Large but oddly trapezoid shaped island looks like it would be great but…it wasn’t! The flow is pretty good on this side. Opposite the island and there was a dance floor of empty space in-between! Inviting and invigorated kitchen island |photo by Christina Wedge Photography Not only updated but added storage and warming drawer. Love that furniture leg detail! |
photo by Christina Wedge Photography Eating area view of kitchen | photography by Christina Wedge Photography Celebrations still happen!

I may have mentioned that our son and his wife are expecting their first child in June, a little girl. Right away, my daughters and I started planning a ladies-only celebration baby shower for March to celebrate this blessed event. Well, we all know that life came to a screeching, shelter in place halt in early March. The invitations were mailed, personalized cups and napkins and dreamy candles ordered but off course we cancelled it, keeping everyone safe and at home.

As the baby shower date approached, we decided to go ahead and set the table, making it special for the new mama-to-be via photos. For a refresher, here’s a quick party planning breakdown of what we used and why. First Creative Candles Barely Blush votives were the building block for the color scheme and celebration.

Barely Blush votive candles from Creative Candles – hand-dipped, dripless, smokeless, unscented Celebration planning details
Sequins and Lipstick personalized cups and napkins | Creative Candles votive and ball candles |Ikea votive holder | Blabla Kids Josephine the elephant |Wedgwood Edme dishes | Target bed cover as tablecloth

This soft pink and mossy green palette paired beautifully with our Wedgwood Edme dishes. This is pretty pink quilt made a perfect table cloth backdrop for the candle lit setting of sweet nibbles and drinks. Get creative next time you set the table. Is there a vibrant scarf or shawl you can use on the table? Fresh flowers always add to the table too.

So many napkin colors available with Sequins and Lipstick! Virtual celebration with McKenzie Design and family

It’s not the same, we know. But we are making the best of these days at home, finding ways to celebrate the big, and the little, things. Let us know what you are celebrating via email, tag us on Instagram and we’ll see you soon.

All photos by McKenzie Design.

Love spotting Steve’s art in their Instagram feed Zenith II by Steve McKenzie Parallel by Steve McKenzie Entry to Thomasville Antiques Show by Steve McKenzie Exploring downtown on our weekend trip to Thomasville Stately architecture of this magnificent Georgia Belle Jill and Steve McKenzie outside Pebble Hill Plantation Who can resist the taxidermy store? https://www.cowtan.comSteve adding the final floral touches with simple magnolia branches.

Steve and I recently reviewed our calendars, looking ahead to the balance of Q1 and the opportunities in Q2. My eyes lit up at the Influencers of Midlife Conference, marked with colorful stars and underlines. It’s happening March 26 – 29 at the Hotel at Avalon, headed up by my dear friend, interior designer, over 50 fashion maven, Robin LaMonte. Steve wondered aloud and asked me why all the happy symbols (literally, in my journal)?

Grandparents, Steve and Jill enjoying the view at La Fortezza Italy Renew, recharge and replenish!

• Hanging out with like-minded women for a whole weekend! Women who are life-learners, hard workers, active, and eager to share, and know where I’m coming from. My kind of peeps…
• Learning from these women, everything from wellness to fashion tips to business advice. Midlife is a pivotal transitional point in our lives, many of us experience a spiritual and emotional renaissance.
• I see myself through a different lens with these ladies. So much potential!
• Sharing in a spirit of growth, support and kindness to each other and ourselves.

Speakers from all over the US Jill McKenzie with Influencer of Midlife Founder, Robin LaMonte at the Design Influencers Conference

We’re in charge of what we do the rest of our lives. Invest in yourself at the Influencers of Midlife Conference this March!

