this home is sooo Athens

My daddy and all his kinfolk were born in Athens, Georgia.  Even though I didn't go to college at UGA, Chris did.  My soul bleeds red and black.  But it's not just football.  Athens is like a little Europe in the south.  The old homes, the quaint and quirky downtown with its ubiquitous "townies", the good food, the cheap beer.  I lived there briefly with a boyfriend I later married for 92 days.  (Yep, was married before.  I knew better...but didn't know better).

When I saw this home in October's Southern Living Magazine I said, "Yes.  Lindsay Bierman knows what he's doing."

This home has soul.  You can tell artists live here.  And that is soo Athens.

(Sorry no Darryl Carter post yet.  I had an "electric margarita" a la Urban Electric and then proceeded with two Liberty School chardonnays.  I am hurting too much to deal with downloads.  I know I can only have one glass.  I need to grow up.  I am a mom!  I can't do that.)

(Lucy, the homeowner who worked for Hable Construction, even looks like my friend from Athens, Rachel)

And the Athen's band:  (Do you have to ask?  If I were stranded on an island this would be the band I would take...and Murmur would be the album.)

And a quick update on a project:  We're almost done with her home!  Here Kate is finishing up the leopard stencil in champagne again.  (Can you tell I am loving stencils lately?)  Isn't that cool?  Happy Halloween Friends!!!   Julie

pretty ugly

Sometimes I find that I do have a penchant for things that I know some may find are less than pretty.

I cannot tell you how much pleasure I find in these vintage paint-by-numbers.  I am sure people may find them a bit tacky.

I am not sure what the allure is for me...that it is simple, a little rough around the edges, or just not perfect.

I think this is why I love the Novogratzs so much.  They are playful in their designs.  Come on--neon "F A M I L Y" in the kitchen?  You can't beat that.

I know Mrs. Wearstler has a little taste for the not-classically-pretty.

The colors in this spread can almost offend.  It's like the opposite of soothing.  But sometimes shocking is good.

And, oh, what can beat wolfs in the wild.  (Gotcha on this one :)  I really don't get this aesthetic at all!

Today I found this parrot lamp at Tuesday Morning--a steal at 79 bucks, I thought.  She woman who worked there said it had been there over a year.  Poor little fella.  Is it really so ugly?  (this one is from Neimans coming in a $299!  This is why I want a store someday--isn't it all about context?

okay...not quite as good as Neiman's....but it's still pretty (ugly).  It does remind me of my grandmother's home a little.  I can see it working in a more modern room, too.  All about context.

And Kate finished the stencil tonight in the laundry room.  I think it's pretty (pretty).  Have a great weekend my friends, Julie

paisley stencil & champagne paint & Rue

Oh, so much work in the Holloway household the past few weeks.    Please look at how pretty this stencil is turning out in the laundry room.  The paint is RH's silver sage (which is pretty, but not really us).  I was going to paint the entire small room a real pop of blue...like electric blue.

Instead I picked up some champagne metallic paint from Benjamin Moore.  I had a small stencil from Hobby Lobby (they have some great stuff), but it was too small.  I also had a small paisley stencil but it was too nursery.  So, sweet Kate Dukes (an artist whom I will properly post about later), is kind of my decorating assistant for a while.  That girl is talented.  She went out and found a huge paisley stencil I love.  Isn't the shimmer nice?  Proper photos will come!

here's Kate

photo: three pennies

And please read Rue tomorrow!  Let me know what you think and be honest...good criticism will only make it better.  Here is one of the pictures you'll see--this is Crystal's home, one of the founders.

 I can't believe that I also won a giveaway..my first, and I think I've entered all of them.  Please check out
2 by design  such a funny and pretty blog--and for white lovers she has a "Wednesday Whiteout" feature.

Reader's mantels post tomorrow--If you didn't send me yours, please click on my picture to send it.

Julie

I'm Learning Something

I am learning that what will make a good decorator is the same thing that makes a good person--being selfless.  (image via Habitually Chic )

The past few weeks I have had so much fun helping my friend, Jennifer, decorate her dining room, living room, entry, powder room, kitchen & breakfast nook.  I write so much about this because I am new to it...and it is a dream come true!

We have gone down one road of what she thought they wanted....and now this has brought us to something like the picture above from Bungalow Classic....neutrals with pops of blue and violet (and a little zebra like pictured above!)  But, I have learned that to get to what THEY want....I had to get out of the way.  I am really just a vehicle to help them discover the "home that is already in them."  It has nothing to do about me.

I do serve the purpose of "giving them permission."  I think many times people really know what they want, or they do want to go wild in some part of their home.  I think, sometimes, all they want is conformation that it is okay.  (a damask stenciled bedroom....image source unknown).

If I were to push my ideally beautiful room, it would be something like this above, styled by Atlanta Bartlett...trademark spareness, whiteness...with lovely rustic touches.

But that wouldn't be them...and isn't that who it is all about?

She really loves, as she calls "the love affair I have with my chandelier".....this is true.  I think I have succeeded in really loving an inanimate object.  (my kitchen)

But, as we learned, this isn't her....isn't them!

She even is being an ideal, selfless wife.  She is forgoing her dream (gray-violet painted walls) in the dining room....to please her husband who wants neutral. 

 It is not all about her, either.  It is about a family.

It is about mixing a little of her glam.....(we're putting one mirrored piece in the DR)

with his masculine neutralness....

(a picture of a rustic bench we want to locate...image via Simply Grove )

With the kids' playfulness...

easy-to-clean goodness found in a Louis Ghost Chair (I think House Beautiful image)

I think some decorators and designers are all about signature style.  If you walk into a Kelly Wearstler room....you KNOW who did the room.

Perhaps there are some families who say..."I want this room to look like a Kelly Wearster room".  I bet this isn't many.  

I bet to have a long career as a decorator (which I hope to have!)....you serve mainly as an instrument that pulls the design out of your client.

What are your comments on this?

By the way, thanks for voting!  It looks like I have a new project this weekend....cover the backs of the bookcases!

I have made a little progress with the mirrored stairwell...there are now 5:

Thank you, Homegoods!  What would all of us do without you?