Madame Vice President

Last night I officially became an officer of the NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association) Georgia Chapter.

Here I am with my giant hand being sworn in at the induction ceremony. 

My position is Vice President of Academic Relations. Essentially I will serve as the primary liaison between the Chapter and the endorsed educational programs located within the Chapter boundaries. I'm pretty pumped about this opportunity and this specific position. You see, I came from an accredited program at The University of Georgia and literally owe a lot to NKBA, and fate, and ambition, and luck, but for the purposes of this post, to NKBA.

As I've talked about before I opted to take an optional Kitchen & Bath class in college. Taking this class led me to KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) 2008 where I met my future first employer. Six weeks after graduation I was hired and officially became a Kitchen & Bath Designer. Since then, it has been through networking I have done within NKBA that I've had the opportunity to change companies, serve on a committee, enter a design contest (and win!) and now serve on this board.

I believe in the power of networking. I believe that accredited schools will offer a curriculum that will produce future designers equipped with the fundamentals necessary to succeed. I love what I do, but I didn't get here by blindly sending out my resume. I want to tell my story and help others. I want the Georgia Chapter of NKBA to be the best that it can be and what's better than a freshly plucked student full of enthusiasm and creativity? Watch out students, here I come!

A big thanks to Holly Hill Floyd for snapping this photo. 

House Tour

I hope everyone had a Happy New Years! It's hard to believe we are already 9 days into 2013 - time flies! I came back to work last week after a long holiday break, and I have to say it feels good to get back into a routine.  The holidays were a blast and I was one of those really lucky people that was off the week between Christmas and New Years. I was out of work for so long I started to forget what my co-workers looked like.  It was glorious. But this years winter vacation was anything but relaxing; it was chalked full of new house remodel phase one.

Before we dive into the work completed thus far, I thought it might be fun to give you a tour of the house as it was the day we bought it.  Below are the images that will one day be known as the "before" shots.

Oh, and disregard the furniture. The house was semi-staged while it was on the market. All furniture was removed before we moved in, giving us a clean slate to start with.



Living Room.

This is the room you walk into as you enter the house, the door you see straight ahead is the front door. This will definitely be a room we will spend a lot of time in. It's a long room with nice lighting. We don't have any structural plans for this room but do plan to refinish the floors, paint, add furniture, window treatments etc.. Our favorite part of this room - the gas fireplace. I can already tell you this will be my best friend as it seems I'm always cold, OH and I love s'mores so it's a win win.


Dining Room.

Above is the dining room.  The wall you see straight ahead backs up to the kitchen. This is a great picture because this room, from this angle already looks different. This room is actually involved in the biggest remodeling project we have on our agenda, which includes removing the wall you see straight ahead. The removal of this wall will really open up both the dining room and the kitchen. Stay tuned - this project is well underway!



Kitchen

 

And here is the ol' heart of the home - the kitchen. This space was difficult to photograph because it's small and there really wasn't a great angle that allowed the camera to capture the space in its entirety. While the components such as the cabinets and the appliances were in pretty good shape the layout was mediocre at best. We came up with a plan pretty soon after seeing the space which involved the removal of the wall the refrigerator is currently on (this is the wall that backs up to the dining room) in order to open up the space. Also on the list, the removal of an exterior door you can't see that literally goes to nothing. Because of the new layout, new cabinets are a must as well as countertops and backsplash (HOORAY!) As I mentioned in the dining room blurb, this part of the project is well underway, walls have been chopped and dust has been flying.

Sun room.

I've decided to call this room the Solarium, it's a fancier word for sun room. This is a great space right off the living room. We figure the room was added on to the house at some point because you can see the original siding on the right wall. The room is full of glass and the sunlight pours in. The french doors you see ahead lead out to the deck so I know we will get a lot of enjoyment out of this space as we entertain.


Master Sitting Area.

This house spoke to us for a number of reasons, but one of the main reasons is the upstairs master suite which includes the master sitting area pictured above. The upstairs was renovated in the early 2000's and is in great shape. We plan to turn this area into a den with a cozy couch, TV, books, etc. I love the built-ins in this space and plan to fill them full of the bazillion design and fashion books I have acquired over my lifetime.

