Writings
Hey
Today, I yelled at this machine.
This unassuming little machine got the best of me, because I failed to listen to ALL of the instructions. I had more of a, I've got this—kind of attitude.
People, I did not have this!
Jay was so excited about our new Google Home that he couldn't wait to show me how it worked. I watched him in awe as he effortlessly said, "Hey Google, play Hall & Oates." Then watched the pretty little thing light up and play, "you make my dreams come true."
He continued, "hey Google, play "she's gone.'" And again, dutifully—it followed his command.
The next morning, (feeling like I also needed some Hall & Oates in my life) said, "Google, play 'rich girl'."
Nothing. Not a light or blink of recognition. Nada!
Again, "Google." Nothing.
So I moved closer. Maybe it didn't hear me?
Louder, "GOOOOOGLE!" "Play Hall & Oates!!!" Crickets.
"GOOOOOOGGGGLLLEEEEE!!!"
I yelled into and at this machine. I even picked it up and examined it, cursing the space it was taking up on my pretty French dresser. Seriously! Why won't it listen to me?
Jay came home and I quickly told him that his stupid Google thing didn't work. And you know what he did? He said, "HEY GOOGLE," (from quite a distance—I may add,) "play, Hall & Oates" and the darned thing lit up and played "Kiss on my lips."
All I needed to do was say, "Hey."
Magazine Street Y'all
Historic Magazine Street in New Orleans is my favorite street to shop on! It is 6 Miles of fabulous boutiques of all kinds; clothes, home goods, art, antiques stores and food glorious food! The fun starts on Canal St. and moves all the way through the Garden District and Uptown. It’s a full day experience, with many places to stop, eat, and take a break along the way.
Here are a few of my highlights:
The Sunday Shop is a little gem filled with one of a kind finds, bespoke furniture, and everything from lighting to textiles and beautiful botanicals. I bought this amazing bamboo umbrella stand (I already have one, but I couldn't pass up the green tray on this one.) Love, Love, Love this store!
Next up is renowned designer, Gerrie Bremermann and her amazing store front, simply titled, “Antiques” (that's me peaking out the front door.) Gerrie is known as the "queen of interior design" and her store is a beacon of love for designers and people who appreciate timeless pieces. Filled with antique chairs, tables, sconces and to die for armoires and dressers.
Now for my favorite of the day!
Ware and Co. is so charming and well done. Truly, my favorite of the day! Notice the pretty blue and white valance lining the ceiling—I mean...How sweet? The owner, Ware M. Porter is "a sought after designer with a passion for a laid-back, but also well-loved style." His showroom is a joyful mix of modern and antique, and it brought me so much happiness it was just plain silly.
Last but not least, Shaun Smith Home was quant and very well done. I found his instagram @shaunsmithstyle and then searched out his store in Nola. Shaun was a 2015 Next Wave designer for House Beautiful magazine, and now I know why. Beautiful!
My busy day ended with my favorite meal in New Orleans, “R and O's family restaurant” (listed as one of the BEST in New Orleans) And, Yes, I ate that whole roast beef sandwich smothered in gravy and maybe that piece of pizza too! People I walked all day and have zero regrets. Oops, forgot to mention the gravy french fries :) Yum!
Until next time NOLA!
XO ~Heather
Meet Buster!
Buster is our 7 1/2 year-old English bulldog. 90% of the time, Buster looks just like he's pictured here—sweet, snuggly and oh-so irresistible. The other 10% of the time, he is either playing with his beloved red-ball or looking to destroy anything in his path. I kid you not, when I say, that he has cost me thousands of dollars. Thousands!!
We haven't figured out why Buster wants to destroy our outdoor cushions. Like, what did they ever do to him? I am however, blown away by his commitment, because he will get them–every last one of them! As you can see below, the destruction I speak of is real! Imagine this happening a few times a month? And not only does he destroy them, he sometimes ingests the foam and that my friends is where things get interesting.
Picture me (frantic) taking him (countless times) to the vet for x-rays and overnight visits, until he either passes the foam all on his own (good boy Buster) or has surgery to remove it. Yes, I said, surgery. Sadly, none of this slows him down. The second he's back and he spots the cushions...It's GO TIME!!
This text exchange with my husband, pretty much sums up where we are at in dealing with this situation. More often than not, we just have to laugh! But seriously, He's NUTS! And you know the even crazier part? Sometimes out of the blue, he will shock us all and attack some innocent and unsuspecting cushion in the house. Like his very own favorite place to sit...My Schumacher covered living room chair!
This one took some time to get over. Like I needed a minute, ya know? I went to my room and cried and prayed that I wouldn't kill him. Honestly, I don't think I made eye contact with him for days. Thankfully, my upholsterer was able to patch this cushion up. Bless his heart!
At this point, you are probably wondering why on earth we still own this dog? But it gets worse! Last summer, I drove up the driveway and noticed that the siding was ripped off the house and the landscaping was pulled waaaaay back. I called my builder wondering what was happening at the house that day, and to my utter dismay, he said, "nothing!" That's when I knew!! That little son of a biscuit probably chased a poor animal against the house and then proceeded to rip the house apart!
RIP! MY HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!! APART!
My builder was in shock when he saw the damage and frankly, I still haven't recovered from it.
