Artist Spotlight: Payton Cosell Turner

I have endeavored to blog every work day, so please excuse my absence yesterday.  It was a bad mommy day.  You know the kind.  When you want to crawl under the bed and hide in hopes of catching a few minutes of quiet and solitude.  I didn't crawl under the bed (don't worry Grandma).  Nor did I change out of my pajamas until after 5 PM.  But today is a new day and it's Wednesday so the week is more than half way over.  As if that wasn't enough, I have a wonderfully talented person to share with you.  Payton Cosell Turner.  Don't know where I heard about her, but I made a note to myself almost a year ago to blog about her and just found it today.  I hope it's not old news.

After doing a Google image search, I've remembered why I found her fab enough to take note:

Here's a close up of her absolutely fabulous wallpaper designs:

Wow.  That's all I can say.  Just wow.  I love this.  It is blindingly brilliant.  I love the very classic, formal patterns created from ordinary, and somewhat silly, objects.  

In collaboration with Brian Kaspr, Payton Turner creates stunning wallpaper for their Brooklyn-based company Flat Vernacular .  Here are some of my favorites:

On My Mind

My mind is moving around so quickly that I sometimes think my eyes are vigorously shifting back and forth for all to see.  If only I could pull my brain tray out of my ear and empty all of the pencil shavings and half finished thoughts into the garbage.  It sounds whacky and feels even whackier.  So in hopes of organizing my head, I thought I might dump some of my thoughts on you.  Ya dig?

I have art on the brain.  I have been lusting after a large, original artwork for a while, specifically Michelle Armas, though I don't want to buy until I see in person.  She recently added some new pieces to her website.  Here's my favorite:

I dont know if this one is new, but it's still my favorite.  Currently. 

 I also like this one by Jenny Andrews:

She is the person behind mfamb and I like her.  I don't know her but I like her.  I think we could hang.  Another cool chick I just recently discovered is Lee Kleinhelter.  I didn't really just discover her, but just recently put a face to the rooms.  She is fabulous at putting a chic spin on rustic elements.  My idol.  Check her out:

Perfection.  Nothing like someone like Lee to make me feel entirely inadequate on a Friday afternoon.  Way to start the weekend.  Lucky for my goldfish-like memory, I'll forget about it in about 12 minutes.  In keeping with that, I'm already off to my next thought.  These classic loafers:

I've really always loved them.  They were on sale at Belks this weekend (I know it's just Belk, no S, but I prefer to say Belks with a thick Southern accent).  It got me thinking about them again and how they are the perfect fall shoe.  With some high-waisted high water jeans and a vintage polo- collar popped.  I would channel that classic New England vibe.  Add a cropped trench and satchel to my arm... and some oversized wayfarers.  Now that is classic fall style and it's right up my alley.  

Last, I'm getting my haircut today.  I always go in with big plans and walk out with... the same haircut I went in with.  It's never my fault though.  I think people are afraid.  Adventure is my middle name though.  I've gathered pictures and intend to find out if blondes really do have more fun.  Wish me luck.

Go Forth!

You may have noticed that I've been a little MIA lately (all ten of you!)  I have been balancing my roles as wife, mother and interior designer.  It's not easy, but I am enjoying every minute of it.  Unfortunately, my role as blogger has been shoved in the closet and avoided at all costs.  Turns out when you actually have clients and dozens of exciting projects, it leaves you with little time to actually share them.  So I have resolved to blog more and as part of my blogging initiative, I have enlisted the very talented Chelsea Fullerton of Go Forth!  I have been wanting to work with her since Spring and we've finally started renovating The Avarice!!  She's quite a talent and I'm glad I found her before she becomes incredibly famous (Thanks Ashley!)  Check out some of her work:

Chelsea and I started a Pinterest board to corral all of our inspiration for the project and with just a handful of pins, Chelsea articulated my vision for The Avarice better than I ever could have.  I am going to keep as much of that a secret as possible, but stay tuned for sneak peaks and also please do take note that my site address will be changing.  More on that to come...

Designer Spotlight: Kelee Katillac

Three weeks ago, I saw this room in House Beautiful:

I was floored.  Flabbergasted.  Completely overwhelmed and utterly smitten.  It is perfection in a room. After I recovered from my initial overdose of beauty and got over all of my feelings of inadequacy as a designer, I, of course, completely forgot about it.  Then today, while searching for some inspiration for a client project, I came across this space again as well as the rest of the photos from this beautiful Kansas City apartment...

