Faux Bois Floor

I truly love when a room has some aspect that is clearly well thought out and unique but not too serious. These faux bois floors in William Diamond's Hampton House have that tongue-in-cheek feel. Love them, I am sure they are even more amazing in person.

From Coastal Living July/August 2010

Back To The Real World

Whew, I am back! I hope y'all had as wonderful of a Thanksgiving as we did. I have to hit the ground running today so I will quickly share some random pics from my camera...First a picture taken when we were trying to get a Christmas card photo. Not really sure what we are going to use yet...Patrick and I have matching boots, completely unintentional, but we did get a lot of comments while in Nashville. This picture makes me laugh...
Usually we stick to white lights inside and out, but for the past few years I have been wanting to use the old, big, color lights. As soon as these came on I was transported back 20 years. LOVE LOVE LOVE...
Our street puts up trees in each yard with white lights so when you go outside all you can see are white trees up and down the street. It is magical and one of my favorite things about my neighborhood. Don't have a picture of it but here is the beginning of the porch...
And look...any early Christmas gift to myself arrived while I was gone. Oh yes, I have subscribed and I am excited.
Last but not least I slowly caught up on some magazine reading while away and I am obsessed with this room in the September Veranda by Michael S. Smith. Sorry, I am too lazy right now to scan this in...
Back to the real world we go, I hope you have a fabulous week!

To You...

I am signing off for the rest of the week for a little (or a lot) of this...
But I wanted to tell you before I go that I appreciate y'all more than I could ever express. Thank you for taking time out of your day to read H&H! If you are a client reading this, an extra special thank you to you. I am so thankful for all of you reading this....
Speaking of being thankful, I thought this sign was appropriate for Thanksgiving....
So, I hope you have a wonderful, safe and fun Thanksgiving, I will see you next Monday!!!
Images: Here, Etsy, Sugarboo Designs, Traditional Home

PS- Thank you for all the card company recommendations, when I get back I will share some of the great companies people sent my way!

Christmas Card Help Needed!

It is that time of year again to make a decision on what cards I will be sending from Marianne Strong Interiors. I would love any company suggestions you might have! I have seen Minted all over the place and I must say for now they are my front runner....On a side note I am loving this one too from Night Owl Paper Goods (a fabulous local company for those of you in B'ham)...
Okay so let me know if you have any other suggestions! There are so many cute printing and stationary companies out there, I would love to hear about them!

Quiet Time- Simple Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Prayer

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

This & That

First I want to send a huge congratulations to my friend Lauren from Pure Style Home for a great spread in Better Homes & Gardens! Be sure to pick one up.
I have had numerous e-mails on this fabric seen on these chairs. It is Cowtan & Tout's Angelica.
Finally, I hope your weekend is as happy as this picture from Look Linger Love....
Have a great weekend!

Personal Style

I love when I come across a home with such character I can instantly tell the owner has great personal style and individuality. Thea Beasley's home does just that.
House from Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles, photographer Mali Azima

Hop On Over

Hello there,

Today I am guest blogging for the wonderful Emily while she is away getting married! You can find me here...Congrats Emily!!!!

xx,

Marianne

A Client's New/Old House.... For Sale

Remember this nursery from one of my favorite clients?A few months ago they moved out of that house into another fabulous house (on Cherry Street in Crestline for the B'ham residents reading this). While bright and cheerful, it wasn't their taste...some before pics....
So we started laying the ground work for their new abode....But you never know what lies just around the corner. Their journey is now taking them to Montgomery. With a heavy heart I will have to say goodbye. However, one lucky family will get to pick up where they left off...
Freshly stained floors, new appliances, updated counter tops, paint, light fixtures, tiles, etc. have breathed new life into this house...
Truly a great family house, every room offers something different. We had only just started this renovation and now they leave a great canvas for the next owners. For example, the draw of this room to many might be the great built-ins but I am fond of the double fans (a labor of love).
Ahhh, another room I love, the guest bath. Do you see the column on the wall of tile? This bathroom has so much potential...
Okay this room does not have much to do with the sale of the house but I had to show you the sofa. Yes, that is my long time love...right there. Oh, the places you'll go...
Well clearly this post on a fabulous house for sale has turned sentimental for me. What can I say? It is a great house, in a great neighborhood. The precious baby from the original nursery has now grown into a little man right before my eyes. When did that happen? In the new house we had started working on his room. What a room it was going to be, beginning with this...
A wall to wall map, so cool. It pains me that this room will never come to fruition. Just to give you a little peek though....the twin beds were a variation of this headboard....

And the bedding was based off this print from Ikea, so much better in person, trust me....Hopefully this will be another lucky child's room...
If you are house hunting in Birmingham definitely give this house a look. For more information please e-mail me. Additional information listed HERE. Thank you to this family for being such wonderful friends and clients, I can't wait to see where life takes you!

xx,

Marianne

My Living Room Now

Okay, so all the changes I wanted to happen did not. However, we have made some progress so for now I think I am going to call it a day. Here is where the living room and dining room will stay for a while...
The addition of a library table from my Mother-In-Law was most welcome! It is a little tight but I could not pass up this table. It feed my Husband meals for years and years growing up and you know by now how sentimental I am...
Another new edition are these shelves behind the door. Nothing fancy but they will do for now. We had a bookcase back there but it was just too bulky. These offer function while neatly tucking away.
I had to include this since my assistant refused to get out of the picture.
Another random picture but I love having fresh flowers around.
Looking back towards the door. The fabric came off the coffee table. Not because I didn't like it but because I knew I would never get around to adding the much needed nail trim so we reverted to the original.
The other way.
oh and we added blinds here....
So all in all not much changed but to us it has been a nice breath of fresh air. Who knows what next month will bring!