Friday, October 29, 2010

Beacham Interview

Check out my interview with Blayne Beacham from Beacham and Company.  Thanks again Blayne!
http://networkedblogs.com/9NbxV
here is the interview....Have a great Halloween!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

An Interview with Nancy Duffey

Screen shot 2010-10-28 at 4.25.55 PMNancy Duffey of Scout for the Home won our ad space competition for this issue ofScreen shot 2010-10-28 at 4.30.52 PM

We think her ad looked beautiful, don't you?

Screen shot 2010-10-28 at 4.32.07 PM

I wanted to ask Nancy a few questions about her background, and she was so great to answer. I loved learning more about her story.

So... here we go :)


Blayne: How long have you been interested in Interior Design? Were you one of those kids who always moved the furniture around in their rooms, or did your interest come later?

Nancy: I have been interested in Design my whole life. I can remember in 5 grade getting to design my own room for the first time. Of course I choose a Laura Ashley bedding set which I can still visualize. I would often change around the furniture arrangement of my room. I think its something about being ADD, ha. My mom is just like me, always moving furniture around, so I grew up with someone that loved her home and her things and wanted them to be fresh and look beautiful. Also my godmother was a huge influence, Carolyn Malone. She would let me work for her some summers and that was probably my first start. I would say that was late high school into college though.

B: What did you major in? How has it impacted your career?

N: Unfortunately when I decided to go to Ole Miss they had just taken away the Interior Design major. I wanted to go there so bad so I went into Art History major instead. I think it was a great thing for me but I do miss some of the things that I would have gained from majoring in Interior Design. I think I got to choose what my taste was and find myself in design. I of course love art and got to experience so many different periods while in my major. Its interesting to go to college and none of your friends are taking the same major. Most of my friends were in business so I would always be off to these random buildings for hours at a time. I think I gained some confidence there because I didn't have anyone to lean on.

B: What was your first job out of college?

N: Ha, my first job was an internship with Dan Carithers. Not unlike a lot of my other girlfriends here. I went from there to helping Susan Bozeman a little bit then I landed a job with Keith. It was a new start up interior design firm and it was very exciting at that time.

Screen shot 2010-10-28 at 4.45.14 PM

B. Why did you decide to open Scout for the Home?



N. I thought about opening Scout about 1 1/2 before I actually did. It was a real leap for me. I always knew I would love my own interior design firm but I began to think how hard it would be to just start. So of course this is no original idea but I decided that if I had a store then it would kind of round out my firm. I was also engaged to Ryan whom also worked at Keith's office and thought it would be nice to have separate jobs before we came back together at some point in our careers.

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B: How did you decide on the name "Scout For The Home?"

N: I struggled with names a lot. Then someone said "why don't you name it Scout". I was like well that is perfect but it has to have something else right. So my mom came up with the "For the Home". My dog is named Scout. She is named after my favorite book "To Kill a Mockingbird". I liked the play on words. It's not original as I have come to find out but it makes me happy.

B: I know you recently renovated your own home. How did that go? Are you pleased with the renovation?



N: I LOVE our home. My husband worked so hard on that renovation. He did such a good job.
Nancy 4
This is the house before it was renovated.

nancy 3
We really transformed the whole front of the house.
Nancy 2
I have lived there for 5 years now and renovated twice, so I think this is the last time for that at this location, ha.
I will say we added a fireplace and screened porch and those are my two favorite things.

B: How did you go about designing your own home? Was it different that designing for a client? How?
Nancy 1
N: Well that process is definitely not over. I have a very hard time doing my own home because I see new cool things all the time so I change my mind constantly. I am just not like that with clients, ha. Now my house is very neutral white, flax, brown, and grays. The downstairs is all one room so it has to flow well. I love the palette because it is so calming.

B: What are your plans for the future?
N: That’s an interesting question right now. As me in 6 months, ha. We are planning to live in our home for another 4 or 5 years then I am sure we will move and redo another house. I can see in our lifetime having many moves. Both Ryan and I love to redo and change so that makes for an interesting set of homes. I think that I will expand the store at some point, but never huge. I would just like a little more space. I love designing and have some fabulous clients right now so hopefully I will be lucky enough to keep doing that. This has been a very interesting first year but so much fun and worth every second. I love what I do so hopefully I will be able to continue it!


Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions Nancy! I have loved getting to work with you through this whole ad competition. I love your store and everything you plan to do! I can't wait to see all you do.

To Learn more about Nancy please check out her website and her blog.

Thanks everyone for reading! COme back tomorrow to learn about the two FANTASTIC sales that have happened at Beacham & Company in the past week!!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Interior Designer vs Decorator

One of my new favorite blogs, yes I am slow on the blog uptake, is Haven & Home.  I went to college with Marianne and was so pleased to find out that she has a fabulous blog that is quiet popular.  She is also a very talented Designer/Decorator.  The other day I was reading her blog and I came across the debate of Designer vs Decorator.  I have always been very interested in this topic because I went to Ole Miss and studied Art History so I do not have an Interior Design Degree, although I always knew that I wanted to design. I have worked for so many talented Decorators that have not have Design degrees, that always told me "You either have it or you dont".  I definitely wish I could do some of the things learned in Design school (im sure my husband would be happy if i knew some of those things as well, especially CAD). So this debate hits home for me. Please dont think I am saying anything against Design school, everyone is very talented that has gone through it and I respect them so much.  I just think it is an interesting debate.  Check out her blog and let me know what you think!
  http://havenandhome.blogspot.com/2010/10/milestone-and-great-debate.html

Friday, October 15, 2010

Porch Weather is Here

I just love this time of year.  Its time to open the doors and the windows and let the outside in!
Here are some pictures to inspire you. Enjoy the weekend!



These are custom made swings designed by us with Pierce Martin for the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles 2008 Designer Showhouse.  This is one of my favorite porches of all time.
These images thanks to Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. 

Happy Friday! Have a great weekend.  Im off to see Ole Miss play Alabama, 
hope the Rebels can pull off a win. 
Nancy

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Thanks Beacham!

I wanted to give a huge thanks to Blayne and the Beacham Team for a great party
last week and the wonderful Ad they did for me.  If you dont remember,
Scout for the Home won the Beacham contest for the free ad space.
Last week they had a party for their new magazine and unveiled the new ad.

Front Cover:

Then here is our ad!
Thanks again!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Linens and things



   
 

We love Matteo Linens!!!  When we saw their store front in Los Angeles we had to share it with you.  The showroom is as organic as the linens themselves.
Matteo is a complete bedding line, quilts, duvet covers and the softest sheets you will ever feel.
The colors are natural and soft, earth, plum sage, cloud just to name a few.
In addition to this 100% garment washed linen, Matteo produces a second line called d.u.e. which stands for "design under experiment".  This line, made with 100% garment washed cotton, is more affordable and has a younger look.  
Nap European shams in ash,  from d.u.e./Matteo



Also, be sure to see the throws and blankets we have in stock.  Some are made with alpaca and others with Lambswool, but they all add a pop of color to any room.


 Come in and see what's new!!!





Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Time for a fire!

Well it has gotten cold enough that my husband and I decided to have a fire.  We have been dying to
light the fire ever since we renovated.  So here is a picture of our new fireplace.  (more pictures of the new house to come)


















Here are some great Fireplaces to get us in the mood for fall


















Complements of Lefevre














Love the corner fireplace at Keith Summerour's Tower

Oh do I love a good fire. Hopefully lots to come this fall.
Happy Fall!