Progress in the Guest Room

A couple of months ago we took our scary storage/ workout room....

...And turned it into a guest room.  We started by tearing out the drop ceilings & then having the walls & ceiling re-drywalled.  A closet door  was also added to hide the massive storage closet/ understairs storage.  We took our old guest room and turned it into another office for me & my assistant, Meghan.  (We are still waiting for our furniture to arrive in the office but I'll post pics when we're finished!)

The guest room is pretty much a hodgepodge of things we already had, with the only new item being the linen curtains I had made out of my new Thistle fabric.  I used the vintage wooden dresser I found a while back & truth-be-told, it's stuffed with off-season clothes.  My wooden lady (who is super-heavy) makes me happy:

We're still missing one of the most important elements in the room- the headboard!!- so I have to warn you that the pics really don't look that great, but I'm excited about the progress we've made & wanted to share.  (The pics are also really grainy- sorry!!!)  It's a very tiny room so just room for a bed with a small trunk at the end.  (Which I couldn't even fit into a picture)  I used white/cream bedding we already had & have been having fun layering the bed with different quilts to suit my different moods.  Right now I wanted sort of a Fallish-Bohemian feeling so I used a couple of old vintage quilts.  Here's a blurry pic I snapped of the half unmade bed this morning:

{The quilts are vintage and the 2 boudoir pillows are in a Peter Dunham linen}

I used my favorite pair of massive glass lamps on either side of the bed & was able to just fit in our pedestal table along with the dresser:

{The window isn't centered in the room so we had to go with two totally different sizes of end tables...  Since we were using pieces we already had, the pedestal table is a bit shorter than I'd like so I raised the lamp up with some books to make it more even with its mate.}

I have a collection of old mushroom prints on one wall and wooden printers' trays that the boys & I are working on filling with natural objects on the other, so I'll be sure to share overall pics when we're "finished."  I'm planning on doing a headbaord upholstered in warn oatmeal linen that will stop right at the window sill.  I'm debating on on its shape because I am still to excited over my curtains to cover them up too much with a straight headboard so it will either be rounded or I'll cut out the corners.

Here's a close-up of the curtains in Thistle in Sepia & I'm pretty excited to see them in there:

{I chose them because I could mix them with just about any colors I wanted when my moods change}

Anyway, I'll share more when there's more to see.  I hope you liked it & that you're having a great week!!  I also took a few more photos the other day of one of our most recent installs & will be sure to share.  My client's bedroom turned out beautifully & is really different from this one, so I'll try to post soon.

If you're interested in purchasing any of my fabrics, you can visit my online store here.

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Tomorrow...Ugh, Here We Go

Tomorrow Henry starts daycare and I would be lying if I told you I was completely okay with that. I have been dreading this day for a while now. It is not that I don't want to go back to work; if you work for yourself you know "maternity leave" is a fictional event. Henry and I have been working basically since he was born. This juggling act- having a newborn and working- has worked basically by taking him everywhere with me when our parents weren't in town to watch over him. We have amazing parents but when they are not here he has been content to nap at client's homes, showrooms, etc. Well except for the fit he pitched last week at a house (talk about feeling unprofessional, thank goodness for amazing clients as well).

Above pulling fabric with his Mom, below waiting patiently at the receiving warehouse for furniture to be loaded. (the guys at the warehouse are great with him, a plus in my book)
In some ways I am looking forward to having a routine and this not being a sight seen one too many times in my car...

Also, I am sure Henry gets tired of running errands all the time (note the expression)....

And while I may not be winning any mother-of-the-year awards anytime soon I have loved all this time spent together. We have a schedule that works for us and it is nice to be working along and catch a glimpse of that face.

Tomorrow though change is coming. I know it will be fine if I can just get past the first few days. I LOVE my job and that makes it so much easier. The place he is going came highly recommended by several friends and that is comforting. It is just the thought of someone else feeding him and holding him and playing with him all day gives me a lump in my throat the size of Texas. So for those of you who have been through this and have any advice I would love to hear it. Talking to other mothers has been wonderful so far and made me feel so much better. I have a feeling I am going to need some help tomorrow....

