite New Orleans homes featured in House Beautiful designed by Hal Williamson. It's eclectic, bold, romantic, traditional and sooo New Orleans....

This is one of my all time favorite images! I love the blue/green secretary with the blue walls.

I don't know if I'd ever have enough guts to paint my walls this tart green color, but it sure looks awesome in this room. The ikat fabric on the Louis XV chairs really makes a bold statement as well.

another one of my all time favorites....so romantic!

The dining room just screams New Orleans with the silkscreen of Mahalia Jackson, the client bought at Jazz Fest.

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez

Carter Wing Chair for SALE!!

2010-02-02T10:39:00.001-08:00

Last spring I bought a pair of Carter Wing Chairs from South of Market on sale. I really only needed one chair, but I got a good deal and was determined to make the pair work. Well...it just doesn't work in my tiny living room, so I need to part with one of these beauties.

Carter Wing Chair
Fabric- Denim Natural
$900

This chair is AWESOME and looks great anywhere! What sold me was the nailheads and the fact that they are actually really comfortable.

This pair retails for $3,950 at South of Market. See...I'm giving you an awesome deal!!

Email me at mabuzzell@gmail.com if you are interested.

Kmart Tray Table

2010-02-01T13:34:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the March issue of House Beautiful. I just got mine today and it's AWESOME!! It made my week...maybe my month! I haven't even gotten past page 20 yet, but as I flipping through "The Best!" section my eyes where immediately drawn towards this tray table...Guess where it's from?!?

KMART!!! and it's on sale for $69.99. Love the fretwork and mirror top!! I think I've found what I want for valentines day. You can get it here.
I can't wait until Annie goes down for bed tonight so I can give my new HB issue my full attention. Happy reading!

Ikea Redo

2010-01-31T17:35:00.001-08:00

We finally bit the bullet and went to Ikea on Saturday. I've had bad experiences with Ikea in the past, not with the products, just with how amazingly overwhelming the store is. It makes my anxiety level go through the roof, but it was a rainy day so we decided what the heck. I think everyone else in Atlanta was thinking the same thing, because it was packed and it was complete chaos. I was able to check out the products that I had selected for the breakfast room and now that I've seen some of them in person, I'd like to have a redo. I wasn't really diggin' the first light fixture that I selected in person, but I did like the Leran pendant lamp.

only $49.99

I did not love the prints that I selected and honestly wasn't too crazy about any of the other ones they had to offer. I did like the Ribba frames though. They come in lots of different sizes and 4 different finishes. I also was so NOT impressed with the fabric. The quality wasn't great and the repeat was huge. They did not list the repeat online, so I was very surprised to see how massive it was in person. Another reason why I hate buying things without seeing them first!!!

I've always heard that Ikea has awesome children's products and sure enough they did. We found this precious mini bistro table and chairs...how cute!!!

Minnen Table and Chairs

We also got this fun Leka play mat. There were so many cute things for the kiddies. We had to use some major self control to not walk out with a cart full of unnecessary purchases :).

Do you have a favorite Ikea purchase? If so please let me know!

p.s.- still working on the tradional nook

Fun & Funky Breakfast Nook

2010-01-28T08:04:00.000-08:00

Ok, here is my fun & funky breakfast nook on a budget....

Overstock Bistro Retro Dining Table- $116.99

West Elm Overlapping-Squares chair- set of 2 $369....everything else is such a steal you can splurge on the chairs!

I have 2 options for the lighting and art. One is sticking to the budget and two is going a little over budget :).
ONE

Ikea Boja Pendant Lamp- $59.99

Ikea Tvilling Poster set of 2- $9.00

Ikea Ribba Frame- $24.99
Ikea Gunvor Fabric- $6.99 per yard

I would have cute little chair cushions made out of this fabric. I had no clue Ikea had fabric, and for such an awesome price!!! Need to go check out quality though.

