interior design Archives | Page 2 of 2 |

December 15, 2018

As many of you know, what’s trending in fashion oftentimes predicts what will be hot in interior design… Take that fact, and Jill’s love for fine quality, unique clothing, and you have an idea where steve mckenzie’s appreciation for high end fashion comes from.

Recently, we hosted a pop up shop for Hampden Clothing, undeniably one of the country’s top boutiques, whose brick-and-mortar location is located on Charleston’s historic King Street. Hampden Clothing owner, Stacy Smallwood, was along for the pop up, and we took the opportunity to pick her brain for all of you!

Spoiler alert – she’s fabulous and has a brilliant mind for fashion and business. We think she’s in the right line of work. 😉 Scroll down and be captivated by Stacy and all she has to share:

Stacy Smallwood

Which words best describe your aesthetic/style?

Evolving, Experimental, Simple, Confident

Please share a little about your favorite ensemble with us…

I’m not really attached to outfits – it really depends on my mood. I’m so busy, it’s hard to remember! I travel so much, so I know my go-to pieces, pack them, and know they work.

Rag & Bone Fleet Blazer, available at Hampdon Clothing

Tip – Stacy’s favorite staple item is a good blazer. It nips in at the waist without being a belt.

What are the sources of your inspiration?

Travel! When traveling, you’re able to see what others are really wearing. In our day to day lives, we see the same people and same looks – this can be conforming.

Hampden Clothing – interior

Who are three people, alive or dead, you would invite to your dream dinner party?

Rene Brown – Obsessed with her right now! Creativity, and vulnerability. We see so much vulnerability in the dressing room; it gets really raw when women look at themselves in the mirror.

Gwyneth Paltrow – Lifestyle and food.

Chelsea Handler – Have fun!

Miuccia Prada

“What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language.” ~ Miuccia Prada, famed Italian fashion designer (Miu,
Miu, Prada)

What are some pieces in your wardrobe you can’t live without?

A good bag and good shoes – finish the look!

Are there any rules you follow when pulling a look together?

It’s all about proportion. If you wear a flowy top, choose a skinny bottom and vice versa.

Don’t limit yourself by age, but be appropriate. Take your cues from your peers and peer media, not your teenagers. If you’re limiting yourself with your wardrobe, where else may you be limiting yourself?!?

What trends are you seeing?

For fall, underlying Bohemian style. Velvet, burgundy. Cold shoulder and off the shoulder continues. 90’s rocker girl – chokers, plaid, monochromatic. Red. Turtlenecks – in the south find a tissue weight short sleeve option to pair under a sleeveless summer dress and bring it into fall!

If stranded on a desert island, what’s the one thing you couldn’t live without?

Iced lattes!

What’s a piece of advice you’d share with someone looking to break into the fashion indistry?

You don’t need a fashion degree – get a business degree! Find a good mentor and polish up your math skills.

THANK YOU to Stacy and Hampden Clothing for gracing our showroom with your pop up shop and for this fun interview – it was such a treat hosting them all here and learning more about Stacy!!

Sidenote – Stacy and Hampden Clothing are part of a select board, which Harper’s Bazaar works with to determine what may be featured in the magazine. Pretty awesome, right?!?

We hope Stacy and her thoughts on fashion have inspired you to reconsider your wardrobe a bit and how it works for you!

Last week Jill had the pleasure of visiting the north Georgia countryside, full of fall color, to tour the This Old House The Cottage at Cloudland Station in Chickamauga, Georgia. Not only is it set in a picturesque valley, this 1,998 square foot house packs a punch with refined colors, textures and design, thanks to the talented designer, and good friend, Yvonne McFadden.

Here are some highlights and notes: Partial to these peacock blue cabinets combined with the Montclair Danby marble countertop.

Versatile seating in the family room, and that smart mahogany coffee table by Holland and Company with clever pull outs…must remember that…

Two inch thick stairs from homegrown wood on the property – conservation and recycling at its best!

Shot in the heart by this stunner! Black penny tile on the walls and white penny tile in the bath, combined with the black tile border, black pearl marble countertop, blue cabinet color and then the arrow motif stencil by Cutting Edge Stencils. Top it all off with a custom mirror, framed by the venerable Brooks & Black Fine Framing.

Outdoor living plays a huge part in this cozy cottage with a 10-foot-deep porch that accesses the family and dining rooms. Yvonne and her team continued the relaxed feeling outside with the colors, textures and wrapped the spaces together with the Franklin Iron Works Hickory Point outdoor light collection by Lamps Plus.

