September 2023

We’re just getting back into a regular routine post Design Bloggers Conference 2014 (DBC) – and after this whirlwind conference, regular may never be again. It was a motivating and an inspiring few days, for sure! Filled with fun, fabulous advice, and friends new and old. Attending this exciting conference cemented our commitment to the blog for steve mckenzie’s and we’re thrilled to begin implementing some of what we’ve learned and what’s inspired us here with you!

We’re sharing all about our DBC 2014 experience with you in a two-part blog series so even if you weren’t able to attend, maybe you’ll feel as if you were there, even if it was just for a bit. Or, if you were lucky enough to go, hopefully you’ll enjoy hearing about it from our perspective…

For the steve mckenzie’s team, our DBC 2014 experience begun Sunday afternoon, at the party celebrating Dwell with Dignity’s first Atlanta makeover, featuring our friends Kerry Howard (yes, the same “Tastemaker” we shared recently!) and Brian Patrick Flynn, who worked on the design of the space, and a fantastic group of DIY experts and volunteers. We were thrilled to help this great cause, and look forward to doing more in the future! On our way out, we did have a little fun at the photo booth:

After the party, we were ready to get the DBC 2014 party started… literally, with the conference’s opening event at Atlantic Station hosted by Sunbrella and Traditional Home. It was a great time, and we met many new faces. The loft space Sunbrella had designed was just fantastic, and had us dreaming of in-town living!

DBC 2014 officially kicked off in a big way Monday morning with a Keynote address by Bravo TV’s “Million Dollar Designer,” Jeffery Alan Marks! We loved learning how he adds one thing in every space that’s an accident. What a smart way to keep things interesting!

In addition to Jeffery’s keynote address, we, like the rest of the DBC 2014 attendees, were greatly inspired by the floral on stage, including two of these amazing Ranunculus and Rose arrangements…

After ogling the floral, and absorbing all Jeffery Alan Marks had to share, we were ready to get to the “Business of Blogging,” an amazingly informative talk, which featured one of our all-time favorite bloggers, Palamoa Contreras of La Dolce Vita (celebrity moment!). We also met blogger, and landscaper extrodinaire, Jan Bills, of Two Women and a Hoe. Jan is a laugh and a half, not to mention brilliant. We have another blogger crush!

The lovely Paloma, educating the DBC audience. Paloma Contreras and Jill McKenzie after day one of DBC 2014.

After another informative session on “Digital Content Marketing,” the 2014 Design Blogger Hall of Fame awards were announced. And, the big winner for “Best Overall Design Blog” went to none other than La Dolce Vita! Congrats to our friend Paloma on this much-deserved win!

The next session on “Building your Brand” was uuber popular. Our friend, and editor, Amy Flurry was one of the speakers and shared some secrets from her fabulous book, “Recipe for Press.” This was a session not to miss!

Celebrity designer, Timothy Corrigan offered up the next Keynote Address, and spoke to an enthralled audience on “Designing your Brand.” He spoke from such a unique perspective, sharing how he took his experiences from working in advertising to build his brand as a designer. He also doesn’t believe a room is well designed if it’s not comfortable – right on!

Day one of DBC 2014 ended with a wine tasting – yes, a wine tasting! And a fantastic talk on how to turn any topic into a lively and shareable story by Jeremy Parzen, who authors the wildly popular blog Do Bianchi, where he talks about wine and so much more!

Each of the three wines we tasted represented a different time in Jeremy’s life, the story he told us, and how he made it shareable. Not only were the wines wonderful, so was his speech!

Phew! That was quite a day… And to think, that was only day one. Day two was just as fantastic, if not more so. Like we shared earlier, DBC 2014 was quite an experience! We hope you’ll join us for our re-cap of day two, which we’ll be sharing here very soon!

If you attended DBC 2014, please let us know what you thought about the conference and who your favorite speakers were…

Last week, we shared part one of Jill’s Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens tour highlights, and today, we’re excited to share a bit about the remaining spaces – the bedrooms and leisure spaces.

Phoebe Howard’s master bedroom suite was sumptuously styled and a fantastic take on classic design. We’re ready to move right in!

One of our favorite design elements in the showhouse was the gilt ceiling in Amy Morris‘ lady’s lounge space. That light fixture hanging from that stunning ceiling was a showstopper.

Amy Morris’ lady’s lounge

The feminine touches throughout the dressing room, designed by Alison Womack Jowers and Cheryl Womack, were so well thought out.

The soft lines and mix of textures in the dressing room were such a lovely fit for the space!

And Jonathan Savage‘s bedroom and bath were the epitome of “guy glam!” His masculine theme played well with luxurious touches any man would enjoy coming home to.

The next bedroom we toured took us to an exotic locale. Andrew Brown‘s space really is a true escape and made us want to stay and enjoy the space for a while.

Next up – a diversion to the game room. Our friend Ginger Brewton created a space filled with personality and we were thrilled to help accessorize the room!

