Install of the Day !

Hi !

Maggie and I are ships passing in the night !  This time of year we are jamming on installs to keep our clients happy for the holiday !!!  She's worked on a dining room, a home office & living room (coming up next) and just recently this updated, installed and photographed big girl room all while overseeing a huge job in Huntersville.  She's crazy busy, as am I !  We need an assistant . . . and come January it's high on our list to find the right person !!

In the meantime, wanted to post these gorgeous pictures Mekenzie shot the other day of a long time Maggie-client.  Expecting baby no. 3 we did a little room shift, giving the oldest a new, tweaked space !  I love this Lindsay Cowell wall paper and drop pendant especially.  Look how pretty !

A corner, not neglected . . 

An really yummy pillows for her bed.

Mekenzie shot a series of horse images for me and this is one of them, I love.  Stay tuned, will be adding a shop section on our website in 2018 and will have several pieces of her original photography  !!

Great tweak, ready for baby no. 3 !!

photos by Mekenzie Loli, design by Maggie Crandall for Lucy and Company

Install of the Day !

Hey !

Along with ta living space Maggie designed and installed recently, this gorgeous dining room was finished and shot by Mekenzie just the other day.  I love it's light and airy feeling.  Casual chic is the name of the game.  With the holidays coming up we were excited this client got a jump on it.  (you'd be surprised how many calls we get on Nov 1 wanting new dining rooms . . . hum start early folks !)

Take a peek !!

Her client went from empty to well filled, down the the accessories and art and I think it's gorgeous.

Everyone needs a bar cart !

Love it Maggie !

Artist Spotlight: Kristin Blakeney

Hi !

Another artist we placed in our recent install was Kristin Blakeney.  She is represented by Shain Gallery, here in Charlotte as well as Galleries in Georgia, Alabama and Boston (see her site).  I have always loved her work and have placed several pieces !

This particular piece I thought was perfect for the space we just installed . .  and my client agreed !

These new pieces, available at Shain are the perfect for a small spot or as a grouping.

I have loved filtering in her work on several installs, this one was a big hit in a job we working on in Florida for a new modern build.

Maggie also took a two of her pieces to a recent install to give out client a visual . . . So perfect !

Here are a few more of my favorites !

Mekenzie recently interviewed Kristin, here's what the young and talented artist revealed . .

Raised in Davidson, NC, Kristin says North Carolina influenced her work greatly.

"There is so much character and funk in North Carolina. Some of my friend's parents were artists, like David Wilgus, and I remember being so intrigued by their lifestyle and talents.  Like many Carolinians, I grew up going to the Blue Ridge Mountains. We were raised going to the mountains, camping and hiking. The mountains of my youth continue to be my greatest source of inspiration with my landscapes. Even my abstracts have a neutral, hazy quality to them that always takes me back to nature. The shades of mint, gray and green you can see on a single piece of tree bark...many times that's where I find my color palettes. Mother Nature always does it best. 

Kristin lives and works in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She recently opened a studio downtown. "The front of the store is all windows so it has beautiful, natural light - it's a giant room with tall white walls and I work on six to ten paintings at a time. I work with a lot of different mediums so I'm constantly leaving one painting and moving to the next." When asked about her workspace: "Very messy...once I get in the mode, I just start slinging paint.  I have two large tables that I use as palettes.  I like to take a color and make lots of subtle variances so I need lots of space to create.  My walls are covered with large brushstrokes. I like to test colors before I "marry" them to the canvas so my walls become a plethora of test samples."

Her inspiration?  "Joan Mitchell's work changed everything for me. On a trip to Chicago, I saw her painting, City Landscape, at the Art Institute. I couldn't get enough.  On my way home from Chicago, I got off the plane and drove to the nearest art supply store. I told the store clerk I wanted to learn to paint with oils and asked him how to do it and what I needed. Ha! I've had help since then but her work definitely inspires me.  I also love the work of Willem De Kooning, Cy Twombly and Francis Bacon." 

She also uses experimental media. "I mix a lot of non paint substances to create my colors. Coffee helps me make the most beautiful turquoise." Her painting ritual includes music reminiscent of her art. "I like to make a playlist to get my groove going. I did a series of landscapes based off Alabama and listened to only bluegrass type stuff...Amos Lee, Allison Krauss...I like for the music to represent my work." 

