A Funky Kirkwood Cottage by Susie Mae Design

June 07, 2017 in Interiors

Hello everyone! I'm finally posting about this master suite and guest bathroom that I promised I would post about a million years ago. I'm getting preeeetty good at this protracted posting schedule :)

Christina and I are both in the midst of renovations. Which, as you may have experienced yourself, typically uncover some fairly interesting issues. So, we've been sorting through stacks of wood, dust, cans of paint, tile samples, and plenty of stress. In times like this, it's nice to look back on finished projects that are clean and pretty and don't have stacks of junk everywhere.

I'm very lucky for several reasons (and here are just a couple). One, because I have a job that I love and clients who are really great to work with. And two, because I get to work with Christina who so beautifully captures interiors and graciously agrees to photograph my work for our blog.

I love the calm white bedding and cool neutral walls with the more active prints and colorful accessories. This client lives in a fun Kirkwood bungalow and is not afraid of color and pattern mixing--I love that!

We chose to anchor the room with touches of black, including this fabulous table by Jonathan Adler. It's such a gorgeous black laquer finish and the pagoda style is classic and modern all at once. We had to wait a while on this one as it was custom ordered, and the finish and hardware we chose is no longer available. But it was worth the wait!

Now, for my favorite part of the room. The fabrics!!!! On this king sized bed, which is a Beauty Rest Black Hybrid (plug for my hubby's company), we used 3 Euro shams in the same style as the duvet cover. In front of that, we had two custom king shams made with the most sumptuous and beautiful Laura Kirar for Highland Court embroidered material with green backing and piping. From the moment I saw this material in a presentation by the Duralee rep at Miko + Boone Home, I knew I HAD to use it! More specifically, I want a dress made with it but I figured something beautiful in my client's home was more appropriate... for now ;)

Let's not overlook the drapery material, which you will see again in the master bathroom. It's a white background with black polka dots that get thicker and thinner to create stripes. So, pattern mixing in one material? Oh yeah!

We finished the space with a simple gallery wall in soft colors.

For the master bathroom, my client was very adventurous! I suggested we paint the walls black and she said "Sounds good!". It's a bold statement, but it works since the tile and countertops are light and reflect a lot of natural light coming in through the window. The master bath is also just off the bedroom, so it connects the two rooms with that anchor black color we used on the drapery, side table, and rug.

My client had these gorgeous, colorful prints of birds. They were the perfect addition to the bathroom walls. Large, white mats were used with white frames to make them pop off the wall and add a little more light and bright to the bold bathroom walls.

The bathroom has plenty of good storage, but for a little extra towel storage and decorative appeal, we added a simple white cart. This could be used as a bar cart, but they don't have to be used just for bars!

Perhaps my favorite part of the bathroom is the towel rack. Acrylic antlers! Aren't they cute? The layout of the bathroom doesn't have enough wall space just by the shower for an easily accessible towel just after a shower, so now my client has a place to keep her towel and she doesn't have to get water all over the floor.

Ok, ok, so I may have another favorite part of this project. This wallpaper!!!! It's a block printed grasscloth in a natural tone with white zebra print. It's important to have a good wallpaper installer for grasscloth, especially the kind that needs to be trimmed first. There's something so spa like about this bathroom, and yet also funky-cool.

Again, my client already had this artwork and it is the perfect style for the room being that it is a bathing lady.

This was such a fun project to do! My client and I have just started two other rooms and we've begun ordering, so more from this fun house to come in a bit!

Design by Susie Mae Design. All photos by Christina Wedge Photography. Written by Susie Prince. All photos by Christina Wedge Photography.

The Healing Power of Flowers

May 05, 2017

A few weeks ago, I lost my Daddy to cancer. Today would have been his 69th birthday. It doesn't matter how "prepared" you think you are, losing a parent is terrible, painful, and leaves and sense of emptiness behind. I am, however, thankful that his cancer gave us all the chance to say goodbye. I wish it hadn't caused him pain, taken away his ability to see and do things he would like to have seen and done, but I am thankful that he wasn't taken suddenly without us being able to tell him we love him and say our goodbyes. Grief is difficult to navigate for the griever, but also for friends and family looking to offer comfort, or having no idea what to say. The truth is, nothing will fix it. Nothing can give me my Daddy back. So many things I've learned in this process that I wish I would have known before and not had to learn in this way. One of those things is how to respond when friends are grieving.

My sister said it all so well in her recent blog post about grief and how she is dealing with it. That it's hard and nobody really knows what to say. Neither of us ever knew what to say or do before. Any time a friend lost a loved one, I said "Let me know if I can do anything". But they probably didn't know what they needed, and they certainly didn't know how to ask if they did, because then the burden was on them to come to me. The things that have helped me the most to feel loved and to deal with the loss and feelings of regret for those times I was unkind to Daddy, or impatient with him, or didn't call when I should have, are the acts of love that I didn't ask for. The things my friends and family just did.

Some friends have just called to chat. That helps. Some friends have brought food over and spent time with me, even unloading the dishwasher with me. That helps. Hugs help. Some friends even made the drive all the way to Augusta from Athens and Atlanta to Daddy's memorial service and visitation on a week day. That meant the world to me. Talking about my Daddy and remembering funny stories help. I'm lucky to be surrounded by people who, whether or not they have experienced this kind of grief before, are trying, and they are succeeding. Just saying something helps, saying anything helps.

