wednesday white: surprise guest

On a recent trip to Atlanta I had the great pleasure of spending time with Lee Kleinhelter, after an introduction by our mutual friend, Nikole.  Lee is the well published designer and owner of Atlanta’s notoriously white interiors boutique, Pieces.  Mastermind for infusing a home with white, punches of color, and modern detail, Lee’s approach to design is fresh and unexpected.  Her most recent work in the Modern Life Concept House can be seen in Elle Decor.

For years I’ve drooled over Lee’s well appointed and sophisticated interiors and first “imprinted” on her beyond cool Atlanta home in Cottage Living, I think back in 2006?  I often wondered what she might be like in person.  After having met her, I can tell you she’s warm, witty, bold, and incredibly stylish…much like her design aesthetic.  And yes, she’s beautiful.  Random note:  she used to be an ice skater!  I thought it would be fun to delve into Lee’s style a little more.  Today we’re chatting about her interior design approach, tomorrow her tastes in fashion.

Please welcome Lee Kleinhelter…
lk5

SS:  I would describe my style as…

LK:  Simple and chic usually with an unexpected twist.

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via Lonny

SS: For me, a well designed room always has…

LK:  I don’t believe in formulas or rules with design, it either works, or doesn’t.  I like seeing someone push the envelope, be original and not do the obvious.

SS:  A fabric that has recently caught my attention…

LK:  Obsessed with this new Boussac solids just stumbled upon. Really durable and in great colors. We use high end fabrics for upholstery. I really treat each piece as if its coming home with me.

SS:  My favorite shade of white paint is…

LK:  Still love the old school White Dove by Benjamin Moore.

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via Cottage Living

SS:  When shopping for home accessories, I always gravitate toward…

LK:  There’s no agenda.  I’m always looking for the unique item.

SS:  Favorite item in my store is…

LK:  So hard to narrow down: our Pieces Custom Made Lucite Desk which we’ve been doing a lot of custom pieces lately for designers and stylists.

SS: You will never catch me shopping for…

LK:  What everyone else has… I strive to try to find items other stores don’t carry.

lk3

SS: You will always catch me shopping for…

LK:  Cool vintage items. Not worried about the year or even it’s origination, I fall in love with the lines and what I can turn it into. I feel it’s a lot about layers and editing. I think that’s what has set Pieces apart and why we’ve been successfully open since 2004.

 SS:  My secret design weapon is…

LK:  A handy husband who can build/fix/install almost anything ; )

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one of Lee Kleinhelter’s homes via Cottage Living

SS: For inspiration I turn to…

LK: The usual… Fashion magazines, blogs, traveling, but sometimes it’s forcing yourself to think of something in a different way.  I love to ask, “how can we make this different?”

SS:  These days I’m obsessed with:  

LK:  For furniture, I’m always obsessed with lucite and rattans like our vintage sectional- and we only have one piece left…

People don’t expect to find more rustic items at Pieces, but we actually mix it in a lot.

For accessories: anything bursting and loving touches of gold.  These spiked spheres are under $20:

SS:  If I could design in any period of history, the era I would choose would be…

LK:  I want to live in a Slim Aarons Photograph :) :)  Probably Hollywood in 1950′s.

slim aarons

SS:  I add simple beauty to my home by…

LK:  Not having a lot of stuff.  Maybe because I have so much inventory in the store.  I really want to come home to no clutter.

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Her son’s mod and organized nursery…I’m inspired by the carefully edited toys and clothes. 

090813_EGDines_LeeKleinhelter_Sovereign

.   .   .   .
Lee Kleinhelter’s design thoughts are so refreshing and remind me to declutter and get out of my comfort zone with statement pieces, pardon the pun ; )  Tomorrow she joins us to share some of her fashion secrets.  Cannot wait!!
Also, piece’s is having a 20% off sale, check it out.
By Seleta | 7 Comments

color: part two

To finish up our previous discussion, the one color I’m always drawn to in my wardrobe is navy.  Love it and can never have enough.  When I think of navy, I think of elegance and grace.  Not a trendy shade nor one to draw too much attention to itself, navy is a classic shade that exudes a feeling of solidity and richness quite like no other.

Here is what the colorscope has to say about those of us who love navy:

Navy can certainly be a conservative choice, on the other hand, it can easily pop with the right burst of color.  A good navy dress can be a staple in your wardrobe for years.

navy dress + pop of color

Navy can also carry off a mod vibe when donned with a bold pattern.  Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who normally shied away from busy patterns, made quite a statement in this epic zig zag dress.  She’s walking alongside her sister, Lee, in 1970, who is wearing another one of my favorite looks – all white ; )

navy

I also love that navy is a pervasive color in the equestrian world.  My very favorite saddle pad is navy with a white monogram…I’ve just about worn it out.

navyhorse

If you think you might like a presence of navy in your home, I strongly suggest painting a cozy spot in Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy.  Back hallway, accent wall, entire study, bookshelves – the possibilities are endless.  You cannot go wrong.

 

paint hale navy

Remember this delicious room all lacquered up in navy?  It’s about the 27th time I’ve posted it, but it’s still slices me to the core.  Someday I’m going to have a shiny navy study…someday!

navy2

Speaking of classic style, prepare to meet a guest here on the blog who is a design celeb.  I’ll give you a hint, it’s just in time for Wednesday White.

Keep your eyes open!!

By Seleta | 8 Comments

color: part one

The school year started with a bang.  Our four kids are in three different schools plus my teaching schedule begins at 8:30am.  Mornings are colorful to say the least.  Speaking of which, my new little fifth grader came home in tears because she had to memorize all the states and their capitals.  Being my offspring, I knew she needed something both pretty and interesting to capture her interest in learning something new.  So I found this amazing free printable DIY jigsaw map.   Right here.

My creative learner loved all the fun colors!  And I have to say, I’m impressed with the detail in the design.

You can print this out or if you’re extra crafty, make it into a puzzle…we’re attempting to make it into a puzzle.  Note:  I am literally the worst do-it-yourselfer out there.  First of all, I can’t focus on a project unless I have a super clean space…which is insane because our home is always full of non stop action.  So I have to make sure the kitchen is all clean and sparkly before I begin any D.I.Y. venture.  After I get into the busy portion of the project I become easily distracted – the purr sound of an email, birds fluttering at the feeder, the dog barking at the UPS guy, you name it.  I’m not great with tiny details if they take more than 30 minutes, ha ha.

But I’m committed to finishing this project for my child even if it kills me!

Of course you can make these adorable little flags to embellish your map, but I can’t even go there.  By the time I worked on the second toothpick flag I’d be distracting myself with random things like pinning pictures of farmhouse gates or googling recipes on how to make the perfect finger sandwich.  How I wish I were good at finishing projects!!!  Maybe it’s a sickness?

Switching gears to a big girl color topic, I loved this informative colorscope chart from paper source which links your favorite color to your personality traits.  Couldn’t find  a color description that said “big A.D.D. hot mess.”  I  loved several colors on the chart, but narrowed it down to chartreuse, which is a hue I’m drawn to for design accessories and paper goods.

Next I’ll share with you my favorite color to work with in my wardrobe.  Think you can guess it?  You might be surprised.  Check out the colorscope – feel free to share with us which is your fave!

By Seleta | 11 Comments
  • Simply Me

    SeletaI‘m Seleta, a city girl living the beach life with my husband, fabulous four offspring, happy horses and frisky fur babies. A former TV personality turned Designer, I love to share the sparkly side of life. Read more here.
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