Better Homes and Gardens, Nate Berkus, NYC and Me

Hi there.  I've missed you guys.  It's been a little crazy around here.  Crazy in a good way.  I can't wait to share all the exciting things that have been going on.  First, let me start with an adventure I went on 10 days ago.  Here is a little teaser...

Photo courtesy of © Avi Gerver Photography

 I hopped on a plane and flew to NYC for the Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Stylemaker Event.  I was invited along with 69 other bloggers to attend an exclusive all-day workshop at the BHG New York offices with the BHG team of editors ending with a fabulous party.

I landed in NYC and took a crazy cab ride into Manhattan to my hotel where I hooked up with my friend and roommate, Laura Trevey.   

After exploring the city, we met up with a fun group of bloggers for dinner.  We had a great time getting to know each other and talking shop.  

   

The next day we woke up and headed to the Meredith (BHG) offices.  We spent the day hanging on to the words and advice of the BHG editorial team, enjoying some pretty amazing food and getting to know fellow bloggers.   

(A huge thank you to Minted for creating a gorgeous piece of customized art for every blogger in attendance using photos found on our Instagram Feeds). 

From there we went to a private Stylemaker session. Well, as private as something can be in a room full of bloggers…ha!

Photos courtesy of © Avi Gerver Photography

The session was hosted by Nate Berkus and panel of Stylemakers from the September issue of BHG; Gaby Dalkin of What's Gaby Cooking, Gen Sohr Pencil + Paper Creative Development and Susan Feldman the Co-Founder of One Kings Lane.

Photos courtesy of © Avi Gerver Photography

It was so much fun hearing what they each had to say about personal style.  I snapped the photo below just after Nate discussed the hot button topic of painting wood…he agrees that it's okay.  By the way, you know how Nate appears to be this sweet, down to earth, charming, like-able guy on TV?  Well guess what?  He is. 

  

After the stylemaker discussion we headed over to the top of the Gansevoort Park Hotel where the party took place.  

Photos courtesy of © Avi Gerver Photography

Also joining us was one of my very favorite HGTV personalities; Designer and Host Monica Pedersen and the uber inspiring BHG Editor-in-Chief; Gayle Butler.

Photos courtesy of © Avi Gerver Photography

The food was fabulous, drinks were incredible…

Photos courtesy of © Avi Gerver Photography

 and the guest list was pretty darn cool.  

(The gorgeous Monica Pedersen, myself, and dapper Peter Julian from Scalamandre).

Did I mention how charming Nate is?

Photos courtesy of © Avi Gerver Photography

Oh my gosh, how could I almost forget to tell you about the furniture!  This chic living room set up overlooking the city was styled by Pier One.    

Photos courtesy of © Avi Gerver Photography

  

The furniture provided swanky and comfortable conversation area as well as a gorgeous backdrop for pictures.  Below is the Lee Jeans chick (who seemed kinda quiet), myself and my best girl Stacey who had the opportunity to participate in the BHG Makeover Challenge .

Photos courtesy of © Avi Gerver Photography

Speaking of pictures, the photo booth was very entertaining…

(myself, Sue, Elizabeth, and Laura)

(Kim, Cyndy, myself and Beth)

Thank you, Better Homes and Gardens for the hospitality!  Thank you Lee, Pier 1 Imports, Vanity Fair, Oh Snap Smile and all the other sponsors for the fantastic swag.  You guys know how to throw a party.  To see more photos from this event, please click here. 

 I learned so much from this experience. It was so much more than an exciting trip to the city, a fun day at the BHG offices and a party with awesome people.  It was an incredible, priceless learning experience. I'm always looking for ways to improve my blog content to make it a better experience for my visitors (you).  Because without you, this blog would not exist and that trip would never have been possible.  So, thank you. 

Back to work!  I currently have a few openings for new online design projects and after this trip, I'm feeling pretty inspired!

For information on my affordable online design service please click here.

Off To NYC to hang with BHG and Nate B!

 Today is a very exciting day.  This small town girl is making her way to The Big Apple to attend the Better Homes and Gardens Exclusive StyleMaker Event!  Tonight I'll be enjoying the NYC night life with some of my favorite bloggers.  Tomorrow will be an all-day workshop filled with incredible classes hosted by the BHG Editorial Team.  The workshop will end with a session lead by a panel of three Stylemakers; Gaby Dalkin of What's Gaby Cooking, Gen Sohr Pencil + Paper Creative Development and Susan Feldman the Co-Founder of One Kings Lane .  The lead host of this session will be the one and only Nate Berkus!  

Yes, Nate Berkus!  Truth be told, I almost fell off my chair when I opened this invitation and saw Nates face.  Topping off this adventure will be a cocktail party at a fabulous NYC luxury hotel to celebrate the September StyleMakers issue. 

While I'm away swooning over Nate, the blog will be closed, however the design studio will still be open for my clients.  I'll be back next week to tell you all about the trip.  In the meantime, check out my facebook page and instagram feed for live updates during this adventure!  

For information on my affordable online design service please click here.

Finding Fall Home Tour with BHG!!

I'm so excited to let the cat out of the bag on the home tour I'm participating in next week (Monday).  Not only are there going to be 15 amazing bloggers on the tour but we will also be joined by 

Better Homes and Gardens. 

Here is the lineup:

Monday

Start out at Finding Home and then we move on to  Jeanne Oliver and The Yellow Cape Cod.

Tuesday

Hooked on Houses, Thistlewood Farms and Jones Design Company

Wednesday

Shabby Creek Cottage, Four Generations One Roof, The Old Painted Cottage and The Graphics Fairy

Thursday

My Sweet Savannah, At the Picket Fence (where you get to see two houses including Heather’s new home) and  Jennifer Rizzo.