Hello Headboard

Via Dwell Studio

I'm back from Thanksgiving break and it was soooooooo great to get to just relax & hang with my family.  (And eat, of  course!)  I was thinking about it...  and isn't it funny that for this one day a year, almost all of us Americans are eating pretty much the exact same thing?  How weird would it be if we all did burgers on Tuesdays or pesto on Fridays?  ...  the grocery stores would be pretty profitable.  Random, I know. 

{We braved Black Friday - not bad at all, very odd- and found these cute little boots from Gap Kids}

We finally finished raking our yard and I got in a few pics of the boys:

{Christian, 4 and Justin- almost 2!}

I took a complete break from work, which was really nice, but I couldn't help going back to look at pics of some of our recent installs from last week...  Here's a mid-stage pic of one of my favorite rooms as we were moving everything in:

(The curtains are LL Textiles Live Paisley in Gold and I wish the were in my house :)

My client made a last-minute color switch on the walls & they turned out to be too pink.  We're going back to our original color which will be a cream.  {She had a color from one brand reproduced in another brand and it didn't come out perfectly to match the swatch... }    {I'd love to hide all of the not-so-smooth details from you to make it all seem perfect, but just keepin' it real & hopefully it'll help someone with being exrta careful about switching paint brands/ paint matching.}  This room is definitely going to be one of my favorite rooms we've ever done when we're finished.  My clients have the coolest style (she's traditional, he's a bit more edgy- so the mix is perfect) and I'm in love with the room.   

Anyway, I'm off for the day to a master bedroom installation.  I'll be sure to share some peeks!!  Hope your Thanksgiving was special!!




If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

A Book Giveaway...

In honor of Cyber Monday I thought it would be fun to do a little giveaway and I knew just the book! Recently I was informed that Haven & Home was included in a book, The Meghan Method by Meghan Carter. When I received the book I was thrilled to be included in such a well thought out book about decorating.While other design book offer hints or advice here and there, this book is a comprehensive guide to decorating in your own style, something I believe a lot of blog readers would be interested in.

To enter the giveaway just leave a comment below. The winner will be picked Thursday morning. If you don't win you can still benefit from Meghan's advice with her comprehensive gift guide out now available here.
Leave a comment below and good luck! Thank you Meghan for including Haven & Home in your wonderful book!

Quiet Time

This verse has been on here before but I love this idea for a daily reminder. Faith does not need to be so serious and proper.

I can't wait...

...For Thanksgiving.

{Barry Dixon}

I am so ready to relax with my family & eat some goodness!!    We have a few loose ends to tie up at work and then we're off on Wednesday for the holiday.

{Image by Lisa Cohen: From lisacohenphotography.com }

I've been collecting Fall & Thanksgiving images for a while on pinterest so I figured I'd share a few that really make me happy. 

{Image via soderbergagentur.com}

I am so excited to wrap up in a blanket by the fire and hang with my husband & some good music.  (I have to admit that Christmas music DID get played this weekend while raking.  I have a problem :) 

{From casa-diseno-blog.com}

 Anyway, hope you have a great last few days of work before vacation!!!





If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Thankful

This is going to be a wordy post with only one picture which in the blog world = a bad post, so please forgive me. It is the week of Thanksgiving and I have so much to be thankful for it is hard to know where to begin. There have been so many changes this year, for the better. So, I will begin with why I chose this picture, taken move in day to the office, which should cover almost everything.

1. I took this picture when I was 6 or 7 months pregnant. Now Henry has been here 12 weeks and I can't imagine life without him. (okay two pictures)

2. Family. While this picture only shows Patrick and my Dad, my Mom was standing right beside me. Oh November has been C-C-C-razy, working before getting into daycare has been hard, even with the most understanding clients anyone could ask for. Every single one of our parents has come to the 'Ham to help and thank you doesn't even begin to feel adequate. Our lives would be so much less without an amazing support system and the love of our family. A special thank you to my Mom who not only has blazed down I-65 from Nashville several times in a matter of weeks, but also has helped us stay on top of the seemingly unending paperwork.

