Cashiers Designer Showhouse

Greetings from Cashiers! Consider this your electronic post card. We made here and are having lots of successful meetings and tons of family fun. While we can't show you plans for the project we are working on (because the client hasn't seen them all), we wanted to show you some of the fab interiors that come out of this beautiful locale.
Check out photos from the 2010 Cashiers Historical Society Designer Showhouse. The 2011 Showhouse is right around the corner (as in, we miss it by 3 days).

Happy Weekend!
Bye bye birdie...
A&H


credit: Atlanta Homes Magazine

We're Off...

We are working on a project in the Highlands. It is a quaint (code for ritzy) area in the North Carolina mountains and supposedly gorgeous. It is about 8 hours away so we decided to pack up all of our fabric, tile and house plans and head west to meet with the client and get to know the area. Problem is we also decided to pack up our 7 kids, 2 husbands and drive off into the sunset. 

Originally, Ann and I thought it would be brilliant to just take "some of the kids" so we could all fit in one car. Let's just say this did not go over well. Plus, how do you choose (and our husbands think we are idiots). So... here is what we can expect:


"Are we there yet" 7 X every ten minutes for 8 hours
"I don't feel so good"... at least 7 times
"Who thought this would be a good idea again?" from our two very excited husbands at least once    every hour.
"Why did we need to pack large suitcases of tile samples?" at least 4 times
And finally.... 
"Who thought this would be a good idea again???


So, once we arrive, we are ditching the kids and hubbys and going to the job site to check progress and triple check furniture plans. We have color schemes, layouts and plans all ready to show our client. We are so excited and can't wait to share more about this project in later posts. 
In the mean time, check out what is waiting for us in the mountains....

 We aren't staying here, it just looked so picturesque, I couldn't resist. 

 Hiking trails...

Lakes and sunsets...

Waterfalls... AND chilly nights and cooler days! 
Now does that sound like fun or what?


Bye bye birdie,
~A&H

credit to: VRBO, CashiersNC, Trillium

Project # 374....

So, Hooper and I are very different... Remember that time I asked you to bug me to see pics of my finished kitchen, so I would finish it? Well... we did hang the new lights... everything else?... pretty much the same. So I will have to show you pics of the finished product um, er... later. Hooper would of shown you her ideas and the next day shown you the finished project. Um, I think she's done that a few times... She can't sleep until what's happening in her head is translated into the space. Me? sleeping like a baby... I could not begin to translate all that's happening in my head! Anyhoo, I did take on a new project... The kitchen can wait and the toilet in a box in my dining room? It's not so bad...

new project:

Remember this cool camp bed Sissy from blue hydrangea posted? see here. I know you all wondered, who would buy that? well,.... ME! I got it and am sooo excited! I am putting it in my sun room for my kids to sit on while reading books watching t.v. I had to get a piece of plywood cut for the base and a piece of foam cut for the mattress. Our wonderful seamstress is making me a slipcover for the mattress out of this.. (indoor/outdoor)

 

too predictable? Maybe, but it is an old camp bed and I want it to have that whole camp bed sleeping porch vibe...

I heart Ebay... look what they mailed me... so kind. This is going on the bed with hopefully a few more like it.

All I have to do is find a spot for this that is taking up THE WHOLE ROOM. (This is what happens when you take your husband last minute shopping Christmas Eve.)

I am liking both these lamps from Overstock (never underestimate the greatness of Overstock!)

 Throw in a few outdoor rugs that you can hose down when the kids spill!(still looking for a plain one, but I like this one too...) And voila... Sun room makeover!

Now, PLEASE BUG ME so I can complete a project! I will show you in a month... promise! What do you think? Like the vision? Which lamp? Any luck with outdoor rugs inside?

May all your projects be completed in less then a year...

Happy Monday!

Bye,bye Birdie,

~A

credit to: Overstocks, Ebay, Fabrics.com, Sissy

Things that make you go Hmmmmm...

Design Gods, Karma, Good Fortune... call it whatever you like, but sometimes, you just get lucky. This morning my painter called in sick. I was bummed because he was coming to paint my front door today (thanks for all of your feedback, BTW). We all know how impatient I am, so I ran right over to Benjamin Moore to get a quick tutorial on how to strip paint. Armed with a pint of "Smart Strip" and some tool with multiple blades, I decided to have a little DIY afternoon.

Who knew there were layers and layers of pretty paint over GORGEOUS wood. I'm still stripping (not what it sounds like) and I know it is a little rustic, but the turquoise and white coming through and so pretty. Too rustic for my craftsman style bungalow near the beach?? Many of you asked the color of my house (because I forgot to tell you). It's a pale shell pink. It almost looks white but with just a hint.

I have these crazy Adirondack chairs on the front porch that I bought at market several years back. They are Mackenzie-Childs for Riverwood Casual and they no longer make them (not good news when I broke one standing on it to hang Christmas lights).  Ok, back to the task at hand. Do I leave the door as is, sand it an coat it in Poly? 


Do I strip it completely and leave it natural wood? I could white wash it or give it a limed finish... Or do I paint it the Tiffany Blue you all told me to paint it in the first place? 
Thanks for your help!
Bye bye birdie,
~H


Credit to: Riverwood Casual

Dwell and Global Views Sittin' in a Tree

First comes LOVE, then comes marriage, then comes ALL this in my shopping carriage!

My Global Views catalog just arrived and Dwell Studio has put out some amazing accessories for Global Views. I can't wait to see them at market in the Fall. 

I love how everything you see is a smart interpretation of their fabrics. Notice the peacocks! 

  

It was their peacock fabric that inspired the hand-painted wall in a recent client's home. See more here.

I would love a slew of these for the open shelving in my kitchen. A modern twist on hobnail vases. So yummy.

