Behind door #1 and 2

Now that the home owners have seen their new home, I can finally show it to you! I have worked on this project for 9 months and it is so much fun to see it all come together. It's like having a baby only I have to put it up for adoption because it is not actually mine. I have the stretch marks (wrinkles) and sleep deprivation to prove it. 
When they left for vacation, their study looked like this... remember?

And now...

The Study above, is covered in wall to wall blue grasscloth for texture. The hide rug and sleek shell stone mantle play off of each other. Lots of dark molding, leather and bold prints for a masculine touch.

The tweed sofa has a  textured feel and clean lines and while the octopus looks small in this photo, it is actually very large and makes a bold statement. 

Navy crocodile embossed lamps on reclaimed wood pedestal tables with navy oiled zinc tops. 

The Roost driftwood side table adds another organic element.  The orange embroidered drapes have a Moroccan vibe and soften the picture window.

Warm and cozy study... What do you think?

Now onto the formal (but not so formal) dining room. Just a few weeks ago, it looked like this...

Ann worked her magic...drum roll please!

The dining room features a wall-to-wall hand painted mural. The peacocks are made up of creams, golds, peacock blues, shades of aqua and yellow to play off of the yellow zig zag drapes from across the room. Great job Ann!

The client wanted to use family pieces for the dining furniture. It is formal, but not too formal with the aqua and white damask seats. The chandelier is made out of silver/gold glass leaves and chrome. The rug for this space has not yet arrived, but I will send pictures when it does!

Mother of pearl mirrors and mirrored buffet lamps dress up another family heirloom with a modern twist.

Here's another shot of Ann's fabulous work. The mural is illuminated by strategically placed lighting and she used a metallic paint to accent their feathers. At night, through the bay window, they almost glow. 

Don't the playful metal peacocks on the table make a fun centerpiece?

The gold and ivory chevron patterned drapes pop against the chocolate walls.

That's all for now. Stay tuned as we reveal the living spaces next! Let us know what you think! Do you like it? What is your favorite item or feature so far? We would love to hear from you!


Bye bye birdie,
~A&H

Move That Bus!

Extreme home make over is complete (well sort of). My wonderful clients returned today to a house that when they left was empty. I haven't down loaded all of the pictures yet but...

Ann was hoping they wouldn't notice if the cupcakes spelled out "Welco Home". 

From the looks of client, I doubt she would have noticed. I think she liked it. That or waaaaayyyyy too much chocolate. 


Lots more to come, I promise. And now that my adrenaline has run out, I am off to bed. School couldn't come at a better time. 


Bye bye birdie,
~H

Twas' a Week After Christmas...

Twas' a week after Christmas and all through the house, 

Ann and Hooper were scurrying (thank goodness no mouse)

The pictures were hung all around with great care 

awaiting the homeowners that would soon be there.

No one was nestled all snug in their beds,

But visions of bedrooms did dance in our heads.

Hooper in her yoga pants and I in my jeans

No time to rest, we still have to clean!

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

No worries... Ann just dropped her ladder.

Away to the window Hooper flew like a flash,

Separated the embroidered drapes and opened the sash.

The moon was now out (because we had been there all day)

And Ann dropped her ladder because she was fading away

With Ann on the lawn and the moving truck backing in,

The 2nd wind of craziness was about to begin.

Hooper took over, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment things were about to click.

More rapid than eagles the furniture came,

And Hooper whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, lamps! now, rug! now, sofa and chair!

On, sideboard! on Console! Please put it over there!

Tables on the porch! Don't touch the wall!

Now go away! go away! And we'll do it all!"

With a house full of furniture and accessories too.

Hooper knew she had much more to do.

The placing and pondering of each little thing...

"Ann, does this look good? or is there too much bling?"

Over the chimney the masterpiece was placed,

Opposite the sofa it will now face

Hooper took great care in making sure everything was great

She took all the details off the homeowner's plate

And when it was all done and we knew it was right,

Happy New Year to all... stay tuned for a great sight!

