Beauty, Order and a Whole Lotta Love

Beauty, Order and a Whole Lotta Love

by: Stephanie Andrews

Hello friends,

I’m thrilled to share some exciting updates about our Balance Design work studio! Over the past few weeks, we’ve been busy transforming our studio space, which was made possible thanks to the incredible help of some special friends and colleagues.

Showing the messy process of transformation…

We’ve added plywood for structure, refreshed everything with a new coat of paint, and designed and installed a striking floor-to-ceiling art wall. We also created some much-needed extra storage in the back.

 My vision was to create a “Paris Library” vibe in the studio. Inspired by my recent trip to Paris, I loved the way the French curate diverse items to create a harmonious whole. I collaborated with stylist Rebecca Parsons of House 10 Designs, who sourced the most wonderful vintage and new pieces for our collected art wall and accessories. Rebecca has spent countless hours hand-picking and researching this collection, and it could not be done without her!

 

Allie is in front of our new vintage art wall.  Farrow and Ball Bancha paint.  New walnut coffee table by Cameli Woodworks.

This process of transformation is somewhat painful.   Even though I had a plan and excellent help to execute, I would find myself anxious and running in circles trying to feel productive.  Here is what I need to remind myself the next time I decide to make a big change, and perhaps some of these tips may be helpful for your next home project!

1- Make a list of everything that I want to do.

2-Determine who is going to do the best job at it.  (Oftentimes it is not me.)

3-Schedule them on the calendar, realizing that it is okay if the space is bare, as long as it is tidy.  I even had cleaners come mid-way to help with the feelings of overwhelm.

4- Work with people who understand the way that I think.  In this case, Allie helped so much to move the ball forward!  She would also tell me to work from home, because I could not function while the work was happening-too much chaos.  (She gets me.)

5-Enlist more help. I ended up hiring a handyman and an art installer in order to relieve the burden on our team.

6-Celebrate at the 80% done point, there is still more to do, but the hard lift is done.

7-Write a blog about the process.   (Yes, I just added that one.)

8-Don’t give up, get to the 100% point!  The feeling of precise organization and beauty can then be celebrated for at least one day!

I’m so excited to share the updated studio with you at a Saturday Pop Up on June 28th from 12-5 pm.  We will have items at every price point, but the intention is for you to be able to find pieces that you have never seen before, and add personality and style to your home in an easy-going and surprising way.

Marlee and Greg before the wedding!  Congratulations!

This week also has some incredible milestones that I would like to share.  First off, Marlee Vlassis (Interior Designer extraordinaire on our team), is getting married on Saturday!  This is the wedding of the year in my book, due to Marlee’s incredible planning.  She has shared so many beautiful details and included us in her journey, and I cannot wait to party with the team and celebrate her joy.

Speaking of joy, Melody Richardson (Interior Designer and Business Development leader of exceptional energy and light) got engaged this week!  I have worked with Melody for over 15 years, and I could not be happier for her.  She is also in the process of a complete remodel of her new home with her fiancé, so she will give us tips along the way.  Good luck, Melody!

And finally, Ed and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary this week.  Without Ed’s support, I would never have been able to start Balance Design 23 years ago.  He is an incredible human, and I am very, very lucky.  Now that he has retired from his corporate job, he is also helping more with BD, and adding financial yin to my creative yang.  Here’s to another 30 years together!

I do hope that you will come to our Pop Up on June 28th in our studio.  (1653 McLendon Ave) Let’s celebrate summer and style together!  And if you are out of town, drop me a line to let me know your summer plans, trips, weddings, and projects.  I love hearing from you-  stephanie@balancedesignatlanta.com.

Until next week,

Stephanie