Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles 10 under 40 Party

Every year in their March issue Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles selects locals that they recognize as rising stars in the design industry. This year's list of who's who among Atlanta's tastemakers couldn't have been more on point. In celebration of the 10 successful, stylish Atlantans a soiree was held at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams's Buckhead showroom.
While chatting it up with Editor, Clinton Smith, and decorator and 10 under 40 recipient, Brian Patrick Flynn, we were were snapped by photographer, Kim Link.

Spotted at the AH&L 10 under 40 Party (top, center)

 We also got to catch up with several other stylish Atlantans including uber-talented AH&L Associate Editor and friend, Kate Abney; savvy designer and 10 under 40 recipient, Niki Papadopoulos; and commercial real estate guru and 2006 recipient, Gene Kansas. There are few things better than dressing up and spending an evening with those that inspire you. There is no doubt the future burns bright for these 10, I cannot wait to see what it has in store!

Thank you Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles!

Erica at Douglas & Co.

Today we are are exploring a new path for Wonderlust with a feature on hair stylist Erica Childs of Douglas and Co. Erica is super talented and although she is a total sweetheart, she is not afraid to tell you when something will or will not work for you or your hair. For me this is the most important quality in a hair stylist.

 

Lyrical Inspiration {Mushaboom}

Feist's Mushaboom

Helping the kids out of their coats
But wait the babies haven't been born
Unpacking the bags and setting up
And planting lilacs and buttercups

Culinary Creations {Veal Piccata}

I am excited to introduce guest, Shelly Hiatt, the blogger behind A Collection of Culinary Creations. She showed off her cooking skills preparing a delicious veal piccata for us served with alongside green beans and mashed potatoes.

Graphic Accents in Miami

Miami abounds with dynamic architecture, often in contrasting stark white and rainbow of hues that pierce it's blue skies.

 

I have an affinity for Art Deco so this city definitely hits the spot for me.

Inspired Interiors in Miami

Interiors in Miami range from the extreme modern to the wonderfully whimsical, making a visit feel like an escape from the everyday.

The Shelbourne Hotel where Jona stayed during her trip to Miami.

The decadent yet still crisp interior of the Mondrian Hotel. Jona's favorite
hotel, she describes it feeling like a dream she never wanted to leave.

Fresh Foodie {Bran Flax Muffins}

We are back with another delicious recipe from guest, JoAnna! We previously featured the delicious Flaugnarde with Roasted Berries she created.

Joanna used the recipe from Bob's Flaxseed Meal as inspiration, making a few alterations:

• no raisins
• toast the pecans
• 1 mashed banana and applesauce in place of the apples
• part heavy cream / part greek yogurt

Dreamy Scenery in Miami

Wonderlust photographer and contributor, Jona, recently visited Miami with a girlfriend from college and luckily for us she captured the following dreamy images while on vacation.

Q & A 

WL: When you think Miami what images come to mind? 
J: Modern and contemporary style accented with glamor! What a breath of fresh air!

Catalog Love {Crate&Barrel}

Opening the Spring 2011 Crate&Barrel catalog images of beach houses and entertaining entered my mind. Perfect timing with the recent warmer weather in Atlanta.

Looking at these slatted beechwood Channel Chairs thoughts of the sun warming my skin danced around in my head.

I love that they recently ventured in a new direction that has continued into 2011, with new offerings that appeal more to my personal style than those of recent years.

We Would Love to Feature Your Home on Wonderlust

 

Do you live in the Atlanta area and feel your home arouses a sense of wonder? If so we would love the opportunity to feature your space on Wonderlust. 

Fresh Foodie {Flaugnarde with Roasted Berries}

I am very excited about our first guest blogger series, Fresh Foodie. Contributer, JoAnna J. Garnto, is the voice behind blog, re-U.

Q & A

Q: What would you say you enjoy most about cooking?  

A: What I love most about cooking is the final product, the enjoyment of sharing something healthy that I created with friends & family. Besides enjoying the results, I love the process. It can be very therapeutic some days to pour myself a glass of wine and dive into a new recipe.    

Love for Valentine's Day

I wish that as adults we all still viewed Valentine’s Day through the eyes of a child.

Emily's Cool & Comfortable

I am so appreciative that my dear friend, Emily Browne, allowed us to share a glimpse into her home that she shares with her boston terrier, Lucy.

Emily is absolutely gorgeous, always smiling, fantastically goofy, and a loyal friend. I met her almost three years ago when she was working as a commercial interior designer and first moving into her condo. I have been fortunate enough to see the space grow from a clean slate of white walls and furniture from her days of roommates and renting to something well, more Emily. 

Catalog Love {J.Crew}

I am drawn to the delicious shades in J.Crew's spring collection. The styles are perfectly displayed against lovely neutral interiors and green grass.

I don't know about you, but gosh I have felt pent up this winter. Splashes of coral, blush, and a hint of lime hit the spot and are the perfect antidote for rainy days and cold weather blues.

Lyrical Inspiration {My Favorite Things}

 Artwork by Violet Shum

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings  

These are a few of my favorite things

In Need of a New Workspace

After finishing design school I purged a ton and sold off random furniture so that my new home, a small studio on 10th street, would not feel overwhelmed. In the process I unloaded my drafting desk, where I had spent so many creative hours. Wonderlust has helped to get my creative juices flowing and I have found renewed interest in old hobbies. My sewing machine is beckoning from deep within my armoire and art supplies are ready to crawl out of the boxes they have been stashed away in for far too long.

