Christmas at Callanwolde; my Second Year!

I was honoured to have been invited back to do a few rooms for the Designer Showhouse at Christmas at Callanwolde.  This year, I did the Foyer, The Great Hall, and The Grand Stairway Greenery.

Here are some pictures from our Premier Party,....many taken in my rooms!

BTW: I'm the one in the RED tails (as if you didn't know that).........

All photos courtesy of David Fisher

Enjoy!

Cheers!
Mark.

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS!!!!!!!!

My Mission chairs, waiting for their new look.

...thought I'd blog about my upholstery-projects,...and give a SHOUT-OUT to my upholsterer for over 12 years, Aaron Richmond, owner of: M. SOUTHERN DESIGN CONCEPTS, Norcross, Georgia.

I met Aaron in 2000, and, after seeing his workmanship on a pair of chairs he did for one of my antique-dealer-friends,......hired him then-and-there for my first upholstery project,....and have used him EXCLUSIVELY since then.

Last week, I stopped-by and gave Aaron about 8-12 projects I need for my Designer Showhouse at: Christmas at Callanwolde.  He's such a Good-Listener,.....and I appreciate him telling me what I CAN and CANNOT do (sometimes we designers have the IDEAS,.....but sometimes our ideas do not interpret into REALITY.....).

My black/tan hounds tooth fabric and black leather for contrast-welt on a pair of ottomans.

Wait'll you see how Aaron at M. Southern Design uses my 

antique Caucasion rug on my Mission chairs....

Wait'll you see what I do with these ottoman frames!

Aaron's input is ALWAYS appreciated by this designer.

Here are some photos to share with y'all........your upholstery project is only as good as the skilled-WORKERS involved......

My good friend, Aaron Richmond, owner of M.Southern, my ONLY upholsterer for over 12 years.

Proud upholsterer!!!!

Skilled worker at: M. Southern Design.

Skilled worker at: M. Southern Design.

Another careful upholsterer.......

Why I've used M.Southern for over 12 years: attention-to-DETAIL!!!

Kudos, Aaron!   Kudos, M. SOUTHERN DESIGN CONCEPTS!!!

Cheers,
Mark.

Look what I just found!!!!

Found this as Deborah and I were re-organizing my Design Studio last week.

So touched, as Mrs. Sparks, was, by far, my FAVOURITE teacher......she ROCKED as a 5th-grade teacher,....and she ROCKS today,....as a volunteer, walker, and fund-raiser for The American Cancer Society.

Here's to TEACHERS everywhere!!!

Cheers,

Mark.

DEC' (orate.....) Your Halls!!! ......and enter Scot Meacham Wood's contest!

The Season is upon us,.....since MOST of us do NOT wait until Christmas Eve to decorate their tree (I'd LOVE to hear,...and blog,...about those of you who wait.....), here's a national contest that all of my Peeps can enter...

As you might remember from LAST YEAR (2011),......my fireplace at Christmas at Callanwolde, which Norren Kloc, my decorative artist and faux-finisher, decorated for me, WON FIRST PLACE in Scot's mantle category,......AND, my tartan-filled Christmas tree, also at Callanwolde in my Billiards Room, won SECOND PLACE in Scot's "Best-Christmas-Tree contest.........

So,....of course I plan to enter again this year,.......YOU SHOULD, TOO!!!

...and, while you're at it,.....sign up for Scot Meacham Wood's blog,.....bar-none,...the BEST blog on Interior Design I know of.......

Cheers!

M.

How does Your Garden Grow? Here's Mine.......

One of my favourite things on Earth is my Front Garden,....my Side Garden, and my Back Garden.  Here are some photos of my Front Garden,.....I just weeded and swept the sidewalks,.....and gave the garden a good drink.

When I bought this house in 1995, it had a front yard (that I mowed), a side yard (that I mowed) and a back yard ,.....a BIG backyard....(that I mowed).  Over the years I've replaced all grass with GARDENS, fountains, and stone patios.  BTW: I DONATED my lawn mower over 6 years ago to our Local Fire Station, Atlanta #23,....right around the block from me.  Uncle Mark don't need to mow no more..........!!!

I had this River Rock fountain installed in the Side Garden......(with my many goldfish...).  Scott Arnold's company did a GREAT job on my fountain, ...AND those killer columns I designed out front.

I'd LOVE for you to send me photos of YOUR Gardens!

Gardening: It's A Good Thing!

Cheers!
Mark.