Condo Renovations

The Atlanta market has finally come back! WOO! Which means we are ready to say goodbye to our condo in Brookhaven. Tear! We are ready financially, but probably not emotionally. So many great memories here- including getting engaged. This was our very first home and will always have a special place in our hearts. That being said- she is going on the market in a few months! 

We've been lucky to have been able to rent the condo for the past 6 years over two really great renters. However, with life, kids, and the busy busy day to day, we are ready to move on. Sigh. I always loved this condo, and especially the location. It's just a mile north on Peachtree Road from Lenox Mall/Phipps and its close to the heart of Brookhaven. It's also close to two MARTA stations, which was really helpful when I was commuting to work and to school. 

So, all of that to say we are going to be getting it ready for market. It needs a little love and some updating. We'll actually be in Atlanta for a full WEEK at the beginning of March and I'm SOOOOO excited. We plan to visit some old haunts and restaurants where we were regulars. I plan to do (some) shopping and hope to visit some old friends. Part of me really, really misses Atlanta (especially our old house, neighborhood, and church), but I do not miss the traffic that's for sure. 

So here's some brainstorming for the condo. New paint throughout, updated lighting, updated backsplash in kitchen, new kitchen faucet, new shower faucet, and a few repairs. Hopefully we can get that done and ready to show by mid March. TBD!

Hopefully we'll be visiting the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS! 

Atlanta Inspiration House

Is it Monday already?  I'm laid up in bed today with one killer sore throat and cough. Isn't life fun? Between the cold meds, cough drops, hot liquids and cursing my very existence today, I thought I'd recap better days.  Like Saturday and my trip with my friend Flower to the Atlanta Inspiration House by Cathedral Antiques.  It was everything I hoped it would be and more. Quick note- it was really hard to take pictures because we were constantly moving along from room to room and the place was sort of crowded.  Picture taking became super awkward, but I managed to get a few.  Unfortunately I didn't get pictures of every room, like the Men's Bathroom (no, that's not a joke, there was a Men's Room on the tour, and it was gorgeous).  Ok, before I hack all over my computer (is that TMI?) I had better get on with the good stuff for you... 

A living room and kitchen area by Bryan Alan Kirkland Designs.  Are you dying yet?  Bright colors are not even my style, but this room was doing it for me.  I didn't know where to rest my eyes due to all the awesome happening. And check out the great artwork... yum!

A small narrow hallway designed by Dayka Robinson Designs.  This space was anything but boring and forgotten.  The hot yellowy chartreuse was the perfect pop of color and contrast to that awesome black and white carpet.  Somehow it all worked together in this narrow little space. Definitely not your boring beige hallway!

Dining room by Wesley Huffard, a favorite of mine in the house.  What's not to love about a huge farmhouse style table, upholstered linen side chairs and wingback velvet end chairs? 

This was the bar area, and I loved the artwork.  The house was filled with wonderful art pieces from local artists.  Really great inspiration! 

The living room by Parker Kennedy Living was, as Flower put it, "a very happy room".  I noticed a trend in the house- note to self- paint those ceilings!  If you like glam, you would have loved this space. Hot pink and royal blue galore.

The boardroom by Reiner/White Design Studio.  Navy and peacock blue to absolute perfection.  I didn't really want to leave this room. 

I loved the white dogs against all that blue.  The shades in the back of the room were striped and to die for.

See how the stripes on the ceiling run down into the striped shades?  Love this! 

A peacock blue couch, drooling at this point.

And then we walked into the bar/kitchenette area of the boardroom.  OH MY GOSH.  LOOK at that stone wall.  They covered an entire wall in 12x12 stacked limestone tiles.  How beautiful is it with the light shining down?  This was my favorite feature in the entire house.   

And check out this back wall.  The designer used upholstery tacks and glue to create this look.  How cool.  I've since been trying to figure out where my house needs this look.  

Two of my favorite local designers whipped up this beautiful stone room on the bottom floor.  It was so cozy and sophisticated, I pictured myself curling up on this fabulous couch with a glass of white wine and a good book.  And probably a big piece of cheesecake.  A room this good has to come with cheesecake, right? No? 

Sherry Hart and Lori May outdid themselves.  

Don't you love the rustic manly stone with the feminine furniture shapes and floral patterns?  I really liked the combination of the two.  A perfect blend of manly and feminine, enough to make me want to eat it.  I didn't though, no worries.  I really appreciate designs that can accommodate a wife and a picky husband (ehem, mine). 

