Seaside Showhouse Success

We were excited to asked to take part in the Designer Showhouse for the Arts in Seaside, Florida, open now through July 4th. This showhouse is sponsored by the Cultural Arts Association and is in the home of Robert Davis, Seaside Town Founder.

CAA asked us to design a room inspired by a mid-century cultural icon. After just minutes of deliberation, we selected the Duke and Duchess of Windsor - immensely popular, stylish and relevant to Florida during the 1940's and beyond.

Some quick research uncovered an iconic photo of the Duke and Duchess visiting Florida in 1941. The combination of the peacock blue and coral together is very fresh and current. They shaped the Palm Beach look with their bold choices of color, and their clean line of dress is still relevant today.

This photo became inspiration for the design of the guest bedroom in the Seaside, Florida home.

We had only one day to install the entire room. What do you think? Leave a comment to let us know.

The CAA Designer Showhouse for the Arts is open through July 4, Wednesdays - Sundays, from noon to 5:00 pm.

For more information, visit the CAA's website.

Farmhouse designs collateral for Seaside Showhouse

Our friends at Farmhouse Design Studio produced this bookmark as a souvenir for the attendees of the Seaside Showhouse, sponsored by the Cultural Arts Association. This year's Showhouse is the home of Seaside town founders Daryl & Robert Davis, located at 115 Seaside Avenue, just two blocks east of Central Square, in Seaside, Florida.

The bookmark extends the Duke and Duchess of Windsor theme we selected for the bedroom we designed. We thought they did a great job!

The CAA Designer Showhouse for the Arts is open May 29 - July 4, Wednesdays - Sundays, from noon to 5:00 pm.

For more information, visit the CAA's website.

Duke and Duchess of Windsor inspire design for Seaside showhouse

We're thrilled to take part in the Designer Showhouse for the Arts in Seaside, Florida, this summer. This showhouse is sponsored by the Cultural Arts Association and will be in the home of Daryl and Robert Davis, Seaside Town Founders.

CAA asked us to design a room inspired by a mid-century cultural icon. After just minutes of deliberation, we selected the Duke and Duchess of Windsor - immensely popular, stylish and relevant to Florida during the 1940's and beyond.

The Duchess of Windsor was an American socialite, who married, as her third husband, Prince Edward, formerly King Edward VIII of the British Empire.

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor traveled to Florida to visit friends and enjoyed a good Polo match. What most people don’t know is that Wallis met first husband Navy pilot Earl Winfield Spencer while visiting her cousin in Pensacola.

In December 1936, King Edward VIII renounced the throne to "marry the woman I love.” His wife soon became one of the century's most famous women.

The duchess became known as an elegant hostess and one of the world’s best-dressed women. Beginning in the 1940’s, the couple spent the next few decades traveling extensively to attend social events around the world.

Although they were sometimes criticized for their lavish lifestyle, their romance is regarded as one of history’s greatest love stories. "You have no idea how hard it is to live out a great romance,” Wallis said.

Some quick research uncovered an iconic photo (above) of the Duke and Duchess visiting Florida in 1941. The combination of the peacock blue and coral together is very fresh and current. They shaped the Palm Beach look with their bold choices of color, and their clean line of dress is still relevant today.

This photo became a jumping off point for our design. We can't reveal too much at this point, but here is an image of the Schumacher fabric we are using for the window treatments.

The CAA Designer Showhouse for the Arts is open May 29 - July 4, Wednesdays - Sundays, from noon to 5:00 pm.

For more information, visit the CAA's website.

Weekend retreat in Athens unveiled

The Musso Design Group just completed a project in Athens, Georgia. This new home was a gift from our client's long time friend. Our charge was to make this a special, relaxing weekend retreat that someday may be the client's primary residence. We aimed to frame a relaxed, yet sophisticated, lifestyle.

The home sits on three acres in Georgia's horse country, just outside of Athens. The builder took extra care to preserve the tree canopy and site the home in the perfect location. Natural stone elements give the home a feeling that it has been there for years.

Our work started about a year ago and we unveiled the home this past weekend. The new owner had not seen the home since mid-December, so we were a little anxious while we worked overnight to finesse the details and prepare for the reveal.

Working closely with the owner, we established a design that complemented the architecture of the home and its beautiful wooded setting. The palette is quiet, sophisticated, and uncluttered, not fussy. It's also durable and will stand up to the traffic provided by four rescued dogs in a wide array of sizes.

Catherine Cocke on HGTV

Don’t forget to watch (or record) Catherine in her TV debut this Saturday at 8:30 AM.

HGTV's My Big Amazing Renovation captures Catherine’s 18 month journey in renovating their 1950’s home into a modern masterpiece, all while being very pregnant. Always clever, HGTV titled this episode, "Going Big in Georgia."

During the filming Catherine and her family (there were four then) had to deal with floods, roof leaks, falling trees, no-show contractors and a gamut of other issues. But in the end they prevailed and the result is fantastic.

