Press And Paint Tricks
Frederic, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, and House & Garden
Hi, from Atlanta, where it’s 90+ degrees and 90% humidity. The kids have been keeping busy at various camps, and we’ve somehow managed to lose every single bathing suit we own for my son. I guess that is a sign of a good time.
I’ve been distracted from the heat working on projects and also overseeing a facelift on my new house. We are working to create a good blank slate (lots of paint tricks, new light fixtures, redoing a few bathrooms, and a quick refresh to the kitchen) and have started to slowly scheme my ultimate plans for the house (more on this soon!).
For now, I am taking a breath to contemplate some of the big milestones we’ve had this year, which includes some exciting press for projects we’ve been working on for years.
“Tour a New House With Old Soul in the Chicago Suburbs”, Frederic
One of the things I’ve loved most about starting my business is seeing how like-minded people will simply find each other. That is absolutely what happened with my client on the Chicago North Shore in Winnetka and I absolutely loved building a close relationship with her. We bonded over artwork, living graciously while raising young kids, fine fabrics (lots of chatter about crewelwork and tapestries), Ann Mashburn and so much more. It was an honor to have our finished product featured by Frederic this past May.
“Tour A Historic Inman Park Home With A Fresh And Colorful British-Meets-Southern Design Aesthetic”, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyle
And talk about a small world, we discovered that my client in Chicago went to college with my client in Inman Park. Great minds! This client had so much depth that we got to tap into as we were designing, and as always, I loved the process. Grateful to the editor of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles for seeking out the room with the red striped sofa on Instagram and featuring this historic home in the April issue.
Lastly, we are proud to be part of the House & Garden The List alongside so many incredible designers.
On the project side, I’ve been busy working on multiple Atlanta houses as well as finishing up a few projects in the North East. Full scale projects keep me busy, and entertained, but I’ve enjoyed meeting new people on calls on The Expert. This is another way for likeminded people to find each other and I am just tickled. I recently finished helping a family create a baseline for a home they just purchased in San Fran so they can move in and then begin thinking about decor in each room. We selected paint colors, new door hardware, window coverings, carpet and did a very nice kitchen refresh.
Unrelated tidbits…
I’m having a yellow moment. My engagement ring is a yellow diamond and I remember squealing to my (now) husband “it’s just so buttery!” when I saw it for the first time. As someone who ate the little butter packets by themselves at IHOP growing up, I can say that I am a fan of butter (I had my gallbladder removed when I was 14 - could be related?). One of my ideas for my formal living room is to slipcover all of my upholstery in a buttery yellow cotton. I have a diverse art collection for that room, so the yellow will act as a simple neutral against all of the stimulus from the different types of art. This cotton and silk sweater has been a perfect summer layer. I bought it thinking it would be more of an ivory, but am happily surprised at its more buttery tint. I recently had lunch at Le Bon Nosh in Atlanta and was admiring the long puddley yellow velvet drapery.
Speaking of paint tricks, we watched Jaws (and Jaws 2) over the 4th weekend and I was very inspired by the set design and of course the fantastic New England summer get-ups (specifically outfits worn by Ellen Brody). Filmed in Martha’s Vineyard, the sets are chock-full of trim paint color ideas, vintage furniture/antiques, beautiful old woodwork and just that sense of “nice old things always look nice.” 49 years later!
I just had an AMA on my Instagram and got a number of questions that require substack-length answers (Search terms for antiques, my favorite wallpapers, progress on our new house, etc). Stay tuned!
*Photos from Frederic feature by Aimee Mazzenga. Photos from Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles by Emily Followill.
Congrats on all the well-deserved press! Here’s the real question: Why are you buying a sweater in July ;) Thanks for the Substack! Love it