March 2023

Yvonne McFadden is a master with natural materials. Tish Mills Kirk creates an outdoor oasis. Robert Brown Interior Design masterfully mixes patterns, textures and art.

Here are some glimpses into the masterful bedrooms, beginning with the master bedroom designed by Huff-Dewberry.

Huff-Dewberry updates the classic wall of blue and white china. Off the master bedroom, Huff Harrington creates a restful outdoor retreat. Holly Phillips and her ode to a Moroccan sunset. Honey Collins Interiors came home to Atlanta to design this special bedroom. Ashley Gilbreath showed up with all the textures, metal details and more.

Steve and Jill attended and presented at The Southern Summit, hosted by the folks over at The Southern Coterie, last month in Charleston – and it was an absolute delight!

A highlight for them was the luncheon workshop they hosted, in conjunction with Atlanta Magazine: Home editor-in-chief Betsy Riley, where they shared with guests the basics one needs to effortlessly achieve gracious living and how to tailor seasonal tablescapes without breaking the bank.

During this workshop, Steve and Jill offered participates a list of items that should always be on hand to create a warm, memorable design for their tabletops. This way, they’d be ready to host with only a moment’s notice.

Grocery store flowers were taken from “meh” to magnificant during the workshop, in a centerpiece makeover, which guests really seamed to enjoy.

Four tablescapes were designed for the presentation, one for each season. The summer table setting closed out the luncheon gathering, and wase used as inspiration for the next day’s luncheon for all 325 summit attendees.

Together, Steve and Jill designed all of the tables for the summit’s feature luncheon, which took place at the beautiful, historic William Aiken House.

But, as you know it takes a village to achieve such stunning results and a number of vendors came together to make the luncheon space so lovely. They include, Vietri dinnerware, Dot and Army linens, Royal Crown Derby fine china, Le Jacquard Francais table linens, Sasha Nicholas dinnerware, and The Vine, who provided an array of glorious succulents for the centerpieces.

The Southern Coterie is an impressive gathering of Southern entrepreneurs and tastemakers, and we were elated to have been in such esteemed company at The Southern Summit! Some of the other presenters were Eddie Ross, Libbie Summers, Mandy Kellog Rye, Kristy Tiglias of Southern Living, Brian Hart Hoffman of Hoffman Media, Julianne Taylor and Holly Hollingsworth Phillips. Many on this list are friends of our ours, and some have even been tastemakers here, on the blog for steve mckenzie’s – such a fantastic group!!

Steve with Mandy Rye

Mandy Rye – of Waiting on Martha fame – presented on building your brand with social media (a personal highlight for Steve and Jill), and she will be doing an intensive social media seminar here in Atlanta. It’s very limited, and one day only (June 17), so sign up ASAP if you’re interested. steve mckenzie’s will be hosting a kickoff cocktail party the evening before Mandy’s seminar, so put it on your calendar… Details forthcoming.

If this sounds like fun, that’s because it was! And next year, you should be a part of it! Thanks to all of our friends – new and old – who we enjoyed at The Southern Summit, and thanks to The Southern Coterie for inviting us to participate in this memorable event. We left feeling energized and inspired!

Next week, Steve and Jill will be hosting an extremely talented group of design industry insiders at the West Coast Art & Frame expo in Las Vegas!

This “bloggers tour” is comprised of four design tastemakers who all understand the importance of art in a home, and who are looking to learn more about what’s new in the world of art and framing, as well as share a bit about their unique perspectives on art and framing…

Cathy Austin of Bespoke Banter Vicki Gladle Bolick of The Ace of Space Holly Hollingsworth Phillips of The English Room Krista Nye Schwartz and Tami Jennings Ramsay of Cloth & Kind

We are absolutely thrilled about this lineup and encourage you to follow everyone here on social media, so you may be a part of this event, and take advantage of all we see and learn along the way!

In addition to hosting this fabulous crew of bloggers, Steve will also be an educator at the expo. As a longtime member of the art and framing industry – his former gig was serving as Chief Designer for Larson-Juhl for the last 20 years, and as CEO for the past decade – he’s looking forward to sharing his thoughts on small business success and his favorite, mid-century modern design during two sessions at the expo.