From one cheery space to another, the bathroom and bath by Parker Kennedy Living is abundant with chic, chinoiserie style!

The last space we visited was by Mark Williams Design Associates and it was all about texture, texture and more texture! It drew us in and welcomed us home.

It was a perfect ending to a fabulous home tour!

If our tour highlights piqued your interest, plan a visit to the Southeastern Showhouse & Gardens. We promise – you will not be disappointed!

And don’t forget… be sure to stop by the steve mckenzie’s showroom for discounted tickets. Enjoy and happy touring!!

This past Saturday kicked off the first open house for the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens. And it’s amazing! Jill was fortunate enough to tour the house – all 20,000 square feet of it – a day early and shares a bit about her experience here with us today…

This fabulous house, designed by architect Dietrich T. Logan of Logan Design Group International and  built by Bill Preston, president of Atlanta-based Paradise Builders Inc., is an amazing addition to the Buckhead area.

SUZANNE KASLER

The lovely and hugely talented Suzanne Kasler served as Honorary Chair of the interior design team behind the Southeastern Showhouse. The other designers who worked to make this home such a stunner are listed at the end of this post and can also be seen here.

Suzanne’s showhouse dining room.

Suzanne’s dining room in the showhouse features fabulously lacquered walls and ceiling – a fantastic treatment for a formal space!

Lacquered ceiling detail.

Next up is the study. Robert Brown is the creative mind behind this fantastic space.

Robert Brown’s showhouse study.

You know we love a good library, and this one doesn’t disappoint. The combination of neutral colors textures, and that dramatic artwork created a memorable space.

Barbara Westbrook‘s showhouse great room was equally as memorable due in large to her artwork selections. The scale was spot on for this generous room.

Barbara Westbrook’s showhouse great room.

The black and white color scheme in the great room felt fresh and new and was pleasantly unexpected!

Our friend Lauren DeLoach‘s showhouse kitchen design became a fast favorite. And her attention to detail – as evidenced in the next two images – is spot on.

Fine art in the kitchen… Yes, please! It was a space that was difficult to move on from.

But move on we must. And Kay Douglass‘ morning room design made it a bit easier, as it spoke to us on so many levels.

Not the least of which was her use of this beautifully “crusty” mid-century chair and her sleek green upholstery.

At this point, we’ll move on to GordonDunning with Lloyd Flanders‘ serene outdoor space, which even in the rain was positively inviting!

Even in the rain, we’d fancy a poolside lounge here!

Those umbrellas – perfection in our books!

And that’s where we’ll have to retire part one of the showhouse tour. We’re saving the bedroom and leisure spaces for part two of our post, in which we’ll highlight even more fabulous designer spaces. Please keep an eye out!

Another important item to note about the Southeastern Designers Showhouse & Gardens is that a portion of the ticket sale proceeds will benefit Safe Kids Georgia, the safety initiative of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA).

We urge you to plan a visit to this spectacular showhome. And to sweeten the pot just a bit, we have tickets for sale at the steve mckenzie’s showroom for just $25/ticket, which will save you $5 off the at-the-door price of $30.

Our space in this year’s Design, Wine & Dine Showhouse, supporting the Historic Macon Foundation is finally complete! While we’re delighted with the way the dining room by McKenzie Design turned out, we’re even more thrilled to have been in the company of such talented designers from throughout Middle-Georgia, including Lisa Bellwin, Tracy Benton, Sally Draughon, Valerie Garrett, Judy Hodgens, Terry Holland, Carolyn Reichert, Carrie Robinson and Katherine Walden.

Most recently, our design team has been inspired by the all the lush, tropical motifs, which seem to be popping up everywhere! While we wanted to ensure we respected the history of the fantastic Porter House – moved to Weslyan University‘s campus – we also wanted to present our take with an updated sense of tradition. We’re so pleased with the results of our design plan, and are lucky to have had the opportunity to partner with some truly terrific manufacturers and artisans to help us realize our space…

We fell in love with Sherwin Williams’ “Iverness” and opted to use this luxurious hue throughout the dining room. The brass Pagoda light fixture by Currey & Company was a true jewel in the space! The cerused oak dining table, from Grange Furniture, was an ideal backdrop for our tablescape.

We had a ball with all of the fabulous Thibaut Design textiles used in the dining room – the “Tropical Fantasy” design from their Biscayne collection was the jumping off point and we went from there. Drape 98 provided all drapery fabrication for our space. As evidenced by the McKenzie Design showhouse dining space, we fell in love with the tropical, yet classic, design of our primary textile, featuring large leaves, colorful ginger jars and exotic animals.

The lush texture of the Moss colored velvet, paired with Selamat’s Sheridan wingback chair offered a smart juxtaposition of textures, and offers a natural element. These dramatic chairs, act as the “head” of our dining table, while the Sika Rossini chairs, act as the side chairs. Our showhouse dining space is anchored with a stunning, hand-knotted rug by Laura Walker for Verde Home.