 

So this brings me a new challenge, I am on the hunt for the perfect workspace. I find myself drawn to white desks with clean lines, it's almost as if they leave more room for creativity to flourish.

My 28th!!

I started the day with a massage that made it the most relaxed birthday ever (massages should be mandatory for everyone's birthday). I decided to keep it simple and invited a few close friends to dinner at Varasano's Pizzeria. My favorite thing on the menu is the Dolce Pizza with Medjool Dates & Fontina dressed with Honey,Walnuts & Rosemary -- Mmmmmm -- positively delicious.

Me and Shelly, a fellow blogger.

My dear friend, Kate, and fellow Wonderluster, Jona, were the creative force behind the the best presentation of a giftcard ever. Together they went through Anthropologie taking pictures of things they knew I would love and printed them Polaroid style with descriptions.

Graphic Accents in NYC

This is part deux of inspiring photographs from Jona's trip to NYC. Enjoy!

Architectural Delights in NYC

During December Jona took a little trip to the Big Apple that resulted in these lovely photographs.

 

Inspiration in Words

Nancy Horan's wonderful use of words in Loving Frank create spot on mental snapshots of Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture. I am about half way through the book and awoke up this morning with an urge to delve into photographs of Wright's signature prairie style architecture.

Maps as Artwork

I have had a soft spot for maps displayed in the home as artwork for quite some time now. I am loving these few that were posted over at Pattern People.

Catalog Love {Urban Outfitters}

Urban Outfitters seems to be following the lead of big sister Anthropologie with the styling of it's recent catalog. While flipping through I had to pause when greeted with the graphic architecture used as a juxtaposition to their new spring wear.

I am digging the 60's architecture and the mod imagery. 

 

There is something almost other worldly about these images as if they 

were taken amongst the modern architecture of another planet.

 

Calendar for 2011 and Beyond

I am loving this perpetual calendar from Calouette I discovered via Inhabitat.

The contrast of the salvaged wood beam against the acrylic pieces is right up my alley.

The salvaged timbers are hand selected so no two are alike. Each transparent acrylic piece is numbered for one of the 366 days in a year.

This is definitely going on my wish list!

Catalog Love

I have always had a soft spot for West Elm's parsons desk. The popular white has long been my favorite but it has recently been replaced in my heart by the new hand wrapped metal version pictured above.

While I love the glamor of the new mirrored version, I could not handle the maintenance of using it for an everyday desk. It would however make a lovely addition to a guest room or entryway.  

While perusing local vintage stores I often find myself lusting after old library card catalogues with an interesting sense of curiosity and desire. Unfortunately I cannot come up with a practical use that justifies making room for one in my studio apartment. Naturally I was happy when I discovered CB2's new archive credenza. The piece is inspired by vintage library card catalogues but appeals to my practical side, with doors that look like drawers, it can be used for anything from media to dish storage.

Modern Home

One of the exciting things about living in Midtown Atlanta is the variety of architecture. Occasionally you find yourself pleasantly taken aback when you pass by a newer modern home residing comfortably beside an older craftsman, neoclassical or colonial.

I have been watching the progress of this modern home's construction on 9th street for several months. I cannot wait to see what type of materials they use on the exterior and of course I am curious about the interior as well.

Nostalgia for Domino

Over the past couple years several shelter magazines folded including my personal favorite Domino. Almost two years later I still miss it... Luckily for former devotees like myself digital archives of the magazine are available at brides.com.

Images via brides.com.

Thoughts for 2011

Also... Don’t fantasize about being someone who is more ________ in 2011 (popular, thin, beautiful, etc) focus on being someone who lives.  Wake up in 2011 and don’t waste a day of it. (via makeundermylife)

Some of the loveliest words that arrive in my inbox are from Dominique Browning via her blog, Slow Life Love. Her wishes for the New Year: 

May the next year be a time of growth, and change, and delight. May we all find ways to give of the love with which our hearts are so easily filled--when we let them be filled. May we learn to unclench our fists, and let go of anger. May we metamorphose through our days in an atmosphere of good will, and take flight into the world sparkling good will over others, in coherent scatterings of light. And may the inevitable incoherent scatterings visited upon us eventually leave us stronger and better.

Hello

Like many aspiring designers we found ourselves in a strange place after the economic decline that began in 2008. Few understand the soul satisfying fulfillment found in the creative process and ultimately the end product, for us that had been the world of interior design. Without the careers we had long dreamed of we felt as though we had lost a part of ourselves.

Rather than dwell in a seemingly endless rut we decided to funnel our creative energy into something new. From this Wonderlust was born. Our goal with this project is to create something that will not only bring the light of inspiration into our lives but into yours as well.

Here's to a New Year filled with wonder!

 Confetti Light by Front

Lavish! Party

A few fun photos from an after party for the Lavish! Lifestyle Social Networker Conference held in Atlanta last month. The party was hosted at Bradford Gallery and sponsored by Rue Magazine, Studio M and HGTV.

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