SOPHIE DONELSON'S HOME IN APARTMENT THERAPY

I was so excited when I saw that Sophie Donelson's..... [former "editor extraordinare"..... for House Beautiful magazine] home was featured on Apartment Therapy.  

I've been in this business for 25 years and can't remember a time when there was this much ruckus over removing an editor. 

I met Sophie while working on the Showhouse that was built in Atlanta....you can read about it here 
and she definitely has a playfulness about her that makes you realize why she was good at her job.  

We were one week away from the October 2018 opening party of the Whole House Concept  [Sophie's baby] when the news broke about her departure and to say there was an uproar in the design community is putting it mildly. 

  

She definitely pushed the limits with HB which was a formulaic traditional shelter magazine when she took over.....turning it into a fun "think outside the box" design magazine.....featuring fresh young designers.... lots of color....and in my opinion a more approachable design point of view.

Her home definitely has a curated.....collected look..... not a perfectly styled "designers home" which she clearly admits in the article.  With 2 boys she and her husband live in 1200 square feet and it definitely works.

I think you will enjoy her whimsical style that in my opinion fits her ....like we're besties or something which is not even the slightest truth. 

The exterior of the Queens apartment.  So classic right?

The living room....looks like there is plenty of space for 2 boys to hang out....which is important when living in 1200 sq ft.

My favorite thing is the trim around the windows which she painted a different color.  It is almost like adding art but without taking up visual space.  That rug and the white palm tree are pretty cool also.

This is the true meaning of why layering with books, art, plants and accessories help to add interest to a space.  Study it people.....

The pencil in the corner:)

The dining room looks like it could double for a homework space also.  Love the wall of books....warms up any area and I found myself looking to see what she is reading #curious

She shared the before of the kitchen

Quite the difference huh?  Love the warmth the cabinet color brings.

One of her boys rooms....

Love the classic traditional bench under the window!

It looks like this apartment has plenty of light and even though I am a "white wall gal"....I can appreciate the deeper hues of the pastel colors she used.  

More light in this pretty bathroom....

The small guest room just sings with this Tilton Fenwick [Duralee] 

I have to share with you that I had originally picked this fabric for the master bedroom of the HB showhouse I worked on and when I found out that she had used it in her house it made me just a little giddy.

Even though 1200 square feet of space seems small [I live in 2200 sq feet] you make it work in NYC.....where space is at a premium.

Anyway....I thought y'all might enjoy a little fanciful decor on  "fun friday" :)

Tonight I will be putting together 10 or more flower arrangements for the shower....pray for me because I am clumsy as a 4 year old with this crap.

Sherikie

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HOUSE BEAUTIFUL PART 3

Well here we are in 2019....hard to believe huh?  On New Years Day my husband watched about 12 hours of football....is that even possible?  I was in the other room searching for something interesting to watch on Netflix and after scrolling through 8,345 titles I could not find one thing that interested me.  

Maybe it was my mood.  It always happens to me after I finish a series....it's hard for me to get vested in another show.

So I ended up watching a reality show on Bravo because when in doubt watch a show that makes your life look a little more normal:)

In order to keep my 15 minutes of fame cooking I have a little more of the House Beautiful project to share with you.....

Here is a picture of the house again to refresh your memory.

The room with the iron window in front was the "wine collectors" space.

I selected Benjamin Moore: Bittersweet Chocolate in high gloss for the paint color.  I think they sanded and painted it 4 times to get that perfect sheen:)  

To be honest this space went through a lot of discussion as to it's purpose. At first HB did not want to show the wine cabinet but with so many doorways that was going to be hard.

We HAD to use furniture from one of the sponsors: Stressless..... which was a little difficult as [let me put this politely] it just did not fit the style of the house.

  

We had one sofa and 2 chairs to use [yes 2].  I still remember re-arranging this space about a hundred times and in the end one chair went back into the basement.  I can't work miracles y'all.

So....there we were.....after all the hoopla they decided to take the shot straight on.  Shoot me.

 

Here is the wine cabinet......

We took the glass doors off and styled them up as you see below.

Now a little exercise in details.....In the bottom image there is a desk in front of the cabinet.

 

Challenges around every corner.  We had to use the Stanton carpet but I found a pretty rug to give it some pattern and color on the floor.

Here you can see the sheen on the walls.

Cut to the dog room.....I really can't remember if I have shown these pictures before.  Hang with me people....

If you toured the house then I know this was your favorite room.....so many people told me that!

It was right off the garage so how nice to be able to throw in dirty soccer clothes right there and the Firerock floors go all the way through the hallway into the kitchen.  Plus....the dog wash area or "kid wash"....haha.

And....I know I showed this picture of Cami before ....but this shot WAS NOT EASY!

She was not going to lay on the bed for nuthin.  So I threw carrots out that doggy door and then threw another one on the floor when I called her in.  Talk about stress.  This took about an hour.

My last 24 hours at the beach and then back to Atlanta and work!  I am ready to get started on all my projects.

Shasoakingupthelastday

  

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HOUSE BEAUTIFUL..... MODERN FARMHOUSE DETAILS

So glad y'all liked my fashion post....I felt like it was pretty basic but then of course I threw in those white boots and that gave it some excitement.  How many of you gave them some consideration?

I am working my 15 minutes of fame like it's my job....more House Beautiful.  Hey it's not everyday that a nobody designer from Atlanta gets to  grace the pages of one of the biggest shelter magazines right?

Indulge me please:)

I thought I would give you some shots of the outside.

Here you can see the plans architect Linda MacArthur drew up.  My friend Michael Ladisic built the house.  

Things to notice....the courtyard where the garages are is a great place for outside entertaining.....

You can see here....looking through.  On the left is the "friends" entrance.  More on that in another post....yeah I know but can't give it all to you at once!

So cute right?

This door is used for deliveries.  There is a special lock [@getboxlock on instagram] that you can send a one time code so it can be secured behind.

I love it!

The house before it was painted....

I felt strongly about painting it white because I mean it did have a modern farmhouse look but really wanted to get some dark paint somewhere....so...

I love how it turned out!  Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain.

View from the other side.  The garage is painted BM CSP 205.

Bevolo Sconces....

Thoughts?

The body is painted BM China White.  

Sponsor: Marvin Windows

Sponsor: Woodward Outdoor Furniture

Let's go back to the courtyard.

Through this door is the back hallway and the dog room!

Paint color is BM Texas Leather

See how the doors stack back to allow for easy entertaining?

Opens up to the dining area.  Gorgeous Circa Lighting fixtures and the Charles Stewart dining chairs.

Covered in Thibaut performance fabric and now for sale for 450.00 each in case you are interested.  8 of them!  Call Roe at Charles Stewart [404 876 3799]

Around back...this is the kitchen with 2 doors that open to a small outdoor living area.  The kitchen sink is there....what a view huh?

Inside looking out......The genius of Matthew Quinn!

I might cook if this was my kitchen....just saying....or at least wash the dishes.... although with that great delivery closet I sure could get some good food delivered:)

Would you be excited if this was your house?  I certainly wood.  #houseofmydreams

Although with what's going on in California I am just appreciative to have a home right?

Look....do not roll your eyes when I keep posting about this house.  It's gonna happen so just prepare.

Sherikacan'tshutup

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