We invite you to experience the innovative furniture, accessories and textiles of one of the world’s most creative tastemakers, Florence Broadhurst, at the Atlanta premier of Selamat’s new Florence Broadhurst collection!
steve mckenzie’s – Selamat‘s exclusive Southeastern showroom – is thrilled to host this event, which will take place on Wednesday, September 7 from 6-9pm.
The Florence Broadhurst Collection by Selamat
We’ll be celebrating this exciting launch with signature cocktails and invite all guests to come dressed in homage to a favorite Florence Broadhurst incarnation – it’ll be a night to remember!
Florence Broadhurst Floral Wire Bowl – available in red, blue and verbena.Florence Broadhurst Pomegranates Cocktail Table in Nautral Hand Carved.
As you can see from the sneak peek images above, this collection is dynamite! It’s even better in person, so we hope you can attend the official Atlanta unveiling of the amazing Florence Broadhurst collection for Selamat!
In honor of the launch of the new Florence Broadhurst collection by Selamat, this Library Friday is about the fantastical life – or lives – of the Australian handprint wallpaper designer, Florence Broadhurst.
Throughout history, our society has been drawn to the idea of transformation. Whether it is a peasant girl becoming a princes with glass slippers, or a man who is wrongfully imprisoned turning himself into the Count of Monte Cristo. Even in today’s society we are consumed with hiding our true identity. We all know the phrase ”what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Florence Broadhurst was a woman way before her years. By the early 1920’s, she was touring with a performance group in South East Asia and China. Eventually she established a finishing school in Shanghai. After that venture she moved to England as a French fashion designer.
By the early 1950’s she moved back to Australia with her husband and son. There she re-imagined herself as a high society aristocratic English lady. Through a love and hobby of art she became a well know painter and eventually a hand drawn/ hand printed wallpaper designer. She created bright, bold patterns inspired by her worldly travels. Her death in 1977 is still an unsolved case.
This publication is a must for anyone who has a deep love for life, intrigue, reinventing of identities, and a passion for stunning, bright, bold patterns.
As an exciting aside, steve mckenzie’s is thrilled to be carrying the new Florence Broadhurst collection by Selamat and we’ll be celebrating our new offering at a launch party on Wednesday, September 7th. Reach out to the team at steve mckenzie’s for more info!
Today, we introduce you to one of our most delightful new friends – Nan Myers of Firefly Home. We first met Nan at a Recipe for Press event; she’s one of wonderful things that’s come out of those events! And she’s got such an eye for fabulous finds, specifically ones antique in nature. When we first met Nan, there was an immediate connection – she’s a self-admitted southerner who doesn’t have a southern accent or drink sweet tea! She’s from South Georgia, so there’s some home state synergy there too. Needless to say, we’re so excited to share Nan’s Tastemaker feature with you today…
Nan Myers
About Nan, in her own words:
At the age of 24, I opened Firefly with my dad. He was a lawyer (the Atticus type) by day, and the store’s antique buyer. I was in charge of buying everything else, as well as the day-to-day operations. I had worked retail, all my life, starting at thirteen. I was also a little strange, in that I would save my money and instead of buying beer like normal 19 year olds, I bought antiques. I always had something on “layaway.” Luckily, I had great support, strong female mentors and a little panache of my own. In January of 2013, I bought my Dad out, as he wanted to retire again, and I needed to “own” it. He is playing some mean Bridge and I feel revitalized all over again. I still love finding treasures that are unique, fairly-traded, and handmade. I love meeting new folks and greeting old customers time and time again. Firefly is a unique, eclectic treasure in what is quickly becoming a vast sea of homogeneous, big chain box stores. Firefly is about making your house a home and enhancing it with useful objects that exude character.
Arrowheads collected in the South on an R.Wood Pokeberry platter.
1. Three words that describe your aesthetic?
Southern British Colonial is my decorating style with a global nod to our travels. Southern, in the fact that I am a six generation T’villian, so lots of arrowhead collections, turtle shells, sideboards, corner cabinets, and southern art. British Colonial in that I drawn to classic Bell Jar lanterns, high ceilings, antique rugs, white walls, live plants, sky blue porches, rattan, etc. Furlow Gatewood is a huge influence on me. A few years ago we visited him in Americus. In short, I returned and painted the store and my home with white walls and gray trim.
