Editor's Notes
Blog 2011
05/18/12Land LoverI am really getting anxious to get my hands in the dirt. I moved into my house almost two years ago, and so far, all I have planted are impatiens. But today I got itchy and inspired. I spent the morning scouting with landscape architect David Brush. We skipped all over town looking at quaint courtyard gardens in Mount Laurel, a grand home in Shoal Creek, and a contemporary transformation in Mountain Brook. Check out some of the highlights of my day: Above: Before David and architectural designer Brian Jernigan did their magic. (Above photos: Mountain Brook, AL) Above: A shady backyard in Mount Laurel Above: David designed this pool and garden in Shoal Creek. Not only... |
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05/14/12The Final JewelBirmingham Wholesale Furniture just made a huge announcement—finally, with the addition of the Marge Carson collection, the company has a furniture offering for every homeowner. “Now we have every style and collection a person would want,” says owner Robert Ajam proudly. The Marge Carson collection suits a homeowner who seeks elegance and grace befitting luxurious homes. Ajam notes that Birmingham Wholesale Furniture now showcases everything from youth collections, to urban furniture lines in their cool sleek loft setting, to sophisticated casual lines, ending with the final jewel in the crown, Marge Carson. Thursday night was the launch party for the new collection and it lives up to its commitment to style, elegance and romance. The sheer magnitude of the... Posted at 08:59 AM | Permalink |
04/30/12Pretty ProductiveIf you’re anything like me, you spend a lot of time at a desk. Whether in an office or at home, work spaces don’t have to only be functional—they can also be beautiful rooms or nooks one doesn’t dread spending time in. All offices have at least one item in common—besides a ever-perculating coffee maker, that is—a desk that anchors the space. In dreaming of an office redesign, I found some stylish desks to share. Since it’s the main piece of furniture necessary in an office, it seems fitting to begin with that. Come back next week for beautiful work spaces that might inspire you to pretty up your place of productivity. What desks do you like? What are office must-haves?... |
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04/20/12Birmingham’s New TradTraditional Home has named its 10 New Trad Designers for 2012, and Birmingham’s own Tammy Connor is on the list! Tammy has been featured in numerous magazines, including our own. We love Tammy’s traditional style and couldn’t be happier for her. To celebrate, we put together a slideshow of some of Tammy’s incredible work that has graced our pages. Click here for more information on the contest and winners. |
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04/20/12Parade of HomesIt’s finally here! The Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders’ 2012 Parade of Homes, previewed in our March/April issue, starts this weekend and continues the 28th and 29th. Homes will be open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free. I’m most excited for the chance to see the GBAHB Ideal Home for the first time. With its all of its futuristic gadgets, it’s a geek’s dream. I can’t wait to see how everything in the house works. With 18 villages and a plethora of houses to peruse, the Parade has something for everyone, showing off all the latest trends in homes across a range of prices and styles. To get more information about the Parade, or to plan which homes to tour, visit the... |
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04/17/12Post Tornado Alabama Homeowners Insurance MarketThe state of Alabama is still dealing with the aftermath of the April 27th tornadoes. Unfortunately the state took another direct hit in January 2012 with tornadoes that devastated the cities of Centerpoint, Clay, and Trussville. These tragic events are very tough on families, property owners, and also insurance companies. The high level estimates from the Alabama Department of Insurance are roughly $2.2 billion was paid out in insurance claims as a result of the April tornadoes. The insurance industry as a whole in 2011 lost money not only in Alabama but all over the world. We had an unusually large amount of catastrophic events such as Japan Tsunami, New Zealand earthquake, Chile earthquake, and several tornado outbreaks through the United... |
04/16/12Come and Knock on My DoorA specific home detail has really been catching my eye lately — door knockers. Whenever I’m looking at houses, whether walking my dog and admiring our neighborhood or actually house hunting, I generally mentally change front doors to a home. Random, right? Or maybe not. It’s not that anything is wrong with the current door or hardware, it’s just that it’s such a personal touch that says “come on in!” or “don’t.” And one man’s entrance style may not jive with what I envision for my home. Color, style, function—it’s all personal, and in my humble opinion there’s not really any right or wrong as long as what you’ve got is genuinely you. Our little cottage has a simple front door. I... |