If you’ll be at the WCAF expo, consider attending one of Steve’s classes. And if not, please keep an eye out for a recap of this exciting trip! Viva Last Vegas!!

Earlier this fall we had the pleasure of collaborating with Lisa Rieves, owner of The Front Porch of Vinings, to design a dinner party bursting with the colors of autumn and BIG on style. The backdrop could not have been more perfect; we staged our table setting in Lisa’s beautiful home and this provided direction of the rest of decor.

As you know, we love starting with floral and the centerpiece for party was no different! Floral was purchased from Trader Joe’s the morning of the event – this really gave us that fall color and helped establish the palette. Our selections included roses, gerber daisies, sunflowers, and little petite daisies.  But we think the actually came from a walk together with Lisa through her beautiful garden gathering hydrangea, ferns, branches and vines. We set the centerpiece in a lovely lichen and moss-covered urn Lisa already had and combined the greens and flowers for an abundant, yet casual arrangement. The floral, coupled with Lisa’s beautiful distressed candlesticks, set the stage for the rest of the tablescape.

We then turned to Lisa’s gorgeous open shelves, abundant with dishes, glasses, serving pieces and more – this is when the fun really began! Lisa purchased her Gien and Le Jacquard Francais from our showroom and it looks just stunning presented this way in her home!

As the base for our placesettings, we chose these beautiful, boxwood placemats, which can be found at The Front Porch of Vinings. The green makes such a lovely, lush grounding for the charger and dishes, coming up next…

We then turned to this beautiful Pont aux Choux (in Cream) as the charger from Gien. We love the detail the scalloped handles provide.

The dinner plate is Gien’s Pont aux Choux in Taupe, which sets an earthy, autumn tone to the overall setting.

The Gien Chanterelle dish acts as our salad plate and offers detail and interest to the overall setup.

We then completed the placesetting with a Chanterelle collection bread plate, Gien soup bowl (in Taupe) and vintage silver-plate cutlery, tied with twine from The Front Porch of Vinings, and a Le Jacquard Francais napkin.

For the beverage service, we used a beautiful cut-glass stem vessel as well as a Ball Mason Jar to add a bit of that down-home, comfortable fall feel.

Here is a quick look at the layers all coming together:

The finished look combined with the floral created a truly magical fall evening!

Together, Steve and Lisa had a wonderful day setting the perfect autumn table!

We want to thank Lisa for opening up her beautiful home and collaborating with us on this fun dinner party.

*All photos by Katheryn McCrary Photography

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Just in time for Thanksgiving, steve mckenzie’s is introducing the new Chanterelle collection by Gien Earthenware.

This new dinnerware line features a beautiful pattern of woodland mushrooms, fern leaves and forest fruits. And, while Gien Earthenware is manufactured in France, it’s actually dishwasher safe – a real bonus for the busy holiday season!

If you’re not ready to commit to an entire table of the Chanterelle pattern, adding a few key pieces to your tablescape – while mixing an matching with your current dinnerware – will make the perfect seasonal touch!

Now that you’re envisioning a fabulous fall table, we have an ideal meal to serve on your new Gien Earthenware… Mulligan Stew! This hearty, and comforting dish will warm you from the inside out. A big thanks to steve mckenzie’s friend and team member, Kim Crosby for sharing her recipe with us:

Mulligan Stew
Serves 8

2 lb Stew Meat
1/4 C flour
3 T vegetable Oil
2 Lb unpeeled potatoes, cut into bite-size cubes
1 C celery, cut into bite-size cubes
1C carrots, cut into bite-size pieces
1 small onion chopped
2 1/2 C water or beef stock divided
1/2 of a .75 oz pkg brown gravy mix
2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
salt & pepper to taste fresh parsley
Ciabatta, baguette or other hard crust bread Toss the stew meat with the flour. Heat oil in a 6-quart Dutch oven. Add the meat in small amounts to brown.

Add potatoes, celery, carrots, onions and 2 C water (or stock). Bring to boil then reduce heat. Cover & simmer for about 1.5 hours or till meat is done.Combine the gravy mix and 1/2 C water (or stock) and add to the meat & veggies along with the undrained tomatoes and bring to boil to combine flavors. Remove from heat, top with parsley and serve with crusty bread.

