But that doesn’t mean that we can’t still get out the hot dogs and baked beans and celebrate with our families. (Socially distanced and 10 at a time, of course!)
To get you in the celebrating spirit, check out ten of our favorite family rooms that are the perfect place to gather the ones you love most–even if it’s just for family movie night.
And if you can’t make it to the beach, at least you can look at it from the comfort of your family room. For indoor style, we don’t think it gets much better than these chic spaces. Which is your favorite?
“Feels Like Falling” by Kristy Woodson Harvey @kristywharvey was a definite 5⭐!!… This story has a dual POV, alternating between Gray and Diana. Gray just lost her mother to cancer! She is the CEO of her company and recently split from her husband who cheated on her. She goes to spend the summer at the North Carolina shore. Diana who loses her job at the pharmacy has just broke up with her boyfriend, moved out of their shared apartment and planning to just live in her car! Just so happens, Gray has a spare guest house and offers Diana to stay there. These 2 , very different women truly Bond and help each other through the hard times in their life. They learn so much about themselves, and what really matters in life! I loved both characters!! This story was sweet, dealing with love, loss, romance, motherhood, and life!! This truly was a perfect beach read. A very endearing, positive read.
Happy Wednesday, chic friends! We hope you had an amazing Cinco de Mayo! I can’t believe that my new book, Feels Like Falling, has been out in the world for more than a week! Have you picked up your copy yet?
If not (or, if so) we wanted to share the inspiration for one of our favorite houses in the book, that of Marcy, Gray’s best friend, who lives right next door, rent-free, in the waterfront home that her parents, who live in Maine, bought for investment purposes and only visited once a year.
Gray and Marcy have one of my favorite friendships of the entire book.
About Marcy, Gray says,
“I couldn’t help but laugh, which was something Marcy had been good for since the day we met. The day my now almost ex-husband Greg and I closed on our beach house five years ago, Marcy came by with a measuring cup in her hand.
“You need sugar?” I’d asked. “No,” she replied. “Vodka.” I knew right then and there that this girl and I were going to get along just fine.”
Now, more than ever, I think we can all appreciate the value of an amazing neighbor–and an even better friend.
Marcy’s house (inspired by this stunning Amy Berry-designed home). is perfect for a fun, carefree, thirty-something about to embark on a new chapter of her life.
And a porch for entertaining friends and dining al fresco all year long, this is the quintessential “Cape Carolina” house (the fictional setting of Feels Like Falling!), and just one of many places you get to visit in my sixth novel, Feels Like Falling!
Feels Like Falling has received numerous accolades, including Goodreads’ “It” Book of Summer! It’s available now from your independent bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and on your Target, Walmart or Kroger run! The perfect read for right now, Publisher’s Weekly said, “In pitch-perfect tones, Harvey creates two Southern women doing their best to deal with everything life throws at them, and her able plotting will keep readers turning the pages…Harvey’s optimistic tale just might convince readers that bouncing back can actually land a person in a better place than where they started.” —Publishers Weekly
Upcoming Virtual Events!
May 6: Friends + Fiction, 7 pm. With Mary Kay Andrews, Mary Alice Monroe, Patti Callahan Henry and Kristin Harmel.
May 7: Conversations from a Page Virtual Event, 12 PM EST, RSVP Here. And sign up for the wonderful CFAP Newsletter Here!
May 8: Story on the Square Zoom event, 6:30PM. Details to come.
May 19: Summer Songs, Books and Breezes with Adventures by the Book! Featuring Mary Kay Andrew, Mary Alice Monroe, Amy Mason Doan and Kristy Woodson Harvey. 7 pm EST. Register here!
May 20: M Judson Booksellers Zoom Virtual Event, 12:00PM.
Please remember your indie bookstores first! You can pick up Feels Like Falling on your Target, Walmart or Kroeger run–or at your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble or Books-a-Million.
Good morning, chic readers! I can’t believe it, but my sixth novel, Feels Like Falling, officially releases tomorrow! If you’re looking to add to your bookshelves–or your beach bag–I’d love it if you’d check it out!
Whatever look you love best in your bookcases, I would love it if you added Feels Like Falling to it! Here’s a little more info:
From “the next major voice in Southern fiction” (Elin Hilderbrand) and the bestselling author of the Peachtree Bluff series comes an odd-couple tale of friendship that asks just how much our past choices define our happiness.
