The Blog Rabbit Trail...

I think one of the best things about blogging for me will be that I can look back and see where I have come from.  I am new to this, but am having fun with it!  I was thinking whatever got me started in the first place.

I really got the design bug in our last home.  (Actually, I have always been obsessed with it.  When other little girls in our neighborhood would play school, I was making my own magazines--my first one was called "Paisley Park"!  I totally remember it.  I also remember these lace-up floral boots I wore in 6th grade.  These stick out in my mind because they are my first memory of taking a bold design move.)  

Anyway, I knew I had this passion and I had a friend come help me, Anisa Darnell.  She is awesome.  I will post her house someday when she lets me.  Her home will be in a magazine (or two, or three) one day!

She helped me get out of my comfort zone and get a little bold!

The kitchen wasn't so bold--but these stripes were a bold move!  (I know I look tired in that picture.  Wyatt didn't sleep well til 20 months!)

Yet, even after we changed our home, Chris and I knew in our hearts that it was time to sell our home.  Bad market in Atlanta notwithstanding, we still listed it.  

It sold at the first showing.  I am not being boastful, it was God's will....just explaining that this gave me some confirmation for my passion for design.  I worked my hiney off to stage that home (Chris did, too)! I cleaned, got a storage unit, and learned a lot from Ms. Sabrina Soto.  They day of our first showing I bought $20 worth of white roses from Wal-Mart and sprinkled them throughout the home.  I loaded up two babies, the dog, and what I had left of my sanity.  I prayed that day, "God, I feel that it is your will for us to move.  If so, please let it be today.  I don't think I can do this again."

It went under contract!

We found this diamond-in-the-rough....so I needed some design help.

Then begins my first experience with design blogs.  While looking at Wisteria's website (sorry, don't know how to do embedded links yet), I looked at their "design community" link.  I saw this blog:

I loved it!  I began searching and learning.  Not only did I love Brooke's style, I loved her spirit.  I think one reason I never got into a career in design was my fear that all design lovers were superficial and materialistic.  My brief experience in the fashion world in my early '20s showed me that.

I was wrong.  I began learning that many design-obsessed (like myself), loved design for the art of it; like they were expressing their souls.  From her blog I found others like Erika from Urban Grace, Marianne at Haven and Home and Rachel at Nest Egg.  Not only were these women talented (and lovely), but I could tell from their posts that they did so to glorify God.

This gave me hope!

From there, I found Lauren's blog at Pure Style Home.  At first, I must admit, I was jealous.  Not only is she uber-talented, beautiful, and seemingly living an ideal family life, but she is ambitious!  

(I love this bedroom redo she did at a woman's shelter.  Style really doesn't have to cost a lot!)

I have learned that when I feel jealous it usually means that I need to get my butt up and do something.  

Now, I really just feel respect for her.

I loved how open she and revealing she was in her blog.  I also got some ideas from her!

I feel in love with this:

Her breakfast nook

So, I emailed her and she told me where to get this:

So sad, but it was discontinued!  So, I found this at Home Depot:

I absolutely love it!  (And the price fit our budget well).

From there, I found myself discovering more online design, like Sibella Court:

Whose style and fearlessness is so inspiring.  When you take risks, not everyone will like it.

I love that about designers.  

That makes me think about Lauren again.  She became a bonefide designer here:

You hang a globe up like a light fixture--then you've got design cahones!!

My favorite blogs also come from Sweden...I love images like these (credits unknown):

Wow...that was cheaper than therapy!  Take care, Julie

For my friend...

I have known my girlfriend, Jennifer, since we were thirteen.  Boy, did we have fun when we were younger!  We would drive to St. George Island in our bras, sneak out the car to go and rearrange letters on gas station signs....Hell, we even got arrested together.  What is that quote, "A good friend doesn't bail you out of a jail...a good friend is in there with you."  But we are ANGELS now, mind you.  I can't tarnish this reputation.

and said angels at friend's wedding...

said angels as fish people at strange sorority rush thingy...

that is scary.

