This summer I teamed up with Ballard Designs to create three spaces, combining several pieces from their assortment with a few vintage surprises of my own. That’s the kind of modern mix I love and live with every day. First up: the dining room I designed and styled, layering playful patterns and pops of color over a neutral backdrop. The walls are painted Benjamin Moore White Dove, the table is whitewashed wood, and the rug is natural sisal, setting the scene for a high-octane mix of textiles, tableware, and accessories.

 

 

If I’m at home, I’m entertaining. I could be on the road for days, but as soon as I’m back, I’ll throw open my cupboards, pull together a mix (Chinoiserie chic? Bohemian glam?) and start dreaming up the decor. For this table, I channeled my inner Southern girl gone wild, pairing pretty pinks and blues with flashes of gold. Bunny’s Campbell House plates are a no-fail start to any mix. I layered on a set of antique English salad plates I found at a flea market, but chances are, you have a set that would look great, too. Repetition is power: it can give even the most peculiar element purpose. So as you rummage through your own cupboards to create place settings with a modern mix, picture them en masse—down a rectangle, around a circle—producing a sum far greater than its parts.

 

 

If you want to create gorgeous tables, buffets and parties that will give your guests something to remember, you’re going to need stuff—and stuff always needs a home when you’re not making magic with it. Whether you’re living large or starting out small, carve out a corner to keep entertaining essentials neat and organized. I’m a hoarder at heart, so these modular units with open and closed storage already have a home at Edgewood Hall! And this beadboard rack is a dream for drying table linens and delicates.

 

 

Call it a a sunroom, a solarium or any sunny spot blending indoors and out where you make the rules. Suzanne’s Directoire sofa is made of aluminum to stand up to the elements, but I used it inside with a fancy brass coffee table and a pair of bamboo-style armchairs in a zesty orange. Bar carts give a room instant cool, and this one looks good just about any where. I used a giant clamshell for icing drinks, but you could easily use it for dishing up drama with veggies. The bird prints sing a pretty song, while a leopard X bench purrs in the corner. And here’s the room on the cover of the summer catalog!

 

 

Three days into shooting, and I was feeling right at home 🙂

 

 

Huge thanks to the Ballard team for bringing me on, trusting my vision and helping me turn it into reality!