This Spring we tackled another Room Service Atlanta project at the United Methodist Children’s Home. The feeling of accomplishment and humbleness we sense at the end of these projects never ceases to amaze us.

 We are excited to share that the project has been installed and the room is complete!

We are thankful for the love and support of our families, friends, vendors, and business associates. Without you and your donations this transformation wouldn’t be possible.

On Monday morning we loaded up our cars and headed to the Children’s Home. We couldn’t wait to get started!

Talk about a treasure trove! Unloading our cars and unpacking our goodies was like Christmas morning! It was navy and emerald HEAVEN!

Of course every install starts with a good clean so the whole apartment got a tough scrub down (and you thought being a designer was all about the glamour!) Thankfully the entire space was primed and painted prior to our arrival by our friends at Verge & Associates who donated an entire crew and paint products to transform our space!

Look at those muscles!

After the apartment was clean it was time to get down to business. A big thank you to our hard-working installers Chris and Brad from Hangman Installations and Bruce from Bruce Marko Home Improvements who donated their time Monday. They did a tremendous job  installing this chevron rug donated by Flor, hanging window treatments and art and installing new light fixtures. 

Then comes the fun stuff! You can see the bright yellow industrial chairs from World Market and our repurposed wicker table that was painted by Joan Borawski from Joan of Art.

After a long (and only slightly sweaty) day it was time to step back and enjoy the beauty.

The bedroom and bathroom was painted Bedford Grey by Glidden (who donated the paint!).  We added a custom sink skirt to freshen it up. All of the fabrics were donated by Atlanta based Lewis and Sheron Textiles.  The window treatments, euro bed pillows and sink skirt were fabricated by the super talented Sue Cruickshank from SJC designs.

We repurposed an antique mirror and asked Joan Borawski to work her magic and give it some jazz! (Yes, the mirror is hanging upside down – it is hiding a gaping hole that was created when we removed the ugly medicine cabinet).

This sweet little nook is the perfect reading spot for studying or relaxing. We recovered a vintage chair Joann found (for $35 at a flea market) in a preppy navy and green combination. Leather Creations was gracious enough to make our upholstery dreams come to life!

The spool table was a HomeGoods find that we had repainted with fun stripes. The vintage lamp was donated by our friend Kemp Hickey who can be found at Scott’s Antique Market the second Saturday of every month.

Missing from the corner? Artwork from Steve Penley which is on the way! WOW!!!!

Doesn’t this spot look cozy?

Since there wasn’t enough room to squeeze a sofa and a bed in the room we opted for a daybed to serve both functions. We loaded it up with comfy pillows from Elaine Smith, Homegoods and SJC Designs. The charming swimsuit prints were donated by Wendover Art. They were the inspiration for our playful room!

We fell in love with the “crab trap” light fixture donated by Currey & Co. It really is the cherry on top of this brand new space!

This dainty wicker table (we picked up for FREE at the UMCH flea market shop) makes for a cheery dining/homework space once it was painted Sherwin Williams Dill (SW6438). We hung vintage postcards on a distressed frame backed with chicken wire (thank you TJ Maxx) to add a personal touch. The fun colors matched our decor and added a little nautical jazz. The placemats (under the lantern) are made from reclaimed sailcloth from the philanthropic minded MK Coastal. The yellow stripe matched the chairs perfectly (ok sometimes you just get lucky!)

This precious little whale has a lighthearted quote and we hit the jackpot when we found this driftwood pendant (donated by Currey & Co.)

At the end of the day we could not be more thrilled to leave this gorgeous room in the hands of a young girl. We hope her new apartment inspires her as much as this project has inspired us!

We wish her a fortunate and blessed life!

1.  An amazing husband who is the most unselfish, caring person I know.

2.  A career in interior design that rewards me on a daily basis with a fabulous business partner and staff.

3.  A great group of girlfriends I don’t know what I would do without.

4. The fact that I wake up every day and feel good.

But most of all, my biggest joy in life are my two daughters, Christina and Amanda.  They have brought their share of challenges but have also given me a great deal of pride and happiness and I love seeing them grow into successful young women!

I wanted to share this with you…….