Simple, hearty and oh-so-fall! Please share some of your family’s favorite fall dishes – we’d love to be inspired!!

As our family had the privilege of recently hosting our own rehearsal dinner,  I want to share some thoughts while they are still fresh in my mind.  Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner is held the night before the wedding and hosted by the groom’s family.  It’s the vehicle to gather the close family, attendants, officiant and bridal couple together, break bread, and fellowship together, and kick off the Big Event with food and merriment.

Take a look at these top tips for a successful, relaxed rehearsal dinner ~

1. Choose a style that is distinctly different from the wedding.

Not wanting to compete with the black tie optional wedding, we went the other way – a pizza truck!  Here we used black and white gingham tablecloths from steve mckenzie’s, pulled up a wood-fired pizza oven food truck, and served ice tea, beer and wine.  Father of the groom, Atlanta interior designer Steve McKenzie created the lush winter floral arrangements.  Festive color-coordinated napkins from Dot and Army completed the table.  More about their easy napkin rental program soon…

The wedding is the main event, so offering a different experience to the wedding party gives them a more complete weekend.

Black and white gingham fabric anchors the tables in the window-filled venue. Floral by Steve McKenzie

Any well done event, especially a wedding, follows a curated path of carefully chosen details.  From the save the date to the invitation to the floral, consistent colors, fonts and written tone set the stage for your special day.  The groom’s love of outdoors and hunting were celebrated with custom stadium cups, monogrammed napkins and photo booth props.

Custom monogram by Sequins and Lipstick Photo props by Captivating Creations Groom + Jill aka Mom

3. Choose the Rehearsal Dinner Menu Secondly to Wedding Menu

The wedding menu plays a starring role in the event, and the budget.  Tastings are held, serving pieces are surveyed, table-cloth colors are coordinated, all these details culminating in this once in a lifetime event.  The rehearsal dinner should coordinate with this evening, not compete with it.  Southern Crust Catering food truck provided this complement to the sit-down dinner on Saturday night.

Bride + Groom Southern Crust Catering Hot pizza on a cold night! Floral by Steve McKenzie A moonlit magical rehearsal dinner!

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Happy May! That means Mother’s Day is soon, and we have a beautiful way to celebrate with Mom – a magnolia wreath class with Erin Weston of Weston Farms.

Make this evergreen magnolia wreath!

On Saturday, May 11th, join us for the morning class and make your very own lush, full circle magnolia wreath. A light lunch is included, so bring a friend or Mom to make it a memorable time together. Class starts at 10am and tickets are $150 with limited space. Click here to get your tickets.

Parris Magnolia Bowtie is the afternoon class

Did you know these magnolia pieces will last for up to a year, sometimes longer?! That means you will enjoy them for all the seasons. Maybe you’ll tuck some fresh seasonal flowers in amongst those velvety leaves, or a bit of sparkly ribbon for Halloween and Christmas. The possibilities are endless!

It feels good to make something with your hands, and as a mom, a hand-made gift is so much more special. We hope to see you at one of these fun-filled classes!

And when you visit the Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens, snap a photo in front of Weston Farms magnificent magnolia wall! Get details on this ever-popular spring showhouse here .

Happy Spring!

Happy Saturday!  Your honey-do list may be a mile long, but if you can, treat your senses to a stop at The 2018 Cathedral Antiques Show and Flower Festival.  Get ready for breathtaking art, antiques, and florals featuring over 25 highly-regarded dealers from around the country.  Take a peek at some favorite bright spots gathered from my Thursday tour.

Stunning roses, eucalyptus, ferns and more And Jewelry Gustave Klimt artwork Antique cork screws

Today is the last day!  The address is Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305.

Did I mention FLOWERS?! Breath in this breath of fresh, spring air. Happy Weekend!

Maypole Floral

“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, Paige Minear of The Pink Clutch blog joins us to give you the tools for an effortless, casual dinner party.

Dinner Party 101: Saturday, Oct. 7th from 10 – 11:30am

You’ll go home confident, with easy, impressive recipes, design advice for a festive space, ready to reconnect with old friends and invite some new friends.