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04/03/12Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?Disclaimer: This is not my house, but it does show the fine work of Bates Corkern Architects! I discovered a new show on HGTV — "Love It or Leave It." Such is my dilemma since I just got married and my 3/2 is pretty small for a husband and two additional kiddos. Can we all fit? Me, my twins, and this combined family? I do love my house. It has great flow and it looks pretty awesome thanks to Paul Bates and Jeremy Corkern who helped me add some style and pizzazz to my little rancher. We could add on and refinance. Or, we could move. Thankfully my husband is a mortgage broker who can help us figure this out. And thankfully too, I learned some ins-and-outs of the remodeling process in our March/April issue showing plenty of before and after ideas. On the flip... |
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03/29/12Event: Clover Crawl Green Home and Garden ExpoLast week’s showers helped bring out some color around town, but it’ll be greenest of all at Vulcan Park and Museum this Saturday. That’s when the Green Resource Center for Alabama will be hosting the Clover Crawl Green Home & Garden Expo, an event promoting eco-friendly businesses and organizations. The event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free and open to the public. I love what some of these groups are doing. Nature’s Tap offers products for capturing and filtering rainwater and greywater for non-potable water supply, helping reduce water costs and preserve freshwater supplies. And given how awful prices at the pump are, I’m especially interested in hearing more about Phoenix Energy, who help convert automobiles to using a natural gas fuel.... |
03/27/12It’s Curtains for MeIn our March/April issue we featured a fantastic master bedroom that Kendall Jackson of Suite Dreams redesigned. One of the things that I loved about this room was her use of draperies on a wall of windows. These window treatments not only created privacy, they also helped to soften the room. Kendall’s innovative touch made me start thinking of all the other ways curtains or drapes could be used for more than just window dressings. Here are some of the great ways that people have gotten creative with their draperies. It’s hard to pick my favorite, but I’m loving the curtains that are attached to the ceiling for extra privacy around the bed. It’s like a canopy bed — or even better, a fort for grown-ups!... |
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03/19/12Details I Love: Blossoms and BloomsSince spring officially arrives at midnight tonight, I’ve got flowers on the brain. {Who doesn’t with the thick dusting of yellow coating our cars, decks and mailboxes?!} Birmingham is blossoming, and it’s truly beautiful. Having last lived in Mobile where azaleas reign supreme, each spring that I am here I relish the various blooms that burst in crescendo—daffodils, tulips, forsythia, dogwoods and cherry trees, hydrangeas and roses and more! It's a sensory delight in my eyes {and probably good reason to keep your allergy medicine nearby}. Speaking of flowers, one of my absolute favorite details I anticipate when going “home” is that my mother always puts a vase of fresh flowers—when in season, fresh from her beautiful yard—on... |
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03/15/12Event: Cherry Blossom FestivalIreland will be on everyone’s mind this Saturday, but I’ll be thinking about Japan. That’s when the Japan-America Society of Alabama will hold its annual Cherry Blossom Festival at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. But what makes this festival so special is that it marks the 100th anniversary of the original gift of cherry trees from Japan, sent by Tokyo Mayor Yuko Ozaki to symbolize the growing friendship of the two countries. To celebrate, JASA has an incredible range of activities for visitors. Among the many attractions will be demonstrations of martial arts, bonsai trees, ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrangement), and more. In addition, Yuriko Yasuda of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra will perform a solo violin performance. The Consulate-General of... |
