Show House Reminisce

Ever since I covered the CharityWorks' Green Designer Show House, I have been thinking about doing a show house. I have not done one in a while. I wish I submitted for the Green one but I did not. Show houses have been off my radar for a while even when asked to do one. Now I am reminiscing about the last one I did for The Loudoun Arts Council. What a fun time that was. The house was amazing ~ Rust Manor. A beautiful mansion surrounded by acres of green grass, lush trees and complete with stone road leading to it. The mansion was gifted to the Audubon Society by the Rust family. The Loudoun Arts Council and Audubon Society teamed up to do the show house. Unfortunately the house was in a bit of disarray and needing quite a bit of TLC. The goal of the Audubon Society was to be able to rent the beautiful mansion for weddings and such to gain extra capital to run their programs. What a great idea then to team up with The Loudoun Arts Council and do a show house! Bring in interior designers to attain their goal. I was selected to do the library. Above is the design concept rendering. Here are the before shots.




The bones of the room are magnificent. The built-in bookcases are lovely. The windows boast amazing views. The mantel was significantly damaged or I would have tried to selvage it as it was original to the home. I sadly had to remove it. In this show house, we were asked to incorporate the art work of the local artists whose work has been recognized by the Arts Council. Most of the designers, including myself, also paid homage to the Audubon Society. We also respected the incredible architecture of the home as it is breathtaking. The paint color options were selected by the Show House Committee as they wanted flow to be taken into account. They chose well ~ the first swatch in the Benjamin Moore Historical colors ~ buttery yellows and pale greens. I selected the lightest buttery yellow tint. Here are my after photos (double click on them for the full affect).....






This French inspired design began with the art of conversation with the primary focal point of the fireplace and the secondary focal point the art on the wall opposing the fireplace. The sofas were positioned to be able to see both and face each other for intimate interaction. The palette began with fabulous fabric on the ottoman from Beacon Hill. From the hues on the fabric, I selected the butterscotch area rug from Odegard. I color matched the rug hue for the paint to back the bookcases. Painting the bookcase backs added depth and richness. I also placed a mirror back in a portion of the lowest bookshelf to add a bar stocked with Port wine. Antique wine glasses and crystal and silver accessories completed it. I used traditional pieces from TCS upholstered in sumptuous fabrics from Robert Allen/Beacon Hill. The throw pillow fabric is also from Beacon Hill except the blue and gold striped one ~ that is a Highland Court silk that I adore. The casegoods are from Norwalk. The portable lamps are from Lenox and Waterford. The art work is stunning. The landscape paintings were done by Ed Cooper. The pastels were done by Libby Stevens. I simply hung them on decorative hooks with wire covered in fabric. Almost all of the items that were for sale in the room were sold. Wonderful as that is one of the ways money is raised in almost any show house. I remember it was a Fall Show House and particularly cool on some of the days. Many people came back to my room after they saw the entire house ~ they simply wanted to hang out in there. They told me how inviting and warm the room was and wanted to sip tea lounging on a sofa. That was the best compliment! If I had tea, I would have served it! It was a lovely event and I adored my room. I am itching now to do another show house. Hmmmm.... I should do something productive with that itch.

I am joining the Metamorphisis Monday party at Between Naps on the Porch and Blue Monday at Smiling Sally's. Hop on over to see what's happening there!

I just found out that Julia from the wonderful Hooked on Houses posted about my room in this show house on her blog as well! Wow, is that cosmic or what??!! Great minds..... Thanks Julia ~ you're the greatest!

Akeelah and the Bee

My daughter, Lauren, and I, watched this wonderful movie last night. I continue to think about it today over and over. That's how much of an impression it made on me ~ and hopefully Lauren as well. We'll talk about the movie more after Girl Scouts. It's a story about a candidate in the national spelling bee ~ I don't want to give it away. I can tell you that Lauren and I were cheering at the end of the movie as if we just saw Rocky for the first time.