Flowers help. The day my Daddy died, we returned home from the hospital, heartbroken and feeling stunned, to a knock on the door about an hour after we arrived. It was flowers from friends. They were so beautiful and bright, they smelled good, and were a reminder of love and kindness and beauty in the world. See, flowers are not a permanent thing. They wither away, but when they're here, they bring joy and beauty. Life is not permanent, but it can be beautiful. I am thankful for the 30 years I had with my Daddy. His time was cut short, but the life he gave his family was plentiful and full of laughs and we are so lucky to have had him for the time we did.

I am so thankful for florists with the skills to bring gorgeous flowers together in gorgeous arrangements for people like me and my family in times of need, and in times of joy.

Some people are so talented in the art of floral design that they share their "how-tos" with others, and it is a true gift. That's the case with Forage & Flower at Serenbe. They share their gift with others with workshops so that anyone can learn to put together a gorgeous arrangement for their own home, or for a friend going through hard times, or even for celebrations!

Owners Kathryn Davenport and Melanie Deyton have a style all their own that brings beauty and joy to events and their workshop which Christina attended. Have you ever wondered how to create a gorgeous one-of-a-kind arrangement? You too can learn how by attending a class in their shop, which is a beautiful place that smells amazing at one of our favorite places to go, Serenbe, of course. After the workshop, you'll have an arrangement you made from the supplies in class to give to anyone you may want to offer a little healing to. It will be even more special coming from your creativity, guided by these two artists.

Forage and Flower also offers floral services for weddings including full service planning. Go look through their previous work on their website. Their work is so natural and stunning, we should all go and learn a little from them.

A special thank you to Forage and Flower for inviting us to this workshop and for sharing your talents. Also, a special thank you to the friends and family who have expressed condolences, called, sent a card, flowers, food, themselves, and just been generally loving to me and my family. We are very thankful for the empathy and kindness from those around us, and we are so very lucky to know you.

All images by Christina Wedge. Written by Susie Prince.

Nordic Photography Gallery Opening!

April 27, 2017

A Wedding in the Land of Fire and Ice

March 18, 2017 in Lifestyles

In January of last year, Victor and I decided that we wanted to get married and have a wedding somewhere beautiful and different. Somewhere that combined our love of adventure and the outdoors. We live in Atlanta, but no place here really felt like the place we wanted to say "I do", because it didn't feel special to us and also an appropriate setting for a wedding (I guess we could have a wedding at Big Lots of Takorea? Yes, we do love those places that much). We discussed options like maybe renting a mountain cabin and having the wedding there and inviting friends and family to come and go as they pleased for a full wedding weekend, but that felt limiting because we wouldn't be able to include as many people as we wanted and where would we find a house that could comfortably accommodate like 75 people?

Saying our vows

My bouquet by Blómabúðin Upplifun

We thought about a destination wedding, but we didn't want to have any guests feel like they couldn't come due to cost of travel, or have it be too difficult for family to travel to be at our wedding due to restrictions of time off if it was further away.

Walking around Seljalandsfoss

So after a lot of thought, we chose to elope. That way, we could have our ceremony be intimate and "us" and then enjoy a party with family and friends after we returned to celebrate together. We chose Iceland, a place both of us had always wanted to see, and it was the perfect setting for our wedding. I've dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights for as long as I've known they existed. Iceland has the most amazing landscape. You can be standing in a hot river while looking at a glacier while listening to sheep chat with each other as they scale the side of a mountain made of volcanic rock. We were able to say our vows to each other and commit our lives to one another privately, in the most beautiful setting and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The most handsome man you've ever seen getting ready to get married.

Can you even believe someone this handsome exists?!

Youtube tutorials helped me to figure out how to do my hair so it would stay put. It did stay up, but the wind had other plans for the curls and helpfully straightened them out for me.

Thankful for these warm boots and wrap! And I love how my custom sleeves turned out on my dress!

The first thing to do when planning a wedding abroad is to decide where exactly you want to have it. And obviously make sure they have cute animals near by.

Icelandic horses are super friendly!

Image via Flickr

My first choice was Landmannalaugar which is stunningly beautiful, mineral streaked mountains in the Highlands of Iceland. Unfortunately, we weren't able to have our wedding there (or even see it during our visit) because the Highlands are totally inaccessible starting at the beginning of October. So next time we go to Iceland, we'll have to go in the summer when we can get into the Highlands and maybe even camp at Landmannalaugar!

Image via Maupintor

Our next choice was Seljalandsfoss. It's a waterfall in the Southern Region of Iceland that YOU CAN WALK BEHIND! That is almost too cool, so we made our choice and started planning to have our wedding there. Thankfully, Christina had been to Iceland the April before, then went again in August, so she was able to do a little scouting and figure out the best places to set us up. Sadly, a wedding behind the waterfall wasn't possible, and she broke the news to me early so as not to crush my wedding day dreams when we arrived. Maybe if we were wearing ponchos and it was summer--but it was about 45 degrees and windy.

The AirBNB we got ready in on our wedding day.

First look--yes, we both teared up.

You'd stare too if you were me. He's the best.

Once we determined the location of the wedding, we contacted the officials for that region and began getting our paperwork together. You really can't go wrong anywhere in Iceland. Even in the towns, you round a corner and there's a beautiful waterfall or glacier, or adorable fuzzy ponies, or huge fields of chubby sheep. The fishing villages are also beautiful, so even if you're not surrounded by wonders of nature, you're around colorful little houses and sculptural artwork.

