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

So many Designer Showhouses! So little time....

There are so many Designer Showhouses each year 

and so little time to see them. Let alone think about

blogging about all of them! 

Southeastern Showhouse 2016

I have been saving pictures and information on some of 

the best of 2016. So I thought I would go through and 

choose some of my favorite rooms to share with you! 

Artist Rendering - House and Gardens

This year was the first I can remember in a very long time that 

Atlanta did not have the Symphony Decorator Showhouse. But they 

definitely went BIGGER with the Southeaster Showhouse. 

This was one of the largest Showhomes I can remember. It was very 

well done and worth the time it took to explore each and every room! 

Here are some of my favorites! 

Rivers Spencer Interiors - Upstairs Living Room 

 Phoebe Howard - Master Bedroom 

 Parker Kennedy Guest Room 

Lisa Mende - Side Porch

Back and pool area of the Alabama Decorator Showhouse

One of my favorite Showhouses takes place 

in Birmingham, Alabama. This year it was on Leeds Road. 

We have close friends that live there and we always

enjoy going to the Showhouse with them and learning

about the local history of the homes. 

Living Room

Dining Room

Downstairs Guest Bedroom

 Kitchen - Cyndy Cantley

Laundry Room - Cyndy Cantley

Here is a Showhouse I would love to attend. It is the 

Hampton Designer Showhouse. It is only fourteen years old. 

Which is young in showhouse years. This is where you will find

some of the most familiar names and stars in the design world!

Dining Room - Mendelson Group

Covered Dining Porch - Erin Gates

Bunk Bedroom - Dodson Interiors

Each year, celebrated interior designers transform a luxury Manhattan

 home into an elegant exhibition of fine furnishings, art and technology. 

This all began in 1973 when several dedicated supporters of 

the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club launched the Kips Bay 

Decorator Show House to raise critical funds 

for much needed after school and enrichment programs 

for New York City children. 

Foyer staircase

Dining Room - Alex Papachristidis

Kitchen/ Bar Clive Christian

Master Bedroom - Drake and Anderson

Welcome to the 2016 Southern Living Idea House! In honor of their 50th anniversary, 

They picked five of the South's best designers –Mark D. Sikes, Lauren Liess, 

Margaret Kirkland, Ashley Gilbreath, and Amy Berry – and set them loose 

to decorate this beautiful Mt Laurel cottage. Designed by architect 

Bill Ingram, the space is a fresh take on traditional Southern style without 

sacrificing any of the charm.

Dining Room - Margaret Kirkland

Pajama Lounge - Amy Berry

Last  but not least, I want to share this link with you

that shows the rest of the 2016 Cashiers Showhouse. 

Thank you to Savvy Southern Style for her post 

on the "tiny house" at Cashiers this year.

Go here to see the " Not That Small!" house

There are so many Showhouses with so many rooms! You can google 

each of these Showhouses and find more picture available on each one. 

I hope you enjoyed our tour and this was just the East Coast! 

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..

The early designer does not get the best view!

Every August I start looking forward to the

Cashiers Decorator Showhouse! 
After gathering all the important info, I rounded up 
the Touring Gals and we started making plans.

It seems the older we get the more complicated 
our lives get. This year we had a new grandson's visit,
pre-wedding planning and a beach trip to work our schedule around.
That left us with opening day as the best date for 
the four of us to go. Well we found out real
quick that you don't want to go the first day! 

Everybody from North, South, East and West 
were heading to Highlands and Cashiers that day!
Of course by the time we hit Highlands, 
we had to stop at the Old Edwards Inn for a libation! 

We should have known we were not off to a good start, 
when a bus got stuck in front of us on the way into the showhouse! 
The grounds at Burt Farm are beautiful and we got 
to enjoy them as we shuttled in and out by golf cart. 

We were quite surprised when we cleared the front door. 
The home seemed much bigger from the outside. 
It was packed everywhere with people. I could not
have got a clear shot if I had tried.
Thankfully the internet is a lifesaver at a time like this!
 I actually enjoyed looking for pictures, because I was 
able to see so many details that I had missed because 
of the crowds! It was also extremely hot that day, so 
the temperature inside the house was sweltering!

Lynn Monday Home

We entered into a small Foyer and were instructed to
go left to the Master Bedroom. 

CJ Brownhouse Interiors - Judy Henson
This room was lovely with beautiful bedding and antique pieces. 

I love the lucite bench she used at the end of the bed. 

The Designers Market - Susan SanSouci

Such an incredible use of space in the Master Bath.
Just love it!

The art work,this designer used over the tub in the Master Bath, 
was one of my favorite things in the house! 

Lynn Monday Home

Lynn Monday really picked up the mountain feel in the Study.
It is an elegant room without looking to much like a cabin.

Patricia McLean Interiors
Atlanta, Ga.

Atlanta's own Patricia McLean had the Living Room to design 
and what a fabulous style she presented.

Mark Williams Design Associates
Niki Papadopoulos and Mark Williams, Atlanta, Ga.

This is the Family Entrance. Doesn't it make you feel welcome?

Lisa Williams Interiors

Liz Williams made the Dining Room so inviting by bringing
all of the natural colors of the outside in! The background of
the draperies were the perfect green for the Cashiers area.

Joan Anderson Interiors

Joan Anderson used the same wonderful green, brown and 
soft yellow to bring the outside colors in the Kitchen
and Breakfast Room. Great view to start your day!

McLaurin Interiors
Maria McLaurin

When you are ready to enjoy cooking on the grill, 
this Outdoor Dining space is a great place
 to enjoy friends and conversation! 

You have a beautiful view of the grounds from the Outdoor area. 

Back of the property

This is Part 1 of Showhouse Tour. Be sure and check back for the upstairs
and other cottages on the grounds. 

EMAIL READERS:

Click on the title of the post in Blue (sometimes in coral) (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 don't transfer as well in email. So just click over to be able to see the entire post. 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
in the right hand column.
There are links to Previous Post on the Cashiers Showhouse in the right hand column.

source: Savvy Southern Style, NC Living.com