Now that the Christmas garland is stored away for another year, you may be staring at your walls and want a fresh look in 2020.
Perhaps adding art has been on your list, so maybe now’s the time. Then it occurs to you, how do I find some art for my home? As an artist and art collectors, we get this question a lot. I guess when your walls are full, and I mean chock full, of art, I guess it’s an obvious question. We’ve got some easy tips for you, breaking it into actionable pieces.
Gallery wall in our living room as seen in Atlanta magazine HOME. Photo credit: Anthony Masterson Photography
Where do I find art for my home?
First tip, start local, explore your city. Now get out your calendar (digital or paper), as you have an amazing opportunity this month to see over 350 select artists in one spot at Spotlight on Art at Trinity school. Preview night is Monday, January 27 from 6 to 9pm. Another tip, make it a date night…it’s a very fun evening.
Many artists will be there (including Steve McKenzie), so as you are perusing the art, introduce yourself to them, ask about their process, say ‘tell me more about this piece’.
Cirque by Steve McKenzie which will be at Spotlight on Art
When I visit a gallery or show, I like to make a full run through of a gallery, then circle back to stop and ponder the ones that caught my heart. And that’s what it’s all about. What speaks to you. Don’t worry about investment, is it going to be worth something later – it’s about bringing joy into your life and home. Two other favorite galleries are Huff Harrington Fine Art in Buckhead and Kai-Lin Art in midtown west. Sign up for their emails and get yourself out there, expand your horizons and see some new things.
Ready to go? Make a list…
Before you start shopping, make a list of places where you would like a new piece of art. Take measurements, even take a photo of the space. Does it need to run horizontally? Should it be a vertical? Could it be 3 dimensional? Keep this in mind as you look at art and remember you could always frame a small piece to be bigger. See how we added this vivid painting by Elias Rivera in an otherwise empty space!
Jill with a favorite painting by Elias Rivera. Photo Credit: CatMax Photography
Have fun with this! Art is good for the soul, mind and home. Show us what you find with the hashtag #inspiredtailoredauthentic.
As promised, here is Steve’s family recipe for this easy sour cream cake. It’s a family recipe from his Aunt Judy, awarded with the coveted placement in several church cookbooks. Beloved for its versatility too, Steve added this drizzle Jackson Morgan Salted Caramel icing, or you can take advantage of fresh fruit like strawberries and peaches, finished off with a dollop of whipped cream on top.
Sour Cream Cake
3 cups cake flour (we really did sift the flour per the instructions) 3 cups sugar 1 c. sour cream 1 c. butter, softened 1/4 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. vanilla 6 eggs, separated (You will beat the egg whites into stiff peaks)
Sift flour; add soda and sift again. Cream butter and sugar thoroughly, and add egg yolks, one at a time. Add flour and sour cream alternately. Add stiffly beaten egg whites. Bake in a greased and well-floured angel food cake pan or bundt pan. Bake at 300 degrees F for 1.5 hours. Let cool 10 minutes, then flip on a cooling rack to finish cooling.
Finished product!
When Paige Minear suggested this delicious collaboration, Steve knew exactly what cake he wanted to pair with the Jackson Morgan Southern Cream Salted Caramel deliciousness. So he called Aunt Judy in Kentucky, she texted the recipe, and now we get to share it with you. We baked it in a bundt pan like this one. Individual bundt cakes would be a fun at everyone’s place setting for a special celebration, or just because it’s Monday. Then you could set out separate toppings (think sprinkles, fruit, chocolate chips) and let everyone dress their own cake.
With a little planning, you can whip up this simple cake first thing in the morning, before the kitchen gets too hot, and then you’re done. Voilà you have dessert and you’re a hero!
Yes, please!
How do you showcase your desserts? I love to bring out one of our cake stands, either my grandmother’s pressed glass cake stand or a colorful Deruta Italian cake stand, a souvenir from our travels. As they say in show business, it’s all about the presentation.
Summer Dessert table
If you do bake this Sour Cream Cake, please share a photo of your cake with us on Facebook or Instagram, using the hashtag #InspiredTailoredAuthentic #stevemckenzies. Happy baking!
Happy May! That means Mother’s Day is soon, and we have a beautiful way to celebrate with Mom – a magnolia wreath class with Erin Weston of Weston Farms.
Make this evergreen magnolia wreath!
On Saturday, May 11th, join us for the morning class and make your very own lush, full circle magnolia wreath. A light lunch is included, so bring a friend or Mom to make it a memorable time together. Class starts at 10am and tickets are $150 with limited space. Click here to get your tickets.
