Pinterest offers us a wealth of inspiration with just the click of a mouse and sometimes possibly a simply keyword search. We turn to Pinterest to find inspiration not only in our work for steve mckenzie’s, but also in our personal lives.
With over 100 boards we pin to, we thought it was time to share a bit of that Pinspiration with you – our fabulous blog readers! Our “Pinspiring” posts will feature a board we’re currently loving, some of our favorite images from that pinboard and why it’s working for us.
First up, is our “Office Concepts” Pinterest board. With the start of a new year, many people are looking to become better organized, and for many, a beautiful office space may be just the ticket for a more manageable life. Check out some of our current favorite office design Pinspirations:
From these inspiring images, and from our other pins on our “Office Concepts” board, you’ll note some similarities. Neutral colors abound, natural/textural elements almost always play a part, while fantastic lighting and lots of storage are must-haves. Also, smart, yet stylish seating plays a role in these designs.
All of those are fantastic takeaways as we work with clients to create organized and stylish office spaces for them. If you’re looking to create a successful office space, please reach out to the steve mckenzie’s design team to learn how we may be able to work together!
We believe you need to meet the fabulous pattern visionary, Kimberly Lewis, whose eponymous company – featuring some amazing wallpaper – we’re thrilled to be representing here in the southeast!
Steve and Jill origionally met Kimberly Lewis while on a trip to Masion Objet with Grange last year. Her company is a Brooklyn based design studio that specializes in playful, preppy and patterned home boutique wallpaper and home decor products. They believe in joyful, coy color that can sometimes get a bit out of hand (but not too out of hand!), flirty patterns that add whimsy, and socially, environmentally conscious design and product development. Their products are designed in Kimberly’s Brooklyn, NY studio and are made close by in the Northeast by highly skilled craftsman and manufacturers.
Learn more about Kimberly and the wonderful products she designs…
Kimberly Lewis
Kimberly founded her company in 2011 and shortly after was dubbed by Apartment Therapy as one of the “8 Brooklyn Wallpaper Designers To Watch.” Her interest in design started at a young age; growing up Kimberly’s mother predicted that one day she would design wallpaper for Laura Ashley. Kimberly likes to think that she is even happier with this outcome. She grew up in New England and has been living in New York City for the past decade; Kimberly likes to think the Northeast is in her DNA and finds inspiration in both the bustle of the city and the calm of the country and seaside.
Kimberly holds a Bachelors of Industrial Design from Pratt Institute and studied Textile Design at the Danish Design School. Outside of her own company Kimberly has designed and developed patterns and products for companies such as Clinique, Macy’s, Dwellstudio, SkipHop, WolfGordon, The Jewish Museum of NYC and JMcLaughlin. In 2013, Kimberly was honored to have four of her wallpapers acquired by the Brooklyn Museum for their decorative arts permanent collection.
sm’s: Can you please share a bit about your background/how you started Kimberly Lewis and how you gained the courage to break out on your own?
KL: I studied industrial design at Pratt Institute. While I was a student I was constantly applying patterns to my 3 dimensional designs and that’s when it clicked that perhaps that is something I wanted to pursue. I was able to study textile design for a summer in Copenhagen through Pratt and after that it was clear to me what that I wanted to make print and pattern a focus for my career.
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial itch ever since I was a child. My first business was launched my senior year of college. I designed and sewed pillows and tried my hand selling them on Etsy and at craft fairs. My first line of pillows didn’t pan out too well. You have to inventory your mistakes and use them as stepping stones and moments for learning. Looking back on launching my wallpaper line, I really had no clue what I was doing, but I didn’t really care because I was creating something that was all my own and learning every step of the way. I spent a year researching wallpaper, manufacturers, reading business books and getting my hands on whatever I could learn before launching. It was exhilarating and honestly, in my mind at that time, I didn’t have room to think about failure; I just wanted to get my product out into the world and take it from there.
sm’s: What inspires you/your art?
KL: Living and working in NYC is a constant source of inspiration for me. I love the energy, the pace and the fact that I can walk down a street and pop into amazing stores, or see someone with fantastic style on the street or catch an awe-inducing exhibit at a museum. Inspiration is literally all around me here; I always have something to look at or a place to visit to stir up some inspiration if I’m feeling flat.
sm’s: What is your vision, not only for Kimberly Lewis, but also the individual pieces you create?
KL: I want to create patterns that elicit joy in people. I want my products to spark an emotion, hopefully a happy one!
sm’s: What are the differences in your collections – i.e. how do you create such unique designs that remain a part of one, cohesive line?
KL: I personally design every pattern so you can definitely see my hand and style in all of my patterns. I am thinking about the end use of the pattern while designing; how it will look in a room, what type of furnishings a designer may style it with, etc. My work has definitely evolved a bit, but I try to keep it in line with my brand and what my customers want.
sm’s: What’s on the horizon for Kimberly Lewis?
KL: I am hoping to start licensing my prints and patterns in the new year and focusing on connecting more with interior designers.
sm’s: As an artist/business person how do you recharge?