Akeelah is a little girl who created a coping mechanism of spelling after the death of her beloved father. This mechanism became an asset. The story includes themes of friendship, family, love, faith, empathy, nurturance, risk-taking, drive, community, doing the right thing, perseverance, and integrity. It takes two grief stricken humans and gives them purpose. It is an excellent movie to watch with your children ~ excellent! It has an amazing cast with Lawrence Fishburne (who also produced it), Angela Bassett, and Keke Palmer as Akeelah. Keke did a magnificent job in her role ~ just stunning. Here is a clip to peruse before you make a commitment.



The movie boasts a fabulous quote that I believe with my mind, heart, and soul.....

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Brilliant!

Hickory Chair University

Tomorrow I'm off to Hickory Chair University! There I'll learn all about the production of their wonderful furniture. I'll get to see the craftsmen at work. I am very excited about that.

I have toured other furniture companies but I did not get to see and meet the actual craftsmen. The company owner took me on a tour.



I'll share all that I learn. My posts for the week are locked and loaded. Stay tuned for my interview with Heather Clawson of Habitually Chic, a show house before and after......

Let me know what you are thinking. I'd love to know!

Fun Friday ~ High Definition Golf

All photos compliments of High Definition Golf

Do any of you play golf? Do you have a husband or partner that plays? Well, this post is for you! When I visited the CharityWorks' Green Designer Show House, I met Lynni Megginson.

Lynni specializes in design and installation of high definition golf. Virtual golf has been around for a while now but I have never seen it so clear and functional in my life. This will actually improve your game not to mention be a huge hit at parties. The company High Definition Golf seems to have surpassed the rest with the quality of their product. My husband loves golf. We live in a golf community. If he had one of these, I don't think I would ever see him. Would you like to play Pinehurst No. 2?


Ok!
They have many courses you can have in your own home. It provides you with relevant information.....


In the show house, they had a separate room for it but I would incorporate in into a swanky lounge on the lower level so all may enjoy it together.....

Pebble Beach any day of the week?!!!
Your wish is my command.....
Seriously, I would love to get this for my husband. He would enjoy it all winter long!

What will they think of next??!!

Enjoy your weekend!

At Home with Barry Dixon ~ Upstairs

Yesterday, we looked at Barry Dixon and Michael Schmidt's first floor. Let's venture up the stairs to second floor. There are several bedrooms and baths. The baths all had free standing tubs large enough to comfortably hold a linebacker. Any one of them would offer a fabulous soak. Let's begin.....
Beautiful window seat as one climbs the stairs.
The upstairs hallway was lovely. When I got to the top of the stairs and looked side to side, I thought, 'This is going to be good!"

A Guest Room.....



Guest Room fit for a princess.....


Guest again... this room has some contemporary elements to it.... lovely...



Twin bed Guest Room.....


Master Bath to die for.....






I believe this is the Master Bedroom.....








Cozy masculine Guest Room.....

Grand Guest Room.....







Another sweet Guest Room....

I simply guessed at about the rooms purpose but Barry and Michael live there with their dog so they have plenty of places for friends and family to stay! I loved each room for different reasons. I enjoyed his use of color and mixing of materials.

If Mr. Dixon ever grows tired of his interior and product design gig, he and Michael can open an exquisite Bed and Breakfast. I would be the first to stay there!

At Home with Barry Dixon

The International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) Washington, DC Chapter and Barry Dixon hosted a lovely party at the home of Barry Dixon and Michael Schmidt, Elway Hall, in Warrenton, Virginia. What a event. All invited were treated to wander around their magnificent home and take a hay ride to their barn. If was a rainy Fall day. The grounds were splendid ~ vivid colors everywhere. My camera did not shoot well in the evening rain or I would show you. Upon entering the front door, all senses came alive as they had roaring fires in every fireplace and there were many.