03/12/12Come On In {outside, that is}Spring is in the air, and despite the yellow dusting of all things outside, we are completely enjoying getting out in this glorious weather. Last week we had cocktails on the porch, today, we're dreaming of green thumbs and garden spaces. But, before we talk actual gardens, why not look at the entrance to such sacred spots? Nothing says “come in and stay for a bit” like a great entryway, and outdoor spaces are no exception. Garden entrances say as much about the outdoor plot you’ve claimed sacred as the planning and planting inside. Whether you dream of {or have!} a sustainable garden with flowers or vegetables, a courtyard with potted blooms and herbs, or a patio that’s the perfect thumb print for you, we hope these gates to outdoor living spaces... |
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03/09/12Event: Birmingham Botanical Gardens Art GalleryI got into art relatively late, not really caring for all those boring field trips to museums as a kid, but now visiting a gallery whenever I can. So I was happy to see that Birmingham Botanical Gardens will soon spotlight the paintings of local abstract artist Jay Strong in its own art gallery. The exhibition, entitled “Introspective Voyage,” will run through March and April. The opening reception is this Friday, March 9, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The reception will also include hors d’oeuvres and a wine tasting courtesy of Wynter Byrd of Ingenium Wines. I have a hard time saying what it is about abstract art I like. I think it has something to do with the texture of so many abstract paintings. They’re like raised-relief... |
03/06/12Southern Porch WeatherWhenever a new season begins to show itself I get all excited. It seems like each time of year has something unique to offer. Summer means trips to the beach and pool parties. Fall means family gatherings and delicious foods. Winter means cozy holidays and the joy of giving. But spring is the most pleasant of all because spring means porch weather. There’s nothing better than rocking away on your front porch and feeling the mild breezes of an Alabama spring brush against face…unless, of course, you combine this experience with a good friend and a yummy cocktail. In honor of this springtime ritual, here are some of my favorite porches and some scrumptious cocktail recipes that go perfectly with each. Happy rocking! A crisp, fresh porch with a calming... |
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03/02/12Alabama ArtWorking at Birmingham Home and Garden gives me the great pleasure of visiting some of the most spectacular residences in the area. Besides getting to see the wonderful architecture and interiors, I love to discover and learn about the art and artists people showcase in their homes, especially the local pieces. In the Bishop home, we saw artists such as Meredith Keith, Laura Beers, and Catie Radney — all Alabama artists. One great element of collecting local art is that by purchasing these pieces you support the artists, art dealers, and galleries. Do you have any of these artists' work in your home? Have you discovered a local talent? Let us know in the comment section below, or on our Facebook page! Meredith Keith Meredith Keith was born in Monroe,... |
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03/01/12In the GardenGracious gardens surround Vicki and Harrison Brannon’s historic Vestavia Home. Added to over the years and carefully tended, the garden exhibits features such as an iron bench next to a man made creek, a transplanted Christmas tree (once potted) that now rivals the ones at Rockefeller Center, and an abundance of blooming perennials. Click through the slideshow and enjoy the tour. To see the beautiful home Vicki and Harrison Brannon have made, pick up your copy of the 2012 March/April issue of Birmingham Home & Garden today. Come back next week for a tour of the home online. Posted at 07:22 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
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02/22/12A Classic UpdateHave you seen House Beautiful this month? Of course we love it — who doesn't? It always provides well-rounded style and inspiring ideas. I especially love this kitchen in Healdsburg, California. I love it so much in fact, that when I saw it the first time I clipped it out of their December 2000 issue and have held onto it in my stacks of faves. How I wish I had clipped the whole article to see the full transformation. HB acknowledges that this house has been redecorated since it last ran. But this image proves that some things are classic. What I love? The timeless elements: white crockery, simple furnishings, antique china — and of course, the fresh white paint that replaced cream and yellow. |
