Sep 21, 2018 No Comments

On our Turf

Balance Design Annual Sample Sale 2018 + Pop-Up Shop!

By: Balance Design Team

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Balance Design’s annual sample sale is upon is, meaning you can browse our current collection of furniture, accessories, local artwork and much more…all at deeply discounted prices. And this year, we’re excited to offer treasures from members of our very own Balance Design team! The studio sample sale begins Monday, 9/24, and you can browse wares from our designers at our pop-up shop from 11-4 during the Candler Park Festival on Saturday, 9/29. Here’s a sneak peek of some of their beautiful pieces:

For one of our interior designers Shelby Adamson, what started as mixing and weaving fabrics for creative outlet evolved into lovingly crafted decor for friends and loved ones to adorn beautiful spaces. Bruadar Studio was born (now with a dedicated Etsy shop)! Bruadar (pronounced “broo-e-tar”) translates to “dream” or “vision,” and the bruadaraiche (pronounced “broo-e-taracher”) transcends normal dreaming into the realm of seeing into the past or future. This concept inspired a modern take on the traditional dream catcher, transforming into a handmade, one of a kind product of a meditative process. Natural materials like muslin and linen are paired with brass accents and hand-dyed. The results are whimsical, textural, and unique dream catchers made with love—a perfect statement piece for any area in the home.

Jennifer Carter, another one of our own interior designers, will be featuring products from her handcrafted accessory line, J. Carter Handmade. Vintage inspired, yet modernly styled, Jennifer’s boutique accessories and designer home wares incorporate hand-printed images & modern textiles with natural fibers and antique elements. She draws her inspiration from the fabrics and colors themselves, and describes that “designing an accessory is like designing a room in a way… but portable, and all wrapped up in one tiny package!”

Just arrived from our designer Melody Richardson’s travels to Turkey, these 100% authentic Turkish towels are perfect for use around the home, or as a Fall fashion accessory! These cotton towels feature loooong fibers that make them incredibly soft and delightfully absorbent. They are beautiful, breathable, and make a perfect shawl or scarf—we love the versatility they provide.

And as always, we have loads of furniture and custom pieces to brighten up your home. Hurry in though, we’re busy making room for our Alchemy open house in early November (stay tuned for more info). We’ll see you at the studio from 10-5 Monday-Friday, and at our pop-up sale on Saturday 9/29 from 11-4! We’re the green door in Candler Park <3

Sep 20, 2018 No Comments

On our Turf

Sneak Peek! Candler Park Tour of Homes

By: Danielle Clockel

The Candler Park Tour of Homes is next weekend, and we are so excited about people coming to our neighborhood to see its charm and personality, especially since our very own Stephanie Andrews’s home is featured! Let us give you a special sneak peek into her curated abode.

Photography by Danielle Clockel for Balance Design.

A deep purple velvet sofa (refurbished from a vintage find) rests atop a lush Moroccan rug in the light-filled living room.

Photography by Danielle Clockel for Balance Design.

A striking staircase with glossy black trim frames a boldly wallpapered curved wall.

Photography by Danielle Clockel for Balance Design.

It doesn’t get more dramatic than all black. We’re especially gushing over the mosaic floor tile hugging that curb. (Swoon!)

Photography by Danielle Clockel for Balance Design.

This petite breakfast setting is softly bathed in window light — the perfect spot for morning coffee.

Want to see this and many other amazing, enigmatic homes on the tour next weekend? We know you do! You can purchase tickets here — get ’em before they’re all snatched up!

Sep 14, 2018 No Comments

Learn it!

Elements of a Photoshoot

By: Shelby Adamson

Many of us find ourselves opening up a magazine to peruse the beautiful photos and think, “why doesn’t my home look like this?” Well, coming from a team of designers that do this on a daily basis, there is a lot of work that goes into these productions to get the perfect shot!

When scheduling a photoshoot, there are a few key aspects to consider. First is the time of day. The ideal time to photograph is when the sun is overhead, allowing for good lighting and avoiding harsh sun rays that tend to hit in the later afternoon.

Courtesy of Tracy Cox for Balance Design.

