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Work has been insane for us lately so it was very therapeutic to get some cheery holiday energy at this years Home For the Holidays designer showhouse sponsored by Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles.

I knew it was going to be a great showhouse when this guy greeted us at the door.

This showhouse was very well done. I say that with great admiration because not every showhouse to me is a home run. It was a wonderful mix of traditional and contemporary and the entire house flowed perfectly (which is difficult when each room is designed by a different designer).

Holiday tabletops can be intimidating. Barbara Westbrook’s dining room was sophisticated yet still comfortable and casual.

I loved the whimsical and vintage flair of the breakfast room designed by Paige Sumblin Schnell and Anna Kay Porch of Tracery.

This powder room designed by Karen Ferguson of Harrison Design Associates took my breath away. The walls and floors were tiled. The oversized sink and sconces were my favorite part.

For anybody that questions how to mix traditional and contemporary in design, this bedroom designed by Huff-Dewberry, Inc.  is textbook perfect.  I love the symmetry throughout the room.

Since I just renovated my master bathroom, I’m all about bathroom design. This master bedroom suite by Kelly Wolf Anthony of Wolf Design Group was the ultimate in luxury.

There’s always a little gem of a space tucked away in these show houses. In this house it was this small home office designed by Rick Anthony Bonner of Insidesign.

Of course I’m always on the hunt for new inspiration when I go to tour a new show house. My dogs would LOVE this built in dog bed in the laundry room.

Another thing I always look at in show homes in how the designers place furniture.  Fitting a lot of furniture in a room without it looking crowded is an art form which Jimmy Stanton has mastered.

This photo courtesy of our friend Sherry Hart of Design Indulgence.

Atlanta designers always have their pulse on the latest in design. I’m here to confirm that wallpaper is BACK and cork flooring is HOT.

Our talented friend Steve McKenzie did a steller job (as usual) on the back porch. The chandelier is funky and unexpected.

The Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Home for the Holidays is open until December 8th at 58 Blackland Road in Atlanta. There is SO much more than I’ve shown you here so please go visit! It’s very therapeutic indeed!

Merry Merry!

Kelly

Hello, junior designer Lauren here! I just couldn’t help but share about my trip to Maine with Thos. Moser and 7 other super talented designer and architects! I hope you enjoy reading about it as much as I enjoyed my trip!

I could not have imagined what was waiting for me when I boarded my flight, Boston bound for the Maine Event hosted by Thos. Moser. I had no idea the amazing people, places, and experiences that were waiting for me when I touched down. From the moment I got there, I was in Maine heaven!

Our first stop was to the most adorable place I have ever laid my eyes on, Freeport, Maine and our home for the next three days. We stayed at the charming Harraseeket Inn right on Main Street.

We ate delicious meals at some beautiful places like the Royal River Grillhouse. Dining with some of the amazing Thos. Moser team was a real opportunity to get a better feel for this historic and family-centered business.

The next day we ventured past the Moser’s past home and the original workshop, which was part of the “grange” or community center. Don’t you just love that amazing weathered siding??

We were off to the workshop to get our official tour and to meet our cabinetmakers. Each piece is custom made for an order and built especially for you.

Each cabinetmaker starts their day by selecting which piece to build off of this whiteboard, and then they built it from the timber to the finish all done by one person.

They believe in the preservation of the natural quality of the wood. From matching the grains, to using an oil finish instead of a stain, the integrity is the most important thing.

Now for the fun part! I had the honor of working with Jill, whose title may be cabinetmaker but I consider an artist. We worked (i.e. Jill worked) all day on Thursday to attach the spindles, connect the arm, and sand the seat. And then we sanded, and sanded, and then sanded some more.

On Friday we attached the legs.

And then I got to test out my work of art.

The most amazing part of my trip was the signing ceremony. After we all finished our pieces, all of the cabinetmakers gathered around as we shared the meaning of this experience with them. And then, one by one we each signed our piece of furniture, just as the cabinetmakers do with every piece they finish.

Then it was off to the oiling room. We sprayed down my piece and then I kissed it good-bye before sending it off to be waxed.

Run by Tom Moser and three of his sons, David, Aaron, and Andy, Thos. Moser is truly a company built on great people and exceptional handcrafted furniture. It was obvious from the second that we entered the workshop that everyone who works at Thos. Moser from Tom, to the cabinetmakers, to the lovely ladies in customer service, that everyone has a honest sense of pride about their furniture and their company.

I am beyond thankful for this amazing opportunity. I had a great time, learned more than I could ever share, and built some invaluable relationships. Thank you to the Thos. Moser and Whitegoods teams! Also, a big thank you to the 7 other super talented and fun ladies who were able to share this experience with me: Lira Luis, Carmen Christensen, Marilyn Russell, Susan Welker, Lori Gilder, Susan Serra, and Sarah Sarna.

We are big fans of MK Coastal.  We met one of the co-owners, Megan Pesce at The Design Bloggers Conference in LA.