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02/16/12Powerfully PinkPink isn’t only for little girls anymore. In the past few years we’ve seen pink cover everything from a male fashion statement to the campaign for breast cancer. Why let everyone else have all the color? Pink is fabulous because it can be effortlessly delicate yet it works as an unexpected punch in home décor. Don’t be afraid to play around with this pretty pigment! Take a look at some of the fantastic ways that pink has been incorporated in these homes and be inspired to use this evolving color within your own designs. So glamorous! This beautiful rose quartz is called Rosado and is available through CaesarStone. I love the various patterns in this room. That they don’t all match does not matter as the tones and designs... |
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02/13/12Spring {Break} FeverLooking for a Place to Spend a Day like this over spring break? Then make sure you choose a family-friendly spot for your vacation. I’m all about kids’ camps these days. The little ones get to burn energy, and mama gets some down time. On my list? Anywhere warm, salty, and sunny with an active kids’ camp. Check out this info I just received from the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. They are some pretty great deals to keep everyone entertained. Complimentary amenities including free rental of bicycles, canoes, kayaks, tennis courts; free fitness center access; free children’s activities (in season) and complimentary resort-wide tram service — offered every day of a guest’s stay. Club KZ Club KZ gives kids the... |
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02/09/12From House to HomeMy sister and her husband are moving soon! The house they have purchased is fabulous. It's in a great location, has plenty of room for their needs now as well as in the future, and has a beautiful yard for gardening and such. While the house is wonderful as it is, turning this house into their home will come with time and changes they choose to make. For example, the blue tile the previous owners loved may have been just what made them smile at the start of each day, but it's not necessarily what screams "good morning!" to my sister. Just like one might prefer carpet to hardwood flooring. Or using a second bedroom as an office instead of an at-home yoga studio. It's truly the preferences of a homeowner that make a space feel like theirs. While they are in... Posted at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
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02/06/12Hunting in JanuaryTwo weeks ago photographer Holly Lynne Killian and I headed down to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens to look at all the budding flowers. I guess the warm weather tricked me into thinking that we’d be rolling around in a field of poppies like Dorothy at the gates of the Emerald City. Not quite, I’m afraid. Once we got there, I was disappointed to realize that we’re really still in the throws of winter. The green house was closed for maintenance, so we couldn’t go in there and look at flowers. Did we give up hope? Absolutely not! We were determined to find flowers, so we looked high and low. Our trip quickly became somewhat of an Easter egg hunt. I would find a flower and she would photograph it while I wandered around in search of more treasure. While I was... |
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02/01/12Reinvent Your SpaceRecently, I had the pleasure of going to King’s House Antiques for their monthly Third Thursday meeting where architect Chris Reebals and designer Doug Davis spoke about putting together our 2011 Inspiration Home. Afterwards, I asked Doug how often he thinks people should redecorate. He surprised me by saying, “as little as possible.” The key, he explained, is that when you initially begin to decorate you ought to buy quality, classic pieces in basic colors that you can accessorize with color. If you want a change in your living room it is much easier (and a whole lot cheaper) to change the throw pillows than get a new sofa. Doug also said that it’s best to stay away from trendy items that will look old in a few years. I thought this was great advice.... |
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01/25/12They’re Not Just for Coffee AnymoreDo you remember that Seinfeld episode where Kramer writes a coffee table book about coffee tables? Well, if you’re anything like me, you didn’t think that was such a crazy idea at all! I would have bought that book for myself and gifted it to all my design loving friends. While coffee tables might be a good place to house your coasters and the latest issue of Birmingham Home & Garden, they can often be works of art in and of themselves. Have a look at some of my favorite coffee tables from Pintrest. Some of these tables really got my creative juices flowing! Let us know what you think! {What a creative way to use these old wooden carts!} {This velvet ottoman looks quite rich and decadent.} {Painted, stained or raw bring the outdoors in by... |
