This image makes me feel like I am in another world {cause with my two little girls, there is no beauty like this in our bedroom!  If this were in our home, I can “guar-ron-tee” that coverlet would be drawn on with bright crayons by Noella. Yep, I could make a fortune on that bet}. So, for now, I am going to enjoy the dream!

What makes you smile lately when you think about your home?

If you need assistance, please feel free to send me an email, I’d be happy to be of assistance.

image via (©IPC+Syndication)

Hi, my name is Jelani Linder and I am a Landscape Architect. My company is J. Linder Design and Consultants and I work side by side with my brother to create beautiful outdoor landscapes for commercial and residential environments.

This week, my team will be installing a very unique garden at a movie set creative event and I am going to share the “behind the scenes” with you today. You see, I remember receiving an email from a friend that AVI/Marvin Windows was involved with this huge event related to the Movie Industry. My friend let me know they were sponsoring a big space and were in need of a landscape designer to help with their team and Interior Designer, Margaret Norcott, make the project come to life. Upon hearing this news, I emailed Heather at AVI/Marvin, and we set up our first meeting.

Whilst being enlightened about the event, I asked Heather how I could assist in pulling the project together for her and Margaret.  I was given a few rough sketches Margaret did, as well as, the dimensions of the space and that I was to create a Savannah Style Garden. The Savannah Style is because their space (or Set as we refer to it at this event) is based upon the movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”. At the top of this post you see the original perspective we had drawn, by Marc Hampton, of our Midnight In The Garden Set – Details have been added but this gives you a good idea of how our space (set) is going to look and feel.

{Image: Amazon.com}

I will be quite honest and say that at this point I had not seen the movie nor had I ever been to Savannah, so immediately I knew some homework was in my near future. So, despite the learning curve, I immediately asked Heather and Margaret wanted people to interact with the space. Heather stated that she and Margaret wanted to have a few VIP sections for people to enjoy cocktails and music. Based on Margaret’s sketches, the space appeared to lean toward a more formal layout with everything symmetrical on a central axis.  I took this formal idea and created four symmetrical spaces that crossed at a central axial point.

{TNCE Plan Drawn by J. Lnder Design & Consultants)

Margaret informed me that they wanted the plants to help {soften} the feel of this formal layout and also wanted to see palms and other indigenous plants of that region.  So, after this meeting, I researched Savannah and watched “Midnight in The Garden of Good and Evil”.  By the next meeting I had taken the formal garden and added an Alle’s of trees at all three entrances. 

These trees would be draped with Spanish Moss to further create the imagery of Savannah.  The trees would be used to frame the view of the center axis as well as create the ambience of Savannah.  Above, is my inspiration for this idea for our set.  I supported the entire space with Magnolia’s, Azaleas and Ferns to further create a southern garden. We also added small accent Palms to bring out the coastal feel of Savannah.  The trees would be used to frame the view of the center axis as well as create the ambience of Savannah.  Below is my inspiration for this idea for our set.  I supported the entire space with Magnolia’s, Azaleas and Ferns to further create a southern garden. We also added small accent Palms to bring out the coastal feel of Savannah.

In the cross section/center of the plan we placed cobble style pavers and the themed “Bird Girl” statue to create a courtyard environment.   Our “Bird Girl” statue is being made by Mitch Mitton who does unbelievable sculptural foam pieces.  He is also making the much talked about “KING KONG” for the Sherwin Williams space (you will have to see it to believe it…it’s foam!).

{Image of Mitch Mitton creating Bird Girl….finished image to be unveiled at event}

We will also be using beautiful stone urns filled with draping ferns throughout the set to bring you back to the Savannah veranda feel. We have many of our beautiful landscape elements being loaned to Margaret via Historic Roswell Antiques Market (thank you Lauren).

 Our set is one of three that will have performers singing, acting or dancing on stage throughout the weekends events.  So, I will use two of these beautiful Faux Bois Planters (see below & thank you Mark Sunderland Antiques) and place in front of the stage so to envelope every inch of our set with southern style.

So, we hope you will come out and see our set and all the other wonderful spaces that will be exhibited at The Next Cool Event this coming Friday, Saturday day and Saturday night. So many varied artist (like our team) have spent months preparing for next weekend and it is sure to not disapoint!

*Should you need Landscape Design services for your home or commercial needs, please give Jelani a call. He is wonderful to work with!

 Jelani Linder, GCLP , J. Linder Design and Consultants, 404.207.8142, www.jlinderdesignandconsultant.com

I recently was reading a Designer friends Face Book post (thanks Corey M.) and saw his comment about an artist that he loves now.  Out of pure curiosity, I clicked on the link and all I can say was, “WOW!” Hi work was fun, colorful, unique, and recycled found items.  So, I am sharing some of his work here with you today.  I hope you find it interesting and that it opens your mind up to what art can be and where it can come from.