Make plans to visit this dreamy development this fall – pack a picnic to enjoy on the grounds, perhaps around the communal firepit, or the pool or the adult size tree house! Thank you to Vicki Bolick (The Ace of Space) for joining me on this mountain adventure. Happy Fall y’all!

She’s an interior designer with an impeccable sense of style. But, she’s also an unbelievable artist, working with natural mediums in ways we’d never imagine. Tish Mills seems to be able to do it all, and we’re thrilled to have gotten the opportunity to get to know her better over the last year!

Some of Tish’s creations grace our shelves here in the steve mckenzie’s showroom, although they never last long, catching people’s attention as soon as they’re near. Her agate accessories have been fast movers here, and some of our own, personal favorite items carried in-store.

Tish Mills’ custom creations on display at steve mckenzie’s

But, first and foremost, Tish Mills is an unbelievable designer in her own right and creates some stunning, and totally awe-inspiring spaces. We’re absolutely honored Tish agreed to let us feature her as a Tastemaker, here on the blog for steve mckenzie’s, and we’re excited to share a bit more about Tish with you today:

Tish Mills

Since forming Harmonious Living in 1999, Tish Mills has become known for creating highly peaceful spaces that are a true reflection of the homeowner’s personality and the way that they live. Tish uses a mix of color and materials from the surroundings to create balanced spaces that are seamless from interior to exterior. Project results have been recognized numerous times within the design industry. Tish Mills has received 13 design excellence awards from the Georgia Chapter of the ASID; one project winning three national ASID awards. Her work has been featured in magazines such as Elle Décor, Traditional Homes, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles and Atlanta Magazine as well as several books on interior design. Tish Mills is a graduate of the University of Georgia and studied Feng Shui at the American Feng Shui Institute. She is an active member of the American Society of Interior Designers.

1. Three words that describe your aesthetic?

No Boundaries, Thoughtful, Organic

2. Would you please share a little about your favorite space/project to date?

It is hard for me to have one favorite project since they are all very different and a reflection of each homeowner, rather than me. Having said that, I’m very proud of the house that was featured in the May issue of Traditional Home Magazine. This was an especially challenging and rewarding project for me because the client pushed me more than a client ever has. She only wanted to see the very newest and most trend-setting design in a very bold color palette. That is very different for an Atlanta project, which tends to be much more neutral. Coupled with this directive, the client also wanted the spaces to feel calm and soothing. It was quite a tall order. The outcome, speaks for itself. It was beyond anything she had hoped for. And, we are now working on a new ground up project for the same family.

I am also just finishing a project for a long time client that is very neutral, yet not safe at all, that I am so incredibly excited to photograph and share. We’ve worked on this project for about four years, including a full year before we brought in an architect or builder. By the time the team was assembled, we had an incredibly clear vision for the project. The client and I recently pulled out the concept sketches we did at the first meeting on this project and were both amazed at how true the end product has stayed to our initial conversation.

3. What’s the source(s) of your inspiration?

Like almost every Designer would say, inspiration comes from everywhere. It is almost a creative person’s curse as we look at the world differently. Travel is always a key source. I was in Marrakech a few years ago and that really shifted my design approach. The level of detail, patterning, and imagination in every corner of that country is breathtaking. The flip side of that is as simple as a weekend at the beach. I could sit every day and watch the colors shift during sunset or the tide wash over the sand. My children tease me that I only like colors associated with an oyster shell or a sunset. Needless to say, they were surprised by the project I mentioned above. Cooking is another source of inspiration as I approach it from a very free space not limited by any recipe. For me, cooking engages all of the senses to a higher level. As I said, inspiration comes from everywhere…

4. Name three people (alive or dead) you’d invite to your dream dinner party…

My Grandmother (Gran Gran), as I miss her every day. She was a cowgirl who lived way before her time. If she were my age right now, watch out world; Oprah because she is a trailblazer and shows no fear; Axel Vervoordt because studying his design approach taught me to never over think, but rather design from the deepest place in my soul.

5. A piece of/type of furniture you couldn’t live without?

I have several pieces I’ve collected over the years that mean a great deal to me, such as a pair of antique doors from Portugal. Until recently, I would have said something like these. But, for Christmas this past year, my now fiancé, painted a piece for me of two horses. The emotion of the painting, the body language between them and the look in both of their eyes, spoke volumes. I’ll love that piece of art, and the love behind it, for the rest of my life.

6. Do you follow a particular set of rules when mixing textures, finishes, etc. – how do they work for you?

I don’t really believe in rules for the most part. I’m a firm believer in following my intuition. If you love it and have an emotional response, buy it. We will find a place in the home for that special item. However, having said that, I do also believe there are some things in a room have to be quiet and set the stage for the more special pieces in the space. Not everything can be the star fighting for attention, or the result will be anything but peaceful. Actually that can be quite frenetic.