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01/23/12Third Thursday at The King's House AntiquesOur friends at The King’s House Antiques held their monthly Third Thursdays meeting yesterday, and outfitting magazine idea houses was the topic. Speakers included Doug Davis from Tracery Interiors, Chris Reebals from Christopher Architects, and our own Cathy Still Johnson, who helped moderate the Q&A. Cathy explained Birmingham Home & Garden's Inspiration Home’s local approach to design and furnishing as wanting to show that Birmingham is a "great design center” in its own right. I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand shopping out of a catalog, so having the chance to go look at all the wonderful design elements of the house in nearby stores is terrific. {from left to right: Cathy Still Johnson, Doug Davis and Chris... |
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01/20/12This Little Light of MineWhen I was growing up there was a woman in our neighborhood who collected lamps. Her style was certainly eclectic, to put it mildly. Every available surface possessed some kind of illuminate. Her home became known affectionately around the neighborhood as the Lamp Shop because the big picture window in her living-room was crowded with lamps of all kinds. At night, I remember, that window shone in a mosaic of colors and varying degrees of brightness. No telling what her light bill was! Now that I’m grown, I too love a good lamp. My obsession with them doesn’t come close to rivaling Mrs.”Lamp Shop,” but I do believe that a good lamp can add a pleasantly surprising boost of color, unique shape or texture to an otherwise traditional room. And even if... |
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12/20/11Silent Night…Remember Meg Margjeka’s oh-so-fabulous nursery? Well, I’ve been thinking about it ever since spotting it in the magazine. Dark walls with white and bright accents in a nursery really appeal to my tastes. In my mind it seems like it’d be a great place for sleeping. {Which is what the goal is when the little bit is in there, right?} Nursery style, like any home décor, comes down to personal taste. If you have a little one, you’re in that room a LOT. Better put something in there that you’re happy staring at for a while—or at least at three in the morning. Nurseries run the design gamut these days. And as my mother-in-law has recently said, “They sure are more sophisticated than any nurseries we ever had.” What’s... |
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12/07/11Oh Christmas Tree!I decorated my Christmas tree last weekend. It may not be worthy of a photo, but my girls love it, and because they do, well, so do I. We used every ornament we had and assembled a chaotic mix of Christopher Radko, Vietri, shiny Santas, and more than enough school crafts. Great big colorful bulbs add to the — um…festive (?) look. While I’m still dreaming of a glorious, designer-done tree, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite images with you that I’ve pulled from magazines over the years. Enjoy! This tree shows off traditional red and green décor with festive santas and snowmen. Who doesn’t like the dreamy look of a flocked tree? It’s the perfect way to transform your home into a winter... |
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11/10/11Cotton PickingIt’s snowing in Alabama! Well. Not really. But take a trip to a cotton farm and check out the blankets of white covering the ground. I had the good fortune to visit a friend’s farm in Harpersville last weekend with a friend and our children. It seems there’s a lot more to cotton than a boll. I told a designer friend I was headed to the fields and she put in a request for a huge bunch of big long stalks for her dining table arrangement. The children picked bags full of the soft stuff with all kinds of creative ideas for crafts. A beard for Santa Claus perhaps? Stuff a pillow? Make a sweater? Our trip also evoked some precious thoughts and political insights from our hostess, Valerie Fraser, and her parents. Check out her blog at Going Down to Mamas. I still have... |
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11/08/113rd Annual “Green Home Giveaway”Summer greens may be fading into fall color but not at mygreenbirmingham.com. Natalie Kelly, Birmingham’s green guru is gearing up for the 3rd annual “Green Home Giveaway.” The website and its partners will select one lucky winner to have their house transformed into an energy-efficient, eco-friendly home. Check out the goods: • A complete home energy audit provided by Eco Three • A heat pump water heater from Alabama Power • Sustainable landscaping by Portera Landscape Design • ToTo Bath Fixtures • Fixtures from Mayer Lighting • A variety of HVAC equipment • Windows/doors • Paint for 2 rooms • and MORE! The home winner will be featured... |