When asked about books she has enjoyed recently, she recommended Yellow Crocus. "It was such a well written and thought provoking book! I cannot recommend it enough."

Thanks for talking with us, Kristin! 

Artist Spotlight: Lauren Bolshakov

Hi !

Meet Lauren Bolshakov.  I recently placed one of her pieces on a project I was working on.  Found at Isabella, here in Charlotte, it was perfect for the room... Soothing and organic.  I jumped on her website and found so many pretty pieces, well priced too !

Take a look at a few of my favorites . . .

Mekenzie recently spoke with artist, lover of dance, nature, and music, Lauren Bolshakov about herself and her artistic journey. 

Lauren has called Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Colorado, Texas, South Carolina and now Charlotte home. "I feel home home here, though - it’s my favorite of everywhere I’ve ever lived and I plan to stay for a while!” She's been here for three years now, but began her artistic career in Columbia, South Carolina. "It was a wonderful, supportive arts community and I’m so glad to have had so many wonderful collectors and galleries and interior showrooms that gave me so many great experiences to build on and grow from here in Charlotte.”

Her father had a hand in influencing her trade early on. “My dad was a painter by hobby, never profession. (I wish he’d get back into it!) I remember sneaking into his little office where he painted and being enamored by the smells of his oil paints and wanting to play with everything. I still have a super old tube of cadmium red grumbacher oil paint in . No idea why I would have chosen to steal that particular color as I never ever use red, but every time I find in my studio it makes me happy. Probably the only tube of red paint I’ll ever own!” 

She has a home studio, but imagines moving to another location. "I would love to at some point to also have a studio outside of the house with lots of big windows and wood floors - I’ve (had) a dream for a while now to have a space where I could have a gallery, studio space, and a dance floor. (My husband and I dance Argentine Tango). A girl can dream, right?”

As for the artist's inspiration: “My abstract art is inspired by movement, by nature, by dance, and by connections. Being an artist and a dancer makes you want to convey the way moving feels to people visually. There is also a reoccuring botanical note that seems to creep up in my work from time to time and I also get the itch to paint cityscapes every time we travel.”

When asked if she has any rituals when creating her art, she said “Music!! I have to have music - when I get “stuck” I put down my brush and dance around my studio.”

Lauren is also the author of a delightfully fresh blog, showcasing her art, family travels, shopping, and decor. 

Check it out here.

Thanks, Lauren, for chatting with us!

Install of the Day !

Hi !

This master bedroom was such fun.  My client Melissa Kreager actually bid on my "time" at a fundraiser and wanted help transforming her oddly shaped (to say the least) bedroom.  We needed a whole new look, something light, airy and soothing was the name of this game.  Out went the oversized, heavy and dark bed and mismatched things and in went, what Melissa calls, her new boutique hotel room !

Where did it all start ?  The bed idea.  A platform fully upholstered spanning the entire wall.  Turned out perfect, love.  The bed needed a good back drop and even with all these crazy angles Melissa loved the idea of an ombre wall paper, in this soothing color palette.  Coming in individual panels, it was a bit tricky but our fab installer did such a great job.

Take a look at the finished product !

Over the low headboard, two new wall sconces and below, two smaller side tables/chests.  

 It was at the last minute I decided on these gorgeous Windy O'Connor pillows - works of art in and of themselves.

Melissa loved these chandeliers, so we added two !  I wanted to keep things light, so chose white, slip covered chairs and a glass coffee table.

A few more Windy O'Connor pillows

Lighter still, the new dressers in a pale grey

I love to art shop and really wanted a full reveal in this space.  I found the perfect piece at Isabella's here in Charlotte.  A piece by Lauren Bolshakov (stay tuned for a little artist spotlight coming up).  Her colors and organic softness were perfect !

Lauren Bolshakov

Another piece of art I knew I wanted in this space was a piece by Kristen Bleakney  She is doing the prettiest new series and just had to have one.  

Again I pulled in another light colored dresser 

But the most beautiful element was the wall paper . . so soft and relaxing !

photos by Mekenzie Loli

Sweet Dreams !