A great, big Southern "hello"!

Driveway to Furlow Gatewood's Georgia home - Courtesy Veranda

Well it has been WAAAAAAAAY too long since I've posted! How has everyone been? My life has been all over the place. I'm not a huge country music fan, but I think a Keith Urban quote is apropos here: "I got no money in my pockets. I've got a hole in my jeans. I had a job and lost it, but it won't get to me." Hee hee! So that about sums up my last few months. I worked with a professional organization and design firm here in town and it just "didn't work out", as my ex-boss said. Oh well. :)

But, it won't get to me, because I can get back to some super fun posts for y'all! So, here are some lovely interiors from "the prettiest country from Georgia to Tennessee". Enjoy!

Dining room in Birmingham home of Melanie Pounds

Piedmont Driving Club bar by Jackye Lanham

Quiet simplicity in foyer by Texan John Phifer Marrs

Thoroughly eclectic living area by Atlanta-raised Miles Redd

Come on, you all knew I was going to have to throw in some Miles Redd in a Southern mix! Yes, I am a little obsessed.

Seating area overlooking kitchen in home of Birmingham architect Bill Ingram

Bill Ingram is a prominent architect around these parts, but his interiors are also quite beautiful. His homes (primary and vacation) have been featured in House Beautiful (photo above), Southern Accents, and Cottage Living. They are generally masculine, but have a soft, earthy feel to them.

Living room with hints of pink by Tracery Interiors

I had the lucky privilege of attending the Independent Presbyterian Church's home tour this past Christmas season (a tradition for many here in Bham). I particularly enjoyed getting to see the Tracery-designed Birmingham Home & Garden Inspiration Home, as well as the actual home of Tracery designer, Doug Davis. Tracery interiors are always warm and especially elegant, but I love that there always seems to be the tiniest undercurrent of playfulness. Like the flashes of hot pink above or the large needlepoint of deer hanging on the wall in the Inspiration Home, they deftly insert touches of the unexpected in all their designs.

Bedside vignette by another Texan, Richard Holley

Love the black, love the objets, love the chest, love the drooping greenery.... This is just such an interesting layout to look at.

Living room in Georgia home of Furlow Gatewood - courtesy of Veranda

And last, but not least, the living room of Furlow Gatewood, John Rosselli's associate and antiques buyer in the South. This house, every room, is magnificent. If you did not get to see it featured in Veranda (May-June 2011),  you can see some of the pics here.

I hope you all have a wonderful afternoon and, I must say, it's good to be back!


 

A Woman's Touch



Dining room in home of Raina Penchansky - Photo courtesy of Lonny


I don't want to be too prejudiced here, and maybe it's just all the time I've been spending with my sister and her precious new baby, but I think women have a different outlook on a home and, therefore, cultivate it in a different way... a softer way.

Living room by Madeline Stuart

Whether it's using a hint of pink, a cozy furniture arrangement, or accents that soften sharp angles (like pillows, lots of upholstered items, or billowing curtains), women can create warmth in myriad ways (and recognize the importance of that creation).

Home of Erin Fetherston - Photo courtesy of Vogue

So, with that in mind, here are a few examples of interiors that have that woman's touch. Enjoy!


Foyer by Susan Ferrier

An antiqued mirror reflecting the warm glow of light from underneath pink silk lampshades? Who wouldn't love to come home to an entryway like this one!

Living room by Chris Barrett (who is a "she")


Looking at Miss Barrett's portfolio, you could confuse her work with some of her male designer counterparts like Martyn Lawrence Bullard or Jesse Carrier, but, if you look closely, you can find softness in even the most modern of her projects, such as in the floral fabric on a banquette or the curved leg of a metal stool. She is amazingly versatile and you must give her website a look!

Living room by Barbara Westbrook of Westbrook Interiors

Another fabulously talented designer (and fellow Southerner) is Miss Westbrook. The room above is one of my absolute favorites. It is structured without being overbearing, and engaging even when done in a neutral palette.

Foyer by fellow Alabamian Melanie Pounds - Photo via House Beautiful

I cannot say enough good things about this foyer. I am a big fan of juxtapositions and this space is full of them: the stone floor paired with the pale rosiness of the rug, the solid structure of the chair upholstered in soft velvet, and the dark plaster of the walls contrasted against the cool damask tablecloth. So lovely!

Living room by Suzanne Tucker of Tucker and Marks

This last photo of the day is another one of my faves. It is so well-blended with its plush upholstered pieces and graphic modern art, layered mirrors, and tidy layout. To me, it's just one of those rooms that grabs (and holds) my attention.

I apologize for my extended lag in posting, but I am back on track now, so check back often for more fabulous design!

I hope you all have a great week!

Saladino Style

Living room by John Saladino

Always comfortable, sometimes minimalist, and typically enhanced with unexpected colors like lavender and apricot, John Saladino has such intriguing style.

Living room by Saladino - photo courtesy of House Beautiful

With interiors so classic and elegant, he is certainly a designer to be admired..... and emulated.

Great room by McAlpine Booth & Ferrier

The folks over at McAlpine, Booth, & Ferrier certainly have a soft spot for Saladino-style interiors. Even Bobby McAlpine's upholstered pieces for Lee Industries (aka, McAlpine Home), such as paneled screens and high-back, knole-style sofas, give a nod to traditional Saladino design.

Seating arrangement by Susan Ferrier of McAlpine Booth & Ferrier

 

Living room by Eleanor Cummings

Miss Cummings also puts her own, slightly more feminine, spin on Saladino.

Bedroom by Eleanor Cummings

 

Design by Barry Dixon


I love the ceiling-height, upholstered bench and how the pressed flower panels conveniently conceal a flat screen TV: grandeur combined with liveability.

Vignette by Amelia T. Handegan



Seating area by Phoebe Howard


Neutral, cozy, classic. Certainly rooms to live in.

Design by José Solís Betancourt

Note the scale of the various pieces in this room: from the visual weight of the wall hanging, lantern, and stone table down to the diminutive bench tucked underneath the coffee table.

Living room by Birmingham native Melanie Pounds

Melanie Pounds also has that Saladino touch. She actually worked for Circa Interiors here in Birmingham at one point, which has a definite McAlpine/Saladino vibe.

Living room by Melanie Pounds

Isn't this room just fabulous? Pounds says that she likes to live with things that are "quietly beautiful", and this room well illustrates that idea: so serene and warm.

Design by John Saladino

Whether real Saladino or Saladino in spirit, these designs are sure to last a lifetime.

Bedroom by Jeffrey Bilhuber

I hope you all have a great week ahead!