Saying our vows. Isn't our officiant, Kristin, adorable in her official uniform?

We got ready in Reykjavik the morning of the wedding and had our first look in the garden in front of the building where we stayed. It was such a great morning! Christina took our photos individually as we got ready and then set up outside (in the VERY windy cold) to take first look photos. Since we had to drive to the wedding site, there was a lot of first looking before the wedding. Riding together in the car, thinking about what we were able to commit to each other was really special to experience.

Caves at the Vik beach.

My friend Carly taught me to do my makeup for the big day so that I could confidently do event makeup on myself, that was a gift that I treasure! I still use the tricks she taught me on everyday looks now, just lighter on the application for day-to-day. She is extremely talented and has a way of making everyone look and feel their best and like themselves on their wedding day!

Just outside Seljalandsfoss

Thankfully, Christina had a curling iron with her that would fit the plugs. Phew! Word of advice to the traveling bride, be sure your conversion outlet will accept your hair tool plugs! Mine would not fit in the converter so I was about to have to go sans-fancy hair for our wedding.

Waiting at the office to sign our marriage papers

Before we got to Seljalandsfoss, we had to stop at the South Iceland regional office to sign paperwork and to have copies made of our passports and birth certificates. Victor even had to make a trip to the bank downstairs from the office to get Icelandic cash to pay our officiant. So, if you're planning a wedding abroad, you may want to have enough of their cash on hand in case of a situation like that.

Seljalandsfoss in the background and just casually leaning on a volcanic rock

The wind here took the boutonniere right off of Victor's lapel!

We headed to Seljalandsfoss after we signed our papers and read our vows to each other, exchanged rings, and sealed it with a kiss! It was COLD! Beautiful, but very cold, and I can tell you that my wrap, while warm, wasn't a parka. So between shots I was wearing my big down coat over my dress. Slightly less glamorous than my wrap, but certainly very effective for warmth. I wore snow boots and over-the-knee socks with my dress which kept me fairly warm from the knees down. Victor's wool suit by Ted Baker (with the coolest lining of all time) kept him nice and warm as well, but when the wind picked up, we huddled up. The winds in Iceland are STRONG! It's one of the first things you'll learn traveling there. If you rent a car, which you will need to, they'll tell you to hang onto the car doors when entering and exiting the car because they may be pulled backwards by the wind and snap the hinges. THIS IS NOT A DRILL! It almost happened to us once. And the wind took Victor's lovely boutonniere very shortly after the ceremony. RIP, little floral guy.

Top left of this photo is the Christmas ornament my wonderful seamstress gave me. She did the alterations for my gown to make it fit perfectly and she did an amazing job if I do say so myself.

Here we are standing just below the volcano you've probably heard of, Eyjafjallajökul, which erupted in 2010.

It's easy to feel like you're the only ones in the world when you're promising yourself to the love of your life, even when tourists are watching--which they did. It was pretty fun, actually. We heard a round of applause just after the kiss! People were very sweet to congratulate us in English, or just smile and look excited for us if they didn't speak English. We felt warm and lovey-dovey inside all day. A couple of people approached and asked if we were Icelandic. I guess that would make good since because we are very pale and were getting married in Iceland. There are more foreigners than Icelanders in Iceland as far as we could tell. Tourism there is booming!

Tiny hillside turf houses at drangshlíð

At the farm just at the base of Eyjafjallajökul

Victor and I would not have had the wedding of our dreams without Christina. She knew where to go, how to get there, made sure we were comfortable, braved the cold, and hung with us all day long as we made the trek around the Southern Region of Iceland, taking advantage of every pretty place we saw for a photo.

Just off the beach at Vik. A mist was rolling in and the winds were fairly strong.

The beach at Vik. How handsome is he?! I mean!!!!

After the best day ever began to wrap up with hot chocolate at the Vik coffee house, we got in the car and headed to Hotel Grimsborgir for dinner and a perfect evening. We ate a delicious meal of Icelandic fish and lobster. While we were eating our dessert, a man ran in from outside yelling in Italian. Victor went out to see what was going on. IT WAS THE NORTHERN LIGHTS! So everyone in the dining room of the hotel, including the staff, went outside to stare up at the sky in awe.

Christina will be horrified that I put up a dimly lit screenshot...sorry Christina! This is our dinner at Hotel Grimsborgir.

It was the most perfect night. Victor ordered champagne and we sat in our private hot tub, drinking champagne, looking up and a brilliantly colored light show. You can't even script that! It was absolutely perfect.

Speaking of hot tubs, every place we stayed in Iceland during our week long stay had hot tubs. Icelandic homes and businesses use geothermal energy and route naturally heated water to spas and baths. It may smell a little bit Sulfuric, but it's not that noticeable, and it will leave your skin feeling smooth and hydrated.

Again, she will be horrified. Sorry! Also inside the dining room at Hotel Grimsborgir.

I have one million more things to tell you about Iceland, and Christina has a lot to SHOW you! We'll be posting more about our travels soon, but in the meantime, mark your calendars for a beautiful show of Christina's photographs from Iceland.

Icelandic Images by Christina Wedge
Gallery Opening

April 27th @7-9PM
BALANCE DESIGN
1653 McLendon Ave
Atlanta, GA 30307

Y'all come see us and stay tuned for more!

