All About the Charcuterie

Happy Holiday !

It's that time of year . . . and for all of you it's party, party (for us is work, work !)  We are always crazed from Nov to Dec (22nd).  Last minute installs, getting orders in before all our vendors close and catching those 2019 prices.  But tomorrow it's shut down time.  I look forward to it every year.  From Christmas til about Jan 6th silent. Time to catch my breath, spend time with family and clear my head. 

I could live off snacks.  They are my favorite part of any party.  Just the other night I took Kate with me to a party at Sub Zero's showroom where the baby food reined.  Small bits everywhere.  We love them.

Creating these popular charcuterie boards has become quite the thing and frankly I could just do this every night for dinner.  Take a look at some of my favorite elements and the "How To" I created for inspiration.

Now what you need first is a good board.  I prefer vintage, but there they are hard to find.  I snagged a few at Market this year and am having a hard time letting them go.  

I scooped up these beauties for a favorite client for an install we had not too long ago.

Got lucky on Etsy and found a few of these.

One of my favorite vendors does do a collection of boards as wells as other fabulous kitchen goodies.  Take a look.

Get your party food on, and let me know if you have to have one of these !

Install of the Day !

Hey There !

I love this Master Bedroom almost as much as I love these clients.  One of my favorites, I have been working with them for years creating something in keeping with their fun style and personality.  It's always a good time to hang with them.  Now, first of all.. I shot these on my phone.. not as typically perfect at Mekenzie's images !!!

This was one of those projects that being on site was key.  Involving about 5 different sub contractors the placement of everything was so important.  Everything needed to line up.  The trim on the walls centered over the detail on the floating bedside tables, lining up with the pendants and switches.  I was happy to camp out for a few days, it's always fun and I always get fed.

Laure loves to hide in her bedroom, which I can totally relate to.  She wanted a hotel feel, calm and soothing.  De cluttering was my goal.   We took out the heavy wood bed, side tables and dresser and brought in the new upholstered bed and custom woodwork.   I have Jacob Wolfe to thank for that.  He's amazing and jumped right in.  Using the best takes so much stress out of my life.

We started with the rug.  One of my favorite by Stark.  Wanting simple we kept the pattern on the floor and used Alabaster White everywhere else, the walls, trim and all the custom furniture.

This floating shelf has a hidden drawer inside but the goal was more of a visual look to stack a few accessories, art and a mirror.

The fixtures and side floaters are my favorite.  Just love.

Can't wait to get Mekenzie in there to really shoot once the custom daybed is done !  Stay tuned.

all photos by my and my new iphone

Install of the Day !

Hey There.

We had another fun install a week or so ago with this family room remodel.  Received a call from a great new client who had recently completed her kitchen remodel.  She did a great job on that but wanted help with the room just off that (as well as thoughts on all the other main floor rooms).  I love playing with an entire design plan for multiple rooms even if we phase them.  It helps so much with a visual and for planning purposes !

Great clean kitchen remodel.. she did good.  

We added a few leather, counter stools to complete the room and tie back to the new family room.

So here was our biggest change.  The dated fireplace had to go.  I just wanted a simple stucco fireplace.  The grand plan has metal doors leading to the back yard, so I popped images in there and we simply painted black for now.

Step no 1 . . . demo - Step no. 2 . . remove rock  - Step no. 3 . . . frame out

Step no. 4 backer (actually kind of like the black !) - Step no. 5 stucco

Voila.  We painted the entire space, took down all the dental molding, took out the dated fireplace and dated built ins and brought in new furniture.

Simple design board to give them all a visual for a new custom cabinet with floaters, big comfortable leather chairs and all new additional pieces for the room.

These are my current favorite casual swivel.  These in leather, but have also done in a warm tweed.  Love them.

New sofa with chaise and coffee table.  With the metal doors as phase 2, we painted the existing black and added non-functional romans to give the elusion of taller doors.

Simple floater shelves and this gorgeous new built in.

Take a good look at this cool art piece by Charlotte native Annaliese, creator of Stone & Strap.  I fell in love when I came across at Cotswold Marketplace .  Stay tuned .. doing a little post to follow on her gorgeous work.... but it's leather !!

photos by Mekenzie Loli

While working on the family room I jumped into the main living room and foyer to make sure it would all jive when we get to it.  With 4 green velvet chairs to work around . .  and my client loving a bit of a collected, eclectic look as well as this clean, modern feel, we played with these options.  

Stay tuned to see the next phase continue !

Install of the Day !

Hey !

I love a good banquette and in this install it was all about that... our favorite part and the focal point of this long narrow family room that was to serve several purposes.

My client downsized to a townhouse here in Charlotte and called for our help in changing up their style (and the fact none of their previous furniture fit from the big house).  This room is the main living space on the first floor and we wanted a dining area as well as comfortable TV watching space to accommodate a lot of company.  It was a challenging space but I think we nailed it !  I was thrilled with how we managed to fit so many "zones" and so many pieces of furniture in one room without being crowded.

Take a look at my favorite little spot. We designed and had made a long banquette, table and ottomans at the far side of this long room.  Being narrow but long to we still have a clear passage to the back door but room for 8 to eat comfortable.  For these empty nesters it's the perfect spot for casual dining as well as a little lap top work in the main family room .. or even a game of cards while still being able to clearly see the TV across the room.  I am so grateful to my A team of upholsters and carpenters for bringing to life what I had in my head.

This leather banquette swoops up and around two sconces.  Tall at 58" at it's highest.  Easy clean being leather.

Take a look at the entire area.  So happy with the soft colors and textures.

photos by Mekenzie Loli

Turned out so great !  Everyone happy  !!