Tuesday, June 28, 2016

6 Months of Croix & a Little Beauty & the Beast


Like a lot of people, I listen to music when I run. Unlike a lot of people, my playlist of choice on Pandora lately has been Disney. Random I know, but there is something about Disney tunes that make sweating your brains out a little bit more enjoyable. I like to zone out when listening to music and let songs kind of lead my thoughts. A few months ago, shortly after I was cleared to start exercising again after having Croix, I heard a song that I thought described mine and Brent's journey of parenthood perfectly.

Disney + parenthood = weird I know, but honestly every single time I've heard this song I think the same thing. So, today in honor of Croix turning 6 months old yesterday I thought I would share what runs through my mind as I literally run and listen to this song.

The song.....

Beauty & The Beast. 

Tale as old as time


True as it can be

Croix, minutes old....
Barely even friends

Croix, 1 day old. He had a little jaundice and had to wear the glow worm suit. 
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly

Watching the Super Bowl and enjoying one of Croix's first smiles. 
Just a little change
Photo by Zack Moye Photography
Small to say the least

Both a little scared


Neither one prepared

Beauty and the Beast


Ever just the same

First Mexican food meal as a family of three. Croix was 5 days old and slept through the whole dinner.
Ever a surprise


Ever as before

Croix snoozing in front of my Kitchen Design.
Ever just as sure
Croix's first time in a pool!
As the sun will rise
Croix.....5 months and 30 days old. 





































It's hard to believe we have known this little person for 6 whole months. Before Croix, I would hear this song and think....love song. Now, when I hear this song, I still think love song, just a whole different kind of love song. Happy Half Birthday Croix!

Unless otherwise noted all photos are my own. 

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Spotted - Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine July 2016


Today, June 23rd, marks my 8th anniversary as a Kitchen & Bath Designer!  EIGHT YEARS....that is college twice (or one and a half for some....:) ) How crazy is that?

In other news.....I'm pumped to have a kitchen I designed featured in the July issue of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine!


Do you guys remember the Luxury Living Show kitchen? The kitchen that sat in the middle of the mall (Phipps Plaza)? The one that started out as this sketch......
Well, if you didn't get to see this kitchen while it was on display in March, here is your chance to check it out. 



Cabinetry: Bell Kitchen & Bath Studios (color Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth BM984) | Styling:  Melanie David Design | Countertops: Cambria (Ella) by Construction Resources | Barstools: Serena & Lily | Appliances: Sub-Zero/Wolf | Sink/Faucet: Franke | Internal Drawer Components: Richelieu | Hardware: Top Knobs

All photos are from Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Website. 

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Mood Board to Real Life - My Sister's Office


Remember a few years ago I did a post about a mood board I had created for my sister Candace and her home office? Well, shortly after that she finished off the space, and now today, 1 year and 11 months later, I'm excited to show it to you! #procrastination #oops

If you've ever caught a glimpse of her house on social media (Instagram, Snapchat or Facebook) then you know you are in for a big treat today!

Alright, let's get started....


Years ago Candace and her husband, Jimmy had all interior doors painted Wrought Iron 2124-10 by Benjamin Moore. It's a fun touch throughout the house but is especially nice in this room as the color goes so nicely with the palette in the home office. 

As you walk in, the wall to the right is where all of the magic happens! She purchased two identical desks, one that she works at with her computer and the other that she sat against the back wall with flanking bookshelves. 


The bookshelves are filled to the brim with fun! From books and plants to a painting of a Westie that looks very similar to their dog daughter - Piper! Candace used a service called Print Studio App to print out instagram photos and strung two rows of them between the two bookshelves. 


This room sits at the front of the house and has great natural light thanks to a giant window looking out at the front yard. The walls were painted Feather Down 953 by Benjamin Moore, so the majority of the color and personality comes from the decor, making this space happy, yet visually calm. Plus, should they ever choose to move, this room will easily convert back to a guest bedroom. 



The below photo shows you the room from Piper's vantage point. She has her very own desk bed in the room so she can hang out with her Mom during the day. 


