One of our very favorite bloggers and stylists (and people) is here for Tastemaker Tuesday and we couldn’t be more excited to share her feature post here with you today! Paige Minear, of The Pink… More
We’re tickled at all the requests for this easy recipe, and happy to share. It will become part of your baking repertoire for sure. If you missed the Sour Cream Cake recipe, jump back to… More
As promised, here is Steve’s family recipe for this easy sour cream cake. It’s a family recipe from his Aunt Judy, awarded with the coveted placement in several church cookbooks. Beloved for its versatility too,… More
Happy Summer! What better way to kick off summer entertaining than a simple dessert soiree? Paige Minear of The Pink Clutch Blog joined us for a homemade Sour Cream Cake, complemented with some of her… More
February was a fabulously fun and busy month for us! First, our son’s rehearsal dinner and beautiful wedding at The The Stave Room (stunning photo backdrop, thanks to ASW Distillery) and then we hosted a… More
“Let’s have some folks over for dinner this weekend!” – does the thought of this idea make your palms sweat? Don’t worry, join us on Oct. 7th for Dinner Party 101. The ever-so thoughtful hostess,… More
We are so excited to share a little giveaway we have planned for our friends out there, featuring one of our favorite, new (to us) jewelry brands – Hazen & Co.! Started by the amazing… More
Folks frequently ask about Steve’s studio – and lucky for us, he loves sharing his happy place with others! It’s perfectly situated to fuel his creativity. Back in April, Paige Minear shared a visit to Steve’s… More
It’s time to freshen up our tables – spring is here! Let’s recap the fun from our recent Spring Tea Open House~ Paige Minear of The Pink Clutch mixed vintage pieces dear to her heart, plus… More
This past weekend at AmericasMart was such a whirlwind for us! We were so honored to be selected to participate in their exciting “Retail Meets Design” vignette exhibition, which highlighted the talents of a fantastic… More
Published on November 24, 2017 by steve mckenzie’sLeave a comment Categories Holiday, Uncategorized•Tags #InspiredTailoredAuthentic, american express, atlanta art, atlanta black friday, atlanta fine art, atlanta gifts, Burberry, Family, fashion, Gucci, interior design, shoes, shopsmall, steve mckenzie art, steve mckenzie interior design, steve mckenzie’s interior design, thanksgiving
Hand-made Iris Apfel Pillow by Huger Memories $295
Iris Apfel, fashion icon, business woman, interior designer, has inspired so many with her wit, style-sense and sharp eye. Our friend, Sarah Wiley of Huger Memories has created a fabric pillow homage to Iris, part of Sarah’s Women We Love pillow collection.
Oprah pillow
Huger is bringing your favorite heroines home in their new limited-edition collection. Using the same unique process to create custom memory pieces, Huger artist Sarah Gibson Wiley has hand drawn photos of the iconic women and then machine stitched the photos onto hand-cut applique to then create a 21” decorative pillow. They are all available for $295 at HugerMemories.com and at Atlanta’s steve mckenzie’s shop.
Jackie Kennedy pillow House Portrait – a perfect housewarming gift
Not only can you add remarkable women to your sofa, Sarah loves to create a fabric memory for her clients, be it their home or pets or family. Working with her client, Sarah gathers photographs and makes notes during the consultation – to ensure she captures the look and feel of the concept. She draws on her computer and chooses all stitches and areas of applique. A computer generated mock up is sent to her client for design clarity and approval. Once approved, Sarah selects designer fabric for applique and cotton thread to bring color and life to the drawing. Then she stitches the design on a fabric background that will then be either sewn into a pillow, or framed either by you or by her favorite Richmond framer.
Family beach memories
Sarah, Steve and Jill hit it off at last week’s The Southern C Summit in Sea Island, so much so that you can find her work in Atlanta at our shop, steve mckenzie’s.
We are always excited about featuring talented makers who create from the heart, such amazing pieces for the home.
Add a pillow featuring your beloved furry family member!
Preserve a special memory with one of these hand-crafted pieces. And what a special gift!