A Day At Serenbe's Organic Life House

March 01, 2017 in Interiors, Lifestyles

Drive just 30 miles southwest of Atlanta and you'll find Serenbe, a dream-like world where everything is beautiful and peaceful. It's almost a Pleasantville type setting with a heavy influence on nature and living a healthy, engaged, and progressive life. In fact, every home in the Serenbe community is is EarthCraft-certified and many of the businesses that line the perfectly manicured streets are LEED certifited.

We were fortunate enough to spend some time at Serenbe taking a few workshops and touring the Organic Life House, which as you can see in the images above, is naturally beautiful. A collaboration of builders, designers, architects, and organics teams created a sustainable, functional space for a real family who call this masterpiece home. You can read more about all of the collaborators here.

If you don't have plans this weekend, hop on over to Serenbe and join in the fun at the tour of the Organic Life House. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at eventbrite. It will get you out of the city and into a serene (ahh....is that where the name Serenbe comes from?!) and beautiful place filled with inspiration to live a more joyful, purposeful life.

The tours at the Organic Life House are running daily from 10am-5pm until Sunday, March 5th and ticket sales benefit the hungry. This home will feature workshops and tours, with all ticket sales benefitting Wholesome Wave Georgia, an organization that gives access to locally grown, nutritious and fresh food to Georgians.

The Organic Life House inspires us not only with its beautiful interiors, which we are obviously nuts about, but also with its aim to live in an eco-friendly way that benefits the planet and people. The interior of the home is all organic, earth-friendly materials and finishes, so this family can breathe easy. Are you thinking of going "green" when working on your next home project? Designing in an eco-conscious way doesn't have to mean boring or bland, just take a look at the beauty of nature and take your inspiration from there. Small steps here and there can add up to a big difference in the health of your family and the Earth. We highly recommend this tour and a day at Serenbe. Also, stop for lunch at Blue Eyed Daisy Bake Shop--it's delicious and will make you feel like you've gone back in idyllic time!

Coming soon, a day at a floral workshop! Stay tuned for the gorgeous photos of that dream day.

All photos by Christina Wedge. Written by Susie Prince.

Spotlight On: Melissa O'Boyle of Bow to the East

February 10, 2017 in Interiors, Lifestyles

Webster's Dictionary defines macrame as "a coarse lace or fringe made by knotting threads or cords in a geometrical pattern; also : the art of tying knots in patterns". See also, pretty, stylish, relaxing, and useful.

I kid. I'm not about to make this spotlight into an 8th grade running for class president speech. What I AM going to make this post about is Melissa O'Boyle, her beautiful face, and her lovely macrame stylings.

Photo by Christina Wedge

We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Melissa with our new and improved set of "Spotlight" questions, did the ole' snappity snap with the camera, and came away totally inspired. Her work is gorgeous and we couldn't wait to find out more about what makes her tick--I bet you can't either. OK, on to the interview!

Gimme! Photo by Christina Wedge

Who is your design or art crush?

The artists and designers that I crush on the most are my peers and emerging artists I find on Instagram and at local shops, festivals and galleries. They inspire me to showcase my work and to think outside any limits I have created. It is amazing how much amazing talent is out there all around us.

Again, gimme. Photo by Christina Wedge

What three words would describe your aesthetic?

Organic, Rhythmical, and Tranquil

Photo by Christina Wedge

Which of your career milestones makes you most proud?

I was very proud when I was asked to put my work up in the Downtown Seattle West Elm in 2014 as well in the West Elm Ponce City Market in Atlanta in 2016.

In 2015, I was commissioned to make 8 large window hangings for a restaurant in Austin, TexasIt is an excellent Latin Coastal Kitchen in Austin’s SoCo neighborhood with great exposure. www.alcomaratx.com. Everything on the menu is amazing including fresh squeezed fruit margaritas.

In 2015 I was also asked to host my first workshop. Teaching workshops opened a whole other door for me. I absolutely love sharing my passion for macrame. I have two workshops coming up in Atlanta.
March 8th - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/intro-to-macrame-at-west-elm-tickets-31595057668
April 12th - http://garagedoorstudio.com/events/intro-to-macrame/

How did you take the leap towards a creative career?

The way that my macrame work came into fruition is an interesting and serendipitous story. One day I found an old book at a used bookstore that gave instructions on macrame. This refreshed my memory of what I had been taught by a high school art teacher. At the time I was living in a lovely little cabin-like cottage on the Puget Sound in Seattle. All the walls were wood paneling which was pretty outdated although it has some charm. I made my first large scale macrame wall hanging for myself to soften the space. I had a friend from Atlanta see a picture of it on social media and she asked me to make her a wall hanging. Once I was finished I had it all wrapped up and I went to a custom shipping spot, The Sip and Ship, to get a custom box made. www.sipandship.com. The owner asked what was in my wrapped up fabric. I showed her a picture. She loved it and directed me to go to West Elm and show them my work because they feature local artists. West Elm asked me to make a wall hanging to put up in the store as well as have a pop up shop. That prompted me to make a number of plant hangers and smaller wall hangings. The ones I did not sell I put on Etsy. About 6 months later a marketing manager for a restaurant group in Austin Texas found me on Etsy and commissioned me to make eight 6’ x6’ wall hangings that are permanently on display in the hip restaurant. I’ve gotten a number of jobs from people that see my work in that restaurant and ask me to commission work for their homes. The beauty of the unfolding of these events has me feeling very blessed. It’s amazing how things happen so much easier when there is no pressure to make things work.
When things started happening for me and my macrame without much effort and mostly through word of mouth, I eventually started to put more and more energy into marketing my work. It’s very gratifying to be able to work for myself being creative.