2. Would you please share a little about your favorite space/project to date?
Currently, I am working on finishing my world which includes my home, my store, and an old International Scout. My house is very charming and homey, but it is lacking a few more layers. This has been the summer of adding layers, which consist of Block and Brayer’s snake fabric for my son’s curtains, Celerie Kemble/Schumacher tortoise shell wallpaper to line the back of our raw pine bookcases, interior shutters that currently are on my living room floor (waiting for me to touch up and wax), and Apothecary’s Garden wallpaper by Trustworth Studios for my home office.
Our bar is a small pass through between our den and dining room. The book wallpaper was my “souvenir” from a trip to Paris. I think the hunt for the store was just as fun as the purchase.
3. What’s the source(s) of your inspiration?
I would say growing up in the South and traveling. I find just as much value in a beaver stick, turtle shell or feather as I do in a fine oil painting. Nature has always inspired me and the South is just so in your face. The culture,landscapes,and architecture are just rooted within me. On travel, my favorite quote, by Mark Twain is this: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” Traveling is two-fold. It is invigorating to me and it truly recharges my creativity and yet, travel also endears and reminds me of what is important when I am home. We are hosting an exchange student this upcoming academic year. He is from Dublin, Ireland. We are friends of his family and I am currently working on an epic trip back to Ireland, Scotland, and London for next summer when we take him home.
4. Name three people (alive or dead) you’d invite to your dream dinner party…
This is probably my favorite question ever and I have multiple dinner parties in my head. Yet at the end of the day, I just want to laugh until I cry. So with that being said, Adele, Ellen, and James Cordon. Adele and James could sing. Ellen and I would dance.
I had this sideboard commissioned many moons ago from C.H. Whitney, a friend and a great store in Thomasville, GA.
5. A piece of/type of furniture you couldn’t live without?
Well, a hunt board/sideboard is essential in a proper Southern home and some taxidermy is a necessary decorative accessory. I joke all the time that when my favorite cat dies that he will be “stuffed” and curled up in an eternal sleep and I will just move him around from window seat to favorite couch etc…I’m actually kind of serious. I am also actively looking for a road kill fox to do the same thing.
These curtains are very basic linen and I had seen the “detail” in a magazine and pulled the page many years ago. My good friend who has a fashion background and can sew in her sleep did the detail part for me and then I had them finished locally.
6. Do you follow a particular set of rules when mixing textures, finishes, etc. – how do they work for you?
Nature’s design always seems to influence and dictate what I do whether in materials, artwork, fabrics, and accessories. Understanding the scale of your room is important too. Don’t do dinky. Curtains are also often overlooked. If you can afford custom curtains, then by all means do it. Curtains are probably one of the strongest design elements/ tricks because they can anchor and set a tone all by themselves. You can have an empty room, but with killer curtains and you’re kind of set for at least a good dance party. 😉
In January I found my Maccallum (Mccollum) maiden name tartan in Scotland and had yardage shipped back to recover an old chair picked up from an estate sale.
7. Trending… What is something you are currently “into” and something you are “over?”
From a retail perspective, I do love the summer trend of all things pineapple, the symbol for southern hospitality. I will also be sick of it soon enough. Ironically, I am WAY over mason jars, ball jars, whatever kind of jars you want to call it. However, my store is called Firefly and I have had a major light fixture over our counter for years that consist of what? You got it. Ball Jars! We like to call it our year round “fireflies”. I can’t tell how many times that fixture has been photographed and pinned. Crazy. It is one of those “eat crow” moments, where you just nod and agree that it is the best thing since sliced bread. From an interior point of view, I try to stay classic in design because frankly, it is expensive and folks need to love it for a long time. However, there are some trends that will be always be current. For example, blue and white interiors and tartan. My taste is very eclectic too, so I need the “classic bones” to convey comfort and put folks at ease.
Georgia Peaches Next Exit is my latest art acquisition and I just still can’t believe it. Cedric Smith is a Georgia artist who is wickedly talented in painting and photography. It is the first thing you see now when you walk in my front door. I am still pinching myself.
