stylist Thea Beasley

Do you subscribe to Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles?  If not, you should.  Please check out a few images of stylist's Thea Beasley's home near Atlanta.  I'm loving it.

One day I too want a fireplace filled with crushed oyster shells

It's a small world, too.  I just found her blog and realized that she was the stylist for photographer Rob Brinson's images (well, some of them anyway) that I posted the other day.  Even with 5 million people, Atlanta is not such a big city afterall.

Are y'all shopping today?  I can't do it.  I did buy some gifts from Brooke's shop Pure & Noble since she is having a little sale and am planning to take advantage of Ceri Hoover's 20 percent off.  I'm buying handmade this Christmas!

Julie

still grateful & Jill Brinson

So Happy Thanksgiving!  This is me, thankful for a clean and quiet home.  There is really no other way to scrub and clean and organize for a shoot than kicking out my husband and the boys.  We are having Thanksgiving today at my in-law's place at Lake Lanier....so I just pleaded for them to head out early.  I was so happy to walk around in a clean and ready house that I had to pull out the camera at 9 pm.  It is like spotting the Lochness Monster.  When you have little boys, no one would ever believe your home was clean.  You try to catch a shot for proof.

Sherry came over and spent about all day with me.  I wish I had before pictures of my office.  (Just insert "Hoarders" here and you can imagine.  When they came to scout our home this was where I threw everything without a home.  You couldn't walk in it.)

She took everything out, organized and put it back in (beautiful) order.  I am so thankful for her help!

She really is like a mentor, too.  She's been designing for fifteen years, and been published often, so she has so much information to share and I am like a little sponge when I'm with her.  She gives me tips on what she does with clients, shows me hidden resources in Atlanta and spends hours with me in ADAC.  Why?  She is just that kind of a person.  While she was working I was trying to organize, but mostly I was pulling out old tear-sheets and saying, "Look, Sherry!  Couldn't you eat this room?"  She would oblige and then continue cleaning up my crap.

I am not a real fan of color-coded books in libraries, but LOVE them in an office!  So calming on the eye.

Why didn't I think of putting lamp shades with lamp shades?

And Elle Decor with Elle Decor and Country Home with Country Home?  This decorator is so happy.

She even pulled out a roll of burlap from her trunk and cut me a runner for my desk on the spot.  (I'll get a  pic next time.)

It is weird (and good) being in the house alone.  I won't lie.  

I pulled out my heavy, velvet blanket...

Found Julia on demand...(little tidbit here.  I used to teach at Campbell High School where she went.  I even taught English with her former teacher, Mrs. Romanchuk.  Some good stories there.)

Found another friend....

And one of my best friends.

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And about Jill Brinson--I am such a dork.  How did I not know that the photographer, Rob Brinson, is married to her and lives in this home?  I just didn't put two and two together.

Sherry told me this.  I hope I can act a little normal around him.  His wife has perfect taste--there are not many homes where I love everything about it.  

You know this home....forget football and pie, here is your after turkey snack:

Can you pick a favorite from this kitchen?  I think the lights and the windows.  And this table/island?!  What do you love?

(All from Housebeautiful.com)

And next time I'll be posting it will be from milkandhoneyhome.com (almost done)

Enjoy your families today...I'm off to the lake to kiss my boys.   

Julie

kitchens & being thankful

Hey Brandi, this one is for you.....


So last week I was writing about kitchens and how I'm thinking that we will be seeing a lot more of rustic wood kitchens soon.  Just like life:  you say something then you see it everywhere....

In Southern Living & House Beautiful this month I saw examples of this.  Southern Living featured a kitchen with loads of reclaimed wood and House Beautiful's cover is a natural wood tone as well.

I do kinda hate trends, but they are inevitable.  And this is my prediction for the next few years, at least.

This is from Bobby McAlpine's book via South of Market

And this rustic island is actually the inspiration for our client's kitchen:

And another kitchen from House Beautiful....rustic walls.

I am very sorry it is sideways  (there is no way to rotate after uploading, right?)  If you turn your head you will see the wood island and the wine barrel chandelier.

I love this look, though, because I think it will stand the test of time.  (I also think white kitchens will, too!)  I recently watched Woody Allen's Crimes & Misdemeanors for the first time--and I was in awe of how timeless and not dated Woody Allen's character's NY apartment was.  It was natural wood.  It looked so simple against all of the hard, angular '80s decor in the rest of the film.

But what I also think we will be seeing more of is tables in lieu of large islands.  I think because of our downturned economy and because of the "trend" to eat at home and eat locally (which I hope is here to stay!!  I wish I would never see another McDonalds again.), having a warm & intimate eat-in kitchen is something that is definitely not going away anytime soon.

a cozy eat-in kitchen (sorry--don't have the source.  Please email me if you do!)