Sarah Wiley, the artist in her Richmond studio
“My goal is to bring clients joy by creating lasting memories in the form of a unique art form”. – Sarah Gibson Wiley
Start the journey towards your own custom Huger Memories piece at: https://www.hugermemories.com and tell them steve mckenzie’s sent you!
Who’s ready to choose their Christmas cards. What?? I haven’t put away my Bermuda shorts yet, you say! As a corporate wife of a Berkshire Hathaway company CEO, mom of an active family of now young adults, and all that entails, I’ve learned a few things over the years and would like to share some words of wisdom with you.
Playful holiday card idea
Planning ahead will save you time, money and avoid stress. Plain and simple.
Read on for my helpful tips and a Giveaway from Minted.com!
Since you may need some time to pull together photos, addresses, etc, it is really smart to start thinking about this holiday tradition now. To help you with holiday cards, here’s my easy action plan, aided by Minted.com, which provides unique images from independent artists.
First, what card suits your family this year? Spend some time thinking about all the fun events, birthdays, milestones for your family. There are so many options these days – Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s. Was there a special occasion in your family this year, perhaps a wedding or big trip? Now that we’re Empty Nesters (I think that’s defined by what’s in your fridge these days which are mostly condiments, cheese and wine), holiday cards take on a different look. No matching smocked outfits, less time all together as a family, school, work and their own families happen, so there are fewer photo opportunities. If you’re going to be taking photos with the extended family at Christmas, perhaps a Happy New Year’s card suits you best.
Schedule 15-20 minutes for a few days to go through your photos. Are the family photos on your phone? Your spouse’s phone? Did someone take a good couples photo of you at an event? Save them in a universal spot like Google photos or iPhotos.
Delete bad photos. Never a better time than now and it frees up more space to capture new memories.
Now that you have an idea of what the contenders are, in terms of images, develop a game plan to fill in the photo blanks. For instance, here’s my current photo summary and game plan…
I have 0 photos of me and spouse – Someone needs to take a cute pic of us!
Good quantity of SM, me and child #3
Cute photos of our married kids sent to me already
I need photos of this year’s college graduate. Who has one?
Plenty of photos of Duke the Shop dog! Duke the Shop Dog
Now for the fun part – browse your favorite online stationery source. I’m super-excited about Minted. Save your favorite unique designs with their handy heart symbol, download your photos and see how it looks in each design. Minted has a handy “Find It Fast” button where you can see your photos in several cards, making it easy to choose your favorites.
Minted.com makes it easy to send holiday sentiments!
My goal is to have narrowed down my choices to three by late October and an order goal of November 5th. I’ve learned what works for me – plan ahead and diminish the panic feeling as we head toward Thanksgiving (my mailing date goal). Enjoy this time thinking about your family, and the dear friends who will enjoy your special cards. ~Jill
Bonus = A Giveaway! Minted has generously offered to share their unique designs from independent artists with a $100 Giveaway toward holiday cards. See the latest trends and updated classic holiday card designs. Click here to enter to win $100 to shop Minted! No purchase necessary and giveaway ends midnight Nov. 2nd.
This post and images (except Duke’s photos) are sponsored by Minted, but all text, and opinions are all my own.
Here’s to Labor Day – a day we hope you’re able to celebrate and relax with family and friends!
steve mckenzie’s is closed for the holiday, but will reopen with regular hours tomorrow, on Tuesday, September 6th. See you soon; and until then, remember to be safe on this busy holiday!!
A feeling of warmth, elegance, and comfort created by the unique juxtaposition of a mid-century modern aesthetic and the gracious sensibility that is southern living – that’s what design means to us here at steve mckenzie’s. And we’re looking forward to sharing that take on lifestyle and design here, with you, on our blog. Or, as we’re thinking of it, our digital journal. Because design is such a personal thing, so should the place where we store our thoughts and inspirations on the subject.
