A House that Needs a Party

Have you ever seen a house that just needs to have a party? Well, here's one for you.

The coats are being taken.

(Side note: Meg at Pigtown Design, this is what I envisioned for your office foyer!)

The trays are passed.

There is a bountiful spread covering the table--and fabulous china too!

Relaxing after dinner.

Lively post-party conversation in the kitchen.

Off to sleep after a delightful evening...

to rise in the morning for a swim...

and a walk.

I hope this Monday brings your much happiness--and maybe a party invitation in the mail!

Didn't that house need some life in it? It looks like it was made for entertaining.

How about hosting at your house? Anyone having a great Christmas party at home this year?

Oh, and if you want to host a party in this house, you can. It's for sale, just under 4 million.

(thanks MLS for the photos)

Understated & Fabulous

Subtle muted tones and classic timeless furnishings--this is my kind of house.

I wish I had the time to blog and dissect a photo like Joni,

but alas, time does not allow.

Just admire the quite details in this house.

The stairs are absolutely beautiful.

The mirror, the chandelier...

A peek of the kitchen.

Functional and simple, and quite elegant. I think it is truly the lack of "fluff" that makes this kitchen so relaxing. What do you think? Any other kitchen minimalist out there?

Just the right amount of pattern and texture to keep our interest.

This room would be the fall and winter retreat. I wonder if I would be as drawn to it in the spring? Do you search for the sunlight and brighter interiors?

Clean and not fussy. The mirrors give us all that we need.

A little goes a long way.

The marble countertops are an added lovely.

The ogee edge detail makes it for me.

My one hang-up here is the finish on the cabinetry. I think I would have preferred something more simple--like the kitchen cabinets.

Does anyone "faux" anything anymore?

A beautiful sunset to end the day.

(As a side note, this picture is from the front of the house, looking away from the main entry.)

Since all of our favorite interior design magazines are leaving us,

we may now be searching the real estate listings like never before.

The images above are from just that.

I welcome your comments.

You Never Get a Second Chance

(Tria Giovan)

I'm thinking of having the front door painted.  I've always had a stained door so this is a big change for me--and I don't do change very well.  My set up would be similar to the door shown above.  I'll have a glass door with a solid door behind it.  I've thought it would be fun to have a punch of color  in the foyer.  Blue, green, red...humm, I just don't know.

For fun, here are a few pictures of lovely "first impressions".  Enjoy.  

(photo: Pieter Estersohn; designer: John Bobbitt)

No color needed here--just oxygen.  I've gasped it all away!

(Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn)

What an interesting mix.  Traditional, contemporary, coastal, early American.  Anything goes.  Stained door.  

(photo: Jean-Francois Jaussaud; stylist: Emile Yannoukou)

Any one want to move in with me?  Looks like there will be plenty of room! (oxygen needed here too!)  Stained door--ugh, I'm so predictable!

(photo: Mark Lohman; stylist: Cynthia Marks)

Stained door, again! Casual, warm and welcoming.  This is a "take your shoes off" kind of house.  

 

Yes, I know, I'm GSG and this is a green door, but isn't it great!  I'm leaning this way.  That is until I see something like this:

Decisions, decisions.  

Alright blog friends, what kind of door do you see for GSG's future?  I'm all ears.  

Spring Color

(Suzanne Rheinstein)

(Thomas Jayne)

Today is the first official day of spring.  Are you celebrating in your home with wonderful color?  

As I'm sure you know, paint is the least expensive way to completely change the feeling of a room.  Imagine the foyer above in a decadent oxblood?  

(Residential Interiors)

                                               (Charlotte Moss)

How do you plan to bring in the spring?

Happy Spring to everyone!  

I hope you have a colorful weekend!

____________________________________________________________________

Speaking of positive spring color, our sweet friend Hopsy...

A very big thank you goes out to Hopsy of Monograms and Manicures.  She hosted a great give-a-way several months ago featuring Toss Designs.  I was the lucky winner of the Balboa Weekender.  It is so bright and colorful.  I am quite impressed with just how spacious it is too.  She is such a kind person.  I do hope that if you aren't familiar with her blog, you'll go over and say, "hello".    

