Country Retreat

Wednesday, November 27, 2013


The upstate New York home of Jesse James and Gus Anagnopoulos might just be the perfect backdrop for hosting a country locale Thanksgiving get-together. The pair are the founders of Aesthetic Movement, a creative consultancy, and are responsible for their home's (a former blacksmith shop) decor - a style influenced by handselected antiques, weathered objects, and found accessories. The interiors were featured in Country Living magazine and additional images are included below....









Crafting My Thanksgiving Menu

Tuesday, November 26, 2013


I have spent the better part of this past week collecting recipes for our Thanksgiving menu....   I've held onto last Wednesday's NYT Dining section and their guide for the "Essential Thanksgiving" (plus watch the video here of how to roast the perfect turkey) and checked in with some of my favorite food writers & bloggers for their must-make Thanksgiving dishes....   I made my visit to the Dekalb Farmers Market this morning to gather my ingredients (and spotted one of my favorite Atlanta chefs filling his cart), and so far, pretty excited about how this feast is going to turn out! Included below are some inspiring & scrumptious (vegetarian options too) Thanksgiving recipes that I've got my eye on, crafted to fit a variety of entertaining needs -- down-home to fancy and/or intimate to feeding a full house.


Living The Kind Life

Monday, November 25, 2013

Alicia Silverstone

Alicia Silverstone - actress, author, and advocate for living a healthy vegan lifestyle - looked stunning at last night's American Music Awards....   Alicia was one of my first subject posts back in January 2010, having just purchased her vegan cookbook, The Kind Diet. She continues to share her passion for clean living (and its subsequent benefits), through her website The Kind Life, which offers an in depth guidebook for current and contemplating vegans plus a compassionate community forum. With the holiday season kicking off this week, Alicia shares on her website Thanksgiving menu alternatives for tasty vegan dishes and provides the details on supporting & adopting a turkey through Farm Sanctuary.


Turpentine is available for adoption // Details here

UPDATE >>> Front Load Washers

Friday, November 22, 2013


UPDATE....  My previous post discussed my efforts to rid my rather new front load washing machine of its musty smell. It's been just about 2 months since following the suggestion of switching to Powder Detergent over Liquid Detergent, after reading how the change might make a difference. I should also mention that I have gone a step further and added White Vinegar to every load of laundry (not just reserving it to run through the machine once a month on the Hot Cycle), and I pour it into the cup marked for Fabric Softener. Well, I think my little experiment has paid off, because the odor is gone -- not only from the inside of the machine but from the laundry (particularly towels) too! To be noted, the only issue I have found is that there is not as big of a selection of brands offering HE Powder Detergent as they do HE Liquid. Tide and Gain are the only 2 I have seen and I opted to try/use Tide.

*White Vinegar is performing multiple housekeeping chores....  it is also my go-to Rinse Aid for the dishwasher!

Hand Knit Style

Thursday, November 21, 2013


I am drawn to certain hand knit items because I find they translate a real modern/craft style mix (my vintage Afghan blankets pictured above). So of course, happy to see the technique applied to a couple of pieces from the collection of the London based fashion forward label, Meadham Kirchhoff. Featured (center above) is their Hand Knit Crochet Dress, part of an eclectic collection of clothing & accessories that launches today, 11/21, for Topshop.

*Click here for more details on my handselected vintage Afghans available in my ETSY store + read more from ID magazine about how the Minneapolis based restaurant, The Bachelor Farmer, incorporated hand knit Afghan blankets into their interior design as a wall treatment (pictured below).


Discussion Notes....

