I will buy Lonny in print because of Lulu DK

Surely you saw Lonny, right?

In my opinion, the best ever!  And I'm not lying about the title of this post.  Sure, I think $34 is crazy money for a magazine...but I pay that for books that have inspired me less.  (And I will pay it for Rue, too, of course, if they were to print as well!!)

Here is the fabric designer above, Lulu DK, in her NY apartment (that may still be on the market?  Not sure.)

And here she is in her current home with her two sons (for Lonny) 

images via her blog Trail of Inspiration

How talented is Lulu Dekwiatkowki?  Please view these glorious rooms.

look at her fabrics on the ottomans.  I have decided I'm going to save up to buy one of her pillows.  Truly one-of-a-kind.

But one of my favorite rooms is this bedroom.  Who would think to put that neutral art in the center of the wall like that in-between two intricate black and white pieces?  The entire composition of the room just blows me away.

And look at where she gets inspired in Italy (her husband is Italian)

more of her custom fabrics....

And here the designer is for C Magazine (April 2009)

The best hallway ever!!  (Gotta tell Chris now that we are going to wallpaper our hallway..not kidding)

No windows?  No problem.  What about a custom beach mural.  I love everything light & natural (like the beach)...and just that touch of black and bronze in the chandelier.

And to close with an image of her NY home.

Once in a while do you come across a room, a song, a poem or a movie that just gives you a true high?  Lifts the spirits?  Isn't that what God created art for?  Her rooms--her art do that to me.

Have an uplifting Tuesday.....Julie

Giveaway, etc.!

You know, it is hard to beat Etsy for pillows!!  I love the

selection at

Etsy Store: Milk and Cookies

fitting name for a milk & honey giveaway!

Please check out her selection of beautiful pillows.

Simply comment about what chore you hate the most.  I'll start:

putting on fitted sheets!  You have until this Saturday morning to post.

(sorry...only for you in the US and Canada)

Okay, this is the total opposite of a giveaway, but I thought

one of you may want these chairs before I sell them

elsewhere.  

I have six of them, and I love them, but I really don't have need for

them now.  They are antiques and have been painted in Heirloom

White paint, distressed a little, with great blue zebra fabric on seats!

$50 each....take one, two, three, whatever.  (email me if you want

them.  I live in the Atlanta 'burbs  julie(at)milkandhoneyhome(dot)com)

the same chairs you see here:

Ashley Putnam's dining room in Lonny Magazine via

Green Street Blog

More of Ryan Korban (from Lonny)

Again....Lonny was awesome.  I am mostly excited about the ad for John Derian for Target!!  But I also really loved seeing this designer's work:  Ryan Korban.  I dug up his portfolio and some pictures for myself...and y'all.  Here it goes...

what a cutie  (this image from The Selby )

I am loving the fur.

from his business, Edon Manor 

I love being able to dine in the library if you want to....aren't his spaces so lush and yummy?

Excuse me...he is simply just bad ass.  

(Can you read that...something like "college is an institution where a man gets his bachelor's degree and a woman gets.....something marriage.?)

And if you have read Lonny...you have seen the one above this text.  (via The Neotraditionalist )         Do you love how he mixes such a good feminine with the masculine?  (the rough headboard with the soft fur...the Bridget Bardot with the utilitarian chrome task lighting?)  I love.  Do you love?

He sites (on The Selby) as Kelly Wearstler as one of his influences.  Do you find his work polarizing like hers?

And one more thing...think Michelle Adams will be the new Margaret Russell? 

All the best!  Julie

Before & After Inspiration

As with any renovation (unless you are loaded), improvements have to be made in stages. I really need to dig up the real "before" pics and do a good before & after post.  I will do that!  But, for now, just wanted to show you some beginning changes on the exterior of our 1978 ranch.

Yesterday we had our board & batten shutters put on.  We painted them Ben Moore's Rockport Gray.  I am really happy with them.  They add a little contrast and they are like the jewelry of the house!  What do you think?  (please don't mind that crazy Crepe Myrtle...we need to get rid of all those next)

here is the before...

and now!  Fun!  It is giving us the more cottage/barn look that we like.  The '70s were great, but we want to leave them where they belong.

Chris wants to add some shutter dogs & hinges, so we'll add them eventually.

One picture we showed our contractor (Professional Home Enhancements, by the way.  If you are in or near Atlanta, Frank Kratzr and his crew are the best!) is below....Lee K.'s former home.  She is the owner of Pieces, Inc. in Atlanta and so talented:

The Atlanta home she owned as featured in my beloved Cottage Living.

Oh, and speaking of Lee--how awesome was her spread in Lonny?  I think I need to take a peak at The Sovereign's model condo so I can see it in person:

I bet those Hermes blankets are definitely cashmere!

And this image is perfection for me.  I think this is the same piece that was lime green at one of her former homes.  I love the earthy mirror paired with those modern, warm lamps.  And this works so much because the console and wall color share the same tone.  It is warm and bright at the same time.  Beautiful simplicity!  Lee has such a clean aesthetic.  A walk in her Pieces store is like eye candy heaven.  She sections it into colors.  So cool.  Maybe I'll ask her for an interview sometime!

Happy Weekend...Julie