MC Did Some Tweaking

While I have been playing with my Binterest Lists, MC has been working on two,   yes two,    different projects.  I know,  I do keep the poor man very busy.  Now, MC fans, don't worry!   He still has had plenty of  his "reading" time. But... I think he needs some exercise to keep his fantastic, youthful figure, don't you?  I could show one of these projects and wait for the second, but I can't keep things back...

So guess what?  We are back in our Great Room.  I know you have missed seeing it.

Table....the top is plywood, painted black, with a polyurethane finish

We have been going back and forth with a way to kick his masterful coffee table over the top!  The surface is plywood.  He has painted and put many different finishes on it, but it remains.... plywood. All the books and accessories stick to it and leave little marks.

 We have walked up and down the aisles of Lowe's trying to be  "hit in the face"  with the perfect material.  Every time we think we have found The One, we veto it before we leave the store.  The big hold up,  how MC will  "frame"/finish the edges,  without creating an amateurish appearance. 

MC is very positive about glass mosaic tiles; very similar to the ones we used for our counter tops in Norfolk.  He is even  looking forward  to working with  grout.   Back and forth on color.  Should the tiles be tones of gold, white, black, ....very confusing.  The problem I am having is my thinking it's going to look too "busy".   A 4 x 4 foot table in the middle of our room with mosaic tiles just seems too "much".   Every combination has variations of color,  We are having a hard time finding tiles that have a solid color appearance.   We have some left over tiles  from Norfolk and have put them on the table for a "let's see".   A big negative for this material is cost.....to get the tiles we prefer, the cost is more than we really want to spend.  Remember,  we are on a set budget....all our  projects are DIY because of THE  BUDGET.  How simple life could be if money was no issue...wouldn't it be grand to commission Bradley-Hughes to design a custom piece!

Tiles left over from counter top project in Norfolk

Yesterday, I had an Epiphany.....I was looking at flooring materials. And... It hit me, Vinyl tile.  Yes that horrible 1980  material we all have ripped up and replaced with ceramic tile or REAL wood!  It certainly fits the cost factor!  The whole top can be done for under $20!  We found a pattern that has a marble appearance in black tones, and brought them home for another "let's see"!

MC put them down....unglued of course.....to let us marinate the look!

Vinyl tiles

This morning I had another Epiphany!  Can you guess.....Mirror Tiles.  Yes, the same tiles that we have used for years, over and over, for so many of my Epiphanies.  They're on the fireplace wall and look so, so "city-ish"!  We had some in the garage and I brought them in for more....Let's See!

Mirror tiles

All Four  "let's see"
Plain, tile, vinyl and mirror....

Now....guess which one is the winner?
  That's easy.
 After all this time, you know I went with the Mirror Tiles.....

It was a no brain-er as soon as I saw those mirror tiles.  They compliment the crystals on the chandelier and bring your eye from the fireplace to the table!

But....that's not all MC has done these past few days. 

 Last week when we hosted the Wine Party for our neighborhood, we brought in the two wicker chairs from the terrace.  I loved them with the table in the kitchen!  I only did what the designers advise us all
to do......

BRING THE OUTSIDE IN 

Of course I didn't stop with the chairs.....We have two love seats on the terrace that are also black wicker.  I thought...I bet one would look fab on one side of the table and the chairs on the other.  But the loveseat needed a paint touch up.  So....yesterday in between everything else...MC sprayed the loveseat with another coat of paint!!!

As you all know, I don't do "Outside", especially in this Georgia heat!  In the last three days, the chairs and love seat have been "sat" on more than any other piece of furniture we own!!   I am now at the table, sitting or "lounging" on the loveseat ....comfortably writing this post!  The TV is quite visible and my coffee is at hand!

ps....if needed the chairs can easily move back to the terrace.

  

I'm not finished

I have to stop by Binterest.  I think  a visit to the Bradley-Hughes Showroom will be appropriate.  The pieces are to die for!

LOOK AT THAT RUG!!  

Of course I am in love with the antiqued mirror low table!

Wow

The textures in this space are amazing

OK....I'M GOING OUT AND BUY SOME LOTTERY TICKETS!!!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I was thinking .....  Or in other words, I had an Epiphany ...for a Post.   This is not a room remake!! 

We are constantly reading that the Foyer, or Entrance,  reflects the style of what's to come!  Makes sense!  In other words....The FIRST IMPRESSION of the home!

My Epiphany:
......... to show  foyers from Designer's Portfolios that  I have on my Binterest List!    (by the way,  this list grows daily!)  My only problem,  there were few shots of foyers in the  Designers' profiles.    I hope this will give you an insight into a few of my Binterest Designers.   Or a FIRST IMPRESSION.....a clue,  to what their talent expresses!!!

Great Designer's can work in any Style.  They aren't limited to one period, or "style".  A successful Designer  creates a space to fit the client.    After looking at the spaces,  I realized I was able to see an insight into the Designer's talents!
Amazing!

 Browse through the following Foyers, Entrys--- or as one great Design denotes the space.....

.  ARRIVALS

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Design by Amy Morris

 ..... classic design to perfection
I love that settee! 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two Foyers by Barry Dixon
Barry is Nationally recognized....  Designing beautiful spaces for clients worldwide.

