designis born201009

8/8/2019 designis born201009

1/66>> September 2010

design

is

INAUGURAL ISSUE

s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 0

BORN


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http://www.larsonjuhl.com/



CONTRIBUTORS

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

DESIGN IS NOT!

THRIFTING WITH TYLER

CEILING FANS

LIVING THE RITZ LIFE

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?

NEXT MONTH

LETTER FROM THEEDITOR

PAST MEETS PRESENT

GARDEN PARTY

GROWING COMMUNITY

EATING WELL

DESIGN IS SHOWHOUSE

ACGA Visits Atlanta

Welcome to DI Magazine

Classic Craftsman Bungalo gets

Stunning Renovation

In Season

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A Necessary Evil

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Table of Contents

Photo - Cover Page: Jenni Girtman, Atlanta Event Photography


4/66p.4 >> DesignIs Inaugural Issue

teamWalt Ray

Editor-in-ChiefGarden Editor

Patti Davis

Lifestyle Editor

StephanieMaola

Interior EditorStylist

STAFF

Jesse Allen,Production/ WriterWill Brandon,InternJacque Carder,Production/ Styling

Jane Chance,Marketing

Andy Cleary,GraphicsScott Kaye,Business/ Copy EditingLiza Mueller,

Location Scout/ Styling

Kavita Self,Copy EditingDana Xavier Dojnik,Web

CONTRIBUTORSElizabeth Beasley, Writer

Neil Dent,Photography

Jenni Girtman,Photography

Atticus Graybill, Photography

Calvin Lockwood,Photography

Tyler Lynch, Writer

Megan McCarthy, Writer

SPECIAL THANKSEric Davis, Web

Alf Elder, Photography (blog)

Olga Howell,Landscape Styling

Grifs King, Graphics

Design Is Magazine 729 Piedmont Avenue Atlanta, GA 30308

designis
http://www.outdoorstudio.biz/http://www.anatomyofadinnerparty.com/http://www.neildent.com/http://www.atlantaeventphotography.com/http://www.calvinlockwood.com/http://www.calvinlockwood.com/http://www.atlantaeventphotography.com/http://www.neildent.com/http://www.anatomyofadinnerparty.com/http://www.outdoorstudio.biz/


mailto:[email protected]


6/66

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o r n

Bdesign

is

nce upon a time in a land not so far awaythere lived a designer. This designer always

had the highest aspirations but never had the

money for high-end purchases.His clients always had strained budgets. His own rst house was a sham-bled old Victorian Cottage with great bones. His investment properties al-ways arrived distressed.

But this designer had vision. Bold vision. Beautiful vision. High-end visionMost importantly, this designer had determination and a critical eye that led

him down the road of experimentation in the quest for great living spaces onteeny tiny budgets, or all too often, no budget at all.

The designer made discoveries that just had to be shared. In doing so, De-sign Is magazine was born...

o



Work with what youve got.How many of ushave discarded perfectly good items because theydont t our personal style? Before discarding ob-

jects, consider what they could be. Imagine them

re-worked into the object of your desire.

Seek free or inexpensive objects. Often, peo-ple discard perfectly good stuff. For the price of anew, cheaply made item you might nd a fantastic,

well-made treasure in a thrift store, antique store,garage sale, on-line, through barter or curbside.Think outside the box. One mans trash is very

often another mans treasure.

Invest wisely in high quality items. If youmust purchase something new, try to buy the bestquality that you can afford. Well-made items willlast much longer than their cheaper counterparts,saving you money in the long run.

Use common materials in uncommon ways.Lets face it, common materials tend to have lowerprices than uncommon ones. Often, they lookcommon because they are presented exactly thesame way every time. Generally, you can buy thecheapest thing out there if youre willing to experi-ment with how it is presented.

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Guiding

Principles:

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Shop smartly.See that high-end store with the plushcarpet, well-dressed salespeople, piped-in music, com-plimentary coffee and ungodly prices? Go there. Find

what you like. Then leave. Try looking on-line or in lessexpensive stores to nd the look you like with a pricetag you can afford.

Develop your sense of personal style. Just becauseit appears on the cover of a magazine does not meanthat it suits you. We all have an unique set of experienc-es that colors our outlook, taste and style. Be yourself,

especially in your own home.