It’s summertime on the North Carolina coast and the livin’ is easy.
Unless, that is, you’ve just lost your mother to cancer, your sister to her extremist husband, and your husband to his executive assistant. Meet Gray Howard. Right when Gray could use a serious infusion of good karma in her life, she inadvertently gets a stranger, Diana Harrington, fired from her job at the local pharmacy.
Diana Harrington’s summer isn’t off to the greatest start either: Hours before losing her job, she broke up with her boyfriend and moved out of their shared house with only a worn-out Impala for a bed. Lucky for her, Gray has an empty guest house and a very guilty conscience.
With Gray’s kindness, Diana’s tide begins to turn. But when her first love returns, every secret from her past seems to resurface all at once. And, as Gray begins to blaze a new trail, she discovers, with Diana’s help, that what she envisioned as her perfect life may not be what she wants at all.
In her warmest, wisest novel yet, Kristy Woodson Harvey delivers a discerning portrait of modern womanhood through two vastly different lenses. Feels Like Falling is a beach bag essential for Harvey fans—and for a new generation of readers.
Thanks so much, wonderful readers, for being so incredibly supportive not only of Design Chic for these past nine (almost ten!) years but also for being such ardent supporters of my writing career. I am here, six books later, because of the incredibly generous blogger and influencer friends I’ve made along the way and because of my steadfast readers who continue to buy my books, review them on Amazon and Goodreads, put them in their book clubs and show up at my events. I am unspeakably grateful for each of you!
Speaking of Showing Up at My Events… Here are the Tour Dates for the Next Few Days. Or Check Out the Full Tour Schedule!
April 27: Fountain Bookstore Virtual Event via Crowdcast
April 28:SIBA Virtual Event via Zoom, 3:00 PM, 20 min presentation with a 20 min Q&A. Books available fromFiction Addiction. Full list of participating booksellershere.
April 29: Kristy a Part of BookSpark’s Keep Calm and Read On Virtual Event.
April 29: Kristy Virtual/Drive-by Event with Beaufort Linen Co, Noon, Kristy & BL Sending Email/Paper Invitation
April 29: Kristy on Zoom with Liz & Lisa at Warwick’s. Click on the link in the Kristy Woodson Harvey event details. Enter the Meeting ID: 728 655 614 and Password: 397363.
Good morning, chic friends! You are in for a treat today! You know that Andrew Howard is one of our favorite designers. We’d been waiting for the right time to tour his fabulous home. And, with so many of us stuck inside, today seemed like the perfect time to tour a Florida house that feels like a vacation.
One of our favorite things about Andrew’s work is how effortlessly he uses bold color, plenty of pattern, and pulls it all off in a way that seems totally seamless. That is evident from the moment you walk through the front door of the home he and his wife Katie designed and built from the ground up. The hand painted mural and mosaic tile were chosen with the couple’s two young sons in mind.
We love how Howard tends to design for family life. One of his top priorities while outfitting this home was to make sure that it contained plenty of spaces for the family to gather together. Mission accomplished!
The ceilings in this perfectly curated home are never overlooked.
Especially in the dining room, which often lacks the opportunity for detail that other rooms have naturally, extra attention to the ceiling, architecture and wallpaper makes the space come to life.
Blue and white is a go-to color combination for many. For Howard, a blue and white base allows for the layering of other colors, which he does so well through the home.
We especially love the charming kitchen, where architectural details positively steal the show.
A built-in banquette provides a breakfast area perfect for a family, saves space and allows plenty of light to shine through.
Every element of this family room is uber-sophisticated, but the art and fabrics provide enough whimsy to make it suited for family living.
The ceiling really sets this chic space apart.
Add a soaking tub, and you have master suite perfection!
While Howard’s own, signature look is always at play in every room, this one exudes Florida style.
And the color palette and bamboo touches exude that classic Florida look–reimagined in a brand-new way.
Kids’ spaces are always the most fun, aren’t they? These built-in bunk beds are some of the most charming we’ve seen. And stairs that double as drawers make a fabulous use of space.
Pattern-on-pattern is always a good idea–especially in kids’ rooms! It adds instant energy.
To a positively chic laundry room, the Howard’s home has it all. Not one detail was overlooked in the creation of a family dream home. We don’t know about you, but we can’t wait to see what Howard does next!
Thanks so much for making Design Chic a part of your day. We always love seeing you here!!