TWO

Galbraith and Paul Medium Zinna Pendant Lamp from Room and Board-$349.00

You know how much I LOVE Galbraith and Paul and this pendant lamp would make such a statement!!! I think it's totally worth the splurge...think how happy it will make you! For the chair cushion I would us a solid outdoor fabric in one of the fun colors from the pendant.

West Elm Sunburst Wire Wall Art- $49.00

VOILA...there you have it. Hope you like it! Stay tuned tomorrow for a more traditional nook...this is proving to be much harder to do on a budget than the fun & funky.

The Breakfast Nook

2010-01-27T07:49:00.000-08:00

One of my friends asked me to do a post on utilizing space in a small home or apt. I think creating a breakfast nook in your kitchen or living room is the perfect way to add function and style to a small space. All you need is a small table, a couple of chairs, a cool light fixture and you've got yourself a cozy breakfast nook! If you have room, a banquet is always an awesome option as well. Here are a few of my favorites...

Domino

Domino

Domino

Traditional Home

Domino

Domino

Domino

Domino

Domino

This is my breakfast nook. The hubs and I have enjoyed many meals here! Now it has a lovely high chair pulled up to it too. The wicker chairs are from Mainly Baskets, the table and chandelier were finds at Scott Antique Market, the prints are from Brooks & Black, and the mirror is from Tennile and Co. This space was definitely done on a budget. Stay tuned tomorrow for more breakfast nook options on a budget.

7 months...

2010-01-25T13:12:00.000-08:00

Annie turned 7 months old yesterday...tear. My little boo is growing up so fast! We got a little bored today so we decided to have a photo shoot with all her buddies.

A Room With a View

2010-01-25T11:45:00.001-08:00

Pieces owner Lee Kleinhelter's master bedroom is, to say the least, a room with a view. Kleinhelter and her husband (they now have a precious baby boy too) recently moved from their Garden Hills cottage (It was featured in Cottage Living and is one of my faves!) to a condominium at Sovereign in Buckhead. I can not imagine what a drastic move this would be, but according to this Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles article, it was a move that the entire family is LOVING. What's not to love about this beautiful master?! Be sure to check out the rest of the article, because every inch of the condo is amazing and should not be missed.
Happy Monday!!
*photo from Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles

"A Grand Affair"

2010-01-22T06:41:00.000-08:00

My favorite art gallery in Atlanta, Huff Harrington, is having an opening tonight from 6-8. The show is titled, "A Grand Affair", and the pieces in this show will all be under $1,000!!! Yes, every painting in the gallery will be less than 1,000 buckaroos....what a steal! Check out the website here and blog here.

Painting of the Week
Lisa Meyer Kairos, Nest with Wasp, mixed media on canvas, 24 x 24, $950

Hope to see you there! Have a great weekend.

The Gazebo Project

2010-01-21T10:48:00.001-08:00

I know you've been anxiously waiting to see the finished product of the gazebo I've been working on and posted about here. Well here it is, and I'll apologize in advance for my terrible photography skills that does not give the space justice at all.

The gazebo is set off the back of my in-law's house next to the pool. It is truly a beautiful space that makes you feel like you are miles and miles from Macon, Georgia!

My mother in-law wanted to use a very neutral color palette with splashes of blue. It has a very spa-like feel.

The space is perfect for entertaining, and even has a TV above the fireplace for football season.

The bamboo table and chairs where my mother in-law's parents. We had them painted as well as recovered the cushions in this awesome outdoor fabric from Logan Gardens. We added the back cushion for extra comfort and I think they turned out super cute!

The club chairs are from Walters Wicker. I love the coffee cream finish! Annie gives them 2 thumbs up :)!

I hope you like it! Right now I'm dreaming of warm spring days and hanging out in the gazebo with the fam. Spring can't get here soon enough!!

One day....

