Decorate & Celebrate!

Sometimes it is not a house that gets my attention but just a tabletop! When some of my friends decided to throw me a Birthday Tea Party I could not resist! I unleashed my creative fury and decorated my own table. As you can see....... Marie Antoinette is guilty once again for influencing me. I had so much fun looking for just the right materials to make the flower arrangements, cake decorations and tabletop decor.

Here are some mini 2 tiered petit fours with one of the cake decorations that I made from the goodies I found in the  scrapbook supply aisle 

I am wild about the plumes that I found to adorn my rose floral arrangements and the adorable sweet treat tags that I found from Cavallini . I used the tags to adorn my guest's favors and as table place cards.

Here are some more pictures of the tea party. Enjoy!

Chez Moi!!! A Work in Progress.

As most of you know, I have just finished renovating my personal home here in Memphis Tennessee. The details have been put into the bones of the house and I am just now getting around to the details as far as the interior decoration. Here is my progress so far!


This is Before I got my hands on it.

Here is the house when we found it. Most of my dear family and friends thought I was crazy but still said they knew that I must have had a vision. It is hard to see it but I did.

The house had an historical element to it that I did not find as interesting until after I read The Help! This is a maids's toilet. Can you imagine? Needless to say it was ripped out during demolition and is long gone.

Here is the house after we moved in. Before Landscaping and before I had to get rid of this blue color that was intended to be more of a cool icy grey.

Here it is almost finished. We have the first round of landscaping and I have painted the shutters and garage doors a much better shade of a greenish french grey.  Now I await some fresh sod and a new driveway. And last but certainly not least my fabulous Red English Mailbox that I picked up in England. See Below

I cannot wait to have it set in brick and ready to receive my daily post.  This type of find that I get so excited about.  There are a million boring standard mailboxes out there and most people do not put that much thought into their mailbox. THat is exactly why I had to have this. What a great detail to have in front of your house for all to see!

I love the window that I designed on the front of my house. There used to be a regular window with a fan detail above it. The main thing I love is the Antique French Oak Front Door that I found in Atlanta at Architectural Accents.  I love the unique shape of the window panes.

Stay tuned...... More to come soon!!!!

Where It All Begins! My latest trip to ADAC Showrooms

Fabulous Display Featuring Fabrics by Larsen at Travis & Company. Just Received These Sample Books and Cannot Wait to Use Them Myself!

A huge source of inspiration for me comes from my main resource . The Atlanta Decorative Arts Center!!! It is the mothership for all interior designers in the southeastern states and the main source of all the wonderful and exclusive goods that we sell. It is to the trade only and can be very overwhelming because of the vast array of things. Each showroom is crammed full of the most divine displays and fabulous fabrics, wallcoverings , furniture and accessories. My first stop is always to my favorite showroom Travis and Company. They always have the most creative details and you are always greeted by the friendliest smiling faces. Here are some of the wonderful and inspiring things they had for my eyes to feast on!

Here is the Main Entrance to Travis & Co. I LOVE LOVE LOVE  this artsy wallcovering  by Porter Teleo. It is Artwork in the form of Wallpaer. Great in Small doses and I am dying for a client to be brave enough to let me use it somewhere fun! It is custom made to order and can be done in any color combination. Porter Teleo is a favorite of one of my favorite designers Kelly Wearstler.

Another Great display Featuring Colefax & Fowler lines in Travis & Co. Love that mirror.

Love the Colorful Artwork and how they Downplayed everything else to make it pop.

Travis & Company always do such a great job of making creative use out of their corners in the showroom that would otherwise be dead space. Check out these fabulous 3 vignettes.

Great Ikat Display in another great showroom. Will be using soon on some pillows and maybe even to cover some drum Lampshades. 

Great Window Display of  Hand Printed Fabrics at Jerry Pair. Such Fun and Happy Colors and another Line that is Made to Order in Any Color Combo you Desire.

This Display in Ainsworth Noah reminds me of my Fabulous friend Fiona that lives in NYC. It is so sophisticated  , pretty and is what I imagine seeing once I step off of an elevator and enter an upper east side classic 6.

More to come from my trip later!!!!

Painted Floors: The Options are Endless and the Results are Fabulous

My  Newly Renovated Sunroom with Painted Hardwood Floors.
Paint Color on Floors , Walls & all Trim is Porter Paint in Off White.  
By Jennifer Estes Interior Design

One of my new favorite specifications is to paint hardwood floors. It is a great inexpensive way to get a lot of punch in your space. (or an elegantly casual look if you prefer as I did) . I have recently renovated my own home and have painted the floors in my sunroom and my office. I used a basic off white color and I love it! Not only does it have a fresh , clean look but it is very durable and is easy to clean.  This application works very well if you do not currently have wood floors that have a great grain pattern or are in less than perfect condition. It also allows you to cut the cost of installing hardwood floors because you can use a less expensive grade of wood and it is less to paint than to stain and seal. I personally LOVE the clean look and I love it more and more the longer I have it. Don't fear that this is a trend and chicken out. This has been a widely used finish across the pond for a long time.

Here is a Guest Cottage That I Designed and I Did The Painted Floors . I used a Clean White and An Apple Green Diamond Pattern To Give this Guest Retreat a Happy and Fun Feel.
By Jennifer Estes Interior Design

I Used the Same Off White Color in My Office  that I did In My Sunroom. The Soft White Color Throughout  Gives This Space a Clean and Organized Feel Even When It is Disorganized and Crazy . Which is Often!

