House Crashing: Swanky Panky: a house log

We made some fairly excellent progress on the deck this weekend – even with a big water main break right in front of our house, which resulted in gallons of water rushing down the road until we discovered it and phoned it in. The result? Five men working for around seven hours (with our street’s water turned off) to fix it via a giant hole that they dug in the corner of our yard/the road. Yikes!

But they got ‘er done, and the neighborhood rejoiced (running water is totally one of those things you take for granted until it is gone – like electricity and Oreos). So all is right with the world again (the water’s back on!) and we will be back with a full deck update tomorrow!

In the meantime, we are fairly much in love with this house. Which is why it is especially heartbreaking to me that I did not get to snoop around in the flesh. We tried to arrange a house crash with Meghan back when we were in Atlanta for Haven, but with our crazy schedule (and her crazy schedule) we simply could not make it work. But since Meghan takes some fairly strong photos herself – and because I was so in love with her space – I had to share the eye candy with you folks – busy schedules be darned. So let us go for a virtual house crashing, shall we? Here is Meghan now, at the front door to greet us:

Meghan in fact used to do hotel design in Atlanta (lively, right?) but now does residential interior stuff. So although she’s a bonafide expert, we enjoyed how affordable and inspiring her house was, so anyone could steal a pointer or two. Let us start with her vivid living room/dining room. I truly like how there is plenty of texture and neutral tones, accented with a few pops of color, like that charming orange accent table (a low-cost find from HomeGoods) and the yellow tray on the coffee table. And see that Buddha head next to the lamp? It is bronze and Meghan carried it back by hand from her honeymoon in Bali. Her husband was not pleased at the time, but thanks her now.

Here is the other side of the living room, complete with a gleaming grid of mirrors on the wall to toss around even more light. I especially enjoy how there are sleek items (like the acrylic coffee table, which is from CB2 by the way) happily hanging out with more textured and nubby things (like the jute rug and those linen-ish chairs).

Speaking of texture, here is the dining chandelier. Hubba hubba, right? It is from West Elm.

Once again Meghan mixed a few sleek items (like those sculptural white chairs) with more rough and textured pieces (like the pendant light and another natural fiber rug) for a balanced and collected-over-time effect.

Now let us check out the den. Is not the grasscloth wallpaper (from a company called Innovations) so vivid? Especially paired with the dark sofa, iron coffee table, and the dark frame of the art. I enjoy how this room feels so moody and inviting with warm pops of spicy orange and red to keep things interesting.

Here is a detail shot of a fairly little collection of vases that Meghan has on display. Once again there is some excellent texture going on (in the wallpaper, those sea fans from Etsy, and even the vases themselves, which are from Williams Sonoma).

Here is Meghan’s kitchen, complete with sleek stainless cabinet pulls and appliances. But once again there is a strong dose of rustic texture thrown in there for balance (in the shade over the sink, the tone on tone backsplash tile, and the rug). Speaking of the rug, it is in fact a hand-me-down from Meghan’s husband’s family.

Here is the bedroom, with dark moody gray walls (you know we enjoy gray walls in the bedroom…) and a vivid upholstered headboard that looks fairly darn inviting. Once again (simply like the den) there are a few hits of warm reddish orange, and a few sophisticated patterns – like the striped pillows and the graphic rug from Crate & Barrel, which seem to add even more depth and interest to the space.

And if this outdoor space is not the bees knees, I do not know what is. in love. With everything. From the giant sectional to those charming little white lace-like lanterns. Wish I could have soaked up this space in person… I bet it would have been even more remarkable. Those blue pillows are from Target and the white lanterns are from HomeGoods by the way.

So that is Meghan’s striking house in Atlanta. We are so thankful to her for inviting us inside to take a peek, and even though we could not make it work in person, we are extra thankful that she was able to take so many photos for us and describe each room in detail so I could share the goods! Oh and you can give Meghan a holler if you are in ATL and want her assist with your house (her email is [email protected]), but first let us play the go-to part game. Mine is certainly that cozy den and the inviting outdoor area while John’s is the dining room – specifically that excellent textured pendant light. What is yours?

Psst- You can check out dozens of other House Crashing adventures that we have shared right here.