I love their Gate fabric in this tray. What a bright spot on a table or ottoman. 

 Everything looks so collected, yet current. 

It's Mad Men meets Hollywood Regency and I want it all. Have you seen it in person! Do tell...
Bye bye birdie...
~H




Credit to: Dwell Studio and Global Views

Never Underestimate What you have

I had a client call me to come over, use what she has and make her living room and dining room look fab for a party. I thought I knew everything she had because I had worked on another room and wasn't sure I could pull it off without adding new. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for using what you have, but I'm also used to walking into a room and trying to improve upon it by adding new items to the mix.

She has good pieces, collected from family and over the years adding things that she loves in simple, timeless fabrics. 

Originally, the plan was to add in a cool rug, recover some chairs and fill in with accessories. Well, the rug will have to wait, but after raiding her closets, drawers and stash of wedding gifts and silver, there is no need for anything other than a rug! 

I found a drawer full of old artwork and took a mirror out of stash that she was planning on giving away. It was too frilly, so I hammered off the frilly part and viola! I replaced a simple (non-descript) mirror above the mantle with a collection of their wedding invitation, killer antique oils and the revised mirror. It added personality and color to an otherwise bland wall. 

I cleared out her bookcases and filled them up with goodies I found in her book stash, plates that were around the house and in cupboards and hung another piece of art on the bookcase for interest.

 I filled up the built-in china cabinet in her dining room with more pretty things...

and added a collection of vases from pantry in different shapes filled with fresh flowers. 

I love this portrait of her son, I added composite pictures of her children to the dining room because they deserve a more prominent spot and filled silver bowls with key limes for color and use for the bar. 

Never underestimate using what you have! The result was classic and pretty and with fresh flowers thrown in throughout the space it looked bright and lovely. The art and accessories added layers and layers giving her updated rooms a collected look without buying a thing. 
Happy Monday!
Bye bye birdie,
~H

Front Door??

Here is my front door. I love it, the style, the scale, the fact that it welcomes me into my home every day. Here's what I don't like, the flaking paint and mildew, the fact that I have to bleach it weekly so it isn't mistaken for a dingy gray color. So, I'm going to paint it. I'm on a roll anyway, right? And clearly a painted door has a direct effect on how happy you are... I mean, look at Bethenny! So I need your help.

 Here is my house - so you have the big picture.

To take a cue from Emily Henderson, my style is "Hollywood Regency Bungalow". My current door screams "bungalow" but there is no Hollywood glam. This Tiffany blue could look great with my house color.

 I know -- too much pink is just too much, but I couldn't resist this eye candy.

 I love the fresh pop of color of this door. It says: Come on in! Maybe a little too bright for my house color, but, hey, I'm up for a risk...

This is just too pretty to leave out.

 I could lacquer for some glam effect? You know me, I'll lacquer anything that will sit still long enough.

This feels like my house...too expected?

Ahhhh... I love everything from the color to the jewelry that adorns it. 

So what do you think? What color would look best? I'd love your suggestions and if you have a color you have used and LOVE, pass along the details. 
Bye bye birdie,
~H




Credit to: Creamy Life, Organize your Stuff, High Heel Foot in the Door.

Master Bedroom Re-Do

My husband is color blind, I think. It works in my favor. Not so much when he dresses himself, but helps a great deal when I decide to change things up. I’ve been doing that a lot lately. I’m either having a mid-life crisis or there is so much inspiration EVERYWHERE, that I just can help but bring it on home.


Once I updated my dining room, the master bedroom just down the hall was looking a little  tired and was feeling left out (I’m sure). 

Wanting all of my rooms to feel a part of my little love fest, I decided to paint - it's most inexpensive change you can make, I tell my clients -- really. My bedroom was Alexandria Beige (Ben Moore) when we moved in and I just haven't had the energy to touch it and it was pretty. But, I can't sit still...

You know the drill, Read leaves and I call Fernando. It is NOT what it sounds like. Fernando is a fabulous painter who thinks nothing of my request: Just sneak in while Read's at work, paint as fast as you can, then sneak out the back. 

I loved the color of my dining room ceiling so much, I just had to spread it around (Ben Moore Soft Shell). 

It's peach or coral (or a slight pink), if you will. Semantics, really. “Peach” for anyone who is asking and male (with a hint of pink). Plus, pink is Pantone’s color of the year, so... 

Color blind (ish) husband -- may not even notice (minus the smell of new paint that seemed to stick around for DAYS)...

I have had my bedding for almost 6 years. I love it. I never get tired of it because I adore green. It is Yves Delorme, “Canne”. It is oh so comfy and bleachable which is my criteria for everything.

The walls were beautiful when finished, but the “peach” didn’t really make sense without some fabrics to tie in my green bedding. Hmmm. No budget and husband home from trip any minute. It was clearly, a design emergency. I did what anyone would do. I raided my design closet. I have a gazillion fabulous memo samples that I am sure I was supposed to return at some point. Lucky me, the Osborne and Little/Designer’s Guild memos are huge...

By huge, I mean, Euro sham size, HELLO!!! Need more color -- found coral/orange and hot pink fabrics, green and linen damasks and my signature zebra (shock). Repurposed pillows! I mean, I’m practically “green”. Ran right over to the $7 fabric store and bought a couple yards of linen in natural and white, called emergency seamstress and said: “How much do you love me?”. Evidently,  she is either not all that busy (probably) or loves me a ton (doubt it) because she got right on it and made amazing (practically free) pillows in minutes (ok, a few days), but still. 

What do you think?

I moved some art from other places in my home and filled in with photos and fresh flowers. It is fresh and it feels much larger and more like a retreat than a cave. 

Pink is the new brown anyway...

Sweet Dreams!

~H