And even though this kitchen is white, you have so much warm wood with the ceiling and the table (and no large island!)  (House Beautiful or Elle Decor?  forgive me I forgot.)

Another shot of the House Beautiful kitchen.  

(I promise to take a picture of my mom's kitchen when she lets me.  She has a table in the middle instead of an island and it is kinda fun to sit at the table and prepare a meal together...and easy on the legs.)

And if we are dreaming about eat-in kitchens....I can envision a warm, wood kitchen with this Currey & Co. green pendant over the table:

This farm table

(White Flower Farmhouse)

And this table surrounded by these....

Design Within Reach

It may sound tacky, but I know it would be lovely.

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I want to say I am thankful for all of you this Thanksgiving...and I am also thankful for some true friends I have been lucky enough to discover through this blog (Sherry, Ally & Seleta).  Sherry is even coming over to help me clean up before the shoot--who does that?

Have a great week and I will see you back at the end of the week with a new blog!  With client now asking to see a portfolio, I figured it was time for a little makeover.

Happy Thanksgiving.....Julie

(Also---anonymous:  our kitchen shelves are 12 inches deep, and Dina, yes, please come to the design blogger dinner!!  It is open to design lovers, too :)  If you ever have a question make sure to give me your email address so I can respond.

I still love Cottage Living

and I still find so much inspiration in its rooms.  Do you?

The chairs.  The candles.  The toile panels.  Perfection.

Love the contrast of the bold floor and bold pendants with the white walls and sunny windows.

that ceiling!  love.

remember this feminine house?

This is our local community, Serenbe, south of Atlanta.  Next time you are in town it is worth the drive out there.  Such a utopia.

And lastly....is there much better than rows of metal bins in a kitchen?  

Have a good Thursday.  I'm off to finish cooking my contribution to the feast at 6 in the morning.  Oh, the things you do as a mom you never dreamed you would do.  Like making hearty casseroles before you've had your morning coffee and saying things like, "Liam, get that enema out of your mouth!"  Don't you wish we had a recording of all the ridiculous things we say and they?!  Julie

And Anisa is getting her wisdom teeth out today, bless her heart!  Please say a prayer for her.  

eye candy: County Home Magazine

So on this Day II of honoring those who have gone before us, I must include Country Home Magazine.  Tiffany from Holiday, though, said that she heard Country Home is making a comeback.  Is this true?

I would love it if it were so, but when I bought what I thought was a new Country Home at Barnes & Noble a few months back, I felt a little gipped because it was just a "bookazine" reprint of homes I have already seen (and loved, mind you!).  If this news is true, please do fill us in someone!

But while we wait, here are a few images of the beloved magazine.  And, actually, the name is such a misnomer.  I find many modern touches and many edgy rooms in its pages.  Here are a few.  Do you still love this mag?

(Oh, and on my checklist--Rue article, done.  Living Room sketches and plan in head--done.  Aren't y'all so busy this time of year, too?  Thanks for your wellwishes....)

Do you remember this nook?  I find myself thinking of it often.  Like a room within a room.  And please check out the single metallic silver sconce on the right with a Swedish dining chair beneath.  Perfection.

Funky yellow wallpaper, mix of pattern on the bed, giant, inexpensive paper lantern.  Cool country.

(Hey, come to think of it, their website is up-and-running....maybe they are still in production?!)

banquette heaven (IKEA Saarenin knockoff)  Check out the floors!  What do y'all think these are?  

Doesn't this kitchen remind you of the one I posted yesterday from Domino?

Damask wallpaper with (most likely) ironstone platters simply adorning wall.  Love it.

Love a huge bedside table--like this (like a real table!)  And the three various damasks on the bed.  How simple and perfect  (Can't tell if the headboard is wood with a white stencil...you can find this stencil at Michael's and Hobby Lobby, BTW....or upholstered in damask-print fabric.)  Don't these mix of hues work?

And this wonderful kitchen.  I think the next wave of kitchens will be a barnwood-type wood cabinets.  I love my white kitchen, I do, and I wouldn't change a thing.  But I do think the next thing in kitchens will be reclaimed, chunky wood mixed with materials.  I think if Domino were still around this is what they would be doing next.  Oh, and I think no more huge islands (which I also have...and love).  I think only tables in kitchens in lieu of islands or two "islands"....one for storage and one table for eating.  Forgive this tangent, just been on my mind lately)

Today I'm proudly wearing my graphite Hunter boots because there is finally rain in Atlanta!!  Hoorah! Julie

In Memoriam Week: Domino

This week I'm taking a little blogging break of sorts....I'm just too slammed, to be honest.  Here's my week-at-a-glance:  (by the way, have you ever seen Martha's month-at-a-glance at the beginning of her magazine?  Are you kidding me?  And the crazy thing is--I bet she actually completes that list.)