With these entries, we’re hoping to inspire others by sharing what inspires us. Whether it’s the finish or shape of a simple, everyday object, or an art exhibit seen halfway around the world, these findings all lead back to an easy, casual and effortless look that speaks to the aesthetic of steve mckenzie’s, and hopefully to you as well. Overall, it’s a lifestyle we love, and a love of sharing that lifestyle with others that’s led to this.
Some of our most memorable moments have been made entertaining family and friends around our dining table, and this is what influences the offerings at steve mckenzie’s more than anything. It’s a feeling we want to help create, not just a look, and that feeling is something we’re hoping to share in posts featuring much more than just the products and services offered at steve mckenzie’s. We’re taking this opportunity to share our favorite spaces, table settings, travels, art, architecture, and even people, who inspire us and enrich our lives.
From our family, to yours, welcome to the blog at steve mckenzie’s.
Building on his WCAF Bloggers Tour success, Steve is joining acclaimed stylist and entertaining expert, Annette Joseph on a once-in-a-lifetime photographer’s retreat to Berlin as the tour’s Branding Expert!
Annette enjoys sharing the many ideas, tips and tricks she has gained as a nationally recognized photo stylist/producer specializing in lifestyle editorial images for magazines. Annette Joseph
With over 20 years experience, her expertise includes photo styling for interiors, food propping and special production projects. Check out Annette’s fabulous book, “Picture Perfect Parties,” to gain a sense of Annette’s signature style.
Throughout Annette’s Berlin photography workshop, guests will be immersed in one of the hippest urban landscapes in the world. They’ll mingle with other creatives, relax and enjoy an educational photo styling experience.
Also joining Annette and Steve will be Christina Wedge, an amazing lifestyle and interiors photographer.
Home base for the group will be the stylish Honigmond Garden Hotel.
The workshop is for all levels of photographers, as long as they have a basic knowledge of how to operate their camera and place it on a manual setting.
Steve is thrilled to have the opportunity to provide social media and branding tips to such a creative group, and you can be a part of it… Please join us and be a groovy Berliner – there’s a great team in place to show you the ropes!
Civil rights has been in the headlines a lot lately. Whether it’s poverty, justice, education, decent housing, the quest for civil and human rights continues today.
This April 4th commemorates the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. How will you discuss this historic event with your kids, family and neighbors? To assist us and further these discussions, take advantage of a new city treasure, the Center for Civil and Human Rights.
Mark your calendar as you can live the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with your family at the interactive exhibitions of the Center for Civil and Human Rights on April 4th from 9am through 7:30pm. Everyone receives free admission on that day too, thanks to the generous support of FedEx.
Center for Civil and Human Rights
The whole family will enjoy activities built around civil rights such as the Live the Legacy Photo Booth, an art exhibit showcasing SCAD art pieces, theatrical performances of Dr. King’s famous “I’ve Been to the Mountain Top” speech and much more.
Wherever you are, listen for the Global Bell Ringing at 7:01 PM on Wednesday, April 4th. Join people around the world to commemorate the official moment of the commemoration of Dr. King’s assassination.
Human Rights Activists from all around the world
To keep this momentum alive, read the pledge for a call to peace and action.
No Justice, No peace; Know Justice, Know Peace”
is our rallying cry.
With humility and kindness, we will come together with one another and build a community of peace and goodwill for all humankind. This is what we need to teach our children in order to make the world a better place.
You can find the Center for Civil and Human Rights at 100 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30313 as part of Atlanta’s beautiful Centennial Park. All photos are mine as this post is not sponsored in any way.
That was the question posed to our very own Steve McKenzie by the wonderful team at Steelyard Access, when they approached him about e-designing a room fit for the President of the United States for their e-magazine, FOCUS…
Those of you close to Steve may have heard him share his “dream project” – designing a set of Presidential china. So, this fun challenge caused some immediate ear perks. And when he learned his room to makeover was the Presidential Library, he was in!
