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Curate My Life Posts

Abstraction and Color: Stonewashed Indigo Linens

By: Danielle Clockel

Abstract expressionism divides people like no other art genre — you either love it or you hate it. I personally love any art that moves me when I see it, and makes an impact on the space it inhabits. Let’s consider Mark Rothko’s color field paintings.

Mark Rothko “Green on Blue.“

A key player in the abstract expressionist movement (right alongside Jackson Pollack), Mark Rothko’s massive canvases of color are meant to be viewed up close and personal. They are so big that they surround you and engulf your peripheral vision, transforming the act of viewing into a complete experience. I can only imagine immersing myself in the cool blue and distressed texture of “Green on Blue” here.

Photo courtesy of House of Baltic Linen.

The beauty of abstraction is that it’s up to the viewer to decide what they see. For me, Rothko’s painting evokes soft, stonewashed linen bedding. The deep indigo hues intermeshed with worn-yet-bright whites make me want to float off into a cool, calming dreamland.

Pop Art Perfection: The Wrongwoods Console

Apr 14, 2017 No Comments

By: Danielle Clockel

Does art imitate life, or does life imitate art? That is the question. As designers, we think the latter is more fun. For example:

Roy Lichtenstein, a hugely influential artist in the 1960’s pop art movement, was heavily inspired by commercial advertising and comic book graphics. His style is instantly recognizable by his use of bold, thick lines and bright color.

First of all, how incredible is this faux bois Wrongwoods console? Designed by Richard Woods and Sebastian Wrong (hence the name), the graphic nature of the finish, eye-catching colors, and mid century modern shape harkens to pop art like Lichtenstein’s. It’s like one of his paintings came to life!

Incorporating art into your home is something we hold in very high regard and try to implement in all of our projects. This piece takes that concept to a whole new level, and we love it!

Sweet Dreams Are Made of…These Beds!

Apr 06, 2017 No Comments

By: Danielle Clockel and Melody Richardson

A good night’s rest is an important aspect of health that often gets sacrificed in our busy lives. Let’s start changing that! Get excited about getting to sleep by choosing a bed you love.

The Anderkit bed from Vanguard is beautiful in its simplicity. Featuring an upholstered headboard as well as a canopy, the simple shape keeps this piece current and fresh.

Talk about sweet dreams! Joseph Walsh’s Enignum canopy bed is a sculptural, ethereal cocoon sure to lull you into a perfectly serene slumber.

All of us went a little gaga over this bed from Resource Decor. The Duke poster bed is the sleek, modern canopy bed of your dreams.

Maybe your home is a little too petite for a grand four poster bed. No problem! Get the drama of a canopy without sacrificing space with this curved rattan bed from Anthropologie.

A bed doesn’t have to be extravagant to be a knockout. Take the Jarvis bed from CB2. With a mid century spindle headboard and 100% leather pad, it has a unique masculine flair that makes us swoon.

Think about it — the more you love your bed, the more you’ll want to dive in and drift off to sleep to recharge. Set aside some time to relax, you deserve it!

Design Challenge: And the Winner Is…

Mar 24, 2017 No Comments

By: Shelby Adamson Pawlak

This week we conclude our design challenge of my bedroom. I have chosen a design from one of our amazing designers and let me tell you, this was one of the HARDEST choices I have ever had to make!

First, I wanted to share the winner of our voters on Facebook and Instagram, and it was a close one! The design challenge winner from all of your popular votes was…Danielle!

My overall winner along with my husband’s input (it is our room, after all) was a really tough choice. Our two favorites were Stephanie and Danielle, but after careful consideration and much deliberation our pick is…Stephanie!

I honestly loved so many pieces from each of our designers here, so here is my compilation of everyone’s choices to create the perfect respite for my husband and myself:

Items from Eskayel, Blu Dot, Lumens, Rejuvenation, CB2, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, S & H Rugs.

It was so enlightening to be on the client side of things, to have my input reviewed and put through the Balance Design “filter.” It made me realize how important communication is, and the questions that I, as a designer, need to ask my clients. There were suggestions made that matched my Pinterest board that I loved, and it made me feel like my voice was really heard, but there were also things that I would never think of implementing that I ended up loving. I believe that as a team, our collaboration at Balance Design makes us strong designers, and as a client I am incredibly happy with the outcome. Now just stay tuned for the implementation! Thank you for all of your input!