Hallway nook by Rhonda Peterson & Associates.  I loved the fabric on this chair and the metallic looking walls.  Yum!  Flower almost ran out with that side table, but we didn't  really want to be chased down by Atlanta PD. 

The parlor room by Y McFadden LLC.  

This rug was like a billion (okay more like 200) years old from (I think) Pakistan.  It is made of velvet and silk, and only cost $65,000.  We were careful to not really walk on it.  Ha! 

Are you inspired yet? 

Inspiration House Weekend!

It's FRIDAY. Thank you, thank you, thank youuuuu it's FRIDAY! Anyone have big plans this weekend? I'm sure most people's involve the Super Bowl. I won't lie, ever since the Falcons blew it big time, I haven't cared anything about the big game. I probably won't even watch it. I know, sore loser, but I could not care less about those teams. Really, really. I like the Falcons (or I should say I like Abraham and Robinson), but I'm a college football girl through and through and come by it honest. Growing up, my mom was a big time Redskins fan (she lived in DC and worked for the FBI for several years), and I guess my dad just wasn't into NFL at all, and I couldn't get down with the 'Skins. But everyone should eat a bunch of chicken this weekend as you all tune in. Support my hubby's industry and order those wings!

nam nam nam nam chicken wings!!!!

My weekend does involve some big plans, more super than the Super Bowl in my opinion. Several weeks ago, I asked (or was it begged? ha) my friend Flower to go to the Atlanta Inspiration House with me. She said yes after I bribed her with lunch and wedding planning afterwards (she's getting married in April in New Orleans, I cannot wait for that trip!) Anyway, we are both excited as crap to see the house. Every room is designed by a different designer here in Atlanta. You can read about it and get a peek at pictures here, here, here, and here.  I'm not sure if photography will be allowed, but if it is you can be sure I'll post about it all on Monday.

me with the bride-to-be Flower

I get to pick up Blakers Beaner from camp today.  She looks like she's had fun this week! I love being able to check in on her anytime I want to.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! 

Tour of Homes

Well, this past weekend was the annual Virginia Highlands Tour of Homes.  It was my first time going, and looks like I'll be back every year to come.  Hubs came along with me, and of course it was something he had never done in the city either.  (Before I'm hammered with comments regarding dragging my poor husband to a home show, let me clear this up.  I originally purchased tickets with a good friend of mine who had an emergency pop up last minute, so hubs stepped in to keep me company on the tour.  Now that it's settled I'm not the worst wife in the world, I'll continue on my home tour rant.)  There were 8 houses for the viewing this year, and 8 local restaurants showcasing their foods at each home on the tour. We realized a few things about the homes selected this year.  Professional decorating, curb appeal, wine cellars, and outdoor kitchens.  Seriously, you apparently cannot live in Va-Hi (you definitely can't be on the tour) without both a Weber grill and a Green Egg, along with your choice of 300 plus bottles of vino.  Oh, to dream....

So, here we go, each house on the tour, plus a few of my favorite details from each:

House #1

The interior designer on this house also happened to be the homeowner.  She has a very clear style of mixing antique pieces with modern playful fabrics and pops of color.  This was my favorite house on the whole tour.

Love the fabrics on her dining chairs.  How fun and unexpected while the rest of the room is nodding to the original antique character of the house.

I had to get a shot of the kitchen ceiling.  It was a lofted ceiling with track lights and up lighting, and the homeowner had painted it blue.  This picture ala my iPhone clearly does not do it justice. 

 A fun little reading room/ library in grays and oranges.  I never knew orange could look so good!

And, alas, my absolute favorite spot in the house.  This little corner of the master bedroom.  First of all, I love that the homeowner was not afraid of COLOR.  I think it's so boring to only use neutrals in a house, come on, live a little! Well, living is definitely happening in this room.  Full of life!  And, I love this over sized mirror paired with the white vanity.  Gorgeous.

House #2

House #2, or "that contemporary one" as we kept referring to it, definitely stood out amongst the other homes.  I felt like I was walking through a house of the future, or something straight from the Jetsons. I didn't take too many pictures here because this really isn't my style, but I can appreciate it in any event.

For example, look at these counter tops.  Can you even believe this coloring?  If you can't, then you definitely won't believe that this rock has not been dyed blue.  It comes straight from Brazil this way.  Wow. 

