VIDEO: SHARE YOUR PLANS FOR THANKSGIVING!

Before you click on this video, be warned that:

1. I am not wearing makeup.

2. I recorded this video on the fly because I've been accused over overthinking and being too critical of myself on camera.

3. My head is chopped off for the entire video, but you can still hear my words. :)

You all are such loving people I'm sure you won't care about any of the above. Without further delay, please press play...and leave a comment. For real, I want to know what you have planned for turkey day!
xo,
Erika

ROOM SERVICE ATLANTA: A VIDEO & SNEEK PEEK!

Room Service Atlanta and some exceptional volunteers have been working hard over the last couple of days at Nicholas House installing new interiors for deserving residents. Beautiful rooms are emerging from our Participating Designers and their talents are really shining through!

My plan was to pull together a moodboard to share my design direction, but shucks here's an actual photo. I dressed a bed in my guest room with the items I'm using for the space. Here's a preview of the father's bed:

He has two daughters who share bunk beds, but you will have to wait to see that in another post :-). I'm also creating a sitting room and have a bathroom to finish, too. *Whew* As Sherry would say, "I've been working so hard my sweat is sweating!"

I did manage to capture some video footage of a few design stars hard at work...and of course their sense of humor! Enjoy!

VIDEO: PURE DESIGN

From delectable bites to inspiring retro design, Pure Taqueria brings more to the table than fabulous fare.

Photography by Katlyne Hill

Located in the Inman Park community of Atlanta, Pure Taqueria has quickly become one of my favorite hotspots for some of the freshest authentic Mexican dishes. Every since Dayka turned me on to this place about 2 weeks ago, I've been back three times! In addition to falling in love with the food, I was completely smitted by the decor.

 

Meredith Fords of the Atlanta Journal Constitution described it best when she said, "Eating here feels like a day at a Mexican beach." The restaurant has whitewashed planked walls as well as accent walls of watery mosaic tiles like sea glass found on the shore. The ceilings and duct work are exposed but are painted a beautiful seafoam green. 

Vintage signs, furnishings, fabrics, and retro appliances make this place feel welcoming and familiar. Upon entry, one of the first things you see are the employees' lockers painted in a sunny yellow. As you continue further into the restaurant with its retro fabrics, tables, chairs, and barstools, you will see it has an undeniable schoolhouse charm.

Here are a few examples of homes that incorporate a bit of the retro vibe:

houzz.com

 Bosworth Hoedemaker

David Churchill

Fiorella Design

VIDEO: ARE YOU INTIMIDATED BY DIY PROJECTS?

VIDEO: HAVE WE LOST OUR CREATIVITY?

VIDEO: HIS NEEDS, HER NEEDS

Decorating ideas for masculine and feminine spaces.

While men and women are complex individuals, there is no reason why decorating for them should be a daunting task. It's true that designing for the sexes is an art form in and of itself, but help is here! In this video you will learn how to define masculine/feminine spaces using color, decor, and lighting.



Be sure to return tomorrow for a tour of a modern bachelor's loft in the heart of Dallas' social scene.

ERIKA WARD GOES LIVE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Jamie Drake's Fifth Avenue Apartment

I've been disappointed recently with the selection of TV programming on HGTV and Fine Living Network, so I've turned to the internet to satisfy my design show "fix."  Here is a WONDERFUL video of a space (by Jamie Drake) we've seen circling around various blogs.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.  I decided to write this post so I can always go back to watch it whenever I want!  Now you can too!



Was this house tour awesome or what!?