If you’re looking for a relaxing quarantine activity, reading is always a great choice! My entire Peachtree Bluff Series is out and available now!
And Feels Like Falling is available for preorder now, so it can be in your hands on April 28!
CLICK Each Item Below to Learn More:
One of the most common questions I get asked on book tour is about my editing process. If you want to know a little more about the process of making my sixth novel, Feels Like Falling—which releases April 28, 2020–come to life, check out this quick snippet!
If you’re hoping to kick your Tuesday off with a bang, look no further! We think this chic, modern dining room–the perfect mix of natural calm and pizazz–is a great start.
The good taste of Jean Stoffer Design absolutely captivated us–and we think it will captivate you too!
Each and every space–from the huge to the tiny–makes a bold, unforgettable statement.
We’re huge fans of this stunning master bathroom. From the architectural details to the intricate tile work to those fabulous sconces, each and every tiny element comes together to make a space that shines.
And this laundry room? Well, let’s just say, we’d love Jean Stoffer Design to create a haven like this for us any time. What about you?
Thanks so much for making Design Chic a part of your day. We love seeing you here!
My sixth novel, Feels Like Falling, releases April 28, 2020–and is available for preorder now! Want to know more? Check out this quick, 90-second video!
April 22: Country Club of the Crystal Coast, 152 Oakleaf Dr, Pine Knoll Shores, NC 28512, 6pm, For Reservations and More Information Contact the CCCC at (252) 726-1034.
April 23: Women’s Association of Hilton Head Island 2020 Author Series, South Carolina Yacht Club in Windmill Harbor Marina,161 Harbour Passage, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926, 4:30 – 6:30pm.
April 24: Moveable Feast hosted by Litchfield Books, Kimbel’s Wachesaw, 1930 Governors Landing Rd, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576, 11:30 AM, Tickets are $48 per person, and include a copy of the book. To make a reservation call 843-235-9600.
April 24: In-Store Book Signing at Litchfield Books – 11421 Ocean Hwy, Pawleys Island, SC 29585, 2:00 PM, Free and Open to the Public.
April 24: General Federation of Women’s Clubs-SC Federation Day Keynote, Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, 8121 Amalfi Pl, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572, 7 pm, Private Event.
April 25: Zia Boutique Books & Bloody Marys, Kristy in Conversation with Zelle Wiggins, owner of Zia Boutique and founder of Southern Style Blog, 11 am (talk), Signing Until 1 pm, Zia Boutique, 1113 Military Cutoff Rd A, Wilmington, NC 28405, Free and Open to the Public, (910) 679-4101 for more information.
April 26: Signing at Mydoma Showroom, High Point Market, Private for High Point Market Attendees, High Point, NC, Details TBA.
April 27: Fountain Bookstore, Talk, Q&A and Signing, 2 pm, 1312 E Cary St, Richmond, VA 23219, More information and preorders available from [email protected].
April 27: Cocktail Party. Hosted by Francene Katzen and Allie Carter of Alexandra Bee Blog, 6 pm. Richmond, VA. Private Event.
April 28: Feels Like Falling officially launches! Virtual Launch Day Celebrations happening on Bloom, the reading community of the Tall Poppy Writers and Kristy Woodson Harvey Facebook!
April 28: Page 158, Wake Forest, NC. Details TBA.
April 28: Launch Party at Pigfish Lane Antiques, 5425 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27606, 5-8 pm, Book Sales by Quail Ridge Books (QRB will be on site.) Hosted by Marge Knutson. For more information contact [email protected]or 919-436-4006. For personalized preorders or post-event book shipping contact Quail Ridge Books at (919) 828-1588. Refreshments provided, Free and Open to the Public.
April 29: Pretty Please Houston, 8791 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX, 77024, Talk and Signing, 5-7 pm, Free and Open to the Public. Book Sales by Murder by the Book.
April 30: Spring Fling with Kristy Woodson Harvey, Brooke Fossey, James R. Hannibal and Julie Cantrell. 8:45 am-11:15 am, Address provided after online registration. Houston, TX. Preorders available from Murder by the Book. Click herefor more information and registration.
April 30: Houston, TX Book Club, 12 pm. Private Event.
April 30: Houston, TX Cocktail Party. Private Event.
May 1: Country Book Shop, Southern Pines, NC. Details TBA.
May 2: Park Road Books, Talk and Signing, 2 pm, 4139 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC 28209, More information and signed, personalized preorders or post-event shipments from [email protected]or 704-525-9239. Free and Open to the Public.
