Blog
Buy Small, Buy Local: 12 Carolina Crafted Gifts
So, Etsy has this great functionality that allows you to search within any geography for local sellers. By specifying my search within the Carolinas, I've come up with a list of my top twelve picks...
Artisan Wood Furniture by Clayton Oxford
One of my most exciting finds at High Point Market last month: beautiful, artisan crafted sustainable wood furniture by local company Clayton Oxford. Clayton Oxford is one of those companies...
Deck the Halls: Ideas for Your Fireplace Mantel
I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving! I had a busy long weekend, with a packed to-do list that included pie eating, seeing The Muppets, and decorating my home for the holidays. The...
Holiday Design Events Calendar
Whether you're seeking fun activities for out-of-town guests, or just want to escape the crowded malls, there are a variety of design-related activities happening this season throughout the...
Get Ready for Holiday Decorating!
When planning holiday decorations for my own home, I've found it helps to start with a general "theme". Whether it's a specific color palette or a motif, a theme helps me to focus and ensure I don't...
Antiquing Itinerary: Asheville’s Biltmore Area
A few months back I posted about The Screen Door, which is one of my favorite Asheville haunts for funky finds and vintage valuables. But I'd be remiss not to mention a handful of other great shops,...
Textile Designer Liora Manne Comes to Charlotte
It was my love of chocolate waffles that led to my discovery of Plaza Midwood's newest store. We'd just finished Sunday brunch at La Bon, and I noticed the new storefront. "Liora Manné": the script...
Highlights from Highpoint Furniture Market
Last week I attended the bi-annual High Point Market, the largest exhibition of furniture and home furnishings in the world. It's an opportunity to see new product offerings, connect with industry...
de Provence et d’ailleurs: A French Import Store in Blowing Rock
Ah, Provence. The name conjures images of Impressionist masters, fields of lavender and sunflowers, honey hued pottery and elegantly decaying stone estates. If you ever dream of visiting or...
The Last Straw: Standout Seasonal Decor in Blowing Rock
The Last Straw has all of the materials you'd need for luscious floral arrangements, wreaths, tree trimmings, mantle displays, and tablescapes (read about my own foray into tablescapes here). But...
DIY: A No-Sew Upholstered Footstool
One day several years ago, not long after the birth of my son, I bought a bare wood footstool thinking it would be nice upholstered. Footstools are just ultra-handy for all sorts of purposes, and...
Hearth & Home: Secrets to Building a Great Fire
The thing our family most looks forward to in the fall is that first night that we can get a nice fire started in the fireplace. Now that it's finally getting chilly in the Carolinas, I'm thinking...