The White House China Room
Here’s a bit about Steve’s concept for the design:
Designing for the next President’s innermost sanctum, left me appealing to the desire for a personal space that truly reflects taste and inspiration. The President, a modernist at heart, needs a private place to escape and think, read and simply be… uninterrupted. A love of mid-century was the springing-off point for clean lines and a warm palette. Not encumbered by the need to reflect the Federal traditional style seen throughout much of the White House, we focused on using elements that the President alone will use and enjoy thoroughly.
Some of the items included in this space fit for our country’s leader are a sumptuous sofa from The Eleanor Rigby Company, stunning shelves by French Heritage, a sculptural lamp from Theodore Alexander, a steve mckenzie’s rug design by Verde Home and a Perry Luxe console.
We were in some fantastic company in this FOCUS e-magazine makeover feature – so be sure to check out all of the amazing spaces by Gary Inman, Eric Haydel, Ashlina Kaposta, NAR Design Group, Joy Moyler and Steelyard’s Steven Avitable.
We’re so grateful to have been included in this fun spread and hope it inspires you to go a little presidential with the interior design of your home! If you’d like help with designing a space you’ll love, reach out to the McKenzie Design team today.
That was the question posed to our very own Steve McKenzie by the wonderful team at Steelyard Access, when they approached him about e-designing a room fit for the President of the United States for their e-magazine, FOCUS…
Those of you close to Steve may have heard him share his “dream project” – designing a set of Presidential china. So, this fun challenge caused some immediate ear perks. And when he learned his room to makeover was the Presidential Library, he was in!
The White House China Room
Here’s a bit about Steve’s concept for the design:
Designing for the next President’s innermost sanctum, left me appealing to the desire for a personal space that truly reflects taste and inspiration. The President, a modernist at heart, needs a private place to escape and think, read and simply be… uninterrupted. A love of mid-century was the springing-off point for clean lines and a warm palette. Not encumbered by the need to reflect the Federal traditional style seen throughout much of the White House, we focused on using elements that the President alone will use and enjoy thoroughly.
Some of the items included in this space fit for our country’s leader are a sumptuous sofa from The Eleanor Rigby Company, stunning shelves by French Heritage, a sculptural lamp from Theodore Alexander, a steve mckenzie’s rug design by Verde Home and a Perry Luxe console.
We were in some fantastic company in this FOCUS e-magazine makeover feature – so be sure to check out all of the amazing spaces by Gary Inman, Eric Haydel, Ashlina Kaposta, NAR Design Group, Joy Moyler and Steelyard’s Steven Avitable.
We’re so grateful to have been included in this fun spread and hope it inspires you to go a little presidential with the interior design of your home! If you’d like help with designing a space you’ll love, reach out to the McKenzie Design team today.
Today is National Dog Day. Another made-up holiday? Perhaps, but let’s take minute to love on our furry friends, and our family favorite dogs is the English Springer Spaniel, a cheerful, intelligent, attentive dog. Read on about our three ESS loves…
Oreo, guardian of the youngest or the oldest person in the room
When we moved from the Chicago area to Atlanta in 1990, we added our first Springer, Oreo to the family, and soon thereafter our son, Carter. That sweet dog let Carter and then baby sister, Mimi learn to walk by holding onto her fur and toddling along with them. When Oreo was done, she gave them a lick, making them squeal with giggles and let go, and then tucked herself into her kennel, her safe place. I can’t say enough about our Atlanta award-winning breeder, Karen Foster. She interviewed us, giving us the pup best suited for our lifestyle, and she was spot on with Oreo. Tip – Ask you breeder lots of questions about their processes as it could save you lots of time and heartache.
Guard dogs? Not quite, but they sure were sweet shop dogs.
As Oreo aged, we got another puppy to bridge the gap, Biscotti or Bisi. And was she every busy! She could find a tennis ball in anyone’s yard. This cute girl was a star in our Traditional Home story too. See her peeking in the front door?
Bisi looking for her kids Photo credit: Sarah Dorio
After Oreo’s passing, it was just Bisi and our three kids. So… 8th grade daughter, Mimi, sat Steve and I down for a powerpoint presentation on why we should adopt another English Springer Spaniel from Springer Rescue America. Guess what the answer was? You guessed it. Duke joined us one month later.
