floral Archives - McKenzie Interior Design

Summer Wrap Up + Savings

Published on September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 by steve mckenzie'sLeave a comment

It’s been quite a summer for everyone. Steve and I did a quick mental inventory over lunch, and we have much to be thankful for. Two new grand babies, family meals, gardening, continued work and quiet fun. Little did we know that our collaboration with Creative Candles would keep our creative juices charged throughout this spring and summer. We thank them for their top quality candles in mesmerizing colors, and kindness.

There is still time to use code MCKENZIE20 to save 20% on your total Creative Candles purchase by Sept. 6th.

Steve McKenzie — Summer Collection works beautifully together

Spring kicked off with a virtual Baby Girl Shower. Keying off this darling Blabla stuffed elephant, Josephine, the Barely Blush pink and Moss Green palette developed sweetly. We shared the fun with our new mom-to-be, family and friends virtually.

baby shower, celebration — Celebrations still happen! Custom cups and napkins by Sequins and Lipstick. Photo credit: Steve McKenzie

Then we really got creative, in our two bedroom condo and outdoor space. A romantic dinner for two on the balcony featuring lush greenery, textures and desert inspired candles.

Candle lit table with green plants. Photo credit: Angie Webb Photography

Festive family dinner was next and you know Steve loves to set a gorgeous table. He’s also a fabulous cook, so it’s a win-win for all.

Brass, creamy Wedgwood Edme dishes, dreamy linens, florals and candle light set the mood.
Photo credit; Angie Webb Photography | Floral arrangement by Steve McKenzie

Thankful to be married to someone who makes me laugh. Photo credit: Angie Webb Photography

Serve yourself bar set up!
Photo credit: Angie Webb Photography

And our final summer wrap up is a self-serve cocktail bar with these vintage atomic candle holders and round bronze candles, an old-fashioned made with local Fiddler Bourbon by ASW Distillery, Schermer pecans to nosh on and bold buffalo check napkins.

Actually, this is a valuable documentation of this C-19 spring and summer. We’ll remember how and why we did so much work at home. Have you documented your experiences? Tell us what you’ve done to remember this crazy period of time. As always, thank you for traveling along with us. Cheers!

Snack Attack (hint, it begins with Schermer…)

Published on August 21, 2020August 21, 2020 by steve mckenzie's1 Comment

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.

Steve Jill McKenzie — McKenzie Design duo Steve and Jill McKenzie x Schermer Pecans

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.

Schermer Pecans — The Cocktail Collection – beautifully packaged for a hostess gift

McKenzie Design — Snack set up with pretty buffalo check Dot and Army cocktail napkins

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.

Did Someone Say Dessert?

Published on June 24, 2019June 24, 2019 by steve mckenzie's7 Comments

cake party dessert candles — Dessert Soiree with Paige Minear

Happy Summer! What better way to kick off summer entertaining than a simple dessert soiree? Paige Minear of The Pink Clutch Blog joined us for a homemade Sour Cream Cake, complemented with some of her favorite things, including her gorgeous collection from Creative Candles, Mottahadeh china and classic monogrammed cocktail napkins from The Preppy Stitch.

cake Steve McKenzie — Whipping up a simple icing with Jackson Morgan Southern Cream

Everyone enjoys a little dessert. For a simple icing, Steve whipped up confectioners sugar, vanilla, fresh mint and added Jackson Morgan Southern Cream in Salted Caramel for a little something special. Perfect!

dessert Steve McKenzie cake — Steve adding the final touch to his cake

cake Steve McKenzie lifestyle — Paige making ice cream with Jackson Morgan Whipped Orange Cream

dessert ice cream — Ice cream all dressed up

Wait until you try Creative candles! Honestly, we’ve used their Paris Gray candles for every occasion for years. After seeing these in person, we may change to Paige’s summer collection as it’s so cool, soothing yet vibrant.

dessert lifestyle — Paige lighting the candles, such a lovely touch~

dessert china Steve McKenzie — Sour Cream Cake with Jackson Morgan Salted Caramel icing, served on Mottahadeh plates

dessert Steve McKenzie — Summer Dessert table

Keep cool in the kitchen and enjoy a summer dessert with your family and friends. We’re happy to share our recipes and tips with you. Just send us a message!