How do you balance work and play?

I have learned in my travels and soul searching that anything that feels like you are a fish going up stream is a waste of energy. Of course, we have to put a certain amount of effort into our lives, but things are for the most part supposed to feel good. One of my favorite ways of balancing working and playing is to have a free day and have a little local adventure. To me, that means picking a neighborhood in the city I haven’t been to in a while and just walking around with no plan or expectation. I might walk in the boutiques to get inspiration and design ideas, browse through a used bookstore, and sit at coffee shop reading and people watching. Almost anytime I have a day like this I meet the most interesting people and find the most amazing little treasures.

If you could live in any place or era, what would it be?

I would love to live in the seventies. I’m admittedly a little bit of a hippie at heart. Music was revolutionized at this time as were so many other parts of American culture. The style was characterized by *playful embellishment and radical experimentation with form*. The women’s rights movement made significant strides in the 1970’s and took a prominent role within society. All in all, it just sounds like a lot of fun!

Chocolate or wine?

Why can’t I have both? haha. If I had to choose I’d go with wine. It could be red, rose, or a bubbly. I like them all!

How did you come up with the name Bow to the East?

On one of my little day adventures I came across an amazing book called the Woodstock Craftsman’s Manual. This book is straight out of the seventies and gives instructions, with great hand-drawn pictures teaching Weaving, Pottery, Macrame, Beads, Leather, Tie-Dye & batik, Embroidery, Silkscreen, Home Recording, Candles, and Crochet. On the cover is a drawing of hands making macrame and it looks just like something I made in high school when I first learned the technique.

In the section on macrame it starts out with this great tidbit:

“It’s emphasis on rhythmic control has a stabilizing effect that has led some of the world’s foremost statesman like Churchill and De Gaulle to find soothing relaxation in both knitting and knotting. It can be satisfying therapy for those who see their larger problems in terms of confused strands and loose, fraying ends." ~excerpt from Paul Schwartz in Woodstock Craftsman’s Manual

The chapter goes on to list everything you will need to start the process of macrame such as tools, materials, accouterments. On the section on Planning and Preparing it states simply: Bow to the East. I just loved that. The East represents new beginnings and to me it represents home. So when I am starting a new project I seek out my old compass among my raw gemstones, I find East and do a ceremonial bow.

Thank you so much, Melissa, for your beautiful work and for your time! We are so excited to have turned the spotlight on you today and can't wait to get one of your wall hangings in our own homes!

Xoxo, Susie & Christina

Bocroom - Inspired Goods

January 17, 2017 in Interiors

Have you ever felt lost when trying to define your style and find a store that fits it? Do the trends of each season seem to overwhelm you and make you feel stuck? What you need is a place to shop that fits your personal style and not the trends, and a shop that can help you find those special pieces to bring it all together. You need to visit Bocroom in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood.

Photo by Christina Wedge

Having inspired goods isn't the only thing that makes Bocroom special. Here's a little snippet of their mission:

"Bocroom was born out of a desire to express creativity while making the world a better and more beautiful place in which to live. It has been an exploration of instinct and artistic passion combined with a singular vision to bring positivity to the planet."

Photo by Christina Wedge

Now that's a mission we can get behind! When buying products from Bocroom, you can be sure that your purchases are artisan made and responsibly crafted. Made with environmentally friendly practices and materials, and style driven rather than trend driven, each item at Bocroom is thoughtfully sourced for a unique boutique experience.

Photo by Christina Wedge

Owner and founder of Bocroom, Brittany Crooms spent years in jewelry design and sales, so she has an eye for detail and beauty. She opened Bocroom in 2014 and has remained dedicated to the mission of bringing artfully crafted, environmentally friendly products with soul to patrons of the shop.

Photo by Christina Wedge

So go visit Bocroom and tell them we sent you! You won't be sorry you stopped in :)

The Real Cost of a Wedding

November 01, 2016 in Lifestyles

As a newly engaged lady (OK, now I'm married--I started writing this before the wedding), I've been thinking a lot about what everything for weddings cost. The venue, which vendors you use, the catering costs, the decorations... Do you hire a wedding planner, or do you do it yourself? Do you hire a videographer and a band? Can you do all of it without causing major stress on you and your future spouse? The photos your friends will like on Facebook need to be envy-worthy, right? So you need to spend all of your time, energy, and money on this one day. The wedding is the most important thing, isn't it?? I mean, how are people supposed to value your decision to marry the one you love if they don't either attend or see THE MOST fabulous party pictures on social media?? It's way too easy to get sucked into wanting a picture perfect wedding and letting that desire overtake your happiness. It's your marriage that really matters. Yes, your wedding is the first day of your marriage, so it's very important, but don't let the cost (literal or figurative) take over what matters most.

Photo via Pinterest

The truth is, things WILL go wrong, whether you spend $100,000 on your wedding, or $1,000, so spending more doesn't mean perfect. Right after we got engaged, I was in an airport in Ohio and wanted to treat myself to a bridal magazine while I waited for my flight. I opened the pages and practically drooled over the perfect floral arrangements and the gorgeous table settings for formal and funky receptions alike. I started getting knots in my stomach because I knew I wanted my wedding to be the most beautiful and special and memorable, and from what the magazines tell you, you'd better be willing to sell a kidney to pay for it. For instance, this particular issue had an article titled "Spending Wise - Budget Friendly Weddings". The wedding they highlighted was a $50,000 party!!! That, dear friends, is a nearly $3,000 more than the average household income in Georgia for our current year. Perhaps for some, $50,000 on a wedding IS budget conscious, and in that case, good for them! But for the overwhelming majority of people, that either is not possible or feels wasteful. The average cost of a wedding in Atlanta is a little more than half that $50,000 price tag at $28,659. And $28,659 is nothing to sneeze at! That's quite the investment!

Actual crazy beautiful place setting from a Style Me Pretty featured wedding

Keep it Low Key

There are a lot of options for keeping your wedding low-key and high style while not spending more than more families make in a year. And there's good reason for doing that. Here are a few things to remember to keep your budget and sanity in check while you plan a wedding.

A wedding is a celebration, not a competition. I know this is insanely obvious, but you can do low-key without feeling the need to outdo the couple that got married before you. The less stress, financial and otherwise that you put on yourselves, the better off you will be to start your marriage as a happy, well-adjusted couple.
It is worth an investment. So yes, it's crazy to spend your life savings and then some, but it is the most important day in your lives together, so it's worth making a fuss and setting aside some time and money if you are able, within reason of course.
Keeping it small means more time with your guests. A bridal party of 30 people is going to be more expensive. A guest list of 600, even more so. The smaller the party, the more special details you can add without breaking the bank, and the more you'll be able to talk to everyone.
Keep it casual. A backyard barbeque can be every bit as special as a fancy affair. Keeping it casual may mean you can afford more guests, and who doesn't love a good backyard party?!
Stop feeling obligated. You cannot invite every single person you've ever met nor should you feel obligated to make everyone happy. I'm a big believer in general etiquette. If you don't know an etiquette rule, you can almost always figure it out by thinking "Am I being greedy?" "Am I striving to make people comfortable?" "Am I providing for the basic needs for this event?". BUT there some exceptions. You can't feel so tied down by what is expected that you get yourself into a bind. Whether that be that you feel like you HAVE to have personalized wedding favors for each guest or maybe that means your MIL expects filet when your budget is more like Chick-fil-A. Do what is true to you!
DIY is more fun. It's more work, but you can make your decorations, invitations, etc, and not only save money, but it gives you more control over the look of your party--you just may need more friends to pitch in to help :) For our reception, we're having various friends and family to help us set up and we could not be more thankful! Some of those same selfless loved ones, all of whom are EXCELLENT bakers (I've taste tested their baked goods, so I know!) are making desserts for our cake table. Homemade is best anyway.

Image via MOD Weddings

Pick Your Venue Carefully

Select a venue that doesn't pin you in. The wedding industry is hot. Anything titled bridal or wedding is about 5 times as much as that same item without "wedding" in the title. Ex. Wedding cake: $3,000. Birthday cake: $600. Many venues require that you use one of their selected caterers, you can't bring any food of your own in and they require you hire a bartender. Some even have rules about the photographer you can use! Be sure to check out all of the requirements and the vendors they recommend before signing on the dotted line. If you have a healthy budget and want to be hands off, this type of place is less stressful to use, so it may be a good option for you.
Have a party size in mind before booking. This part is really tricky. How do you know who can come that far in advance? You can't. But what you can do is have a maximum number in mind and stick to it. It will be hard, but everybody has to do it--even weddings with a party of 350 feel like they've left someone out. You will be much happier with a venue the appropriate size than feeling cramped or one that feels vacant.
Select a venue that gives to charity. Maybe not applicable to everyone, but to me and Victor, this was important. We feel very fortunate to have the opportunities we do and want to give back as much as we can. An added benefit when you rent from a charitable organization is that part of your rental fee is tax deductible. Win win!

Via Junebug Weddings

Elope!

If the thought of making everyone happy with the type of dress, ceremony, music, etc. stresses you out, do what's best for you both. Elope! My husband and I chose to do this, not because anyone was pressuring us to do anything we didn't want to do, or because we don't love our family and friends, but because for us, the best thing was a private, intimate ceremony between the two of us. We could focus on our love for each other, and apart from all other distractions, commit our lives to one another forever. We chose to get married in Iceland, where we also wanted to honeymoon. A two for one! Now, when we celebrate with family and friends at our reception this month, we will be able to enjoy our party in casual style and we'll be able to even set up some decorations ourselves since we'll have a little more free time that day. Elopement isn't for everyone, but it's an option that you can consider for a meaningful, intimate wedding ceremony between you and the one you love most.

The real cost a wedding varies greatly from couple to couple. For some, $50,000 is reasonable, for others, a simple courthouse wedding. My point is to please, do what makes you happy and what feels right for you as a couple. Your wedding day is the first day of your marriage, it should be all about your love, your relationship, and who you are as a couple. Don't let trends or Pinterest or other people's expectations change the way you marry your spouse. Everyone will be supportive if you're true to yourselves.

Photo by Christina Wedge Photography

Next week, we'll post some of the "how tos" for how to elope, specifically to Iceland. It's easier than you think, but having a little guidance helps even more!

Icelandic Adventures Through the Seasons

October 12, 2016 in Lifestyles, Fashion, Travel

2016 has been a very exciting year for us here at Ends In Style! Christina has now made three trips to beautiful Iceland, one with me (Susie) and Victor for our elopement which she photographed!
Clearly, Iceland is near and dear to our hearts now and we want to share with you why we love it so. We also encourage you to book a trip and see if for yourself! We do our best to take beautiful pictures and to describe things in a way that makes you feel like you're there--but they cannot do the real thing justice!
We'll help you prepare for your trip and have the best time possible. We're bringing you a series of posts in the coming weeks about traveling to the country that droves of people are flocking to, and with good reason!

Posts you can look forward to are:

Iceland in Spring:

Photo by Christina Wedge

What to do
What to see
What to pack
Where to stay
Advantages of visiting in the spring
Preparing for your trip and more!

Iceland in Summer:

Photo by Christina Wedge

How to make the most of the warmest Icelandic weather
Capturing the golden light
Places to visit while you can (some places are only open in summer)
What to eat
Maybe even a stop in Greenland :)
Advantages to visiting in summer
Best short hikes and more!

Iceland in Fall:

Photo by Susie Prince

What to pack
Getting around
Best ways to see the Northern Lights
Tours that are worth the money
Self-guided tours you HAVE to take
Advantages to visiting in fall
Where to stay

And Finally....

Eloping in Iceland:

Why we chose to elope (and why you may want to as well)
Best places to take wedding photos
Pros and cons of wedding sites
How to get paperwork in order to make your marriage legal in the US
Gorgeous photos by Christina of me and Victor (she's a wiz with light!)
What to wear and what not to wear for an outdoor Icelandic wedding
Luxury stays for your honeymoon
Flower options, and more!!!

We look forward to sharing all of this with you and hope you'll be inspired to take a trip to a country that has captured our hearts and is beautiful and magical enough to make us want to go back in the dead of winter!

Yo, Semite! I Think I Love You!

August 09, 2016 in Travel, Lifestyles

This year is the 100th Anniversary of the United States National Parks Service. Our big, beautiful country is home to volcanoes, waterfalls, HUGE mountains, canyons, caves, geysers, pools of bubbling colorful goo, and pretty much everything else in between. There are 58 National Parks in the US, so it's time to start checking them off your list if you haven't yet been to many.

Until mid-July, I'd only been out west once. In 2013, I went to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Both of these were incredible! Never before had I seen such high mountains, and I'd never seen mountains that just came out of nowhere, surrounded by plains and soaring up thousands of feet into the sky. This July, Victor planned a trip to Yosemite National Park in California. We flew into San Francisco (my first time seeing the Pacific Ocean in the USA), which was beautiful. We will be back when we have time for more than just lunch.

After driving through countryside speckled with windmills, we arrived at a Bed and Breakfast we found on AirBnB. It was very cute and had two dogs on staff helping our sweet hosts. We mapped out a basic plan of attach for our trip before we left, so we chose an AirBnB that was equidistant from each of the entrances we'd use to get into the park while we were there. Since we planned our trip without tons of notice, most of the camping in the park was booked up. But I'm not complaining because the AirBnB was super comfy and the breakfasts were HUGE and delicious--perfect for fueling up for long hikes each morning.

On the way in, we stopped off the side of the road and I lifted this boulder just to warm up ;)

Day 1, we did a tour-de-valley. We drove around a little, parked, and started our full day of hiking. We hiked so long on day 1 that we came back to the car and it was pitch black for some time. We had tired feet, were a little sore, but very happy.

From the valley, you can see the very famous El Capitan and Half Dome. We walked along the meadows, hiked up to Yosemite Falls and bouldered to the bottom of the falls. The boulders were hot as they baked in the sun, but it was way worth the reward! A fine mist of cool water from the falls blew around and was so refreshing. We did kick ourselves a little for not wearing swimsuits. The pool at the bottom of Yosemite Falls was filled with swimmers--and we were instantly jealous. We made our way down, headed to Bridalveil Falls, which was almost dried up for the season. The bouldering here was a little more treacherous. The rocks looked like polished metal and were super slick. Though we went for somewhat more challenging routes and climbed up rocks for better views and less crowd, the park really is accessible to everyone. There are handicapped ramps, viewing platforms, and buses to help those who may be less able to get around still be able to enjoy the park fully.

We finished our day after Hiking to Mirror Lake to see the sunset over Half Dome.

We saw Yosemite Sam, too!

Our second day in the park, we headed first to Glacier Point. If you're going in the summer, get there early or stay in the park. We took a more leisurely approach to our morning on our second park day and so we had to park in a far off lot and be bussed to the Glacier Point trailhead. That was the only thing about that day that wasn't perfect.

Naturally, these photos don't even come close to doing the view justice. Victor is braver than I am with heights. I crept to the edge and the took pictures from a "safe" distance. The photo above of Victor on the scary edge is at Sentinel Dome. The wind whips around so fast and so hard up there, it's a thing to behold.

On our way from Sentinel Dome to Taft Point, we found this huge cluster of solid quartz. Everywhere you look, flowers and trees find their way to root between rocks and on the side of cliffs. They're determined!

Once we got to the top of Taft Point it looked like this:

And then...THIS HAPPENED

WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!!!

Next, we hiked around the Giant Sequoias. They're incredible. Unfortunately, the portion of the park with the largest and oldest tree in the world was closed while we were there. Everything feels bigger in Yosemite.

