Inspirational Design: an Interview with James Michael Howard

My favorite stores in Atlanta are Mrs. Howard and Max & Company. The Atlanta stores are situated in a high end retail area designed to have the look and feel of classic city townhouses; both Mrs. Howard and Max & Company are three levels, finished to feel like luxurious homes. Of course I love the furniture and accessories in the store, but truthfully I get just as much inspiration from the

A Bungalow Transformation

One of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the Buckhead area of Atlanta is called 'Haynes Manor'. The neighborhood was developed between the late 1920s and the 1940s; most of the homes are charming bungalows, cottages, and small manor style homes influenced by French and English style. I have shown quite a few pictures of homes from Haynes Manor on my blog through the years, and this is the

NYT Article on Interior Design in the Recession

Armando Bellmas for The New York TimesWhile checking out the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Facebook page, I found a link to this fascinating article in the home section of the New York Times. The subject: interior design during the recession, and how the industry is getting a 'renovation' given the tough times and the changing needs and expectations of consumers. Phoebe Howard (pictured above), a

Eureka 4700D

Eureka 4700D
The 1st review is WRONG!
The previous 1st review of this vacuum is absolutely wrong and is probably referring to a different model. 1st of all, this model DOES NOT have a Hepa filter. So there is no way the door holding the filter on could be coming loose, since it doesn't exist. 2nd of all, this vacuum is surprisingly very light. And is probably the lightest vaccuum of it's size. Lastly, as of this date, this model is brand new, and has only been on the market for a few weeks, so there is no way anyone could have had it for a few months. Also, to get service on a Eureka vacuum under the warranty, you only need to take it to a authorized repair shop. There are many of these in most major cities.

I have only had this vacuum a few weeks, but it works well. It seems to be constructed well, and will hopefully last longer then my previous Eureka, which only went for 1 year, but this one seems to be constructed better. I especially like the auto height adjustment feature, and the fact that this vaccum is light and easy to maneuver. In my opinion it is a good buy for the price.

Asian Luxury Alila Cha-Am Hotel in Thailand by Architect Duangrit Bunnag

Designed by one of Thailand’s leading architects, Duangrit Bunnag, Alila Cha-Am is a tropical getaway that defies convention. Set in the charming coastal town of Cha-Am, on the north west coast of the Gulf of Thailand, this luxurious beachside resort is designed to be a sophisticated and contemporary lifestyle destination. From the grand entrance stairway to the rooftop reflecting pool, every

Khayangan Private Villa In Bali’s Ultimate Luxury Estate

From the Sanskrit word for ‘Seventh Heaven’, Khayangan Estate brings you to a place where the Gods themselves might choose to dwell: a blend of new and old, taking the romance of the past and combining it with the modern comforts and technology of today in Bali’s ultimate luxury estate.Cliff Side Sunsets PavilionsKhayangan Estate is a fully self-contained, private luxury estate set in 1.5

Vanishing Threshold

A few months ago, my friend Terry of Architecture Tourist emailed me about a wonderful blog by landscape designer and author Tara Dillard called 'Vanishing Threshold: Home Garden Life'. Since that time, I have become a huge fan of her blog - her posts really cause me to think about the relationship between the home and the garden in a different way. As much as I enjoy Tara's blog, it was one

Thank you, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles!

I received my September Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles magazine in the mail yesterday, and was thrilled to see that my blog was selected as a feature in the 'A to Z Guide to Style in Atlanta'.Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles is one of the premiere magazines in Atlanta, and features the most beautiful homes and gardens in the Southeast. Given that Atlanta has so many nationally recognized designers,

Contemporary Semi-Detached House in London By Belsize Architects

The property, a semi-detached house designed by London based architects Belsize Architects and located on a quiet road leading to Hampstead Heath,London comprised a maisonette and a flat, with an old extension to the rear. The main architectural interventions to the exterior consisted of a new extension with a terrace above and redesign of the rear elevation to create large openings. The brief

New on the market: a Buckhead home with 'celebrity' connections

There is a quiet street in the heart of Buckhead that I consider to be one of the most charming and beautiful in all of Atlanta. I love to walk my dog in this area; if this area is called 'the jewel box of Atlanta', then this street is one of the crown jewels. There are several homes on this street that are currently for sale; a sign of the times, perhaps, because homes on this street usually

The View from the Front Door

I love houses, and find the differences in home designs to be fascinating. One thing I always notice is what I see when I enter the front door. Is there a view from the front to the back? Are the stairs immediately in front? Perhaps this is too much of a generalization, but it seems like many older homes often have a wall or stairs on a wall when entering a house. It also seems like many homes

Tudor and English Style Houses

As much as I love the symmetry of a beautiful Georgian style house, I also find myself myself drawn to interesting and often asymmetrical Tudor and English style houses. Given the diversity in architectural styles in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, there are quite a few examples to illustrate my fascination with this style!When I think of Tudor style, I immediately think of decorative half

Miyasaka Family Residence in Obihiro, Japan by Robert Harvey Oshatz Architect

Here is the Architectural works of Miyasaka Family Residence by an artistic architects Robert Harvey Oshatz. This is a beautiful and unique modern residence which is located in Obihiro, Japan. Typical of urban design and was conceived to appear as a radiant jewel in the midst of an urban garden oasis. Miyasaka residence bridges the aesthetics of two disparate cultures, emblematic of neither, yet

The HB Color Personality Quiz

Interior design by Vincente WolfIn 'The Last Words' section of the September 2009 House Beautiful issue, there is a color personality test. Here is how I answered the questions - I don't think you will be surprised to read the answers! When looking through my inspiration files (the thousands of images on my computer), I found much supporting evidence of my color personality.Q: What is the