And the lighting in this house was unreal.  I don't even know where you find fixtures like this.  I'm sad this picture didn't turn out so well, but it looked like a huge set of gears.

Another funky light leading upstairs.  Reminds me of a skeleton or something.  Again, I don't think you can find this at Lowe's.

And keeping with the theme of these Va-Hi homes, an outdoor kitchen.  Granite counter tops, built in grill, fire pit, lounge area, large work station.  Hubba hubba.

The best part of this home to me was definitely the city skyline view from the rooftop deck.  It was unbelievable!

We really weren't cool enough to be in this house.  Super swanky and hip, totally city, and so we quickly scurried our suburban butts off to House #3.

House #3

Another good lookin' casa.  Magazine quality.  No really, it was.  Southern Living featured the kitchen in this home in its April 2011 edition.  And after seeing the kitchen for myself, I know why. 

The home opened up into a shared dining room and living room area.  It was covered in pattern and texture, and I ate that up big time.  Look how cool the wall stenciling in here is:

And more stenciling on the fireplace:

And that brings us to the Southern Living kitchen.  Que the trumpets firing and the angels singing, Hallelujah!  If you know me, I really have a blue fetish.  It's bad.  I absolutely cannot get enough of the color.  Soothing and wonderful, I love you blue.  Look at all this blue cabinetry, this makes me happy:

And the floors! How have I never thought of painting hardwoods in a room? Look how great they look.  These were painted in a diamond design in a creamy white and gray pattern.  Wonderful. 

Another view, ohhh ahhhhh....

And the bathroom.  Floor to ceiling in some sort of tumbled marble tiles.  Dark cabinetry.  Tons of cool lighting.  And the paint color? CHARCOAL! Who would have thought a color as dark as charcoal could look so great in a bathroom?  It reminds me of a cave, in a good way.  So spa-like.

House #4

This house, also known as "Casa Pete" was a total dojo mancave of a structure.

The ceilings were pretty amazing:

The backyard included a firepit lounge area, outdoor kitchen, and sitting pool:

And the wine cellar:

And the wine tasting room just outside the wine cellar (and everyone on the tour looking into the cellar door):

And a table made of a solid piece of wood.  I think this bad boy could seat 12 or so comfortably.

House #5
Another charmer... of all the homes, I think this one stayed truest to the original architecture.

The mostly neutral living room had a very casual but done look.  And I would love a leather sleigh style chaise lounge like this one:

 The dining room had an awesome chandelier, and I loved the grouping of prints over the sideboard table:

The kitchen was so crowded I really couldn't get any great pictures, but this I thought was a cute little whimsical touch.  The plates display the 7 deadly sins written in a cursive font.  The walls were a silvery gray, and the ceiling was beadboard.

The guest room.  Usually, I'm not as drawn to the modern look of geometrics, but this room I thought was so fun.  And the tufted headboard had a really neat pattern:

The sitting area of the master bedroom suite.  Yes, I'll be recreating you one day in my own master suite....

House #6

The best part of this home I think was the backyard landscaping... You'll see.

I snapped this pic because I LOVE that the window trim is painted black. It just makes the eye follow a line all the way to the outdoors (which were fabulous here).

 The master bedroom (a little nod to coastal living, gotta love that!)

And a Sarah Richardson-esque bathroom.  Tons of different stones and finishes here, but all done in shades of gray and white.

 And, the outdoors... hello lover.

House #7

This was hubs' favorite (my second favorite).  It was probably the biggest home on the tour as well.  I'm not sure if it was new construction, or just completely remodeled.  But, I could still smell the fresh paint and sawdust remnants... mmmm.... This house also had a movie theatre room.  Yep.

 The front room was what I call wood paneling done right.  Wow.  I wish I knew the paint color here.

And the living room and kitchen were one big open space of awesome.  Oh, that ceiling was to die for.  Beyond those doors was a large porch looking out over an even larger lawn.

 Total closet envy.

Bathroom envy, too...

A mancave...

 Another wine cellar....

 And another outdoor kitchen.. with a view...

And that brings us to the final home.

House #8

 More bathroom envy...

 Outdoor porch with hardwood ceilings and stone fireplace. 

 The family room and kitchen:

And that completes the tour, and the longest blog post in history.  Hope you enjoyed, and maybe even got some great ideas for your own home.  I know I did!