Artist Spotlight: Jennifer Levine

Hey !

Jennifer Levine, Charlotte artist.  I love her work and have placed it on several occasions.  She shows at Slate Interiors and during my many "swooping trips" at Slate I always pause and see if one of Jennifer pieces will fill an empty wall at a current install.  That's just what happened when I was shopping for accessories for the recent Lake Game Room, and got lucky !!

He work is colorful, vibrant and full of texture and movement.  Take a look at a few of my favorites from her site, and head over to Slate Interiors and give them a closer look !

A little more about Jennifer, from her site . . . 

Jennifer Levine has enjoyed a love of art most of her life with the help of her very artistic father and artist grandmother, who illustrated medical text books in the 1920s through 1950s. At St. Lawrence University, in Upstate New York, Jennifer studied Art History, Fine Arts and Economics, but set the artistic visions aside when transferring to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she continued her major in Economics and then Political Science. After 15 years working in Commercial Real Estate Investment Banking with Bank of America and Wachovia, Jennifer became a full-time mother of three children, and began to really explore her artistic interests and techniques. She works with oils, watercolor, charcoal, pen and inks and printmaking. Her style ranges from abstract interpretations of still life and landscape in very large form, to playing with geometric forms through hazy layers below and on the surface. Jennifer shows paintings primarily in Slate Interiors, or by appointment.

The SoGood !

Hey There.

In my business it's all about the referral.  My clients are my greatest advertising.  I have been lucky enough to meet and work with many amazing families over the years each sharing the experience we had with their friends growing my business.  "Word of mouth" is ultimately the best way to connect on both sides.

Heard of the  SoGood ? It's a new app that helps the word of mouth get out there a little easier. I am all about supporting local business and  I want to be in the know when it comes to must haves around town.  The "Charlotte Directory" is an ever growing list of great resources you need to know about.  I would image it would be a great job to find the best of the best around town and then tell all my friends. That is just what founders Laura and Hillary are doing at the SoGood.  

At the SoGood  artists, designers, creatives and the like are showcased to add to your list of resources.  In the line up, one of my favorite jewelry designers - Addison Weeks.  Katherine Weeks Mulford and Lee Addison are graphic artists turned jewelry designers and creators of the brand. Their use of semi-precious stones set in 24kt dipped gold being their signature look.  I came across their gems originally at Slate Interiors and fell in love.  An amazing gift this Christmas - available at Splurge on Providence Road here in Charlotte and Granville at Phillips Place.  (check out their website here for other locations), and currently being featured at Slate - right when you walk in the door !

 photos by Taylor Mathis

Want to "get it together" in 2015.  How about a professional organizer !  Precise Style is also featured.  A Charlotte based residential organizing and lifestyle service committed to creating peaceful and efficient living spaces !!! Nice . . .

photos courtesy of their site

Planning a big event?  A wedding perhaps?  Ivy Robinson Events is also featured.  Love her design eye (and she planned a pretty gorgeous wedding for Charlotte's Emily Maynard) !

photos courtesy of Ivy's site

And at the top of the indulgent list - a personal chef !  Food Love's Nikki Sawyer Moore offers catering, cooking classes - even private intimate dinners !  Sign me up.

Take a look at some of the other categories they are building. So convenient to have on your phone when out for the day looking for the perfect gift.  At home, on the big screen, they make it easy to find help with bigger projects.

Artists You Need on Your Radar

Photographers

Architects

Your 4 legged Friends

Jewelry Designers

Event Planners, Party Places and Floral,

Designers and Local Taste Makers

Organizers

All Sorts of Foods, Cakes and Goodies

Body and Sole

Stylists and Personal Shoppers

It's all SoGood . . . .  and works something like this.  On the app or the website you search by category to find "SoGood  approved," businesses and products.  It gives you a quick bio and contact information.  The blog, on their website, elaborates a bit further and spotlights a person or business on the  line up.

Founder's Hillary Crittendon and Laura Martin have created a network of of artists, makers and entrepreneurs whose skills, art, good and ideas to serve one purpose . .  to make life SoGood !

I loved reading that this venture of theirs was literally a lifetime in the making.  Friends in second grade, they spent years bonding over the mutual love of design, music and all things French.  Just like your best girl friends, they relied on each other for advise from everything to boys, brands and college choices.  As adults they have turned their idea into a business.  They recognized the value of a "good list" and so do I, and so might you !

This is all about the best local has to offer.  Traveling to Charleston, Richmond, Atlanta or Nashville?  There is a list of there too and it's growing, including many travel destinations.

Download the App here !

Install of the Day !

Hi There !!!