Click here for ticket information. Hope to see you there~

Gallery wall in our living room as seen in Atlanta magazine HOME. Photo credit: Anthony Masterson Photography Cirque by Steve McKenzie which will be at Spotlight on Art Jill with a favorite painting by Elias Rivera. Photo Credit: CatMax Photography Our collection of over 40 vintage turkeys sets the mood for November Coffee makes the world go round. Big swig of caffeine at The Southern C Summit in Charleston. Pops of orange in the McKenzie kitchen. Photo credit: Anthony Masterson Deliciously rich aroma fills the kitchen as the cold brew steeps. For sure! Photo credit Kalyn Johnson of Effie’s Papers Steve McKenzie designs a soothing bed for Peacock Alley Cozy cocoon from the daily grind Steve created a soothing oasis for a restful sleep. Original art by Steve McKenzie Steve created the outer corner monogram for the Grand Euro shams. Steve and his signature monogram A layered bed with a mix of comfort, calm and sophistication Delightful dahlias American Leather Comfort Sleeper Sofa at Verde Home

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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We’re kicking off our latest blog series, “Wine & Design,” with a fantastic cocktail, that perfectly pairs with our idea of Transitional design, The Blackberry Fence Hopper.

The Blackberry Fence Hopper

We thought Eric Prum of The Mason Shaker, would be THE ideal person to ask about a cocktail that would work well in a Transitional space. Sure enough, he came to us with The Blackberry Fence Hopper.

“It’s a perfect seasonal transition drink – transitioning from one side of the fence to the other,” shares Eric.

As you all may remember, we were lucky enough to attend and host a fantastic group of Design Bloggers at the 2016 West Coast Art & Frame Expo (WCAF)… We’ve shared a bit about all of the unique things you can have custom framed, and now we’d like to offer some top tips on creating a truly fabulous gallery wall.

We’ve been seeing an explosion of beautiful gallery walls for quite some time now, and while many may seem haphazard, there’s definitely a few tricks to making them work. During our time at WCAF, we noted a number of similarities between the gallery wall displays we found most effective, and thought we’d pull our notes together and share them here with you:

image via House & Garden

1. Keep the art in the same tone – With as many pieces featured in the space above, things could have gotten chaotic quickly. This large gallery wall works because the art is all in the same black and white tone. While the sizes vary slightly, they pieces all appear to be pencil drawings in tones of black, white and grey. Keeping the art in the same colorway allows one to appreciate this gallery wall as a whole and as individual pieces. image found via Pinterest
2. Use same sized artworks – By using artworks that are all the same size, you’re able to create a symmetrical grouping, no matter how many pieces are a part of the overall grouping. The gallery wall above features an array of what looks to be Audubon bird art, all of identical size. Although there are may colors in the works of art, the sizing of the pieces laid out in this grid, allows for a visual appealing gallery wall. image found via Setting for Four
3. Feature identical custom frame designs – Your custom framer can get creative with their custom frame designs for your gallery wall, as long as they’re all the same. The above image features a black and white photo gallery wall. But, what’e really special about this space is the unique frame design. Although they stuck to classic black frames and white mats, the custom framer bottom weighted the mats. This provides a truly custom look that offers a stylistic element this otherwise basic design craves. image found via Home DIT
4. Use frame mouldings of similar width and finishes – The above gallery wall features the ever-popular “salon” style grouping, which incorporates different types of art all in different colors, styles, textures, etc. While glancing at each work individually, you may not think it could work in a grouping with all of the other pieces, however, using custom frame mouldings in similar widths and finishes unifies a potentially mismatched grouping. image found via One Kings Lane
5. Know when to vary the frame finishes – Changing up the finishes of the custom frame mouldings in a wall grouping can be tricky. The trick to making this look work is hanging a thoughtful layout. The space pictured above showcases different types of art, framed in many different ways, however it works because they utilized the horizon line hanging technique. Note the bottom edge of the bottom row of artworks all hit the same sight line. This gives reason and rhyme to a totally unique collection of custom framed art.

*Bonus tip – your Interior Designer or custom framer will be happy to do the dirty work, and hang your gallery wall, just as you desire… However, if you’re looking to DIY this step – say, if you’re collecting framed art over time – cut butcher paper to the same size of each pieces you’re hanging, and lay them out on the wall with tape. This will give you the ability to move things around, and visualize the final product without lots of unnecessary holes in the wall.