Innovate, dont imitate. Love that picture in Mega-bucks Design magazine? Want it for your home? Cantafford the $4,600 chair that was used? No problem.Instead of nding a knock-off try nding a piece thatexudes similar characteristics. Find unique pieces thatare in keeping with the look you want.

Edit visual clutter. It is important to have personalrelics in a home but too many items can be difcultto appreciate. Display some favorites. If you have toomany, put several in a closet for a while. Switch out col-lectibles every once in a while so that they dont becomesimply background. When you think youve editedenough, delete 10% more.

Experiment.Taking a risk might seem difcult, trou-bling even. What if the idea fails? What if the projectlooks bad? This is always the risk. The best rooms, gar-dens, events and houses often are the best because theytried something unexpected. And it worked. Even if ittook a few tries.

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YOU GOTTA TRY THE BEST

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The Design Is mission is to

inspire, guide, educate andentertain our readers with

helpful tips, inspirational

spreads and lots of explanation.

Our goal in every issue is to provethat you dont have to break the

bank to get great results. Most

importantly, we will always strive

to provide projects that illustrate

our Guiding Principles. Walt

The Mission:designis


http://calvinlockwood.com/



Home Design Articles Youll Never See in DI

Flip on any home design channel on a Sunday afternoon and youll immedi-

ately get sucked into a marathon of shows about turning your crawlspace

into a library and astrological decorating. Seriously, Capricorns LOVE av-

ocado green shag carpeting. One thing we do know is that no matter which

design drama catches your eye, youll never see one of these topics on the air

or in our pages:

Paint it White! Cinder Block Style

Crap in a Snap Decorating By Smell

Shut Up and Listen To Me Milk Crate Magic

OCD Design Extreme Sunrooms

Screw It Up Yourself My First Retirement Home

You Call That Decorating? Designers Cage Match

Colorblind Design If Stains Could Talk

Rufe Madness Designing Over Budget

Small Space, Huge Mistake

designis

NOT!- by Elizabeth Beasley



Past Meets Pr

FRONT BEFORE

BACK DURING



sentThe story of how two very differentprofessionals transformed their perfectlocation into their perfect home

by Stephanie Maola, Interior Editor

__ Photography: Jenni Girtman & Atticus Graybill

BACK OF HO



For Walt Ray and Scott Kaye,perfect means the bestofbothworldsold and new.



AFTER SEARCHING FOR A FULLYEAR, Scott Kaye and Walt Raycame across a property that wasone of only seven homes in the city that

backs onto desirable Piedmont Park.

Acres of park views with the Atlanta skyline in thebackground made them snap up the property within48 hours!

Walt and Scott embarked on an ambitious 3-year renovationthat turned a forgotten 1920s cottage into a contemporary

show-stopper. The pair have a knack for using common ma-terials in uncommon ways and for sourcing budget-friendlynds with high-end looks.

Their combined sense of style seamlessly blends traditionaland contemporary architecture, as well as modern furnish-ings with beloved family pieces, resulting in a one-of-a-kindhome.



Scotts study is a exible space that can be sepa-rated from the Great Room by a series of custommade Lucite panels.

Luminous custom doors on pivoting steel spinesallow the owners to control interaction betweencommon areas and the study. The panels act ashuge louvers that can be completely opened ortotally closed off for privacy.

The Persian rugwas purchased atan antique liquida-tion auction for a

steal.

Scotts Study



The couple saved money by

having the doors fabricated

by a local craftsman and

by applying a frosted nish

to the panels themselves.

How? They simply sanded

them with a palm sander.

The down-lled tux-edo sofa with cords

and nials came

with the homeown-ers from a previoushome.



Walts Studio

Walts studio is a much used space lled withvintage nds. The room provides work spacefor two between the contemporary metaland glass desk and the vintage drafting table(which was purchased at a yard sale). Fromhis desk, Walt can keep an eye out for guestsand passers-by from either his desk or hisdrafting table.

Tip:Always add at leastone piece of con-temporary furniture

to rooms lled withvintage and antiquepieces this keeps

the dcor looking cur-rent instead of stuffy.



The studio offers inspir-ing views of the frontgarden and pond,which is perfect forWalt, a landscapearchitect by trade.



Going Upstairs



Upon entering thecottage, guests are

wowed by an openconcept two-storyfoyer/living room

that is ooded withnatural light. An inti-mate arrangement offurniture cozies up to

the living room re-place, which is origi-

nal to the house.