Beautiful front door. Karen and I came in expecting to be late for the 'tour.' There was no tour. Everyone was milling around enjoying wine and conversation. Oooo and ahhhs over the home were abundant. Michael, Barry's partner, was the first to greet us. He thanked me for the kind words I wrote about Barry when I met with him at the CharityWorks' Green Show House. "It was my pleasure," I told Michael. I asked him if he and Barry wander through their home much ~ it is enormous! He confessed, "No, we mainly live in this room (pointing to the adjoining room) and the kitchen." Funny! I'll bet we all live mostly in two rooms in our homes. I do ~ kitchen and family room (if you don't count my studio). Barry's studio is in their home as well. We didn't get to see that ~ too many design secrets. We'll just have to wait for them. We could take as many pictures as we wanted. How wonderful! I took about 130. I'll share almost half. I know that is a lot of pictures but the ideas you'll find are grand. The entire home is grand ~ inside and out. My friend and photographer, Bob Narod, was also there shooting for Home & Design Magazine. It was fun seeing him. We were also treated to a delicious dinner. We could eat anywhere! They must have wonderful house cleaners or house staff as I am sure there were typical spills and mishaps that occur at any party. Today and tomorrow, I'll show you the pictures. Enjoy!
First, the molding throughout the entire home was spectacular.
Game room. I can see playing chess or cards in this comfort.

The next few pictures are of the library.




This group is from the formal parlor and piano room. All of the branch cuttings you see in the photos are from their grounds.
The detailing throughout is amazing.




This is a hallway between the kitchen and the foyer.

This cozy room is perfect to read quickly and enjoy a good cup of tea.


The kitchen. Note the wallcovering generously used. The motif also lines inside the covers of Barry's book.


Barry signing his book for a fellow designer and fan.

This room is just off the kitchen ~ the eating nook and storage pantry (there were two pantries as I recall ~ one was full of their preserves)



This is the room Michael said they live in. The other side of the room boasts comfortable sofas and ottomans ~ that picture (below) did not turn out as well.

There is Michael in the back parlor. This front room is just off the foyer.

Tomorrow, we'll venture up the stairs to the second floor. The bedrooms and master bath will knock your socks off! Stay tuned!



It was outside when I finally caught up with Barry.....


I thanked him as it was my interview with him that made The Washington Post's 'pick to click.' Bob was trying to take pictures of Barry and I (the ones here Karen took). That made me nervous. It hard to look natural when you know your being photographed. This sweet lady heard me thanking Barry for the "Green House." She asked, "When do we get to see the green house." Barry and I attempted to explain that the green house was not at his home but rather the CharityWorks' Green Show House. I'm not sure she fully grasped that.

Why is it that I look better as a black cat than a colleague standing next to Barry Dixon? Must be the martini!
My friends Vikki and Jean with me.
Jim, Lauren, and I. Lauren was a pink leopard, I was a black cat and Jim was the Animal Catcher (skunk hat and all). Thanks Tammy for a fabulous party!

I wonder if Barry and Michael wore Halloween costumes??!! Oh how I digress.....

Women in Hollywood

I read a story in the Washington Post last week. It was entitled Women & Film. The premise of the story is that movies made about strong women don't do well at the box office. It reports that women aren't supporting films about strong females. Films starring women that are financially successful are more about groups of women and relationships versus strong women and their accomplishments. This scares me. It furthers states that men were more comfortable than women thinking about a woman in the oval office when they discussed a TV show about just that. Hmmm??!! How can this be? Is it a confidence issue among women? Do women see themselves as sexualized objects even more than men? Do women spend more time thinking about breast size and wrinkles then men do? I think 'yes.' I believe we are socialized to do so and propagate it ourselves. I wonder what advertisers spend their time talking about when they are developing a campaign for night cream. I doubt it is about portraying a strong woman in a corporate setting leading a strategic planning meeting. Look at these lovely ladies.....

All photo credits The Washington Post

Do you know who they are? They are film directors; Lone Scherfig and Jane Campion (The Education and The Piano respectively as well as other wonderful films). Highly accomplished, wrinkles and all. Don't get me wrong... I like to look good and have a variety of lotions and potions to attempt to keep my skin taut. I just believe that intelligence, knowledge, confidence, strength, creativity, stamina ~ aka building of the mind ~ in tandem with love, support, encouragement, faith, respect ~ aka building of heart and soul ~ will take any woman further in the long run than mere physical beauty. It's the beauty on the inside ~ mind, heart, and soul ~ that are the building blocks of a strong woman.

Additions?? Thoughts??