2012 AH&L Christmas Showhouse

For full blog post with large scale pictures, go to:
http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/12/2012-ah-christmas-showhouse.html

The Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Christmas House is in full swing – in fact, this is the last weekend to see it!  It is open Thursday through Sunday, and is in the Chastain Park area, with off site parking very nearby (with complimentary parking and continuous shuttle service) at the Chastain Horse Park, 4371 Powers Ferry Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30327.

Exterior of 2012 AH&L Christmas House in the daytime. The exterior has a charming farmhouse look, and the interior has a feel of relaxed elegance. Photo by Peak of Chic.

Another exterior shot taken at night when the house was all ready for visitors.  I love it when there are wreaths on the windows of a house - one of my favorite festive touches.

The Christmas House is usually my favorite showhouse of the year, and this year is no exception. The roster of design talent is top notch; not surprisingly the interiors are wonderful and the various spaces work so well together despite the fact that so many different talents had a hand in the design. The architecture is interesting, the house flows beautifully, and there are many inspirational ideas and details to be seen.

Here is a little peek of a few of the rooms – visit the showhouse this weekend to see the rooms in all of their glory, beautifully designed and decorated for the holidays.

The gentleman’s study (design by Tammy Connor) is a beautiful room.  The layout of the furniture is inspired, and the chest tucked into the niche in the wall caught my eye.  Note the glossy paint on the walls and trim, and the grasscloth used on the ceiling.  The paint color is olive by Farrow & Ball.

A picture of the gentleman's study, from the marketing materials (used with permission).

The living room by Beth Webb featured paneled walls with a limed finished.  The bookshelves in the room were particularly striking (not pictured), as the liming was carried to the back of the shelves and the shelves themselves were styled beautifully.

The dining room is adjacent to the living room, and was designed by Jim Howard.  It is impossible to tell in this picture, but the area inside the paneling had some sort of beautiful treatment - I am not sure if it is wallpaper or a specialty finish. Image from marketing materials, used with permission.

The entire house was so fresh and light, it was hard to take pictures – in fact, many of my pictures just did not turn out because of the abundant light streaming in through the windows.  Also, there were so many people seeing the showhouse that it was hard to get a picture without a person in it! 

I liked the kitchen layout (kitchen design by L. Kae Interiors), and the adjacent breakfast room and family room were two of my favorite spaces in the house (not pictured).

A gorgeous window and striking art in the main stairwell of the house.

The transition space to the master bedroom was painted in a deep rich blue-green that struck me as teal when I was in the space (Benjamin Moore Hidden Falls #714).  All of the doors in the master suite are painted in this color as well. Design by Amy Morris.

There is a One King’s Lane sale featuring items from this year’s Christmas House – it is going on right now - https://www.onekingslane.com/sales/16147.  Image above is from the One King’s Lane sale promotion, and features the nursery designed by Michel Boyd. 

For more information and directions, please visit http://www.atlantachristmashouse.com/.

Designers favorite books: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2010/12/designers-favorite-books-and-mine-too.html

2012 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/11/books-for-my-christmas-list.html

2011 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2011/12/my-book-list-christmas-2011.html

Small art, perfect for special, one of a kind holiday gifts or hostess gifts! http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/category/art

To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store  (newly updated!).
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Books in a Living Room Vignette

For more inspirational finds, please visit www.quatrefoildesign.com

As I was looking through my pictures, searching for a particular one, I came across this image that never fails to please me (the interior design is by Birmingham based firm Caldwell Flake).  There is something so lovely about this vignette – the symmetry is pleasing, but so is the slight variation that can be seen in the arrangement of the tables on either side. The colors and composition of the design, as well as the pattern on the fabric and pillows, really draw me in. In the past I have always preferred solid curtains, but I am finding myself gravitating to pattern more and more these days. I always like solid colors on upholstery, though!

As I am still trying to expand my book collection for the many unfilled shelves in my library, I took a closer look at the books under the side table on the left.  I spy American Decorative Arts; The Art of War; The World’s Best Golf; The Battle of the Bulge; Battle at Sea; Living with Dogs; More is More: Tony Duquette (my best guess); Perfect Neutrals (this is also a guess –the first word is perfect, and the font matches the book cover); Mood Indigo: Decorating with Rich, Dark Colors.  If books are a reflection on the interests of the homeowners (and are hopefully not just props for a photo shoot!), this small collection reflects a couple who are interested in history, decorative arts, home, golf, and dogs.

