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Remember when I told you about this house that I fell in love with on the Modern Atlanta House Tour? Apparently Metropolitan Home found the house as well*. Their photographer Mali Azima provided pictures of it that are far superior to the ones I took on my iPhone! While they have some great shots of the branch chandelier and the folk art collection, they did not show the mask wall! I am not finding this spread on PointClickHome as of yet, so to check it out, you’ll have to buy the December issue and turn to page 134. UPDATE! It’s up, just click here to check it out over at pointclickhome. There was another interesting article written about the home you can check out for free in Creative Loafing.

To see more work by the home’s owner/architects Cara Cummins and Jose Tavel, check out their firm’s website at TaCStudios.com. Also, many of the self-taught artists whose work you see in the home are represented at one of my very favorite spots in Georgia, Around Back at Rocky’s Place.

*I’m trying to remember if Met Home was a sponsor of the tour; I am 99% sure that they were, but the Modern Atlanta website is down at the moment so I cannot confirm. UPDATE: Yes, Met Home was a sponsor, and the MA website is back up! Personally, I prefer a house tour such as this one to one “Idea House.” I think it provides a magazine with so much more to share with their readers. I’m sure an idea house probably helps the magazine strike deals with advertisers, and in the already overcrowded shelter mag category this is likely crucial to help them stay alive (O At Home is the latest one to bite the dust), but the feeling of one big advertising spread is apparent in a lot of Idea Home pages.

Veranda, September, October 2006, Photo by Laura Resen

It can be quite a daunting task to find just the right thing for oneself. One must consider the size and shape of the room, and how many guests are typically around the table. Is one's lifestyle casual? Formal? And, very importantly, what can one afford? These are all of the practical considerations. But then there are the preferential considerations. What does one "like"?

I have been on the hunt for a Dining Room table for my family for a few years now. My criteria: it has to be round, or nearly so; it must seat up to 10; it can't be too formal; I prefer wood because it is more forgiving and I like the warmth; and I would love to have something unique. I can go contemporary with an antique chair or antique with a more contemporary chair.

Well...to cut the the chase, I saw this table in Veranda magazine and thought "this is it!" It's perfect! It seats eight, it's wood, it's beautiful and unique. Any sort of chair would look wonderful with it. And one thing that really matters to me: one can comfortably fit crossed legs under the "skirt" of the table. It has these wonderful Palladian arched openings. There are no sharp edges to bump a leg on. Even better: it was designed by Robsjohn-Gibbings.

The down side: it was designed by Robsjohn-Gibbings and is VERY unique. In fact I can't find another to even look at, much less purchase. ( A little help 1st dibs?)This particular table is owned by Dara Caponigro, decorating editor of Domino Magazine. You may have caught it in this new book:

Photo from Amazon Website

So Dara, if you ever want to talk. If you are planning to move into, say, a bigger place where this table just won't work anymore, could you please......just shoot me an email? I would really appreciate it. I have started a fund. Perhaps by the time I have enough in "the fund", you may have moved on to something new? Just a thought. Call me.

Inspiration Explosion: 14 Resources For Creativity!

Could it be? Can it be? 
(She scratched her head.
She scratched her head again.)

Apparently it could be and can be.

And is.

But you see, it's really all about you, friendly reader.  Yes, You.

You came, you went.
You came again.
And it added up, you see.

It added up to one million.
To one million visits to this little blog.
(She scratched her head.
She scratched her head again.)

And so in honor of the time you took to visit a girl in a far away olive grove in Marrakech.......
you are cordially invited to the Great My Marrakech Give Away!

(Dr. Seuss-like trumpets blare,  children clap their hands with glee! A thousand balloons are set free in the air.... )

The rules are simple (because the blogging girl is known - even at the best of times - to be easily confused).

Just leave a comment.  Any comment will do.  Big ones, small ones, fat ones, skinny ones, nice ones (Oh please, not mean ones).  This is an equal opportunity give away after all.....

After a series of blind taste tests before a panel of esteemed judges involving a random numbers generator and rabbits pulled out of hats with game show-like flourishes (you see, she was confused already) a winner will be announced.....and a gift handpicked by the blogging girl will be put in a box and tied with a bow.  And sent off .....perhaps to you.  Yes, perhaps to you. 