With some further research, I found that the space was done by designer Kelee Katillac.  With a name like that, she's got to be good.  And, let me tell you, she's real good.  Her attention to detail and eye for color are unmatched.  And she's also an art historian.  How 'bout them apples.  But, wait.  It get's better.  While digging through her website, I found that she is the founder of Design Gives Back, "an initiative to provide rooms for hope, health and happiness for those who are critically ill or in-need."  What?!  This exists?!  This is something I have had in my brain ever since I discovered my passion for design.  I believe with all my heart that your environment affects your life in every way.  Here is a quote from the Design Gives Back website:

"Design Gives Back welcomes all that love to design, build or decorate.  Our mission is to help those in-need to have more positive living conditions. Hope comes when walls turn from cracked and peeling, to smooth and colorful. The ability to see life differently is prompted by a change in one's surroundings."

I couldn't agree more.

Color Love: Navy

Months ago when I was wishing for more opportunity, a good friend said there will come a time when you will look back and wish that you had less to do.  I am brimming with gratitude for my success and good fortune, but, at the risk of sounding ungrateful, that time has come.  Lately, I've been feeling like life is moving at supersonic speed.  My two little humans are growing so fast and great things are happening for me and my family.  These are all wonderful blessings, but, for today, I'm taking a slow down and floating in a navy daydream.

Anna Spiro Higgledy Piggledy Stripe in Ginger Jar Blue // Considering these Robert Abbey Annika Lamps for my desk // Lacefield Designs Sahara Midnight Lumbar Pillow // Quadrille Deauville fabric in Navy on Tint // J. Crew Tie Top in Navy Tweed  //  Ballard Designs Louis XVI Oval Back Chair in Distressed Off White with Twill Indigo

I Am Grateful

This week I received my June House Beautiful and guess who made a teensy tinsy cameo?  That's right.  Moi.  A few months back, I had noticed a little blurb below the Editor's Note about submitting an easy makeover.  Favorite ideas and pictures were to be featured in the June issue.  I immediately thought of my kitchen countertop project.  I submitted my info via Facebook and, low and behold, I made the cut.  It's nothing big, but I am grateful none the less. 

Artist Spotlight: Christy Kinard

This weekend, I received an email from Atelier Gallery in Charleston about an upcoming opening for Atlanta artist Christy Kinard.  It wasn't until after looking her up that I realized I'd seen her in last months Veranda.  Her work is bright and happy and strikingly Southern.  I liked it immediately and couldn't resist sharing.

all photos via  

R is for Rut

Let's just pretend for one minute that I am not 33 weeks pregnant and that my emotions aren't up, down and all over the place.  Let's pretend that the frustrated feelings I'm having are not related to lack of sleep or hormones.  Let's just pretend because I need to vent. 
I try my best to stay current on various tastes and aesthetics.  I work hard to live in my client's minds and understand what they want better than they do.  I aspire to be chameleon-like, taking on the preferences of others in order to make their home a place that they love.  But lately, while doing what I do, I seem to have lost what it is that I love.  Just like me, my home is an ongoing work in progress.  I'm okay with that.  It is in exploring this "work in progress" that I began blogging and eventually discovered my passion in life.  In spite of this, one Albert Hadley quote keeps playing in my head,

"Make your home as comfortable and attractive as possible and then get on with living." 

I think about this over and over and wonder what he meant, often rationalizing that he didn't intend for it to apply to interior designers.  I know I can't be the only chump in this industry who constantly feels the need to redecorate my own home.  (Right??)  With every piece of rearranged furniture and new accessory, I like to think that I get closer to my true and genuine voice.  One that, once I hear it clearly for the first time, will not waiver. 
Here's hoping that happens soon.

In the meantime, here's the latest from Jamie Meares, one of my favorite designers from just up the road.  She never fails to make me feel completely inadequate. 
Thanks again, Lady Meares!

All photos via Lonny Magazine

Rooms for a Rainy Day

The rain is back again for a second go.  It rained yesterday, which was great for doing a lot of nothing, but today is Monday and I need sunshine to get me motivated.  I need to start the week with a brisk walk and a blue sky.  So, instead, here I am with the windows open, listening to the rain come down and to this song:




It's a good one for rainy days.  Have a listen. 

Days like today make me want to lounge around and read library books.  Days like today are thinking days.  Days for reflection.  When life gets to moving very quickly, I need a day like today.  Which reminds me.  It was one year ago on this day that my husband and I were married.  I'm not being cynical when I say that it feels like it's been so much longer than a year.  So much has happened in those 12 short months and I am in such a different place than I was on May 14, 2011.  I can honestly say that I feel gratitude every day for my life and for the person I've chosen to share it with. 

But enough of my introspective ramblings.  Let's talk decor!  In this industry, it's easy to become bombarded with and completely lost in stunningly uncomfortable spaces.  There is definitely a time and a place for a room so beautiful that you don't even want to enter it (I guess?), but I want it all!  I want comfortable and fabulous, especially on damp and dark days.  So on this rainy day, we celebrate inviting and cozy spaces where I would be glad to stop and stay a while.

via domino magazine

via House Beautiful

via House Beautiful

via Lonny Magazine

via Lonny Magazine

via House Beautiful

via Lonny Magazine

via Lonny Magazine