+ get the house clean.  I mean really clean (dust under chairs, wipe baseboards, touch-up paint that matchbox cars have scratched in the kitchen, etc.) because the shoot is the 29th and 30th!!  I can't wait, but if you saw this home at the moment you would laugh at me if I told you BH & G was coming in two weeks.  (Anyone live in Atlanta and want to help me out?  Come on over.  I have wine....and strong coffee...and popsicles.)

+ get the Rue article finished.  One down, one to go.

+ work on design boards with Anisa for a client  (for kitchen, mudroom, dining room, hallway, master bedroom, master bathroom, living room, outdoor terrace living area, basement/ downstairs living room, front exterior.  Of course I am thrilled to be working on this!!!  but this is a lot of work.

+ cook for Thanksgiving feast for the boys' mothers morning out party this Thursday.

+ cook for our own Thanksgiving--we will be going to my mother-in-law's lake house at Lake Lanier next week.

+ work on finalizing the paperwork & architect plans for our Airstream barn/ cottage in our backyard.


I guess like Cher says, "I'll sleep when I'm dead."

So here is my segue to honoring those magazines who have passed away.  I want to share some of my favorite images from the magazine holy trinity--Domino, Cottage Living, and Country Home.

        
                                            Let's begin the week with Domino......

Definitely ahead of its time.  The simple subway tiles laid in a herringbone pattern, the pops of robins' egg blue in the pendants, shelf brackets and plates.  The wall-mounted oil-rubbed bronze faucet, the long & modern cabinet pulls and the eco-friendly dishwasher (wash 1/2 a load or a full load if you wish to conserve water and energy).  And how Julia Child of them to install a utilitarian and beautiful pot rack and coffee cups hooks under the bottom shelf?!  Love it in all its fantastic glory.

Have a great Monday!  Julie

so I guess it pays to put yourself out there

When I started this blog in May I was bursting with passion and ideas about design (still am), so it really was a natural next step....(free!)  I was spending so much time reading design blogs at night, I thought, "Why not just start one myself."

When I first wrote Sissy about fabric or something asked me if I worked in design.  I said, "No.  But I want to."  When you know you have a strong desire about something, don't you find yourself looking for validation outside of you?

Anyway, I hope y'all are tired about me sharing everything about what it going on and starting a business.  This is just how it is unfolding for us and I want to share it!  I really do have a desire to have a successful design business one day, to have a shop, and to keep writing.  

  I was talking with a design blogger yesterday and she was telling me how a lot of designers who have their design business up-and-running and then decide to blog think negatively about bloggers who then wish to create a design business after they have been blogging (like me).  I can see how they might feel that way...but life is a journey and none of us can really plan where it might take us.  Well, we can plan, and we should, but "life is what happens after we have already made plans" right?

But even though I dreamed of being published one day I didn't think (if it did happen at all), that it would happen so soon.  I still don't know the date but you know I will share when they are here!

And now they tell me that the renovation magazine "Kitchen and Bath Makeovers" (a sister company of BH & G) will be shooting our master bath.  I am so excited!!  

And the Milk and Honey team (Anisa and I) are meeting with our first prospective client today...here home in Buckhead is going through a major renovation.  Fingers crossed that the family likes us!

Thank you, readers, for reading when you do and your comments and encouragement have meant so much.  Without you none of this would be happening!

Love y'all........Julie

This and That Friday (eye candy)

So glad it's Friday today.  Aren't you?

Here is a little treat from Denmark.  One of my favorite blogs in the world, Sanctuary, posted this sweet and colorful kitchen the other day.  Do you not love the blue & green, the square tiles, and the rusticness?  (coined a word there)

I can't get over how much my aesthetic is born from all things from Sweden and Denmark (and that is my heritage...I mean, generations ago)  I know I will always love white.

On another note, yesterday I was receiving an abundance of emails.  Now I know why.

Those little Homegoods scouts must be sneaky.  They didn't tell me they were going to use this blog to help advertise their lamps.  Hope I can help....I do love Homegoods  

(feel free to contact me for my address so you can share the love, HG.  Just kidding...kind of)

Thanks to Sherry for sending me the link!  Y'all have to see her blog...and her work.  (Here is her bathroom below:)

Next, Anisa wishes to sell her table and chairs seen here.  (White round table & four woven chairs with white cushions, $400)

Lastly, I am trying to locate the wallpaper on the bottom left.  Can anyone help?  It it silver mylar with the cream graphic.  (Here is Frank Keenan from Cottage Living--Fran, if you or your friends may happen to see this post, I would love to interview you, too!  We love your style.  I can't find you...I've tried)

Have a great weekend!!!  Julie & Anisa