How to Easily Elevate Your Next Party with Napkins

Published on February 24, 2018February 22, 2018 by steve mckenzie'sLeave a comment

From a relaxed rehearsal dinner to a special bridal shower to a themed party, Dot and Army offers an easy, simple custom napkin program that will make your special event sparkle! Recently, their napkin rental program added the perfect elevated touch to our rehearsal dinner with a variety of coordinated custom fabric napkins at each table.

napkin, purse, love, burgundy — Ready for Love

First a little background on this family business located in beautiful Brunswick, GA, Dot and Army‘s owner, Jennifer Zamudio’s charming store front offers a full variety of kitchen and table linens plus other local treats, while the workroom (and piles of gorgeous fabrics) are housed in the rear of the downtown building. At steve mckenzie’s we’re in love with their seersucker cocktail napkins, Unpaper Towels, denim cocktail napkins.

cocktail, napkin, towel, ktichen — Colorful Seersucker Cocktail Napkins, eco-friendly Unpaper Towels and Denim Cocktail Napkins with contrasting edging

Back to the rental program…All rentals are customized. They rent everything from their seersucker to cotton prints to linens with metallic edging. The rented set can be entirely the same, from one fabric, or mix and match. We sent them a Pinterest mood board for our event including some inspirational floral images.

napkin, custom, floral, green, burgundy — Napkin choices from Dot and Army

Here’s how easy it is to choose your custom napkins: pricing discussion is via email, and Dot and Army emails images of samples. Want to see a fabric in person? Easy, they’ll mail it. We chose the edging colors, sent the deposit and voila, 60 custom napkins arrived at our doorstep.

And you know what else? Return the napkins to them without washing. Again, easy and no laundry for you!

party, easy, napkin, creativity, dinner, — Ready for the Rehearsal Dinner! Designed by Steve McKenzie

fabric, napkin, floral, steve mckenzie's — Party ready!

Take this tip and add it to your Party File, and as always, steve mckenzie’s is ready to help you make your next event extra-special and easy, be that custom fabric, floral design or table settings. Stop in or to start the conversation!

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Top Tips for a Relaxed Rehearsal Dinner

Published on February 17, 2018February 17, 2018 by steve mckenzie's6 Comments

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.

textiles, gingham, dot and army napkins, floral — 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.

_MG_8252 — Custom monogram by Sequins and Lipstick

hunting, Etsy, lips — Photo props by Captivating Creations

Carter McKenzie, Jill McKenzie, The Homestead_GA — Groom + Jill aka Mom

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.

rehearsal dinner, Plaza Towers, Atlanta GA — Bride + Groom

Atlanta GA, Serenbe , green Chevy truck — Southern Crust Catering

Southern Crust Catering, rehearsal dinner — Hot pizza on a cold night!

roses, winter, floral — Floral by Steve McKenzie

_MG_8518 — A moonlit magical rehearsal dinner!

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Happy Saturday + Flowers + Antiques

Published on January 27, 2018 by steve mckenzie'sLeave a comment

Happy Saturday! Your honey-do list may be a mile long, but if you can, treat your senses to a stop at The 2018 Cathedral Antiques Show and Flower Festival. Get ready for breathtaking art, antiques, and florals featuring over 25 highly-regarded dealers from around the country. Take a peek at some favorite bright spots gathered from my Thursday tour.

floral, roses, bridal, cathedral — Stunning roses, eucalyptus, ferns and more

enamel, jade, earrings, gold — And Jewelry

art deco, art moderne — Gustave Klimt artwork

Today is the last day! The address is Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305.

Did I mention FLOWERS?! Breath in this breath of fresh, spring air. Happy Weekend!

Staffordshire dogs, blue and white, brass

A Sensational Spring Tea – steve mckenzie’s open house recap

Published on April 23, 2017April 22, 2017 by steve mckenzie'sLeave a comment

It’s time to freshen up our tables – spring is here! Let’s recap the fun from our recent Spring Tea Open House~

brass, staffordshire dogs, acrylic glass — Vintage Touches

Paige Minear of The Pink Clutch mixed vintage pieces dear to her heart, plus custom monogrammed napkins by Emily McCarthy.

Waiting on Martha, The Pink Clutch — Blogger Power! Mandy and Paige

Waiting on Martha‘s, Mandy Kellogg Rye kept a soothing green palette for her table and incorporated topiaries.

Gien, Le Jacquard Francais — Green Goodness table by Mandy

Erika Preval of Charm Etiquette refreshed our manners – start on the outside for the cutlery, leave politics out of the conversation, etc. She even offers classes for everyone to enjoy – young people, adults, corporate situations – remember good manners will open doors the best education cannot, as says Clarence Thomas.

vintage, brass, custom, Royal Crown Derby — Vintage Finds

We fell in love with the jasmine tea from Just Add Honey and will add it to our next menu. So many flavors; if you attended, please let us know your favorite!

tea, honey, Atlanta, Sweet Auburn market — This guy knows his teas!

A special thank you to Christi, our ambassador of Gien, Terrafirma, Le Jacquard Francais, Match Pewter and Royal Crown Derby, as she brought in so many delicious layers of textiles and plates for us to play with.