KL: I am an introvert, so I recharge by carving out me-time. I love doing things that make me feel good, like taking a pilates or barre class, or curling up with a good book.
Aren’t Kimberly’s designs an amazing breath of fresh air?!? They’re even better in person, and we encourage you to come take a look at them in our showroom, next time you’re in the neighborhood. Or, if you’re interested in learning how you could incorporate Kimberly’s wallpapers into your space, please contact the steve mckenzie’s team today!ᐧ
Next week, Steve and Jill will be hosting an extremely talented group of design industry insiders at the West Coast Art & Frame expo in Las Vegas!
This “bloggers tour” is comprised of four design tastemakers who all understand the importance of art in a home, and who are looking to learn more about what’s new in the world of art and framing, as well as share a bit about their unique perspectives on art and framing…
Cathy Austin of Bespoke BanterVicki Gladle Bolick of The Ace of SpaceHolly Hollingsworth Phillips of The English RoomKrista Nye Schwartz and Tami Jennings Ramsay of Cloth & Kind
We are absolutely thrilled about this lineup and encourage you to follow everyone here on social media, so you may be a part of this event, and take advantage of all we see and learn along the way!
In addition to hosting this fabulous crew of bloggers, Steve will also be an educator at the expo. As a longtime member of the art and framing industry – his former gig was serving as Chief Designer for Larson-Juhl for the last 20 years, and as CEO for the past decade – he’s looking forward to sharing his thoughts on small business success and his favorite, mid-century modern design during two sessions at the expo.
If you’ll be at the WCAF expo, consider attending one of Steve’s classes. And if not, please keep an eye out for a recap of this exciting trip! Viva Last Vegas!!
Steve and Jill attended January Market at AmericasMart earlier this month, and had the pleasure of visiting the Pantone Design Exhibition – they were so taken with the signature vignettes and the color forecasting, they knew we’d have to do a quick photo recap here on the blog for steve mckenzie’s!
The vignettes unveiled at January Market were curated by some fabulous tastemakers in the design industry; many of whom are friends of steve mckenzie’s…
Space by Heather Hogan Roberts of Ivy & VineSpace by Tami Ramsay and Krista Nye Schwartz of Cloth & Kind – photo by Rue magazineSpace by Janie Hirsch of J. Hirsch Interior DesignSpace by Jamie Durie of Durie Design – photo from New Growth DesignsAmazing table by Rablabs in the Habachy Designs space – photo by RablabsRobert Leleux, of Southern Style NowSpace by Shaun Smith of Shaun Smith Home – photo by Modern History Furniture
It’s so exciting to see so many familiar names within these fabulous spaces – and we hope you all find them as inspiring as we did!
In addition to viewing these stunning vignettes, exhibit visitors were also treated to a first display of Pantone’s colors of the year, Rose Quartz and Serenity. Here’s a look back at the annual colors since 2010:
If you’re looking for help incorporating color in to your space – look no further than the steve mckenzie’s design team; we’d love to work with you on your design projects this year!
A Southerner with a deep rooted connection to Scotland, Scot Meacham Wood is renowned for his timeless design and magnetic personality. And we’re thrilled his fabulous textiles are now a part of our fabric offering here at steve mckenzie’s!
Scot Meacham Wood
Recently featured in the pages of Traditional Home, Scot’s designs draw inspiration from his heritage and thirteen years of experience working with Ralph Lauren. His signature style highlights European and Southern sensibilities, sartorial influences, and bold prints.
Scot Meacham Wood’s home in the San Fransisco Bay area, as seen in Traditional Home magazine.
Since establishing his firm, Scot Meacham Wood Design, in 2001, Scot has become an interior design icon, showcasing commercial and residential projects across the United States and developing a captivating online presence.
With Scot Meacham Wood Home, the tastemaker premieres a one-of-a-kind collection featuring fresh takes on traditional Scottish textiles. With its luxurious collection of fabrics and focus on Scot’s signature tartan, SMW Home is truly a natural extension of the designer himself.
The son of a stylish mother of Scottish descent, Scot was exposed the country’s rich heritage at the young age and was immediately drawn to tartan.
A pattern that has since become synonymous with Scot’s brand identity, tartan became a staple of Scot’s work, and the designer often ventured to historic mills in Scotland to procure one-of-a-kind fabrics.
After years searching for the perfect tartan, Scot decided to create a collection of his own, using his late mother’s estate to bring his designs to life.
When creating his textile line, Scot worked closely with a Scottish mill dating back to the 18th century to develop a line of tartans that are a vibrant twist on the traditional pattern.
Many of the modern tartans in his collection are named to pay homage to his mother. For example, the “Meacham Plaid” has his maternal grandmother’s maiden name and the “Mary Ann Damask” is named for his mother.
Please stop by the steve mckenzie’s showroom today to view this stunning new collection in person and learn how our design team can help bring this historically inspired, yet comfortable, look in to your own home.
And hop on over to Scot’s charming blog, The Adventures of Tartanscot, to keep up with this fabulous designer, and our new friend!