Here is The Link to The Info On The Type of Porter Paint I used To Paint The Floor

http://www.ppgporterpaints.com/products/specialty/glyptex_floor_and_porch_enamel/index.htm

Here are some other Pictures I found on the Internet of Painted Floors that Inspire Me! I cannot wait to design some more painted floors soon! 

Love this Bold Pattern in Classic Black & White. This would look Great in Light Neutrals For Less Contrast and Boldness. 

LOVE this Pattern and the Soft Color Palette Selected

I Love The Design on These Draperies and Would Love to Have it Stenciled onto Painted Floors. 

Love the Chevron Pattern. Great especially in this small space. 

What a Fun Stenciled Pattern. The Glossy Paint really adds a clean fun look as well. 

Adding a Painted Rug is another fun and appealing way to incorporate painted floors into your project .  

Love the way they used this bold pattern in such subtle paint colors and used it to tie together these 2 spaces.




Here are some great books on Amazon below to help get you started with your own project!

Let Them Eat Cake ........... And Decorate!

Marie Antoinette inspired Bedroom / Nursery by Jennifer Estes Interior Design

I have been waiting to do this Post since before the birth of my daughter March 30th but have been waiting until I had all of the little details in place. When I started to design this room /  nursery  I did not want the typical sweet nursery for a little girl. I wanted something that was feminine, a little bit sassy and something that reflected my love of all things French and of course Marie Antoinette. 


Marie Antoinette is well known for the opulent Versailles but it is her Petit Trianon and its surrounding Hameau that I adore.  She would escape from the formality of court life to her casual retreat at the Petit Trianon where she pretended to be a milk maid.Don't you love the fact that the Queen of France pretended to be a peasant in her spare time! The Petit Trianon was decorated in a less formal decor with a pale color palette. Marie Antoinette preferred a more casual attire as well. She wore sheer muslin dresses as she lounged around her hameau and the Petit Trianon. I myself find such beauty in the simplicity of a sheer linen as well and incorporated that detail many places in this project.  Here are some pictures of the various details I created while designing this room.

This Designer Guild Fabric has a woven metallic thread in this cream soft pillow fabric that gives it a slight shimmer. The blush tassel  trim scalloped across this pillow is Designer Guild as well .
Pillows designed by Jennifer Estes Interior Design

This blush Nancy Corzine  Satin Fabric is paired perfectly with a Sheer Shimmering Designer Guild Fabric for a pair of pillow shams with a Peek a Boo ruffle accent at the seam.
Pillows Custom Designed by Jennifer Estes Interior Design

The cream Designer Guild fabric woven with metallic thread is also used to give this upholstered headboard a little shimmer and fun. The headboard is trimmed out in antique bronze nailheads with a triple raised panel design.  The ivory matte satin Barbara Barry coverlet with a scalloped quilted design was just what  this bed needed to finish it off. I mixed the more contemporary glass ball lamp on an antique side table  to keep the room fun and interesting. 

Headboard custom designed by Jennifer Estes Interior Design

Custom designed chandelier with  pearlescent beads and crystal cherry accent. 

My two favorite women in history ......Marie and Coco! They both made such and impact on Fashion and Design that are still with us today.

This Designer Guild  wallpaper  is the first thing that I picked out for this room. I love the way they used the pale blush background and the stamped metallic ribbon design to give this wallpaper such a modernized yet rococo period look. It is definitely a very modern day Marie Antoinette look.

An antique French hand sewn lace and satin baby cradle cap that I found antiquing. My daughter Meriwether  wore this for her Christening. It now is displayed in her room to help accessorize.  Art and accessories are best when they have a personal meaning.

The beautiful scalloped petal pleats give simple cream silk a feminine and striking impact while maintaining such a simple elegant look.

The dust ruffle is also accented in the corners with a blush satin ruffle peeking out of the tailored pleated skirt. Adds a girly sense of fun to the bed tying it together nicely with the pillows on top of the bed.

Custom designed by Jennifer Estes Interior Design

Here are some of the images that inspired me while designing this space.

Rose flavored macarons. My FAVORITE!!! Especially when they come from Laduree in Paris! These light and airy treats  so pretty and tasty

My new favorite parfume! It is the re-released parfume worn by Marie Antoinette herself. Click here to read the link about the history of it and how it was http://fragrancebelleslettres.blogspot.com/2011/07/black-jade-by-lubin.htmlrediscovered. I love the beautiful design as well.

The soft shades of pink and the different textures in this picture are complete eye candy.  This is also a shot from the movie Marie Antoinette starring Kirsten Dunst. 

This antique print is soon to be displayed in this room  as a reproduction painting. 

This portrait represents the formal court life that Marie Antoinette was trying to escape. The attention to detail in the floral swag design adorning this portrait is fabulous.

This room of Marie Antoinette's at Versailles is where I got the general inspiration for this room. The subtle tone of the colors is exactly what I was going for. The elaborate detail in the moldings on the wall not so much. I do love how the wallpaper is a simplified version of this paneling.

This picture says it all!!! I love the decor of this room as well as the french pastries!  This is a recreation of her hidden quarters at Versailles.

Love Vogue's take on Marie Antoinette. 

I drew a lot of inspiration from this dress belonging to  Marie Antoinette. I love the cream satin with the elaborate embroidered design. Check out the pale pink scalloped design on the skirt. Does it remind you of the scalloped trim on the pillows?

Here I am at the Petit Trianon in front of her famous portrait by Vigee LeBrun

Me in front of one of the cottages in  Marie Antoinette's Hameau. Isn't it so quaint and tidy.  Very nice for a provincial peasant village. J'adore l'hameau. 

Christian Louboutin himself has been inspired by Marie Antoinette. My favorite shoe designer and my favorite historical figure in one shoe.  Love them!!!