7. Trending… What is something you are currently “into” and something you are “over?”

I’m really enjoying working with the influx of concrete tiles. The patterning and color combinations are very inspiring and have been a great launching place for design. In color, I’m really loving strong blues such as navy which can be very crisp.

I’m over safe design. Seeing the spring collections from the manufacturers have been the best in years. The industry, as a whole, is again pushing the boundaries and much stronger and creative products are hitting the market. I’ve been adding resources and new patters/textures like crazy as a result.

8. How does artwork fit into your designs?

Artwork is often the star or jumping off point for spaces for me. It is typically the item in the room that really pushing the color and emotion. I rarely shop for art without the client because they have to have an connection to the artwork in any space since it really helps push the soul of the room.

9. What would be the one thing you would have if you were stranded on a deserted island?

Ok, I admit it… my iPhone. I couldn’t survive without talking to my children. And, on the practical side, I do tend to take pictures of anything I see out in the world that I want to remember. The creative inspiration on an deserted Island could keep me going for a long time.

10. Please share a piece of advice you’d offer to someone looking to break into the interior design industry.

Get to work. Get out and see and do everything you can. I am immediately turned off by people who are not self-starters and are not hungry to learn. If you are breaking into the industry, it is important to understand that design is very hard work with lots of hours.

Hard work and lots of hours indeed, Tish is spot-on with that piece of advice for up and coming designers!

And a BIG thank you to this maven of interior design for allowing us to feature her as a Tastemaker. We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Tish Mills better!

We’re so thrilled to have the opportunity to share a guest blog post by our friend, and magazine editor, Lisa Mowry! Lisa is the genius behind more than 1,000 features for national and local magazines. Needless to say, she knows a bit about what it takes to have a space highlighted in a publication and why some stories just don’t make the cut.

photo by Christina Wedge

Lisa Mowry has been a home and garden writer, editor and stylist for 25 years. She is the homes editor for Atlanta Magazine and Atlanta Magazine’s HOME, plus the regional editor for Better Homes & Gardens, Traditional Home and all their special interest magazines such as Country Home, Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, Décor, Elegant Homes and Country Gardens.

Without further ado, we give you Lisa’s take on 5 Reasons Your Interior Designs May NOT Be Published…

I get excited when I go to my inbox and see a designer’s name with the subject line, “New Project.” –I never know when the most amazing house will appear before me with all sorts of possibilities for one of my magazines. But sometimes the house in front of me may be beautiful—I may even wish I could move right in myself—yet it’s not a fit for the publications I work with. Here are a few reasons why:

1.It’s not unique enough. If a living room looks “showroom perfect,” that may be impressive to neighbors, but magazines need more depth and personal style. Just as in the world of fashion, often the best rooms have one unexpected element, or may include features both expensive and budget-friendly. Always a pleasure to see: original art, layers of visual interest, and good use of color. I see a lot of swanky white kitchens, for instance, (and included in that category are light gray and light beige) because we all love a light-and-bright place to eat and cook, but the magazines need to show ideas beyond white.

Interior designer Chenault James’s house for a Columbus, Georgia client hit a homerun with Traditional Home magazine, thanks to its classic lines with a few important twists: great architectural elements in the form of metal French doors and windows and the ceiling treatment, plus her clever mix of patterns while still maintaining a serene color palette. Professional photography by Emily Followill enhanced the project even more.

2.Your scouting photography doesn’t capture the space well. I depend on designers and architects to send me photos of their projects a lot of the time. Are professional photographs good to send? Yes, they can be helpful, but rarely tell the whole story. Magazine editors need more than one “money shot” of a room; we need to see all angles, vignettes and details, plus exteriors, and outdoor spaces. Good non-professional shots can be sufficient and are almost always needed to supplement professional photos. Don’t use a wide-angle lens and do turn off most lamps in a room so the lighting is more uniform. An artsy detail of a fern on a coffee table may be something you want for a blog post, but editors don’t need that sort of thing.

This master bedroom in a coastal cottage in Watercolor, Florida will be featured in Décor magazine. Rich pops of color and salvaged doors distinguish it from a typical beach-house look…nice work by Tim Adams. High ceilings don’t feel too large, thanks to the wood-plank walls and large-scale furnishings. Photography: Emily Followill

3.Your projects are too something: too big, too small, too low-end, too high-end. Cavernous two-story living rooms often don’t have a charm factor readers are looking for, and on the other end, the blogging world is filled with first homes having similar DIY looks.

