If it’s the backsplash for a completely unique outdoor kitchen, all the better!
Michael Stave
But, of course, no one does blue and white quite like Mother Nature. Wherever you are today, wishing you blue and white skies–and, if you’re really, really lucky, blue water too!
I’m in beautiful Litchfield Beach, SC today speaking at the Litchfield Books Moveable Feast Literary Luncheon–one of my favorite events–and then speaking to the Federation of South Carolina Women’s Clubs tonight. Tomorrow I’ll be in the Holy City, Charleston, SC, for a fabulous luncheon at High Cotton to help raise funds for the South Carolina Reading Partners, which promotes one of my favorite causes: literacy. If you’re in the area, join us! Happy weekend!
And don’t forget to enter to win $250 to spend any way you want at Amazon. 25 copies of Slightly South of Simple, anyone?
We were sad to leave an incredible few launch days for Slightly South of Simple in NYC but so excited to be heading back to the Carolina coast today for several really fun events! (If you’re in NC or SC take a peek at my next few days of events below. I’d love to see you!)
Michael Wells Interiors
Are you one of those people who has all of your books compactly stored on your e-reader?
Book hoarding has always been a bit of an issue for me, but it has gotten a million times worse since becoming an author because, not only do I get hordes of free books, but most of them are signed. Who could possibly get rid of those?
Hubby and I have these giant, probably twelve-foot tall bookshelves on either side of the fireplace. The other day I was up on a stool restyling things when he came in and said, “Do you think you could start getting rid of some of your books after you’re finished reading them?”
His turn to look, puzzled, at the probably 500 books I was currently organizing. Reading the look on his face, I laughed and said, “Oh, honey. These are the ones I haven’t read yet.”
So, yes, I may have a problem. I can’t help myself. I buy books incessantly. Fiction, non-fiction, every design and coffee table book on planet earth. Yoga. Meditation. Cookbooks that I will never, ever use but for some reason love to read. Fishing books for hubby. Children’s books for my little guy, a genre that has not widely expanded since he can read himself… Being on tour is quite the problem since I’m in bookstores constantly.
But maybe this is why I love bookshelves that look a little lived in, that look like the books have been read and cherished, or at least will be read and cherished.
No matter how you style your bookshelves, we hope you’ll consider adding a copy of Slightly South of Simple to them! Or that stack beside your bedside table… Or your beach bag… Or your Mother’s Day gift or wishlist! Thank you to each and every one of you for all of your support during this first week of Slightly South of Simple being out in the world. I am so grateful for friends like you!
Upcoming Events!
Thursday, April 27: Read between the Wines at Silver Coast Winery, 6680 Barbeque Rd., Ocean Isle Beach, NC, 5-7 pm, 910-287-2800, Contact: Pat Wilson, [email protected]
Friday, April 28: Litchfield Books’ Moveable Feast, Luncheon, Talk and Signing, Grand Dunes Ocean Club, 101 Grande Dunes Bvd., Myrtle Beach, SC 29572, 11 am, open to the public, tickets required, Contact: Vicky Crafton, 843-237-8138, for tickets
Friday, April 28: Signing, Litchfield Books, 2 pm, free and open to the public
Friday,April 28: Keynote at General Federation of Womens’Clubs of SC, Pawley’s Island, SC; Subject: Decorating tips for Mary Alice Monroe’s novel Beach House for Rent
Saturday,April 29: Charleston, SC luncheon and talk, High Cotton, 199 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401, Contact: [email protected]
Sunday, April 30: Champagne brunch at Elizabethan Gardens, 1411 National Park Dr, Manteo, NC 27954, ticketed event, $35 includes copy of novel, 2 pm, Contact: Contact Jamie Layton, Downtown Books, [email protected].com, (252) 473-1056
Help us spread the word about Slightly South of Simple and be entered to win a $250 Amazon gift card. Details in the Rafflecopter!
We can’t believe that Slightly South of Simple is releasing tomorrow officially. It will be on the shelves at your favorite local bookstores, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Target, on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
Thank you, thank you to all of our wonderful, loyal Design Chic readers. We love seeing you every day, getting your emails and comments and hearing your thoughts. And I am especially grateful of all of your support of my writing career. You have all just rallied around me from the first day. I hope you love this one, the first book in the Peachtree Bluff Series, as much as I loved writing it!
This is the last day to enter to win!! We’re partnering with our friends at Reebonz to give away a stunning black, Salvatore Ferragamo Darina back, which retails for $1750, to one lucky reader! If you’ve already ordered Slightly South of Simple, don’t forget to enter this one! And if you haven’t, now is your chance! Pre-order from your local bookstore, Indiebound.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble,Books-A-Million, Target or Duck’s Cottage.
Good morning, chic readers from here in Hoschton, Georgia! The Slightly South of Simple tour is off to a terrific start. I am thrilled to be here today at Deaton Creek to talk to a fabulous group of writing, downsizing and creating a life you love.
I’ll be in Atlanta later on the in tour (May 6 at Boxwoods at 11 am). In the spirit of Georgia, Slightly South of Simple’s setting, we thought we’d tour this fabulous Atlanta home by Barbara Westbrook and Elizabeth Hanson of Westbrook Interiors today.
Atlanta is one of our favorite cities because it combines the best parts of a big city and a small southern town.
