Exciting News!!!

This blog is officially one year old today.  I wrote my first blog post and went online with it the day after Labor Day last year.  It have been challenging at times, frustrating at times, but enjoyable every time I  sat down and decided what to write about this time.  I hope you have enjoyed my ramblings as much as I have enjoyed sharing them with you.  Please keep checking in as I promise this year to post more regularly.

Why did I choose the day after Labor Day to begin my PERFECTLY AT HOME blog?  The same reason I am choosing today as the day to share exciting news with all of you. 

As many of you may know, I began my life as a shopkeeper with my bridal shop, THE WEDDING BELLE, which opened the day after Labor Day in 1978.  I loved all my years in the bridal business, and still enjoy the few months when REESA’S PERFECT PROM is open.  I sold The Wedding Belle in 2002 and opened PERFECT HOME the day after Thanksgiving that year.  {Must I always open a store the day after a holiday?}

Since THE WEDDING BELLE  {aka THE WHITE DRESS}  shares a building with Perfect Home and Perfect Prom, and still shares a rather large piece of my heart, I care deeply about it.  The Wedding Belle has spent the last eight years under the ownership of Debye Culpepper who truly made it her own in her own self described “quirky” way.  A couple of months ago, Debye decided to move on.  I will miss her, but wish her the best!

Now for my exciting news… as of today {the day after Labor Day, and the beginning of it’s 33rd year!}  THE WEDDING BELLE is now…  PERFECT DRESS OF ROME!!  The new owner is my “niece” {by love, if not by blood} Alison Smith. I claim her as my niece since I am an only child and our families have been, well, family , to each other for the past 40+ years.

  I could not be more thrilled!!! 

Many of you may know Alison from her past eight years as The Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce membership director.  She was terrific in that position and I know they were  sad to lose her, but so encouraging in her desire to be a small business owner.  Her years and experience at the chamber will be invaluable.  I wish I could have had that experience when I opened 32 years ago!  She is an absolute natural.  I am amazed at how quickly she has adapted to the crazy world of  bridal. 

Alison’s most important job is, of course, Mama to these two little fellas, Ryan and Drew.

Her husband, Adam, has been so supportive these last few months, not to mention how hard he has worked on the new {old} store.  It would have never come together without him!

Alison was born the year I opened The Wedding Belle.  There is even a picture of her in front of the wedding gowns at my grand opening.  She always modeled in my fashions shows, first as a flowergirl, then as a bridesmaid and bride. Since the age of five Alison has said she wanted, one day, to own The Wedding Belle!  This was a dream she shared with her first cousin Michele Graves Buxton.  They would talk about “owning Reesa’s store” when they were little girls.

 

   Alison and Michele in my wedding in 1982, along with my cousin Jon Stinson

Sadly, Michele passed away at 28 only a few months after her own wedding.  She was one of the sweetest and most genuine people I have ever known.  Even though Michele went on to become a wonderful teacher, Alison is carrying on the dream of two little girls to “own Reesa’s store” one day.  Can you imagine how happy that makes me? 

The store is newly remodeled.  Alison has made it her own.  She will bring her own special touches to a long established business and Northwest Georgia’s brides will love working with her.  Watch for lots of exciting events in next few months at PERFECT DRESS OF ROME .

   As for me, I can’t wait to work side by side with Alison for many years to come.  There is no one in this world that I would rather see take a business I began so many years ago and carry it forward.  Good luck Alison!  I love you and can’t wait to see you  thrive  with YOUR new store…PERFECT DRESS OF ROME.

Reesa

Technorati Tags: Perfect Dress of Rome,Alison Smith,Perfect Home

Bad, Bad Blogger {once again}

Sorry for my lack of blog posts lately, but it has been a crazy few weeks at Perfect Home.  I promise a post on the new happenings on my corner of the world very soon.  So much exciting news… but it will have to wait a few more days.  In the meantime, how about some design eye candy to entertain and inspire.  A few of my latest and favorite design photos from the blogosphere….

First  classic styles I love.

Rich wall color, elegant seating and touches of black.  What’s not to love.

Same approach but in a lighter palette.

And even lighter.  I have ordered this style chair in several different fabrics and it always looks great.  Adapts to any style or color fabric, whether casual or dressier like this look.

And now for a little whimsy…

Bright enough for you? 

How about this?  I don’t know if I could live with the pink chairs, but I would sure like to visit them.

Dramatic red… nothing like it!

This is fun.  I have a similar wallpaper from Thibaut that I would love for someone to use.  Maybe this will inspire someone…. any takers?

How about a little black and white.  I do love me some black and white.

Clean,classic, elegant.  Love this!

Nothing like zebra to give a room a little zip-ee-de-do-da!

Pretty, so pretty.

This is such an unexpected color combination.  Black silk drapes with grey walls and accents of jade green.  I think the painted chairs are genius.

So there we have a bit of design inspiration.  What color palette appeals most to you?  Don’t over think it, just scroll through the photos again and see what you respond to.  It might tell you something for the next time you redecorate your home. 

Reesa

Technorati Tags: design eye candy

Let’s Visit the Beard’s Home

Over the last couple of years I have had the pleasure of working with the most delightful young couple, Jennifer and Joey Beard.  They have renovated and enlarged a charming home in “old East Rome” which local folks will understand.  For those readers not Romans,  this is a very quaint and picturesque  part of town with older homes, many of which have been renovated.  I love the area and am always excited to make a “house call” there knowing I am in for a treat.  The Beard’s home was no exception. 

