Christmas Present

I'm so sorry if I'm totally driving you crazy with our Better Homes & Gardens article but I've been meaning to share the article on here for readers who weren't able to get a copy.  (And, it really was the hi-light of our year; I'm not gonna lie.)  If you click on the pics (photos by Helen Norman), you should be able to see them larger. 


{Stockings by Handmade Pretties on etsy...  I loved the title of the article because "Christmas present" applies to living in the present moment which we really try to do and also to our baby Justin who was born on December 22nd just 3 days before Christmas... Go Joanna! }



{I'm always walking into the house carrying beautiful flowers with my cutie sitting there waiting on the stairs for me;) ;)  .. hee hee I wish.  I've gotten lots of emails/ calls about my bag & boots.  The bag is by UGG and the boots I'm wearing are MUDD... both from a few years ago.}




{You might notice they brought in a new coffee table by Wisteria to replace our lucite one & my cow hide rug wasn't in the shot.  We filled one of my glass lamps with glass ornaments. } 

Here's a photo to compare: 

{A year later at our house means changes...  Obviously I've rearranged the floorplan since then.  (This happens a lot.)  I've also replaced the Arteriors glass table lamp with the Arteriors glass floor lamp.  (It actually took over 4 months to get to me and was once of the first things I ordered for our living room but wasn't here in time for the shoot.)  I've also moved our cow hide into our bedroom and reaplaced it with an antiqued wool rug.}


{I love how beautifully these gifts were wrapped and I love that they were able to use so many of our own things in the shoot.}



{Isn't it funny to read your own quotes???   hahaha  I think I meant that nothing's really set in stone around here, that we're picking thigns up and adding traditions as we go each year.  I took the photo of Dave & Christian making the showman last January during one of the snowstorms before the photo shoot in February.  }


{looooooove this pic...  On the shelves, they brought in some copper to add to my white ware which was so pretty & warm.  Of course now I want some.  We borrowed the ironstone platters & cakestand from my friend Donna at On a Whim Antiques in Lucketts, VA for the shoot. The rest of the pieces are mine and I found the ceiling medallion I propped up on the shelves for only $1 at Goodwill five or so years ago.}



{and they were able to sneak an extra little page in at the end which I love...  Christian had such a blast opening the bulldozer toy over & over.  what a champ.  The food was beautiful and we used a milk glass urn turned upside down with a plate above & below for a makeshift cakestand.}

And here's a close-up of the beautiful table Jessica Thomas did:

She used my silverware & china over my Pottery Barn plates and little polar bear Christmas ornaments for name tags.  - my handwriting on them- yay! ha    The vintage fabric draped over the parsons chairs really added something.  I found it at Goodwill years ago as a set of curtains and it's gotten a lot of use.  I even made a blanket out of some of it for Justin's room. 

And, I was also picked as the blogger of the month which was such a nice surprise:



The funniest thing is that I was at an antique store this Fall & almost bought that exact little squirrel nutcracker (old, not new of course)  for Christian.  He was $32 and I didn't buy him- what is wrong with me?- and had regretted it since.  When I saw it on the page I wanted to kick myself! :)


Thank you so much again to the team at Better Homes & Gardens: editor & writer Joanna Linberg, stylist/producer Jessica Thomas, and photographer Helen Norman  & her assistant F.J. Hughes. and all of the in-house people like Shelley Caldwell who put the story together and to field scout Bonnie Broten...  You guys are truly the BEST.  Thank you, thank you. 


xoxo, Lauren

ps- I'm really trying to take a break & stay off of the computer this week so you won't see much of me until Monday!! :)

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

*The caged lantern in our entryway is by Minka Lavery...  I have gotten tons of phonecalls & emails about it and I think may have been discontinued.  The wallpaper in our breakfast nook is also discontinued.  Our front door is "maple leaf" by Behr and our kitchen cabinets are "witch hazel" by Behr.  I used the book Leonardo's Notebooks for the sketches in the entry.

67 comments:

Anonymous said...

I got my first issue of BHG this week and LOVED seeing your home! That green couch is my favorite :)

Melissa Marie Head said...

Loved seeing your home in the magazine. All the details are so perfect.

L.Duncan@Home23DuncanBoys said...

The feature was absolutely lovely, Lauren! The colors were perfect. I kept telling myself to get a copy and I missed out... Thanks for sharing the details

HAve a Happy New Year!

Unknown said...

I saw it in the magazine (was so excited for that to come out!) and have followed the process but really enjoyed going over it again page by page with you ;.) Your house looked just beautiful and is one of my favorite 'Christmas' houses this year. I hope you have a great week 'off'. xo Sherri

Ruthie {Look Learn Love} said...