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11/04/11It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…We have just shipped our Holiday issue and are gearing up for the opening of our Inspiration Home on November 19. Around the office the talk is all Christmas. It seems Birmingham has the same idea. I was driving through Mountain Brook Village the other day and the decorations are going up! We have been receiving press releases about all the wonderful homes tours and shop open houses — we’ll keep you posted. Below are a few to put on your calendar. Hope to see you there! Birmingham Home & Garden Inspiration Home: Opens November 19. Historic Roebuck Springs: November 27 / www.roebucksprings.org/Events Bessemer Historical Holiday Home Tour: December 3-4 / 205.428.0070 IPC Tour of Homes: December 10/11/ www.ipc-usa.org <http://www.ipc-usa.org> |
10/13/11Installation UnderwayTracery Interiors is busy, busy, busy installing the Inspiration Home. Click here and check out their blog for more pictures of their progress! |
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10/06/11Acorn LoveMy child brought home a bag full of acorns the other day. She wanted to dump them out and count them. Yes, that would be a great math lesson. Of course my mind went to more creative ideas. Check out the following acorn-inspired décor I found on Pinterest. Some of these are pretty simple. Others might require hours with a glue gun. If only I had nothing else to do… Posted at 07:27 AM | Permalink | Comments: 2 |
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09/29/11Happy Anniversary!Not only is September/October our 10 year anniversary issue, this week marks my two year anniversary at Birmingham Home & Garden. In honor of this fun mark on the calendar, I thought I would revisit the traditional anniversary gifts and take another look at our contemporary choices. Soca, here I come… Traditional 1st • Paper 2nd • Cotton 3rd • Leather 4th • Fruit, Flowers 5th • Wood 6th • Iron 7th • Wool, Copper 8th • Bronze, Pottery 9th • Willow 10th • Tin, Aluminum BHG’S Contemporary 1st • Plane tickets from Brownell Travel 205.802.6222. 2nd • SOCA gift card 205.879.6788. 3rd • Gus Mayer Fall boots 205.870.3300. 4th • Perfume - “Oh Lola!”... |
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09/27/11Let the Season BeginI know I said I wasn’t ready for pumpkins, but much to my chagrin, I have two little girls who have been more than ready. Yes. I caved. But, I’m not ready for my pumpkins to… So we are going to hold off on the carving! Check out these fun ideas to prolong the life of your gourds. All you’ll need is a steady hand and a little creativity. All images from Pinterest. |
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09/22/11It’s Falling…I went for a walk the other day and noticed some early signs of fall. Joe Pye Weed is blooming, leaves are drying up, pinecones are piling up in the yard, and mums and pansies are in the garden shops. I’m not quite ready to decorate for Halloween or Thanksgiving yet, but I did feel the urge to refresh with some of nature’s bounty. Check out these images I found on Pinterest to put me in the fall mood. I love how this gardener used Joe Pye Weed in such a formal setting. Usually I see it growing along roadsides. I found a big crop of it down by the Cahaba. Might have to get my shovel out this weekend… What a great way to brighten up a container. Pull out the fading summer flowers and inject a little mum. I’m not ready to give up the summer... |
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09/20/11Cathy’s musings on perfection…I’m not perfect. I try really REALLY hard. But I’m not. I know this is so hard for you to believe (that is supposed to be funny) but I can’t get it right all the time. I have often said my job as editor of Birmingham Home & Garden is to promote YOU—the amazing talent in Birmingham. I love that I am still learning who you are and the new talents that I discover—or that kindly introduce themselves to me—continuously delight me with artistic skills and abilities. How I love showing you off! But, occasionally, (sigh), I mess up. Thank you for letting me know so I can do my best to make it right. I made two big mistakes in our Anniversary issue and I have to fess up. If you haven’t seen it, Meg and Armand Margjeka’s condo... |
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09/15/11Timeless StyleIf you haven’t been to any of the Third Thursday luncheons at King’s House, you are missing a great opportunity to learn about tips from the trade, enjoy a great lunch, and meet up with friends. This Thursday (today!) we will hear from interior designer Tammy Connor on timeless style. She has been immersed in the business since her early 20’s and has grown it into a nationally recognized firm. Throughout it all, she’s stayed true to the classics, antiques, and architectural envelope. She’s been featured in Coastal Living as an idea house designer, Renovation Style, and, of course, Birmingham Home and Garden.I met with Tammy in her office the other day to gain a little insight into her presentation. Her office (located in the former Brown House on Oxmoor... |