Lastly, my beautiful blanket that I carried all the way home from Spain. A moment of silence please. Buster just got up (pretty nonchalantly I may add) and ran to it-like it had been uttering profantities at him all morning. This is what it looked like when I finally got it back. If you look closely at the center of the blanket, you can see he actually designed a face. Maybe he's just a very (VERY) frustrated artist? I think my face says it all though...Sadness, disbelief and maybe a hint of despair.
So, what has all this taught me? Well, that nothing really matters. Yes, he has cost me money (lots of it,) but in the end, I've realized a valuable lesson-that things are just things and only I can give them meaning. So I try not to.
Here's my big boy staring off at the lake—one of his favorite things to do while he waits for the cushions to piss him off.
And who can resist this face? Clearly, I cannot. Which is why I will continue loving and caring for this crazy man, until he either commits suicide by choking to death on a cushion or passes away in his sleep, while laying in the sun by the lake.
He's amazingly stupid, and unstoppable, and I adore him.
XO~Heather and Buster
Get Instagram Inspired!
Do you know how inspiring an instagram account can be? Honestly, for a long time, I did not. Of course, I followed my family and friends and friends of friends and co-workers and I love all their posts about food, babies and trips, but it wasn't until I started my own design inspiration account, @sweetshadylane that I realized there is a whole BIG world of talented (very talened) people out there. Yay for all of us! So every week, I am going to pick a design-inspired instagram that I am currently...Being inspired by!
Today's instagram inspiration is from @loveyourperch, and you won't believe this house!! I just happened upon it (a little late to the game) on my search feed and I kid you not, my heart stopped beating! Home Bunch (also an amazing account) recently featured this amazing home on their blog, Beautiful Homes Of Instagram and I love the way they showcased Missy's talent and the elegant beauty of her home in Maryland. Like Sweet Shady Lane, Missy's home has a ton of history and Missy does a beautiful job of preserving the magnificent estate. Take a peek at just a sampling of pictures from Missy's feed. Hopefully, you won't stop breathing like I did!
The exterior is awe inspiring! Set on over 40 acres of land...It is truly a masterpiece!
A peak into her amazing kitchen and eating area. In my next home (if there is one) I will be painting my trim black! How stunning?
Her designs are so intricate and not overdone. Sophisticated, but also warm and inviting. Ahh...Everything I love!!
No curtains needed when you can showcase this beautiful, Laurel wreath over this understated and gloriously beautiful bench.
Can you see why I fell instantly in love with this account? I hope you do too!
XO~Heather
Designer, Decorator or Stylist? What's the difference?
Are you an interior designer? I get asked this often and the answer is no. I am not. Interior designers have a degree in design, and if I had been more in tune with my passions when I was a freshmen or sophomore, I probably would have switched majors. You'd think my roommates would have mentioned after the 10th time I repositioned the bunk beds and fluffed all of our bedding, that something was up. Many weekends I'd say, "let's rearrange the room!" And everyone would look at me like I was crazy, and maybe I was (just a little bit.) Looking back, I can see clearly that while my friends were interested in partying and scoring the cutest guy at the frat party, I was wondering if TJ Maxx (HomeGoods didn't exist then) had any cute dorm accessories or fun pillows to brighten up my space. Obsessed? Yes! You could say so.
Because, I get asked this often, I thought I'd clear up some gray area when it comes to design. Interior designers have a degree in design or interior architecture from a 4-year university. Most have taken the NCIDQ, have a studied art history, architecture, furniture and industrial design, and can also use design technology such as CAD. Designers also have skills in sketching, modeling and drafting, allowing them the knowledge to work directly with architects, deal with building permits and pretty much anything structural.
So, what is an interior decorator? A decorator is someone who understands pattern, color and style. They can draw a floor plan for your room-picking out fabrics, furniture and paint colors that suit your taste and style. I believe that interior decorators are the golden touch to bringing personality to your home! When it comes to decorating, I believe that you either have a good design eye or you don't. So schooling in this area isn't really needed. Yep, I said it.
Some of the best decorators I know, never went to school for design, but good decorators do-however stay up to date on trends, classic decor and listen carefully to their clients wishes for their home. Keep in mind that no formal training is needed for this area of design, so a lot of people can call themselves,"decorators." In the past, I have done some decorating for friends and love the thrill of changing a room by just moving a piece from here to there, changing a wall color or picking out a new fabric to update a tired piece. More often than not, you just need a fresh eye to see a room in a new way. My strengths (and I've learned this over time ) are small vignettes; bookshelves, side tables, night stands and mantles.
Interior stylist! What do they do? A stylist is like a decorator in the sense that they are both interested in making a space beauftul, but a stylist takes it a step further and looks at the dressing of a space and often the entertaining value of room. Stylist tend to focus on smaller areas or niches. Think of a photographer taking a photo...Everything in the picture frame has to be perfectly dressed. That is what a stylist does. Currently, on my instagram @sweetshadylane I am styling corners, tables, counters, beds. Looking at a space through the lens of a camera and seeing the truth in it's design. If it's not styled properly, the camera will reveal it. My previous homes were featured in “Better Homes and Gardens,” and “Midwest Living,” both of those shoots came with an amazing stylist who propped, perfected and made every picture count.
I remember my first time watching the stylist and I was like...I CAN DO THAT! And now with my instagram, I am. It's so much fun and feels so true for me that with every pictured published, my soul is instantly ignited with passion.
What category do you fall into? Or what area of your home do you need help in? I'd be happy to help! Check out the “SERVICES” tab on the home page. I would love for you to experience coming to life through design as well…It’s so much fun!!
XO ~Heather