What a way to kick off 2022! The new Southern Home magazine features an exciting McKenzie Design interior design project. For this Atlanta home, full of treasured antiques, Steve McKenzie revamped their dated look with a soothing, luxurious palette of fabrics, colors and furnishings and more. We’re thrilled that now you can soak in all the details in the Jan/Feb issue of Southern Home magazine, available on newsstands. Big thank you to photographer Emily Followill and stylist Eleanor Roper.
Updated kitchen interiors with soothing color palette for this busy family.
Breakfast eating area marries stately Windsor chairs and pedestal table with an updated rug.
Have you ever looked up at a high rise and wondered what it’s like to live there? Join interior designer, Steve McKenzie and top Atlanta Fine Homes and Sotheby’s realtor, Ally May for a personal tour of One Museum Place in Atlanta, Georgia. See what’s possible through Steve’s curated eye with a nod to the mid-century vibe. A logical questions when you’re neighbors with the High Museum of Art!
Serene midtown neighborhood with the High Museum of Art across Peachtree
Ally asked Steve for his design expertise in this space, “what would you love to see in this home”. Taking cues from the Atlanta midtown neighborhood, Steve honed in on organic and geometric shapes of mid century classics such as the Wassily chair, abstract sculptures, and a sensuous curved sofa.
Hope you enjoy this quick tour with Steve and Ally on You Tube and subscribe for more on design and lifestyle.
We all have folks in our life, who truly don’t need a thing. Yet you want to show them love and how much you enjoy having them in your world. Here are 5 consumable gifts they will enjoy using, thinking fondly of you every time. Consider what might be a bit of luxury for them, a treat, and indulge them this gift giving season.
This first one is a favorite of mine. The monthly arrival of a special magazine is a very thoughtful gift. You can tailor it to your recipient’s interests and they can enjoy the curated content, then pass it along to another friend. Double win!
Magazines are one of my favorite indulgences.
Paper is another savvy consumable gift. I love stationery, notepads, wrapping paper, greeting cards, etc. As happiness expert, Gretchen Rubin points out, we can be a bit of an under-buyer in this category. Maybe someone on your list would enjoy a being stocked up with personalized stationery or a pack of special greeting cards and stamps. Added bonus…support a local independent maker! Here’s a quick list of some of our favorite creative makers ~Thimblepress, Kat McCall Papers, Sara Fitz,
Notepads and jotters galore for 2021!
The gift of listening to music, a podcast, an audible book ranks high on the list of consumable gifts. Perhaps a gift of music & an Echo speaker, or Kindle Unlimited membership, or the gift of a podcast (also it’s free!) suits several folks on your gift list. One of my favorite podcasts is Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project! Take a listen here.
Count on Darlings Fine Things to have the best bath and beauty products. Luxurious treats for relaxing and taking care of oneself, like this Green Tea & Peony Bath Soak by Niven Morgan. Remember they will ship your gifts for you.
This therapeutic bath soak features lavender and mint.
No consumable gift list would be complete without food and beverage gifts. Is your gift recipient a tea or coffee lover? The talented team at Just Add Honey has many choices, including a gift certificate, for your tea aficionado. What about a handmade gift certificate for a tea-time together outing at their Beltline location?
parTEA in a box – sip at home kit from Just Add Honey
For gourmet treats, we’re stocking up on Schermer’s Pecans gift boxes. Perfect for teachers, tutors, and coaches alike. Salty or sweet? Why not both!?
Neighbors, teachers, friends alike will appreciate this tasty gift.
While the 2020 holidays look a bit different, let’s celebrate with our loved ones the best way we can. Remember to order early for best selection (supply chain kinks) and best shipping prices. Let us know some of your favorite consumable gifts on our Instagram and Facebook pages. Happy gifting!
Get ready for gift giving season now! To help out, we’ve rounded up 5 top gifts for her. You know, the ladies in your life, like your mom, your BFF, your sister, your sister-in-law, your aunts. You get the idea. According to consumer guru, Clark Howard, it’s more important than ever to shop early. Avoid higher shipping fees as the season merrily rolls along, and avoid possible out of stock issues due to the pandemic. This week also kicks off the shopping season with Amazon Prime Days and Target deals. If you’re not an Amazon prime member, take a look at the program details here.
Gift giving season is almost here.
Let’s make mask wearing a bit prettier and handier with this mask necklace from Lucy Inspired. Lucy is a talented jewelry maker, dear friend, and you might recognize her from “Beach Flip” on HGTV.
Genuine brown leather necklace with a cute vintage-style key charm
Since I’m wearing less lipstick these days, I’ve focused on my hands and nails. What lady wouldn’t love this London Butter Little Luxuries set? Four beautiful shades to match your holiday moods, and not something I would buy for myself. A thoughtful gift indeed!