2010-01-20T18:10:00.001-08:00

I am going to have a mudroom...a place to drop my bags when I walk in the door, hang my coat and store all the "sports" stuff that is now shoved in the coat closet. It is going to be FABULOUS, just like the one pictured above! I love the Lulu DK fabric on the seat cushion, and the beautiful marble floors.
For now I'd just like a carport or garage, so I don't have to park the baby jogger in my breakfast room....oh one day!
*photo from House Beautiful

Winter Inspiration

2010-01-18T16:46:00.001-08:00

As a designer, I'm always looking for different sources of inspiration. One of my go-to sources is the great outdoors. I love looking outside my kitchen window each morning and watching the seasons change. Right now the trees are bare, the grass is brown and the plants are dead....kinda depressing and not very inspiring. Of course one of my favorite fabric and wallpaper designers, Osborne and Little, was able to find a little inspiration from the bare trees. Don't you just love this fabric from their Autumn 2008, Walk in the Park collection? These beautiful, bare trees are printed on linen and come in 4 beautiful colorways. The aqua colorway (my favorite) is shown above and the linen/black below.

*photos from Osborne and Little

Pics of the Week

2010-01-15T10:17:00.000-08:00

It was my Grandmother's 81st birthday on Tuesday! We took her to lunch at the Horseradish Grill (my favorite) to celebrate. It was a wonderful lunch and Annie helped GG (great gran) blow out her candle. Happy Birthday Grandma!

These 2 pics crack me up! The first is of Annie yesterday morning (6 1/2 months old) hanging out in her swing. She now refuses to lie back and relax. She only wants to sit up and grab all of the animals on the mobile. It makes a terrible noise when she finally gets a hold of one.

This was Annie when she was 2 weeks old.....so tiny, peaceful and quiet. It truly blows my mind how much she has grown. It's so fun to watch her little personality develop as well. I can already tell she's going to be a hand full...just like her mama :)!

I hope you have a great weekend!!

Determination

2010-01-14T17:59:00.000-08:00

I am determined to keep up my streak of 5 post a week, and although it's getting late on Thursday night...I'm still going to get my post in!

I'm also determined to get my office looking like this by the end of 2010. I've got 11 1/2 months to go. I think I can handle it...maybe.

**photo from big.dreamer's Flikr photo stream

Barbara Howard

2010-01-13T07:29:00.000-08:00

I have long been an admirer of Atlanta interior designer, Barbara Howard. Her interiors are always so chic, yet simple and very livable. When I saw this Atlanta home she designed in the most recent issue of Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles, I immediately was in awe!

Read the full article here.

Desk

2010-01-12T12:00:00.000-08:00

I'm in search of a desk for my home office and I'm leaning towards the West Elm 2x2 console desk. The only the thing I'm worried about is that it's only 18" deep. I need LOTS of workspace and I'm not sure if that's going to cut it. I love the openness of it and the shelves on either side are perfect for stacking books, or tucking away baskets filled with fabric samples. The price is perfect too.

This gray and white striped scoop-back chair would pair perfectly with it. I wonder if it's comfortable?

Should I go for it or keep looking? Have you seen any fun, inexpensive desk recently?

**images from www.westelm.com

Stray Dog Designs

2010-01-11T16:22:00.000-08:00

So my shopping buddy, Ansley, and I made the trek to the Atlanta Americas Mart on Friday, despite the icy roads and negative temps. It was a very productive trip and we loved seeing all of the amazing vendors, new products, and awesome showrooms. It's always so helpful to see the pieces you've been eyeing in the catalogs in person...some are more beautiful than you thought and some are complete duds. Stray Dog Designs was one of the companies that I walked in the showroom and fell in love with every piece in the store. I've had their catalog on file forever, but this was my first time seeing most of their products in person, and each and every piece is awesome!! Here are just a few of my favorites...

candy stripe drum pendant

alice pendant

I LOVE these 2 pendants and I think either one of them would be perfect in Annie's big girl room! How cute are they?!

little debbie sconce

I'm speechless...these things are so stinkin' cute!

helena floor lamp

carol floor lamp

L-O-V-E!

mariana floor lamp

katie lamp

titan glass lamp

ed and annie lamp

Gotta love a lamp with Annie in it!

artichoke lamp

crunchberry bahaman

How awesome would these beauties be on either side of a mantel?

deer with flowers

weed study 50

*All of the papier mache pieces come in a plethora of awesome colors. Check out their website here. You will NOT be disappointed!!