Five Star Sea Island *****

Friends, I hardly know where to start!  My trip to Sea Island was just wonderful.  I rested, I relaxed, I slept late!  I think I took enough pictures to write posts for a year!  I hope to share some of them with you, bit by bit.   

(Thank you to Sea Island Company for the use of some of the pictures shown below.)

The Solarium--my tea time favorite spot!  

To start, I'd like to set the stage for those of you who have not been:

Imagine if Blackberry Farm is the fine country house then  The Cloister is the elegant beach house.  Southern, elegant, hospitable, and special are all words that come to mind.  Sounds great, doesn't it?

Five Stars you say?  Yes.

"Criteria to earn a Mobil Five-Star rating are stringent, based on more than 750 standards for hotels, more than 250 for restaurants, and more recently 450 different guidelines for spas, making it the most rigorous and comprehensive in the industry. To achieve Mobil Five-Star status, properties must then meet or exceed Mobil's bar-setting service standards, which are determined through an unannounced, undercover service evaluation conducted by Mobil Travel Guide's expert inspectors."

Congratulations are in order.

The Sea Island Company received four different 5 Star ratings:

1.  The Cloister Hotel (this is a view from the back side)

2.  The Cloister Spa--absolutely unbelievable!

3.  The Georgian Room (Restaurant in The Cloister)

(Sorry for the photo duplication.)

4.  The Lodge (golf haven hotel on St. Simons)

This is just a taste of what is yet to come!  Any special request or questions about the stay, please leave a comment or send an email.  I always enjoy hearing from you.  

Make Believe House for No.100!

Join me, won't you, as we go on a bit of a fantasy trip to GSG's land of make believe.  Here are some of my favorite design inspirations, magically combined into one!

Welcome to our home...

 

Photo: Antoine Bootz and Jeff McNamara, we adore your work Cathy Kincade--she did the first two pictures.  This is not all the same house.  

I'm so glad that you were able to make it.  Let me show you around a bit.  Here's the dining room.    We'll have dinner at eight, will that work for you?

Photo: Antoine Bootz and Jeff McNamara

Let's take a short cut to the kitchen through the butler's pantry.  

photo Tria Govan; designer Mary Evelyn McKee

Now, for one of my favorite rooms in the house.  The kitchen:

Photo: Tria Giovan; Designer: Frank Randolph

Why don't we just sit for a while and talk.  I'd really like to get to know you better.

Photo: Jeff McNamara; Designer: Gerrie Bremermann

Here's the master bedroom.  

Photo: Pieter Estersohn; Designer: John Bobbitt

Here's your room.  I hope you like it.  If you need anything, just let me know.  

Photo: Tria Giovan; Designer: Phillip Sides

Why don't you just tour around in the gardens while I get some of my writing done.  

Photo: Pieter Estersohn; Designer: John Bobbitt

Thank you so much, blog friends.  You have become such a part of my life!  You'll never know how much pleasure I get from your kind comments and emails.  You all are the reason I make up silly fantasy posts like this one!  Thank you for making my 100th post so much fun!

First Impressions

Don't you just love to be entertained in someone's home?  I'd rather dine at someone's table than at the finest restaurant in town.  There is something so warm and welcoming to be escorted into their private spaces.  Here are a few foyers or entry halls.

Do you feel a sense of anticipation--what's the rest of the house going to look or feel like? 

Have you been transported to the South of France or Tuscany?  Some homes tell of the owners travels or heritage.  What does this foyer tell you?

Simple, clean and straight forward.  Honest.

Cozy.  The brick floor matches that of the front porch and the driveway.  

Everyone seems to be talking about this style of hanging prints--the gallery wall.  Also, notice that the wooden floor has been painted.    

(thanks to Southern Accents, Southern Living, and Mary Evelyn McKee.  You never disappoint.)

Does your foyer welcome your guest?  What does it say about you?  Tell me about it.