Home for the Holidays....it is the little things!

I get so excited when the Christmas magazines start to arrive. I ❤

looking at all the gorgeous Christmas decorating ideas. Even more

exciting is seeing the Atlanta Christmas Showhouse. It is one of 

my favorite holiday treats! 

This years Showhouse, sponsored by the The Atlanta Home and Lifestyle magazine,

was loaded with great interior design and holiday decor. Visitors use to not be able

to take photographs, but with all of the media coverage and bloggers attending 

the preview party, great photos are easy to find. 

I am going to share with you some of the pictures I captured with my phone.

This is the last weekend that the house will be open to the public. If you like

what I am sharing, it may make you want to visit this Holiday Home for 

yourself! But if it is not your taste or workable in your schedule, at the end

of the post, I will share links of the tour from two very talented, bloggers. 

They are lot better photographers than I am! Their pictures are great and 

will show you the entire house! 

Beautiful gift wrapped packages were tucked in many of

the rooms.

This pine cone wreath is on the family den doors that

lead out to the loggia.

Magnolias were used in the family den on the bookshelves and game table. 

The designers used just the right amount of holiday trimmings, so the rooms

were festive, but not overdone! 

I really like this idea in the guest powder room. They used a glass and brass

snack table. They were popular a number of years back to slide between 

sectional seating. This made an excellent accent table for a narrow 

powder room. 

This is another shot of the same powder room. 

Another interesting detail in this room was the sink. 

Here is a closeup so you can see how it works! 

This was a lighted display area at the end of a hallway intersection. 

It is a great place to display art work and holiday accessories. It is

a great focal point for an otherwise boring hall area.

I loved this fabric and trim. So many people were asking about it! 

This pattern was another fabric that was getting raves. It was used for

pillows in a pair of chairs. If you like this look in the living room, be sure

and look at the links at the end.

I loved the stone they used on the counter tops. It has a green veining 

that runs through it. The kitchen designer did a great mix

of different metals in the kitchen! They blend so beautifully you hardly 

register it at first that their is brass, copper and nickle all present!

This is the flooring in the back entrance. Love the cross shaped stones and

the funky, black chair and wallpaper!

This light in the mudroom/laundry room gives off some

interesting light shadows.

Every nook and cranny was used in the upstairs office! 

Interesting mobile tucked into a corner of the bedroom. That is a 

3D pattern on the walls behind the chair.

There is so much more to see in this fabulous house.  I am sharing two 

bloggers' blog post. 

Jennifer Schoenberger, at Vreeland Road,

Serious Holiday Inspiration!

Rhoda, at Southern Hospitality, who did her post in two parts.

Southern Hospitality Part 1

Part 2

I hope you each enjoy this Holiday House as much as I did! 

Have you Decked your Halls?

Design on the Half Shell

Large clam shells are popping up all over the design world. 

My husband recently surprised me with a real one! 

They have become so popular that they are now

being produced in resin. They are ideal in any room,

even if you don't have a coastal feel. They are perfect

to offer texture and make ideal holders for a variety 

of items or can be beautiful all on their own!

Beverage holder

So sit back and enjoy all the uses I can show you.

If you can think of another way to use a clam shell, please leave me 

a message in the comments below! 

Orchid Planter

Used as a sink in a casual, nautical inspired powder room.

Or in a very formal powder room, as a vessel sink, on top

of a mirrored console.

They make beautiful seasonal containers. This one is full of Spring Flowers!

In the Summer they are perfect for succulents.

You can use a shell instead of a Cornucopia for Thanksgiving!

What a beautiful Christmas arrangement! 

They are especially beautiful filled with shells. 

Hydrangeas are another type of flower, that are beautiful placed 

in a clam shell. 

A great idea to fill up a fireplace that you don't use.

They are also great used as a stand alone accessory in a fireplace. 

(This picture is in Ali Wentworth and George Stephanopoules's living room.)

What did I do with my clam shell? We have a large collection of all types, sizes 

and colors of shells and coral. I have mine full of shells and in our bay window,

for now. But I have lots of other possibilities in mind for it!

If you would like to know more about the clam shells....