A little Strung out...

This is the angel my parents puts on top of their tree every year. I am sure she used to be pretty. She is 50. About 10 years ago we started calling her the crack angel. About 5 years ago my brother took her mug shot. My mom does not think we are funny. I think we are hilarious!

This is kind of how I feel... A little strung out with last minute things to do....

Minus the crack part, or the jail part. Though a night with undisturbed sleep away from home does not sound bad.

(kind of brings all new meaning to 'Angels we have heard on high')

Anyway, Hooper and I hope your Christmas is Merry and Bright. (Not police car flashing light bright, tree light bright!)

Enjoy your day! 

Bye, bye birdie,

~A 

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Home

For nine months I have been planning my dream home. Literally dreaming about it. The floors, tile, paint, lighting, furniture, fabrics, you name it. I have done nothing but eat, sleep and dream this home, while the fabulous builder, Mack Braxton (RMB Building & Design) and crew have been constructing this masterpiece. I have to give them a shout out because they have truly done an amazing job.

The funny part about my dream homes, is that they are always in my dreams. The other funny part about my dream home, is that it is not actually mine. Technically, it totally and completely belongs to someone else. Entirely. All I did was decorate it. It is going to be bright, punchy, functional and fun -- just like my very dear client. It is all her.

What is different about this home is that I could ( and would) live there in a second. I try not to get attached. Is it weird that when I walk through the door I yell "Hi Honey, I'm home"?  I even open her gigantic refrigerator and say "Hmmmm. What on earth am I going to make for dinner?" Is that weird? My client is used to it.

So.... without further adieu, I am ready to show you a sneak peak of what has been going on behind the scenes of this monster project. The house is finally complete and the majority of the installation will take place between Christmas and New Year's while my dear client and fam are away for the holidays.
Here's the funny part. She has trusted me (beyond belief) and I don't want to let her down. She has approved much of what is going into her home, but also hasn't seen it all and wants to be surprised. So I have been keeping it under wraps. She has no clue what she is in for.

First, my idea board. I have been staring at this for months, waiting and hoping for moving day. Here is the big picture.

I know it is hard to see the details, but that is the point. I can't give too much away. I planned the entire living room around Brunschwig & Fils "chiang mai dragon". I painted the walls a blue gray, and am pulling out the peacock blue, charcoals and orange. Wait until you see what this fabric gets made into!

This magnificent piece of original art by John Beard, is going above her river wood, reclaimed mantle. It is 36" X 60" and is stunning in person.

This is a peak at the rug that is going in the sunroom to ground the very well lit space.

It will be flanked by two club chairs upholstered in this...

Without giving too much away, I want to show you the work in progress. Check out my photo diary below.

I can't wait to show you the finished product. Note, that is Ann on the ladder. I can't draw. Stay tuned. Oh and when it warms up, come visit me in my pool. We can fix fruity drinks and talk about my house. Oh wait... that's right, it's not mine.

Bye bye birdie,
~H

And the M.O.T.Y. goes to.....

So as the year is coming to an end and some of you are worried about Christmas, family, taxes, whatever...
Hooper and I find ourselves a little more concerned with our Mother of the Year status. 
Have we scarred our children for life? Will Hooper's kids ever get over the fact that she grocery shopped with a Nilla wafer stuck to the side of her head only to be told by the check out lady after an hour in the store? 
Will Lindley forgive me for mixing up the time and walking in to her class play as all the pretty, put together mommies are filing out because it's over? (that one sounds bad)

Do not be so quick to judge because when you are filling out the M.O.T.Y. nomination ballots, be sure to check the box that says...

TOOK OUR KIDS TO A JUSTIN BIEBER CONCERT (oh yeah...
cookie in hair and all, we just won  M.O.T.Y!)

So as a surprise Hooper and I  picked our girls up from school early, threw them into Hoop's minivan and drove 3 hours to see Justin in the flesh. (It's official...he's adorable)

We had bags packed with skinny jeans and boots (and our skinny jeans for our not so skinny bodies).... 