You might catch a glimpse of Bill and Todd collaborating with Catherine on the project at the Musso Design Group office - if we didn’t end up on the proverbial cutting room floor!

Congratulations to Catherine and Byron on a job really well done! (Tell us your thoughts on the show by leaving a comment on this blog.)

My Big Amazing renovation airs on HGTV at 8:30 AM this Saturday, January 9, 2009.

Catherine's Remodeling Adventures

By Catherine Cocke

I have been through many home remodeling projects, but this latest project was the most complex and time-intensive ever. It was complicated by two production schedules: HGTV's My Big Amazing Renovation and my pregnancy! My husband Byron and I recently converted a 1950's Decatur ranch into a contemporary home to better fit our growing family's needs.

I was intimately involved in this renovation so I could learn more about plumbing and electrical systems. This helped me define my aesthetic choices to know how and why things work. Here are a few of my "lessons learned."

1) Eco-Friendly Cuts Energy Costs
While high-efficiency metal-clad windows and spray soy-foam insulation cost more upfront, the energy savings are amazing! I’m a big fan now of green materials. It’s also worth stretching the budget so your home’s airtight, structurally sound and well-built from the beginning.

2) Hire A Designer
No matter how good builders are, they don’t think like designers. Details slip through the cracks affecting the beauty and livability of your home. Take air vents, furniture layouts and window treatments. I had to pressure my subs to place fans, vents, thermostats and switches in less visible exterior areas. Contractors pop vents where it’s easiest—but that becomes unsightly.

3) Order in advance
Shop and order appliances, plumbing fixtures and finishes before starting. You can then devote time to other project details and not risk delays because of late deliveries. Check on delivery lead-times so you don’t pick out-of-stock items—or hold up your projects for weeks.

4) Remodels take longer and cost more
No matter how skilled you or your contractor are, there will always be surprises when you tear apart an existing house.

On the flip side, deadlines such as the arrival of a film crew or baby can encourage workers to get moving. I would point to my huge belly and say I could go into labor any moment — the guys would frantically work faster and stay longer!

TIP: If someone’s working Sundays, late into the night, or performed an especially good job, offering a cold drink, cookies and a heartfelt thank you goes a long way to inspire good will and loyalty. We will be in touch as soon as we know more about the HGTV production schedule!

Defining the Elegant Eye

by Bill Musso

Some of my most gratifying moments come from clients who tell me that, prior to buying an accessory for their home, they muse, “Would Bill like this? How would he style it into my décor?” Some have asked me point blank, “How do you develop an elegant eye?” That’s why I’m headlining our Holiday 2009 Newsletter with a few pointers on the subject.

Tips for Getting Started
Developing an elegant eye takes time and practice. Honing your instincts means being not afraid of making missteps. Also, taking time to re-arrange and play with different ideas until “Ah ha!” moments capture the essence of what you’d like to achieve.

I have been in design close to three decades. While creating upscale boutique vignettes in New York, my eye caught on in how fashion, furniture and home interiors weave a harmonious aesthetic in making us feel good about ourselves. What we wear and what we bring into our homes reflect our sensibilities in living with beauty and functionality.

Yet, beauty is rarely recognized as a subtle and powerful energy that revives our spirit.

I would define elegance this way, too—simple beauty, clean lines, and functional, without losing warmth and an instinctively cozy appeal.

In developing an "elegant eye," I hone four main filters, quality workmanship, simplicity, cost and form.

Quality Workmanship
My grandfather loved quality clothing. He would turn a coat inside out and take a close look at the seams in a search for quality. Now, I eyeball fine glassware and filter out pieces with seams. (Pictured: Decanter from Takashimaya New York)

There’s a distinctive vibe to handmade items that’s quite different from those mass-produced. The labor of love that’s gone into a work of art crafted by artisans is palpable, compared to run-of-the mill items.

Simplicity
True, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and people are free to choose. My signature touch to any room is an understated simplicity with a fresh and effortless look.

It’s similar to Coco Chanel’s advice. After you’re done dressing, look in the mirror and take something away. Don’t over-embellish. Less is more.

Cost is Immaterial
Cost should be considered, but items costing more are not necessarily better or ‘more elegant.’ The most meaningful thing to me can be an exquisite seashell—and a freebie from Mother Nature. Follow your heart in collecting and surrounding yourself with items you’re intuitively drawn to.

Form Follows Function
Above all, beauty must play functional roles in your life. That’s when upon returning home from work, an abstract painting in your study refreshes your spirit. Or, you find quiet serenity in the silk-screened bedroom wallpaper or the simple lines of a Cristophe Pillet chair.

Ultimately, you want to surround yourself with things that mean most to you. A travel memento, beautiful raw silk drapery or custom upholstery with piping around the edges, all reflect your care in selecting elegant items showcasing your finer sensibilities.

Things finer are a joy to behold, touch and share—whatever they are, and evoke, for you.