Little Secret

I'm going to let you in on a little secret - Feburary is my planning/daydreaming month for summer activities.  Now, I realize some of you have already stopped reading this post.  I know it is a bit intense to begin this early, but there are several benefits to planning your summer in February.  It gives you plenty of time to ponder, dream, etc. without feeling desperate or rushed.  If you wait until April, things have picked back up and you are in "just get it on the calendar" mode.    It also helps me get through the dreariness of the cold, wet, short days of winter.  Thinking about something fun to do in the summer tends to distract me.  Lastly, the skies the limit when planning this time of year since you don't have to worry about availability.  So, rather than being bored, plan a summer outing.

Just to get you started, here are a few ideas I'm pondering for our summer 2013.  As an aside, last year, my children decided to go to summer camp for a month!  They had a marvelous time.

They attend Camp Mac which is a lovely family owned camp in the Munford, Alabama.  What my children loved about this camp is all the water related activities available that you normally don't get from summer camps in the Northeast, which are focused primarily on a mountain experience.

Camp Mac has two very impressive lakes and any type of water activity imaginable (not to mention the non-water activities available, the list is simply too exhaustive to go into here). My children adored the entire experience.  For more info, click here.   

But this year, we are thinking outside the box and have decided to do some family travel in an effort to expose our children to the history of our state as well as the United States in general.  With a few budget friending trips in mind, I'm thinking about several quick day trips to see things we've not experienced locally.

Here are just a few on my radar . . .

Noccalula Falls

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Helen Keller's home 

Did you know it was in Alabama?

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Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

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The USS Alabama Battleship

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Mobile Carnival Museum

Did you know Mobile, AL (not New Orleans) was the birthplace of Mardi Gras?

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Cathedral Caverns

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Ave Maria Grotto

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Obviously, we can't do them all, but it's fun to see what is available.  Then we may take a larger trip near the end of the summer.  What are your plans this summer?  You may need to do a little brainstorming too. M.

Trend Spotting and Master Bedroom Before/Afters

So happy to back in the world of WIFI - we have never had a complete outage that lasted more than a couple of hours.  So, when day two rolled around and still no Internet, I was having a hard time remaining calm.  Whew!  To show how thrilled I am to be back online, I  wanted to show you some before and after pictures of my master bedroom.  But first some trend spotting is in order.

As I mentioned in a recent post,  I was thrilled Birmingham Home and Garden featured me as one of their 2013 Tastemakers.  In the article, we were asked to weigh in on the hottest design trends for 2013.

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One of the trends I mentioned in the article were Agates.

This is a spinoff of the gemstone trend from last year.  As mentioned in the article,  I've been so smitten with agates, I decided to have a set framed for my master bedroom.  I picked them up last week, and I have to say, they have added a very chic modern punch to an otherwise traditional space.   So, with the transformation is complete, here's the after . . .

Where did this bedroom begin?  This should give you an idea . . . 

We replaced the carpet with hardwoods when we moved in and the previous owner left the draperies.   Even though the fabric on the draperies was not my style, they were expensive linen fabric and were lined with blackout fabric.  Like most, this room was way down on the list.  So, it remained like this for several years. 

Then when this painting landed in the room (from a rearrange in another part of the house), I had the color direction I needed.  I pulled in more blues to balance the draperies and made the entire room feel more current.   

First, I needed to break up all the dark wood in the space - too much.  So, I selected an upholstered bed with nailhead detailing. 

Then, I pulled in several different fabrics to play on the blue/greens in the painting and draperies.  I made sure to include different textures of fabrics from cottons,

to velvet

 and even two woven jacquards.  This one in a modern chevron pattern . . .

As well as this one in a moorish pattern with tones of blue and green 

Then I selected on patterned fabric to pull all the colors together.  I used this fabric in a client's bedroom last year and thought it was the perfect color scheme to unify my space.

I also brought in the upholstered settee.  This was "a trade" I made with a sweet friend/client.

The settee did not work in her space and she was going to sell it.  So, we traded for it.  I gave her some design time and, in turn, I got the settee.  I think the scale is perfect.  

I also reupholstered a Bergere chair in a camel mohair and used it to fill in this corner on the opposite side of the room.  

Then, the final piece of the puzzle - the agates.

Last summer, I began to see framed agates on some of my favorite high end websites.  My husband and I took a trip to Highlands, and I noticed a gem shop near our hotel.  The rest is history!

As you know, a space is never really finished.  It's always evolving and changing.  That's what makes the process fun.  But for now, I'm done in this room.  The biggest surprise in this space for me?  I'm shocked by how much I like the draperies now.

And it all started with a painting.

Happy Monday! M.

We Interrupt this Program . . .

My Internet has been down the entire week . . . 

I've been working off my cell phone and borrowed WIFI all over town for the last few days.  So, I'm signing off for the week on the blog.  Got lots to show you, but have to do a little design work now. See you next week!  M. 