This beautiful settee is by Bjork Studio, who provided all our upholstery. The settee, in bold animal print (Amur from the Menagerie Collection by Thibaut) is a highlight in the space and was the most talked about piece opening night – by far.

The hand finished mirror situated above the fireplace cannot go unnoticed. It’s by artist Stacy Milburn, and added needed contemporary element, which offers an exciting energy.

To set the table, we paired pieces from the new Jardins Extraordinaire collection by Gien with the classic handmade Chartreuse dinner plate by R Wood Studios. The exciting and fresh “Pebble in Blush” napkin, hand printed in India, by Collier Rose Ink, completes a memorable place setting.

Recently, we acquired six vintage pieces of glass from an old Midwest factory that still had the papers attached. Framed in these stunning steel frames, they make for an interesting, contemporary addition to the space, yet share a storied past. We love using pieces with a bit of history in our designs!

This glimpse of our showhouse tabletop is one of our favorite moments. We dubbed this little guy “Otis,” after Otis Redding, who was from Macon. He is by Avala International. In the background is the beautiful oyster vase, by Vine Garden Market, and a crystal votive from Harmonious Living by Tish Mills.

We hope you have enjoyed this little tour of our showhouse dining room! If you’d like to learn more about any of the products used, please plan a visit to our showroom or reach out via e-mail or phone.

We urge you to plan a trip to Macon to visit the showroom – the house, as well as all related Design, Wine & Dine events are absolutely worth the short drive! Please reach out to us for restaurant recommendations and be prepared to be inspired by this historic city. Visit the Macon, GA website for other fun excursions to enjoy while there. But, keep in mind, the showhouse will only be open through the 25th – you can see more details here.

Thanks again for joining us on this tour – please let us know your thoughts!

All photos in this post are courtesy of Marc Mauldin Photography except the photo of the Porter House from Historic Macon Foundation

Once again, we’re proud to have an opportunity to participate in the Design, Wine & Dine, supporting historic Macon, Georgia! In addition to the many exciting experiences taking place June 15-25, a feature will be the designer showhouse; in which, a dining room by McKenzie Design will be a highlight!

This year’s home is truly special – it’s the Porter House on Wesleyan College’s campus. Historic Macon worked with Wesleyan College to move the Porter House from its original location in South Macon when it was donated to the college in 2013. The house has elements of the Tudor Revival and Chateauesque styles. Wesleyan has retained many of the house’s features, including the original ceramic tile roof, wooden floors, built-in cabinets, casement windows, and intricate wormy chestnut woodwork.

The Porter House was built in 1928 for James Hyde Porter and his family as a summer retreat. The house was designed by architects W. Elliot Dunwody and William F. Oliphant. The Porter family donated the house to Wesleyan College, the first women’s college in the United States, in 2013. After moving the structure from its original location in South Macon to its campus, Wesleyan College completed an extensive restoration of the house with help from Dunwody Beeland Architects.

Now Steve, alongside a slew of talented, local designers, will revitalize the interior of this fantastic home, thanks to some high design. Steve’s space, partially seen in the above image, is a fantastic, blank palette of a dining space, which will be transformed into something spectacular!

Here’s a glimpse of what’s to come in the Porter House dining room – a quick, behind-the-scenes shot taken during install.  

And a little sneak peek of the tablescape being designed for the showhouse… Just dreamy!

Check back soon to see the big reveal, and be sure to plan a visit to Macon soon to enjoy all their Design, Wine & Dine events have to offer!

Living a “green” lifestyle doesn’t have to be obvious and in-your-face… You can enjoy a more Earth-friendly lifestyle in a very stylish way – take it from us! Here are a couple quick tips and products we think are very stylish, and that also happen to be Earth friendly:

Correspond in Green

We’re not talking green ink, but rather use eco-friendly paper products, such as this collection we’re currently offering in the steve mckenzie’s showroom that’s made in Nepal from sustainable materials. It’s a beautiful and stylish as it is “green!”

Stay True to Textiles

A selection of some of the fabric napkins available at the steve mckenzie’s showroom.

We’ve shared this tip before, and we’ll surely share it again, as it’s one of our favorite tips, but use fabric napkins in place of paper!! This creates less waste and offers a more stylish place setting (no matter if it’s the dining room table, or cuddled next to a loved one on the sofa).

Neutral cloth napkin selection at steve mckenzie’s.

Make your use of cloth napkins even more eco-friendly by opting not to wash after every use – typically adults, and even older children, won’t soil their napkin after every use. Save on the water and energy used to clean the cloths by washing only when necessary. After each meal, ask family members to simply leave their cloth napkins in their seat, that way, when setting the table for the next meal, they’ll use “their” same napkin again.

Colorful cloth napkins at steve mckenzie’s.

When your cloth napkins have become soiled, toss them in the wash with your other laundry, so you don’t devote an entire load (and the resources) to only cleansing cloth napkins. Use eco-friendly detergent, wash in cold water, and when the weather’s nice, line dry. Nothing’s better than linens dried in the sun on a warm day!