Design Challenge: Bedroom Solutions

Mar 17, 2017 2 Comments

By: The Balance Design Team

Last week Shelby outlined her wish list for her master bedroom, including a headboard for her bed, new nightstands, lighting, and a vanity area. Each of us browsed her Pinterest board and created our take on a perfectly “Shelby” bedroom.

Stephanie’s Solution

Furnishings from: Schumacher, Blu Dot, YLighting, Etsy, Houzz, Land of Nod, Pottery Barn, S&H Rugs

Shelby has a fun-loving, adventurous personality that I wanted to bring out in her room design. The low upholstered modern platform bed lets the organic wallpaper create a bold statement wall. The vanity (which is actually a children’s desk) has ample storage for Shelby’s collection of funky and fun jewelry. Her accessory style inspired my choices for the vanity stool, pendants, and mirror, which all have touches of gold. And of course, I had to add a hand knotted rug that can be used in Shelby’s next home too!

Elisabeth’s Solution

Furnishings from: Eskayel, Resource Decor, Lumens, Jaipur Living, CB2

I was inspired by Shelby’s love of texture and the perfect shade of blue in creating this Bali-tastic Bedroom Boutique. This water-meets-print wallpaper from Eskayel is sure to motivate Shelby’s creative world while the organic linear black and white rug grounds the room (literally). The classic floating shelf is simply smart, providing a platform for this modern woven marvel of a pendant. The canopy bed is a new absolute favorite of everyone at Balance Design. Finally, a beautiful challenge for Shelby: root plants in glass by taking a cutting and growing her own piece of art in water. I hope this design inspires art, nature, and light for morning and night (intentional rhyming included).

Danielle’s Solution

Furnishings from: Room & Board, Rejuvenation, Restoration Hardware, CB2, Surya, Detroit Rug Restoration, Sherwin Williams

Keeping in mind Shelby’s request for a clean, sleek look, I focused on things she loves (with a little inspiration from her Pinterest board). The dresser currently in the room will be removed, making room for a printmaker’s drawer desk with a rounded rectangular mirror to act as a vanity/primping area. The drawers provide stylish space for jewelry, makeup, brushes, etc. An accent wall painted in her “spirit color” will pick up the blue accents in this vintage rug, which really pops against an underlying sisal. I took a small leap with the bed — Shelby requested ideas for a headboard, but I know from her Pinterest that she loves sleek, modern canopy beds. Replacing the mirrored nightstands with these crisp marble shelves keeps the room clutter-free (and provides the perfect perch for an aloe plant or two!).

Melody’s Solution

Furnishings from: Etsy, Crate and Barrel, West Elm, Smart Furniture

Shelby’s love of natural wood really inspired this space. Using walnut furniture accented with metal and glass creates a natural-feeling, put together look. This desk used as a makeup vanity will provide some much needed jewelry storage and a space to sit and get ready for the day with the large round mirror. The wall mural is an homage to her favorite color, teal. This effect is more subtle than full on paint, but gives enough color and impact to still make a statement. The glass shelves are 10′ deep so she will be able to use them as nightstands without the bulk. Even a piece like this lovely wood and glass terrarium would fit (bonus: these plants require minimal attention). Finally, the pendants for either side of the bed add the little bit of sparkle for Shelby that she brings to us each day.

Stay tuned next week when Shelby announces the winner!

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MEET THE TEAM

Stephanie Andrews

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.

Elisabeth Paulson

Elisabeth has an eye for design, inside and out. She can design a chandelier, select the perfect shade of blue and pot a rare begonia. Her scandinavian soul endlessly seeks beauty and fresh air.

Danielle Clockel

Danielle is a proud resident of Atlanta, GA, with a love of feminine elements mixed with edgier, bolder details. She enjoys industrial spaces, well made rugs, and a slightly cluttered aesthetic. Her inspiration comes from teapots, really awesome shoes, tattoos, and Victorian gothic literature.

Shelby Adamson Pawlak

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 Richardson

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.