Project in Progress - Lake House Update III

It's time for another update to my lake house project!  For the complete story, you will need to read these posts - Update I and Update II.  Here are a few more pictures of the progress . . . 

And for the opposite side of the house, the new entryway . . .  I think it looks fantastic.  

We selected a new front door and added a small bench to the left side.  The door will be stained and the trim work all painted out to match the existing trim. We are also adding new shutters to compliment the mission style door.  The shutters will be painted a new accent color.  Don't you love the impact this structure adds?  Talk about curb appeal!   

Here is a close up of the new bench area - adding this makes the entryway feel more welcoming.  We have also selected a new pendant light that works with the mission style door and new shutters.  As soon as I get a picture of it installed, I'll share it with you. 

Have a wonderful Monday! M.

Antique Lesson - Majolica

Wow!  Time flies.  It's been four months since my husband and I took our couple's getaway to Highlands, N.C.  where we stayed at the Old Edwards Inn.  If you recall, I promised to post about my visit to a local antique shop in Highlands where I met the cutest man who gave me an impromptu lesson on Majolica.

So, why the fascination with Majolica?  Well, I've seen bits and pieces of it my entire adult life.  When I was single, practicing law in Atlanta, I would go to Scott's antique market as a fun Saturday outing with friends.  There was a girl in our group who was totally crazy about Imari (which is an entirely separate post).  But, during our trips she would search endlessly for Imari.  When you are standing before booths  full of china, you see a lot of Majolica!  

Fast forward a decade -  I began working with a client who owns an extensive collection of Majolica.  She has a beautiful English country style, and needs no additional furnishings. I would come in to simply restyle her things for a fresh new look.    Since that first re-design, I've returned several times to provide seasonal styling/fluffing for her beautiful home.  You can see more of her space in my portfolio.

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  During that first visit to her home, my mind immediately jumped to those days at Scott's market.  So much so,  I had to have a small piece of my very own! 

One missing link to the puzzle for me in the whole Majolica thing - Why is Majolica, which originated in Spain on the island of Majorca, then produced extensively in Italy, associated with the English Country style in my mind?

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There is something about majolica that truly feels like the mountains to me.  No, not like the carved wooden bears and pinecones you see when you go skiing in Colorado.  This is a more refined, mountain feeling like some of the affluent mountain communities in North Carolina done in the English country style.  These homes always include Majolica and the pottery blends seamlessly with English country furnishings.  So, what's the connection?

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Apparently, in 1851 a Englishman by the name of Minton created something called Palissy ware majolica which was a blend of traditional majolica and the creations of the 16th century potter, Bernard Palissy who was known for is plant and animal motifs.  Minton called this pottery Pallisy ware majolica because his glazing technique was different from the original majolica seen in Italy and Spain.  However, over time, the "Pallisy ware" was dropped and the public simply called it all majolica.  Thus, the public embraced this Englishman and began to include his pottery in their homes.  I'm guessing it was very modern to see this in English homes when it first came on the scene.  Sort of like seeing a piece of modern artwork mixed in with traditional furnishings.  Funny to think of Majolica as trendy!

So, suffice it to say, majolica includes a very large array of pottery with all sorts of nuances and changes that have been made to the glazing techniques, motifs, and styles by manufacturers in many different countries.

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When I began drafting this post, I felt as though I had opened a can of worms.  There are individuals (historians really) who have devoted their entire careers to this pottery - extensive books written on it.  So, this post is by no means the "go to" on valuing this beautiful pottery.

 Instead, consider it a tiny introduction to a beautiful pottery that could be included in your home.  Here are just a few simple tips anyone can implement when discerning antique majolica.

Tip One - Check for markings.  
This is the easiest thing to do with any porcelain.  Just remember, not all Majolica is old/antique.  The three major producers of Majolica are Minton, Wedgewood and George Jones.  Of the three, George Jones is the most difficult to determine as the markings changed over the years.  However, there are many other less prominent producers with markings that are also authentic.  But, if you see any of these markings, you are dealing with the real deal.

Tip One - Always ask what circa is it?
This question is very different from "Is it old?" Old has so many interpretations - for example, the 60's are considered old for someone who was born in the 70's or later!  So, be more specific if you want to know how much age a piece has on it.

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Tip Two - Let the weight be your guide.
I think this is the best tip of all.  During my lesson with the shop keeper, he handed me one antique piece and one new piece and the weight of the two was significantly different.  The older piece was thick and heavy while the new piece felt thin and refined like china you would see being made today.

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Tip Three - Buy what you like.  
There are so many different styles of this pottery that you are sure to find a motif you like.  My favorite is the begonia leaf plates with all the colors.

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But if you are looking for something more subtle, there is a solid green that is lovely and would totally work in a neutral space.  Sanded majolica is also popular.

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Like anything, if you become interested in collecting this pottery on a larger scale, do your research.  There are entire books devoted to antique majolica.  Happy Weekend! M.