Master Bedroom.

The entire back wall of the master bedroom is filled with windows overlooking our awesome back yard. It's a great space with plenty of room for furniture which translates into storage. Speaking of storage, see the french doors to the right? That's the closet - AKA my favorite room in the house ;)

Master Bath.

 And finally, the master bath, AKA Brent's favorite room. Brent has big plans for that tub. He wants to mount a TV on the wall to the left so he can lay in the tub and watch his stories. I'm serious. I can't lie, I love the tub too. It's hard to see from this picture but the tub has these chunky gold feet with with a vintage tub fixture. It's an instant focal point and I'm excited to design around it. This space has a lot of possibilities and really doesn't need much more than some window treatments, paint and some storage in the form of cabinetry.

Well, there you have it, I hope you enjoyed a quick tour of the new digs. There are a few spaces I've left out of this post, including: the downstairs guest bedrooms, downstairs bathroom, hallway (with charming phone niche!) and the deck/backyard. I will post those pictures eventually but for now I wanted to cover the major living areas. Dont' worry I won't bombard you with posts about my house. I'll take it easy for awhile until more progress has been made, but I'll be back, and at the rate the renovations are going, I'll be back soon!

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. 

I Love Lamp

Yep, I'm quoting Anchorman, but seriously I do love lamps. Lamps are so multi-functional - not only do they provide a room with light, but they tend to add a sense of warmth and coziness to a space. Today, lamps are not only being utilized beside a bed or couch, interestingly, they have made their way into the kitchen.

Lighting is so important in any room but especially the kitchen. A lot goes on in a kitchen - you need good task lighting for working and of course good ambient lighting for atmosphere.  For some time pendant lights have been the "go to" for decorative kitchen lighting. Typically pendants are seen hung over the island and provide ambient lighting in a fashionable way. Because pendants come in a slew of different shapes, sizes and finishes and they can be used in varying quantities, they are a popular choice. I love a beautiful pendant and believe they can really add style and flare to a space, however as of late, I've noticed a shift in kitchen designs where it seems that pendant lights may not always be the lighting answer...

Most kitchens have at least one focal wall, in some cases this wall has a decorative hood, while other times a window is on display. Depending on the orientation of the island, the pendant lighting can hang down and block or interfere with the view of the focal wall. This has actually been a topic I have dealt with in two of my recent kitchen designs. In both kitchens a beautiful focal wall was created around the hood. Each kitchen's island was oriented differently but the idea of hanging pendants over the island was kind of ho hum because we knew any pendant we chose would be semi-blocking the view of the focal wall. In both cases, the solution was to sit lamps on either side of the island as opposed to hanging the lighting from the ceiling.

Like pendants, lamps come in a variety of different styles, finishes and sizes making them an easy choice for kitchen lighting. Of course lamps will not be the answer for all kitchens - some islands are not big enough to support the lamp idea. If the addition of lamps will decrease valuable working space, then skip the lamps and stay with ceiling fixtures.

Below are some examples of kitchens that went the lamp route, each choosing to utilize this trend in different ways.

In this kitchen the island is centered on the hood which appears to be the focal wall. I love how these lamps really add some flare to the space without taking away from the beauty and balance of the focal wall.

I'm drawn to the fun pop of color these green glass lamp bases bring to this kitchen. The furniture style island + the lamps make for a cozy feel.

These lamps add an unexpected pop to this kitchen. The focal wall in this space is the large window and these lamps just feel right in the space. Not only would pendant lighting be blocking the view of the window but pendants in addition to the flanking columns would have made the space feel crowded.

One common question people have about the lamps is, "where do you hide the cords?" Easy - you just have your countertop fabricator core a small hole in the countertop for the cord to go down into. The lamp can cover up the hole and you're left with a seamless look. Regardless of the type of lighting you choose to use, lighting in general provides an opportunity to add a layer of personality to a space. So, take advantage and do your research to figure out what lighting style best suits you and your space.

Photos are from Houzz & Pinterest.