{apart – matchbooks -24″ x 24″ 2008}

His name is David Poppie. He holds a BA and an MFA from universities in Wisconsin.  Since around 1994, David has been involved in producing art pieces for sale and has been seen in numerous galleries, exhibitions (single and group), has been written about numerous times (like now) and works shared via television programming.  His work is diverse but seems to have a unique common thread.

{silent spot – matchbooks - 24″ x 24″ -}

David states on his web site, “My recent work involves the reclaiming of disposable objects in mass to create two and three dimensional works. Pieces can involve tea bags, matchbook strikes, plastic cutlery, etc. These items are generally disregarded and ignored by the everyday person……I also reassign their value by re-contextualizing them by creating a piece of art from them.”

{dialogue (turmoil) – matchbooks - 32″ x 32″ 2008}

{biff bang pow II -24″ x 27″ -colored pencils 2009}

{Explosions V – 18″ x 18″ – Colored Pencils 2009}

David’s work can currently be seen at Pavel Zoubeok Gallery and others.  I hope you have enjoyed learning about a new artist today and how his work comes to be.  Check back often for more wonderful artist I find out about during my journey as a designer.

         

Looking for a professional Interior Designer on your next Residential or Commercial project, please give Milieu Design Group a call. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you.

Every home needs a great place to escape and relax, and that doesn’t mean scrimping on style. With a few select pieces of furniture, a soothing color palette, and a great lighting fixture, any space can become a idyllic oasis. Here are eight fabulous rooms for relaxing.

~Rainbow vibes~

A library is a wonderful addition to a home and is the perfect place to curl up with a good read. Here, this space uses the various books to create a one-of-a-kind colour scheme.

~Floral elegance~

A simple sitting room with a comfortable yet charming mint green couch and a pair of white ottomans looks great flanked by these framed floral prints.

~Outdoor escape~

Exterior spaces can be outfitted like interior ones for an outdoor room for relaxing. Cushioned furniture and ceiling lights give it a decidedly living room-ish feel.

~An eclectic motif~

A bedroom with gorgeous papered walls is serene with solid-coloured accents and an ornate crystal chandelier.

~Modern sophistication~

This home office/library offers a comfy tufted chair, shelves with books that can also double as storage, along with a variety of lighting fixtures.

~Crafty chic~

A sewing and craft space is a room for relaxing, particularly when decked out with a myriad of “zones,” like organizational areas, worktops, and a kick-your-feet-up chaise lounge.

~Beachy bedroom decor~

This bedroom is especially fun because it offers a wide range of “extracurricular activities,” from the perched guitar to the ski on the wall. The space has a beachy feel too with the hanging lantern and exposed white slat ceiling.

~Modest and modish~

A smaller porch is no less welcoming and is the perfect room for relaxing with indoor accessories like a throw rug, pillows, and an ottoman.

Images 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

I hope you have enjoyed Jen’s {first} Blog post today as a Guest Sponsor Blogger. Arcadian Lighting will now be a monthly Featured Sponsor Contributor to Milieu Design Blog. So, please come back and check out their post! Arcadian Lighting has also graciously offered to host a Fantastic Giveaway (as soon as Milieu Design Blog reaches 50 followers).  We hope you will follow our Blog and tell your friends and co-workers to follow us too! You don’t want to miss their great giveaway!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

~Happy Holidays

{Kate Spade – Curling Ribbon Ring $78}

{Etsy Shop- Little White Mouse-Hand Stippled Nautilus Shell Card $4}

{ShopTen25-British Ello Ello Pillow $75}

{Dabney Lee At Home-Custom Ice Bucket with Insert & Monogram Options $60}

{ShopTen25-Leather Storage Aarhus Box/FireCracker-Two Sizes $85}

{Etsy Shop-Erin Flett-Hand Screened Yellow Pillow With Trees $75}

{Kate Spade – Crystal Corsage Studs $48}

{Custom Address Labels – Design: Mr. Beasley’s Camel- COOL!! $52 for 120}

I’m so proud of our team this year starting with lovely Interior Designer Margaret Norcott, Allied ASID of Milieu Design Group, Inc., Kyle Sturtevant of Distinctive Remodeling, Horacio & Melba Leonard of Higher Ground Events and Jelani Linder of Linder Design & Consultant. We’ve all worked together to create a mysterious, dark, shadowy, eerie, but beautiful southern garden theme.

Our “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” set design is really beginning to take shape and come to life. I’m so excited to finally have a final rendering of our concept (drawn by Marc Hampton). He did a fabulous job sketching out this rendering from only a conversation and a few emails from Margaret and I explaining what we wanted our garden to look like.

Our exhibit will have one of only two stages at the event incorporated into our space with vocal performances on the hour, every hour. Margaret is helping AVI Marvin design our {Entire Event Space}. And, the stage area, we are all wanting to look and feel like the inside of one of the old Antebellum Savannah homes from which this movie was filmed. Of course the entire set will be surrounded and defined by our beautiful Marvin Windows. We also just found out that there will be a Voodoo Bar adjacent to our space playing up the Voodoo aspect from the movie….can’t wait to see that!

I’m hoping for a great turn out similar to last year with over 13,000 attendees throughout the weekend. AVI Marvin will be inviting our VIP customers and contacts in the building and design industry to this “over the top” party so let me know if you are interested in attending and I can tell you how to get tickets to either the Red Carpet Cocktails on Friday night or the VIP Gala on Saturday night which is invitation only! Check out AVI’s latest blog about the 2012 event.

The Next Cool Event
February 17 & 18, 2012
Scott Antique Market, Atlanta Expo Center North Building
3650 Jonesboro Rd. Atlanta, GA 30354
http://www.thenextcoolevent.com/

Concept: An over-the-top celebration of all things fabulous! The Next Cool Event brings together established talent, budding artists and celebrated individuals in the Atlanta area to create three-dimensional set installations that awe, inspire and delight. Inspired by the growing film & television industry in Georgia, this showcase of great design celebrates local talent, suppliers, designers, etc. Each installation evokes a different movie, TV show or commercial as its muse.

We truly hope to see you there! I also hope you will follow Margaret’s Blog here as she is working very hard on growing her readership and securing interesting Design Sponsors (like AVI Marvin) to be Guest Bloggers on her site.

Happy Holidays~ Heather

Saturday September 24th, 2011

6:00am-10am Walter Reeves- The Lawn & Garden Show Live Broadcast 750 WSB-AM and now 95.5FM News/Talk WSB

10:00 Dave Baker - The Home Fix It Show Live Broadcast
750 WSB-AM and now 95.5FM News/Talk WSB

12:15 Stan Garnet, ASHI-IRC - How To Perform a Self Inspection of Your Home & Save Thousands
INeedAnInspector.com ConsultAHomePro.com

1:00 John Gidding - Behind the Scenes Secrets and Tips from Curb Appeal: The Block
HGTV’s Designed to Sell and Curb Appeal: The Block

3:00 John Gidding - Behind the Scenes Secrets and 
HGTV’s - Designed to Sell & Bang for Your Buck

4:00 Margaret Norcott, ASID Milieu Design Group
and Bernie Smith  Masterworks - How to Stay in Budget on Your Remodeling Project

Hope to see you there!

{Source: TAMU Horticulture}

Melissa Knott, Assistant Designer at MDG, and I have been working on selections for the interiors  a new 3,300 sq ft town-home.  The couple relocated from New Jersey to Alpharetta, GA. We’re so lucky as Jo happens to {love} color and this project has been about color at every step of the way {and we luv it}. We love that Jo welcomed our ideas that inspired her unique color schemes she had in mind for each space their new home.

{Master Bedroom Options}

Color is such a personal statement and when used in interiors, it evokes a different emotion in every person who experiences it.

{Living Room Options}

{Dining Room Options}

Don’t you just love the use of all the calming neutrals selected with nice {pops} of Teal layered into the Master Bedroom mix.  In the Living and Dining areas, the {wow} color was orange. She loves orange!  So, to make it work, we have made sure to use a little of each throughout all four levels of the home.

Even in all white spaces, there is typically one “wow” color that draws your eye in, a landing spot if you will.  One of the easiest ways to achieve a memorable space is to mix things up with an “unique” color scheme.  At MDG, we really don’t see clients that often who are wanting all “neutrals” or all {wow} colors utilized in a space. What we see most is clients wanting to play it safe but not feel like they’ve done just that. They want those {pops} of color without too much commitment to them.  Basically color that can be changed easily when they are tired of them.

You can ease yourself into using color by trying our tips here to give your home more color: throw pillows and pillow shams, accent hand towels, place-mats and napkins, matting around art work and art itself, lamps, vases and frames set within bookshelves or even a bold patterned rug.

{Images: Layla Grace}

We are installing some of the first furniture pieces for Jo today and the Baker piece below is one of our favorites.

{Baker’s Barbara Barry “Boxwoods” Console for the Dining Room}

Many more layers will be added to this clients home, so keep checking back to see more images of installs.  We hope you like them!

If you’d like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact us about MDG Interior Design services. You may also give us a call at (404) 257-0559.

If you’d like assistance creating your ideal Residential or Corporate environment, please consider MDG Designs Services.