We hope we’ve inspired you to get a bit more creative with your art arranging and displays, just like our trip to WCAF inspired us to share these tips with you. Gallery walls can provide a space with tons of style and personality, we encourage everyone to find just one place in their home for a gallery wall.

If you need assistance creating a gallery wall for your home, please contact the team at steve mckenzie’s and we’ll be more than happy to create something perfect for you and your space!

Ever heard of Parlore? Chances are, you haven’t yet… And that’s okay, because as Founding Adviser Designers, the team here at steve mckenzie’s is thrilled to have the first opportunity to share a bit about this awesome new project management app, specifically geared toward interior designers!

Now, it won’t launch until this fall, but we’re already chomping at the bit, waiting for this app to take off!

We originally heard about this fantastic project from designer Amy Flurry, who’s also Parlore’s Creative Director. We’ve been such big fans of Amy for so long, we knew that whatever she’s involved in would be awesome. And from what we’ve seen so far, Parlore is no exception.

This app is all about streamlining the interior design process for professionals – bringing designers and manufacturers together in one place that will act as a resource for anything from inspiration to specific items, which designers can access right there from the Parlore marketplace.

As Founding Adviser Designers we’re in fabulous company with some of our favorite interior design industry friends, including…

Lucy Farmer

And…

Dayka Robinson

Take a look at the Parlore site and share your thoughts with us! As a designer, is this app something you’ll try out?!?

Since first opening their doors in September of 2012, the interiors and lifestyle store, steve mckenzie’s has grown to include custom textiles, fine art, and full-scale interior design business, as well as the sole Grange furniture representative for the Southeast, along with O & G Studio, The Old Wood Co., and many boutique fabric lines too. Of course, you’ll find a delightful curation of tabletop, gifts, stationery, jewelry and more. steve mckenzie’s showroom, located at 999 Brady Avenue NW. Atlanta, boasts a fabulous art studio, where store co-owner (along with wife, Jill) and namesake, Steve McKenzie, continues his passion, creating unique fine art. In addition to the art studio, this larger showroom also houses McKenzie Interior Design where the Steve and the team work on residential and commercial spaces. Steve and Jill, along with shop dog, Duke, welcome shoppers and clients alike to their location, with regular business hours Monday-Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm.

What a way to kick off 2022!  The new Southern Home magazine features an exciting McKenzie Design interior design project.  For this Atlanta home, full of treasured antiques, Steve McKenzie revamped their dated look with a soothing, luxurious palette of fabrics, colors and furnishings and more.  We’re thrilled that now you can soak in all the details in the Jan/Feb issue of Southern Home magazine, available on newsstands.  Big thank you to photographer Emily Followill and stylist Eleanor Roper.

Updated kitchen interiors with soothing color palette for this busy family.

Breakfast eating area marries stately Windsor chairs and pedestal table with an updated rug. 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.

Serene midtown neighborhood with the High Museum of Art across Peachtree Magazines are one of my favorite indulgences. Notepads and jotters galore for 2021! This therapeutic bath soak features lavender and mint. parTEA in a box – sip at home kit from Just Add Honey Neighbors, teachers, friends alike will appreciate this tasty gift. Gift giving season is almost here. Genuine brown leather necklace with a cute vintage-style key charm Tantalizing travel mugs by Effie’s Papers Who doesn’t love a new necklace? Simple, classic style, this leather tote is a thoughtful gift.

It’s been quite a summer for everyone. Steve and I did a quick mental inventory over lunch, and we have much to be thankful for. Two new grand babies, family meals, gardening, continued work and quiet fun. Little did we know that our collaboration with Creative Candles would keep our creative juices charged throughout this spring and summer. We thank them for their top quality candles in mesmerizing colors, and kindness.

There is still time to use code MCKENZIE20 to save 20% on your total Creative Candles purchase by Sept. 6th.

Summer Collection works beautifully together

Spring kicked off with a virtual Baby Girl Shower. Keying off this darling Blabla stuffed elephant, Josephine, the Barely Blush pink and Moss Green palette developed sweetly. We shared the fun with our new mom-to-be, family and friends virtually.