And, whether it’s a traditional home and yard with a picket fence or high rise city living you’re looking for, Atlanta offers both in style!
This gorgeous Atlanta pied-a-terre has a view as beautiful as its interior.
We love the clean, uncluttered, streamlined look of this entire home.
A hand-drawn Prunus pattern on glazed silk paper by Fromental defines this gorgeous vanity area. It makes a soft and elegant statement.
A Phillip Jeffries floral wallpaper in the half bath is a little bolder.
This black and white bedroom proves that, when done right, a smaller bedroom can feel spacious, chic and fabulous for guests! Thanks so much for stopping by today to tour this Atlanta stunner!
INTERIOR DESIGN: Barbara Westbrook and Elizabeth Hanson, Westbrook Interiors
We are so excited to by celebrating the beginning of the Slightly South of Simple book launch in style! We’re partnering with our friends at Reebonz to give away a stunning black, Salvatore Ferragamo Darina back, which retails for $1750, to one lucky reader! If you’ve already ordered Slightly South of Simple, don’t forget to enter this one! And if you haven’t, now is your chance! Pre-order from your local bookstore, Indiebound.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble,Books-A-Million, Target or Duck’s Cottage.
Good morning, chic readers! For those of you who celebrate, we hope you had a terrific Easter weekend! It is almost impossible to believe that I leave today for the Slightly South of Simple tour–and my first event is tomorrow! (But don’t worry. The book doesn’t release until April 25, so there’s still time to pre-order from your favorite store to have your copy in hand on launch day!)
A garden party seemed appropriate for today for a number of reasons, not the least of which that it is spring, spring, spring and there is no better season to be outdoors and take the time to implement those special touches.
The event will be held at the beautiful Piedmont Club, which the stunning Montgomery House, an 1893 Queen Ann with quite a bit of history, was converted into.
Many of the original rooms–including the fabled ballroom–are not open to the public, but I’m going to see if I can finagle (or sneak… whatever…) in there and get a peek for all of you! If you don’t follow us on Instagram–@kristywharvey–make sure to start. I’ll be sharing lots of fun video and photo coverage of the stunning homes we’ll be touring as a part of the SSoS tour!
Either way, there is nothing more southern than starting a book tour in an historic home converted to a beautiful club and dining and speaking with a group of women who put a strong emphasis on beauty and culture.
These pictures might just be inspiration enough for throwing some of our own this summer, but, just in case, we can’t wait to hear some of these lovely ladies’ best tips for creating a garden party in style.
But, really, the thing that makes every garden party so much fun is the people around the table. We hope your week holds some special time with wonderful friends. Thanks so much for stopping by today!
We are so excited to by celebrating the beginning of the Slightly South of Simple book launch in style! We’re partnering with our friends at Reebonz to give away a stunning black, Salvatore Ferragamo Darina back, which retails for $1750, to one lucky reader! If you’ve already ordered Slightly South of Simple, don’t forget to enter this one! And if you haven’t, now is your chance! Pre-order from your local bookstore, Indiebound.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble,Books-A-Million, Target or Duck’s Cottage.
“I highly recommend Slightly South of Simple to the reader who appreciates the charm of Southern Literature. It’s one of the best.”–Katie Clooney, Preppy Empty Nester
photo via Lindsay Corrigan
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We are so excited for one of the biggest design weekends of the year. If you are at High Point Market, we’d love for you to drop by the Codarus Showroom, IHFC H220, on Sunday, April 23, 3-5pm for snacks, sips and Slightly South of Simple.
Spring is here and that can only mean one thing: Time for entertaining! Well, to be fair, it can mean a lot of things… But isn’t that a fun thing for it to mean?
From sprucing your nest to fabulous invitations, cute party ideas and everything in between, Minted is one of our favorite one-stop shops for all of our entertaining needs. (Keep reading to find out how to win $300 towards your spring entertaining goals!)
Babies are obviously born all year round, but we tend to think of Spring as baby shower season. This beautiful Sip and See for a sweet baby girl is so idyllic! This pink and white just feels like Spring. And the invitation is so adorable!
Beautiful art by talented artists is one of Minted’s specialties. We love, love all of our Minted art–and are always perusing their new independent artists to see what’s next.
With Easter right around the corner, there’s no time like the present to plan a charming Easter egg hunt! Minted has you covered!
No matter the celebration, they can help bring the vision to life!
Planning your dream wedding? From formal and elegant to truly farm to table, weddings–and invitations–come in as many styles as the couples who are having them. We love to see the creative things that people come up with!
We have partnered with Minted many times before on fabulous Christmas cards, photo books and more, but we were so excited to work with them on fun party invitations for the Slightly South of Simple book launch as well! (So, yeah, Spring is Slightly South of Simple season too!)
We love these invitations for the Kinston, NC SPCA fundraising launch and the NYC launch–oh, and you’re invited too!! We’d love to have you!
Whether you’re looking for a gorgeous piece of art, a fabulous invitation or are already thinking about holiday cards, we’re so excited that Minted is helping us celebrate the countdown until Slightly South of Simple(less than one month!) and offering $350 to one of our amazing readers! There are so many ways to enter! We’ll announce a lucky winner on Monday, April 3. a Rafflecopter giveaway