Are you inspired to become more “green” on this Earth Day?! We sure hope so! We hope you all enjoy a lovely Earth Day, today and everyday!!

Thank you to Kevin O’Gara of Thou Swell for hosting a fantastic giveaway on his blog, where on reader will win a $200 gift card to steve mckenzie’s!!

(WISHBONE, GOLD PILLOW, BOWL, PLATE, GOBLET, CANDELABRA, JAR, CLOCK, PILLOW,MIRROR, VASE, WIRE BOWL)

Local folks can visit our showroom to pick out what to spend their gift card on, or the winner can elect to spend their winnings on anything in our online shop. And there’s so much fun stuff to choose from right now!

So, hop on over to Thou Swell and enter for a chance to win! We can’t wait to learn who the lucky recipient of the $200 gift card is…

And thank you to Kevin and Thou Swell for hosting the giveaway – we appreciate your support!

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 group of retailers who are also designers, or vice versa. We were simply blown away by everyone’s creativity!

Steve took this opportunity to add a little glam into his designs and we couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcome! In addition, just about everything was sourced from within AmericasMart, and the items he didn’t find there are all available through steve mckenzie’s.

The vignette Steve designed for McKenzie Design was centered around a banquette table and chair arrangement, with the focal point being that amazing hammered metal pedestal table from Bliss Studio.

As you’ve probably deduced by now, tablescapes are a specialty of ours here at steve mckenzie’s and Steve’s tabletop design for his vignette certainly portrayed his appreciation for fine wares. Here’s a rundown of Steve’s sources for his tablescape:

The bar cart, found via Golden Oldies Antiques, was actually an old Viennese pastry cart, which was repurposed, and it acted as the perfect end cap for the banquet – sourced through Lee Industries. The bottom of the bar cart featured a glass cabinet, which was filled with antique brass camel bells. The shield back chairs were found at Aidan Gray, and the nailhead trim on the chairs worked beautifully with the detailing on the banquette seating!

The console table space was perhaps our favorite moment within the vignette. That table, also sourced through Bliss Studio, is a true work of art, and the bejeweled Buddha perched atop it is as well. After all, it was crafted by THE Eric Cortina. And the floral on the console is by Diane James.

The lighting above the table and the sconces above the console are all from Currey & Co., each of those pieces added some needed modernity. The vertical artwork was sourced from Wendover Art Group and the horizontal piece is from Art & Frame Source.

You may recognize the wall covering, as it’s based off of Steve’s art and textile design, was transferred to grass cloth and transformed in to wallpaper. It is so exciting to see the loop art used in this way!

The banquette pillows offered their own touch of glitz and glam and were found via D.V. Kap.

And that etagere, which added the perfect amount of style and storage was found via Gabby, as were all of those stunning accessories used to style it.

The rug also deserves a mention all its own… The luxuriously soft and beautiful floor covering Jaipur Living, and it was a showstopper!

We also have to share a little shout out to all of the other amazing retailer/designers who designed some brilliant spaces for the “Retail Meets Design” vignettes:

– Kristin Alber of FOUND

– Nina Nash and Jared Hughes of Matthews Furniture + Design

– Susan Victor and John Ishmael of Natina Home & Design

– Rozanne Jackson of The Iron Gate

– Ann Huff, Meg Harrington and Sam Jones of Huff Harrington Home

– Paige Schnell, Beth Nash and Anna Kay Porch of Tracery Interiors

In addition to designing the exhibition vignette, Steve was also invited to speak on a panel about the retail and design business and how to bridge the gap between them, as well as promoting the dual businesses. Kristin Alber of FOUND, moderated the panel and was such a delight to get to know during AmericasMart!

While AmericasMart can be a crazy time, and this year was no exception, it’s always a phenomenal source of inspiration and  a wonderful time to meet and greet with all of our industry friends. And we’re so appreciative of all the praise the vignette exhibit has been garnering on social media – just check out #retailmeetsdesign to get an idea of all the excitement!

Here’s to AmericasMart 2017!!

Steve, with panel participants, Karl Champley, Elle H-Millard and Alberto Villalobos. You may recall from a recent post, Steve was invited to moderate a panel on “Innovation in Kitchen Design” at What’s New, What’s Next (WNWN) in New York City. The panel was a success and the entire event truly delightful!

As an interior designer, staying abreast of the latest in design trends is paramount and events like WNWN make that possible. And fun to boot! By moderating this panel, Steve was able to learn even more about the newest trends in kitchen technology and looks forward to incorporating these trends into future client projects!

A highlight of this year’s WNWN for both Steve and Jill was the Grange suite, where the brand’s latest designs, finishes and inspirations abounded. As you probably know, Grange is a favorite line of ours, and is often times one of the first things guests to the steve mckenzie’s showroom take note of. The way Grange combines textures, finishes and styles – in addition to all of their customization options is seriously awe-inspiring. And the functionality is abundant.