*If you're intersted in any of the above items please let me know!

Snow Day

2010-01-08T06:15:00.000-08:00

It is FREEZING here in Atlanta, the wind chill is 2 degrees and we got about a 1/2" of snow last night! That is huge down here in the south and we are loving it. School is canceled and the DOT is going crazy!

This was yesterday, when the snow first started to fall. Annie loved it and I can't wait to bundle her up again and go play in the snow!

I also want to thank Blayne with This Photographer's Life for featuring me on her blog. You have got to check out her blog...it is AWESOME!! She is so talented and the houses she photographs are to die for!

Happy snow day!!

The ATL

2010-01-07T08:20:00.000-08:00

As you can tell from so many other bloggers post, Atlanta is a happening place right now on the design scene. There is so much going on that I don't even know where to begin. One of my favorite blogs, Things That Inspire sums up all the amazing events here . I'm heading down to The Mart tomorrow and Scotts Saturday. I love Atlanta!

It is also supposed to SNOW tonight!!! WAHOO!!!

**image from Martha Stewart

Go Restoration!

2010-01-06T11:32:00.000-08:00

Ooh la la....I'm a loving these vanities from Restoration Hardware! They are hand-sanded, have solid oak frames and you can choose between 1 1/4" Italian Carrara or Creme marble tops. Give me, give me, give me! If you are in the market for a new sink vanity you are in luck, because these beauties are on sale during Restorations annual bath event...check it out here.

Shutter Collection

Weathered Oak Collection

French Casement Collection

What makes me happy...

2010-01-05T12:35:00.000-08:00

Annie makes me SO happy! It's hard to be sad when you have this precious face smiling at you all day.

Annie had her 6 month check up today and the doctor said she is just perfect! She weighs 17lbs 11oz and is 27.5" long. I thank God 100 times a day for our happy, healthy baby girl!!

This library/office from Domino also makes me very, very happy! I could blog all day if I had this as my work space. The vibrant yellow, awesome collection of books and of course, the ghost chair just put a smile on my face.

What makes you happy??

**Domino image from sarahleeab's Flikr photo stream

2010

2010-01-04T10:25:00.000-08:00

2009 was an amazing year...we bought our first house, welcomed Annie into the world, celebrated the weddings of some of our bestest friends, I started a business, and the list could go on and on. God truly blessed my family this past year, and I can't wait to see wait 2010 holds for us.
Usually I don't make a new year's resolution, but this year I have a LIST of resolutions and my list keeps growing. Here are a few...

ORGANIZE my life....I am going to need LOTS of baskets and bins to accomplish this one.

REALLY get my business up and running. Having a precious baby has put my business on the back burner and this year I'm ready to truly focus on m.a.buzzell interiors!

To be a better blogger. The past couple of months The Buzz has been pretty pitiful. I'm determined to make this year a year full of inspiring and interesting post.

Cook at least one new recipe a week. I'm completely stuck in a rut right now with my cooking and it's time I step away from the same old chicken and rice dinners. Today, I made a super simple, healthy and very yummy tomato basil soup for lunch. Check out the recipe here.

Enjoy every second with Annie. Time is flying by so fast! It is just amazing how much she has grown and developed. I also want to keep up with her baby book...I'm really behind right now :(.

Last but not least, to go to church regularly and have quite time everyday. Once again, since I've had a baby, I find both of these things very hard to accomplish, BUT I have got to make them a priority in 2010.

2 families that are very close to me will be on the top of my prayer list this year and I hope that you will add them to yours too:

1. My dear friend Blake Shirley's dad, Gary, was diagnosed with a brain tumor over Christmas. Please pray that God will give him and his family the strength to fight this very tough battle and that He will heal him!