Wednesday, November 20, 2013


I attended yesterday's discussion & booksigning (info above) by Amanda Brown, owner of Spruce Upholstery, held at ADAC. Amanda provided a great lecture on refinishing furniture from the upholsterer's perspective. Some key points I took from listening include:

  • Mold, Water Damage, and/or a Broken Frame can be a deal breaker when it comes to determining whether or not a a piece of furniture should be reupholstered.
  • Amanda provided the specific terms used by the trade when describing certain finished elements to the design of the piece -- Tight Back, Apron, Loose Seat, Welt Cord, etc....
  • A good upholstery job should include pucker free fabric, consistent tightness, and well executed pattern detail match-up.
  • When working with an upholsterer, some info to acquire up front is the turnaround completion time and yards of fabric needed to cover the item. Depending on budget, the fabric can in some cases cost more than the labor. 
  • If you opt to have the fabric treated for stain proofing (Scotchgard, etc...), Amanda suggests treating the fabric before being applied to the piece, in an effort to not damage other parts of the overall frame.
  • When picking out a fabric to use for reupholstering based on durability, Amanda recommends sticking to the Wyzenbeek Method, and selecting a fabric that meets 30,000 "double rubs".

Amanda notes that most pieces that come through their workroom are vintage, antique, and/or heirlooms with sentimental value, crafted during a time when solid and "real" materials were used. She encourages her clients to look at these items with a fresh eye and provided fantastic "before & after" examples of her team's work (photo below). Additionally, Amanda highlighted a chair, that was beyond repair, but the base was usable and recycled into a chic ottoman. A tip to keep in mind as well, upholsterers can also provide custom bedding, pillows, drapery, and lamp shades.

*Many thanks to Amanda and the team at Spruce for including my recommended "must-hit" spots in Atlanta on their blog post....



Brass Bar Cart Entertaining

Monday, November 18, 2013


Just in time for Holiday Entertaining....  I turned up the chicest Italian Brass Bar Cart (photo top right), with 2 tiered smokey glass shelves & decorative bottle holder, now posted on One Kings Lane....  Click here for more info and read more from tastemaker Mrs. Lilien on crafting the perfect & well stocked Fall Bar Cart.

WEEK REVIEW >>> The Art Scene

Friday, November 15, 2013

Three Studies of Lucian Freud
Francis Bacon

At Auction Preview

Thursday, November 14, 2013


Brunk auction house in Asheville, NC is holding their annual Fall 3 day sale this weekend, Friday November 15 - Sunday November 17. The catalog is chock-full of period jewelry, ceramics, paintings, and furniture. Some of the lots that caught my eye are featured above....  Details below.


ADAC Event ~ Amanda Brown

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Amanda Brown // See the "before & after" details of the barrel chair (lower right photo) on Design*Sponge

ADAC Event >>> Tuesday November 19, 10-11am....   Amanda Brown, owner of Spruce Upholstery in Austin + contributing writer to Design*Sponge + author of the recently released (October 22) Spruce: A Step-by-Step Guide to Upholstery and Design, will be on hand to share her insights into all things upholstery. The discussion will touch on a range of topics including "the logistics of working with an upholsterer, characteristics of quality craftsmanship, checking for structural integrity, restructuring and resizing furniture frames, and styling options to make any client's ugly hand-me-downs worthy of an ELLE DECOR spread". Following the 45 minute talk, Amanda will sign copies of her book -- cover & featured video below. More info here.


Images HereHere, & Here

ON THE MARKET

Monday, November 11, 2013

Karin Blake // Photographed in the Kitchen of her Malibu Home 
Image AD

Interior designer Karin Blake's Malibu, CA residence is on the market....   The 2 bed / 2 bath cottage with a pool, is located across the street from the ocean. Listing details here and photos of the interior below.

Karin Blake commands the distinct ability of mixing elements from opposite ends of the design spectrum. You first assume she leans towards a sort of "classic country" vibe, but on second glance, realize that her chosen accessories & furnishings translate a very modern, clean, and sculptural style. Her projects have been featured over the last 2 decades in numerous shelter magazines and Architectural Digest added Ms. Blake to their AD100 list in 2010.

