MK Coastal (like most businesses) was started with a bright idea and a drawing on a napkin after a family get together. Cousins Megan Pesce and Kelly Brown decided to transform their family’s love of sailing into a family business.

We asked the MK ladies to share some details about their booming company with us.

K&K: How did you get the idea to create these amazing items from sails?

MK: Kelly’s family was given an enormous 800 pound sail while Megan happened to be visiting her in Maine.  With Kelly’s background in sailing and Megan’s in interior design we thought about the possibilities of what we could create together and MK Coastal was born. We wanted to do something beyond the ever popular sail cloth bags and came up with a few home decor items that we thought would fill a niche in the coastal home decor market.  It was also important to us to to be environmentally conscious and use all reclaimed sailcloth.  Way too many sailors have unused sails sitting in their garages or barns rotting away, and that’s where we came up with “The Story of the Sail”, which is such a fun way to own a piece of sailing history and really know where that sail was used!  How many antiques have you seen and wondered where they’ve been?

K&K: What has been the biggest reward?  What has been the biggest challenge?

MK: The biggest reward is seeing our vision come to life through the amazing seamstresses and craftsman we work with everyday!  It’s so nice to hear people’s feedback, since a large majority of our business up until this point has been custom orders.  They love our products and our story!  There are many challenges we face as business owners, one of them being the time it takes to get from idea to prototype to market.  Once we have decided to create and sell something, we want it to be done…like…yesterday!  We’ve had to practice patience much too often.

K&K: What are a couple of interesting custom items you’ve made?

MK:  We love custom projects!  I love finding antiques to repurpose and finding creative ways to add sailcloth to everyday home decor.  We made an outdoor sign for a small art gallery as well a custom burgee flag for a birthday gift, but I think my favorite idea so far was the set of placemats that spelled out a family name in nautical letters!  It was such a fun and creative project and they really loved it.

K&K:  Has a “celebrity” purchased one of your products yet?

MK: Well, one of our pillows is a celebrity of sorts!  It’s featured in the boathouse set of cbs’s NCIS: Los Angeles. But, our new tray was a must have for HGTV’s Cari Cucksey, when she recently purchased a walnut tray for her pool house.  

As you can tell, these are some pretty inspiring ladies who have created some must-have products! We love how great this set of sail placemats fit into our United Methodist Children’s Home room last spring!

Take a trip over to MK Coastal’s website to check out the rest of their unique collection of goods. Also click over to their blog to keep up with their latest news and inspirations.

It’s always a thing of beauty when two companies we love decide to partner together to form an even better product and experience. Lamps Plus and Robert Abbey have joined forces for the re-release of an iconic lamp in three exciting colors. The delta duo have created this Lampsplus.com exclusive fixture as a start for their collection.

It is glamorous in gold,

chic in gray,

and bold in blue!

We are also excited to announce that we have been nominated for the best interior design blog for 2013 by Lamps Plus! This is a huge honor for Kandrac & Kole as we are ranked among some of our greatest friends in the industry. We would love your support and vote to help us win. Here are the directions to cast your vote:

1. Visit The Lamps Plus Facebook Page

2. Like the Page

3. Vote for Kandrac Kole (listed 2nd) under “Interior Design Blogs”

4. Vote for the best blogs for the other categories

5. Submit

6. Don’t forget you can vote DAILY!

One lucky voter will receive a $500 shopping spree with Lamps Plus!

Thank you for your support and congratulations to Lamps Plus and Robert Abbey on their new partnership!

This was a fun Fall at the Highpoint Furniture Market because I was a sponsored blogger not only for Tomlinson (see my blog post HERE) but also for another great company  - W. Schillig. I was not familiar with either company so it is my pleasure to share with you all that I learned!

Established in 1949 as a small basketry, W.SCHILLIG’s high quality furniture has a long tradition in Germany and throughout Europe. While still based in Ebersdorf, Germany, W. Schillig serves it’s customers in North America from their offices in Highpoint, North Carolina.

Walking into the Highpoint W. Schillig showroom was like walking into a Mercedes Benz dealership. There wasn’t a lot of crazy merchandising or color – just an aura of quiet sophistication and quality.

Of course Joann and I had to sit in everything. We are very choosy consumers!

I rate the comfort level as superior especially the touch and feel of the leather – it  is scrumptious.  Of course we had to ask “Where is all the color?? We are color addicts!”  Have no fear – the options were endless (150+ to be specific).

I appreciate the craftsmanship and especially the stitching.

The innovation at W. Schillig was really impressive. Notice how on this sectional the arm rest cranks up to be at whatever angle is comfortable for your arm or your head.

I like the flat and square armrests that can serve as another seat.

The Gioovani sofa can convert into a bed by just swinging the cushion around.

The motion sofas and sectionals are the fastest growing segment of W. SCHILLIG. Of course all the recliners are motorized and soooo comfortable!

A BIG thank you to David Stewart and Scott Williams of Emisare and the team at Schillig USA for inviting us to visit W. Schillig! I am thrilled to have such a beautiful leather furniture line to offer our clients.

Kelly