All White at Twilight.

My dear friend Alex Gegenheimer was married in February. She asked me to help with the event and floral design and of course I was more than happy to assist. Here are some of the pictures from her wedding. It was an all white floral display perfectly complimenting the other colors she chose: black, white and Tiffany blue. The wedding took place at twilight by candlelight at the Peacock Inn in Newton, North Carolina. Photography by Seize the Photo Photography.

Alex wore a beautiful vintage inspired lace gown and a whimsical floral headpiece with a birdcage veil.

I created her all white bouquet using hydrangeas, roses, tulips, anemones and ranunculus. The stems were fully wrapped with a white silk chiffon ribbon.

The boutonnieres incorporated white spray roses and freesia flowers and blades and wrapped with Tiffany blue ribbons.

The tables were divided and either featured a bubble bowl with an all white arrangement of hydrangeas, roses, tulips, anemones, ranunculus, and Fuji mums, or a bubble floated with Fuji mums, roses and hydrangeas. All tables also featured white tapers in vintage crystal candlesticks and silver display cards. Individual gift boxes of chocolates were also on the tables in white with a Tiffany blue bow or Tiffany blue with a white bow.

Get this candle.

Something I am wild about is scents. I love perfumes, colognes, splashes, candles, soaps; anything with a smell. I tend to either lean towards a deeper, woodsy scent, or a light, fresh scent. If there had to be only one scent I could enjoy for the rest of my life, it would be New Mown Hay by Paddywax.

This candle comes in a variety of sizes and styles but the scent is worth investing in the biggest pillar they make. This candle provides a fresh burst of cut grass, thyme and verbena. A truely lavish and easy way to bring the smell of spring into your home.

Im back.

After a long time away, I have returned, better than ever. I have many things to share with you. To start off with, a little bit of inspiration. Spring has sprung and the birds are chirping. Speaking of birds, to incoporate a little bit of springtime into your home try adding some aviary touches. Birds have recently become a huge trend in interior design. Try something small and changeable to bring newness into your decor. An item I am currently craving is these euro shams by Shelley Hesse.

These shams feature parrots, maccaws, and cockatoos. The variety of colors will blend with many color palettes and adds an instant whimsy and bird trend. Try using these on a couch rather than just for a bed. The shams, availabe at Anthropologie are $98 for the set and also have a matching duvet option for someone striving for more of a bird impact.

Crazy Busy.

Sorry for my lack of posts lately. Had a major computer issue that is finally being resolved. Do not let your virus definitions go out of date! The big day finally came for my best friend, and I was terribly busy trying to make her dream a reality. I have tons of pictures to post but just wanted to give you a preview!

Her bouquet was so amazing. It combines yellow spray roses, jade green roses, white eskimo roses, golden yellow celosia, antique green miniature hydrangeas, yellow freesia, green hypericum berries and curly willow tips. Wrapped with a silk chiffon grey ribbon. It was seriously one of the prettiest garden bouquets I have ever done!

Modern Floral.

I got very inspired at the vineyard the other day. We have a five leaf akebia vine growing up the back stairs and second story balcony. The vine blooms and then produces these huge, alienesque blue/grey seed pods. I really wanted to create a floral arrangement with these pods, they scream modern, haute couture floral design.

I took the seed pods and long curving pieces of the vine, and combined them with lambs ear and a pink succulent blooms I found on the property. I put the modern arrangement in a very traditional urn. The combination is so strange and unique, it really works to create a beautiful

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Modern Vintage in Pink, White and Green.

My most recent wedding took place last weekend. I do not have all of the pictures sorted through, but I wanted to get something put up. More pictures will be added soon. The wedding was a modern, vintage pairing. We decided to use pinks, greens, whites and dashes of black. We then paired all of the flowers on tables with black lanterns, crystal taper candle holders and mixed in drop crystal candelabras. All of the various vignettes were placed on modern black and white print fabric table toppers. The mix of the modern color palette and fabrics with contrast of crystal and vintage lanterns and candle holders was truly Lavish.

The hand tied bouquet was created from white dahlias, pink mini calla lillies, hot pink roses, green hypericum berries and fiddle head ferns. It was wrapped in black silk ribbon and a crystal brooch was added for a little sparkle.

The main table arrangements were in glass bubble bowls. They were created from white dahlias, cream roses, hot pink roses, green hypericum berries, green kermit pom mums, green and pink dendrobium orchids and white dendrobium orchids.

Several large arrangements were made for the food tables. This was one of three various looks. This look includes green fuji giant mums, green hypericum berries, green kermit pom mums and cream roses.

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Tiny arrangements were created to mix and match on tables to create unique vignettes. They were made from green kermit pom mums in square glass vases and were done in the pave style, and the vases were wrapped in hosta leaves to cover the stems.

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Combinations of three separate arrangements were paired on some tables. The bubble bowls were combined with monochromatic green arrangements to really create a dramatic affect.

Room Redesign.

I decided to redecorate my bedroom at my parents house in Hayesville, North Carolina. I have been staying there a lot lately and decided it needed refreshing. I did not even think to take before pictures,I was just so ready to get started on the project! I had Chinese red lacquered walls that took days to sand down. Then I added several coats of primer and three coats of Sherwin Williams Aloof Gray. The bedding is from the Martha Stewart Trousseau Collection. Next I got out to hit the local consignment, thrift and antique stores. Here are the results so far.


I found a great yellow ceramic lamp at a thrift store and added a black fabric shade from Wal-Mart. The commode came from the Reach thrift store in Hayesville. All it needed was a coat of paint. Sherwin Williams Caviar.

I found this great frame also at the Reach thrift store. It got a quick coat of white gloss spray paint. I loved my apple and rose arrangement so much, I created one for my bedroom.

I found this awesome chandelier at a consignment furniture store in Young Harris, Georgia. Third Time Around. I left the shade distressed and yellow, but painted the lighting portion a matte black.

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I got this great little black table at Wal-Mart as well. The concrete planter came from the Antique Tobacco Barn in Asheville, North Carolina. The topiary was a great find at the local Ingles Supermarket. The floor to ceiling gauzy white curtain panels came from Ikea and the simple black rods were also from Wal-Mart.

My room was starting to have a very Parisian feel. I really love the herringbone pattern hardwood floors, famous in so many french apartments. I decided to recreate this effect in some art. I hand painted the pattern in yellow and dark grey, then added a crest and monogram to add some personalization. I think the result was very Lavish.

I found this great mirror at an estate sale. It only needed a new mirror insert, the frame was in amazing condition. The candle sconces were another thrift store find. I purchased a white crocodile tray to keep all of my objects in, and a bowl from my great-grandmothers Chinese porcelain collection serves as a catch-all. I added a simple table lamp, from Wal-Mart. It is set off by a carved gazelle my grandparents brought back from Africa, and my childhood silver piggy bank. The prints, by Gustav Klimt, were just brought back to me from my parents trip to Austria.

I found this amazing dresser at Christian Love Ministries thrift store, in Young Harris, Georgia. It was already black and distressed and for thirty dollars, was my favorite find!

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I needed some simple art for the wall opposite my bed. I found these great frames also at Wal-Mart, kept the mats, and then attached sheet music to black poster board to frame inside the mats.

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And lastly, to pay a little respect for the city which I started to draw inspiration, I found these great framed prints of Paris at Molly and Me, one of my favorite stores in Hayesville. They have great ornate frames and the simple greys, greens, browns and brick tones really add a simple touch to finish off my room.