Friday

The Handmade Home, All Things Heart & Home and In My Own Style.

And there is one final stop – Better Homes and Gardens!

No pressure, right?  Better get back to decorating.  Until Monday, here's a sneak peek at some pumpkin action going down at the yellow cape cod...

 Thank you, Laura at Finding Home for organizing the tour and for including me. 

See you Monday!
For information on my online design service, please click here.
© Copyright 2013 The Yellow Cape Cod

Better Homes And Gardens Christmas Ideas 2013 is out...

Today I would like to give a shout out to my friend, Amanda Carol for letting me know the BHG Christmas Ideas magazine is out.  As soon as I heard, I ran out and picked up a copy. 

Okay,  5 copies.  

On pages 98-103 you can read all about Christmas at the Macklem house. 

If you see the article, pop over and let me know.  It was a lot of fun decorating our home for the BHG shoot.  I have a really cute story to share with you about something in our article that relates to the cover photo...stay tuned for that. 

 Christmas Ideas magazine is my all time favorite source of holiday inspiration.  Thank you, BHG for featuring our home!

For information on my online design service, please click here.
© Copyright 2013 The Yellow Cape Cod

Better Homes And Gardens Christmas Magazine Photo Shoot

Last year, I shared the news that our home was being featured in Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Ideas Magazine 2013.  I still can't believe it happened, but they really did come to my house in suburban Detroit for a photo shoot.  No, really.   My superstitious mind caused me to wait to blog about the experience until the ink was dry. 

BHG contacted me last summer about the opportunity and asked me to have my home prepared for them to photograph at the beginning of November.  My neighbors are used to me decorating early, but I was officially declared nuts when the Christmas tree went up before Halloween.  

{It got around to me that a comparison was made to the crazy target lady. I put us side by side to prove there is absolutely no resemblance}.

The trickiest part about decorating this early was getting ahold of fresh greens.  Prior to BHG traveling to Detroit, they asked me to send photos of our completed decorations so they could plan the shoot.  I use lots of fresh greens, and this meant I needed two sets, one for the "scouting shots" (that's what the editor's refer to the preview photos as) and a fresh set for the actual photo shoot. 

My solution was to gather greens from my yard for the scouting shots.  Then as the day of the photo shoot neared, I replaced them with the real deal from my favorite local nursery.  To insure I had the best greens available for the day of the shoot, I bought them early and kept them rolled up and bound in bundles under the deck.  Everyday I sprayed them with a water bottle to keep them fresh.  It was a labor of BHG love. 

Since it was early, I had only bought a few gifts.  The tree looked bare without presents so my amazing cousin, Alissa, stayed up late with me one night to wrap faux presents.  I have to say, she can wrap a mean box of cereal.

Prior to the day of the shoot, a BHG stylist (Jan) came to my home to check lighting and make any necessary tweaks.  She was an absolute pleasure to work with.  Her sweet nature put me at ease right away.  It was so much fun having someone else play with my house, especially a BHG stylist!  

I'm usually pretty calm during big life events, but there is a moment…slightly before that I have a complete meltdown.  That moment came the day before Jan arrived.   BHG gave me a simple mission to provide fresh tulips.  When they were delivered, they were small, green and tightly closed.  Mission failed!  My local florist came to the rescue with an amazing alternate floral arrangement.  When the magazine hits newsstands, be sure to check out what they helped us create.  :)

Our fingers were crossed for a dusting of snow and a nice sunny day.  However, the day of the photo shoot was the grayest Michigan day ever.  It was literally like night almost all day.  The photographer was amazing.  She was able to create light that appeared to be natural.  I pretty much stalked her the entire day taking notes.  

Just before our family photo was taken,  Jan asked if we could change my hubbies shirt.  It blended in with our wall color.  My closet is my dirty secret.  It's the one place in the house that I'm all like, "Thank God no one will ever see this".  

Low and behold, Mike, Jan and I ended up in the closet together.

And, it wasn't weird.  

That's how sweet and professional she was.  

{Murpie put on his red sweater for the photo shoot, but unfortunately didn't make the final cut}.

  

The photos in this post were either spaces that were not photographed by BHG or from previous years.  Our decor last year has been kept under wraps only to be viewed in the magazine.  Thanks for letting me share this experience with you.  Christmas Ideas Magazine usually prints in August and is available in newsstands through the end of December.  

Stop by and let me know if you see the article!

For information on my affordable design services, please click here. 

© Copyright 2013 The Yellow Cape Cod

Christmas Mantel At BHG {Seasonal Decor Confusion}

At the end of this post, please share your thoughts on early decorators.  At what point to do feel it's ok to pull out the Christmas decor and when is it just plain too early?

I'm ready right now thanks to...

I'm known to be a little early busting out the Christmas decor every year but, c'mon, September?  Am I really blogging about Christmas when it's still 80 degrees in Michigan?  

  

I can't help it, I'm so excited to have my Christmas mantel featured at BHG.com.

A few months ago, I was contacted by Better Homes and Gardens about including my Reindeer Antler Snowflake Mantel in their 2012 Christmas slide show.  

After falling out of my chair, I responded with a huge yes, answered some of their questions and proceeded to stalk the BHG.com website every day until it was published, yesterday.

The slide show is a fantastic collection of "real home" Christmas mantels.  It's very inspiring.  So inspiring that now, I'm ready to go into the basement and dig out the Christmas boxes.  

I have a major case of seasonal decorating confusion.  

Here is the link to the BHG.com slide show.  You can also find their Christmas Ideas Magazine publication in stores now {which includes a beautiful spread on one of my favorite Christmas homes}.  My hope is that you will catch the seasonal confusion bug and I won't feel so alone.

At what point is it ok to decorate early?  When is it acceptable and when is it a little crazy?

Thank you, Better Homes and Gardens, for the feature.