Part 1: A New York State of Mind

Steve, with panel participants, Karl Champley, Elle H-Millard and Alberto Villalobos.
You may recall from a recent post, Steve was invited to moderate a panel on “Innovation in Kitchen Design” at What’s New, What’s Next (WNWN) in New York City. The panel was a success and the entire event truly delightful!

As an interior designer, staying abreast of the latest in design trends is paramount and events like WNWN make that possible. And fun to boot! By moderating this panel, Steve was able to learn even more about the newest trends in kitchen technology and looks forward to incorporating these trends into future client projects!

 

A highlight of this year’s WNWN for both Steve and Jill was the Grange suite, where the brand’s latest designs, finishes and inspirations abounded. As you probably know, Grange is a favorite line of ours, and is often times one of the first things guests to the steve mckenzie’s showroom take note of. The way Grange combines textures, finishes and styles – in addition to all of their customization options is seriously awe-inspiring. And the functionality is abundant.

Grange’s Rive Gauche Wardrobe

 

Grange’s Rive Gauche Occasional Table

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having NYC as a backdrop to WNWN is absolutely exciting, but some of our most memorable moments was visiting with some of our Atlanta design friends – Barbara Westbrook and Beth Lacefield in particular – while there!

Steve’s art in the Grange showroom
A visit to Chelsea Frames/Gallerie Protege (the locale of Steve’s 2012 NYC art show) reminded us of the importance of not only art in a space, but beautiful, quality custom framed art in a space. It’s these details which elevate a space from fine to fabulous!

As always, our time in NYC always seems to move past with great speed. But, this time, Steve and Jill were able to take a few days to enjoy much art and inspiration both within and outside the NYC limits… Which we’ll share in Part 2 of this post :-))

 

A unique perspective of the Empire State Building… street level, aglow at night.
For now, we’ll end thanking all of those who made our time at WNWN truly memorable – especially  the Grange and Viking teams who invited Steve to moderate the panel. This was an event that will not be soon forgotten!

And please keep an eye out for Part 2, which will highlight some unforgettable art and sweet family time for the McKenzie’s…

 

Have You Heard?

It’s our End of Season Sale this week with 20% off the entire store, special furniture pieces at deep discounts, a 75% off Table and lots more.  Spruce up your outdoor living space, office, home and don’t forget to stock up your Gift Closet!

Stop in soon or email us for details as we love to ship to our clients far and wide.

Quick look at some crazy deals on some amazing furniture pieces…

We look forward to seeing you at steve mckenzie’s, and bring a couple of friends because friends are fun!

 

A Tropical Transformation: McKenzie Design’s 2017 Historic Macon Showhouse Dining Room

Our space in this year’s Design, Wine & Dine Showhouse, supporting the Historic Macon Foundation is finally complete! While we’re delighted with the way the dining room by McKenzie Design turned out, we’re even more thrilled to have been in the company of such talented designers from throughout Middle-Georgia, including Lisa Bellwin, Tracy BentonSally DraughonValerie Garrett, Judy Hodgens, Terry Holland, Carolyn Reichert, Carrie Robinson and Katherine Walden.

Most recently, our design team has been inspired by the all the lush, tropical motifs, which seem to be popping up everywhere! While we wanted to ensure we respected the history of the fantastic Porter House – moved to Weslyan University‘s campus – we also wanted to present our take with an updated sense of tradition. We’re so pleased with the results of our design plan, and are lucky to have had the opportunity to partner with some truly terrific manufacturers and artisans to help us realize our space…

We fell in love with Sherwin Williams’ “Iverness” and opted to use this luxurious hue throughout the dining room. The brass Pagoda light fixture by Currey & Company was a true jewel in the space! The cerused oak dining table, from Grange Furniture, was an ideal backdrop for our tablescape.

We had a ball with all of the fabulous Thibaut Design textiles used in the dining room – the “Tropical Fantasy” design from their Biscayne collection was the jumping off point and we went from there. Drape 98 provided all drapery fabrication for our space. As evidenced by the McKenzie Design showhouse dining space, we fell in love with the tropical, yet classic, design of our primary textile, featuring large leaves, colorful ginger jars and exotic animals.

The lush texture of the Moss colored velvet, paired with Selamat’s Sheridan wingback chair offered a smart juxtaposition of textures, and offers a natural element. These dramatic chairs, act as the “head” of our dining table, while the Sika Rossini chairs, act as the side chairs. Our showhouse dining space is anchored with a stunning, hand-knotted rug by Laura Walker for Verde Home.