8. How does artwork fit into your designs?
Artwork is a given. I majored in Sculpture at UGA and you will never find “commercial art” in anything I do. Big box store “insta” artwork are kind of like fake plants to me; They make me cringe. I know that sounds completely “snobby” and I don’t judge those that do. I realize that decorating or collecting art is not everyone’s cup of tea. However, it is my cup of tea (unsweet please) and I would rather spend and save money for a painting than anything else, except for a trip somewhere. The exception to this dogmatic rule is maybe a quote painting from Sugarboo kid’s space. They make me happy. Furthermore, art does not necessarily mean expensive some of my favorite art pieces have been found in junk shops, online auctions, and ebay.
9. What would be the one thing you would have if you were stranded on a deserted island?
I would like to say something profound, but I am afraid that the answer has to be my Instagram feed. Obsessed. Follow me 😉
Our den, which is open to the kitchen.
10. Please share a piece of advice you’d offer to someone looking to break into the interior design industry.
I do think a formal education in understanding principles, and being able to draw interiors would be a strong foundation to starting. Then I would say, go work for an interior design firm, store, or trade industry that you admire and then work like a beaver. Lastly, turn off that phone and keep it in your purse and show up early.
Okay folks, now do you see how we developed such an affinity for Nan?!? She’s totally charming and knows her stuff. And if you didn’t laugh out loud at least twice after reading the above feature… Well, we’ll just suggest you take another gander.
In all seriousness, Nan (and her Instagram feed) are an amazing source of inspiration and we hope you connect with her and Firefly Home. You won’t be disappointed! Thanks to Nan for being such a wonderful Tastemaker for us!!
The lantern parade takes place on September 10th at 7:30pm, and marks the beginning of the annual Art on the Atlanta beltline exhibition, the largest temporary art exhibition in the south!
The lantern making Creative Session will take place at steve mckenzie’s on Saturday, August 27th at 9:30am, and all materials – plus a bite to eat – will all be provided!
Our own paper expert (among other things), Xavier Neuner, will be leading this session and inspiring and encouraging the creativity of all!
Xavier Neuner
So, start to put your lantern designing thinking caps on and get ready for a great time! Attend as a group, or just yourself… We promise a fun morning!
We’re looking forward to lighting up the Atlanta Beltline with you!!
Green. We can’t stop seeing it. Ever since our time at AmericasMart last month, we’ve noted a trend. And it’s pretty fabulous.
Design Legacy AmericasMart Showroom
We keep seeing green in tones of moss and emerald specifically, many with metallic silver or gold touches. Such as the above green velvet (yum!) tufted ottoman from Design Legacy.
Worlds Away Malachite Bar Cart
Whether green is showcased on textiles, hard surfaces or even simple decorative accents, it consistently adds a rich, luxurious touch!
Worlds Away Malachite Abbott Nesting tables
Those pieces above spotted in the Worlds Away AmericasMart showroom are stunning in photos and even better in person. True showstoppers.
All of these green beauties had us searching our showroom to find our own gloriously green items – available right now…
We are head over heels for this new Cotton + Quill wallcovering, available in custom green hues. It’s called “The Hunt,” and between the bird theme and the beautiful colors, we’re done for.
Our classic alpaca throws by Alicia Adams are made from 100% baby alpaca. They are hypoallergenic, extremely soft and warm yet light weight. And this “Racing Green” colorway in a subtle herringbone pattern is lovely. Toss it over a chair in your reading nook, at the foot of your bed, or alongside your sofa for chilly evenings for a beautifully soft green accent.
You know we love some acrylic drinkware around here and this lovely green “Milly” tumbler is the perfect example of why… It’s stylish, durable, and this green hue is especially eye catching! Of course, a set will be ideal for your outdoor entertaining space, however, a single tumbler can make an especially stylish impact and has so many uses around the house – toothbrush holder, pen cup, etc.
And we couldn’t share a post all about green without mentioning the “Cypress” color in our signature steve mckenzie’s textiles… We’re especially fond of the Cypress colorway in the Scallop print fabric! A settee covered in this stunning textile would just take the cake in any space, while a table simply set with Cypress Scallop print fabric napkins is a more subtle way of introducing this trend. Either would be a surefire winner!
There you have it – our top six finds for introducing this wonderfully green trend into your space! If you’d like assistance creating a design, full of trendy green hues, reach out to the McKenzie Design team today!!
