This blog post could also be titled “How to Stay Sane & Inspired During Deployment” because let’s be honest, deployments are long, exhausting and often suck all of the life out of you. So when the opportunity presents itself to round up your besties and take a trip to an other worldly location brimming with inspiration, you jump on it!
Last November, my sweet Momma and I road tripped to Atlanta, GA for a visit with family and a two hour tour of the Flower Magazine Show House in Buckhead. While the professional photos have all been released now, I wanted to give my spin on what was inspiring, thought-provoking, and possibly may be making a (tamed) appearance in future client projects.
It’s truly impossible to select a favorite room from these homes when there are unique design elements from each that make it so magical, but here we go. “Favorite” room in the Flower Magazine Show House would have to be “Aunt Betty’s Garden”, a suite designed by Lisa Mende due to it’s floral mural by Thibaut (cannot wait to do a floral mural paper, as this was a *major* trend throughout) and abundant use of patterns. Swathed in fabrics from the bed cornice to the coordinating sconce shades, no detail was overlooked. I am a huge lover of pattern on pattern and love adding custom upholstery to my client’s homes, so this room really spoke to my soul!
The traditional details in the armoire, chaise lounge, and style of drapery are updated with color, trim, type of fabric and pattern.
This is something that I strive to do in making my client’s homes representative of them but also giving a fresh perspective on timeless design.
How could you not love every last detail? I always love to add that little something extra, or as we say ‘lagniappe’!
From “Aunt Betty’s Room” I would say my next favorite space was the “Potting Shed” space, designed by Bunny Williams. While most of us do not have rooms in our homes dedicated to re-potting flowers, we do have laundry and mudrooms, which I believe can easily translate from dull drop zones and work spaces, to lively and inviting areas in which chores become less of a chore! The vibrant blue hue that Bunny chose, makes a strong first impression especially for those of us who tend to use the back / garage entry more so than the front door. The addition of greenery through plants and a bold mirror and ceiling pendant, continue to draw you in while keeping the surroundings less fussy than expected in a ‘designer home’. This is going to translate into my designs by putting as much personality and punch into the ‘back door’ entryways of my client’s homes, as I typically do into the front door and foyer spaces. I believe that the foyer sets the tone for giving guests a ‘sneak peek’ at what your home’s style and story is, so with putting that same belief into the everyday entrance, I have a feeling we’re going to start creating some really vibrant and personalized mudroom / kitchen entries!
A few more favorites below show the beautiful mix of modern and abstract art, clean lines and traditional antiques blended together beautifully. I work with so many talented artists, whether using their designs in original artwork, giclée’s, wallpaper or even textiles, that a room truly doesn’t feel finished until it has some form of original art in it.
Heading south to the Kips Bay Palm Beach Show House, a different sort of visual treat where coastal and Palm Beach regency vibes collide in an older home on the Intracoastal Waterway. Full of sunshine, aqua colored hues abound, and rattan, the difference in styling was drastic from Flower Magazine’s Show House, but equally as beautiful!
Growing up in Florida along the coast, there’s a special place in my heart for wicker, blue and white, ocean views and palm-leaf anything! The room that instantly drew me in and captivated me with its’ every detail, is Amanda Lindroths’ maximalist grand living room. Comfortable seating, pattern and texture mixing paired off symmetrically throughout the room pleased all my senses. My girlfriends and I went on opening weekend and surprisingly found nearly all of the designers there to chat with in their spaces. Amanda was the absolute sweetest soul, asking about my design career, inspiration and goals.
Can we say total fan-girl moment??
Another draw to the Kips Bay Palm Beach Show House was that another of my favorite designers was also being featured. The talented Amy Studebaker, out of St. Louis was given an ensuite space above the garage and created a chinoiserie garden oasis.
A huge fan of painted interior doors, trim work and baseboards, I loved the pistachio green Amy used throughout this space on the woodwork, as well as with the antique china hutch. Paired effortlessly with trelliage walls and ceilings, the room exuded all things cozy and welcoming by using bedding drapes, velvet sofas, and rattan. I’m waiting for the client that trusts me enough to do all the trelliage and use the same pattern repeated throughout the wallpaper, drapery and bedding, what fun awaits!
I could go on & on about the marvelous attention to detail, inspiring spaces, and design elements I’m now inspired to bring to life in my client’s homes, as well as my own – but I hope you’ve enjoyed a little insight to these beautiful show houses and just how important continued inspiration is to me as a designer. Happy Weekend!
xx
Brittany “Bee” Zimmerman
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