I don't blame you for this being the hi-light of your year - thanks for sharing!

A Perfect Gray said...

I was delighted to see your home in the magazine and on your blog. You know I am huge fan of your work. My mom was looking at my magazine copy over Christmas and as she came to your house feature, I said, "I know her. She's really nice."

Happy New Year, Lauren.

love, donna

Karen said...

It was really fun hearing the inside scoop on your photo shoot. I always wondered if they brought in things to supplement what the home owner already has.

Enjoy your time off!

Marianne said...

Loved seeing your home in the magazine. Thanks for sharing your 'behind the scenes' of the shoot. I love your perspective!

Kathysue said...

Lauren I am so glad you posted the full article I have the magazine and have not had time to sit and read it, but I am on the computer blogging and I got an extra treat this morning with my coffee. I think your home and your family look amazing in this article. It is beyond wonderful that you were chosen to be in this magazine!!! Well deserved I might add. I can not even imagine!!!Your simple direct design aesthetics just shines through as brillant. Congratulation for such a wonderful experience and for being blogger of the month, amazing!!! Kathysue

Kristy @ I Design Love said...

I just love what you did with your home! So beautiful :)
Kristy

Greet Lefèvre said...

CONGRATULATIONS Lauren! I am so happy for you!! It is the crown on your hard working days!!
I wish you and your beautiful family a wonderful, Happy and Healthy 2011!
A big hug from snowy Belgium
xx
Greet

Debbie said...

I love reading your comments on the pictures! I did buy the issue and the garland around the kitchen door was definitely my favorite. I didn't get a chance to copy it this year, but next year I definitely will!

Julia R. Dominguez Lawrence said...

Congratulations again, loved seeing the pics on line and the magazine!
Happy New Year!
Julia

Julie said...

It is SO fun to see how it is in a magazine vs. on your blog (aka real life). Both are absolutely lovely, and it's so fun to see all the details!

Carol@6WilsonBlog.com said...

Happiest of Holidays to you and your family. Who can get tired of sharing in your joy? If it were me, please, I would go on and on and on!! I hope you get all you're wishing for in 2011. Carol

Tammy@InStitches said...

I'm so glad you shared this because I missed getting a copy. Everything looks wonderful !

Angela said...

I, for one, am not tired of it. I was so excited to get my BHG and told my husband "I know her I know her." Ha! I enjoy the pics comparing what they did with what you do. Don't spend that much on a squirrel nutcracker. My daughter collects nutcrackers but was always disappointed she couldn't really crack a nut with them so I found one on ebay last year (pic on my blog post "Nutcracker Mmantle" for much less. Am guessing they still are, esp. now that the holidays are over. Merry Christmas and congrats on all your "presents."

Danielle Sigwalt Interiors said...

Absolutely gorgeous Lauren...I never tire of seeing your lovely home and am obsessed with your orange door, just the perfect shade of orange!!! Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas! xx Danielle

Unknown said...

Congratulations on such a beautiful magazine spread, Lauren. I'm glad you posted it as I have not had a chance to see it yet! Hoping you had a Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year!

Karena said...

Lauren, I for one adore the article and the amazing array of images from your delightful home!! Congrats!!

Happiest of Holidays & All the Best in the New Year!

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

Mary Ann Pickett said...

I love your vintage fabric on the chairs...giving me lots of good ideas!
Mary Ann

emily said...

It was a beautiful article! I hope you enjoy your holiday with the boys and get a well-deserved break.

AnneHH said...

Thanks for revisiting the article and giving us more of the behind the scenes tidbits......... I love my copy of that issue and definitely will add it to my "save" pile for magazines I refer to again and again for inspiration.
You are right to protect these days for family time and allow yourself to get recharged for all of the excitement that I am sure awaits you in the new year.
xoxo, Anne

Dear Lillie said...

Wow! What a beautiful spread! You must be so excited and proud!

Jill Seidner | Interior Design said...

So glad you featured the spread - I hadn't picked up a copy yet! Such a beautiful feature! Congrats!

Unknown said...

Your NOT driving me crazy at all If it was me I would do the very same thing....You should be proud and I'm sure you are, I love looking at your home over and over again It's BEAUTIFUL, I wish my home could be in a magazine.. You go girl talk about it as much as you want.

Sixty-Fifth Avenue said...

I loved looking at your gorgeous home in the magazine! I've been reading BH&G for years. Did they approach you for the shoot?

LYNDA QUINTERO-DAVIDS said...

Absoletly GORGEOUS and LOVE your style! Congrats to you on this fantastic accomplishment! Now...