English Springer Rescue America has chapters all over the United States. Bisi hanging out in Traditional Home spread. Photo credit: Sarah Dorio Bisi + Duke hanging out upstairs. Photo credit: Sarah Dorio Adventure Duke at Atlanta Memorial Park
Why do we love our dogs? They comfort us just by being there. We look forward to coming home to that wagging tail. My dog teaches me to be more patient. My dog teaches me to find joy in the little things. Dogs lift our spirits, they are natural mood elevators. They keep us socially connected at the dog park, running into a neighbor on a walk around the block. Whether you take your dog to a “yappy” hour at a local dog-friendly spot, or just give your pooch some extra love, celebrate time with your furry friend!
Last year, we introduced our blog readers to Dress for Success, a non-profit organization that does a tremendous job of providing interview suits, confidence boosts, and career development to low-income women. They’re back on our radar now, with a fantastic promotion in conjunction with O Magazine and Talbots.
Seven new pieces were designed for Talbots in collaboration with O Magazine‘s Creative Director, Adam Glassman, and 30% of the net proceeds will go to benefit Dress for Success!
In addition to these proceeds going to Dress for Success, Talbots is also offering other ways to support this fantastic organization – you can bring in excellent condition, wear-to-work items to any Talbots location March 3-6, and they’re also offering to accept monetary gifts for the organization through April 3.
If you’re looking to do any shopping – or donating of work-appropriate clothes – please consider a visit to Talbots in support of Dress for Success!
That was the question posed to our very own Steve McKenzie by the wonderful team at Steelyard Access, when they approached him about e-designing a room fit for the President of the United States for their e-magazine, FOCUS…
Those of you close to Steve may have heard him share his “dream project” – designing a set of Presidential china. So, this fun challenge caused some immediate ear perks. And when he learned his room to makeover was the Presidential Library, he was in!
The White House China Room
Here’s a bit about Steve’s concept for the design:
Designing for the next President’s innermost sanctum, left me appealing to the desire for a personal space that truly reflects taste and inspiration. The President, a modernist at heart, needs a private place to escape and think, read and simply be… uninterrupted. A love of mid-century was the springing-off point for clean lines and a warm palette. Not encumbered by the need to reflect the Federal traditional style seen throughout much of the White House, we focused on using elements that the President alone will use and enjoy thoroughly.
Some of the items included in this space fit for our country’s leader are a sumptuous sofa from The Eleanor Rigby Company, stunning shelves by French Heritage, a sculptural lamp from Theodore Alexander, a steve mckenzie’s rug design by Verde Home and a Perry Luxe console.
We were in some fantastic company in this FOCUS e-magazine makeover feature – so be sure to check out all of the amazing spaces by Gary Inman, Eric Haydel, Ashlina Kaposta, NAR Design Group, Joy Moyler and Steelyard’s Steven Avitable.
We’re so grateful to have been included in this fun spread and hope it inspires you to go a little presidential with the interior design of your home! If you’d like help with designing a space you’ll love, reach out to the McKenzie Design team today.
Hand-made Iris Apfel Pillow by Huger Memories $295
Oprah pillow
Jackie Kennedy pillow 
House Portrait – a perfect housewarming gift
Family beach memories
Add a pillow featuring your beloved furry family member!
Sarah Wiley, the artist in her Richmond studio
Playful holiday card idea
Duke the Shop Dog
Minted.com makes it easy to send holiday sentiments!
Annette Joseph
Center for Civil and Human Rights
Human Rights Activists from all around the world
The White House China Room
Oreo, guardian of the youngest or the oldest person in the room
Guard dogs? Not quite, but they sure were sweet shop dogs.
Bisi looking for her kids Photo credit: Sarah Dorio
English Springer Rescue America has chapters all over the United States. 
Bisi hanging out in Traditional Home spread. Photo credit: Sarah Dorio 
Bisi + Duke hanging out upstairs. Photo credit: Sarah Dorio 
Adventure Duke at Atlanta Memorial Park
