My Secret Garden by: Stephanie Andrews Hello Friends, It has been a while since I last wrote. The past few weeks have been challenging for me. I sadly experienced the unexpected passing of a young friend. While I didn’t want to begin my note with somber news, it prompted some thoughts about the difficult times […]

By Melody Richardson In 2021, I traveled to Arizona for the first time—and loved every minute of it. Despite a near-disastrous attempt to return last summer (ask me later why I’ll never fly a particular airline again), I finally made it back this April. The trip was everything I hoped for: hiking, hidden gems, and […]

What is Balance Anyway? by Stephanie Andrews A picture from 2017 when we opened our brick-and-mortar space in Candler Park. In 2002, I hung my shingle and called it Balance Design.  I named my company Balance Design because I was searching for ” balance”.  I just had a baby, and was working 50-60 hours a […]

Hi friends, It’s interesting how different the seasons can be in various places. Here in Atlanta, spring feels quite brief before we move into a much longer summer. It reminds me of when I lived up north and we experienced long winters followed by short yet glorious springs and summers. This beautiful climbing rose in […]

Hello friends, I’m back in Atlanta after two fantastic weeks in France. The jet lag has me up at 4 a.m., but c’est la vie! A medieval sundial at an abbey in the Latin Quarter in Paris.  As I am up at 4 am with jet lag, I am reminded of our relationship with time […]

Then and Now-28 Years Ago in France.   Photography by Ed Andrews Bonjour!  We have been in France for over a week!  We have seen Paris, the Chateau region with some dear friends, and now we are sharing an Airbnb in Provence with my mom and her husband, Charlie.  The words in the title (LIBERTÉ, […]

A Tail of a Mischevious Mutt. Hello friends from Paris, My view of the Eiffel Tower at dusk.  This may be my favorite city in the world. It has been a tough week, but I am now in my happy place-Paris.  This weekend, we said goodbye to our sweet dog, Maggie, after 14 years together. […]

SURPRISE!  Creating the Unexpected in Design. By: Stephanie Andrews Happy Friday! Do you like surprises?  Surprise Parties?  (That’s a NO for me.)  Surprise Guests?  (Again, not usually.) Surprise Foods?  (Sometimes…). Surprise in Design?  (What is that?) Synonyms for surprise: Awe, Amazement, Wonder, Magic. (There were also negative associations that had to do with warfare like […]

Packing for Paris by: Stephanie Andrews Bonjour Mes Amies, I hope that you have had a good week!  Today, I’d like to continue to explore the intersection of design and travel with thoughts on travel wardrobes.  Over the years, I have shared my desire to build my capsule wardrobe.  Frankly,  I do not usually take […]