The eclectic mix offurnishings reects the

homeowners apprecia-tion for great designfrom any era. Justbecause Walt and Scotthad a newly renovatedroom didnt mean theywere going to get ridof all their old furnish-

ings. They brilliantlymixed new, contempo-rary purchases along-side sentimental an-tique pieces. A friendscastoff 1950s kidney-shaped coffee

table sits atop an Ori-ental rug. Walts rst

sofa out of collegeseamlessly pairs withan art deco buffet, anantique French hutchand a contemporarystreamlined bench.Original oil paintingspurchased in SoHo,

New York mingle withthe homeowners ownblack and white framedphotos.

Separating the great

room from the livingroom is an ultra-modernsteel and Lucite stair-

case leading to a glass-oored catwalk.



BEFORE

M

The homeowners wanted to make a bold state-ment when it came to decorating their master

bedroom. Natural light oods the room from oorto ceiling windows on three sides, and throughthe ceiling above the bed, which is the glass bot-tom of the rooftop pool. The pair chose to echothe hues of the pool by painting the lone wall astrong turquoise color. The portions of ceilingthat werent glass were painted in bold orange.Cool tones of green, grey and white round out the

contemporary color palette.

The other furnishings in the room are all piecesthe couple have had for years. If something need-ed reinventing, then thats just what the pair did.For example, the ornate silver dressing mirror inthe corner of the room was originally gold. Butafter a quick makeover, it now blends perfectly

with the rooms new color scheme. Sometimes you justhave to paint an an-tique. The gold mirrorframe simply did notwork with this room.



ster Suite

Always select fresh ow-

ers over fake. Always.

www.cutowers.com

The master bedroom mixes

contemporary and antique pieces in a

fresh and modern way.
http://www.cutflowers.com/http://www.cutflowers.com/



The couple invested in a new bed with an uphol-stered headboard and footboard from Bed Down, alocal botique furniture store (www.beddown.com)

A solid grey ultra-suede fabric is paired with silvertacks for a contemporary twist on a classic silhou-

ette. Solid and patterned bed linens were combinedin an unexpected and refreshing way. The colorfulpiece of original art makes a bold statement andhangs in a prominent location over the bed.

Ikea shades, $6Inherited bases, $0

www.ikea.com

Mottled light on wallscomes from the pool

above
http://www.beddown.com/http://www.ikea.com/http://www.ikea.com/http://www.beddown.com/



How to Select a BedThere are thousands of beds, textiles and nish options avail-

able. Deciding which is right for you may take some time.

Consider your existing bed. Is it too high? Too low? Platform or traditional? Doyou want to fall into bed or climb into bed? What about headboard height? Howmuch wall space do you have to work with? Know the general size, shape, andscale of the bed you want before you leave home.

Visit the high-end retailers. Decide on your style. We decided on an upholsteredbed, but were careful not to pick anything too trendy. Classic styles will t yourdcor years longer than the it bed of the season. This is especially important

when purchasing more expensive pieces.

Shop multiple stores for the best deal and to be sure you dont nd the perfect bedafter you have ordered one custom-made.

Select the fabric. Lots of luxurious fabrics are available in ultra-suede and micro-ber. Since this bed is going to be regularly used and the owners have pets, a

durable ultra-suede was selected. See if the sales associate will give you a sampleto take home to compare with the surroundings in which the piece will live.

Choose your hardware. Many upholstered beds will require buttons (tufting),tacks (trim), wood (legs and trim) and/or piping (trim details). Collect all thefabrics and hardware youre considering and hold them all up on a bed that ap-proximates your new bed. Compare and critique different options to select thecombination youll enjoy.

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by Walt Ray, Editor - in - Chief



This old mail slot camefrom Walts old ofce

and cost only $20


mailto:[email protected]://www.atlantaeventphotography.com/



DIY when you can. It will save you money.

Dont be afraid to use bold colors in a bedroom. The end re-

sult can still create a restful, spa-like retreat.

Be sure to balance bold colors with plenty of restful neutrals,

such as white and grey.

Work with what you have. If a piece of furniture doesnt

match your new color scheme, dont replace it. Consider

painting or reupholstering it.

Dont be afraid of custom...it can be more economical than

you think.

Never pass up an opportunity for a great buy, no matter

where it is.

Resist the temptation to buy all new furnishings. Start with

what youve got and build from there.

Mix traditional and contemporary furnishings to update your

style, otherwise old furnishings can look stuffy.

Inject color in unexpected places.

Past Meets Present - Lessons Learned

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Garden Party



The American CommunityGardening Association visitedAtlanta and were welcomed in style!

On a sultry evening in Atlanta,some 150 guests lled the home of Scott Kaye and Walt

Ray. In town to attend the ACGA (American Commu-

nity Gardening Association) National Conference, they

received a big, southern welcome complete with fried

green tomatoes, stuffed mushrooms, tiny cones lled

with shrimp and other goodies and canisters brimming

with iced tea and lemonade. Catering was provided by

Beyond Details Catering & Floral Design and MondaviWinery.

Guests from all over the United States mingled, nibbled

delicious treats and got to know one another before the

start of the conference the next day.

I enjoyed meeting several of the attendees, including

Dana Cohen, a beekeeper from New Yorks East Village.

We discussed the art of beekeeping and making honey,and how it keeps one grounded. It astonished me to

learn there are beekeepers in the middle of the worlds

busiest city.

Check out the Associations website (www.community-

garden.org)to nd a community garden in your area.You may nd yourself playing in the dirt...

by Patti Davis,Lifestyle Editor

Photography by

Jenni Girtman
http://www.communitygarden.org/http://www.communitygarden.org/http://www.communitygarden.org/http://www.communitygarden.org/



Tips

1.Consider Your Audience.We decidedthat our community garden guests wouldappreciate locally-grown, organic food.

We made that a priority.

2.Drink Local. Almost every region hasdrinks particular to that locale. Serve lo-cally brewed beer, wine and other spir-its whenever possible, especially if yourguests are from out of town.

3.Provide Parking. We shuttled guestsfrom the hotel hosting the Conference tothe party. Guests arrive refreshed withouthaving to hassle with directions and nd-ing a parking spot to squeeze into. AND...if your guests do imbibe too much, theyllstill arrive home safely.

designis



A garden by the people, for the people...thatsthe denition of a community garden and yes, its very American. In fact, Ibet that theres a community garden smack dab in the middle of your owncity. Community gardens have been around since the pilgrims learned togrow maize from the natives, but the American Community Gardening As-

sociation wasnt ofcially created until 1979. If you arent familiar with howcommunity gardens work, heres the dirt on what they are, where to nd oneand how to get involved.

Rooted in the CommunityCommunity gardens are created to grow things owers, vegetables andmost importantly, community. They can pop up just about anywhere, fromurban gardens nestled between ofce buildings to rural gardens that feel

more like farms. Designs and functions vary, too. Some gardens have in-dividual plots that members purchase, others have community plots forsharing or plots dedicated to growing produce for local markets. Whateverthe style, the main function of a community garden is to enhance the worldaround it. Just a few square feet of greenery can reduce crime, provide foodfor local families, introduce neighbors to each other and teach kids aboutcondence. Now thats a crop worth sowing.

Growing

Community- by Elizabeth Beasley,Design Is Contributor



Ready to Dig in?Its easy. There are tons of community gardens around the country and moreare being created every day. Theres a handy online garden locator to helpand some gardens have web sites that explain more about what their loca-tion offers. Once you nd one (or more) in your vicinity, go take a visit to see

which garden tills your soil.

How Does Your Garden Grow?Community gardens take a community to succeed. Many gardens allow youto purchase memberships that include shares in plots, free produce and spe-cialty classes. You can also volunteer at your local garden or start your own.Check out the AGCA Rebel Tomato (www.communitygarden.org/rebelto-mato) to learn how to design and plan your own local hot spot.

Youll turn your brown thumb green in no time!

Contact: www.communitygarden.org to fnd a community garden in your area.
http://www.communitygarden.org/rebeltomatohttp://www.communitygarden.org/rebeltomatohttp://www.communitygarden.org/http://www.communitygarden.org/rebeltomatohttp://www.communitygarden.org/http://www.communitygarden.org/rebeltomato



Eating Well

What better way to enjoy summers bounty thana delicious, homemade salad full of goodies that

you just picked out of your garden or at your lo-cal farmers market!

Here is a quick and easy recipe that pairs well with just about any pro-

tein you could throw on the grill, and is also delicious by itself. If you can

stand a little more spice, add some fresh jalapeos and watch the heat

level go up! Enjoy this Summer Harvest Salad as you sip your cold, crisp

white wine or summer lager. This versatile recipe can also be enjoyed any

time of the year and tailored with your favorite fresh, local ingredients.

Its time to get in your kitchen and enjoy summers abundance!

Cheers!

In Season

- by Megan McCarthy, Design Is Contributor



Summer Harvest Corn & Black Bean Salad

Rinse and drain black beans. Strip 2 ears of fresh corn off the cob. Heat2 tbsp of olive oil in pan on medium heat and add corn. Cook for about 5minutes. While corn is heating, chop the remaining vegetables. Combinetomatoes, avocado, bell pepper and scallions with black beans and cornin large bowl. Add 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil and season with cumin,cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to taste. Finish with chopped cilantroand combine gently. Serve chilled. Tip: Add a squeeze of fresh lime juiceto taste.

15 oz can organic black beans,rinsed and drained2 ears fresh corn, off the cob3 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil2 large tomatoes, diced1 avocado, diced1 red bell pepper, seeded &diced

2 scallions, choppedDash of ground cuminDash of cayenne pepperSalt and Pepper to tasteFresh chopped cilantro

This Months Recipe:


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http://www.threesistersvineyards.com/http://www.threesistersvineyards.com/



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Building a show house is more difcult than you might think, espe-cially when using someone elses house. Design Is magazine teamed up with811 L.L.C. to rehabilitate a distressed apartment house in Atlantas desirable

Midtown neighborhood. We at DI hope that our readers will relate to the na-tional movement that is bringing people back into town and into more man-ageable accommodations that provide an exciting, in-town lifestyle.

DI staff worked to develop a sensible oor plan that maximized amenities.Our editors designed a new color scheme for the house that allowed the exist-ing base color to be enhanced by a new trim color. We completely overhauledthe landscape to provide huge impact on a modest budget.

S

- by Walt Ray

- Photography by Neil Dent



wo u s e



Second Floor

Ground Floor

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Show HouseDI is hosting a competition to showcase designer talent. The winning designs will be

featured in DI magazine and executed in the Design

Is House that will be open to the public this autumn

E-mail [email protected] you are in

terested in participating. The competition kicks of

in mid-September.

Not a designer? Vote on designs that are submittedWell be asking you, our readers, for input. You can

follow the progress of the Design Is Show House on

Facebook.

Upcoming issues of DI magazine will feature inno-

vative tips gleaned from the renovation of this his

toric mansion. It will result in ve sophisticated liv

ing spaces that enhance contemporary urban living

We cannot wait to share Design Is Show Hous

updates. Visit www.DesignIsMagazine.com each

month for great ideas for your own home. Find us

on Facebook for daily updates.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.designismagazine.com/http://www.designismagazine.com/mailto:[email protected]



Distressed to Desirable -Design Is Show HouseBefore and After



What We Did (so far)Paint the Trim -We hated the color of the house. To keep in bud-

get, we selected a trim color that would make the existing siding color ap-pear richer and more sophisticated. By pairing the yellow house with a two

tone brown, we redened the character of the entire house.

Pressure Wash Siding - By simply cleaning the existing sid-ing, we saved the time, effort and labor (aka cash) of re-painting the entire

house. Freshly cleaned siding looks newer, richer and better maintained.

Screen Neighboring Building - Lets face it, we cant allhave gorgeous houses on each side of us. Sometimes you just have to try to

block undesirable views. In this case, we planted a owering apricot tree

and backed it up with a row of juniper trees (very inexpensive evergreens).

While the neighboring building remains visible, it no longer commands vi-

sual attention.

Anchor the Front of the House -The top-heavy porchseemed to be pulling the house over. By placing matching evergreen hollies

on each side of the porch, the bottom section of the house appears wider.

Now that the bottom half carries more weight, the house no longer seems

top heavy. We used inexpensive azaleas, autumn fern, knock-out roses, abe

lia and boxwoods to help soften the brick foundation.

Note: Foundation plants should never overwhelm the house. Select varietie

of shrubs or even groundcovers that will never outgrow their space.



Weedy to Welcoming -DI reinvented the ap-proach to the mansion

with style.



What We Did (so far)Replace Sidewalk - The existing stone walk was beyond repair andthe irregular agstone was a bit too rustic for this house. DI staff salvaged

high-end slate for free, from a patio that was being demolished. We only

had to purchase edging material, stone base (granite dust) and start laying

the new stone. Notice the visual impact created by installing the new walk at

the width of the steps down to street level. The walk widens to the width of

the porch steps near the house, offering a space to pause at the entrance.

Plant Annual Color -Everybody loves color. Flanking the front

steps, we placed brightly colored plants in sleek, modern pots to update the

look. We added colorful owers in pots on the steps. Two more bursts of

seasonal color ank the sidewalk half way to the house. All three pairs of

color lead the eye from the street to the front porch.

Remove Picket Fence - The picket fence in front of the house was

cute, but cute fences are better left to cute houses. Also, the fence blockedviews of the new landscape. We removed the fence intact by loosening the

soil around the posts and lifting with a pry bar. We will re-use these sections

later.

Dene the Walk - Once the fence was removed, the walkway to thehouse needed to be announced. Matching boxwoods were planted on each

side. Now twin boxwoods ank the steps from the street to the garden, andfrom the garden to the front porch. Perfect.

Tip: When trying to update the look of an historic structure, introducesleek, modern accessories wherever possible.



Frumpy to Fantastic -Bold Arabesquepattern replaces weedyfront yard



What We Did (so far)Install a no turf lawn - We all know that lawns eat up resources. Gaso-

line for the mowers (pollution-generating machines), labor, the chemical cock-tail that keeps the weeds at bay (yeah, right), need we go on? There are places ap-

propriate for turf lawns, but too often we tend to use mown grass as the de facto

groundcover because we cant imagine what else to do. One option is demon-

strated at the Design Is House.This bold lawn alternative is easily accomplished.

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Apply chemical weed and grass killer (Round-up) to entire lawn andwait two weeks. Youll thank me later.

Use marking paint to outline where groundcover is to be planted.

Dig 2 down in areas that are to be gravel. Pile the soil taken from thegravel areas into the groundcover areas.

Add soil amendment. We used Natures Helper, widely available at anyhome improvement center. Its cheap and improves native soil.

Plant mondo grass spaced at 6 apart. Within a year, this should ll incompletely.

Mulch the ground cover area. We used Natures Helper as mulch, be-cause we like the dark color. Avoid the dyed/colored mulches. The dye

is used to cover aws in the mulch, and they tend to be made of verylow grade wood (such as chipped up pallets and other stuff you dontwant in your garden).

Spread gravel about 2 to 3 thick in designated areas. Youll need agravel that will compact and bind together, so look for one with sharpedges, not rounded pebbles that will get tracked everywhere. We usedminiature slate chips.

Tips for No-Turf Gardendesignis



Common to Command-ing- DI Show HouseGets a New Fence.



Clean and repair existing fence. We borrowed a few extra pickets andparts from the section we removed.

Paint pickets and rails. Paint in direction of wood. Start at the top and

work way down. We used Durons nuthatch (www.duron.com).

We had plenty of space between the fence and the neighbors driveway.We took advantage of that by planing juniper trees and other shrubs toscreen the pavement and to provide a background for the fence.

Mulch under fence to keep weeds and grass at least a fewinches away. Mechanical string trimmers and mowing machines will

damage the paint and scar the wood.

Add plants in front of and behind your fence. A few well-placed plantswill soften the fence and integrate it into the entire composition.

What We Did (so far)Fence Face-Lift -White picket fences are great, but not for this

house. We eliminated the fence along the street, but kept it on the side ofthe front yard to help screen the view. To make the fence less visible, we

painted the fence with the medium-brown tone from the house trim. If we

had wanted to call attention to the fence, a bolder color would have done

the trick, while giving it a more interesting edge. We scavenged parts from

one section to patch broken, missing, or rotted pieces on the side we kept.To realize further savings, we plan to re-use the sections we removed to dis-

guise the hvac units and trash receptacles in the rear service area.

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Tips to Paint By:designis
http://www.duron.com/http://www.duron.com/



The best laid plans almost always run awry. Be sure to orderextra plants.

Always overplant your groundcovers. We used mondo grassand planted them a mere 6 on center.

Water frequently for the rst month after planting. Cut thewater frequency gradually.

Tips to Plant By:designis

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Plants We Love

Autumn Fernis a fantastic plant if you need soft and loose.This evergreen grows vigorously and offers a brassy fall color thatis replaced by a crop of fresh green fronds in spring. Over the pastve years, autumn fern has made its debut in almost every gardencenter. Easy to nd, easy to grow, easy to love.

Boxwood is a staple of Southern gardens. Its formal shape isoften mimicked with overly sheared look-alikes such as privet andeleagnus. Boxwoods can be quite expensive. The good news isthat since people often do not appreciate their value, they may be

willing to part with theirs!

Mary Nell Hollyis one of many hollies with large, glossygreen leaves. They work well to anchor a house, soften the edge

of a building, or ll a large gap where architectural detail may belacking. At the Design Is Show House, we used them to add visual

weight to the rst story porch.

Mondo Grassis a solid standby where reliability is calledfor. It grows about 6 inches tall, never more. This evergreenoffers year-round consistency. Mondo will take light foot traf-c and it grows thickly enough to choke out weeds and is very

disease resistant. Difcult not to love this plant.

Banana Trees will eventually grow into a full-sized, fruitbearing tree. In most climates, banana trees only survive asannuals. While banana trees will never reach maturity at theDesign Is Show House, we love how the tropical appearanceand the large, bold foliage combines with the nely texturedmondo grass lawn and annual owers.

Tips:designis



In 1987 Sears Roebuck andCompany halted operationsat its 2-million square footPonce de Leon location inAtlanta. For several de-cades this was the largestofce building in the coun-try, rivaling buildings ve

times its height in sqaurefootage.

Years later The City of At-lanta purchased the com-plex. Fast forward a coupleof decades. The city real-ized it was time to cleanhouse. This was THE rum-

mage sale of all rummagesales, encompassing itemsfrom the Sears Roebuckdays, every City departmentand even left-overs from the1996 Summer Olympics.Thousands upon thousandsof vintage items spanning

decades of use and cover-ing acres of space - all forsale. You know there had tobe some great deals some-where in all that stuff.

Thrifting with Tyler- by Tyler Lynch,Design Is Contributor

Tyler searching through the treasures at theliquidation sale.



Large liquidation sales can be a sea of disorganiza-

tion. When contemplating a shopping strategy for

sales, I offer you this advice:

Eat breakfast and bring bottled water. Shopping is hard work.

Arrive early and leave the kids at home.

Bring a friend you are not in competition with. Its always great topair up with someone who can look out for you and vice versa.

Carry cash. Dont count on credit and debit being accepted.

Bring a red marker or pen so you can write sold on items. Whenyou do this, remove the price tag off the item. Hold onto it forcheck out. If someone says I wanted that, well you are holdingthe price sticker, its yours!

Dont think just grab what you like. When it is time to pay, youcan always weed out what you dont want. In many cases, I havetraded my discards for other patrons items.

Stalk people. I know that sounds odd, but if someone has some-thing you want, watch them. I cant tell you how any times I havepicked up items shoppers have decided to put back.

Make friends. Lines can be long and having friends is key. Theywill watch your items for you and even save your place in line whileyou take care of necessary business.

Carry a screwdriver. You never know when you will need one.

Find out who is putting on the sale. Typically they have an emaillist for upcoming auctions or sales.

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Tipsdesignis



I detest ceiling fans. No, really, I loathe them. If it were up tome, Id rip down every ceiling fan in my home and replace them with somefantastic sculptural light xture (my latest obsession). But its not entirelyup to meunfortunately. My husband loves fans and claims he cant livewithout them.

Growing up in Canada, ceiling fans were virtually non-existent. Im suretheyre more prevalent now, but when I was a kid, I had never seen one in aprivate home. They were relegated to the public domain - you know, placeslike swimming pool dressing rooms and seafood restaurants.

After moving to the southern U.S., I notice fans everywhere. In every roomin those stately southern homes, there were these monstrosities hanging

from the ceilings. I was shocked.

Flash forward eight years, and now I have to face seeing these eyesoreseveryday in my own home. I couldnt deal with that. I was determined tond one, to nd at least one reasonably priced ceiling fan that I could livewith. There are some cool designs out there that wont totally break thebank. Just consider it an investment in your sanity.