The giant clam, Tridacna gigas, is one of the numerous clam species that exist in the coral reefs of the South Pacific and Indian oceans. As the name suggests, these are huge clams, so much so that they are regarded as the largest extant species of bivalve molluscs. Owing to the fact that they occur in marine environment, the giant clams belong to the family Cardioidea, to which all the other saltwater clams belong. These creatures were first documented by an Italian explorer, as early as 1521. Since then, the giant clams have been studied in great detail

Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/interesting-facts-about-the-giant-clam.html

E-mail Readers see below...

Click on the title of the post in Blue (at the top) to view this post online. You can see recent posts, other blogs I like, my archives and the links I post on the right sidebar. Some things do not translate as well in email. If you see there is a problem just click over. It is a more enjoyable reading experience. Thank you so much for following my blog. There is also a sign up link available to receive this blog by email and another one to sign up for my newsletter Southern~Design~Style..

source: El Decor, House Beautiful, Coastal Living, Pinterest

Designers just want to have fun! (and learn)

I do believe that things happen for a reason. During

the holiday season of 2002, I attended a lovely designer luncheon

at the Madison Gallery in the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center.  

I was by myself and started to look around for a place to sit. 

I saw one empty seat at a table and decided to approach the group 

and ask if I could join them. I sat down next to a very 

lovely lady named Gail. In listening to their conversation, I realized that 

all these designers seemed to be part of a group. Gail leaned over 

to explain that they belong to an organization called

the Atlanta Designers' Network. She asked me if I would

like to visit a meeting. Business cards were exchange. After the holidays,

I wondered if she would follow through with the invitation.

About the middle of January 2003, I heard from Gail and in February 

I attended my first ADN membership meeting. Little did I know what 

a wonderful adventure I was starting. This fabulous group of designers

has offered me rewarding friendships and excellent networking

opportunities. We meet every month, except July, and have had some 

excellent programs. Over the years I have served on the board 

of this group as Marketing chairman, President and this

year I am the Program Chairman. I would love to take credit for 

our November program, but many hands were involved in 

putting it together. We had such a great experience, 

that I want to share it with you.

We went to Pirch! What/Where you ask? 

Pirch is located in the heart of Buckhead, across from Phipps Plaza, 

at 3535 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, Georgia.

It offers a carefully-vetted array of premium lifestyle products for the home, 

from indoor- and outdoor-kitchens and laundry appliances, 

to personal wellness systems, bath fixtures and decorative plumbing.

We entered from the upper parking deck. To your left is

a beautiful LaCornue stove in turquoise. Straight ahead is the

welcome area, where you can get fruit infused water or coffee.

What a beauty!

Our tour guide was the lovely Michelle McGuire, 

the Director of Marketing and Development for Pirch.

She walked us around the showroom and answered 

our numerous questions. 

To our right was a group of lovely bath accessories.

We saw groups of washer and driers. Along with a...

a steam closet! 

Most of the sinks, tubs and showers 

are actually plumbed. 

We were like little kids, 

turning the water off and on! 

You even get a chance to meet the Stones! 

Don't you just love this tub!

We then turned a corner and there was the Sanctuary. 

The Sanctuary is in a separate room 

that has draperies that draw across the door (no windows).

The reason for the privacy is because you can schedule

a time to go into the Sanctuary in your bathing suit or 

birthday suit! to try out the showers!

These are some of the shower heads that are available in the Sanctuary.

Here are some of the many faucets you can choose from.

These can be lifted off the display and moved to your choice of sinks.

They have a large selection of unusual vanities. 

and toilets.

This style you just wave your hand across the top 

and voila, it opens and shuts all by itself!

Beautiful vessel bowls of all shapes, sizes and materials.

Scattered around the showroom are quotes that 

speak to you... 

and detail information about their products.

This kitchen had a wine refrigerator and to the right 

of it is a wine dispenser. 

A number of brands of appliances are shown with a 

knowledgeable team to answer your questions.

I am sure there are some Tennessee fans that would love

a big orange range! 

With all of these kitchens we saw, we were starting 

to get a little hungry! 

As we neared the outdoor kitchens, we started to 

smell something good! 

One thing the ADN members love to do is eat! 

We were treated to a magnificent meal. Rumor has it

that if you visit Pirch around lunchtime, you will 

be invited to sit and have a plate. 

It would have been wonderful to sit and stay for awhile. But

business calls, so as hugs are exchange and goodbyes said,

the designers scatter to find new fabrics, furniture or search for that

perfect something for their clients!

We know we will get together again next month! 

Source: Debbie Jacobs Designs