fabric design Archives – McKenzie Interior Design

Our collection of over 40 vintage turkeys sets the mood for November

So you did it, you invited some friends or work pals over to your place for some nibbles, beverages, and relaxed conversation. Bravo! Now, read on for some easy entertaining tips from Steve and Jill McKenzie and the team at Mottahedeh China. Your goal? A memorable and care-free evening for all.

Photo credit: Gustav Wilde

Let’s start with a gorgeous Atlanta sunset. Then add an array of colorful Mottahedeh china, and really use it for food, flowers, holding cutlery, and more. Let’s use the good stuff!

Use your low dishes for nuts and olives Tobacco Leaf on the bar Pop a grocery store orchid in a cachepot for instant room refresh.

Add some height and soothing candlelight on the buffet table. Steve swears by a variety of candle heights for visual interest and light.

Steve lighting candles just before the guests arrive

Keep the food simple – finger foods and here’s a tip, many larger groceries, like Whole Foods offer catering menus. Don’t forget another of our favorite’s, Aldi’s, for cheeses and charcuterie meats, nuts, and sweets.

Add some dear friends like Lauren Finney of Modern Luxury magazine and designer, Clary Bosbyshell, and mix! Steve McKenzie and Lance Jackson of Parker Kennedy Living

That’s it, easy and simple entertaining with friends, flowers, and simple food. Whether it’s celebrating the end of the week or something more like a baby shower, it’s about connecting with friends and loved ones.

Now, who will you invite over this weekend?

Our very own Steve McKenzie is featured in the March 2014 issue of House Beautiful! And for what else but his throw pillows… Talk about some pillow talk!

This month, the magazine asked a collection of designers, including Steve, about their most beloved pillow.

Specifically, Steve and his favorite throw pillow, covered in his own Loop textile design in the Indigo colorway, are a highlight in House Beautiful’s “Send us a Picture” section. Here’s what Steve had to share during his “Pillow Talk” interview with House Beautiful’s Julia Lewis:

“The pattern is based on one of my painting studies. The bold print allows you to see the nuances of the loose circular brushstrokes in the original study. It’s a work of art unto itself that creates energy and interest in a room.”           – Steve McKenzie

Steve working in his home-based art studio.

Although Steve draws much inspiration from his art, his textile designs aren’t taken exactly from his paintings. Elements of the paintings, such as those brushstrokes mentioned in the quote above, are highlighted in his textile designs, so they become their own, individual designs.

For instance, Steve’s Requiem art collection can be seen as one of the inspirations behind his Pinstripe textile design…

“La Crimosa,” from the Requiem collection, by Steve McKenzie Pinstripe fabric design, in Paprika, by Steve Mckenzie

To view the full collection of textiles by Steve Mckenzie, click here or visit the steve mckenzie’s showroom on Atlanta’s West Side.

A big thank you to House Beautiful for including us in your March issue; and with such fabulous company, including our friend Kristen Nye from Cloth and Kind; we loved being a part of “Pillow Talk!”