♪♪♫♪ ♪♪♫♪ :II ♫ Start spreading ♫ the NEWS ♫♪♪♫♪ ♪♪♫♪ It's going to be a GREAT year in 2011!! ♪♪♫♪ ♪♪♫♪

All the best to you in the upcoming NEW year!

xo Lynda

designchic said...

Well deserved...I am such a fan of your blog - not always commenting but always following - I was thrilled when I received my issue and your fabulous home was included - you must be over the moon!!

Heather Ritchie said...

Lauren, I've been meaning to write this to you and this post is the perfect excuse to do so. I ran out and grabbed the Dec. copy of BHG just because I have been waiting all year to see your story. I know, dorky, but I was excited that another designer that I follow had something so exciting happen to them! The pictures and story are wonderful and I've been showing all my friends. I'm just really happy for you and wanted to say congrats and keep up the good work! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

-heather-

Grace @ Sense and Simplicity said...

Hubby always puts decorating magazines and chocolate in my stocking, which I love and look forward to every year. I was very happy to find out that the Better Homes and Gardens magazine that you are in was one of them. The article is great and I loved seeing the photos.

Full House said...

This really was one of my favorites this year in Better Homes & Gardens and I had already seen snippets of your space before it was published..what I am trying to say is this is a great space that is hard to get sick of.

simply seleta said...

I just love seeing all of this goodness happen to such a lovely, genuinely wonderful and talented person! I snatched up a copy as soon as I could and loved loved loved the article. Can't wait to watch your business (and family!) evolve. You're such a deserving person and designer. Happy New Year, friend!

xo
Seleta

Ness Lockyer said...

Thanks for showing it in full Lauren. I cant seem to get it here and it would be about Feburary before it came anyway. Your house is stunning and it really is a credit to you. You look beautiful too as always.
Merry Christmas.
Ness xx

vignette design said...

Congratulations Lauren! I don't have the magazine yet, but will get it tomorrow for sure. Your house looks so amazing and I love your style. Like I've said before, you remind me so much of my daughter who has children the same age and is making a beautiful home for her family too. Happy New Year! ~Delores

Unknown said...

All I can say is WOW!! Your home is amazing but the pics from the article... Gorgeous!! That is so fun, What a dream and what a huge accomplishment for a twenty something mom! :)
Congrats and way to go!! Love your blog!

Happy 2011!!

PS I don't know if you have ever mentioned where you got your super cool sunburst mirror? It's probably an antique but I am in LOVE with it!!

Karen said...

Lauren,
I didn't get a copy of the BHG so I'm thrilled I'm getting to see your article and the pictures. Thank you for sharing...your home is so wonderful and inspiring.
Karen at Garden, Home and Party

Calypso In The Country said...

I subscribe to Better Homes and Gardens and I can't tell you how many times I have gone back to that issue to look at your house! Just beautiful! Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

it WAS a beautiful piece! I did manage to *try* to copy your card garland. You can sigh a big relief...cause I didn't even come close!

Glad you had a Merry merry!

{darlene} said...

SO glad you posted it!!
What a fantastic shoot.... I bet you got a zillion new ideas from having them in your home.

Valerie Wills Interiors said...

Lauren, what an absolutely beautiful article. Congratulations x

Unknown said...

Stop being silly and apologizing!! This is a fabulous accomplishment lady! More to come I'm sure as your talent is quite endless it seems. Happy New Year!

Velvet and Linen said...

This article really captures the warmth of your home. It's just so gorgeous and happy! Every image made me smile.
I couldn't be happier for you, Lauren. No one deserves this more than you do. I know there are great things in store for you and your family in 2011. I can't wait to share each event with you here at Pure Style!
Wishing you and your family a Healthy, Happy, and Prosperous New Year!!!
love,
Brooke

Kerry Steele- Design du Monde said...

I love the lantern in your entry. Any info on it? I just bought a 5 year old house and every light fixture is brushed nickel with traditional styling--not my fave.
I happen to ADORE and covet your lucite coffee table I hope you kept it. I am trying to talk my family, at least the 13 yr. old girl and husband into one of our own.

Stephanie Rimmer said...

Beautiful pictures of your home. I have been searching for a bench like the one you have in your entry, where did you get that one? Love it and everything else :)

red ticking said...

i have been away and have not seen this.... i am SOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU!!! this is wonderful and i will hope to find a copy so i can page thru and read it all....
hope you had a wonderful christmas and wishing you a joyful new year sweetie.... xoxo

Susan said...

Something I didn't notice the first time I browsed through your spread was the apple green theme - even in your family's clothing, the chalk on the fridge and the snowman's scarf! Definitely one of my favorite colors and fun to see how it repeats in all the photos. Was that your idea or BHG's?

My Galveston Cottage said...