If you’ve been reading the blog for steve mckenzie’s for any amount of time, you’ve probably come to learn Steve and Jill love entertaining. But, you may not know that they also have a passion for cooking.
While our Pinterest boards for steve mckenzie’s are chock full of fabulous design ideas, our most referenced-to board would be “Recipes for Worknights;” and it’s just as it sounds – a board full of ideas and inspiration for quick and easy dinners. Most of the recipes are gluten free, or can be easily adapted for those who are striving to live a gluten-free life, as Steve and Jill are.
*Note – You can now find many gluten-free products at Aldi, for a fraction of the price as other grocery stores. It’s become a regular stop for us!
Just the other night, a new gluten free recipe graced the McKenzie table to rave reviews… Mushroom and Chicken Marsala Bowls from the pages of the January 2016 issue of Cooking Light magazine. Here’s the full recipe, as well as links (click on photos) to some of the McKenzie’s other gluten-free favorites, which will hopefully entice you to get more creative and healthful with your weeknight meals…
Mushroom and Chicken Marsala Bowls
2 1/2 tablespoons butter, divided
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups unsalted chicken stock, divided
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
1 (6-ounce) package fresh baby spinach
1 pound mushrooms, quartered
8 ounces skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/4 cup minced shallots
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/2 cup dry Marsala wine
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1. Melt 1 1/2 teaspoons butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add quinoa to pan; sauté 3 minutes or until toasted and fragrant. Add 1 1/4 cups stock; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 12 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add spinach; cook 1 1/2 minutes or until beginning to wilt. Remove spinach from pan.
3. Melt 1 1/2 teaspoons butter in pan. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons oil; swirl to coat. Add mushrooms; cook 8 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove mushroom mixture from pan.
4. Add remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add chicken to pan; sauté 4 minutes, browning on all sides. Add shallots, thyme, and garlic; sauté 1 1/2 minutes. Add wine and remaining 1/4 cup stock, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Cook 2 minutes or until liquid is reduced by two-thirds and becomes slightly syrupy. Remove from heat. Add remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, mustard, pepper, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, stirring constantly until butter melts. Stir in mushrooms and spinach. Serve over quinoa.
Honey Chipolte Chicken Bowls
Port Cutlets with Sauteed Peppers and BeansSkillet Beef Tex-Mex Casserole
Roasted Veggie Quinoa Salad
Mmm… Our mouths are watering remembering these tasty meals! We hope you enjoy these gluten-free favorites as much as we have, and follow along with our Pinterest boards for more inspiration… If you’re looking for some pretty serving pieces to place your new dinner creations on, then stop in to steve mckenzie’s today – after all, you do eat with your eyes first!
Get engaged over the holidays? First of all… Congrats! Second, where will you register?!? It’s a question you’ll hear a lot between now and the big day, and deservedly so. Your loved ones want to gift you with that something special, when each time you see it, you think of them.
We encourage you to give your loved ones an opportunity to gift you with items you’ll treasure forever, things you can’t find in a big box store – all while shopping small and local. Register with steve mckenzie’s!
Gien Pont aux Choux in Taupe
Why? Here are four reasons we think you’ll be just as head-over-heels for steve mckenzie’s wedding registry as you are with your fiance:
Unique offerings – steve mckenzie’s carries items you won’t see at every chain store. Everything we offer is painstakingly selected by Steve and Jill McKenzie, our own husband and wife team with loads of homemaking and entertaining experience.
An assortment of R. Wood Pottery, handmade in Athens, GA.
People LOVE to give special gifts – We make it easy for you to select truly special items for your registry, which your guests will love gifting! steve mckenzie’s offers so much more than tableware – let your loved ones give something as unique as you and your fiance for your big celebration!
A smaller-scale original work of art by Steve McKenzie – ideal for beginning your family’s collection.
One of a kind art gifts – Our team spends a lot of time creating and curating original artworks that would help to make any house feel like a home. Pick pieces you’ll love forever and add them to your registry. Even small works of art can be the jumping off point for your home’s design. Give someone an opportunity to give your new family the gift of art.
It’s easy! – Registering and shopping registries with steve mckenzie’s is so simple! You’ll work with our team, who will help guide you through the registry process, selecting items you’ll use – and possibly pass down for generations. When it’s time to shop, your guests are welcome to peruse our store, or simply call in to place an order. steve mckenzie’s offers complimentary gift wrapping, and has even been known to make hand deliveries.
A classic mint julep cup by Match Pewter – use for cocktail hour, a petite vase, or even utensil holder for your buffet!
We hope you’ll consider working with our team to create a truly unique registry for your upcoming wedding celebration. Please contact us today with any questions or to get started!
We’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy 2016… We’re looking forward to another exciting year serving our clients throughout the Southeast and beyond, and are looking forward to all this New Year has to offer! (Watch our Instagram and Facebook for details on new product launches!)
Please remember, our showroom is closed through the 4th of January, however, steve mckenzie’s is available 24/7 at stevemckenzies.com – or we can be reached at 404.618.0422.
