Bad to the bone: celebrating my design friends

Kerry’s career was well on its way when chosen to appear on Bravo’s Top Design show in 2008 (also appearing on that show was Eddie Ross and as you can see it turned out pretty well for him too).  A huge red carpet party was thrown at his home and everyone turned out dressed to the nines for the big premiere. Great times for a Tuesday night in the hood and we’re all still waiting for him to come back.

Last month Kerry appeared on TV again, this time HGTV’s Design Wars and he won (of course). Once again the red carpet was on! Stay tuned for more on Kerry. Good things happen to good people.

A few days later this Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles appears (a banner fricken day around here) and there’s Big Daddy now in glossy print. Our boy gets around! This time he’s designing a W residence downtown as part of  The High Style High Rise Home Tour benefiting the beautiful High Museum of Art (just spent a great day there with some friends and have pics and insight to share later).

I’ve been on a lot of home tours and I have to say this one was the most fun I’ve had. Sometimes they can be a little stiff and stuffy…”ugh please don’t touch the drapes, ugh please don’t touch the Hermes china” and this was anything but. The crowd was awesome. A bunch of our design posse (omg did I just write that) were in attendance and we had a good ole time. This post is for them.

Another one of my all-time favorites was Susan Ferrier of McAlpine, Booth and Ferrier. Get lost in their portfolio HERE. Her spaces are always worth the trip and never cease to amaze. She’s loaded up with talent but one I’m particularly fond of over and over again is her furniture placement. She’s able to mesh great seating arrangements together and create “walls” with crisp tailored drapes.

Gorgeous pattern on the drapes below and those porcupine lights rock. I can’t even stand it. Was also a fan of the blue glass bottles all around and the palms. I’d like some palms in my life. You can find similar bottles at West Elm.

Again, the pop of blue bottles but let’s not kid ourselves, the cooktop is the star of the show.

Drapes, texture, branches, floor lamp with oversized shade…a fish can breath out here a girl can dream in here!

This would be a popular spot in our house…

Say cheese! Attempting to get a close up of the gorgeous patina on the oversized mirror and the very tailored, very full, very perfect drapes behind me. This was a “wall” of drapes that created an entry way into the bedroom and as you walked down and around, the bed was centered on the opposite side facing a wall of windows for a stunning view. Somebody say sleepover? 

Mirrored chest. Oversized lamp.

Loved the light

Obsessed with glassware. Currently hot for the turquoise striped glasses they use in the office (!!!) on the set of Mad Men (anyone else eye them?). That sultry, sexy show with beyond brilliant writing and casting rocks my world but especially the sets and wardrobes. I’m sad Betty moved out of her house. I loved that front room!

So back to that beautiful AH and L issue that showed up in March. Not only was Big Daddy in there but as I continued to flip through I came across this…

My friend, Lyndsy Wood’s, beautifully designed kitchen for The Junior League of Atlanta’s Tour of Kitchens. Get out.  Her’s was the best. But I’m not biased. Such a great feeling to see them both, when they use to work right around the corner from my house, in one of the top design mags in the Southeast. Banner. You can check out Lyndsy’s blog here at L Kae Interiors. She’s bad ass.

It must be in the water (sure am hoping so) because another designer friend from around the block, Vicki Bolick of the blog, The Ace of Space, was one of only FIVE blogs nominated this year at the first annual “Design Bloggers Hall of Fame” in Los Angeles for best new blog. Get outta here! She and another sweet pea from our design crew, Dorothy, stayed at the gorgeous Millennium Biltmore Hotel and had a rocking good time hob knobbing with other designer greats. Check out Vick’s mad skills and her story HERE. 

About that design crew I keep mentioning…the hits keep coming. When we can, and lately its been kinda tough as you read on, we meet for dinner to reassure each other we’re not crazy for living a designer’s life. I’m kidding. We dig it.  We mostly cut up, eat really good food and talk about how much we love eating really good food.

But personally, I look around the table and think how did I get here? I am so so grateful to be part of such a dynamic and hyper-talented group of women. Its been the highlight of my year. Why I cannot seem to type this without gettin misty is because I’m just so happy and I hope, worthy, that all of their sweetness and knowledge is being bestowed on little ole me. Life can be so hard sometimes, personally and professionally, and its affirmation that love and genuineness still reign. Just when you think you’ve got all the friends you’ll ever need, out of nowhere, you’re injected into another awesome sorority of sister friends. I think, would this have happened had I not started writing the blog? The gift that keeps giving: Vreeland Road.

One of those sweet souls celebrated a huge day last Friday! Anisa Darnell and Julie Holloway of Milk and Honey Home were also featured on HGTV’s Design Wars and yep, you guessed it, WON! If you missed it, watch it HERE. She was made for TV.

We’re two for two on the winner’s circuit with one more to go this Friday…

Meet sweet Lori of Lori May Interiors. You can watch her in action Friday at one and root her in!  She has a great story of how she got her start in design (just a few short years ago and look at her now – never too late to be a rock star). We are all looking forward to celebrating her debut this weekend. Follow her blog HERE.

See what I mean? (and this is just the half of them). I could go on and on. We’ve been spoiled with all the excitement and success but I have a feeling there’s more to be had. I’ll keep you posted. xo

Jen