My girlfriend is awesome and is now part owner of this:

Eclipse Post Production in Atlanta.  Isn't so cool to meet your friends when we're wearing training bras then see them all grown up with fun, important jobs and gorgeous husbands and sweet babies?  So cool.

Jennifer is no wallflower.  This girl toured with Pink Floyd in college (not kidding), knows everybody who is "to know" in Atlanta, been around the world and aspires to save the world while photographing it all for National Geographic.  Her fave star is Angelina (don't hold it against her), while mine is sweet Gwyneth.  Opposites usually make great friends, don't they?

Jen and her amazing husband, Jeremy, have a huge house with a YARD within the perimeter of Atlanta.  This shows they have done well.  To live in-town and actually have a backyard to play in says something.

They entertain all the time!  I want to entertain like them when I grow up.

She now has "hired" me to help redecorate her dining room and family room.  I couldn't be more excited.  Jen, here are some of more ideas.  I'll bring more for Thursday night.  This post is already too long.

I know you said you love Restoration Hardware, and I see where you are coming from.  I think it is too boring for y'all, maybe.  Maybe you can add elements of it, but I see you as so worldly, hip, modern and old and the same time.  Look at how bold this entry is from Vogue Living.  You likey?

Since you are keeping the walls the same in the den, but changing them in the dining area...what if we keep a good flow from both rooms.  The walls are yellowish and very French or even Italian.  Since we have that yellow, we could contrast that with deep purple...then keep the rest neutral.  We could play within those two colors.  (I know there is no color above, but I think you need some glamour like this)  unknown photo credit.

The walls remind me a little of yours.  See how well it pairs with neutrals?  Martha Stewart Living credit.

I am realizing I have too much to say, so I will post Part II tomorrow.  But, Jen, look at this image.  We can do a floor lamp like this, but purple!  (unknown credit)

Last image for today:  since your table is quite formal, what about pairing that with 2 bold, modern pendants like these?  Oh, and perhaps switch out some of the dining chairs for purple Tolix?  Jen, you have to have some Tolix--they are the original French cafe chair!  So you.

Okay, more tomorrow!  fun, fun!

Julie

Reflection Inspiration

I told my girlfriend, Jillian, the other day that I think I have a mirror in every room.  She said, "I like mirrors.  But I don't want people to think I am narcissistic."

I know I have this one here, where we eat.  But believe me...I sit where I cannot see myself while eating.  I really do not have them in my home for checking appearances.  At all!

I use them because of what Suzanne Kasler said:  "Mirrors are like adding water to a room."  Isn't that beautiful?  If you can't cut open a new window or bring in the trees from outside, at least you can reflect the sun and see beautiful images of the trees.

image:  Traditional Home

This picture from Ally Wentworth's home is the inspiration for for our stairwell.

here is the view to the left of it...(see I need a large, chunky piece of furniture under the Sandra Pratt picture (copy from Ballard's...not original).  I found a beautiful, light gray Swedish console which would be perfect here at Bungalow Classic.  Maybe for Christmas?

Here is one picture of how brightly the mirrors will reflect the sun here!  I attempted to put mirrors with varying colors of frames.  It just didn't work with the room.  I am now keeping all the mirrors' frames in the white family.  (My husband will be so surprised I chose white:)

Most of the white mirrors I have found at Homegoods (love Homegoods!), yard sales, antique shops, and Ballards.  I do have two coming from Recycled Brooklyn on Etsy.  (The craftsman lives in an industrial part of Brooklyn and he "upcycles" in Etsy speak materials from worksites.  He is a superb carpenter.  He needs a refresher course in shipping.  He is great, though, and is now shipping me two!"

I can't wait to show you how it turns out when we hang them this weekend.  All the best...Julie

Oh, and I leave you with one more mirror from our home:

Do you think my visitors will think I love my image too much....or that I just love light & decor?  Can you have too many mirrors?