2. Reg's best friend growing up, Tommy and his wife Holli, are expecting a baby boy, Tommy in January. Three months into Holli's pregnancy they found out that baby Tommy has Dandy Walker Syndrome. Please pray for them and for a healthy baby boy. You can follow Holli's blog here.

Here is to a year full of health, wealth, happiness, and lots of love! Happy 2010

**Top 4 images from sarahleeab's Flikr photo stream, image 5 from House Beautiful, and the bottom image is from Picture This Photography**

Excuses, Excuses

2009-12-29T07:20:00.001-08:00

Let me start with I AM SO SORRY for falling of the face of the earth this month! I could rail off a million excuses, but I do not want to bore you. What I will do is promise you that I will be a better blogger in 2010. The wheels in my head have been turning and I have lots of exciting ideas for post in the new year.
So, how was your Christmas?? Annie's first Christmas was perfect in every way. We were able to spend time with both sides of the family, and even enjoy a little bit of time with just the 3 of us at home. Since I last posted, Annie has accomplished so many new and exciting things. She turned 6 months old on Christmas Eve and is now sitting up on her own and she can even say Mama (kinda) :)! Her hair is starting to grow in a little bit (I think it's going to be blonde) and she is teething like a manic...no teeth yet though. Annie loved Christmas! We visited Santa at Phipps
and she did great until Santa put his grubby hands all over her face, then she lost it. What was Santa thinking?? She loved the trees, lights, and most of all the presents :). She honestly could care less about what was inside the gift wrapping, but could spend all day playing with the wrapping itself. She loves paper and ribbons... I think she gets this from her mama.

I hope your holidays have been wonderful! I'll be back in full force in 2010. See you in the new year...so crazy!

Happy Stripes

2009-12-02T13:01:00.000-08:00

Stripes make me happy! I like them...

On my candy...tis the season!

On the floor

On walls

On the ceiling

Even on my beer...Cheers!

*room images from Domino...I think*

Embellishments

2009-12-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for that special something to top your presents with and wow everyone with your gift wrapping skills, you must hit up Nicholas Kniel Fine Ribbons and Embellishments. Nick has it all...beautiful ribbons, unique buttons, fru fru feathers, and the perfect embellishment for any gift.

Check out these lovely packages that Nick wrapped up for Liz Williams' dining table at the 2008 Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Christmas House. The little bird on top just adds the perfect touch. The wrapping is a gift in itself!

Nick also wrapped these beautiful gifts for another one of Liz Williams' projects that was featured in Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles. No need to stick to the traditional red & green wrapping. He is always thinking outside of the box and mixes in a vibrant turquoise with brown and moss green. Love it!

Nick helped Gretchen and me with our room at last years Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Christmas House. He designed and decorated this AWESOME twig tree and also made the fuzzy garland wreaths below. He is sooo talented!

For more fun and exciting things to do with ribbon, you must purchase Nicholas Kniel's book, Ribbon the Art of Adornment. In the mean time make sure you check out his website http://www.nicholaskniel.com/ or even better stop by his store!

Nicholas Kniel Fine Ribbons & Embellishments
290 Hilderbrand Drive, Suite B-16
Atlanta, GA 30328
404.252.8855

I promise you won't come out empty handed and you are sure to be wowed by all the beautiful goodies!

**images from Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles**

Happy Turkey Day!

2009-11-26T17:35:00.001-08:00

I am thankful for these 3 turkeys...

1. My wonderful husband

2. My beautiful baby girl

3. Reg's first turkey....it was so yummy! We had no clue what we were doing, but it was a huge hit with the whole family!

I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving! I for one, have so much to be thankful for and I count my blessing everyday!