 All the single ladies put your hands up! 

Single, though she stills sucks her thumb.... 

A little Sean Kingston to open the evening.... And yes he WAS fly like a G6 ...

And just when you didn't think the show could get any better...Justin Bieber climbed into a huge metal heart and traveled around the arena above our heads. You could feel the vibration of 20,000 pounding hearts and Hooper who almost passed out from Bieber fever!

Graham had a blast!

Molly had a blast! (after I found her some earplugs!)

Lindley had a blast (in her own reserved way!)

And Hooper and I had a blast watching our girlies! So back off sista, Mother of the Year is ours. We deserve it. We survived high pitched pre-teen screams, lip gloss headaches and the realization that we're old. Hooper even referred to the DJ's turn table as a "mix master". Isn't a mix master what you use to whip up a cake? Rock on Betty Crocker!

So, no need to wonder who the winners will be this year, 
it's in the bag.
May your trophy case be filled with a lifetime of M.O.T.Y awards.

Bye, bye Birdie, 
~A&H

Home for the holidays at Frank Lloyd Wright's

I dragged Read to Frank Lloyd Wright's first home and studio in Oak Park, Illinois. I am so glad I did. He on the other hand, not so much. To see and touch (which was not allowed, Read) the work of a genius that was way before his time was not only inspiring, but I could see today's design in almost every room. 

Incredible and breath-taking for a home built in 1898. We got a private tour of the home by the very knowledgeable docent of the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust. Not because we were important, simply because we missed the scheduled tour times due to Read's expert city driving. 

The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (1889/1898) served as Wright's private residence and workplace from 1889 to 1909—the first 20 years of his career. Wright used his home as an architectural laboratory, experimenting with design concepts that contain the seeds of his architectural philosophy. Here he raised six children with his first wife, Catherine Tobin.

In 1898 Wright added a studio, described by a fellow-architect as a workplace with "inspiration everywhere." In the Studio, Wright and his associates developed a new American architecture, the Prairie style, and designed 125 structures, including such famous buildings as the Robie House, the Larkin Building and Unity Temple.( Credit to the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust)

Portrait of a genius

Warm and Sunny depiction of rear exterior. Not my photos. In my photo, it is dark, snowy and there are no leaves on the trees. Beautiful regardless.

Front exterior

We loved these carved columns. Wright built this home to start a family. The columns are made up of a stork and a tree of life design to depict fertility. Must have worked, he had 6 kids. 

The stained glass in this entry to his studio (seen right) is made out of 1000 pieces of glass per window. 

The wooden light fixture (yes, I said wood) is hand carved and designed by Wright to illuminate the dining table. His straight back chairs were designed to enclose diners and create a sense of space within a space. 

This is a picture of his studio where his draftsmen would work off the each side at large tables.

This stairwell and hall were built to include the oak tree that Wright didn't want to cut down, so the branches descend into the space. The neighbors thought he was odd. He was "green" before green was in! 

Check out the ceiling and extremely modern pendants in the master bedroom. Oak Park did not yet have electricity, but forward-thinking Wright knew it was coming, so he wired the house for electricity and later added these pendants. 

I think this was one of my favorites. This is the playroom for his 6 children. It has a balcony so the children could practice and perform plays. It also has an grand piano that was built into the wall and suspended over the back staircase. Since they didn't have an upright piano, Wright didn't want to consume space with a large grand.

This is a picture of the studio where the magic happened. Above and surrounding the center of the room is a hanging balcony suspended by chains. It is an early depiction of the cantilever trends we see today. 

I wish I had more pictures of the details, but we were not allowed to take personal photos. Read, of course, kept sneaking off to take some shots with his phone. Typical. Also hard to do since there were only two of us on the tour. My hope was to bring some of it home to you. I hope I have. 

Bye bye birdie,

~H

Credit to: Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust