Mrs. Howard Personal Shopper

Phoebe's Top Ten: Light Blue Paint Colors

We are continuing with our promise to share Phoebe's favorite paint colors (click here to check out Phoebe's favorite whites). Today, we have light blue (other variations of blue to come!). Take a look at the ones we turn to over and over again:

 
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Benjamin Moore - Blue Veil



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Benjamin Moore - Fanfare



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Benjamin Moore - Glass Slipper



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Benjamin Moore - Horizon



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Benjamin Moore - In Your Eyes



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Benjamin Moore - Opal Essence



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Farrow & Ball - Borrowed Light



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Farrow & Ball - Skylight



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Sherwin Williams - Top Sail



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Sherwin Williams - Tradewind

Reminder: David Easton Book Signing Tonight in Atlanta and Giveaway Winner!

Just a reminder about the book signing tonight in Atlanta with David Easton. It is not too late to RSVP - just email me or call the store. Details below!

Also, the winner of the signed book giveaway is Ashlie Rainwater! Congratulations to Ashley and thanks to everyone who participated!

Book Signing with David Easton
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27
4 - 6 p.m.



MRS. HOWARD
426 Peachtree Hills Avenue NE
Atlanta, Georgia

PLEASE RSVP
lkennelly@jmhoward.net
or
404 816 3830

If you cannot join us, you may also call us to reserve your signed copy.
Books must be paid for in advance.

Weekly Q&A with Phoebe: Problem Windows

Question: What do you do when you have a window really in the way?

Phoebe's Answer: Here are several examples of ways that I have dealt with problem windows. Of course it is very important to understand that anything I am illustrating here does not affect the exterior architecture of the house. These are all examples of windows that are not on the front of the house and don’t show from any important angle:

This attic bedroom above had a window right behind the bed. It was making it very difficult to have any sort of bed or headboard. So, I decided to make this custom upholstered headboard that mounted to the ceiling and literally hung it right on top of the window. I made it deep enough to cover the window casing. There were shutters on the interior of the window which were closed, so it looks normal from outside.



In this bedroom, there was an unnecessary off-center high small window on the wall where I wanted to place the bed. So, I hung an inside mount bamboo blind in the window and then used blackout lining behind the bed canopy to block the light from coming through. Again, it looks normal from the outside.



In this room, it just worked to put a higher upholstered headboard and footboard right in front of the window. The round mirrors flanking the bed above the lamps help to distract your eye.


I hope this helps with your troublesome windows!

Before and After of the Week: Charlotte Showhouse

This dining room that Phoebe decorated for the 2010 Symphony Guild Designer House in Charlotte, which opened in the Spring, presented many challenges. The room was a basic contemporary white box with no architectural details, no windows, and only one opening into the kitchen. Phoebe was given the option of opening the dining room into the foyer, which created not only more flow but also more light. It also provided a chance to see the dining room upon entering the apartment. To warm up the space and create a buffer against echos, Phoebe chose to upholster the walls in a blue-gray velvet from floor to ceiling. She used a matching gimp with nails to finish the wall upholstery. Then, she decide to position the dining area off-center to create a non-traditional space that could also be multi-functional. The comfortable banquette was placed between two custom etageres filled with books and objects. Phoebe hung a ceiling fixture and two swing-arm lamps above the banquette. Instead of dining chairs, she used two comfortable arm chairs and a custom leather bench opposite, which provided flexible seating. She also placed a wing chair in the corner, facing the kitchen – a great place to have a glass of wine or a cup of coffee. Phoebe added a parchment cabinet in the other corner to function as a bar and storage. Check it out!!

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After:

Phoebe's Top Ten: Lamp Shade Styles

Lamps and lamp shades are important accessories in every room. Finding the proper size shade for a lamp is best done in person (we always recommend bringing your lamp when you want to buy a shade), and is quite difficult to explain here, so we're just going to share our favorite styles. Most of these come in both cone and drum shapes, as well as a variety of colors. The material you choose can make such an impact. Take the time to select the right shade and the room will be the better for it! Take a look at what which ones we love:

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Linen

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Linen Box Pleat



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Parchment



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Parchment Box Pleat



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Raffia



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Shirred Silk



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Silk Box Pleat



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Silk Knife Pleat



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String



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Square
(yes, this is more of a shape than a style/material but we felt we had to include it!)

We are hiring in Charlotte!

We have a job opening in Charlotte, and we thought what better way to find a fabulous employee than to let our readers know. It is a full-time position in our stores, Mrs. Howard and Max & Company.  We are looking for someone with a strong background in interior design – preferably a degree and/or experience in the industry. Retail experience will play a very important part, as well.

If you have this background and think you might be a good fit, please email me your resume: lkennelly@jmhoward.net and put "Charlotte Application" in the subject line. Please also include photos from your design portfolio. If you have applied with us before, please don't hesitate to apply again - we have so many applicants to go through, and we certainly don't want to overlook anyone!

This is a wonderful, rewarding position. We look forward to hearing from you!

Velvet dining room at Mrs. Howard in Charlotte

Weekly Q&A with Phoebe: Starting Point in Decorating

Question: I find it so overwhelming to decide where I should begin when decorating a room. How do you start? With a fabric or carpet or ...?

Phoebe's answer: Good question, and I can give you one perfect example. Often times, there is something that is existing within in the house – color, architecture, layout, etc – that cannot be changed. In this case of this house, it was the kitchen – it was preexisting. I was very pleased with the kitchen that had been done by the previous owners, so this room became the spring point.

This is the fabulous bright blue glass tile that guided all decorating decisions in the downstairs of this house.


In the breakfast room adjoining the kitchen, we found this blue glass chandlier to pull the bright blue out of the kitchen into this room. In keeping with the playful tone of the chandelier, we chose a fun fabric for the dining chairs.



In the formal dining room, we took the blue and watered it down and used the blue on the seat cushions. The client already owned the dining table and chairs. Then we layered in warm tones of gold and caramel and added rich mahogany antiques and touches of gold and crystal. While very formal, this dining room feels very warm at the same time.


In the living room, we used the same warm gold tone on the walls (Straw by Benjamin Moore) and used the same palette in a softer way – golds, caramels and blues. 

There is always a starting point – just have to keep your eyes peeled for it.
To see this entire project on, go to my web site here.

Before and After of the Week

Last week, we showed you the living room, foyer and dining room of our Atlanta client's home. Today we are sharing the master bedroom.

In this room, the client wanted a king bed and soft carpeting. The room had low ceilings and not very much architectural integrity, so we suggested this higher upholstered headboard and footboard (which is designed by Suzanne Kasler). In a small space, it makes a strong statement. Like in the other rooms of the house, we are using painted finishes and light woods and a soft palette. We hung a collection of architectural engravings around the bed to balance the large headboard and add even more height. The wall color is Alaskan Husky by Benjamin Moore. Take a look at the changes!

Before:


After:

Phoebe's Top Ten: White Paint Colors

"What are our favorite colors" might be the most common question we get. As part of our Top Ten series, we are going to share Phoebe's favorite paint colors. We'll be doing it once a month, and for our first post, we'll start with white. I feel like I can hear the cheers as I type this! In no particular order, take a look at the whites we turn to again and again:

Atrium White - Benjamin Moore



China White - Benjamin Moore



Cloud Cover - Benjamin Moore



Clunch - Farrow & Ball



Decorator's White - Benjamin Moore



James White - Farrow & Ball



Pointing - Farrow & Ball



Super White - Benjamin Moore



White Dove - Benjamin Moore



White Tie - Farrow & Ball

Take a virtual tour of Phoebe's work in Hearst's Designer Visions Show house

We wish we could take everyone to see Hearst’s Designer Visions show house that Phoebe and Jim decorated - it is incredible - and it officially welcomed its first guests Tuesday night at the opening party! Fortunately, there is a great interview with Phoebe and Jim you can watch online that also showcases the entire apartment. Also, for all of you subscribers out there, you should have the House Beautiful issue by now that features the Howard’s work on the cover (I got mine yesterday)! We’ll post the images here once it hits newsstands (so we don’t spoil it for those who pick it up each month).

For now, take a tour of the apartment by clicking here - you won't be disappointed.

David Easton: Book Giveaway and Party Time Change

We are getting ready for the David Easton book signing and we couldn't be more excited! Jim Howard says this is one the best books he has seen in years, and we all agree.

First, for everyone attending, please note the event time has changed a bit - it is now 4 - 6 p.m. It is still on Wednesday, October 27 at Mrs. Howard in Atlanta. Please RSVP if you plan to come (lkennelly@jmhoward.net or 404 816 3830).

So often we get emails lamenting that you don't live near our stores, so this time, we have decided to give away one signed book by David Easton following the event! Here are the details:

Prize: One signed copy of David Easton's Timeless Elegance.
To Enter: Comment on this blog post. Tell us why you love reading books by designers.
Giveaway closes: Thursday, Oct. 21.
Restrictions: One entry per email address. The winner will be selected using random.org. Ships only to the contiguous United States. We'll announce the winner on the blog.


As always, we are happy to have David sign a copy for you. Just pre-order the book by contacting us (lkennelly@jmhoward.net or 404 816 3830), and we'll get it signed and shipped to you! The book is $65.

Weekly Q&A with Phoebe: Maximizing Seating in a Small Dining Room

Question: I have a tiny dining room and struggle to have enough room for guests. Do you have any suggestions for accommodating more seating in small spaces?

Phoebe’s Answer: This is something we come across frequently, especially in small city pied-a-terres and beach condos. Banquettes are an ideal solution, and something I use all of time. They allow the dining table to cozy up to the bench seat and don’t require the space behind the banquette to push back (like you need with chairs). But, sit more than two on the banquette and someone will be really stuck in the middle, so keep that in mind! Also, using a pedestal dining table gives even more leg room and makes it easier to maneuver in and out of the banquette. There is also something so incredibly comfy about banquette seating, which makes a smaller dining room seem more cocoon-like in the very best way. And in the tiniest of the spaces, the table can be pulled away and the banquette can serve as a small armless sofa for a cocktail party. Take a look at a few of the banquettes I have designed. Some are entirely custom and others were ordered through our vendors. It all depends on what the space requires! Good luck with your room.

A banquette in my Atlanta apartment dining room. We have had so many fun evenings around this table.


This dining area is in a family home. Lots of people pile around this table and the banquette really accommodates the room needed.


This is the dining table of a vacation condo for a client. This banquette is bigger than the two above and the corner really helps fit in even more seating.


This u-shaped banquette was entirely custom designed by my husband Jim for our (former) home in the Hamptons. We moved the tables and chairs all around in numerous configurations. No matter how many people were at the house, we could always cram in here.

Eddie Ross Joins Phoebe to Set a Thanksgiving Table in Charlotte

Since the last time they were together, Phoebe has wanted to do another project with Eddie. Fortunately, he is coming to Charlotte in November and will be stopping by Mrs. Howard to set a Thanksgiving table with Phoebe on Thursday, Nov. 4 from 5 - 7 p.m. in the evening. We hope many of you will join us at the store for this fun event! (note the time change!)

How will the table look? Well, that is a surprise. But what we can tell you is this will be one entertaining evening. These two are a riot, so not only will you learn to set a beautiful table, but you probably won't stop laughing the entire time. To tide you over, here are some shots of Eddie's past work. Can he work a table or what?:

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4
5 - 7 PM

MRS. HOWARD
1001 EAST MOREHEAD STREET
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

RSVP
lkennelly@jmhoward.net
704 376 8900

Hope to see you there!

Mitchell Gold Upholstery Sale Continues Through Oct. 31!

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams upholstery is on sale for 20% off all special-orders and the sale ends today! continues through October 31! This includes sofas, chairs, loveseats, chaise lounges, ottomans and dining chairs. Custom fabrics are not part of the sale. Please contact us for details and to order!

Before and After of the Week

This is a new project in Atlanta that Phoebe and Michelle worked on. They were basically starting from scratch in the living room, dining room and foyer. Light woods, painted woods and a soft palette were requested. The client did not want any space to be dressy or fussy, and since this is an open floor plan, all of the rooms needed to be cohesive with one another. The wall color in each of these rooms is Winter Wheat by Benjamin Moore (since the floor plan is continuous). These days, it seems more and more people are requesting that their house have a casual, more accessible look in every room, and we are happy to move in this direction as well. The overall effect of this is the place is light, bright, cheerful and family friendly. Check out the changes below!

Living Room Before:



Living Room After:




Foyer Before:


Foyer After:



Dining Room Before:


Dining Room After:

Phoebe's Top Ten: Tufted Chairs

Tufted chairs are a staple in all of our stores. Phoebe likes them for many reasons, but mostly because they are comfortable and the cushions don’t ever require any fluffing. They are good to use with other upholstery that has a loose back and seat cushions. Some tufted furniture can look puffy and Victorian so be careful in your choices because I don’t think any of us are ready for a return to Victorian decorating. Here are some of our current favorites:

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Weekly Q&A with Phoebe: How to Keep Neutrals Interesting

Question: I love neutrals but I feel like they often end up looking boring when I use them? How can I keep that from happening?

Answer: I find variety and texture are key to keeping neutrals interesting. I'll walk you through a particular project to show you what I mean. Below are pictures from my old apartment in Atlanta.

 

Almost everything was covered in neutral linen - sofa, chairs, curtains. To keep it from being flat and boring, I used a lot of textured materials, patinaed woods, and shiny surfaces.

 
I used wicker chairs with rustic wood tables, added black laquer coffee tables, black turned floor lamps and a black Chinese cabinet. I added worn oushaks and soft Tibetan carpets in pale colors.

 
In the bedroom, a metal four poster bed and added glass lamps and glass bottles for some sparkle.

 

So with all of this - different finishes and textures, a loft setting, exposed walls and ceiling - even though it was all really neutral in color, the subtle variety kept it from being flat in feeling.

I also think its very important to keep fresh greenery or flowers in a neutral space – it really brings a space to life, don't you think? And remember of course the other senses – fragrance and sound. Soft music and a scented candle can go a long way when trying to create ambiance. We hope this helps!

Before and After of the Week

This house belongs to a young family house in Atlanta that Phoebe and Jessica Esposito worked on together. We have already shown you the main living room in a Before and After here. (who could forget those amazing curtains?) This new room presented some challenges, particularly with the layout, and the couple requested a warm, livable space that would serve as a secondary living room. It is right inside the front door, so it is the first thing you see when you enter the house.

Right away, Phoebe wanted to change the wall color because the white was too stark and too sharp of a contrast with the dark woodwork. The walls were painted Benjamin Moore Decatur Buff (eggshell) and the ceiling was painted Benjamin Moore Seashell (flat).

Then Phoebe created a seating area and added the game table and chairs, several window seat cushions with pillows, and the chandelier. This provides many places to sit and enjoy the room. The blue on the window seats relates to the colors in the adjoining room, and the overall feeling you get is that the room is very warm and cozy. Check it out!

Before:

After:

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After:

Phoebe's Top Ten: Lanterns

Balancing the scale, proportion and style of hanging light fixtures is always a challenge. Often times, you can see more than one fixture at a time, so it is very important they are complementary to one another and also not repetitive. Lanterns often offer a solution in a variety of places. They work well in entrance halls, bathrooms, other hallways, over breakfast tables, and over kitchen islands. Lanterns can keep multiples fixtures from looking too busy together. They also work well in outdoor spaces – on porches, covered loggias, poolhouses, and so on. Check out some of our current favorites. As always, each of these are available through Mrs. Howard - just email me for details and ordering information.

 
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