You’ll make some new friends and learn from stand-out makers such as Cathead Vodka, Schermer Pecans and Merry Cheese Crisps.

Tickets are $20 and space is limited, so grab a friend and get your tickets today! Be sure to contact the team at steve mckenzie’s with any entertaining needs.  See you soon!

It’s beginning to look at lot like Christmas!  We’re getting in the holiday spirit this week as we prepare for the NMP Holiday Gift Show, this Thursday evening – Saturday.  You’ll find over 90 of the South’s most sought-after designers, artists, makers, food and more.

Here’s a quick preview of some what we’re bringing to the NMP Holiday Gift Show…

Melamine Appetizer Plates Allegra Red set/4 Small Squares with Mighty Words by Thimblepress

As a true partner in the Atlanta community, this 34th annual event directly supports the preschool’s scholarship program.  We are honored to be part of this talented and dedicated group, and look forward to seeing you there, and at steve mckenzie’s!

Being full of holiday goodwill, Steve’s gone wild and the most of the store is 25% off (some exclusions apply). Visit us the shop on Dec. 28 – 30 for best selection, and online savings with the code WILD2017, expires midnight 1/1/2017.  Start 2017 off right by saving!

25% off
some exclusions apply including Match Pewter, Le Jacquard Francais, Gien, Royal Crown Derby.

Green. We can’t stop seeing it. Ever since our time at AmericasMart last month, we’ve noted a trend. And it’s pretty fabulous.

Design Legacy AmericasMart Showroom

We keep seeing green in tones of moss and emerald specifically, many with metallic silver or gold touches. Such as the above green velvet (yum!) tufted ottoman from Design Legacy.

Worlds Away Malachite Bar Cart

Whether green is showcased on textiles, hard surfaces or even simple decorative accents, it consistently adds a rich, luxurious touch!

Worlds Away Malachite Abbott Nesting tables

Those pieces above spotted in the Worlds Away AmericasMart showroom are stunning in photos and even better in person. True showstoppers.

All of these green beauties had us searching our showroom to find our own gloriously green items – available right now…

We are head over heels for this new Cotton + Quill wallcovering, available in custom green hues. It’s called “The Hunt,” and between the bird theme and the beautiful colors, we’re done for.

Our classic alpaca throws by Alicia Adams are made from 100% baby alpaca. They are hypoallergenic, extremely soft and warm yet light weight. And this “Racing Green” colorway in a subtle herringbone pattern is lovely. Toss it over a chair in your reading nook, at the foot of your bed, or alongside your sofa for chilly evenings for a beautifully soft green accent.

You know we love some acrylic drinkware around here and this lovely green “Milly” tumbler is the perfect example of why… It’s stylish, durable, and this green hue is especially eye catching! Of course, a set will be ideal for your outdoor entertaining space, however, a single tumbler can make an especially stylish impact and has so many uses around the house – toothbrush holder, pen cup, etc.

And we couldn’t share a post all about green without mentioning the “Cypress” color in our signature steve mckenzie’s textiles… We’re especially fond of the Cypress colorway in the Scallop print fabric! A settee covered in this stunning textile would just take the cake in any space, while a table simply set with Cypress Scallop print fabric napkins is a more subtle way of introducing this trend. Either would be a surefire winner!

There you have it – our top six finds for introducing this wonderfully green trend into your space! If you’d like assistance creating a design, full of trendy green hues, reach out to the McKenzie Design team today!!

Another successful and exciting High Point Market has wrapped up, with colorful new launches and additions.  Our hearts and eyes were dancing with this collaboration of Cotton + quill fabric on a Dunes and Duchess glossy bench, against the backdrop of the dramatic Copacabana Cotton + quill textile.

Cotton + quill Pendant/Capri color way on a Chappy Bench in New England Oyster Roast from Dunes and Duchess New Libeco Bedding – All the colors play well together, and Belgian linens are a delight for restful sleeping. The Old Wood Co. does it again.  Our Asheville maker knocks it out of the park with this Iron Buff finish. Kannoa outdoor furniture is well-designed and functional, plus offers a full range of fabric colors and patterns so you can customize your space.  This aquamarine Congo Side Table can be used for seating too. This is outdoor? You bet it is, from Laurie Bell and Kannoa.