Celebrations still happen! Custom cups and napkins by Sequins and Lipstick. Photo credit: Steve McKenzie

Then we really got creative, in our two bedroom condo and outdoor space. A romantic dinner for two on the balcony featuring lush greenery, textures and desert inspired candles.

Candle lit table with green plants. Photo credit: Angie Webb Photography

Festive family dinner was next and you know Steve loves to set a gorgeous table. He’s also a fabulous cook, so it’s a win-win for all.

Brass, creamy Wedgwood Edme dishes, dreamy linens, florals and candle light set the mood.
Photo credit; Angie Webb Photography | Floral arrangement by Steve McKenzie Thankful to be married to someone who makes me laugh. Photo credit: Angie Webb Photography Serve yourself bar set up!
Photo credit: Angie Webb Photography

And our final summer wrap up is a self-serve cocktail bar with these vintage atomic candle holders and round bronze candles, an old-fashioned made with local Fiddler Bourbon by ASW Distillery, Schermer pecans to nosh on and bold buffalo check napkins.

Actually, this is a valuable documentation of this C-19 spring and summer. We’ll remember how and why we did so much work at home. Have you documented your experiences? Tell us what you’ve done to remember this crazy period of time. As always, thank you for traveling along with us. Cheers!

McKenzie Design duo Steve and Jill McKenzie x Schermer Pecans A delicious array of snacks and treats from Schermer PecansAll photo credit: Angie Webb Photography |Floral arrangement by Steve McKenzie The Cocktail Collection – beautifully packaged for a hostess gift Snack set up with pretty buffalo check Dot and Army cocktail napkins Elliott Natural Pecans with a robust sweet flavor in a favorite R Wood Pottery dipping bowl Mixing sculpture, framed art, and plants makes me happy.
Photo credit: Anthony Masterson Photography Lush green plants bring the outdoors in. Farrow & Ball new Duck Green paint String of turtles stays on the small side. Creative Candle lit table for two with greenery and desert vibe baskets from Dear Keaton.

Several folks have asked how we came up with our Summer Collection x Creative Candles. We’re happy to share our thought process and hope you enjoy the tour. It all starts with flowers, of course, playing off the colors we most often use in our home. You know how much Steve loves floral design (I’ll brag, he’s won a national award), hence summer floral is our launching spot for our Summer Collection.

Summer Collection floral by Steve McKenzie using Trader Joe’s flowers. This wallpaper by artist
Walter Knabe offers a timeless background for every season. Variety of heights, shapes, and colors with a consistent brass candle holder adds interest to a sideboard.
Art and floral by Steve McKenzie | all photography by Angie Webb Photographer

Our personal home colors are gray, orange, greens and golds, on the softer side. Creative Candles has such a wide variety of artisan colors, it made it easy to gather a gorgeous grouping for summer. While Paris Gray was our year-round favorite in our suburban home, this Summer Collection branched out to embrace Barely Blush, Terra Cotta, Maize, Moss Green, Wedgwood and Roman Bronze. These luxurious, hand-dipped candles come in a variety of lengths and shapes too.

McKenzie Design Summer Collection works beautifully together

Desert colors, warm summer colors and sunsets also inspired the collection. Look at how the Terra Cotta, Barely Blush and Maize candles play off each other like a summer sunset. Dear Keaton baskets gave this alfresco table some texture and a cute vessel for the kalanchoe flowers. Those extra long tapers added a fun flair to the background monstera plants.

Table for two on our 25th floor balcony McKenzie Design duo Steve and Jill McKenzie x Creative Candles

As lifelong learners, be bold and add some new colors to your table settings, coffee table and patio with candles, pillows and plants. Feel free to contact McKenzie Design with any questions and/or design needs. Be well and have fun!