We will travel again, even if it’s a car trip, and to celebrate that give her a new, shiny, pretty travel mug from NYC’s Effie’s Papers? Choose from any number of designs of these thermal double-walled mugs.
Tantalizing travel mugs by Effie’s Papers
Darlings Fine Things always has the best gifts! Natural stone necklaces, “Zara“, features a 30” antique gold plated chain. Available in (photo) Jasper, Snowflake Obsidian, Quartz, Green Aventurine, Rose Quartz, Dalmatian Jasper, Amethyst, Amazonite, Black Onyx.
Who doesn’t love a new necklace?
This stylish, hard working leather tote bag is a smart addition to any ladies wardrobe. It stands open upright so you can see what’s in there, holds a 13″ laptop and tons more, and it is easy to clean. Lots of fashion colors to choose from too!
Simple, classic style, this leather tote is a thoughtful gift.
Make your list, check it twice and happy shopping! Next up, gift guide for grandchildren and a gift guide of consumable (gifts that get used up) gifts. Cheers!
Our snack routine got stale, with all this time at home, WFH, cooking ALL the time. Who’s in charge of the pantry anyway?! Then we remembered Schermer Pecans, a treat from The Southern C summit a few years ago. Remember going to conferences? Someday…
Grown in Georgia, these deliciously fresh pecans will change how you look at snacks forever. Once you read about their legacy, history and their dedication to quality, you will feel even better about supporting this delectable regional and national treasure.
McKenzie Design duo Steve and Jill McKenzie x Schermer Pecans
A delicious array of snacks and treats from Schermer Pecans All photo credit: Angie Webb Photography |Floral arrangement by Steve McKenzie
Our first snacks were the Roasted and Salted Pecans and the Cinnamon Pecans (the Cocktail Collection) to accompany a Friday evening cocktail. There is a difference in pecans – Schermer Pecans are so fresh, nutty, just the right amount of salt and then cinnamon to tease the tastebuds.
The Cocktail Collection – beautifully packaged for a hostess gift
Snack set up with pretty buffalo check Dot and Army cocktail napkins
Elliott Natural Pecans with a robust sweet flavor in a favorite R Wood Pottery dipping bowl
Need we say more? You need to try these delicious pecans for yourself. Get a head start on your holiday shopping too. They are a welcome gift too, see all the options here.
Anyone else adding green plants to their spaces these days? We’re fairly obsessed with house plants (a positive side effect of Covid). You know, propagating them, repotting them, trying to squeeze more of green into our condo. We’ve found lots of great information and plant ideas on Pinterest. Plants give us a sense of purpose, a sense of growth, something to care for, and add healthy benefits to our world.
Mixing sculpture, framed art, and plants makes me happy. Photo credit: Anthony Masterson Photography
Several folks have asked how we came up with our Summer Collection x Creative Candles. We’re happy to share our thought process and hope you enjoy the tour. It all starts with flowers, of course, playing off the colors we most often use in our home. You know how much Steve loves floral design (I’ll brag, he’s won a national award), hence summer floral is our launching spot for our Summer Collection.
Summer Collection floral by Steve McKenzie using Trader Joe’s flowers. This wallpaper by artist Walter Knabe offers a timeless background for every season.
Variety of heights, shapes, and colors with a consistent brass candle holder adds interest to a sideboard. Art and floral by Steve McKenzie | all photography by Angie Webb Photographer
Our personal home colors are gray, orange, greens and golds, on the softer side. Creative Candles has such a wide variety of artisan colors, it made it easy to gather a gorgeous grouping for summer. While Paris Gray was our year-round favorite in our suburban home, this Summer Collection branched out to embrace Barely Blush, Terra Cotta, Maize, Moss Green, Wedgwood and Roman Bronze. These luxurious, hand-dipped candles come in a variety of lengths and shapes too.
McKenzie Design Summer Collection works beautifully together
Desert colors, warm summer colors and sunsets also inspired the collection. Look at how the Terra Cotta, Barely Blush and Maize candles play off each other like a summer sunset. Dear Keaton baskets gave this alfresco table some texture and a cute vessel for the kalanchoe flowers. Those extra long tapers added a fun flair to the background monstera plants.
Table for two on our 25th floor balcony
McKenzie Design duo Steve and Jill McKenzie x Creative Candles
As lifelong learners, be bold and add some new colors to your table settings, coffee table and patio with candles, pillows and plants. Feel free to contact McKenzie Design with any questions and/or design needs. Be well and have fun!
Happy Monday! You still have time to visit this beauty of a showhouse this week through Sunday, June 28th. Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles magazine along with developer Benecki Homes, Linda MacArthur Architect and honorary chair, Melanie Turner and their talented team including over 15 of the top interior designers in the southeast, have outdone themselves with this year’s Villa Flora. We know how challenging a showhouse can be, then throw in the COVID shut down, and it could have easily gone awry. But this stalwart team kept calm and designed on.