Grange’s Rive Gauche Wardrobe Grange’s Rive Gauche Occasional Table

Having NYC as a backdrop to WNWN is absolutely exciting, but some of our most memorable moments was visiting with some of our Atlanta design friends – Barbara Westbrook and Beth Lacefield in particular – while there!

Steve’s art in the Grange showroom A visit to Chelsea Frames/Gallerie Protege (the locale of Steve’s 2012 NYC art show) reminded us of the importance of not only art in a space, but beautiful, quality custom framed art in a space. It’s these details which elevate a space from fine to fabulous!

As always, our time in NYC always seems to move past with great speed. But, this time, Steve and Jill were able to take a few days to enjoy much art and inspiration both within and outside the NYC limits… Which we’ll share in Part 2 of this post :-))

A unique perspective of the Empire State Building… street level, aglow at night. For now, we’ll end thanking all of those who made our time at WNWN truly memorable – especially  the Grange and Viking teams who invited Steve to moderate the panel. This was an event that will not be soon forgotten!

And please keep an eye out for Part 2, which will highlight some unforgettable art and sweet family time for the McKenzie’s…

If you’ll be in The Big Apple next week, make plans to attend What’s NEW, What’s NEXT, and see Steve as moderator for the “Innovation in Kitchen Design” panel!

Info on the panel from WNWN:

Join GRANGE and Viking Range, for a panel discussion on innovation in kitchen design including top industry names and NKBA Insiders: Karl Champley, Alberto Villalobos and Elle H-Millard with moderator Steve McKenzie. Bites will be provided by Michelin-Star rated Executive Chef Abram Bissell of The Modern in Grange’s contemporary test kitchen.

Such a great lineup for the panel and the full lineup for the day is even more impressive! Click here to check out all the details for What’s NEW, What’s NEXT 2017 and let us know if you plan to attend!!

Here are the details of Steve’s panel… Date: Thursday, September 14th Showroom: Grange Furniture and Viking Range, Suite 201

We have been long-time appreciators of pretty much anything and everything Jonathan Adler since our time living in Colorado, over 12 years ago. Throughout the years, we’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy Jonathan Adler rugs, pillows, and of course, his signature pottery in our home.

That’s why it felt so appropriate to begin our “Collectibles” series here on the blog for steve mckenzie’s with one of our very favorite collections, our assortment of Jonathan Adler pottery.

Our love of his whimsical pieces stems from our love of Danish design. Adler’s smooth and stylized pieces are reminiscent of the iconic Dala Horse, indicative of that Danish design – and Scandinavian design in general – we’re so very fond of.

Here are some images of our prized Jonathan Adler pottery collection throughout our home…

We typically group pieces with similar finishes together for maximum impact in our space. We just love how the funky shapes of the Adler pottery play off one another to create a uniquely mod mood.

Although, we believe the Adler pottery we so covet is truly timeless.

One of our favorite collections within the full line of his pottery is the menagerie collection of modern animal sculptures. This bull, by Jonathan Adler sits perched on the corner of the desk in our home office/library, and offers a playful touch. The creamy white ceramic finish works in almost any room, and could complement any style.

This Jonathan Adler horse lamp is our son Carter’s prized possession. Although he’s off at college, it remains in our home until he chooses to move it to his “real” house, post college. We’ll soak in every ounce of it’s uniquely molded exterior until that time!

As you can see, our Adler pottery pieces are scattered throughout our home, so we may enjoy them in different scenarios, and honestly, just so we can enjoy them more often!

Do you have a favorite collection? Or, are you also a fan of Jonathan Adler pottery? If so, what are your favorite pieces?

Spring brings travel, special events and celebrations like spring break, Mother’s Day, bridal showers, and graduations to name a few. Being ever the thoughtful Southerner, you know not to show up empty-handed!

This past week at Americas Mart, Steve showed a group of dedicated retail buyers several new ways to put together “The Ultimate Hostess Gift”, including a Holiday Jingle cocktail!

Holiday Jingle Crush Cocktail

As a bonus, our fellow Butler University classmate and Delta Gamma sorority sister, Jill Miner, joined us.  Be sure to check out her award-winning bookstore in picturesque Gaylord, Michigan, Saturn Booksellers.

Back to the hostess gift!  Let’s deconstruct it and learn some tips.

Ingredients for a food lovers gift

Steve says to think about your host.  Do they have any hobbies?  This gracious host has discovered cooking and frequently entertains friends and family.

Next, let’s find an unusual container instead of the standard gift bag.  We love this vivid blue melamine (unbreakable!) salad bowl.  Then we filled it with delicious pesto, gourmet salt and a pizza kit from Atlanta-based Bella Cucina.  Tuck in a matching blue tea towel for some extra love.  Now, let’s look at it all put together.