Across the way is a little seating area, and for those of you that are familiar with S T I R | FASHION, Candace's on-line resale shop, all photos of the clothes are taken on the wall with the pink hanger! 


I love the grouping of gold frames and accessories above the chair. Each frame holds an inspirational quote or saying which is always a nice thing to have around in the midst a busy/stressful work day. 


This room is easily one of the happiest rooms you will walk into. The bright colors and crisp decor make this space the ideal atmosphere to be productive and inspired at the same time AND THAT my friends is what you call a well rounded room! :)

All photos are my own. 

Friday, June 3, 2016

Patio Project - Part 3


Last we talked we had just finished the fireplace and had concrete steps poured from the den to the patio. Before we could go any further we had to hire a company to come and move the gas line that was in the brick smoke hut. They pulled the line out of the back of the hut and then ran it along the back and side of the hut and down the wall to where we planned for the grill to sit. With the gas line in place we were ready to start the cabinetry! 

We measured and schemed and worked out our plan.....Cabinets would be installed to the left of the fireplace, all the way down the wall to the brick smoke hut. 


The concrete patio has settled over time and is not level, so when it came time to frame in for the cabinetry we had to really play with the framing to make certain the top would be level. 


We wanted the cabinetry run to include the grill, a place for The Big Green Egg, two storage cabinets and an open shelf area, so we worked out our spacing and got all of the openings framed up. 


With the cabinetry framing done, we were almost ready to start the countertops, but before we could, we had a few loose ends to tie up, starting with the fireplace flue...

Running the flue for the fireplace was a bit tricky. Normal chimneys would just go straight up, but because we plan to place the pizza oven directly over the fireplace this would not work. Instead we pitched the flue to funnel the smoke through the back of the pizza oven which would allow the smoke to roll through the cavity of the oven and out the chimney. 


Next up Brent went to work installing the missing pieces of the fence. You may remember the fence used to be curved, but because the pizza oven will sit in this location, we needed to square it off. 


Meanwhile I was busy painting. We went back and forth on what color pallet we wanted to use out here, but ultimately decided to keep with the color combo already used on the house - taupe and a creamy white. Having the fence patched and the new color scheme start to take shape was a big turning point for the patio aesthetically speaking. 



Finally we were ready to get started on our concrete countertops. We made up a form and decided to get fancy and add a little extra wood detail in the middle of the edge (you will be able to see this more clearly later). 


What happened next = one of the most exhausting days...ever. Too dramatic? Maybe, but 
I can say with absolute certainty that concrete is officially our frenemy

Sooooooo it took 46 80 pound bags of concrete to do this countertop. If you know anything about concrete you know that not only is it messy, but when working with it, one has to move relatively quickly because it dries fast. At first it was just Brent and I going at it on our own.  We were just 2 or 3 bags in and I was certain I might die. Luckily, like an angel dropped down from heaven, Brent's brother Scott showed up and helped us. 

Carry heavy bag of concrete, dump heavy bag full of dusty concrete into tub, spray with water, stir around with shovel, pick up tub and dump wet concrete atop the cabinets. Over and over and over and over again x 46. 


It was brutal. 


At the very end, after Scott had left, we wanted to put our hand prints in the top. By this point Croix was getting cranky and was ready for his bath, bottle, bed routine. Brent and I were exhausted and covered in concrete dust, but if we wanted to do this we had to do it then before the concrete dried. Concrete is just totally unreasonable like that. ;) Brent did his hand first, then we did mine and then I carried Croix over to do his....we smushed his hand into the concrete and as soon as we lifted it out he shoved it right in his mouth. Yep, Croix ate concrete. He has never even eaten a piece of real food but he has eaten concrete. #parentsoftheyear Of course we immediately yanked his hand out of his mouth, but it was just the most appropriate ending to a grueling day. 

We let the concrete sit for several days and when we went to remove the form we were very happy to see this: 


And a close up of the wood detail:


We have a little sanding to do, but overall we are really happy with the end results. So much so in fact that the misery of that concrete filled day has disappeared and we have found ourselves friends with concrete yet again.

With the framework in place and the messy annoying tasks behind us it's finally time to get to the pretty stuff!

All photos are my own.