3. As previously stated the first picture was taken while moving into my new office, it still feels great. From moving into an office, to hiring a new employee this year the business has continued to be blessed. Some days I want to have a large pity party for myself because I work really hard. I hope that does not sound horrible, but it is true. Every time I feel a pity party coming on, I am quickly reminded how thankful I am to do what I love and work for myself. Over the last few months two of my very first clients are back with new homes and reflecting on our first meetings years ago versus now is special. Have I mentioned before how much I love my clients? Love. In December I will have more help and I hope to be able to really start sharing more with you. Professional pictures are really coming this time.....at least that is on the agenda.

4. Not shown but high on my thankful list are our friends. They have always been wonderful but the help we have had since having Henry is humbling. From the meals to the phone calls checking in on me multiple times (even knowing I probably would not be able to answer) we are surrounded by the most wonderful people. So many of my best friends live far away but they have never felt so close.

Finally, I would like to thank you dear blog reader. I feel like I have been a horrible blogger for a few months now and I am not sure when I will really be able to devote more time to H&H as well as reading other blogs. I do plan on continuing blogging though and hopefully balance will resume soon. I want you to know that I read every single comment/e-mail and I appreciate every person who clicks here, you would not believe how often you make my day.

I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful Thanksgiving with lots to be thankful for. I will be signing off for the week because frankly I am t-i-r-e-d and there is a lot to be done before taking some time off. I will be back next week though, hopefully refreshed and ready to go. Be safe and have a wonderful week.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Quiet Time

Family Room Redo: Sneekity Peek

To say this week has been crazy would be an understatement.  Installations are really the most fulfilling part of my job because it's like surprising someone with an awesome present.  I love seeing & hearing about my clients' reactions when they see their finished spaces & there's nothing better in this job than making them happy.  This week we installed for a few clients: a family room & some common areas, a living room, and we placed the final pieces of art in another favorite project of ours.  We get the chance to work with some of the sweetest, most amazing clients and I feel so lucky.

I just wanted to share a little tiny peek of one of my client's family rooms.  I particularly loooove her slipcovered linen ottoman and the rug she found on One King's Lane.   We had a few delays this week which were tough, but in the end it will all work out.  I'll be sure to share more when I can... the photos I took were all pretty grainy so I need me some Helen Norman. :)

Enjoy this beautiful weekend!!

(And thank you to my amazing clients if you're reading-- you are really all the best!) 

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Happy Friday

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!And just think, right after the weekend is one of the best holidays of the year....

Image Martha Stewart

A week of installations!

We have a big week lined up here with a few different client installations happening.  I'm so excited!!!!  I love installation days (or in this case, weeks) because your clients finally get to see the design plan fully realized.  And, more importantly, they get to live in and love their new spaces!!  The holidays are great deadline-makers and so we've got a bunch lined up just before Thanksgiving.  As I mentioned a while back in this post, we do our installations pretty much all in 1 day.  We have a team of people who inevitably work together on every project.  Having an amazing team is the key to successful projects and it has taken me a few years to put it together: 

Before we can even get to installation day, Mike Carr and his team from CarrMichael Construction usually get the space in move-in condition.  They handle any painting & electrical that needs to happen along with pretty much anything else. 

On installation day or a day or so before, Tolvin & his people from the Carpet Customizer deliver the rugs when the room is empty:

{Tolvin, on the left & his great guys on the right.  My husband, Dave, often makes an appearance at installations to help with a thing or two...  or fifty.}

I bring over a car full of one-of-a-kind accessories & smaller items that I've been gathering for the project so that I can try different things out:

The whiteglove delivery service comes with all of the furniture:

My {awesome} assistant Meghan -whose picture I don't have because she is so photo-shy..  oh wait, here's here Halloween pic:- runs around "getting it done" and making the day better.  She pretty much just makes things happen.

Paul & Nancy Johnson of Paul David Design come & hang the window treatments they've made and bring all of the pillows & reupholstered pieces they've done.  They help hang art too. I can't dig up a good picture of them right now but suffice it to say we couldn't do it without them.  Our electrician also comes on the day-of to install the fixtures which has such a big impact on the spaces. 

