Mountain Home

After spending a family vacation in Breckenridge the week before Christmas, it rekindled Mr. MD and my desire to move west.  My head started spinning with building a home that would suit us until we're too old to drive. :)  When I got home the new edition of Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles magazine was waiting for me. 

I was particularly drawn to architect D. Stanley Dixon's design of a mountain home for an Atlantan couple in Cashiers, NC.  The interior designer on the project was Nancy Warren (photographer Emily Jenkins Fellowill) who had a great vision for the interiors to give a warm mountain feel.

I particularly love the North Carolina fieldstone entry into the home and the creamy horizontal wood paneling. 

Just because a home is in the mountains does not mean there has to be a primitive look to it. Rich warm textures in the textiles and aged wood on the walls layers this comfy room.

A mix of the elegant and rustic.

The kitchen is large enough for a long farm table and opens up into the dining room with a stone fireplace.  Love the dark stained plank floors and the rustic beams on the ceiling.

This is a great look featured in Elle Decor.  Plank floors again, lighter in color and wall of book cases.

Suzanne Kasler's design in a beautiful log cabin as seen in her book Inspired Interiors.  She uses rough hewn wood and  horizontal wood paneling and logs to frame the four poster bed.  The linen on the bed softens the hardness of the wood.

The cabinetry here is stained to match the old wood....beautiful.  No upper cabinets which I like.

 Put that in the file!

The antiques look very pretty against the rough background.

These few images have gotten my head spinning...it will be a few years down the road but definitely something to build upon and add to!

♥

Do you need help making your house into a lovely home?

Contact MD for design services. 

Suzanne Kasler

Yesterday I had the privilege of spending the afternoon with 

Suzanne Kasler 

(along with 100 other designers). 

It was lovely to hear her thoughts that go into the interiors she designs.  She highlighted several pieces of her work including her own home from her book, 

Inspired Interiors. 

This is the entry to her home which she had faux painted stone on the walls...beautiful. She loves the idea of a non-traditional entry, I think this says 'welcome' immediately.

This really grabbed me, I love the runner on the stairs and the mix of art going up the stairs. 

Suzanne bought this lovely tapestry at the Paris flea market and rolled it up and stuffed in in a 'roll-on' suitcase to get home. It became the focal of her family room.

Love this corner, note the mix of art.

This is a fabulous corner that she designed with a John Saladino settee.  I love the screen.  I can imagine sitting and having a glass of champagne.

Suzanne loves stripes and you will see them in many of her designs.  If you will notice, many of her walls are white, but there is no sense of a 'white' room because of her use of textiles. 

This project SK worked with Keith Summerour Architects. This area sits above the living area and was open, the architect designed the lovely wall of windows to envelope the space...beautiful.

Notice again the stripes, I love this space.

Suzanne also adores the 'X' motif that she also uses in much of her design.

I am enamored with this room.  I don't know that I would have the guts.  Walls and drapes the same color, note the mix of chairs at the table...love that!  SK told the homeowner that if they did not like the color she would pay to have it changed.  

Of course they loved it!

I most definitely was inspired.  Her parting words were 'be true to yourself'.  Love that!

Thank you Suzanne, you are lovely and ooze with talent.  You inspire Me!

♥

Do you want to make your house a lovely home?

Contact MD for online or in person design!

Suzanne Kasler - In Her Office

I had the good fortune to meet Suzanne Kasler briefly at an event at Atlanta's Americas Mart a year or so ago. (here) I would enjoy very much sitting with her and chatting about design and soaking in a wee bit of her talent.  She and her office are being featured in the May issue of Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles magazine.  I urge you to get a copy and thumb the pages, you are sure to not be disappointed. 

Her office is full of light and keeps a beautiful neutral palate.  She is located at the Galleries of Peachtree Hills, right next door to Atlanta Decorative Arts Center, I wonder if she needs an errand run? 

There are oversized drum shades (by Boyd Lighting) defining each work area (with the scanned photo, the shade over the one table is not visible).  The half wall of shelves and drawers (from Ikea) provide privacy for the design team behind them.  The ottoman you see is from Suzanne's collection for Hickory Chair.  

This wall of baskets with fabrics and other design elements is just what I need!

Tables from West Elm, chairs from Pottery Barn, Circa Lighting.

Here you can also see her design team at work.  Suzanne has her hand in many 'pots'.  She and her team work on new product development including her line at Hickory Chair, as well as, lighting with Visual Comfort and rugs by Safavieh.  She has already begun styling with Ballard Designs and this fall will introduce accessories, rugs and wall art.  A year from now, Spring 2011, her fabric collection with Lee Jofa will debut as outlined in the article. 

A design project in action.  

I wonder, with all that Suzanne has going on if she gets much sleep.

Be sure and check out the full article at Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles.

I would have never thought I would live in Atlanta where there is so much design talent.  I am grateful for all of the events that center around design here!  

photography by Erica George Dines

story text by Clinton Smith