(Tempt your fate, a little voice whispered.....)

I thought this was such a clever wreath alternative (found at Country Living)! And easy? You can beat it! Do you guys laugh behind my back at all the simple ideas I find? So many of you are brilliantly creative, I stand in awe of your genius. Me? I would be pleased with myself for stuffing greenery in my shopping tote and hanging it from a nail. My kind of craftiness!

You can find more re-purposing ideas for holiday decorating over at HomeGoods for my last featured blogging post! Come bid me farewell and maybe get inspired for your holiday decorating this weekend!

Win Martha Stewart Home Decorating Products Every Friday Via Apartment Therapy’s Holiday Giveaway!

Friday Nov 28 – win a Constellation Rug (approximately 6’ x 9’ size) from Martha Stewart Rugs; select from five available colors.

Friday Dec 5 – win an occasional table from Martha Stewart Furniture with Bernhardt. Choose one of five selected styles!

Friday Dec 12 – win Martha Stewart Floor Designs with FLOR Needlepoint Stripe 30-tile rug in any color (approx. 8’ x 10’)

Friday Dec 19 – Win an exclusive signed print from Martha Stewart Framed Photography. Choose one of three prints!

To enter and visit, go to www.apartmenttherapy.com/holidaygiveaway2008 and click on the picture of the week’s Martha Stewart giveaway!
For even more home decorating ideas from Martha Stewart go to www.marthastewart.com/shop

Sorry, I've been away from this blog. The biggest thing coming up is Modern Economy's (first ever) Online Sale starting Wednesday, October 8, 2008 at 9:00 AM (PST).

After getting many requests to bring this sale to cities everywhere, I figured the best thing is just to put practically the entire sale online to give everyone a taste of what our sales are like. As usual, everything will be up to 80% off. Although this is a sample sale, much of our merchandise is first quality overstock. And just like our regular city-based sales, it's only for a limited time. Originally, I had planned for it to be 24-hour sale, but I've extended it another day. This sale is now only 48-hours long. So arrive early to our website for the best selection!

And join our mailing list, too. Individuals on our list will get special privileges and will also be entered in a drawing to win $200 in merchandise.

Here are some of the products you'll find at the sale:

Tablecloth, napkins, dishtowels from Simrin

Adorable and stylish vases from Joana Mendicino.

Eco-friendly hemp and linen pillows by Balanced Design.

Remember my post on the late Gene Hovis- the man whose gorgeous home and envy-inducing linen and silver collection piqued my fascination? Well, he popped up again, this time in the Tiffany Gourmet Cookbook. (Not that this is news or anything. The book was published in 1992.)

Hovis' library/dining room was the setting for this elegant meal. I know, I know- I've read where many are tired of the library cum dining room concept. But don't you kind of fall in love all over again with the idea when you see how smashing Hovis' dining room looks? Good books, good food, and a beautifully appointed room. Really, what could be better?

The menu consisted of Crown Roast of Lamb with brussel sprouts, deviled carrots, and pan-fried shredded potatoes, served on Tiffany's "Yellow Bird" faience platter. Hovis also included a yummy looking tomato aspic with shrimp and crawfish nestled on a Tiffany ribbed silver tray. (And please, don't knock the tomato aspic- it's really good. I swear!).

The dessert course- coffee profiteroles with chocolate sauce- is laid out in front of a 19th century French hand-blocked paper screen- yes, I am coveting this. And wouldn't you be pleased to take tea or coffee served from this Louis XIV service from Tiffany's?

So my question is- do any of you still entertain like this? And if so, how often? I love formal entertaining but don't do it often enough. I think Mr. Hovis has inspired me to do so.

(You might also be interested in Gene Hovis' Uptown Down Home Cookbook. Truth be told, the dust jacket is not the most elegant looking thing, but the recipes look really good. A lot of classic, tried and true recipes as well as some Southern favorites. If I can find the time, I'll test out a few and let you know!)

Here are the very stylish designers

I'd thought I'd pass this along to those of you who are in the Bay Area next week! Looks like a fabulous time.

Even if you can't make it to the signing, the book looks like it should be on everyone's "Must Have" list!