Nothing like a Deadline! by: Stephanie Andrews Nothing like a deadline to kick my butt into gear!  Nine designers were coming over to my house for dinner.  We are a group called the Design Guild.  10 women entrepreneurs who get together once a month to share best practices, issues, frustrations, and inspiration.  Now, it […]

    Stealing Beauty by: Stephanie Andrews A beautiful Japanese garden in Kyoto. “Looking at beauty in the world is the first step in purifying the mind.” – Amit Ray What is beauty anyway?  Is it even important?  Is it a shallow concept?  If it is different for everyone, does real beauty even exist?   […]

A Study in Style 50 Ways to Claim Your Personal Style by:  Stephanie Andrews Happy Friday! This Saturday, June 28th, from 12 to 5 p.m., we’re hosting our first Vintage Pop-Up Sale at our studio. I’m co-hosting with my friend Rebecca from House 10 Design, who has curated a collection of fascinating treasures from Atlanta […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Bonjour mes amies, At the beginning of Spring, are you daydreaming of your next wanderlust vacation to places that make your heart sing?  I do.  As the weather gets warmer and then cold, in the Ides of March, I fantasize about my next big trip.  I would love to share some of these fantasies with […]

Hello there! Today, I was thinking about the word “tend” vs. the word “maintain”.  Although the difference may seem subtle, these words ignite a distinct feeling in me.  I looked up these words’ definitions to see if they are different. Tend: (verb) to pay attention to, to serve, to watch over. Maintain: (verb) to keep […]