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09/13/11Brighten UpI would love to be in NYC right now. It’s fashion week and the buzz is color, color, and more color. Super bright hues are running the show, along with a daring mixing of bold patterns and graphic prints. We can live with these in our closet, but how do they look at home? Check out a few of these bright and beautiful combos straight from the runway. How daring will you be? all images via Pinterest |
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09/08/11Color of the YearI thought the “color of the year” was honeysuckle according to the trendsetting guru Pantone. But apparently there are more predominant favorites in Alabama. I visited the Publix in my Ole Miss T-shirt Labor Day weekend and was definitely among the minority in my red and blue. Crimson and white and blue and orange prevailed. Here are a few interiors that reflect Alabama’s favorite schemes!NOTE: ALL IMAGES FROM PINTEREST…CRIMSON AND WHITEChandelier: Okay, Alabama fans… couldn’t resist this. If you were at an Ole Miss tailgate, you would hang this in your tent. I’m still wondering if it could pass for red! Fabulous wallpaper (love the dress too). This would be dynamite in just about any setting. How would you use it? How much do you... |
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09/01/11What Are You Working On? Cathy contemplates the DIY project…When I was a kid, one of my teachers asked us what we wanted to do when we grew up. My fill-in-the-blank answer was, “make things.” I fancy myself a do-it-yourselfer. I’ve painted walls, furniture, reupholstered chair seats, and refinished furniture. Heck, I’ve even spent some time with the ol’ hot glue gun and tried quilting. Yes. I can do it.But frankly, when it comes down to it I get impatient and the perfectionist way down deep inside gets frustrated. So, most of my projects—no matter how well or how poorly executed they are—end up on the scrap floor. I greatly respect precision, skill, talent, creativity, and the perseverance to see a DIY project through to completion—and have it turn out well. Here are a few projects that I greatly... |
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08/30/11ARE YOU READY?I went to the beach last weekend. Though summer is not officially until September 23, Gulf Shores had that calm quiet of a fall weekend. The white sands were scarcely populated, the restaurant waits short or not at all, boats were few. School has started—and in most everyone’s mind, summer is over. But wait! Labor Day is this weekend! It is the last Hoo-Rah! It’s that wonderful bridge between swimming pool parties and football, white clothes and boot season (see last blog!). And hopefully, we’ll see that very first hint of a chill in the night air. Come on clear blue skies, colorful leaves, and Go Rebels (had to throw that in!). Let me know where you are spending your last glorious days of summer!A few photos to celebrate the coming season…perhaps the... |
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08/25/11RULES OF WHITESerious question here fashion friends: Can you / do you wear white after Labor Day or before Easter? I’ve been wearing my white jeans with everything these days. They are a favorite, and I’m afraid their lifespan will end with the approach of fall. Last year I took notes: There were plenty of white jeans to be seen in the “off season” — and why not? White is used year round in houses. (Though historically, if you were very wealthy, white was used primarily as slipcovers to brighten traditional, dark furnishings. Rugs were rolled away, and bare floors became the summer norm.) So. What are the new rules? Have they changed? Is this a case of house first, fashion second? Help me out here! Let me know which rules I can break and which ones I’m... |
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08/23/11Curb AppealI mowed my yard yesterday. Yes. I did it — all by myself! I donned my old tennis shoes, gym shorts, tank top, sunglasses, and facemask. I got out the old push mower and set about improving my curb appeal. I’m glad it was dusk. With my not-so-hot outfit, I usually try to hide in the shadows.Doing anything yourself certainly makes you appreciate the talents of professionals. How I long for a perfectly tended yard. I just got back from an amazing trip to Barnsley Gardens. The North Georgia Resort is designed around the ruins of an antebellum home. Cottages and gardens dot the property in neighborhood style. Check out these darling little guest houses and their perfectly manicured gardens. Even though it has been a hot August, they’re pretty pristine! |