Congratulations to you!!
Such a lovely spread. I know the New Year will continue to surprise and delight you in the best possible ways. cheers, -susan

Kathy said...

Such a great article! I have really been enjoying BH magazine lately!

Aubrey {All Things Bright and Beautiful} said...

Congrats, that would totally be the highlight of my year, too!!! The house looked absolutely amazing and what an honor to be blogger of the month...you have had a busy year!!! (c; Here's to many more great things in the coming year...

http://loveallthingsbrightandbeautiful.blogspot.com

La Petite Gallery said...

congratulations
great artical. Happy new year

yvonne

John & Michelle said...

I would love to know where you found you green couch? If you've already answered this I'm sorry...I just found you and added you to my fav blogs!

alterego said...

I'm so glad you posted these pics! What fun to look at them and what an amazing honor and accomplishment for YOU! :) It must have been neat to have other designers in your home giving their take on things. FUN! My favorite pic is the one that shows your *awesome* entryway behind your fab green couch. Go Lauren! -Rachel

3 Peanuts said...

Congratulations Lauren! It is a beautiful piece!! I wish oyu much happiness and success this year.

angela said...

Um, I love you!

Unknown said...

Hi Lauren:

On a chilly morning in early December when my son gave me my very first copy of BHG I had no clue what a treat it was going to be. Your home is so beautiful because each item and aspect of your home represents something about you/your family or is something you really love and so it looks like a lovingly created real home. In BHG I found out about your blog and now I have to check it every day and sometimes several times a day. It is so inspiring to me. I love the post about Truth in Design and that idea is guiding me in decorating my home now. I also loved the post on Weeping Willows. It is beautiful.

I hope you have a great new year and I am looking forward to reading more about your work in your blog. Thanks for all that you do!

Anna

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Hi Lauren:

My name is Anna and I had earlier left a comment for you. However, probably due to the fact that I am brand new to the process of leaving comments on blogs I pressed the publish your comment button twice and so my comment came twice. In a panic I deleted one of them and that explains the blank space in your list of comments. I am very sorry for this.

For me who has been praying to Christ for healing from depression for the past 21/2 years, introducing me to your blog and through this blog other blogs of people committed to decorating and making their environments beautiful expressions of themselves was the way in which Jesus answered my prayer. The introduction to this blog is my best Christmas gift from Jesus. I love reading about how you make your home beautiful, the other projects you do, and the pictures which help explain everything. Thanks, thanks and thanks.

May God bless you and may all your dreams come true!

Unknown said...

Hi Lauren:

My name is Anna and I had earlier left a comment for you. However, probably due to the fact that I am brand new to the process of leaving comments on blogs I pressed the publish your comment button twice and so my comment came twice. In a panic I deleted one of them and that explains the blank space in your list of comments. I am very sorry for this.

For me who has been praying to Christ for healing from depression for the past 21/2 years, introducing me to your blog and through this blog other blogs of people committed to decorating and making their environments beautiful expressions of themselves was the way in which Jesus answered my prayer. The introduction to this blog is my best Christmas gift from Jesus. I love reading about how you make your home beautiful, the other projects you do, and the pictures which help explain everything. Thanks, thanks and thanks.

May God bless you and may all your dreams come true!

modernchemistry said...

i bet you are so proud! to see your home on a glossy print page must be so surreal.

way to go! your blog is beautiful, and so is your home and family.

Maria Killam said...

I have my copy in my powder room for everyone to flip through. It's so beautiful and I love looking at your house, your talent and your lovely face :)
Happy new year Lauren!
xoxo
maria

Loretta Fontaine (EcoHappy Blog) said...

Lauren- Like Maria, I have a copy of the issue out for all to see. It's such a lovely story and I really enjoy hearing all the little details you have added to the beautiful pictures.

A wonderful accomplishment! Congrats!

Loretta

paula said...

It was so exciting seeing your home in print! so excited for you.

Lavender said...

Congrats!!! Great pictoral...gotta get a copy! And no, I'm not tired of seeing it again...especially the green English couch...your brilliant stairwell, and the evolving style of your home.

Anonymous said...

You rock!! This article is amazing. I'm so impressed with how talented you are and look forward to more in 2011.!! xo Rachel

Unknown said...

Where did you get the hanging chandelier in the entry by all the frames? So cool!

Unknown said...

Lauren,
A bit slow here in getting up to speed on my favorite blogs...and even though I get BH&G, I didn't get this issue. So, thank you for posting all the pics. Amazing, amazing, amazing! This should be the highlight of your year.....what a thrill to have your vision and hard work recognized and photographed so beautifully!

Congratulations also on the furniture line - I'll keep an eye out for its debut!

xo Elizabeth