Condos can be a harder sell for magazines because there often isn’t as much architectural charm, but interior designer Helen Davis’s own loft has the advantage of brick walls and an arched window, plus her own swanky furnishings: a colorful mix of vintage, repurposed and personal accessories. Atlanta Magazine has covered her place, and it will also appear in BH&G’s Refresh later this summer. Photography: Sarah Dorio

4.There’s not enough to show. I can’t do much with one room, and designers often send me just the living room or dining room. Occasionally a unique room might work for a magazine (We have a regular feature in Atlanta Magazine called “Room Envy,” for instance), and some spaces such as kitchens or porches can warrant a whole feature, but in general, know that your chances to get published are limited with only one area.

Designer Sherry Hart took this scouting photo of a Buckhead project herself, but put the time into styling and getting the lighting right to accent this Zen-like bathroom. The bathroom itself combines textures and materials in a fresh way, and it will be featured in the fall issue of BH&G’s Kitchen & Bath Ideas.

5. Your project is over-exposed. Be careful not to let every blog around publish your best work; editors tend to shy away from homes where those good ideas have already been shown. That brings up some Magazine 101 refreshers: Don’t submit a project to more than one magazine at a time, and don’t always have your work in the same magazine. Once you get a reputation as a regular contributor to one publication, it can hurt your chances with others.

Wow! This is some fantastic – and super interesting info – for both designers and interior design appreciators alike… It’s amazing all that goes into the production of some of these beautiful home features!

A giant thank you to Lisa Mowry for taking the time to author this wonderful guest blog post and for sharing some of her behind-the-scenes tidbits on working with some of our favorite shelter publications!

Artistic dance, cultural symbolism, and unique storytelling. That’s what artist Nick Cave‘s latest performance, Up Right: Atlanta is all about.

About Nick Cave:

Nick Cave is an African-American artist and dancer, famous for his embellished costumes, called Soundsuits, which he often stages in public spectacle. Though influenced by a vibrant palette of African art, armor, found objects, fashion and textile design, the Soundsuits are rooted in social critique. Cave first created a suit in the aftermath of the Rodney King beatings in 1991, envisioning an emotional shield that protects one’s race or gender while still expressing individuality.

Nick Cave

And we’re so lucky to have the opportunity to experience the art of Nick Cave in Atlanta! Our friend and talented designer, Kristen V. Cahill, met Nick Cave at Art Basel Miami in 2012 and has been working ever since to bring his work to our city, through Flux Projects.

Kristen is a member of the board for Flux Projects, and works with other members to bring new art and cultural experiences for us to enjoy right here in our city!

Here’s some info on Nick’s upcoming performances:

Up Right: Atlanta is a “call to arms, head and heart” for Cave initiates—the lead characters of this work. Through the performance, they are prepared mind, body and spirit to face the forces that stand in the way of self-hood, to enter a world over which they have complete control. Initiates become warriors of their own destiny. Cave is working with T. Lang, assistant professor of dance at Spelman College and artistic director of T. Lang Dance.

Photos by James Prinz Photography. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.

And if the ticket reservations and images associated with this performance’s promotion are any indication, it is not to be missed! The performances, starting today and over the next two days at Ponce City Market, are actually already sold out, but, as with many free performances, spaces may become available as reservation holders don’t show up, so consider coming out! In addition, Nick is preparing for future performances at his alma mater, the Cranbrook Academy for Art in Detroit.

Photos by James Prinz Photography. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.

If you’ll be missing out on this performance, Flux Projects is always working to bring innovative and captivating art-centered events to Atlanta, so be sure to subscribe to their mailing list. And mark your calendars for the next Flux Night, a night of art and experimentation, taking place October 5, 2015.

Here’s Flux Project’s mission:

Flux Projects produces exceptional and surprising temporary public art to galvanize Atlanta’s cultural curiosity.

We aspire to produce the most innovative art experiences in the world. We provide contemporary artists with financial, production, and marketing support to create aesthetically and conceptually rich work. These projects engage people in their daily lives, outside of traditional arts venues, and instill a sense of wonder. Our projects last from a few hours to a few months and demand the scale, duration, and visibility required to have a meaningful impact on a broad audience.

We seed Atlanta with creativity to foster cultural curiosity and a spirit of experimentation. We shift perceptions of people inside and outside the city to see the creative energy that is already here and imagine a future where that creativity is central to Atlanta’s official identity. We seek an ecosystem of risk-taking artists and an engaged audience that desires and supports innovative works of public art.

We’re all about that – a BIG thank you to Flux Projects for introducing us to the work of Nick Cave and for all you do for Atlanta!

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