Then we scout the room — take a few test shots to review later and determine what needs to be added and removed from the space. (We typically pull out anything that feels too large or doesn’t compliment or enhance the space). Sometimes a beloved piece of furniture is incredibly comfortable, but appears too visually bulky through the lens of the camera. Finally, a color scheme is determined with pillows, accessories, textural pieces, and most importantly plants! Flowers and foliage are a designer’s best friend, whether we’re going for leafy, tall, full, soft, or angular — the greenery really amps up the attitude of the room.

Courtesy of Danielle Clockel for Balance Design.

On the day of the photo shoot, the initial shot is reviewed on a computer screen to see how different factors affect the image: shallow vs deep depth of field, varying levels of lighting, vertical vs horizontal orientation, etc. The hardest part of this process is removing yourself from the physical environment and focusing solely on the image onscreen to determine what visually works, what does not, and what needs to be rearranged. Many pieces that appear “perfect” in a photograph have actually been maneuvered into strange positions to have the correct proportions (thanks, lens distortion!). Multiple shots are taken in various angles and orientations, as well as full room and vignettes to spotlight the designer’s favorite details.

Courtesy of Christina Wedge for Balance Design.

After the photoshoot is over, the photographer processes the many (many) files and layers multiple photos of the same room to optimize exposures, which ensures that certain areas are highlighted, others are complimented, and the rest fall away. Once the editing process is complete, the designer and photographer review the finished photos to determine any additional tweaks and edits.

Courtesy of Christina Wedge for Balance Design.

Finally, favorite shots are chosen and the final product is a beautiful, layered, and labor intensive work of love!

 

Sep 07, 2018 No Comments

Color Obsession

Color Palette: Caravaggio

By: Danielle Clockel

Of all the old masters and Baroque artists, no one does dramatic lighting quite like Caravaggio. His painting “The Calling of Saint Matthew” from 1599 is a prime example of his mastery of light, gradient, and color. Inspired to bring some of this powerful palette into your home? Here’s the color lowdown:

Top to bottom:
Farrow and Ball Pitch Black. A dark, dramatic shadow shade.
Benjamin Moore Century Yarrow. Warm, golden light.
Sherwin Williams Privilege Green.  Almost a neutral, but still has character.
Benjamin Moore Century Raw Umber. Earthy, rich, sophisticated.
Farrow and Ball Pale Hound. Subtle and soft like fading sunlight.
Farrow and Ball Picture Gallery Red. A hearty member of a color family that always packs a punch.

Aug 31, 2018 1 Comment

Color Obsession, Learn it!

Tried and True Colors We Believe In

By: Melody Richardson

Color trends come and go, but within these fads emerge some classic shades that withstand the test of time (and style). Here are five paint colors we have found easy to translate into any space. They are classic, inviting, and incredibly beautiful.

Benjamin Moore White Dove 0C-17


We used this inviting white to bring cleanliness and warmth to this kitchen renovation. Some whites come off as sterile and cold. Instead, this bright shade is begging you to come host a dinner for two…or 20.

Sherwin Williams Unusual Gray SW 7059

Unusual Gray is an enigma. Does it have green in it? What about blue? Changes in lighting allow this neutral gray to transition with the day. We use it in a variety of spaces. Here it stands as the backdrop to a bold and chipper work of art in an open concept kitchen.

Farrow and Ball Studio Green No. 93

One of our absolute favorite colors to bring drama into a room is Studio Green. We love it so much we used it in the Cashiers designer showhouse this year! This versatile green-black is an experience in itself. Appearing differently depending on its surroundings, Studio Green lends itself to virtually any style.

Farrow and Ball Hague Blue No. 30

Hague Blue is the new and improved navy of all of our nautical dreams.This vivid and sophisticated blue is a statement wherever its used. A favorite for making a built-in the focal point of the space, this blue pairs well with warm and cool tones. So good, it should be considered a neutral.

Farrow and Ball Salon Drab No. 290

Salon Drab is anything but. This lovely mushroom shade evokes visions of tailored menswear and refined earth tones. Used here, it brings together a fireplace and built-ins and really grounds the space. Salon Drab gives intrigue to relatively neutral color palettes.

These colors stir up a range of feelings and give life to spaces that may otherwise be underwhelming. We have fallen in love with their versatility and beauty, and we believe they make all the difference. Whether you prefer clean and neutral or bright and bold, at the end of the day, choose whatever color makes you feel at home.