We got a House, We got a House

......We got a house, HEY HEY HEY HEY!

It's true, as of December 21st Brent and I officially became homeowners!

Since we got engaged in September, Brent and I have been looking for a house. Shopping for our future home was fun... going through the whole bank process, not so much. But, we made it out alive and couldn't be more excited! 

The house is a 1940's bungalow with loads of charm, it even has the white picket fence to boot! It's located in the Peachtree Hills neighborhood here in Atlanta. Peachtree Hills is one of those really happy places filled with people running, walking their dogs, biking, pushing strollers and kids playing in their yards. From the minute we came across this neighborhood nearly four years ago, I was in love. It's in a great area that provides the best of both worlds - it is literally right in the city, minutes from shopping, restaurants, parks and museums but the homes are nestled on cozy, wide streets with tons of trees that offer privacy.

I'm obsessed with the house and the possibilities around every corner. As a designer having my own house is beyond exciting. Finally a space that is all my own to decorate, love and truly make mine. Of course, I'm lucky to be sharing this new home with Brent who is full of ideas that will enhance the space. 

Between the two of us we have several projects we want to tackle before we move in after the wedding in May, (like removing the massive Christmas tree in front of the house), but I'll save all that for another post. Over the next few months I will keep you posted (no pun intended) on our progress. It's going to be a fun process - stay tuned! 

Photo by Lori Foster. 

There's More Than One Way to Skin A Cat...

and apparently about a bazillion ways to decorate a Christmas tree. 

I love holiday decorations - the tree, the wreaths, the lights, the stockings and the list goes on. Maybe the best part of holiday decor is that while a lot of the same elements are used by many, every person has their own process and flair. Like so many things, holiday decor presents an opportunity for an individuals personality to shine bright. But before you can shine you have to identify your holiday vibe, and that's no easy task because there are so many decisions to consider - white lights or colored? Red & Green balls or Blue and White? Handmade and sentimental ornaments vs. store bought? Big and tall tree or short and fat tree? Angel at the top of the tree or star, or maybe Santa hat? There are seriously SO many options. With so many choices it's fascinating to see what people hone in on and how they bring it all together.

So, how did I become so in the know regarding Christmas Trees? Simple, I am literally in the land of Christmas trees as I write this post.  I arrived home for the holidays this weekend and let me tell you, it's like a Christmas wonderland here. My Mom is without a doubt the Christmas Tree Queen. To say she loves Christmas is an understatement and that love mixed with a flair for decorating makes her one mean lean, Christmas Tree decorating machine. There are eight Christmas trees in this house, yes you read that right...EIGHT, each in different rooms throughout the house and each with their own personality.

Sit back, relax and let me show you around.............

Foyer Tree.

Above is the first tree you see when you walk through the front door. It stands at sixteen feet tall and was decorated by my five foot one and a half inch tall Mom. Alone. I know, she's crazy and impressive, but this tree truly sets the stage for the warmth and holiday cheer you will experience as you wander throughout the house.

Dining Room Tree.

The dining room tree is a corner tree that shines with red lights. This room is more formal so the decor is a mixture of large Christmas balls, red and white flowers and small frames showcasing family pictures.

Library Tree.

 The library is home to a baby grand piano and doubles as a music room of sorts. The tree in this space is short and fat and full of music themed ornaments and a sheet music print ribbon that winds throughout the tree into a bow on the front.

Den Tree.

This is our family Christmas tree ,where we gather around to open presents, stockings, watch Christmas movies, etc...This tree is full of sentimental ornaments that my sister and I made growing up as well as ornaments we have collected as a family over the years.

Kitchen Tree.

 

 The kitchen tree sits behind the sink on the countertop. It's short and fat with long feathers at the top to give it height and personality.

 

Office Tree.

This BLACK Christmas tree sits in the office and is all decked out in University of Georgia ornaments and decor.There's even a little jolly UGA gnome that sits at the base of the tree.

 

Guest Room Tree.

This little tree sits in the Guest room. Every ornament on this tree was selected and collected over time to coordinate with the custom bedding in the room.

 

Guest Room Tree.

 

This is one of my favorite trees. It's a gold tree decorated with various sized red balls. There are no, lights, no tree topper and no fuss. It's simple, yet sophisticated. P.S. the lights you see behind the tree are coming from the garland on the stairs that is plugged in behind the tree.

 

Well, there you have it - eight trees, some big, some small, some short, some tall (I could write for Dr. Seuss). Every tree is different and every one thoughtfully decorated. None of these trees happened over night, the decor and concepts have evolved over time. It truly seems like each year, things look even more beautiful and festive than the year before. I hope you enjoyed your tour, I know some may think I'm biased but I'd say my Mom has it going on in the Christmas decorating department. Crazy thing is, these are just the trees, there's oh so much more I could show - think nutcrackers, formal dining room place settings, garland, wreaths, stockings and wrapped packages, but that's all for another day, another blog.