Our final night in Yosemite, we stayed at May Lake High Sierra Camp. It's a fairly steep hike in, full of prehistoric looking petrified wood and tumbled rocks with twisted trees forcing their roots between the rocks and just dealing with the rocks around them by bending and squeezing around them. The High Sierra Camp was awesome! Little huts with tiny fireplaces in each one were shared by 4 people in each. There's a food tent for dinner and breakfast. The manager of the camp blows a conch shell to call everyone for meals and hot beverages. It was 96 degrees in the valley and got do to a very cool 34 degrees at the camp that evening. I was not prepared for that--but a fire, hot cocoa, and layering saved the day.

Victor LOVES the water. He even swam in the 54 degree May Lake. I watched from the warmth of the beach. He's a champ! After dinner, we hiked to the top of the ridge to watch the sunset. It was so beautiful that Victor wished he had held onto the ring for one more night. We met a very active pair of grandparents who gave us marriage advice and life advice--to keep active and stay interesting. They've been married for 54 years, are in their 70s and hiked up to the nearly 10,000ft elevation with us!

We hiked to the same ridge for sunset the next morning, then we heard the conch shell call and enjoyed breakfast. The views and hiking around the camp were gorgeous, but we loved the company equally. Everyone was so friendly and kind! We got to talk with people who had grown up coming to Yosemite each summer along with people like us who were just visiting for the first time. It felt like grown up summer camp in the best possible way.

Because of the elevation, these cuties are the cargo haulers who bring the food and supplies up to the camp.

Also worth mentioning, we saw MARMOTS! They were so cute and fluffy and not afraid of us being nearby.

For our final day (we flew out late that night), we made our way to Tuolumne Meadows which is where we saw the most Yosemite residents. It was pretty clear who had been backpacking for weeks on end. They even have a post office at the store for those who have supplied shipped to them to extend their trips. We definitely looked like the "squares" among all the dreadlocked hair, but at least we hadn't showered in a couple days either. In Tuolumne Meadows, we saw lots of little ground squirrels that very cutely popped up like prairie dogs, we saw the biggest hawk I've ever seen flying just over our heads (yikes/cool), and even some mule deer bedded down in the reeds along the river. It was peaceful, cool, and beautiful.

There's the deer!

I highly encourage everyone, no matter what your hiking skill level or comfort with camping to go and enjoy Yosemite. It is now extra special to us and we plan to be back soon! Next time, we will plan further in advance and camp in the park each night in tents and perhaps another visit to the High Sierra camps-it's worth it!

Happy National Parks Centennial!

Drapery Solutions for Difficult Windows

July 13, 2016 in Interiors

Window coverings make a HUGE difference in the way a room feels and functions. They provide privacy, energy efficiency, softness, and beauty. If you happen to have a window that is a different shape or surrounded by unusual moulding or built-ins, what do you do? This is when custom draperies are especially important. They hang better, look better, and are way more functional than a one-size-fits-all ready-made drape. We're going to highlight some lovely solutions to unique windows with gorgeous window coverings by some of our favorite designers and we know it will inspire you to take on your next home design project!

Cristi Holcomb Interiors

I love Roman shades! They are simple and elegant, and most of all, super functional. This design by Cristi Holcomb Interiors features both Roman shades and drapery panels. The window seat would feel incomplete without a window covering of some kind, but obviously drapery panels would not do the trick in this built-in and seating area. I love the addition of the pink trim on the edge to tie everything together.

MBG Interiors

How pretty is that valance on the right?! I love the use of the same material in such different ways in this design by MBG Interiors. Since the fabulous ceiling and beams come down lower on one side than the other, a valance is the perfect solution for creating height and continuity between the windows and doors on the opposite wall. I am really digging the fabric in this design!

Julie Montgomery Interiors

This open-concept space by Julie Montgomery Interiors features several different types of window coverings, all of which solve a different problem for different windows. This one creates height and warmth and feels a little like a headboard when there isn't room for one. And how cool is this bed? Built into the wall with storage below. Such a smart solution!

Lori May Interiors

I love big, dramatic windows. But sometimes they can be an energy suck and make the house really hot, particularly here in the South. I adore these drapes designed by Lori May Interiors! They are so fabulous and luxurious and they solve that problem by creating a barrier between the hot outdoors and the cool indoors, while also framing the windows and highlighting their beauty.

Miko + Boone Home

What do you do when a bay window needs to be softened and you need to add height? You do what Miko + Boone Home did in this lovely dining room. These drapes are so pretty. Without them, the room would feel incomplete. They draw your eye upward and create height in the room while also adding texture and a little bit of color. Just gorgeous!

There are so many more complicated windows and creative solutions by designers, it would take forever to even scratch the surface! If you have a design dilemma, let us know! We'd love to hear from you and would love even more to work with you.

Master 'Sweet'

June 22, 2016 in Interiors

Sometimes there are clients who are more than just clients. They become friends and people who make you smile with each Bitmoji* they send. I've been extremely lucky so far in my career. So lucky in fact, that almost all of my clients feel like this to me, though not all of them send me Bitmoji...yet... But honestly, my clients are great people who are fun to be around and generally make me love my job even more! My client, Shannon, is one of those sweet people (see why I spelled suite like that now?).

*If you do not yet have Bitmoji, do yourself a favor and get it now. It's ridiculous and wonderful.

When we first met to discuss this project, Shannon wasn't sure what her style was or how to achieve what she wanted, but we worked together to narrow in on what she really likes. We determined a palette of wine, mint and gold. While that may not make a delicious flavor combo, it does make a very pretty color combination! Thank you, Shannon, for trusting me and for being bold with the purple!