Monday, December 13, 2010

TUESDAY DECOR INSPIRATION: The Callanwolde Mansion Christmas

Touring the Designer's Showhouse
The holiday season came to Atlanta seven years ago, but the Callanwolde mansion remained dark, many
Atlantans felt the Grinch or some other CRAZY creature had stolen Christmas.  This season, they can rejoice. Christmas at Callanwolde in all its GLORY, is back. A tradition for 27 years, Christmas at Callanwolde was a highlight of the season for many PEOPLE in the area.


 A tour of the lavishly decorated mansion, built in 1920 as the home of Charles Howard Candler, son of Coca-Cola Company founder Asa Candler, was all that was necessary to snap the grumpiest person into a holiday mood. Over 27 local designers came together this year to bring this home back to life. 

I know it's not showing up on camera but it actually snowed on Sunday when I toured the mansion, which made it all the more special for me.



THE LIBRARY

Upon entering the mansion I noticed the beautiful rustic decor of the LIBRARY to the right of the FOYER. Traditional Red and Green Christmas ornamentation adorned the English Country INSPIRED ROOM!........  LOVE LOVE LOVE!




3 Cheers for the 2 designers of this particular room.

Room Designers:  Clay Snider / Clay Snider Interiors  & 
Nancy Appel / Nancy Appeal Interiors

THE MUSIC ROOM

After leaving the library, I immediately noticed the room across the foyer, which was considered to be the music room back when the house was inhabited by the Candler family. My eyes were drawn to the oversized CHANDELIER hanging over the couch........UM HELLO can I get that for my HOME!.....no seriously!!!  It really created drama in the room, complimented only by the chinoiserie wallpaper which to my knowledge was the original wallpaper for the room. The christmas decor in the room really was the finishing touch.


Room Designer: Justin Caldwell Childers / Justin Caldwell Designs LLC.




THE BREAKFAST ROOM

As I walked around the corner from the main dining room I found this cute, cozy room which was in fact the official breakfast room right off of the kitchen.  The decor was simple yet elegant. The artwork selection on the wall really was the highlight of the room.





Room Designers: Ann Wisniewski & Theresa Druckenmiller  / Downsize Design


THE DINING ROOM

And of course I had to visit the MAIN DINING ROOM which my fabulous friend, Mr. Kerry Howard designed. His twist on design is a mixture of simple elegance, clean lines with pops of bold colors. He actually chose my favorite color and flower TIFFANY BLUE and WHITE ORCHIDS to fill the room. I could actually visualize this as my dining room........LOVE IT!......LOVE HIM!





Kerry Howard (Room Designer) & Myself

The BILLIARD ROOM

The billiard room was another favorite of mine.........well........I LOVED the WHOLE HOUSE!
The designer of this space, Ryan O'hara, definitely was not shy about his use of color......It really made a room with dark wood stained walls COME TO LIFE......And of course the GORGEOUS Rug was none other than a Moattar Rug Design.....It's funny but i guessed the designer before i even read the sign.
You can find more of these amazing rugs by visiting www.moattar.com. 
The hanging artwork is a Bobby Sikes original ( local Atlantan artist)




Room Designer:  Ryan O'hara  / Maison Couture Interiors


THE MAIN STAIRWELL!



The GUEST BEDROOM / Nursery

The nightstands and LAMPS were a FAV of mine in this room. I also found out that the proprietors of some of these beautiful antiques had actually been keeping them in attics, garages and storage spaces. I was soooo glad to see these forgotten items resurrected. 


I absolutely LOVED the Lamps used in this room. (PICTURED BELOW) They were extremely heavy due to the fact that they were made of solid crystal. Had they not been $1100 for the pair I would have totally snatched those up for my personal bedroom.


Room Designers: Joann Kandrae , Kelly Kole / Kandrae & Kole Interior Designs 

THE MASTER BEDROOM

To my surprise the master bedroom was a little smaller than i had expected for a 27,000 square foot home. But the designer came through with making the room into a boudoir worthy of a prince.....or princess. The neutral color palette was a great choice for this space.



THE MASTER BATH

Room Designer: Cindy Davis /  Luxury Lifestyle Design

THE CHILD'S BEDROOM

Room Designer: Kathleen Lower



What a Magical House........I hope you enjoyed the My Tour of the Callanwolde Mansion.

MONDAY! - THE DAVIS BLACK TIE FORMAL


AN EVENING TO REMEMBER! 
VOTED BEST PARTY of 2010

After attending many events, galas, fundraisers and dinner parties in the Chicago, Florida and now Atlanta area, I would have to say that "The Patti Davis Black Tie Affair" won for BEST PARTY of 2010.  Ms. Davis really out did herself this year!!! And since I had the opportunity of coming early to assist Ms. Davis with her makeup and hair I was able to get a few great shots before the crowds started rolling in.  

The house was literally filled with hundreds of balloons and tiny lights. In the main room Patti highlighted the hors d'oeuvres' table with a miniature white christmas tree and silver candelabras. VERY CHIC!!!......



Lets JUST SAY that the Champaign FLOWED all night long!......What a way to CELEBRATE!!!


The handsome bartender did a great job serving up some holiday cheer......


Cookies, Cakes, Finger foods and more........SIMPLY Delicious 


WHAT A WONDERFUL HOST!!!!........

Myself with Ms. Patti Davis (Party Host)



LADIES, LADIES LADIES.......I feel like it's a Sex in the City CAST REUNION......LOL



Meeting Suchita Vadlamani was the highlight of my evening!......What an EXQUISITE DAME!