This beautiful settee is by Bjork Studio, who provided all our upholstery. The settee, in bold animal print (Amur from the Menagerie Collection by Thibaut) is a highlight in the space and was the most talked about piece opening night – by far.

The hand finished mirror situated above the fireplace cannot go unnoticed. It’s by artist Stacy Milburn, and added needed contemporary element, which offers an exciting energy.

To set the table, we paired pieces from the new Jardins Extraordinaire collection by Gien with the classic handmade Chartreuse dinner plate by R Wood Studios. The exciting and fresh “Pebble in Blush” napkin, hand printed in India, by Collier Rose Ink, completes a memorable place setting.

Recently, we acquired six vintage pieces of glass from an old Midwest factory that still had the papers attached. Framed in these stunning steel frames, they make for an interesting, contemporary addition to the space, yet share a storied past. We love using pieces with a bit of history in our designs!

This glimpse of our showhouse tabletop is one of our favorite moments. We dubbed this little guy “Otis,” after Otis Redding, who was from Macon. He is by Avala International. In the background is the beautiful oyster vase, by Vine Garden Market, and a crystal votive from Harmonious Living by Tish Mills.

We hope you have enjoyed this little tour of our showhouse dining room! If you’d like to learn more about any of the products used, please plan a visit to our showroom or reach out via e-mail or phone.

We urge you to plan a trip to Macon to visit the showroom – the house, as well as all related Design, Wine & Dine events are absolutely worth the short drive! Please reach out to us for restaurant recommendations and be prepared to be inspired by this historic city. Visit the Macon, GA website for other fun excursions to enjoy while there. But, keep in mind, the showhouse will only be open through the 25th – you can see more details here.

Thanks again for joining us on this tour – please let us know your thoughts!

All photos in this post are courtesy of Marc Mauldin Photography except the photo of the Porter House from Historic Macon Foundation

Preview Verde Home Rugs by Steve McKenzie at WNWN in New York!

We’re thrilled to share that in partnership with our neighbors, Verde Home, Steve McKenzie will be launching a new rug collection, to be previewed at the upcoming “What’s New What’s Next” event at the New York Design Center!

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In addition to Steve’s fine artwork, textile collections and the steve mckenzie’s showroom, he’s now taken his design prowess to the ground level, by designing a collection of fine quality, handmade area rugs for Verde Home.

Steve’s distinctive aesthetic translates beautifully from his art and textiles to what we consider “art for the floor.” Verde Home’s philosophy of style and sustainability fits seamlessly with his stylistic attitude, an attribute apparent in the beautiful designs featured in this inaugural rug collection.

In addition to previewing his new rug collection for Verde Home, Steve will also be attending “What’s New What’s Next” as a panelist for New York Spaces “Progressive Design Panel,” in part with Grange Furniture, taking place Thursday, September 17th at 3:45PM in suite 201 at the New York Design Center.

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Other panelists include Stacy Garcia and Kimberly Lewis. Jason Kontos, Editor-in-Chief, New York Spaces, will lead the discussion.

If you’ll be attending WNWN, we hope you’ll visit Verde Home and catch a glimpse of this new collection by Steve McKenzie, and join in on his panel discussion Thursday afternoon!

The 45th Annual Atlanta Symphony Decorators Show House

45 years, can you believe that’s how long the Atlanta Symphony Decorators Show House has been going on?!? It’s got quite a history, and we are so thrilled to be able to participate, by providing some items to designers for use in their show house spaces!

We were lucky enough to preview this amazing home, and the 2015 show house, err… chateau, at 14,000+ square feet, does not disappoint!

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The 2015 ASO Show House – Chateau Soleil

We snapped photos of some of our favorite spaces and vignettes and are so excited to share them with you:

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The theme of the home is classicism in a modern context. And for us, this tone was set with the bold black and white striped cushions on the outdoor furniture.

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Parker Kennedy Living

The show home’s study, designed by our friends, Parker Kennedy Living, featured a lovely mix of chinoiserie, books, books and more books! That wonderful wallpaper is by Fromental.

Melanie Turner
Melanie Turner Interiors

The first floor bedroom in the show house by Melanie Turner took on the “more is more” approach with a fantastic color palette of blue and white with fantastic pops of yellow! The abstract art was the ideal addition to a beautiful space!

Douglas W. Hilton
DWH Interiors

Douglas W. Hilton, of DWH Interiors, designed the foyer/landing area and grand staircase. Here, fabulous art provides a warm welcome and invites one to enter the home. The wall color is from the Williamsburg paint collection.