Welcome to Villa Flora |Photo credit David Christensen Custom corner by Melanie Turner Interiors Look closely for design details like this exquisitely simple trim in Phoebe Howard Decorator’s primary bedroom Ethereal triptych by the late Todd Murphy defines the main hallway Robert Brown Interior Design mixes lines and curves | Photo by David Christensen Brittany Cason Interior Design mixes styles masterfully. Luxurious canopy bedroom by Pickering House Dreamy canopy and bedroom by Jared Hughes Design A quiet oasis by The Design Atelier | Photo by David Christensen

Published on December 21, 2020 by steve mckenzie’s Serene midtown neighborhood with the High Museum of Art across Peachtree Categories Inspiration, Uncategorized•Tags Ally May, atlanta interior design steve mckenzie interior design, interior design atlanta, mckenzie design, mckenzie interior design, mid-century design, midcentury design, One Museum Place

WOW – what an honor!! steve mckenzie’s has been named “2016 Best of Atlanta: Bespoke Home Finds” by Atlanta Magazine!

This is our third “Best Of” award (previously named Best Tabletop and Best Home Accessories) and we can tell you we are just as – if not more – excited for this award as before…

It is an exceptional feeling to be recognized for being the best at something in our industry, which, especially in the Atlanta area, has an unmatched array of amazing home decor, interior design specialty gift shops. At the winner’s reception we were in amazing company with local favorites such Bjork Studio, DIXON RYE, RedefinedHome Boutique and Cover Books. Simply outstanding.

Thank you to Atlanta Magazine for recognizing all we do and for gracing steve mckenzie’s with such a wonderful honor!

Starting this Saturday – for one week only – we’re joining some of our neighbors here in Atlanta’s Westside Design District for a fabulous Sidewalk Sale!!

We’re in great company with Redefined Home Boutique and Verde Home. Shop early for the best selection of items at up to 75% off!

Here’s a bit of location information for Sidewalk Sale shoppers…

Please contact the team here at steve mckenzie’s with any questions. We hope to see you on our sidewalk soon!

Built by Redwood Home Builders Hand-plastered fireplace anchor the living room. Designer Jennifer Balcos

Your eye will delight in the variety of design and artwork and sensibility from the 11 talented designers who have put their unique signature looks in their spaces.

Dining Room by Dana Lynch Design Moody color and texture abound. J. Ansel Design Spa bath retreat designed by Elle & Vreeland Design House

This uniquely walkable development will offer more than 15 miles of pads, housing at a variety of price points, and art center, and an innovative school.  Enjoy a few more shots of this amazing showhouse…

Carriage house getaway full of natural elements, designed by Sherry Hart Jill and Steve at Pinewood Forest Idea House Preview Party

Led by interior design firm Dana Lynch Design, the team of designers have “shown their tail “as Jason Mitchell would say, pulling out all the stops to make the space is extra special.  Kudos to all!

A vintage Christmas postcard is given a new life in a new frame Score! Keep your eyes open for that perfect gift while thrifting. Flea market finds~rulers, classic bust, gold frame~incorporated on Steve’s desk Thrifting score! Updated these chairs with new fabric and finish.

Don’t know where to go?  Besides Scott’s Antique Market, check out this listing of Atlanta’s best flea markets on Yelp.  Another treasure trove are the Goodwill stores.  Keep your eyes open for neighborhood garage sales and estate sales.  *Bonus Tip* Sundays are usually 1/2 price day at estate sales.

Show us what you find on Instagram or Facebook with the tag #stevemckenziesfinds and go have FUN!  As always, thank you in advance for the follows, likes and sharing this blog post with your friends.

Need a creative recharge?  Who doesn’t?!  How about an Italian abstract painting workshop?  Complete with lodging, instruction and all supplies, and no previous experience necessary, just bring your enthusiasm for art, Italy and creativity.

Steve McKenzie is leading an abstract painting workshop at Annette Joseph’s magical La Fortezza in northern Tuscany on Sept. 19 – 24th.  Inspiration is everywhere!

Inspiration abounds at La Fortezza

We were lucky enough to visit Annette earlier in May.  The magic begins as you approach the home, and up on the mountain sits Annette’s fortress.

La Fortezza up on the hill

Annette, styling expert and author, has created beautifully appointed living and working spaces, as well as incredibly comfortable guest quarters for the students that are unparalleled. It feels a little like a visit to a monastery where furnishings and the views take you to a place of contemplation and inspiration.  We’ll do a bit of shopping too, as part of the class, visiting the local market and antique shops.

