Category

Décor

Category

Who, exactly, is Coralie Bickford-Smith?

As I’ve mentioned many times before on the blog, my best friend, McKenzie, is one of the coolest people I know. One day she comes home with a fancy gold and white book, which she excitedly proclaims is one of the Penguin Classics in the Fitzgerald series that Coralie Bickford-Smith designed. I “ooohed” and “ahhhed” appropriately (as it really was gorgeous), then had to ask: “Who, exactly, is Coralie Bickford-Smith?” (I’m so out of the loop) In that moment, my eyes were opened!

Coralie’s clothbound Penguin (where she works) Classics covers have gotten global attention – for the right reasons. I love all of the beautiful books, and naturally, had to order six (for starters) for The Manor. I cannot wait for them to arrive! They will be a great addition to our Sloane bookcases from Crate and Barrel. Eeps! Anxiously awaiting Amazon boxes.
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PS Check out her interview on Design Sponge here!

The Most Gorgeous Holiday Gathering

My engagement/wedding photographer, Ryan Ray, is so talented. Looking at his blog makes me very excited about the coming months. I am actually obsessed with the festive holiday shoot he did that was featured on Style Me Pretty. The event stylist, Angel, may be the sweetest person I’ve ever emailed with in my entire life. The colors of the shoot are vivid, the food looks amazing (I want those Brussels sprouts!), and I need that dining table! I did my own acorn decorating project earlier this season and ended up with sore hands. They look much better au natural than covered in gold glitter!wintergathering_blog_001wintergathering_blog_002wintergathering_blog_006wintergathering_blog_008wintergathering_blog_009wintergathering_blog_012wintergathering_blog_014wintergathering_blog_025

Photography: Ryan Ray Photography / Design + Styling: Love & Splendor / Floral Design: Camilla Svensson Burns Couture Floral and Event Design / Catering: Trumpet Vine Catering / Cake + Desserts: Enjoy Cupcakes / Stationery + Calligraphy: Julie Song Ink / Tabletop Rentals: Casa de Perrin / Furniture Rentals: Found Vintage Rentals / Film Processing: Indie Film Lab

Pieces of the Entryway

As blogged about here, I’ve been racking my brain about how to decorate our entryway. After going to Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, Anthropologie, and Restoration Hardware recently, we’ve picked out some of the furniture. We are going to do a bold patterned rug in the adjoining living room, so we chose a solid color runner (5) to go under our Bluestone Console Table (4). We loved the Nailhead Chair (3) collection at Restoration, so will have one beside the table. We bought a big map print (1) on Etsy (ours is without the “Explore”) that we will mount in a thick black frame and hang over the table. There will be lots of coffee table books (see favorites below), an accent lamp (2) from Anthropologie, and many other frames and candles that we already own. The wall color will be “Glass of Milk” from the Martha Stewart Collection. It’s all coming together – slowly but surely. We’ve picked out some items for the living room, but only decided yesterday to mount the TV on top of the fireplace. One step at a time!
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A Welcoming Entry

The entrance of a house is one of the most important areas, as it sets the precedent for the rest of your home. Our entry opens up to the living and formal dining area, so I want to make sure it’s welcoming and not cluttered. There are high ceilings and lots of natural lighting (one of my favorite things about the house!) – see picture below. Sasha and I have been scouring Houzz for the perfect entry setup. I am leaning towards a gorgeous, bright rug, a long wooden table with two simple Restoration Hardware chairs on either side, and (in my dreams) a Claire Desjardin painting hanging above. See some of our favorite Houzz finds are shown below – what do you think?

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Progress on The Manor

I promised house updates, so here we go. Sasha and I stopped by The Manor after church, and I’m amazed at the progress so far. We have a team of 8 guys working everyday, and they are so diligent. We’ve got new doors, popcorn ceiling removal (in progress), a new bar, a new closet, cans for the recess lighting, holes for the invisible ceiling speakers, and all new siding on the house. Click here for ‘before’ pictures.

photo 4 (3)New cedar-wrap on the entry room beamsphoto 2 (3)

New hardy board all around the house – need to decide on a paint colorphoto 1 (2)

Standing in the new closet – recently placed sheet rock!

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All new doors in the rooms

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Popcorn removal in all of the rooms
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The newly re-walled studyphoto 5 (1)

Where the treehouse will go (one day!)photo 3 (2)

The cedar-plank (pre-stain) in our bedromphoto 4

Space shoes for popcorn removalphoto 3

The new bar spacephoto 2 (1)

Absolute chaos
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The Taylor High School blue kitchenphoto 2

So much popcorn – good thing that this guy is speedy!