Hidden Offices

2009-11-23T11:17:00.000-08:00

I have always LOVED this room from Cottage Living. It is perfect in every way! My favorite part about this living room is the his & her offices. The built-in desk and bookcases are tucked away and can be hidden by the sliding doors...perfect for hiding clutter from guest. I just love the fact that they integrated the work spaces into the living room! The star lanterns and blue wicker chairs really jazz up the space too. I give this room an A+!

Bald=Beautiful

2009-11-17T11:10:00.000-08:00

While Annie and I were out running errands today, a man stopped me and asked if I had just cut my babies hair or if she was really that bald. I mean seriously, did he think I shaved my baby's head?!! The man was dead serious too. I swear...some people! I think bald is beautiful, and Annie is the most beautiful baby in the world (not that I'm biased or anything)!

On another note, I found a pair of super cool lamps at Scotts this past week. They are in a sense bald as well, because I have yet to find shades for them. What do you think?

Have a great week!

Kitchen Lust

2009-11-10T17:28:00.000-08:00

These mouth watering kitchens are some of my all time favorites... Design Galleria - Atlanta Homes & Lifestyle 2008 Christmas Showhouse

Phoebe Howard

Suzanne Kasler- Southern Accents

Jill Sharp Brinson-Southern Accents

Elaine Griffen-Southern Accents

Escape

2009-11-09T17:56:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry for the lack of posts lately, but life has been pretty crazy the past couple of weeks! Annie was baptized this past Sunday and we had a luncheon at our house afterwards with 50 people. Everything was absolutely perfect and Annie was an angel! It was so special to worship and celebrate with family and friends on this very important day in Annie's life.

She just melts my heart and makes me forget all my worries! Thank God for my baby girl!
On top of preparing for the luncheon last week, my computer crashed...again. This time it's for good :(. We took it to the Geek Squad and they said they couldn't even recover the images from my hard drive. We are getting a 2nd opinion, so keep your fingers crossed that all my photo files can be recovered....that is all I care about! Needless to say, this is the main reason for my lack of post. I'm now using my husbands old computer and trying to rebuild my "inspiration" file with beautiful photos for the the blog!

With all the craziness in my life right now, I just want to escape to this beautiful bathroom and soak in the tub and gaze out the window and day dream. This bathroom was designed by Keith Summerour for his personal Meriweather country retreat. Isn't it dreamy?!

**photo from Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles

ATL Estate Sale

2009-11-04T06:12:00.000-08:00

To all you Atlantans, there is a HUGE estate sale tomorrow through Saturday at 9 Vernon Road. The best part about this estate sale is that the proceeds benefit the Atlanta Pet Rescue and Adoption, a no-kill animal shelter for homeless, abused and neglected pets. This estate is filled with tons of treasures! I am most looking forward to digging through the enormous collection of books including vintage first editions..ooh la la. Check out the website for the sale at www.meredog.com/sale.

The Gazebo Project and a Birthday Celebration

2009-11-02T12:54:00.000-08:00

For the past 3 months, I have been working with my in-laws on their awesome gazebo that they have built in their backyard by the pool. The gazebo is complete and we are now just waiting on the draperies, dining chair cushions, and hosts chairs to come in. This is a rendering of the room by their architect, Daly Smith. I can't wait to show y'all the finished product once everything is installed. It is gorgeous!

We celebrated Claude's 80th birthday, my husband's grandmother, on Sunday night. It was a wonderful celebration!! Most of Reg's family was there, and we all gathered outside in the gazebo to celebrate. Above is a picture of Annie with her great grandmother, Claude, sitting in the Curacao Club Chairs from Walters Wicker that were installed just in time for the party. We ordered 4 of these chairs and they are circled around the fireplace. We needed something small, but super comfortable and these chairs were perfect! Hopefully the room will be complete by Thanksgiving...stay tuned! The Curacao Club Chair from Walters Wicker

The fam! Happy 80th birthday Claude!

Happy Halloween

2009-10-30T04:10:00.001-07:00

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! My little pumpkin!

