By: Stephanie Andrews
Photo courtesy of Lisse L.
Shinrin-Yoku is a Japanese concept that most closely translates to “a forest bath.” To me, this means slowing down and connecting with nature. Walking through the woods, noticing the smells, textures, colors, and sounds provides an opportunity to improve my health, both mentally and physically. I also notice that my creativity and curiosity expands during and after a forest bath.
By: Stephanie Andrews
I have been a Francophile since elementary school. After four years of French in high school, field trips to Montreal, and then a minor in French in college, I was hooked. My husband and I travelled to Paris just after we got married, and it was truly magical. We loved the color of the buildings, the history, the architecture, the churches, the food, and the culture. The style is captivating, and although it has been written about extensively (perhaps too much) French women and their homes have an effortless chic that I find mesmerizing.
Photo courtesy of Sharon Santoni.
We recently met a client who is also a fan of this effortless style, and wants that iconic look for her living room. Her father is an antiques dealer in Paris, so a French salon style living room seems only natural. I started by doing a little research into the history of the salon. A product of The Enlightenment in the early 18th century, it was a key institution in which women played a central role. Salons provided a place for people to congregate for intellectual discourse.
Did you catch that? The main purpose of the room is for intellectual conversation! Not phones, work, or TV. Love the idea? Let’s look at the quintessential elements needed to create this space. (Disclaimer: even if you find the elements, it may still take some additional “je ne sais quoi” to really pull it off, in a French way.)
The ideal room has high ceilings and architectural moulding at the ceiling and an interesting fireplace. (Obviously, many of us do not have these details in our living rooms, but work with me on the vision and then adapt it for your home.) Our client’s living room fit the bill perfectly — large room, beautiful fireplace, and a baby grand piano!
Photo courtesy of Elle Decor.
Since the purpose of a salon is the ability to have conversations, consider the floor plans and scale of furnishings. The seating needs to be easy to access and also comfortable, with a place for drinks as well as good ambient lighting.
Once you have a floor plan that works, it’s time to choose a rug. For a French salon style, choose a rich, jewel toned, hand knotted wool or silk rug with patina (read: old). This may take some time to find. Your rug options probably will need to be brought in, laid out and looked at in different lights and hopefully call to you saying, “I’m it!” I recommend browsing eBay, Chairish, Next Door, or local sources that will let you send the rug back if it is not quite right. Be patient, this is probably the most important decision in your new room. Don’t worry if the rug is somewhat worn or a bit frayed — that just adds to the character!
For a comfy curvy sofa, I chose this one from American Leather in a terra cotta velvet to complement the rug. I added some rattan chairs from CB2 because look: they look like they’re smiling! I could see reupholstering these in a fun pattern (maybe black and cream zebra print?). A heavy chunk of drink table, a vintage glass round coffee table, and some fabulous ambient lighting sets just the right mood. A gilded mirror can sit above the sofa or the mantle, depending on the floor plan.
A salon isn’t really a salon without an art wall, and this one is a curated collection of women we admire. It features women poets, artists, actresses, and a yoga carving. This wall can continuously be added to, and interesting frames can enhance the collected feel of the room.
The final secret to a Paris style salon is this: never really call the room finished. Enjoy the thrill of the hunt and the ever-changing canvas of your room!
By: Stephanie Andrews
Photography by Christina Wedge for Balance Design.
Sometimes you just want a spot to steal away and lose yourself in a good book. Such was the case for our client in Atlanta’s historic Druid Hills neighborhood. The upstairs landing was the perfect spot for a cozy reading nook, complete with a custom built-in for her collection of books. A mid century chair and ottoman atop a colorful sari silk rug inspired our client to arrange her books by color, creating a cheerful rainbow effect.
By: Stephanie Andrews
Photo courtesy of Factory Italiana.
We love duality in design. The soft, colorful border of the Martha mirror paired with orbital lines creates a balance of ethereal whimsy and modern geometry. What’s more, Covi & Puccioni’s Factory Italiana handmade products are created in a centuries-old Murano glass chandelier factory in Italy. Modern furnishings + historic roots = WOW YES!!!
By: Stephanie Andrews
Photo courtesy of Pinterest.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” — John F. Kennedy
We each have our own personal reasons for entering the interior design field, but no matter what brought us here, we all strive to create spaces that make people comfortable and proud of their homes. We’re eternally grateful for the experience of working with our clients, their families, and their communities. In the spirit of the season, we thank you — clients, families, friends, artists, vendors, and fellow team members — for the incredible opportunity to do what we love. We hope our gratitude comes across through our dedication to all of you throughout the year.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Stephanie loves family, community, and design, and tries to roll all three together in her close knit Atlanta, GA network. She launched her own interior design firm, Balance Design, in 2002 and is a strong promoter of handcrafted items, especially from her friends. Using this approach when selecting art, furniture, and accessories, she makes homes feel inspired and unique.
Shelby is a Florida transplant who has called Atlanta home for over 10 years. With a love for the city's church architecture and the simple joy of handmade tile in geometric layouts, she also enjoys getting her hands dirty sawing a wooden headboard. She considers herself a lifelong student of art and design.
Melody is a born and bred Atlantan, with an international point of view. She loves different cultures and the vibrancy they bring to different spaces, but also cherishes girly, whimsical designs. Any project with a lot of color is her dream come true.
Jennifer is an Atlanta native whose love of design and remodeling began with her parents renovating their 1920s bungalow. She is passionate about pattern and textiles, and has an affection for blending the old with the new in her designs.