For more beautiful and inspiring images from Caldwell Flake, please visit their website here: http://www.caldwellflake.com/

www.quatrefoildesign.com

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Visit my online store, Quatrefoil Design: www.quatrefoildesign.com 
To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store. 

Inspirational Design Talent: Amy Morris

I was first introduced to Amy Morris through the Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles bathroom design contest:

This is such an exquisite vignette, with the freestanding tub, the beautiful French style mirror behind the tub (reminds me a bit of the work of Kerry Joyce, with an Atlanta twist), the petite French chair, and the side table with my favorite flower - tulips. The bathroom has wood floors, a bathroom trend I am seeing more and more. What's not to like about this picture? Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles has a particular strength at identifying and promoting the best new emerging talent in the Southeast design scene; based on this picture, I decided to check out the designer's web site. Be prepared for some beautiful never before seen images!

Designer Amy Morris clearly she has an incredible eye and a great talent for creating beautiful spaces. This is the image that greeted me at the front page of Amy's website, and it was a wonderful introduction to Amy's work - overall neutral, with texture and interest. I love the lines of the bookshelf, the mixture of seagrass baskets with parchment books, glass paperweights, and architectural fragments. The amazing photography of Emily Followill makes the vignette even more beautiful (all images by Emily Followill, used with permission from the designer).

Another vignette from the front page of Amy's site, with a combination of some of my favorite elements: the symmetry of two lamps, flowing silk curtains, a lyre back chair (a musical shape that I love), and the 'x' motif in a beautiful desk.

Amy likes to mix it up in her designs, and often uses great abstract art with treasured family pieces and wonderful finds at local haunts like Scott's antique market.

Another space where Amy made a charming and completely unique vignette that defines the entry to the home. I love it when a home has a long wall like this in an entry - it makes for so many possibilities on the decor side of things!

Amy worked with Atlanta design star Barbara Westbrook for five years before starting her own firm in 2005. From Barbara, she gained an appreciation for traditional and French modern design, although she describes her current direction as transitional design with a clean, fresh, and eclectic style.

I absolutely love the style of this room, as seen from different angles. It is richly colored and very sophisticated; although I usually gravitate to a lighter palate, there is something about this room that makes me want to pick a room in my house and make it cozy and gray. The dash of teal in the antique chair is a perfect balance.

Another bathroom where Amy uses a full length mirror leaning against a wall, also set behind a free standing tub. I love how the color of the tub is a perfect match for the color of the fabric in the shade.

I originally thought that this was part of the same bathroom, but the floor is much darker. The same color in the fabric of the window treatment is used, which is carried through to the charming chair at the vanity.

This is a great casual dining area, with its slipcovered chairs, grass planter on the table, and glass lights hanging from ropes.

Here is a kitchen designed by Amy. There are so many interesting elements going on here - the beams on the ceiling (adding that great third dimension to the space), the layout on the far wall, with no cabinets, two windows on a wall done entirely in tile, a giant clock, the two lanterns above the island.

Based on the beams, I am guessing that the previous three pictures are part of the same house. I love the contrast of the trim color on the doors.

A powder room, which is so rarely seen in magazines and portfolios. This one is charming.

A sophisticated bathroom designed by Amy.

What a great use for a small wall in a stairway. The four ebony medallion reliefs look like giant intaglios. Does anyone know what these are called? I love the settee along the stair wall too; the pillows provide a little dash of color.

This is my favorite picture from Amy's website. I am not sure if it is the bed - one of my favorite styles, by Lewis Mittman - or the intaglios hanging above the bed - or the combination of all the elements, but it is definitely a design that speaks to me.

For more information on Amy Morris' work, please visit her website. Amy is one of the featured designers in the upcoming Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Christmas House; she will be designing a bedroom. Based on everything I have seen on her website, it will be spectacular!

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Beautiful framed intaglios, available here:

http://www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/category/intaglios

Unique architectural renderings, available here:

http://www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/category/architectural

Whimsical original crab and lobster paintings, as seen in House Beautiful, available here:

http://www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/category/art

http://www.quatrefoildesign.com/