We spent more time in the Antique & Design Center of High Point, scoring some terrific finds!  The dealers ranged from classic art to art deco to textiles to eclectic vendors like Box Road.

Box Road Antiques – everything from delicate Flow Blue plates to a fascinating flashlight collection and face jug.  Made me very happy…

Now it’s time to get our Halloween costumes pulled together, and then start the countdown to Christmas! To ease the stress, we’ll be sharing some of our favorite holiday tips on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Periscope.  Enjoy the warm fall colors!

Saturday night, you’re invited to steve mckenzie’s showroom to meet and greet with the creative founders of three luxury home brands:

Mary Catherine Folmar of Cotton + Quill

Stacy Kunstel of Dunes and Duchess

And our own namesake, Steve McKenzie

We’ve been collaborating with these two design mavens recently, and are thrilled to have been able to add their collections to our offering at steve mckenzie’s!

As we’ve been cultivating our partnership with Cotton + Quill and Dunes and Duchess, we’ve recognized a real synergy between our brands and product offerings, and are so excited to take this opportunity to share how we’re able to work with the industry to bring our unique stylings together.

Textiles from Cotton + Quill, steve mckenzie’s fabric collections, pieces by Dunes & Duchess

This Saturday’s meet and greet will take place from 5-8PM at the steve mckenzie’s showroom and summer-themed drinks and bites will be provided.

We’re looking forward to this fun networking event. If you’d like any additional information, please feel free to reach out to the team at steve mckenzie’s. If you’re unable to make it out Saturday evening, be sure to stop into the showroom soon, and take in all of the great new offerings and fabulous looks we can create with Cotton + Quill and Dunes and Duchess!

Bold, fresh, adventurous and brilliant. These are just a few words that come to mind when we think about the fabulous designs by our friend, Mary Catherine Folmar and her Cotton+Quill textile and wallpaper collections.

Both Mary Catherine and her designs are a breath of fresh air. We’ve so enjoyed getting to know her better as of late and are looking forward to sharing her beautiful collections with you in the steve mckenzie’s showroom!

Mary Catherine and her designs are such a wonderful addition to our showroom, we thought you’d enjoy getting to know her a bit more. We can guarantee you’ll be hearing a lot about Mary Catherine and Cotton+Quill here in the near future!

Mary Catherine Folmar

sm’s: Can you please share a bit about your background/how you started Cotton+Quill and how you gained the courage to break out on your own?

MC: I attended Auburn University to study pre-med…..but my love for design got the best of me.  I have always loved fashion, graphics & interior design, but I didn’t want to be pigeonholed into any particular field.  That is why I chose to study Industrial Design; it gave me a good base for just about anything design related.

Cotton + Quill came about as a way to continue my design after leaving my design job in Atlanta to move to Birmingham to marry my college sweetheart.  I have been extremely fortunate to have a supportive husband and family to make Cotton + Quill a reality.  I have always been interested in textiles and interior design and have always had a passion for art, so starting a textile company was a natural fit.

sm’s: What inspires you/your designs?

MC: I would have to say Taiwan and Hong Kong have been my biggest influences for my designs.  There is just such an abundant amount of inspiration and history found in the Asian culture from architectural details and murals to koi fish and fashion.  I love photography as well as sketching, so I often look back to photos I took while studying abroad and traveling for inspiration for my designs.  The coast has also influenced my design style – more so for color rather than actual designs.  And travel isn’t the only thing that influences my work – often an exciting time period in history influences my designs, like the Roaring 20’s & the Great Gatsby for the Deco Collection, as well as certain design styles, like old Hollywood Regency & Palm Beach for the Regency Collection.

sm’s: What your vision is, not only for Cotton+Quill, but also the individual pieces you craft?

MC: My vision for Cotton + Quill is that the person receiving our products is as much in love with our designs as we are – I really want our designs to speak and mean something to the person receiving them…..like  a piece of art.

sm’s: What do you see as mainstays in your textile/wallpaper collections?