We have been inspired to create a “vintage coastal” theme with two of our favorite colors, emerald green and navy blue. We have had the support of some amazing sponsors. Thank you!!

So here it is. Just a taste of what’s to come!

This navy and creme chevron rug has been donated by FLOR (for the second year in a row) to help liven up the space! Their products are versatile, durable, and stylish.

We found some special items to repurpose and left the magic to the master – Joan, of Joan of Art Brushed and Beyond Studios.  The table on the left has been round in rope and painted and distressed in navy and green stripes. The unique shape of the vintage mirror was accentuated by adding those same stripes around the edge of the frame!

This green chevron shower curtain is sure to get some cheers from these girls! We found this little gem on Etsy.

We stumbled upon these repurposed rope-wrapped wine bottles and an old sail boat to help accessorize at a local boutique. Just perfect for our coastal vibe!

Okay, last but not least! Mkcoastal.com was wonderful enough to donate two placemats made from reclaimed sailcloth similar to these pillows that we will use on a vintage wicker dining table!

We cannot wait to install these great products and everything else into these cottages on Monday! A BIG thank you to ALL of our sponsors, this cottage is going to help put these girl’s on  a great path, and we are so lucky to be a part of that!

Stay tuned for the BIG reveal on MONDAY!

We have loved our beautiful office in downtown Acworth for the past three years – a lot of exciting things have happened in that place!  But all of a sudden, the stars aligned and the timing was right and we were blessed with the perfect new spot to call HOME!

So goodbye historic downtown Acworth!

After a few days of packing (and a lot of help from our friends and family) we were loaded up for re-location! We swear we are VERY organized and are NOT horders but it didn’t look like it!

 Did I mention all the boxes??

And moving those horrendous fabric books (hello heating pad meet my back…)

Our charming new home is located in historical downtown Kennesaw, just miles from our old office! We are thrilled because we have an entire HOUSE that allows us room to grow.  Thank God for our hard working team and tireless husbands!

Of course we couldn’t just move right in without making it K&K suitable so after a fresh coat of paint, new carpet, all new light fixtures and a lots of reorganization in record time, we can let you peak in the window….

Get ready –  this is where the K&K magic happens!

Our installer Chris Ray helped hang all of our art including a gallery of our work in our new (emerald green of course) conference room! Light fixture by Robert Abbey… looooove!

Our husbands were super duper team players (as long as we kept the cooler filled with ice and beer).

Goodbye crappy builder blah light fixtures ….

Hellloooo Visual Comfort!

Our new fabric workroom is our favorite creation. It’s much bigger than our old space and has PLENTY of room for a 40″x80″ custom made work station that is on the way!

 Of course our office wouldn’t be complete without a place for our gang to work! These flush mount light fixtures (thank you Currey @ Co.) were a must-have as were the high gloss workstation tables in our new “loft” area (thank you Ikea).

We are looking forward to working in our sophisticated new space that matches our fun-loving personalities! Keep a look out for more pictures of our new digs (and look closely in the windows)!

PS. Don’t worry, our mailing address and phone numbers won’t change, so stay in touch!!!

Here’s how our chat went: 

Kandrac & Kole:  It seems that many high end, well known designers are using their name to promote products for the home. How did you choose bedding and HSN to partner with?

 Alexa: I like HSN. I like the ease of HSN. I like that they bring products to me and that I don’t have to go to a store. In the past few years, I feel they have become cooler and better and I thought that I would be flattered to work alongside them. I also understand who shops HSN because she’s a version of me.

Kandrac & Kole: The headboard cover is a great concept!  What is the height?

 Alexa: Thank you! The height fits a Queen – 61″L x 51″H x 4″ Deep. The headboard’s slipcover was my Eureka moment because it meant that the customer could have choices going forward. They could change and not have to throw out their bedroom. That seemed like a really valuable asset to me.

Kandrac & Kole:  Of all the gorgeous colors and hues we are used to working with as designers, how did you come up with your overall color palette?

Alexa: My palette is always changing. It’s just based on what I am dreaming of at any given moment. These collections are beautiful and show some range, I hope.

Kandrac & Kole:  Is this collection a limited offer on HSN?

Alexa: I am launching my collection on HSN on May 2 and will return with new assortments in August and October. I am exciting this is an ongoing partnership.