Once everything is in the house, we scramble to get it all into place & make it look perfect before our clients come home for the big reveal.  It's both exciting & a little nerve-wracking because everything needs to be just right & there are so many pieces that need to fall into perfect place to get it all done.  I've noticed that since I've been pregnant, I've been more forgetful with bringing things for installations (part sleepiness, part preggo brain) so I'm really hoping I remember everything today so that we don't need to drive back to the office. :)   We have the most amazing clients who really trust us with everything, and making them happy is honestly the most rewarding part of this job.

Today we're working on this space:

and we're installing a variation of this plan:

..And then we have a few more for the rest of the week.

...SO, wish me luck that all goes smoothly (or ends well...  there are always hiccups ;) this week!

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Emily Joy Designs and Henry

When Henry was born I knew I wanted professional newborn pictures taken but I was intimidated and overwhelmed and I was not sure which direction to go. At six weeks I decided it was time; no longer a "new" newborn the clock was ticking. He had already changed so much from birth (and so much since these were taken)! So I called Emily Joy with Emily Joy Designs and I am so glad I did. Here is a small sampling of Henry's pictures and I could not be more pleased (especially since he was not cooperating that day).

I was nervous to have someone come take pictures since Henry and I were still figuring things out but she made me feel so comfortable, even when he was pitching a fit. As a mom (soon to be of three) Emily understands how to work with babies and children which was comforting to me. I could not recommend her services more! For more information you can visit her website or blog or e-mail her @ emilyjoygresham@gmail.com. I can't wait for our next session!

Honey From The Bee

It's a rainy day here in the 'Ham, the perfect day to stay inside under the covers. Unfortunately, Henry and I have to go to work but we did get to spend some time this morning doing one of our favorite rainy day activities, dancing around to Van Morrison. His favorite? Tupelo Honey...what can I say, I am starting to think he is an old soul.

Expired by Food & Stuffed Tomatas

I cooked a lot this weekend.  My college volleyball friends and I started a food club and we had our first official "meeting" Saturday night.  It's called the "Expired Food Club."  (I'll explain...  we don't eat expired food. :)  When my friend Kat (the one who painted the magnolia fabric design) and I were talking about how much we loved eating one night (ah yes, we have such erudite conversations!) and how we should get together to eat, I was so excited and talking so quickly that I tried to say "I'm so excited & inspired" but instead I just burst out with "I'm so expired!!"  She was like whaaaaat???  And then I explained & we now have the "Expired Food Club."  The theme for the first meeting was "Stuffed" and we all brought stuffed foods.. mmm mmm amazing.  I brought stuffed peppers & the other food was all sooooooo good.

But I was so in the "stuffed" mood that I also made tomatoes stuffed with curry chicken salad for my book club the next day.  (It's very weird.. I really don't think of myself as a "club" type of person but I actually had two of these very girly-club things planned for the same weekend.)  Anyway, my book club was cancelled  last-minute, so I am LIVING in stuffed tomatoes and chicken salad.  That's okay with me.  I am crazy for these things.  They fill you up in such a good way.  I feel satisfied but not "stuffed" (there I go again) after having one:

It's really easy. I'm not a measure-it-out type of chef, but here are the ingredients if you're up for it:

For the chicken salad:

- A pre-cooked rotisserie chicken--> dice the chicken into small pieces

-Approx 1/4- 1/2 a red onion

-fresh crushed garlic clove (or 2!)

- a few celery stalks, finely chopped (how "cookbook-like" do I sound?)

- a teensy squirt of lemon juice

-salt & pepper

-Sour cream & mayo --> add both of these in until you like the consistency

-Curry powder--> add to taste but I usually keep adding it until it's a pretty shade of yellow

-walnuts and/or anything else you like to add to your chicken salads

-Stir it all up and add more whatever until it looks & tastes good to you 

Then carve out the tomatoes like you would a little pumpkin & fill them up with the chicken salad.  Top with scallions and add a few lettuce leaves on the side.  It's also yummy served with fresh steamed basmati rice on the side.

If you're in the mood, I promise you, this food will make you so happy.  I can't WAIT for lunchtime already.  mmm mmm mm!

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.