Parris Magnolia Bowtie is the afternoon class
In the afternoon class, from 2pm – 3:30pm, you’ll make the famous Parris magnolia Bowtie swag. Perfect for the table, above a piece of art, or as a gift to mom on Mother’s Day. Tickets are $50 and available here.
Did you know these magnolia pieces will last for up to a year, sometimes longer?! That means you will enjoy them for all the seasons. Maybe you’ll tuck some fresh seasonal flowers in amongst those velvety leaves, or a bit of sparkly ribbon for Halloween and Christmas. The possibilities are endless!
It feels good to make something with your hands, and as a mom, a hand-made gift is so much more special. We hope to see you at one of these fun-filled classes!
And when you visit the Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens, snap a photo in front of Weston Farms magnificent magnolia wall! Get details on this ever-popular spring showhouse here .
So you did it, you invited some friends or work pals over to your place for some nibbles, beverages, and relaxed conversation. Bravo! Now, read on for some easy entertaining tips from Steve and Jill McKenzie and the team at Mottahedeh China. Your goal? A memorable and care-free evening for all.
Photo credit: Gustav Wilde
Let’s start with a gorgeous Atlanta sunset. Then add an array of colorful Mottahedeh china, and really use it for food, flowers, holding cutlery, and more. Let’s use the good stuff!
Use your low dishes for nuts and olivesTobacco Leaf on the barPop a grocery store orchid in a cachepot for instant room refresh.
Add some height and soothing candlelight on the buffet table. Steve swears by a variety of candle heights for visual interest and light.
Steve lighting candles just before the guests arrive
Keep the food simple – finger foods and here’s a tip, many larger groceries, like Whole Foods offer catering menus. Don’t forget another of our favorite’s, Aldi’s, for cheeses and charcuterie meats, nuts, and sweets.
That’s it, easy and simple entertaining with friends, flowers, and simple food. Whether it’s celebrating the end of the week or something more like a baby shower, it’s about connecting with friends and loved ones.
As our family had the privilege of recently hosting our own rehearsal dinner, I want to share some thoughts while they are still fresh in my mind. Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner is held the night before the wedding and hosted by the groom’s family. It’s the vehicle to gather the close family, attendants, officiant and bridal couple together, break bread, and fellowship together, and kick off the Big Event with food and merriment.
Take a look at these top tips for a successful, relaxed rehearsal dinner ~
1. Choose a style that is distinctly different from the wedding.
Not wanting to compete with the black tie optional wedding, we went the other way – a pizza truck! Here we used black and white gingham tablecloths from steve mckenzie’s, pulled up a wood-fired pizza oven food truck, and served ice tea, beer and wine. Father of the groom, Atlanta interior designer Steve McKenzie created the lush winter floral arrangements. Festive color-coordinated napkins from Dot and Army completed the table. More about their easy napkin rental program soon…
The wedding is the main event, so offering a different experience to the wedding party gives them a more complete weekend.
Black and white gingham fabric anchors the tables in the window-filled venue. Floral by Steve McKenzie
2. Consistent Details
Any well done event, especially a wedding, follows a curated path of carefully chosen details. From the save the date to the invitation to the floral, consistent colors, fonts and written tone set the stage for your special day. The groom’s love of outdoors and hunting were celebrated with custom stadium cups, monogrammed napkins and photo booth props.
3. Choose the Rehearsal Dinner Menu Secondly to Wedding Menu
The wedding menu plays a starring role in the event, and the budget. Tastings are held, serving pieces are surveyed, table-cloth colors are coordinated, all these details culminating in this once in a lifetime event. The rehearsal dinner should coordinate with this evening, not compete with it. Southern Crust Catering food truck provided this complement to the sit-down dinner on Saturday night.
Bride + Groom
Southern Crust Catering
Hot pizza on a cold night!
Floral by Steve McKenzie
A moonlit magical rehearsal dinner!
Cheers to your next celebration! Hopefully these tips lay the groundwork for many special evenings for you and yours. All photos by Christina Wedge Photography
Warmest wishes to you and yours this holiday season! We appreciate your business and support over this last year and look forward to serving you in 2016!
Please note, the steve mckenzie’s showroom will be closed through the new year. However, we’re open 24/7 at stevemckenzies.com – or we can be reached at 404.618.0422. We look forward to seeing you in-store when we resume our regular hours on January 4th, 2016!