Lamp Love

2009-10-29T09:07:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite lamps ever is the Laslo Lamp from Bungalow 5. I LOVE this double gourd, porcelain lamp with its graphic green & brown hand painted pattern. It adds the perfect pop of color and pattern to a room.
It also comes in blue and brown if you're interested.

Here it is in my family room. It makes me smile every time I look at it....it's the little things in life that make me happy!

Under the Live Oaks at Seminole Plantation

2009-10-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we attended an AMAZING wedding of a dear friend, Sarah Brooks, at Seminole Plantation in Thomasville, Georgia. The setting was out of a movie! The ceremony was held under tons of beautiful live oaks. It was simply breathtaking!

When you walked into the ceremony, you were greeted with lemonade served in mason jars...so southern and refreshing!

All of the flowers were awesome! These were the flowers as you were walking down the aisle. I loved the tables they were sitting on...it was just 3 pieces of firewood with a marble top.

This was the bride's bouquet....gorgeous!

Perfect for the fall and I loved all of the containers!

My favorite part of the reception were these glass candle lit lanterns hanging from the trees.... so romantic!

I told you...straight from a movie!

Everything was picture perfect and the bride and groom could not be happier. It was a wonderful weekend!

Off the Chart

2009-10-27T17:59:00.001-07:00

Annie turned 4 months old this past Saturday. I can't believe how fast time flies and how much my little boo has grown! She had her 4 month check up today and everything went well. She now weighs 15 lbs and is 26 3/4 inches long! This puts her in the 80th percentile in weight and she is OFF THE CHART in height! The nurse had to remeasure her to make sure she wasn't mistaken, and she wasn't... little Annie is just a giant. She's going to be looking down on her 5' nothing parents before we know it :).

She loved playing with the paper on the table and looking at herself in the mirror.

We are so blessed to have such a healthy and happy baby girl!

Pumpkin Carving Time

2009-10-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

Halloween is only a few days away!! Hope y'all have your costumes ready. It's also time to pull out your pumpkin carving tools (mine are my kitchen knives) and get to carving. You've got to have your pumpkins all lit up for the little trick-or-treaters! Here are a few fun and different ideas from good ole Martha Stewart... First off, check out Martha's bag of tools....pretty intense! Your going to need them though, if you plan on doing some of the intricate carving that she has in mind.

You have to be a brain surgeon to carve these beauties!

Love these pumpkin votives!

How cute is this little owl family? It could be the Buzzell's...mama, papa and little Annie!

These pumpkins are a little more my speed. All you have to do is punch a bunch of holes in the pumpkin and then stick Christmas lights in each hole...pretty easy!

Happy Carving!!

*images from www.marthastewart.com*

Texture

2009-10-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

I love,love, love natural wallcoverings like grasscloths, hemps, silks, and linens. They add texture, warmth and interest to any room. My favorite natural textured wallcovering company is Phillip Jeffries Ltd. Their handcrafted wallcoverings are to die for!!

From the moment I laid eyes on this bedroom designed by Meg Braff in the October issue of House Beautiful, I was in love. Braff covered the walls in Phillip Jeffries' Manilla Hemp in Kelly Green, and what a statement these walls make! The texture and color are so scrumptous! She balances out the intensity of the walls with all white furniture. The combination of kelly green and white just makes me smile. You gotta love the Jacqui desk and Chloe armchair from Bungalow 5.

One of my favorite collections from Phillip Jeffries is the Voyage Collection. This collection of hand-screen, printed designs come on hemp, linen, Japanese Paper weave and jute wallcoverings. They are AWESOME and would make such a statement in a foyer or powder room!!

*images from House Beautiful and http://www.phillipjeffries.com/.

How do you like your mantel?

2009-10-19T18:21:00.000-07:00

A mantel is always the focal point of a room...how do you like your mantel?
For the living room, I love a mantel with a big, beautiful mirror hanging over it, flanked with a pair of sconces and a few accessories scattered across it. I love how a mirror over the mantel reflects the rest of the room, which is art within itself. In the family room, I like something a little more casual and fun. Replace the mirror with a great piece of art, or maybe a cool arrangement of framed prints...of course, fun and funky accessories always add a punch of personality to any room! Here are a few of my favorites...

