A day of inspiration........

It has been a very busy couple week in the House of T. I told my Grandmother today on the telephone, "If I am not at work, I am out shopping". I don't know if it is the heat or what, but I have been confusing myself very easily this week. Luckily, I laugh at myself often so I don't take my mistakes too seriously.

My Ah ah moment of the week had to be at work on Wednesday. The Federal Express delivery man delivered a package addressed to me. I looked at the box and realized I had shipped something to MYSELF FROM MYSELF... haha.. The following day I took a mental health day off of work.

This past Sunday was similar. Kerry Howard, from KMH Interiors and I needed some design inspiration so we decided to go to Scott's Antique Market. For those of you that are unaware, Scott's Antique Market is South of the city, maybe 15 miles on the outskirts. As we get closer we are getting excited, talking about what building we want to go to first, what booths we are excited about visiting again and of course I'm talking about the snack bar and what snick snack I want.....

So we exit the ramp and to our SURPRISE...... The parking lot is locked UP. Scott's Antique Show was LAST weekend!!! We just laughed and laughed with a hint of disappointment.

The good news was that Kerry was very instinctive and created a back up plan. We will call it "The Gettin' place". (Side note: Growing up people would come to my family's antique store and ask us where we got our antiques from, My Mother always explained to me "When someone asks where your source is from, you reply "the gettin place". So, with that in mind and if every life scenario I say "the gettin place".)

We soon arrived at our new destination and it was somewhere I had never been. We had a great a day and I met some great people. True down to to earth, wholesome people.


My find of the day had to be this vintage crystal glass decanter. The stately crystal square base paired with a traditional form gives it more elegance I will ever have. It is a piece that tells a rich story and could live in more than one type of home. I could picture it on a bedside table in a Buckhead Estate, all the way to a modern glass windowed home in the hills of Hollywood. I could see it filled with a gentleman's liquor in a paneled library or a small New York city apartment. It really won over my heart. It was a must have.



This weekend calls for more inspiration. A trip to the High is slated for Friday evening. The exhibit: The Allure of the Automobile.

Until next time......

A life of show homes

Touring show homes is nothing new to me. Since the day I can remember my Mother paraded me through tour of homes. My first home tour would probably have to be The Swan House.

My Mother was actually asked to remove me from the tour because I was throwing a tantrum. I was two. My Mother used to always remind me of this event. I would say “Mom. Why didn’t you just take me somewhere that kids actually belong? Like a playground!” Her reply was “I wanted to culture you damnit!” Years later as a trained child we visited The Biltmore House, a truly amazing place that I have always been enthralled and inspired by.

I remember I was twelve years old and I was so proud of my wine glass etched with the Biltmore logo on it. Back home I sipped Welch’s grape juice by the fire as my Mother had her glass of wine for the evening. We would watch the newly popular HGTV. Who would have thought a DO IT YOURSELF network would have been so popular?!?! ;)

My family’s historic home was actually on a Tour of Homes for many years as well. One of the best memories I ever had of the annual Christmas Home Tour was when my Mother and I decided to place floating candles in the outdoor Jacuzzi. Half way through the evening the fiberglass shell caught on fire and flames shot 20 feet in the air…….There was an awkward moment as the only gay guy on the tour exclaimed “Oh MY…. I thought you were having a WEENIE ROAST??!” Needless to say we were banned from floating candles indefinitely.

Each Spring and Christmas I attend the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s decorator show house with my coworker’s from Waterworks. This years Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s show house was the previous home of Arthur Blank, the co-founder of Home Depot. It is Colonial Revivial Style home and was built in 1952. Located in Tuxedo Park, it has had three owners.

We make it a morning event each year. It’s such an experience for us because we rarely leave the showroom as a team during the work day. In most cases parking is not available for the show houses, so you have to park at an offsite parking lot and take a shuttle. The shuttle ride is HALF the fun!

Tuesday, Dustin and I left bright and early. We boarded the shuttle bus amongst a mixed crowd of suburban soccer Mom’s and Buckhead Betty’s. The type of women who drink Monster energy drink and then those who a Starbucks cup does not leave their hand. A real nice crowd, haha.... I always sing "Ahh haa hush that fush everybody move to the back of the bus..."

This year’s challenge for the designers was that in many cases they were unable to alter the facade of the room they designed, this included the flooring, and most rooms had the original wall coverings. In many ways I was so focused on looking for the original portions to the estate I forgot to pay homage to the designed spaces. The home was reminiscent of a home that Luanne from Shag would reside in with a mix of Ferris Bueller’s upscale intercom system.

You are not allowed to take pictures, but that didn’t stop me. My iphone is one of the best resources of my life. With this said, I don't want to spoil the show house for you if you plan on going so I am going to show tid bids of my visit. The showhouse runs through Sunday and I encourage you to go. The monies raised goes towards music education for children.

Keith Summerour's personal journal from his visits abroad

Posing in the formal garden

Potty Time! (love the chandelier in the tent!)

Formal Gardens with greenhouse

MY FAVORITE ITEM!

My favorite rooms include Jimmy Stanton's keeping room, Shon Parker's dining room and Summerour's teen space. I really enjoyed Melanie Turner's Sunroom. It was one of my favorites as well.

Until next time..........

A T Time Launch

Blogging is nothing new to me, I remember years ago the days of Xanga. Ahh... Xanga, it was such a "chic" thing to do. I remember one time someone was like, "Only girls are on Xanga"....I did not disagree. Many months ago I located my old Xanga account, I read the posts from 10 years ago and it was transparent how easy life was. Years later Myspace flourished and I gave up my Xanga, announcing I was heading over to Myspace. I remember the name of my first post was "There's a bullet hole in my bedroom window." It was the truth, there WAS a bullet hole. I always wondered if they shot into the window or out of it? My boyfriend and I at the time could not have been more happier. We called that place "The fort". Myspace came and went and so did the boyfriend and Facebook arrived. My career consumed my life and I stopped blogging until tonight.

Last week I had the privelage to attend a panel on blogging. It was truly inspiring and an eye opener that what I started many years ago should have never stopped.

My goal with this blog is simple. Entertainment. As the nosiest person I know I find myself in some of the BEST parties of Atlanta, some of the coolest hot spots and amongst people I aspire to be like someday. Most of these things I forget and this blog for me is a personal journal. Get ready, It's time for some T!




Tyler