`-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Phoebe Howard ...Phoebe has such a touch for clean, classic design.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Two  Foyers
 Designed by Jan Showers...
Jan creates the most Glamorous Designs I have ever seen!!!
 I have her book Glamorous Rooms on my coffee table!!!
 It's my bible!

POP of RED

Note the animal hide!  My family and friends still doesn't understand my love for these!!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Melanie Turner's Design for a home in Buckhead 

Melanie's work is timeless glamour !

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Remember this?  ....David Kleinberg......The Ultimate Foyer!!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  A gracious, welcoming design by Sherry Hart

Love Sherry's Blog....   Design Indulgence.....a must read.

 Her sense of humor is unbelievable!!! 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Timothy Whealon..  one very casual and one very glamorous! 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suzanne Kasler Design. 

 Suzanne captures all designs.  

Suzanne  Signature Designs is exclusive to the  Ballard Design Catalog.   

You  must check your Ballard catalog to see Suzanne's pieces.

You do have your Ballard catalog?
  Of course you do,
what a silly question!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Liz Williams Interiors. 
  Check out her website.  I wish there were more foyers to show!
Her designs are fabulous

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WELCOME!
You can't beat this!!

This is one of my favorites ..ever

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suellen Gregory Designs.
This gorgeous room is featured in the July/August issue of Veranda!
Veranda and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles are
staples in the Bucket List House!

 and here.....a totally different "Style"!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

and...

just for fun

Design By Patty Day

BOBBY THE ARTIST

MC had been working secretly creating a special "Little Me" for my brother, Bobby, AKA Patch.  It took awhile for MC to come up with the ideal Character, but once the idea came to him, he couldn't stop working on  "Bobby The Artist" It actually took MC less than three days to do this masterpiece!  I couldn't get him out of the garage!

By the way, the #14 means EVERYTHING to Bobby!  It's HIS lucky number and has been since he was a small boy and Gil Hodges, who wore #14 during his Brooklyn Dodger career, was his hero!
How could  I forget....He was born on August 14!


 Bobby has been taking art lessons both in Florida and on Long Island.  He has been able to successfully express himself with his new found talent!

 MC took these pictures before he carefully packed it up. We were so excited to get this Genuine MC Little Me off to it's new place of honor in Bobby's home.  Enjoy Bobby, MC had a ball!

I wish to share some of Bobby's Work.  Although he is new to the Art World, I think his talent is outstanding...I wish to share some my favorites with you.

I feel so fortunate to have these two talented men in my life!

A SPECIAL TREAT

Not long after I posted the last post....one of my neighbors sent me  fabulous pictures of their home for me to share!

I am so thrilled and thank Candy and Peter  very much.  Their home is a very Special home!  I will have to explain a little to non-SunCity Peachtree residents.

Last summer Pulte Homes did an experiment.  They built 9 Prototype Homes in our SunCity.  Five of them on the lots next to our home.  It was so exciting watching them go up.  Each an entirely different plan than anything we had ever seen.  The concept went like this.

 They built the 9 homes without walls,  attaching Tyvek paper to the  studs to "outline" the different spaces.  The kitchens and baths  were installed loaded with great new features.  The homes were the product of  work from architects at Pulte.  Then during the summer,  tours were scheduled for Focus Groups, consisting of prospects, residents and people from the building industry. They toured and then met to give their opinions of what would and wouldn't work!    MC and I were fortunate to be part of one of the tours.  It was extremely interesting..  The new ideas, we felt, were right on the money.  They updated the models to fit what  the buyer of  today is looking for.  Open, full of natural light,  plans!    I wish we had some of the new features!!!   In the fall, all the contractors returned.  The homes were finished and put on the market. 

Pulte will be reviewing  the feedback and design new models.  Meanwhile,  the 9 homes that were the prototypes are unique!!!  They will never be built, as they exist,  again.  I envy the buyers.  They have homes that are truly  ONE OF A KIND !!!

Back to this evening.....
The email I received was from one of these buyers.  Candy and Peter are sharing some of their design work.  Candy has done wonders with color!  She has a special "eye" !   Not only are Candy and Peter sharing some of the views of their rooms, but they have GRACIOUSLY volunteered their home for this year's Holiday Tour of Homes on December 2nd..  Yes, MC and I, along with great friends, are the "Committe" for the 4th Annual SunCity Peachtree Holiday Tour of Homes.  MC and I ran the first one,  in 2009, and here we are back to do it again.  Last year our home was on the tour!  I promise a full report with pictures for the Blog!!!
 
Our committee is ecstatic! W will have  two Prototype homes on this year's Tour!! Another fabulous neighbor has said she wishes her  Prototype home to be included!!!

Candy and Peter

Candy and Peter's Home.  

They have the Sun Room that is shown as an option.  The upstairs has amazing space.  Candy has designed the large room for a Scrap Booking group to meet.. 

The Art collection is spectacular.  These photos are just snippets ....the Tour goers will thoroughly enjoy all their art and treasures.

Perfect piece for the Foyer

Great composition

Did I say they had ART!!!!

 The Hearth Room

Thank you Candy and Peter for sharing these personal pictures.  I appreciate it so, so,  very  much...