Kandrac & Kole:  We meet you at Blogfest NYC last year and you shared with us that you are quite the wordsmith. Got any new good ones?

Alexa: I am loving “Fulcrum” these days. It’s very descriptive and useful word. I am hoping that I will be the fulcrum connecting the HSN customer to the world of interior design in an easy, digestible, and time saving way.

Kandrac & Kole (Kelly):  On a personal note, my parents live across the street from the Inn at Quogue which I hear you are involved with. This is great news! Will I see you around the block this summer?

Alexa: You better believe it!!! I haunt my own mother’s house in the Hamptons. I am her proverbial bad penny.

Kandrac & Kole (Kelly):  At Highpoint last week, I style spotted your Suzannah side table at Hickory Chair. It currently has 56 likes and 128 repins on Pinterest. It’s HOT!  Will you continue to design for Hickory Chair? (Shameless plug to readers:  http://pinterest.com/stylespotspr13/kelly-kole/)

 Alexa: Of course, I will continue to design for Hickory Chair. What can I say: I love the creative process. I’m addicted to it.

Kandrac & Kole: We wish you good luck on your big day! See you in Quogue this summer!

Watch for Alexa to launch Alexa Hampton Home, her first-ever textile collection on May 2 on HSN/HSN.com!

This exclusive line of quality home décor elements reflects Alexa’s distinctive, sophisticated style and a design aesthetic that is clean, elegant and smart. Alexa Hampton Home features:

·         Bedding sets, headboard covers, sheets, throws, bath, and window treatments

·         Alexa’s collection is elegant and luxurious décor that is warm, fun, but accessible to everyone

·         The entire collection is priced under $200, including the seven-piece bedding sets

·         While the styles are tailored, the collection features neutral and blue animal print bedding; luxurious jacquard weave bedding collections; and foundational textile pieces in a range of colors including yellow, sage and wine

Thank you Alexa!

“Hi ladies,

It’s a wonderful thing to do for the girls that live there.  Who knows, it could change their lives and get them interested in interior design as a career.  Also, just to feel loved and cared for, will be something many of them have never experienced.

It’s hard to put into words the emotion I felt after reading that.  More than anything it made me feel “grateful”.  Grateful that there are people who care, and grateful that I am in a position to help and be a part of Room Service Atlanta.  Interior design is not just about making a home “beautiful”, it’s about creating surroundings that make a house a “home”.

If you don’t already know about this project you can read our last couple of blogs HERE!

Heartfelt thank you’s to:

 Currey & Company for their beautiful lighting and home furnishings.

Steve Penley for his amazing artwork.

Elaine Smith Pillows for their durability and beauty.

Lewis and Sheron Fabrics for their beautiful fabrics and amazing customer service.

Wendover Art for their large selection of art that works with so many of our projects.

FLOR for their unique carpet squares and quick deliveries.

MK Coastal who creates pillows, placemats and home decor items from old sails.  You need to check out their website to read how they “give back” with every sale.

Verge Painting & Siding for their work ethic and excellent attention to detail.

Leather Creations Furniture  for making a beautiful product.

Helser Brothers Hardware for their distinct designs and technical knowledge.

Kemp Hickey Designs for his ability to turn something old into something beautiful.

SJC Window Designs for fabricating all of our gorgeous window treatments and soft furnishings.

Glidden Paint for donating the paint for the rooms at the girl’s cottage.

Joan Borawski for her artistic talent in faux painting and hand rendering.

A big thank you also to the monetary donations received by the families below:

The Harper Family

The Prochaska Family

Sharon Hindson of  Von Der Ahe Interiors

Amanda Kinney of The Antique and Design Center in High Point, NC

If you are interested in supporting us, we could use some monetary donations for finishing touches on the space.  Click here to donate via paypal or send a check to Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs, Inc. 4430 Wade Green Road, Suite 180, Kennesaw, GA 30144.

On another note, the contest for the Style Spotter with the most wins ends on Friday, May 3rd.  Please click HERE to repin and like our Highpoint Market picks!!

Have a great week!

Joann

The sad part is, there were  SO many items that I loved that had to hit the cutting room floor! So to give them fair props, here are a few more goodies that I would have loved to have “spotted”.