We have been working bit by bit on this home over time and hopefully, will continue.  {Hint…hint}  One of my favorite window treatment installations was for the Beard’s  so I thought I would show you a few photos of what we designed and  my workroom fabricated and installed.

 

We had so much fun choosing fabrics for this project and it came together very easily.  This is one of a pair of windows in the living room.

A crisp black and white print in the powder room.  This is one of my favorite styles and it lends itself to almost any fabric.

A faux leather cornice with nail head trim… so handsome in the home office.

It’s difficult to see in this photo the richness of the main fabric and elegant reveal fabric we used.  The main fabric is one I often use, very well priced but looks like a million bucks!  

The draping and “hand” of this fabric is just luscious.

Master bath fabric made from the reveal fabric in the bedroom.  Another great style!

Kitchen door roman shade with cute pom pom trim.

One of my favorite styles ever… the stagecoach shade.  This works so well with several  different fabrics.  One can be used for the front, one for the lining and ties, and another for the top valance.  If you want a unique treatment using a variety of fabrics… this is perfect!

So that is a quick tour of all the windows in the Beard home { well, not quite all, but that is for phase two}.  Thanks to Jennifer and Joey for allowing Sonia and I to design and  create these adorable window treatments for them.  We couldn’t ask for a couple more FUN to work with!!!

Now, let’s start on that phase two……

Reesa

Technorati Tags: window treatments,curtains,Jennfier and Joey Beard

Jill and Derrell Tie the Knot!!

Many of you know Jill Ellen Burnes who has worked with me at both Perfect Home and Perfect Prom  since she was fifteen years old.  So young that her Dad had to bring her to work {after checking us out to be sure it was a good environment for his “baby girl”}  since she couldn’t even drive.    Well, eight years later after high school and college, and now law school,  Jill was married last weekend!  It was just like watching my own “baby girl” get married!  Here are a couple of pictures of the beautiful wedding.  I’m sure if you have visited Perfect Home, you have met the delightful Jill.

 

My wedding photographer daddy would not approve of this somewhat blurry photo, but I think it’s cute.

Me with the soon to be “Mrs. Goode” just before walking down the aisle. 

The wedding party!

“Where’s  Jill???”

“ I think I see her!”

HERE comes the bride.

The happy couple enjoying their first dance.

Jill married the amazing Derrell Goode.  If a name ever fit someone, his does.  He is truly a “goode” man.  Loyal, steady, a loving heart, and sooooo good to Jill.  I knew from the beginning that this was probably THE ONE and couldn’t have been more thrilled when he came by the store to tell me he had just bought the engagement ring.  He was SO excited!   The wedding was everything they wanted.   Beautiful yes, but relaxed and fun with people who love them celebrating the beginning of their life together. 

I wish them both all the happiness in the world.

Reesa

Technorati Tags: Jill Ellen Burnes and Derrell Goode wedding

Summer Market Update

Well, I am just back from the July market in Atlanta, sore feet and all.  When planning for market I make lists of what I need for Perfect Home, what design trends to look for, and customer requests, but it’s really all about the shoes!!!   Six million square feet of Americasmart and I swear I hoofed them all!!!  The photo above is from the Apparel Mart, where I learned the ropes of retail many many years ago.  In fact, when I first started in the bridal business in 1978, the only building was the current Merchandise Mart and I thought it was overwhelming!  I remember my first trip circling the tenth floor several times looking for the bridal showrooms only to discover I was on the wrong floor!  Talk about green!  But I’ve come a long way, baby.

What was just one building back in the day is now four, if you count Inforum, the technology building which I luckily don’t have to shop.  People always say “Market must be so  much fun” and it certainly is if you don’t mind swollen feet, yucky food and a bone tired body.  But for some reason, I can’t wait to go every few months.  It is such a challenge searching for just the right thing to add to my store mix.  I thought a lot this week about what it is I am constantly searching for and came to the conclusion that what I want to bring back to my customers is a very high end designer look at an affordable price.  Often that is like looking for a needle in a haystack.  I always start by visiting the exclusive designer showrooms to look for the latest trends and to be inspired.  Then the search begins….looking for that elusive line that captures the designer look at a reasonable price.  It is so important to me to offer you a quality, yet  attainable  look.  Most times I succeed.  But just know it takes tired feet to pull it off!   Here are a few of my finds from this month’s market.

A couple of beautiful vases and candle holder from one of my new lines

Loved these new photo frames and decorative blocks… great gift items.

Beautiful burled wood chest will be arriving around the first week of September…

along with this console table.

I ordered oodles of really terrific lamps… wish I had more photos of them.  The one above is so unique.  This year there was more color in lamps and accessories which I was so glad to see.  There seemed to be  a trend toward more sparkly glass and silver. I found a new line of accessories with wonderful heavy glass hurricanes held by metalwork.  Can’t wait until they arrive in a few weeks.  Another trend I saw was an overall “cleaner” aesthetic.  Not necessarily contemporary, but a more modern approach to lamps, art and accessories.  Now this is still the south, so we will never lose our traditional feel, but a sprinkling of more modern touches is a terrific way to update your traditional look.  More about that in a future post.

Cool view down one the spiral staircase…vertigo anyone?

 

So that’s an insider’s view of the mysterious “market” that retailers speak of.  Hope you enjoyed the tour and the sneak peek of Perfect Home’s  latest acquisitions.  The new merchandise  should start arriving in the next three weeks to four weeks. I didn’t even show you the Christmas items…too hot to think about that until later.    There are sooo many  goodies to come, I can’t wait to start unpacking those boxes.

Now off to soak my feet…again!

Reesa 

Technorati Tags: americasmart,perfect home