Food Lovers Basket

Twirl some cellophane around it and tie it with a bow.  Now you’re ready to say Thank You and enjoy your time together.  Shop the look here.

Tie it with a bow!

We’re going to share these ideas throughout the spring, so stay tuned for more wonderful ideas to wow your host.  Of course, if you’re pressed for time, our team at steve mckenzie’s is ready to prepare your hostess gifts for you.

Missed this seminar?  Keep track of our whereabouts, classes and events by following our  Facebook page and Instagram.

Serene midtown neighborhood with the High Museum of Art across Peachtree

The late Alexander Girard has been an inspiration to Steve since first seeing his iconic mid-century designs. When you think of mid-century design, chances are you envision a Girard design, whether you know it or not.

As a multi-platform designer, Girard is especially meaningful to Steve, as he continues to expand his own design platforms, from painting to textile and interior design… With style icons such as Alexander Girard, who knows what could come next for our own Steve McKenzie?!?

Alexander Girard (1907-1993)

Here’s a bit more about Alexander Girard:

Alexander Girard was widely known for his textile design which introduced vibrant colors and playful patterns to mid century modern design.  Girard was born in New York City to an American mother and an Italian father, but raised in Florence, Italy. Girard studied architecture in Europe. He returned to the United States in 1932, and started a career as a designer. His career took off after designing “For Modern Living” exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1949. Three years later, he was offered a position as the head of the textile division at Herman Miller, Inc.

At Herman Miller, Girard successfully introduced a new concept in textile design with his vibrant color palette and playful patterns inspired by traditional folk art he cherished. In early 1950s, fabrics were merely functional, but they tended to be dull and plain.

His textile designs complemented the furniture designs of his fellow mid century modern designers, Charles Eames and George Nelson. Girard’s work at Herman Miller continued until 1975, designing hundreds of fabrics as a result. He also developed a seating collection for the company between 1967 and 1968. Originals from this collection are rare and highly desirable among many collectors today.

Apart from Herman Miller, Girard designed three restaurants in 1960’s: the La Fonda del Sol restaurant, in New York City; the L’Etoile Restaurant, also in New York City; and the Compound Restaurant, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He also contributed in a design project of Braniff Airlines in mid 1960’s, totally redesigning everything from the condiment packets to the planes themselves.

During 1960’s, Girard and his wife Susan moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico where he founded the Girard Foundation to manage more than 100,000 pieces of his folk art collection. This enormous collection was donated to the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe in 1978 and recognized as the world’s largest folk art collection today.

An iconic Knoll table by Alexander Girard

In addition to his work with Herman Miller, Girard also worked on the Saint Louis Arch with Eero Saarinen, designed furniture for Knoll, designed the Irwin Miller, Cummins Engine offices in Columbus, IN (Jill’s family’s hometown), and worked with Eero Saarinen and Dan Kiley to design the Irwin Miller Home, one of the greatest pieces of iconic modernist aesthetic. Irwin Miller, Cummins Engine offices Recently, Alexander Girard designs are back on the current design scene, thanks to a new Girard inspired collection now available through Paperless Post. They’ve taken some of Girard’s most memorable designs and transformed them into digital stationary – something we think the designer would’ve gotten a real kick out of! An assortment of Girard inspired designs for Paperless Post We’re thinking this fabulous new collection may be just the encouragement Steve needs to explore the stationary he has always wanted to create :-)) How about you – are you an Alexander Girard fan??

Fact, beautiful, hand-embroidered linens never go out of style. Another little fact for you, handmade linens make an ideal gift, any time any place. Always. Our friends at Hibiscus Linens take the art form that is handcrafted linens to another level. The time they put into creating each luxurious linen is obvious. Their fine, artisan linens are derived from centuries-old techniques. These pieces are absolutely heirlooms for tomorrow, and their designs are timeless and truly unique.

Mariana Barran

Our friend, and Hibiscus Linens’ founder, Mariana Barran’s work combines a modern aesthetic, which she combines with traditional textile and needlework techniques. As an artist, Mariana is passionate about preserving old world stitching methods, and we so appreciate the passion and time she puts into her work. Her love of linens is apparent, and she’s an absolute gem of a person to boot! We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce you to Mariana and share a bit about Hibiscus Linens with you in our latest “Who you NEED to Meet” blog feature.

sm’s: Can you please share a bit about your background/how Hibiscus Linens began and how you gained the courage to break out on your own?

Growing up there were always guests in my house—it seemed like “Throwing Parties” was my parents middle name. At each gathering, hibiscus tea was always present. Serving this special tea was something different that made everyone that came into our home feel warm and welcome.

Hibiscus Linens is as special as the glass of hibiscus tea we gave to our guests. Every piece of our linens is made by hand and combined with delicate traditional techniques to create beautiful linens for your home and your own guests.