There were a dozen products at the C.R. Laine showroom that I could have pinned but one of my faves was the Copley Slipcovered Swivel Chair in the 100% cotton fabric Gateway Shamrock. (Extra props: that luscious green wall is Benjamin Moore Kiwi, the floral pillow is from Design Legacy, the lamp from Currey & Company and the end table from Woodbridge).

Stanley Furniture not only had a new showroom (TO DIE FOR) but the new Charleston Regency collection was one of my favorite new introductions at market. This dining room table was elegant and sophisticated but casual all at the same time.

While I’m singing Stanley’s praises, let me just say that the Young America furniture line is bar none the best kids furniture line out there AND their merchandising was one of the most creative we saw! Check out those paint splattered floors.

Turquoise is still HOT. This table from Century Furniture was fun but sophisticated. (Pssst – check out the wallpaper in the background. Yes, it will be gracing our new office. From Seabrook Wallcoverings).

Eastern Accents is definitely the go to brand for colorful, hip bedding ensembles.

Bernhardt Interiors had a lot of Moroccan influences in their new introductions. Look at the inlays in their new dining table!

 Joann and I are always on the hunt for new and undiscovered vendors. Our find this year was Taylor Burke Home. We love a women-owed company with a big heart!

The greatest thing about the Highpoint Market is the hoards of great people who make it happen – all the traffic controllers, the security personal, the Highpoint Market authority staff, the showrooms that put on endless meals, parties, snacks, etc.  THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!

Now go to my Style Spotter board on Pinterest, and please REPIN AND LIKE.

HERE!!

Here are a few teasers from my

Style Spotter Pinterest Board:

Iconic shapes like the quatrefoil and greek key were everywhere like in this emerald green table from World’s Away:

The classic chevron pattern was repeated in many ways like in this Bradstreet Spool Chair from one of my favorite showrooms – C.R. Laine. 

Bold, bright colors and geometric shapes were the name of the game all over market.  I’m in love with these “pouf” footstools from Surya.

Want to see more?

Go to my Style Spotter Pinterest Board and please LIKE AND REPIN.

It’s a contest after all and I’d really love to WIN!! 

For years our talented designer friends (Tobi Fairley, Shay Geyer, Traci Zeller, Jennifer Mehditash, Stacy Naquin, Lisa Mende, Jennifer Brouwer, Wanda Horton and others) graced the stage before Kandrac & Kole as Highpoint Stylespotters. HUH? What about us? We want to join the party too!!

So now is that time! Woohoooo! Thank you to the powers that be for recognizing Kandrac Kole as a power spotter for what’s HOT at Highpoint!

We are very honored to be in the same category as the following designers and bloggers:

So what exactly is a Style Spotter? 

Style Spotters are trendsetters that see ahead of the curve in home fashion trends. We will walk the show, capturing images of our favorite looks and on-trend products. The Style Spotters will pin those photos to our  Pinterest board and will list the exhibitor’s name and showroom number. We will also present the exhibitor with a sign that highlights the Style Spotter’s name with a QR code and URL for the Pinterest board.

Now here’s the key -

We need your support! We are counting on all of our readers, friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances and strangers off the street to go to Pinterest and LIKE and REPIN the images on the Kelly Kole Highpoint Pinterest Board. Why? Cuz we want to WIN!!

Starting Friday, April 19th at noon, click HERE to see Kelly’s Pins and “LIKE” them! She will be pinning her choices until Monday. 

Thanks to Currey & Co. for so graciously donating these eye catching light fixtures:

Thanks to our friend and idol Steve Penley for donating his extraordinary work 2 years in a row:

And to the amazing Elaine Smith whose indoor outdoor pillows we covet:

And to the Atlanta icon Lewis & Sheron textiles for donating all of the fabrics for our upholstery, bedding and window treatments!

Stay tuned for more kudos to our special charity partners!

We are still in need of cash donations for all the accessorizing and finishing touches (sheets, blankets, kitchen ware, toiletries) we need to add!  If you’d like to donate, please send a check to Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs, Inc. 4430 Wade Green Road, Suite 180, Kennesaw, GA 30144.

Thank you for helping us HEAL THE HURT!!