These cozy places, coupled with a superb cocktail, and nibbles,  encourage congregation and conversation.

We were greeted in typical Annette fashion with a delicious, as well as beautiful, Aperitivo of Negroni and nibbles, taken straight out of her new book Cocktail Italiano. A delicious dinner of pasta and salad followed, just reminding me of what a talented cook Annette is.

I am excited that a cooking lesson in the commercial kitchen will be part of our fall workshop. Can’t wait to cook on her La Canche stove!

Simply Scrumptious Pasta Stylish Kitchen Vignette

I strolled over to the La Fortezza vineyards with Annette and Jill. The beauty of this location really spoke to me and inspired me to paint en plein air.  During the workshop we will take a picnic lunch out here and paint, eat and drink. The colors and vistas are one of the most inspirational places I have visited.

Vineyard View for Plein Air Painting. Photo credit: Jill and Steve McKenzie

On the stroll back to the house, I filled the market basket with wild flowers from the property as well as colorful roses from her rose garden. The most beautiful arrangement quickly came together in a beautiful pitcher from Annette’s copper collection. We will incorporate a quick floral arranging lesson during my workshop as well.

La Fortezza Floral Arrangement

I can’t wait to return and share all the fabulous experiences with my students during the workshop September 19-24, 2018.

Ask Steve why he is holding this boar head!

There are only a few spaces left, register today, and as they say in Italy, Ciao!

Earth Day is fast approaching on April 21st and 22nd.  How will you celebrate this fabulous yet fragile planet which sustains us? Here are three fun ways get outside and celebrate our Earth and Mother Nature.

Happy Earth Day!

First and most obvious, but we often miss this opportunity, enjoy the tonic of fresh air, and companionship with nature! Walk through the woods in search of emerging wildflowers and green moss. Go outside, no matter the weather!

Next eat seasonally and locally with this special offer for Georgia Grown Farm Basket from the ever-popular site Hand-Picked Atlanta.  Delight your family and friends by discovering  new herbs and vegetables to add to your entertaining menus, plus you’ll be helping local farmers with your support.

Georgia Grown Farm Basket

Remember our blog post about favorite kitchen helper, Unpaper towels?  By using these washable workhorse towels from our Georgia pals Dot and Army, there’s another way to help our environment and earth, right in your own home, all year long.  More points for you and Mother Nature!

And finally, another chance to explore outside at this Atlanta treasure, Blue Heron Nature Preserve. All kinds of activities are planned for April 21, see there website for all the details and year round volunteer opportunities.

Blue Heron Nature Preserve in Atlanta

Can’t wait to take shop dog, Duke, for a long walk along the Chattahoochee River soon!  Let us know how you will celebrate Earth Day and use #inspiredtailoredauthentic #earthdayatl

Civil rights has been in the headlines a lot lately.  Whether it’s poverty, justice, education, decent housing, the quest for civil and human rights continues today.

This April 4th commemorates the 50th  anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  How will you discuss this historic event with your kids, family and neighbors?  To assist us and further these discussions, take advantage of a new city treasure, the Center for Civil and Human Rights.  

Mark your calendar as you can live the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with your family at the interactive exhibitions of the Center for Civil and Human Rights on April 4th from 9am through 7:30pm.  Everyone receives free admission on that day too, thanks to the generous support of FedEx.  

Center for Civil and Human Rights

The whole family will enjoy activities built around civil rights such as the Live the Legacy Photo Booth, an art exhibit showcasing SCAD art pieces, theatrical performances of Dr. King’s famous “I’ve Been to the Mountain Top” speech and much more.

Wherever you are, listen for the Global Bell Ringing at 7:01 PM on Wednesday, April 4th.  Join people around the world to commemorate the official moment of the commemoration of Dr. King’s assassination.

Human Rights Activists from all around the world

To keep this momentum alive, read the pledge for a call to peace and action.

No Justice, No peace; Know Justice, Know Peace”

is our rallying cry.