Michel Boyd
Smith Boyd Interiors
Michel Boyd (1)
Smith Boyd Interiors

Drama abounded in the living room by Michel Boyd, of Smith Boyd Interiors (one of our previous Tastemakers!). The art, the lighting, and of course, furnishings all added layer upon layer of luxury.

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Stuart Pliner Design
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Stuart Pliner Design
Stuart Pliner
Stuart Pliner Design
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Stuart Pliner Design

The amazing butler’s pantry and dining hallway, by Stuart Pliner Design connected the rooms beautifully with the repeat of this gorgeous peacock wallpaper. The amazing hand painted rug highlighted the deeper stain on the herringbone pattern wood floor.

Vern Yip
Vern Yip Design

This dining room by Vern Yip continues the blue and grey theme we noted throughout the show house.

Ann Wisniewski
AJW Designs

Check out this superb wallpaper featured in Ann Wisniewski’s (of AJW Designs) kitchen powder room – wow! We’re in love!

Pineapple House Interior
Pineapple House Interior Design

Steve McKenzie art sighting! We’re so grateful to Stephen Pararo and Seble Bebe Mengistu of Pineapple House Interior Design for using one of Steve’s paintings in their beautiful upstairs retreat!

Patricia McLean Interiors
Patricia McLean Interiors
Patricia McLean Interiors (1)
Patricia McLean Interiors

Regal window treatments, a fantastic floral documentary print, fantastic paint and more make up one of the show house’s guestrooms by Patricia McLean Interiors. Those Grange Napoleon chairs, available at steve mckenzie’s, fit perfectly in the space, especially when paired with that fun Duralee fabric!

Cathy Rhodes Interiors
Cathy Rhodes Interiors

This fresh, graphic wallpaper in the lower stairs/terrace level landing by Cathy Rhodes Interiors adds an excellent touch – even more so when matched with the Lee Jofa chair fabric and artwork by Stephanie Wheeler!

Phew! And there you have the tidbits of the 2015 Atlanta Symphony Decorators Show House that stood out most to us… There is so much design inspiration to enjoy, we encourage all to take the time to plan a visit and support the Atlanta Symphony Associates!

New from Grange… Just for YOU!

As we shared in an earlier post, Steve and Jill have just returned from France where they had the opportunity to attend Maison & Objet, as a guest of Grange, a leading  furniture manufacturer in France with over 100 years of history.

In addition to those favorite pieces we’ve already shared with you, we were also introduced to a couple of new collections by Grange and they’re so spectacular, we wanted to share them with you as soon as possible! Although we may be a little biased, as we are the Southeast United States’ Grange representatives… Without further adieu, here’s the latest from Grange Furniture:

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The first new Grange collection we’d like to share, Médaillon, is based on the traditional lines of Louis XV style, yet cleaner and more comfortable and approachable.

In this line, Grange combined Oak finishes found in country estates with cherry tops to create an elegant collection that may fit in both formal dining spaces or your family’s kitchen.

As a Grange retailer, steve mckenzie’s will have this collection on view in our showroom this spring!

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The buffet and mirror have beautiful lines and great proportions and beautifully round out the pieces for the dining space.

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The collection’s Medallion back chairs are available both in cane back and upholstered finishings.

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The Médaillon collection also includes two smaller proportioned Bergere chairs in a beautiful oak frame. Can’t you envision these lovely pieces in a keeping room off the kitchen?

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The next new collection by Grange, Country Chic, is based on the country homes in the areas of Ile de Ré and Lubéron. These pieces feature cerused oak with a pop of aqua, perfect for beach or country homes.

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Also new from Grange is an exciting modular that features the same unique functionality of Grange’s other modular pieces, with bookshelves which are able to effortlessly slide in front of the TV component of the piece – perfectly concealing the television in style.

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However, these updated Grange modulars are not nearly as tall as their earlier designs. This new piece stands at 61″ tall, an ideal petite size for smaller spaces.

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We just cannot wait to bring these new pieces by Grange into the steve mckenzie’s showroom, so you’ll have an opportunity to experience them in person – take it from us, they’re even better than in these beautiful photos!

If you have any questions about these pieces, or would like additional information, please reach out to the steve mckenzie’s team. We’d love to work with you to bring these pieces into you or your client’s home, where we’re sure you’ll love living with them!

Back from Maison & Objet with Favorite Pieces from Grange Furniture

Steve and Jill recently returned from France, where, as guests of Grange Furniture, they had the unique opportunity to experience the beauty of Grange by visiting three of their stores, their stand at Maison & Objet and the Grange factory in Lyon.

