Home Feature: Palmetto Bluff

Mike and I love Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, SC. It's only an 1.5 hour drive and has all the low country feel of Charleston, but when you combine an Auberge resort and a community set apart on its own...it just feels like an escape. The home styles are all architecturally symbiotic and consistent, but rarely have I seen the inside of some of the newer homes with updated interiors. With the building boom back on track, here's a look into one of the newer private residences.

 

My Art is Now Fashion!

About a month ago, a friend of mine pointed to a dress and said, "Hey, that print looks like it could be one of your paintings!" I thought to myself, "Well, that would be cool to make fabrics from my art designs." That has now become reality. Kenneth Jay Lane has selected six of my paintings for his Summer 2014 silk scarves collection. Can you say EXCITED???!!!! They will be sold worldwide, and you will find them on all your favorite shops like Shopbop, Gilt and One Kings Lane. I cannot wait to see the art transform to a silk print. I am a huge fan of KJL and his lion door knocker necklace is a favorite in my wardrobe...and even helped garner my outfit a feature in Charleston Magazine. If you want to peruse his jewelry while you wait for the collection's launch, check out Net-A-Porter.

Let's just take a look at some of his jewelry on the celebs!

Take a seat; window seat that is.

Wish you could sit and stare out your window at the lovely spring blooms? Pop open a book and enjoy the view wistfully? How about needing a little extra storage in a room and there is a nice big window ominously sitting by itself? The window bench/seat is the perfect solution. I personally love the storage additions you get with one. Here are some swoon worthy seats with a view!

A cozy little space with curtains for a girls room.

Plenty of pillows to cushion with a great view to a wooded back yard.

Tucked into a hallway.

Don't be afraid to continue the color from outside in!

Create a full seating area with some chairs and a small table.

Creative use of space on staircase landing.

Maximizing space in a girls bedroom.

You don't have to go with a built-in unit. Simply set a nice chaise lounge under a window!

Cottage chic for a small space.

Double window seats for added seating.

More seating options in a small living room.

Can you imagine this little space opening to the water view? Sublime!

Stately Homes by the Sea Designer Showhouse

In just 8 days, the Stately Home by the Sea Grand Opening will reveal the top interior designers choices for transforming a mega tudor style mansion into a gleaming piece of design art. And, even MORE exciting, is that one of my paintings will be featured in the guest bedroom suite designed by Lauren Guarcello of Porter Design Company. You can see my post on Lauren here, but you know that bedroom she designed for the 2011 showhouse anywhere! It was pinned and posted on blogs everywhere...not to mention several features in Traditional Home Magazine.

Most importantly, proceeds from tours and sales go to the Visiting Nurses Association Health Group. Founded in 1912, VNAHG, is the largest voluntary, nonprofit in home health, private care, hospice and community wellness organization in New Jersey caring for more than 120,000 individuals each year. Very close to my heart as my full time job at Allscripts helps provide software solutions for these home health workers so they have more efficient days and better clinical information about their patients. It all means better care for sick patients:-)

The 11,000 square foot Harthorne Mansion was built in 1929 by world champion figure skater Harold Harthorne and designed by noted architect Roger Harrington Bullard.

Here are the fabric and color inspirations from Lauren that helped me create the perfect painting for the room. We went with a take on my Mod Floral series.

I CANNOT wait for the big reveal! Stay tuned.

Tackling the Yard

Well, Spring has sprung in Charleston. That means the azaleas have lost their blooms, and the weeds and bugs have emerged in full force. If you haven't gotten your yard under control yet, then chances are it is knee high in weeds from every direction. Currently, I am in a full hate relationship with my back lawn. This isn't North Carolina where it seemed so easy. There, I could even do everything organically. Here, with the full sun to full shade swings in seasons, from parched dry to floods, let's just say gardening is a bit difficult. So, while I fight the good fight against nature's odds in a wacky coastal climate, let's sit back and envy some other yards:-)

If this is your back yard view to your pool and stone pool house, well then you BETTER be drinking champagne out there every night, splashing around and throwing Gatsby style parties every week. If you aren't, then I would highly recommend you sell your house to me for a reasonable rate:-)

A simple pathway with caladiums, azaleas and ferns for shade.

Yes, we all want a white picket fence with climbing roses. Did they put that in children's books when we were little?

Curve those beds!

Shade plantings laddered up into woods.

Love the use of boxwoods to frame out planting groupings.

Addressing a front yard with a slope.

Slopes are SO hard to plant. Water runs off easily creating a dry environment. This looks perfect.

If you have a small backyard, this would be perfect for the no maintenance type. Good idea for a townhouse as well.

Talk about perfect bloom timing.