Suchita Vadlamani and Myself

STRIKE A POSE!.......I think Vogue was playing in the background when this was taken.....LOL

Tammie Reed, Suchita Vadlamani,  Bren Herrera & Myself

Before the night ended I was introduced to the LOVELY Tammie Reed.....a personal friend of Patti Davis, who is  another WELL KNOWN blogger and celebrity corespondent in Atlanta.  www.talkingwithtami.com
 And even though she is on the RISE, I may have been taken back little at just how WARM and down to earth she is. Tammie is the GENUINE ARTIFACT!!......  LADIES THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT!

Tammie Reed and Myself


Lets just say that the PARTY ended right before most Country FOLK got up to FEED THEIR CHICKENS. I SIMPLY cannot wait until NEXT YEAR!.......Thank You to Patti and Eric Davis for a Wonderful Evening!!!!..........MERRY CHRISTMAS.
















Thursday, December 9, 2010

Friday: DESIGN INSPIRATION- A Room that is YOU!



A ROOM THAT IS TOTALLY "YOU"


Have you ever looked at a room and felt that it was so "you"? I have- any room by designers Kathryn Ireland or Windsor Smith (very different styles I know, but both use gorgeous fabric so effectively) make me feel that someone made my dream room come true. Take these dreams designed by Windsor Smith..







HOW ABOUT this one by Kathryn Ireland,




THE ROOM BELOW is sooooo REFRESHING
This would be the PERFECT Spot to Drink MY MORNING TEA!!


LOVE THE FRESH FOLIAGE!......



Do you have a picture of a room that is just "you"? Send it to my email ricky9281@aol.com  along with a link to its original source/image credit and I will feature it. It will be fun to see what everyone likes!


Images from 1) Windsor Smith Home 2) House Beautiful via Windsor Smith Home, 3) House Beautiful magazine 4) Kathryn Ireland 5) Lonny 6)Lincoln Barbour Photo via Cococozy


ENJOY THE INSPIRATION!!


Tuesday, December 7, 2010

IT'S TUESDAY!......THROWING A FABULOUS DINNER PARTY!

Get READY to RING IN THE HOLIDAYS
Since I  moved back to Atlanta I have met some truly amazing people and in a short amount of time too. So this year i decided to throw a dinner party for the holiday's and bring together these particular people. I started of by contacting Ms. Patti Davis who is a famous blogger here in ATL. (www.anatomyofadinnerparty.com) to help me get the ball rolling.

Patti Davis  &  Myself

Next I had to decide on the menu. Now since my dinning room can only sit up to six. (TOTALLY COZY) I obviously couldn't do a sit down dinner. Going with heavy  hors d'oeuvres and wine was the only option. THIS WAS THE FUN PART!.....After searching the internet for the best party recipes I came up with THIS -


BACON WRAPPED CHORIZO STUFFED DATES.....YUMM! - 
Served with a smoked Marinara


TRADITIONAL ROMA TOMATO BRUSCHETTA on 
baked crustini toast - Served WARM


MINI RED & GREEN BELL-PEPPER CHEESE QUICHE'S - made from scratch


BAKED SPINACH & ARTICHOKE DIP - Served with Mini Baguettes 


And of COURSE if you ARE SERVING WINE 
you have to have a cheese and cracker platter. ( I added salami & grapes)




THE FOOD TURNED OUT AMAZING! 

THEN OF COURSE I HAD TO INVITE THE RIGHT PEOPLE!

READY FOR A SMALL TOAST!!

 


TIME FOR GREAT FRIENDS & GREAT CONVERSATION

Alexis,   Myself,   Bria Bass

Kathy Moore,    Patti Davis,   Barry Belcher
Michael Holmes  & Ricardo Sebastian

Jay Bandy & Patricia Tinsley


A LITTLE FUN - THE HUMAN OREO!!


BARRY TEACHING US HOW TO DO "THE PUSH"




WHAT A GREAT EVENING!......
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CAME OUT !





NOW FOR A LITTLE CHRISTMAS SONG BEFORE YOU GO......LOL


Sunday, December 5, 2010

MONDAY FASHION : The ECCENTRIC AGE!

Watching the fashion industry evolve throughout the years and then intertwine itself in the music and movie industries has been nothing short of AMAZING . However after looking long and hard at how materialistic and excessive our cultural has become it does at times make me long for the days of a simpler lifestyle. An age of true elegance where style and class were not just how you adorned yourself but how you CARRIED YOURSELF!  I think we as a people have sold ourselves short for a FACADE that does not last.......Well with that being SAID......I want to show a little bit of what I CALL ECCENTRIC

By DEFINITION ECCENTRIC means: a departing from a recognized, established norm or pattern.

I THINK WE ARE JUST ABOUT THERE!!!!





BIG FREEAKIN ECCENTRIC HAIR!......

ME ANY MY SISTERS " I KNOW THIS HEFFER DIDNT TRY TO TOUCH MY HAIR"


LAYERS AND LAYERS AND LAYERS.....  
There's MORE than one WAY TO BE HOT!!


EVEN BARBIE IS GETTING IN ON THE ACTION!!.....Check out the Paint JOB!





QUEEN OF ECCENTRICITY!!

FASHION GENIUS or FASHION ABORTION???



REALLY??.... GAGA!!

GAGA DECIDED TO WEAR SOMETHING SHE COULD SNACK ON DURING THE CEREMONY IN CASE SHE GOT HUNGRY!!!!

A DRESS AND SHOES MADE ENTIRELY OF MEAT!,,,,,,,,,UUUUUKKKKK!



SHOES! SHOES! SHOES!!


CHECK OUT THE CRAZZZYYYY SHOES!!!





THIS IS ACTUALLY A BATHROOM!......THIS GIVES NEW MEANING TO THE WORD 
EXCESS



MY NEW HOUSE IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE!!!




BEYONCE WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO UPGRADE IT!!!!



       

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