Elle Decor

DominoHouse Beautiful

Domino

House Beautiful

Domino

House Beautiful

The Weekend

2009-10-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

It's finally here!! What are your weekend plans? My weekend will be filled with lots of shopping, football, a wedding and some quality time with family. For those of you Atlantans out there, the Partners Card week kicks off tomorrow! The Partners Card is AMAZING...see, you purchase this card for $60 and 100% of the proceeds go to Camp Twin Lakes. With the card you get 20% off at TONS & TONS of stores and restaurants all around Atlanta for the week of October 17-25. Here are some of the store I will be hitting up, just to name a few..

For me- Tulipano, J.Crew, Anthropology, Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Tootsies

For Annie- Kangaroo Pouch, Children's Prep Shop, Gretchen's and Patagonia

For the hubby- Brooks Brothers, H.Stockton, Miller Brothers, Orvis

For the home- Gramercy, B.D. Jeffries, Erika Reade, Web Marstellar, Nicholson Gallery, Pottery Barn, West Elm

I can't wait! It's awesome because I get all of my Christmas shopping done now and save 20% while helping a good cause...you can't beat that. You can purchase a Partners Card at http://www.partnerscard.com/. Have a great weekend!!

Let's cozy up by the fire

2009-10-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

The weather is miserable here, cold and rainy...YUCK! All I want to do is cozy up next to a warm fire with my little boo and my hubby. Unfortunately, we don't have a fireplace, but if we did, I'd take this one.

My mom, Annie and I took a little trip to Athens on Tuesday to visit my sister. We ate lunch at Last Resort (yummy!!) and did some shopping. Annie scored this cute fall dress at The Elephant Trunk. She made her first trip to ADAC with me this morning, so of course I had to get her all dolled up. She's my little designer in training :)!!

**I think the photo above is from Domino...not sure though**

Our Home...Before and After (Finally)!!

2009-10-13T18:13:00.000-07:00

Here it is...BEFORE
We moved into our first house the last week of March 2009. I was 6 months pregnant and ready to prepare my nest. Thankfully, the interior of the house was move in ready (the previous owner was also an interior designer...we lucked out). This was a must considering my baby bump, and all we had to do was paint a couple of rooms and put new carpet in the nursery. BUT as you can see by the picture, the exterior needed a little TLC. We were going to wait a year or so before we made any improvements, but then Reg got the itch and it was all down hill from there. It all started with Reg trimming a few limbs. Before we knew it, we were cutting down 13 trees and landscaping the back yard. As many of you "houseaholics" (a fellow blogger turned me on to this term..haha) may know, once you do one thing to a house, it's a domino effect.Have you ever seen so many pine trees...they had to go!The mud pit after we cut down ALL the trees...domino effect = much needed landscaping.

Gotta love some new, green Zoysia! This is my husbands new love...minus me and Annie :).The brick on our house was not pretty...it was an ugly, orange color and I was dying to paint over it.
So we did and ta-da here it is!! Hope you like it! I went with Sherwin William Wool Skein for the main color, Panda White for the trim and Hardware for the shutters and doors.

We also redid the front porch and repaved the driveway. Check out the concrete slab and rotten columns on the old front porch...had to go. I wish I had a better pic, but this was all I could find.

We replaced the concrete slab floor with new brick (sorry, my terminology is terrible), and it made a huge difference!!

Here is the finished product with new columns, copper "eye brow", arch, shingles and lanterns to replace the hanging fixture. We saved a lot of money by not having to change the roof pitch.

Once again, the domino effect is coming into play and we now need to landscape the front yard. Unfortunately, the bank account is empty and we are just going to have to wait!!
Last but not least, the driveway before and after.

I'm so glad all the workmen are finally out of our hair and we can now enjoy our new and improved home.