 

The Cow Spot wishes you all Happy Holidays & a very Merry Christmas!!!

 

All photos are from Lori Foster.

 

Bye Bye Tangerine Tango, Hello.......

Several big announcements have been made as of late regarding the color of the year for 2013. In January (2012) I posted about Tangerine Tango, 2012's Color of The Year. Tangerine Tango had good run, but there's a new color on the block and this one is a beauty!

Allow me to introduce...

Emerald Green

So, why did Pantone choose Emerald?

According to Pantone, “Green is the most abundant hue in nature – the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate. Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world. This powerful and universally appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors.”

Call me a psychic, genius, or whatever, but I had a feeling this color would be chosen as the next Color of the Year, in fact I blogged about it during the summer :::pats on back::: I think Pantone hit the nail on the head regarding the emerald color translating easily to both fashion and home interiors.  This color has been all over fashion this Fall. Go in any department store and you will see everything from dresses and shoes to sunglasses and jewelry sporting this hot hue.  In my opinion this years choice is more relatable than colors chosen in years past. Last years Tangerine Tango was fun, but most were not daring enough to paint a wall or agree to window treatments in this semi-bold color. Emerald green however is a different story. Many people are going to be more apt to jump right into this trend because green is a friendly, happy, beautiful color that can fit into almost any decorating style in some form.

 

These emerald accent pillows and curtains bring warmth and richness to this sitting area. I also love how the black and gold in the lamp play off of the emerald.

 

 

BOOM - there's a emerald front door. It's bold but not too much so. The bricks and moulding around the door make for a traditional vibe with a pop.

 



 

The green in the above photo plays well with the light yellow walls. While the chairs are traditional the fun fabrics on both the curtains and the chair add a layer of interest and a bit of funk to this space. Also, green and yellow....................whoever designed this space was ahead of their time....

OK, hold on, I'm getting ahead of myself. See, what happened was,while Pantone was busy making their announcement, Benjamin Moore dubbed their own Color of The Year. While their choice is the neighbor of Pantone's green on the color wheel, the two colors are distinct in their own right.

Allow me to introduce...

Lemon Sorbet 2019-60

Yellow. Hmhmhm.....interesting choice. I'm not sure I saw this one coming quite as much as the Emerald but I think it's got a nice airy vibe that could work in a lot of spaces.

Benjamin Moore explains their choice by stating: "This beautiful yellow harmonizes with other trending pastels in the mint, coral, pink, blue, and vanilla families. Uplifting without being overpowering, lemon sorbet (2019-60) complements almost any color palette and provides a unifying element for diverse spaces."

I agree with BM, this color has the opportunity to make a statement without being too in-your-face. Neutrals are big right now and this is an interesting play on that concept. It's a neutral and it's a color, essentially it could be the pizazz in the room or it could be the backdrop allowing other elements to shine.

Here we see the lemon sorbet light yellow hue playing nicely with the ever popular gray.

 

I LOVE this combination. The yellow, the gray, the magenta...it's fun, it's sophisticated, it's beautiful.

 

 

Interestingly, I have a client who loves some yellow in the kitchen. This color might just be the color for her space. The lemon sorbet color is soft but has nice contrast against the white cabinets.

So, it appears we have a bit of a color battle on our hands. Green and yellow - which is your favorite? I think green is a bold yet relatable choice, while the yellow offers a new twist on the neutral trend. Colors are emotional, so remember, love it or hate it in about twelve months we will have new colors in the spotlight. In the meantime have fun incorporating these colors into your 2013!

All photos are from google search.

It's Christmas Time in the City

I think it's safe to say that after my weekend in New York City I am officially in the Christmas spirit. In fact, I'm not sure how a person could not be in the holiday spirit, if you are in or around NYC this time of year. This was my third time in the city but my first time during the holiday season.

The trip was kind of completely spontaneous. My fiance's job required him to spend some time in NYC at the end of last week so we decided to go all YOLO (You Only Live Once)  and take advantage of the opportunity for a weekend in the city.  Even better - my best friend and her husband, who live in New Hampshire, were relatively easy to coerce into taking the train and joining us.

We had several holiday themed sites on our to-do list, but the first stop had to be THE tree. You know the one...

Rockefeller Center.

But, the tree wasn't the only oversized holiday accessory we found over the weekend.

We saw giant Christmas ornaments...

Massive Christmas lights......

and some humongous nutcrackers... shout out to you Mom (she loves these things)!

From the high end department stores to the street vendors, everyone had their own holiday flare out on display. 

Bergdorf Goodman.

Street Vendor. 

There's just something about the complete abundance and scale of the decor that makes you feel like a kid again. It was a great weekend full of festive sights and good times. The only downer to our time in NYC was the outcome of the SEC Championship game, but we will save that sad tale for another blog. Just writing this blog makes me want to make some hot cocoa and watch Christmas Vacation - Cheers!

All photos are my own. For more photos from my weekend adventures follow me on Instagram.