MC: If you are referring to our textile/wallpaper collections in general, I would say the mainstay for my designs is that they are all 100% completely original and that you cannot find anything else in the marketplace like them.  If you are referring to a particular design, I think the Shishi (foo dogs) and Koi (chinoiserie) are here to stay…I think both of these include classic design elements that will never go out of style – they can always be modernized with color.

sm’s: What are the differences in your collections – i.e. how do you create such unique designs that still work together under the Cotton+Quill brand?

MC: My collections really depend on the mood I am in or the particular thing(s) that are inspiring me at that time.  I have been fortunate enough to have been able to travel a lot, so that is where most of my inspiration comes from, but I also love different periods of time and the designs that came out of those periods – a good example is the Roaring Twenties with the likes of Ernest Hemingway, The Great Gatsby, and a little bit prior, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his celebrated Art Nouveau work including his inspirational tea rooms in Scotland.  I think because pretty much all of my designs are hand illustrated, they all work together because they are all comprised in the same style – also color has a lot to do with making different patterns work together.

sm’s: What do people need to consider when looking to purchase a design by Cotton & Quill?

MC: I think the people who purchase a Cotton + Quill product need to first and foremost know that all of our designs are unique and custom and cannot just be found at any fabric store down the road.  When purchasing a Cotton + Quill product, in a sense, you are purchasing a piece of art.  And with all of our customizable options, you can really make that piece of art or design your own and unique to your home and lifestyle.  Another important fact to note is that all of our textiles and wallpapers are made right here in the USA.

sm’s: What’s on the horizon for Cotton+Quill?

MC: Well, our mind never stops thinking.  Currently we are working on a collaboration with a home accessories company which has everything from catchalls to trays and ice buckets.  Also on the bucket list is offering a couture clothing line featuring our bold textiles on clean, fresh silhouettes.  We just introduced a line of trimmings which will be available in late July and also hope to soon introduce a collaboration featuring our designs in rugs and possibly even furniture….the options are limitless!

Mary Catherine’s three dogs – Marley, Butters and Sookie

sm’s: As an artist/business person how do you recharge?

MC: Just coming home at night and turning off the phone or shutting down the computer while spending a few hours with my husband, our three dogs and a glass of wine is my day to day recharge.  Ideally, a long weekend at the beach is the best way to recharge.  And actually, I just spent a few days in Charleston, one day was for business, and I had a wonderful visit and met many wonderful people as well…it was only a couple of days but during those days I was able to catch my breath. 🙂

If those vibrant colors and brilliant patterns from Mary Catherine’s Cotton+Quill collections don’t inspire you to go bold in your home, we don’t know what will!

If you’d love to introduce a bit of the Cotton+Quill style into your home, but aren’t entirely sure how to accomplish that, the team here at steve mckenzie’s is here for you! We now carry the full range of Cotton+Quill textile and wallpaper collections and would love to create a space unique to you and your family/lifestyle, incorporating some of Mary Catherine’s fabulous designs!

Want to gift the newest little one in your life with something that will stand the test of time and grow with them? Look no further than the selection of beautiful baby gifts at steve mckenzie’s!

While these items may not be typical to a traditional baby registry, they are gifts the parents, and in a few years, the young person will truly love and appreciate. These are absolute treasures, and classic baby gifts never go out of style.

Pewter Baby Cups

Pewter “Georgia” Baby Cup Pewter “Easton” Baby Cup

Made by Salisbury in the USA, these stunning pewter baby cups are exceptionally styled and feature fine quality handcrafted details. A monogrammed baby cup is a forever gift, and with our quick turnaround time and complimentary gift wrapping, a lovely gift to give and receive.

Alpaca Baby Goods

Made by Alicia Adamas Alpaca, these beautifully crafted baby items are supremely soft and will become instant favorites of the new parents… Baby will sleep soundly swaddled in a sweet alpaca baby blanket, or look ever so cozy in an alpaca onesie or cute pair of booties. And again, you’ll be pleased with the quick turnaround time of these items through steve mckenzie’s.