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08/18/11QUOTES TO LIVE BYFor those of you who read my editor’s letter, you know that I love including quotes. I always look for a quote relevant to the content in the issue, or something that inspires me. In my house, I have handwritten notes and quotes taped to my mirrors, stuffed in drawers, and jotted in notebooks. Recently I came across a notebook that I think was made especially for me (not really…) Best part of all, you can get one too! They may not be Alabama made — but hey, the company is only one state over! www.sugarboodesigns.comThe lovely old school style notebook offers lined pages and perforations along the bottom. “Each stub has its own lovely message. Tear off and scatter into the world as you please!”A few of my favorites:“And above all, watch with... |
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08/16/11My Top 10While planning for our 10-year anniversary issue, we included several top 10 lists — things that have held their value or style or significance over the last decade.In preparation, I couldn’t help but think about my personal top 10 — the random things I haven’t been able to let go of or live without over the last 10 years. I’ve boiled it down to some pretty simple things (excluding God and basic needs of food, shelter, water)…1. My daughters, family, and friends.2. My old photo albums and cassette tapes.3. My iPod, computer, and television.4. My fleece jacket that I bought on one of my favorite trips ever (www.clayoquotwildernessresort.com). Every person in my family has tried to buy me a replacement because it's all raggy and dingy. Don’t... |
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08/11/11BLUE & WHITEOur upcoming issue celebrates Birmingham design and Birmingham Home and Garden’s 10-year anniversary. My how many things have changed in the past years — and wow how many things have stayed just the same. There are some classic looks that never change no matter what decade it is. I had so much fun thinking about looks I still love from years ago. One of my favorites? A simple palette of blue and white. Here are a few magazine tear sheets showing some of my uses for the tried-and-true combination. (SO glad I saved all of these!)Photo by: Timothy KolkI pulled this image from Elle Décor. I can’t even remember what year it was. But this East Village apartment still looks fresh with its eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary furnishings and walls painted... |
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08/09/11IH Update: BH&G Goes Shopping!The light breeze that is the Birmingham Home & Garden Inspiration Home is quickly gaining force. We had a great meeting with developer Charles Kessler, designer Doug Davis of Tracery Interiors (we missed you Paige), and our marketing coordinator, Susan Sutton (had to bring in some extra troops for this one!) The house is on deadline! Thank you Charles and your team and architect Chris Reebels! With such a rainy summer and the normal hiccups that comes along with building a house, this is truly a feat! It’s nearly complete! We’ll be installing furniture soon… but first, we have to order it… So…Our designers Paige Schell and Doug Davis are hitting the town Tuesday to begin their ordering process. Oh, I can’t wait to see what they pick out! Check... |
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07/31/11A VERY BIG THANKS!Photo shoots are not always as glamorous as they look. You usually see chaos, bags of equipment, the work crew, and pulled apart bouquets. There’s a lot of lifting, rearranging furniture, hauling in props, lugging equipment. But, for me, today was a glorious exception!Jean Allsopp (www.jeanallsopp.com) and I had the most amazing shoot for our anniversary issue (September-October 2011). I’m so grateful to the people who made it happen. And because they are all so gracious, they acted like it pulling it together was no big deal. But I know better! So thank you!How can photographer Jean Allsopp concentrate when there’s a Rembrandt behind her? Thank you interior designer Dana Wolter (www.danawolterinteriors.com) for propping, fluffing, rushing your seamstress, custom... |
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07/11/11Welcome!First, welcome! Thanks for checking in. For those of you who don’t read my Editor’s letter in the magazine, I suppose I should offer an introduction. My name is Cathy Still Johnson. I have had the pleasure of serving as editor for Birmingham Home & Garden for almost two years. Before my stint here, I worked at Coastal Living, Southern Accents, and freelanced for many other national magazines. With almost 20 years in the publishing business, I’ve had the pleasure and honor of visiting hundreds of homes—many in our lovely city. In this blog, I’m going to be sharing a behind-the-scenes look at what I do and what inspires me. I hope you’ll join me. I think we’re in for some fun. |
