PRESS: AJC INTERVIEWS ERIKA WARD ON DESIGNING ROOMS FOR CHILDREN

I'm sending a huge thank you to Atlanta Journal-Constitution for printing my work and interview in the AJC Homefinder cover story, "Rooms to Grow for Kids: Designing Bedrooms and Playrooms with Kids in Mind."

Ironically, this summer I've been doing a lot of designing and writing about children's spaces so this feature was very timely. If you are in the process of decorating a child's room, check out a few of my articles for inspiration and direction! And if you are in the Metro Atlanta Area, contact me for a consultation. I'm looking forward to working with you!

"Working Solutions for Shared Kids' Spaces"
 

contemporary bedroom design by san francisco interior designer Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs

"Kids' Rooms: I'm A Big Boy Now"

 

modern kids design by san francisco interior designer Jute Interior Design

"Design Ideas for a Teen Boy's Room" 

contemporary bedroom design by  interior designer Tobi Fairley

"Designing Through the Eyes of a Child"

 

"Sophisticated Kids' Spaces"

 

contemporary bathroom design by austin architect Dick Clark Architecture

And if your kids have stuff all over this house, this one should help:

"Help! I'm a Minimalist, My Child is a Maximalist"
 

contemporary kids design by san francisco architect Cary Bernstein Architect

I'm also extending a congratulations to fellow designers and bloggers Lakeitha Duncan of Swoon Worthy Interiors, Jennifer Reynolds of Jennifer Reynolds Interiors, and Karen Soorikian of Soorikian Architecture who were also featured!

 

SMITTEN BY: STACKED FIREWOOD

I apologize in advance for ruining your last days of summer with a mention of stacked firewood, but I just can't help myself. At this very moment, the look on your face is probably the same look the Home Depot associate gave me when I asked for 12 bundles of firewood in the midst of 90 degree heat. Luckily they had a pallet stored in a shed and sold them to me for $1.00 per bundle! Nice!

I used the wood to fill my clients' unused fireplace as a part of an ongoing design project. Hopefully, I'll soon have more photos to share with you. Here's a progress shot below. She has two little ones that couldn't wait to cover themselves in the soot left by the previous homeowners [see inset] so I had to act fast. I absolutely love the results.

via Erika Ward Interiors

Unfortunately, I have a gas fireplace that doesn't require real wood so I won't be able to do something like this in my own home. The stacked wood has such a sculptural quality and the price can't be beat.

via House to Home

via Darryl Carter / Elle Decor

If you actually plan to use your fireplace for a purpose other than storing wood, the option below would be a better fit.

via houzz.com

via Kay Douglass / House Beautiful

via Joanna Goddard

8 REASONS TO DECORATE WITH FAMILY PHOTOS

my grandfather

When I think of family treasure, I rarely think of items of monetary worth. Material things fluctuate in value, but nothing is more priceless than old family photos. I recently wrote an article for houzz on the 8 Therapeutic Benefits of a Family Photo Gallery.

source

Here are 8 compelling reasons to decorate with family photos:

Family Photos—

1. Tell the story of a place and time
2. Boost your antique collection
3. Provide a source of inexpensive art
4. Provide a sense of representation
5. Comfort you
6. Help your children remember their ancestors
7. Make a statement about what's important to you
8. Remind you of a proud heritage

It wasn't until my grandparents passed away that I inherited a few of these family jewels. A few months ago my uncle sent me these photos via email. I don't think he really knew how much these meant to me. To receive them was like Christmas in July.

Below is my maternal grandmother pictured with her in-laws, my great-grandparents. I don't remember my great-grandfather at all. He passed away when I was still a toddler but for years I enjoyed a rocking chair he made for me.

Here's my maternal grandfather, a handsome gentleman. If I had to guess, this photo is of his high school graduating class. I used Photoshop to create the corner photo inset to distinguish him from the rest of the group. In the actual photo, he's the man in the middle on the top row.

Again, you will see my grandfather in the inset. The only information missing from the photo below is the year it was taken. I posted this one on Facebook and another cousin noted that his father [my grandmother's brother] is in the photo, too.

I've yet to decide how I want to decorate using these photos. There are many more creative ways to display them outside of conventional framing.

For example, Brian Patrick Flynn made a larger-than-life statement using a family photo in his former loft.

via Brian Patrick Flynn for Decor Demon , See a tour of his former home here.

In his current home, Brian continues the tradition of honoring his family with this vinyl photo backsplash.

via Brian Patrick Flynn for HGTV

He also provides step-by-step instructions on how create your own photo backsplash here in this video for HGTV.

How will you display your family's photos? A photo collage? A kitchen backsplash? Please share your ideas below

DESIGN IDEAS FOR FOOTBALL WIVES

Tonight marks the first football game of the season for Georgia State University. My husband, the defensive line coach, guarantees a game opener of the season. I, of course, will be there to witness the gridiron action with the rest of the rowdy bunch.

Here's my winning coach with a winning smile at last season's opener. Isn't he handsome? I love my coach...

ok, back to design...

With a new season comes new sports paraphernalia. As a coach's wife, I'm convinced that I receive more than my fair share. From jerseys to trophies and plaques there is hardly any room to display it all without someone mistaking our home for a sports hall of fame.

Resisting the temptation to store everything in a cardboard box, I've had to find creative ways to show my support. I wrote an article for houzz featuring solutions to this decorating dilemma and provided some great ways to support the home team.

Here are a few examples:

source

Tiny tokens of appreciation are the easiest to blend into your decor. This silver helmet is a lovely accent among a pair of floating shelves. Need a change? Use this statuette as a paperweight or a bookend.

source

No matter the sport, little helmets add big style. Integrate your child's sporting equipment into his room's decor and maybe less of it will end up on the floor. You know the saying, "If you can't beat them, join them."

Like these tips? There's more! Head over to houzz to read my article "Design Ideas for Football Season."

How do you display your sports memorabilia?

HOW TO ADD CONTRAST TO A BUILT-IN BOOKCASE

"It looks great to me." was my husband's response when I told him I was headed back to my client's house to make a few more updates. I, on the other hand, was not convinced. Sure the transformation that took place in their family room was nothing short of amazing. We went from this:

to this...

But I couldn't resist adding a bit of texture to the back of the bookcases and I knew a little seagrass wallpaper would make all the difference. I purchased 1/8" hardboard from Lowes [had it cut to size at the store], adhered the wallpaper to the board with spray adhesive, then propped them up in the bookcase using the shelves to hold the boards in place.

Done!

We also installed a custom roman shade above the sink that coordinates perfectly with the drapery panels. I purchased the runner from World Market and love how it picks up the colors from the neighboring family room. See how the runner introduces a flirty fuchsia to soften up the other wise masculine look. The man of the house isn't too fond of it so I'll be shopping for other options! I had an opportunity to enjoyed it for about 20 minutes...

How have you used grasscloth wallpaper in your home?

Is you home begging for attention? Contact me (404) 507-6110 to get your interior spaces on the road to a beautiful transformation!