With humility and kindness, we will come together with one another and build a community of peace and goodwill for all humankind.  This is what we need to teach our children in order to make the world a better place.

You can find the Center for Civil and Human Rights at 100 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30313 as part of Atlanta’s beautiful Centennial Park.  All photos are mine as this post is not sponsored in any way.

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But it’s barely April you’re saying! Why should I look at summer camps near me now? Your kids will be home for the summer before you know it, asking what are we doing next?   Do yourself and them a favor, flip to your family summer calendar, and plug your kids in a fun and innovative summer camp, thanks to MODA, Museum of Design Atlanta.

Always forward thinking, MODA believes kids make great designers! They see through fresh eyes, love wacky ideas and are brave enough to think anything in this world is possible. campMODA teaches kids to use design thinking in combination with STEAM (science, technology, engineering,art/design, and math) skills to solve problems and address real-world challenges.  Believe me, these camps fill up quickly.  You’ll learn so much from them too.

campMODA from May 28 – July 23

Do you have budding engineer or computer game coder?  What about your teen activist?  There’s a spot for everyone.  Join one of MODA’s week-long full-day or half-day camps for kids and teens (Pre-K through 11th grade) at one of four locations​: MODA’s Midtown home, Georgia Tech College of Design, First Presbyterian Preschool and The Lovett School in Buckhead/Vinings. Full-day camps (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) are $495 per week, and half-day camps (9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) are $250 per week. MODA members receive

10 percent discount.

Each campMODA ​2018 session features one of these innovative themes: Designing with LEGO Robotics; Adventures in Blockly; Designing and Coding with Minecraft; Craftivism; LEGO Robotics for Filmmakers; Architectural Design with Minecraft; Circuits and Robots; Playground Engineering and Career-Building Design Studio

Field Trips. ​Reserve your spot to ensure placement in the camps of your choice.

Have you looked at a family membership?  Not only can you save on summer camp, you’ll have access to adult lectures, classes and exhibits, perfect for family field trips and date nights.

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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Atlanta’s food scene has a new player, Annie Mae’s Pantry just off Northside Drive and Interstate 75 in Atlanta, and put it at the top of your list.  Guided by her own culinary philosophy, Andra Hall (she also owns CamiCakes, a well-known bakery with 5 Atlanta and 2 Jacksonville, FL locations) presents a menu based on “The Four S”es: “Simple. Soulful. Savory. Sweet.”  Here she pays homage to her late paternal grandmother, Annie Mae Norton and is reflective of Hall’s rural upbringing in Monticello, FL, a lazy town situated 30 miles northeast of Tallahassee.

Andra Hall

Think regional food, like fresh seafood, garden vegetables and “sweets”, as Andra’s family called dessert.

At our table, it’s a toss up between the Yard Bird (chicken), Fishing Pole Finds (top contender here is Annie Mae’s signature Fried Fish and Grits), Brown Bag Sandwiches and Sweets.  These cakes and pies are definitely worth the splurge!

Whether you carry out or enjoy the comfy bistro setting, linger longer as you enjoy these homemade meals with your friends and family.

Annie Mae’s Pantry is located at 1700 Northside Drive, Atlanta, GA, just north of our showroom.  See you soon!

One of our very favorite bloggers and organizational-guru is here for Tastemaker Tuesday and we couldn’t be more excited to share her feature post here with you today!

Carrie Peeples, of Neatsmart is a witty and wonderful person. We become fast friends at last year’s Southern C Summit, and she even worked her organizational magic in the steve mckenzie’s Interior Design workspace., Carrie listens to your organization needs and expertly create memorable combinations we’d never think of pulling together.

Read on to learn about Carrie’s top tax tips from the organizational point of view, saving you time, headache and maybe even some money!  I’ve added some cute home office ideas at the end too.

Continue reading “Top 3 Tax Organization Tips”

Merry Christmas dear friends, family, clients, customers and team members!! We wish you the happiest holiday and pray you spend the day with your loved ones, enjoying this special time together.

And don’t forget, take a minute to put your feet up, relax and be IN the moment…