Handcrafted Baby Cards

A special delivery calls for an equally special card, and our selection of artfully designed greeting cards will add an ideal finishing touch to any baby gift. Your card from steve mckenzie’s will make it into the baby book for sure!

If you’re shopping in celebration of a new baby, please stop by – or call – steve mckenzie’s today and we’ll help you select the perfect gift, which will become a lifelong treasure!

We’re throwing it back a bit on this Friday, featuring some recent happenings here at steve mckenzie’s. As always, we’re beyond grateful when McKenzie Designs is featured or when the happenings here at the steve mckenzie’s showroom are brought into the limelight!

steve mckenzie’s appears TWICE in the April 2017 issue of House Beautiful!

That’s the Le Cadeaux “Havana” plate right in the center!

We are pinching ourselves here to have been featured two times in the most recent issue of one of our very favorite shelter publications, House Beautiful – especially to see Steve’s name in “The Experts” section!

McKenzie Designs “Bold, Bright and Beautiful” renovation featured on StyleBlueprint…

Click here to check out the full feature of our recent Candler Park renovation and let us know which part is your favorite in the comments below. You won’t be surprised to learn that French Blue range from La Cornue was the top feature for us!

It’s a “Garden Party” in the April 2017 issue of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles

We’re delighted to see our Jardin Extraordinaires collection by Gien in this absolutely gorgeous spread in the latest issue of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. This feature is putting us in the spirit of springtime!

You’re invited to our Spring Tea & Open House!

Last, but certainly not least, is our Spring Tea & Open House event at the steve mckenzie’s showroom this Wednesday. As you can see from the details above, it’s going to provide an extraordinary time! We hope you can join us – please share your RSVP with us by clicking here or on either of the event images.

Thank you for joining us on this little #FlashbackFriday of recent press and look ahead at what’s sure to be a pretty fantastic event! We hope to see you in the steve mckenzie’s showroom soon.

Earlier this fall we had the pleasure of collaborating with Lisa Rieves, owner of The Front Porch of Vinings, to design a dinner party bursting with the colors of autumn and BIG on style. The backdrop could not have been more perfect; we staged our table setting in Lisa’s beautiful home and this provided direction of the rest of decor.

As you know, we love starting with floral and the centerpiece for party was no different! Floral was purchased from Trader Joe’s the morning of the event – this really gave us that fall color and helped establish the palette. Our selections included roses, gerber daisies, sunflowers, and little petite daisies.  But we think the actually came from a walk together with Lisa through her beautiful garden gathering hydrangea, ferns, branches and vines. We set the centerpiece in a lovely lichen and moss-covered urn Lisa already had and combined the greens and flowers for an abundant, yet casual arrangement. The floral, coupled with Lisa’s beautiful distressed candlesticks, set the stage for the rest of the tablescape.

We then turned to Lisa’s gorgeous open shelves, abundant with dishes, glasses, serving pieces and more – this is when the fun really began! Lisa purchased her Gien and Le Jacquard Francais from our showroom and it looks just stunning presented this way in her home!

As the base for our placesettings, we chose these beautiful, boxwood placemats, which can be found at The Front Porch of Vinings. The green makes such a lovely, lush grounding for the charger and dishes, coming up next…

We then turned to this beautiful Pont aux Choux (in Cream) as the charger from Gien. We love the detail the scalloped handles provide.

The dinner plate is Gien’s Pont aux Choux in Taupe, which sets an earthy, autumn tone to the overall setting.

The Gien Chanterelle dish acts as our salad plate and offers detail and interest to the overall setup.

We then completed the placesetting with a Chanterelle collection bread plate, Gien soup bowl (in Taupe) and vintage silver-plate cutlery, tied with twine from The Front Porch of Vinings, and a Le Jacquard Francais napkin.

For the beverage service, we used a beautiful cut-glass stem vessel as well as a Ball Mason Jar to add a bit of that down-home, comfortable fall feel.

Here is a quick look at the layers all coming together:

The finished look combined with the floral created a truly magical fall evening!

Together, Steve and Lisa had a wonderful day setting the perfect autumn table!

We want to thank Lisa for opening up her beautiful home and collaborating with us on this fun dinner party.

*All photos by Katheryn McCrary Photography

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