When I was eight, I began learning needlework techniques at school and through the women in my family. I loved it! It was a creative outlet that allowed me to see a full process from start to finish, from creating an idea to see it executed. My mom always encouraged me to be a problem solver. If you can’t find what you want, make it! She used this idea for everything, from party planning and recipe making to bedding and personal clothing.  She was crafty and resourceful and thank god it was passed down on my DNA.

sm’s: What inspires you/your work?

Hibiscus Linens was born for the passion of entertaining and gatherings with a finely made table setting. Our linens are vintage inspired new pieces for your home, not your grandmother’s old linens—though she would be proud of their quality.

The techniques we use are almost nonexistent on today’s market due to the effort and time it takes to produce. All of our products are made in small batches to ensure the quality and the unique style of each. We pride ourselves on the craft of our linens which provide a perfect balance between detailed elegance and modern daily accents.

Currently, I find myself immersed in old textile books, looking, learning, exploring the possibilities of techniques left behind in history and finding ways to bring them back. Studying each stitch is my inspiration.

sm’s: What is your vision, not only for Hibiscus Linens, but also your individual creations?

My vision is to make Hibiscus Linens the needlework and textile design center that we all need. I believe that people are moving back to have timeless pieces that will last for generations to come and we can provide them with the highest level of craftsmanship.

The company has grown so much – it’s not just my work in Houston that we are offering, but a network of artisans who have unique talents and need an outlet for their art. For example, my cousin, Jimena, just graduated from Textile School and she will be the head of our handwoven department, we already have an everyday hand woven cotton napkins collection and we are working on having a full pillow collection by this summer.

sm’s: Do you have any “mainstays” in your work – is there something you’re always drawn to? 

Whitework! White fabric with White thread is my all time favorite, it looks elegant, modern and its so forgiving! If you have a white on white tablecloth and someone spills wine during a dinner party you can always take the spot out! From my point of view is the best combination! It’s a basic that you need to impress your guests.

sm’s: What are the differences in your collections – i.e. how do you create such unique designs that remain a part of one, cohesive line?

Most of it is listening to people. The techniques we use are always the same, crochet, hemstitching, embroidery but everyone’s story is different that is what makes our possibilities limitless. It doesn’t matter if we are planning a handkerchief for your daughters wedding or a bedroom for a new baby; I always spend time with our clients to understand what adds value to them, what they want and what they will cherish for years to come. I also find inspiration in my travels between my house in Houston and my Hacienda in San Miguel de Allende… sometimes a perfect flower on a Saturday morning is all it takes to create a new cocktail napkin design.

sm’s: What do people need to consider when looking to purchase a Hibiscus Linens creation? 

They need to consider what makes them happy, what will add shine to your everyday life. These linens are not to be kept in a box for the “special occasions” they are supposed to elevate everyday living.

sm’s: What’s on the horizon for you/Hibiscus Linens? 

We need to keep spreading the word of old world stitching techniques and we are working on opening our studio in Houston later this year, so we will be able to host an ongoing curriculum of needlework classes and offer an elevated textile design center.

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

As an artist I like to read, and explore other creative outlets like Baking or Calligraphy.

sm’s: Anything else you our readers would enjoy learning from you?

I am coming to the steve mckenzie’s showroom on March 16th and 17th to teach two days of intensive workshops, focusing on Antique French Monograms and Modern Monograms. I am looking forward to it!

Yes – if you’d like to learn more about Mariana’s time at steve mckenzie’s, please give us a call or email us. We’re so looking forward to learning even more about this art form and sharing it with all of our friends and clients here in Atlanta! And please stop into the showroom soon to take a look at these stunning, bespoke linens for yourself… We think you’ll fall in love.

We are head over heels with just about anything from our new friends, Dot and Army. And – bonus – they’re amazin, Earth-friendly wares are made in Brunswick, Georgia! With anything from classic napkins, to bowl covers, reusable sandwich bags and so, so much more, we think you’ll be falling for them too!

Think about how many paper towels, plastic baggies and cling wrap scraps make their way into your garbage every week… Now, multiply that by the weeks in a year, how many of your neighbors use these products the same way, etc. You get the picture; it’s a lot.

Thanks to Dot and Army (we met at The Southern C), now we can combat some of that garbage and put their beautiful, handmade textiles to use all around our homes! Saving the earth on “unpaper towel” at a time.

Dot and Army’s “unpaper towels”

Their unpaper towels – sold by the dozen – are a brilliant replacement to traditional paper towels. Once soiled, pop them in the wash and they’re ready to re-use in no time!

Reusable snack baggies – yes, please!

And how about a solution to all those pesky plastic baggies we’re always tossing in the trash? Dot and Army offers a fantastic solution to these with their denim reusable snack bags. Super stylish for you or your little ones! Simply shake out and reuse or launder for especially dirty bags.

Dish scrubbers that are beautiful AND functional!

Another favorite product by Dot and Army are their reusable dish scrubbers. Forget those nasty sponges, which can harbor all sorts of unsavory germs. When necessary, these scrubbers are machine washable. And so durable – they’re made by hand!