Mast Brothers + Haven's Kitchen

Friday, November 8, 2013

Rick & Michael Mast // Haven's Kitchen

Periodically, I live vicariously through my brother, who lives in NYC and will check out places for me -- restaurants, art shows, etc -- when living in Atlanta precludes me from getting to them.... One such spot is Haven's Kitchen (that I've written previously about here + here). I turned him onto their cooking classes, which he has taken 2, and when I noticed that the Mast Brothers (more here + here) were scheduled for a class/discussion/tasting of their bean-to-bar chocolate, I promptly made a phone call and told him he had to go!

He sent me some photos from last night's event (seen above).... I must mention that typically, he opts for fruit over chocolate, so he is the greatest brother for going and reporting back the details of the evening. In addition to a tasting, the Mast Brothers were on hand for a Q&A about their Brooklyn, NY based artisanal chocolate business, and news of their recently released (October 22) cookbook, Mast Brothers Chocolate: A Family Cookbook, with the foreword written by acclaimed chef Thomas Keller -- watch the video below for more insight.

I think that Star Provisions might be the only shop in Atlanta that carries Mast Brothers, so I usually end up ordering online.... Currently they are offering the Origin Collection -- 5 craft bars that represent distinct flavor profiles influenced by regionally selected beans, sourced directly from the farmer. Click here for purchase.

Origin Collection


Noteworthy....

Thursday, November 7, 2013


Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine is kicking off their Home For The Holidays showhouse (previously known as the Christmas House) with an opening night preview party fittingly titled, Moonlight & Mistletoe. This event is happening Thursday November 14, 6-10pm, and participating designers & sponsors will be on hand throughout the evening....  Tickets are available here. The showhouse will open to the public Friday November 15 - December 8 / Hours: Thursday - Saturday 11am-5pm & Sunday 1-5pm + Tickets available here. Proceeds from Home For The Holidays benefit the Southeastern Horticultural Society.

Home For The Holidays Showhouse

Images AH&L


To be noted....  Tracery, the interior design firm tasked with decorating the Breakfast Room at the Home For The Holidays showhouse, has just opened a pop-up shop (interior image below) in Ponce City Market, open now thru December 31. The pop-up shop is an extension of sorts of Tracery's Rosemary Beach, FL boutique retail store, and features their custom designs, decorative accessories, & chic home furnishings.


Tracery // Pop-Up Shop

Polyvore Mood Board ~ After The Hunt

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

After The Hunt
Modern light / Ivory area rug / Home decor / Mirror Image Home antique home decor / Toast linen basket, $72 / Schumacher modern throw pillow / Handmade basket / Tory Burch side zipper boots / English Classics Furniture leaf table / Plaid furniture / Baxton Studio wooden furniture / Serena & Lily leather footstool


My first attempt at using Polyvore & crafting a mood board that started out with a Fall/Thanksgiving feel of classic mixed with modern and evolved into one influenced by my traditional East Coast upbringing....

Blue and White Bash

Monday, November 4, 2013

Image TPP

I have linked my previous post, Blue & White at Auction, to The Pink Pagoda's Blue and White Bash....  Happening today, Jennifer at TPP is hosting this linking party and invited bloggers to link their posts on Blue & White - topics range from room makeovers, select decor, tabletop, and accessories - all influenced by Blue & White design. At her last linking party, 70+ bloggers participated....  Click here to read more from a great collection of bloggers & their featured posts on Blue & White.



My Post >>> Blue & White at Auction....   Highlighting recent sales from Christie's

Plaid Parasol

Friday, November 1, 2013


News to Announce.....  I am thrilled to be apart of the Plaid Parasol, a boutique online marketplace specializing in distinct home furnishings & decor. Handselected items featured are curated by Jacqueline deMontravel (who I've written previously about here) and the style team responsible for the design filled pages of shelter magazines including Romantic Homes, Cottages & Bungalows, and Flea Market Decor, to name a few. Currently, I am offering a collection (some pictured below) of my vintage lamps....  check out more here.


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