A NECESSARY EVIL- by Stephanie Maola, Interior Editor

Ceiling Fans



Stephs picks forsimple, unobtrusiveand sleek options:

The Basic FlorentineIV 56 by Hampton Bay inBrushed Nickel nish andclear blades; approx. $100.Not awful and surprisingly streamlined for the price. Will disappearin a room, as it should! (Availablethrough Home Depot - www.ho-medepot.com)

The Mid-Range Loft 60by Emerson in Brushed Steelnish; approx. $230. Sleekstyling with sculptural blades that

would look good with any contem-porary decor. (Available at retail-

ers throughout the U.S. or atwwwmodern-fans.com)

The One - Artemis 58 Fanby Minka-Aire, in Maple n-ish, approx. $500.The crme de la crme of ceilingfans. Pricey, but so worth it. If

youve really got money to burn,consider the $1000 Liquid Nick-el versionits the stuff dreamsare made of. (Available at retailersthroughout the U.S. or at

www.lightingdirect.com)

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Into every life, a little LUXURY must fall. While we

generally try to present affordable, easily attainable

solutions here at DI, we also recognize the need to

splurge every once in a while. Pamper youself in

comfort. Kick back and enjoy the fruits of your la-bor. Take someone special for a weekend getaway

that is no place like home.

Living the Ritz Life

- by Patti Davis, Lifestyle Editor



A mere 75 miles from downtown

Atlanta you will nd paradise, a

place where each staff member

sincerely intones, My plea-

sure.

The Ritz-Carlton Lodge at

Reynolds Plantation (www.

ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/

ReynoldsPlantation) is the des-tination and Linger Longer is

not just the road it sits on, but

also a motto for the property.

This grand 251-room manse

welcomes you with an expansive

lobby where sparkling chan-

deliers and fragrant ower ar-

rangements caress the senses.

You could spend the entire

weekend lounging by the large

innity pool (open 24 hours!)

that appears to ow into glim-

mering Lake Oconee, sipping

signature cocktails and perusing

the spa menu. But if you crave

an experience like no other, take

a tour with Segway David, theNureyev of two wheels. Davids

kind and patient coaching will

have you zipping around in no

time on the special i2 models,

custom-painted Ritz-Carlton

Gold for the glitziest workout

Life Is But A Dream

The Ritz-Carlton Lodge atReynolds Plantation
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ReynoldsPlantationhttp://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ReynoldsPlantationhttp://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ReynoldsPlantationhttp://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ReynoldsPlantationhttp://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ReynoldsPlantationhttp://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ReynoldsPlantation



Try to see at least one sunrise at the Lodge



Once youre done chasing David,

indulge yourself with a treatment

in the 26,000 square foot full ser-

vice spa and tness center. With a

cornucopia of treatments, you are

sure to nd the perfect one.

The Lodge is a major draw for golf

enthusiasts as there are ve cham-

pionship golf courses to choose

from. If you need to straighten

out your swing, make an appoint-

ment with GOLF Magazines Top

100 Instructor Charlie King for a

lesson at the Reynolds Golf Acad-

emy.

All of this activity will make for

ravenous appetites. Georgias

Bistro, helmed by head chef Ste-

ven Frain, features a sumptuous

trio of pork he calls Three Little

Pigs. Gabys By The Lake is casual

and fun with a menu that makes

you look twice. The Maine lobstergrilled cheese and homemade

potato chips are mouthwater-

ing. This cozy outpost even offers

martinis for the kids.

On my last night, as I oated in

the innity pool, a shooting star

blazed across the sky, while in

the distance a DJ played Its AWonderful World by Louis Arm-

strong.

Indeed.


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WTF?WhatWereTheyThinking?- by Stephanie Maola, Interior Editor

Lets face it, weve allmade decisions wedrather forget. Hope-

fully, we learn a lessonand move on, sadder butwiser. Perhaps we canlearn from the question-able choices we see allaround.



kay, have you ever been out ina public place and seen some

crazy design feature that was sougly or ridiculous that you just hadto say, WTF? I had one of those

moments last month while walk-ing in a very busy and trendy retailplaza in southern California. It wasso bizarre that I had to share! Checkout these fountain sculptures I sawthere.

Seriously, what was the designer

thinking? The male gure borderson the perverse.what exactly is hedoing? And the female gure justlooks drunk! When I saw these, Inearly fell over laughing!

If you have run across a designgaffe or architecture blunder that you would like to share, email meat: [email protected] be sure to post entries in theupcoming issues of Design Is.

O
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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