SEDY Awards and other Life Goals.

Hello friend,

I am writing to you from a motel in Sedona, Arizona! We are taking my dad and his wife on a bucket list trip to the Grand Canyon. This is a first for me as well, and truthfully, I never understood the allure until I got here. Giant Saguaro cacti on the way here from Phoenix in the Sonoran Desert were everywhere. I had to look them up, and I learned that they can reach heights of 40-60 feet and weigh several tons! We have not gotten to the Grand Canyon yet, but this journey to get there is stunning. The sky is also different here, with strange clouds that don’t seem to hold rain but cover the sky in a way that feels close, like kids eating cotton candy and throwing it up in the air.

The view driving from Phoenix to Sedona.

I am looking forward to sharing more pics with you, as we take the steam train from Williams to the South Rim of the Canyon. It is a different kind of adventure from the one Ed and I would take, but sharing it with my dad, who is in a wheelchair, is a treasure.

I am in a bit of awe (perhaps from the scenery, perhaps from writing to you) that over the past few weeks, a couple of life goals have come to fruition. First, we have been talking about the Grand Canyon for years; however, with so many world travel goals, I never made it a priority. It truly surprised me how fascinated and delighted I am by the scenery here in our own country. Perhaps it is my cynicism regarding the state of our government, but I have felt the need to leave the country, not explore it. I was wrong, and that feels slightly better.

Ed, Dad and me

Secondly, at Balance Design, we had the honor of being a finalist for the SEDY awards. The Southeastern Designer of the Year awards are sponsored by Veranda magazine and ADAC (Atlanta Decorative Arts Center). It’s kind of like our local design Oscars. There were 127 entries and 7 finalists, and although we did not win, we were treated like design royalty and had a blast! We submitted one of my favorite projects in Druid Hills, and I was so thrilled to be recognized. You have probably seen this home before in previous posts, but to me, it captures the essence of the magic that happens when a client and a designer partner to create something better than either could on their own. In this home, nothing felt “new”; everything felt like it had been there for years.

The design solved problems like: where to quietly read a book from a vast library, where to relax with a puzzle, where the grandchildren will sleep and eat when they come over, how to flow and entertain when they have hundreds of people over for a fundraiser, how to host more intimate gatherings like a son’s engagement, and all of the moments in their lives that their home supports with funtional elegance and style. A tall list, for sure, but that is what made the project and the relationship so special.

This project also made me appreciate the power of excellent photography. The way photographer Mali Azima captured the light showed the textures and color of the dining room sheers, the silk chandelier, and the grasscloth ceiling, all while maintaining the playfulness of the vintage Turkish rug. She is a gifted artist who also deserves the award. (I think that she may have taken the photos of 2 other finalists as well!)

Here are the 6 other finalists:

Residential Design Finalists

o Moe Draz of Architrave Interior Design | Charleston, SC

o Kim Mauney of Kim Mauney Interiors | Charlotte, NC

o Laura W. Jenkins Interiors | Atlanta, GA

o Melanie Turner Interiors | Atlanta, GA. (THE WINNER OF THE AWARD!)

o Teri Thomas of Teri Thomas Interiors | Charlotte, NC

o Yancey Seibert Shearouse of Yancey Seibert Interior Design | Augusta, GA

Marilyn, Andrea, Jennifer, me, Marlee and Melody at the Gala.

When exploring their websites, I realized what an honor this was. Each designer has their distinct style, and just like each client is different, so is each designer. With our motto: Real Design. Real Life. I believe we stand out as REAL (for me, that means accessible, diverse, colorful, and sustainable). We are a team that supports each other and makes each other better. (Of course, I am biased!)

2 life goals in 2 weeks that only took 58 years to get there…funny how that works!

Thank you for reading,

Stephanie