Brilliant, reusable bowl covers.

Never hassle with cling wrap again, thanks to Dot and Army’s bowl covers. Ideal for baking bread or bringing a beautiful dish of something to a pot luck. And, of course, they’re reusable too – and make a wonderful gift for the chef in your life!

Beautiful napkins, for everyday use.

We invite you to visit the steve mckenzie’s showroom and check out all of Dot and Army’s fantastic products and learn how they may aide in streamlining your life and help to make it more eco-friendly.

SaveSave

Each year we celebrate Earth Day and use this day to recognize all we can do to protect our Earth and its natural resources. This day may also bring about overwhelming thoughts of how much there is to be done to ensure we leave our Earth a better place for future generations.

Although it’s easy to get lost in the big picture, there are small things you and your family can begin doing today to make a more positive impact on the Earth. As one person, you may not be able to save the rain forests, but you can work to share small changes with those around you and together, you can make this Earth Day count!

A few of our favorite, simple, “green” practices are:

Use Cloth Napkins

A selection of some of the fabric napkins available at the steve mckenzie’s showroom.

We’ve talked about the benefits of cloth napkins before, but could always use a refresher! Not only are cloth napkins a more eco-friendly option, versus paper napkins, they’re also beautiful.

Neutral cloth napkin selection at steve mckenzie’s.

Many times, you won’t need to wash your cloth napkins after every use – each family member leaves their napkin at their place at the table – which increases the eco-friendliness of these napkins. When you’re ready to launder them, don’t devote an entire load to napkins, simply toss them in with another laundry load, and line dry, if it’s a nice day out.

Colorful cloth napkins at steve mckenzie’s.

Consider Natural Solutions Using Lemons

Recently, Limoneira shared some excellent tips, reminding us of all the wonderful uses for lemons around the house. Some of those uses include…

Cleaning Copper with Lemons

Cleaning copper – make a paste with lemon juice and salt. Rub copper using a rough cloth, rinse and dry to see shine.

Insect repellent for stored clothes – take a lemon and use a knife or nail to make small holes all over. Push cloves in those piercings. Hang the lemon outside in the sun to dry. It may take 4 days or a week to dry, depending on the weather conditions. When it is completely dried, it becomes a natural insect repellent. It works the best when kept in the wardrobes, cupboards, and suitcases containing clothing. This does not only repels the insects but also takes away the stale odor from the stored clothing.

All purpose cleaner – add an equal amount of lemon juice and water to a spray bottle is an effective kitchen and bathroom cleanser.

So many of these natural lemon solutions take the place of chemical cleansers and other not-so-Earth-friendly options. If you could incorporate only one or two of these ideas into your lifestyle, you’ll be well on your way to becoming more “green!”

These ideas can help you live every day as if it were Earth Day, and will hopefully inspire those around you to do all they can do become more eco-friendly. Happy Earth Day to all!

In the McKenzie household, we’re big into cloth napkins, not only do they make for a much prettier table, when compared to their paper companions, they’re certainly more eco-friendly! We utilize cloth napkins daily, even at a simple meal for just the two of us. So, it goes without saying that cloth napkins were an imperative part of our linen offering when initially curating our collection for steve mckenzie’s…

The Essential Napkin, in Green, from steve mckenzie’s.

Cloth Napkin Tips from Jill McKenzie:

• To increase the eco-friendliness of the cloth napkin, don’t wash after every use. Think about it – typically adults, and even older children, won’t soil their napkin after every use. Save on the water and energy used to clean the cloths by washing only when necessary. After each meal, ask family members to simply leave their cloth napkins in their seat, that way, when setting the table for the next meal, they’ll use “their” same napkin again.
• When your cloth napkins have become soiled, toss them in the wash with your other laundry, so you don’t devote an entire load (and the resources) to only cleansing cloth napkins. Use eco-friendly detergent, wash in cold water, and when the weather’s nice, line dry. Nothing’s better than linens dried in the sun on a warm day!

An assortment of Red Essential Napkins, perfect for Valentine’s Day!

For most meals at home, and for our tablescapes here at steve mckenzie’s, we don’t utilize “fancy” napkin folds… Just a simple tri-fold, or rolled/stuffed napkin ring works well for our needs!

Many times, it’s the napkin rings that make the tablscape – the beaded napkin ring pictured above add sparkle to the tablesetting; something we see as an essential element.

Get creative with your cloth napkin/ring pairings, and consider making your own cloth napkins if you can’t find just the “right” ones for your need. Many of our textiles would make for lovely custom cloth napkins!

Hopefully we’ve inspired you to use cloth napkins at all of your meals, even at your most casual suppers. You’ll be doing something good for the environment and your decor. Happy Tablescape Thursday!

The Homestead’s old barn made a charming rustic back drop. Bulls eye flannel quilt made a perfect table cloth for appetizers and cocktails. Steve used his favorite Blenko pitcher as a vase for the maple leaves and hydrangeas.