Yesterday was so fun.  I have loved working with the Crowder's.  I especially love that both Maggie and I have help turn a home they were ready to leave to a place they have decided to stay in.  It has evolved and evolved from one space to the entire downstairs.  It's amazing what a little paint, paper and updated furniture can do to add new life !  The investment in a whole first floor re-do  - probably a lot less than moving, so call in the creatives to turn it around for a fresh look and stay put !  We felt a little like HGTV's Love it or List it.  So happy they chose to love it.

We installed the family room yesterday.  A room, literally used by three small children, a big black dog, mom and dad and the nanny, constantly.   It really needed a little pulling together with more comfortable, updated furniture.  A light and airy feel and a splash of our first floor pop color - purple! We also brought in a few new pieces for the foyer and transformed the kitchen breakfast area.  All the colors and style paid a nod to what we recently installing in the office/lounge, but with a slightly lighter take.  

Take a look at our color palette and original design boards.

But let's start at the front door . . . Thanks to my other half for creating such a beautiful piece for the entry foyer.  It sets the tone.  I love it's size and vibrancy.  Atop this gorgeous graphic wall paper that runs up the stairswell.  Perfect, bravo Keith Keim.

A new chocolate and white occasional chair I recently found at Slate, with a touch of lavender in the pillow and this amazing side table.  A great little venue right as you enter the house.

The family room really needed a sectional for all to watch that big new TV that made an appearance on the wall one day !  We mixed in more light and whimsical fabrics in this space yet in the same color palette as the front room I recently finished installing (see below).

A new paint job and brighter lighting, a large graphic rug, new side chairs and one of my favorite entertainment units.  I have used it numerous times, but love seeing how different it looks in each space we design.  I love the sea glass ottoman and artwork, it turned out be be an interesting color combination !

The gorgeous embroidered window treatments on a large scale were, what I thought, the perfect choice for such a tall wall.  

Fun and modern pillows on a neutral sofa.

Art is key in any space.  The lower left piece by Heather LaHaise (recent post here) and two smaller scale pieces by Gretta Hord, both showing at Slate, when grouped together with a simple mirror turn a dead corner into something eye catching.

I also came across this piece by Laura Parks at Cotswold Marketplace yesterday and thought it was perfect.  Love the soft colors and it's tie to the ottoman and fabrics.  It's dreamy.

Another part of yesterday's install was the kitchen.  When we started the project we decided to paint all the cabinets and island and add new hardware.  We also changed the back splash to a more updated white tile in a subway pattern and added large overhead lighting. Such a bright and clean space now.

This banquet, new table and chairs turned out amazing.  My upholster created our banquet in a grey pleather to perfection.  I love it, so cozy.  Josh Utsey  - thank you, thank you for the new table with it's sleek, inset metal base and wood top.  This base will keep the chair leg banging to a minimum.  We added side chairs, a new over sized drum light, pretty pillows and art by Beth Weintraub  I love this sunny spot which was screaming for a banquet!

Clean details.

New paint and new hardware does wonders.

It was such a fun install.  

Maggie and I carried their color scheme throughout the first floor, gradually getting lighter in the back half of the house.  We started up front with this combination of fabrics and walls papers.

And created these boards for the office / lounge.

I love this space and feel it's transition to the kitchen and family room works so well.

The powder room was updated as well using the blues in our color scheme, new lighting and a new cabinet base.

So, what's next?  Finishing the Dining Room.  We worked around the curtains and paint color - from the very beginning of the project actually.  We brought in a new dining table yesterday to add to the rug we ordering during our early "tweaking to put on the market phase."  Now that these five are staying put, we are changing out the rest of the dining room for an updated look.  Take a look at the direction we are headed.  Lori saw this sideboard on a recent post  and fell in love, we decided to add it in along with a new mirror and lamps we found at Market.

A new oyster shell chandelier and new end chairs with a beautiful fabric added to the back.

And lastly, the master bedroom.  Excited!  Maggie pulled together a beautiful space, not too girly for him and her and more calming and updated.  On our trip to Market we found a new upholstered bed vendor who also had a gorgeous selection of side tables and dressers, we snagged them! 

Our starting point?  This embroidered fabric.  It brings in the off whites, taupes and blues from downstairs with a bit of the acid greenish/yellow in the family room fabrics.

Using that color in just one pillow on the bed with neutrals surrounding.

I really wanted this fabric on the windows.  Embroidered as well, just love it's scale.

So here you have it.  The upcoming master bedroom. Great new details from Brimar hardware, Mr. Brown, Bungalow 5 and Made Goods.

Such a pretty house, very cohesive, updated and fun. Just so happy they are staying !

Happy Friday !!