Welcome to Villa Flora |Photo credit David ChristensenCustom corner by Melanie Turner Interiors
Here’s a quick tour to whet your appetite for more…starting with the stately and welcoming exterior. You’re then quickly drawn to the back yard view of the six acre property. This family room by Melanie Turner Interiors provides cozy, custom luxurious seating, inspiring art and a view of the sparkling pool.
Look closely for design details like this exquisitely simple trim in Phoebe Howard Decorator’s primary bedroomEthereal triptych by the late Todd Murphy defines the main hallwayRobert Brown Interior Design mixes lines and curves | Photo by David ChristensenBrittany Cason Interior Design mixes styles masterfully.Luxurious canopy bedroom by Pickering HouseDreamy canopy and bedroom by Jared Hughes Design
Which canopy bed is your favorite? Hint, there’s one more… Also the hand painted Gracie Studio wallpaper in Jared Hughes Design room is a stunner.
A quiet oasis by The Design Atelier | Photo by David Christensen
We’ll close with this soothing indoor lap pool, original to the home, updated by Melanie Millner of The Design Atelier with these handmade hammocks. Click the link to see ticket information. What a terrific way to kick of your summer!
We’re still home, a lot, all together. It looks like this will be the norm this summer. Let’s face it, if the kitchen isn’t working for you, not much else matters. Is it time to remodel your kitchen?
Finally fed up with the tiring work flow, dark cabinets and poor use of space, this owners of this 90s kitchen decided it was time to remodel, but without moving any walls, plumbing or electricity. Before and after photos tell this story, don’t they? You may want to take some notes…
Large but oddly trapezoid shaped island looks like it would be great but…it wasn’t!The flow is pretty good on this side.Opposite the island and there was a dance floor of empty space in-between!
Steve McKenzie came on board this project, assisting the homeowners and their contractor with the goal of maximizing and updating the spacious yet awkward kitchen. The family of six enjoyed cooking together and entertaining and knew there had to be a better way to use the space. It was also time to update colors, lighting and finishes with an eye toward resale. Steve started with reconfiguring the kitchen island and removing the high-low feature that so many of the kitchens had. Take a look at the after photo.
Inviting and invigorated kitchen island |photo by Christina Wedge Photography
By squaring off the island footprint, it became a focal point of this new cool blue-gray kitchen. Updated tile combined with dark pewter hardware and modern clear glass pendants gave it a brighter outlook as the hub of the home. The vivid antique area rug gave it added warmth.
Not only updated but added storage and warming drawer. Love that furniture leg detail! | photo by Christina Wedge Photography
Eating area view of kitchen | photography by Christina Wedge Photography
Steve’s team refinished the existing Lazy Susan table and chairs, added new seat fabric and a bright modern light fixture to complete the update. The family was thrilled with Steve’s solutions to their problems. Updated with the perfect tile, paint and fixtures, improved function and work flow, all with minimal disruption, all boxes checked off.
Feel free to share this with a friend and know we appreciate your taking time to spend time with us. How can we help you and your home? We would love to hear from you at shop@stevemckenzies.com or @stevemckenzies on Instagram.
I may have mentioned that our son and his wife are expecting their first child in June, a little girl. Right away, my daughters and I started planning a ladies-only celebration baby shower for March to celebrate this blessed event. Well, we all know that life came to a screeching, shelter in place halt in early March. The invitations were mailed, personalized cups and napkins and dreamy candles ordered but off course we cancelled it, keeping everyone safe and at home.
As the baby shower date approached, we decided to go ahead and set the table, making it special for the new mama-to-be via photos. For a refresher, here’s a quick party planning breakdown of what we used and why. First Creative Candles Barely Blush votives were the building block for the color scheme and celebration.
Barely Blush votive candles from Creative Candles – hand-dipped, dripless, smokeless, unscentedCelebration planning details Sequins and Lipstick personalized cups and napkins | Creative Candles votive and ball candles |Ikea votive holder | Blabla Kids Josephine the elephant |Wedgwood Edme dishes | Target bed cover as tablecloth
This soft pink and mossy green palette paired beautifully with our Wedgwood Edme dishes. This is pretty pink quilt made a perfect table cloth backdrop for the candle lit setting of sweet nibbles and drinks. Get creative next time you set the table. Is there a vibrant scarf or shawl you can use on the table? Fresh flowers always add to the table too.
So many napkin colors available with Sequins and Lipstick!Virtual celebration with McKenzie Design and family
It’s not the same, we know. But we are making the best of these days at home, finding ways to celebrate the big, and the little, things. Let us know what you are celebrating via email, tag us on Instagram and we’ll see you soon.