Grange

To say it was a trip to remember would be an understatement! It was an absolute explosion inspiration. Not only were the Grange showrooms and Maison & Objet stand breathtaking, the factory was unbelievable, and naturally, they were in France – where they went inspiration shopping in Paris, focusing specifically on the Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th arrondissement.

steve & jill on Grange France trip

As Steve and Jill perused the three Grange stores – two in Paris and one in Lyon – it was easy to fall in love with all of the pieces Grange had on display. Here are a few favorites, we just had to share with you; we hope you enjoy them in photos as much as we did in person:

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Grange has really expanded their upholstery collection and keying off traditional French styling. Combining this look with modern fabrics creates some really beautiful pieces. We’re especially excited with how bold Grange is becoming with the use of multiple fabrics on most of their pieces.

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This petite club chair with bamboo styling across the back was an instant favorite!

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This Trianon Sofa was especially beautiful with its combination of traditional legs paired with modern arms and cushions trimmed in orange welt – as you probably know, our favorite combination!

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Customization is a hallmark of Grange. Finishes can be combined to create unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. This Louis XV desk with the hint of peacock inside the legs and just around the inside of the desk was seriously stunning.

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The new Grand Siecle, introduced by Grange at the last Maison & Objet, is beautiful in this painted oak leg and woodtone oak top combination. We love the detailing on the corner makes it truly special.

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Another stunning collection is the Haussmann, which features a bold scale and stately hardware. This console with door knocker pulls and matching mirror, created a statement vignette.

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Grange’s modular pieces, which provide not only beauty, but also storage to your space, are another Grange hallmark. The most exciting part of these pieces, is the fact they can be custom configured to fit your specific space and needs.

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We love the way the book shelves slide to perfectly hide the TV when not in use (a amazing accomplishment!). This unit even has a hidden bar behind the shelves on the far right – ideal for cocktail night!

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The real piece de resistance is this new large “Miss Butterfly” chest of drawers with the front done in wallpaper.  Butterflies were a big trend in Paris and especially at Maison & Objet, as noted by Steve and Jill.

We’ll share more about the exciting butterfly trend in an upcoming post, along with many other fabulous trends found at Maison & Objet, so keep your eyes peeled!

In addition to our terrific hosts from Grange US, we were joined by Kathy Marshall the talented Kitchen and Interior Designer from Boston, George Logan and Rita Brown of the San Francisco bay area store Indigo & Poppy, and Blogger and Textile Designer, Kimberly Lewis. Joining all these talents lead to many ideas and abundant creativity!

We are so glad to have so many new friends and look forward to sharing more about this trendsetting trip over the next few weeks!

Graceful Grange & How These Pieces Stand the Test of Time

steve mckenzie’s is the Southeast retailer for Grange furniture, a line of fine, handmade and hand-finished pieces made in France. These hardworking pieces will grow with your family and become heirlooms passed from generation to generation.

The beautiful video above offers a bit about the furniture-making process at Grange, and the myriad of custom options available. Each bespoke piece takes the client’s lifestyle into consideration, ensuring the piece fits seamlessly, not only into the client’s space, but also within their lifestyle – taking into consideration how they’ll live with the piece.

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Since 1904, Grange has been perfecting the art of creating handcrafted, classically designed pieces with a modern sensibility. The pieces range from beds, dining tables and sofas to chairs, occasional pieces and even entertainment units.

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Available in over 75 different wood and colored finishes, there’s a Grange design ideal for any part of just about every home – including the outdoors!

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Our current favorite pieces from Grange (this changes frequently :-)) are the latest media units they’ve designed to cleverly conceal flat panel televisions, when not in use. Look at the two images directly above – they’re the same piece, but one has the sliding shelves closed, while in the other, they’re opened to expose the TV. Genius!
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And, of course, all of these pieces are also available in a rainbow of colors and finishes! Contact the design team at steve mckenzie’s today to start designing your Grange dream piece, and soon you’ll have a future heirloom in your home.

steve mckenzie’s Sample Sale!

Starting NOW through Setpember 13th.  Save up to 60% on fine furnishings from steve mckenzie’s!

Stop in soon for the best selection from our exclusive lines…

All items are “as is” and all sales are final.

Here are some teasers of what’s included in our SAMPLE SALE:

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Select pieces of Grange Furniture offered at substantial savings.

 

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Chairs, chairs and more chairs!

 

Awesome savings on American Chestnut round table!
Awesome savings on American Chestnut round table!

 

Remember we’re at our new location – 999 Brady Ave NW, Suite #1, Atlanta – next door to Verde Home and Miller Union restaurant.