May 2: South Main Book Company, Signing, 110 S Main St, Salisbury, NC 28144, 6:00 – 8:00 PM, For more information or personalized preorders contact Alissa Redmond, 704-630-9788, [email protected].
May 3: Meet-the-Author Talk & Lowcountry Wine reception at Timrod Library, Talk at Bethany United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 118 W. 3rd Street, Summerville, SC 29483. Lowcountry Wine reception will follow at Timrod Library, 217 Central Avenue, Summerville, SC 29483, 2:00 pm. For more information or tickets contact Cindy Koontz, [email protected].
May 4: Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Talk and Signing, 161 Lexington Green Circle, Lexington KY40503, 7 pm, For more information contact Michael Link [email protected]. Free and Open to the Public.
May 5: Cuyahoga County Public Library – Middleburg Heights Branch, Talk and Signing, 16699 Bagley Rd, Middleburg Heights, OH 44130 7pm 440.234.3600. Book Sales by Books on Coventry. Free and Open to the Public.
May 6: Carmel Clay Public Library, Talk and Signing, 55 4th Ave SE, Carmel, IN 46032, 6:30, For more information contact 317-435-9630.
May 7: Linger Longer Living Series at Reynolds Lake Oconee, Talk and Signing, Lake Club Center, Lake Club Drive, 5:30pm, Private for Reynolds Members and Guests. For Personalized Preorders or Book Shipments, contact Avid Bookshop.
May 8: Story on the Square Luncheon, 19 Griffin Street, McDonough, GA 30253; (678) 759-0079, 12pm, For Tickets and More Information Contact Deanna Bailey, [email protected].
May 8: Waiting on Martha Home, Kristy in Conversation with Waiting on Martha Founder Mandy Kellogg Rye, Atlanta, GA, Details TBA.
May 9: FoxTale Book Shoppe, Talk and Signing,105 E Main St, Woodstock, GA 30188, 1:00 – 2:30 PM, Free and Open to the Public. More Information and Preorders Available Here.
May 9: Alpharetta Library Talk and Signing, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, GA 30009, 4:00 pm. Free and Open to the Public. Books from John’s Creek Books & Gifts.
May 10: Book + Bottle, Wine and Casual Conversation, Seventeen 6th Street North, St. Pete, FL 33701, 4:00 – 6:00 PM, More Information and Preorders Available Here.
May 11: Copperfish Books Luncheon, FM Don’s, 201 W Marion Ave, Punta Gorda, FL 33950; 941-637-8800,12:00 PM Start, For more information, tickets and preorders contact [email protected]; 941-205-2560
May 11: Oxford Exchange, “A Night With Author Kristy Woodson Harvey,” 420 West Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33606, 6:30 PM, More Information and Preorders Available Here.
May 14: The Bookmark, 220 First Street, Neptune Beach, FL 32266, 7pm, Free and Open to the Public. More Information from [email protected].
May 16: Girl Scouts of America Fundraiser, 12-2 pm, Charleston, SC. Details TBA.
May 17: Friends of the Lexington Main Library, Talk and Signing, 5440 Augusta Road, Lexington, SC 29072, 3pm, For more information contact [email protected], Free and Open to the Public.
May 18: Davidson, NC Event. Events TBA.
May 19: Friends of the Randolph County Public Library Talk and Signing, 201 Worth St, Asheboro, NC 27203, 7pm, Free and Open to the Public.
May 20: “Lunch & Lit” sponsored by M. Judson Booksellers, Soby’s Restaurant, 207 S. Main Street, Greenville, SC, 12 noon $45, includes 3 course meal and copy of book, Tickets and More Information from M. Judson call (864) 603-2412.
May 20: Sumter County Museum Reception, Talk and Book Signing, McKenzie Hall, Heritage Education Center, 122 N. Washington Street, Sumter, SC 29150, 5:30 pm, Ticketed event – $5 Members, $10 Non-Members. Tickets Available Here.
May 21: “Books and Bites” at Cherokee County Public Library, 300 E. Rutledge Ave, Gaffney, SC29340, 11:30am, Free and Open to the Public.
May 21: Hub City Wine, Women & Wisdom, Talk and Signing, 286 W. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306, Free and Open to the Public.
May 21: Hope Center Fundraiser, Spartanburg, SC, 6:30 pm. Private Event.
June 7: Kinston Public Library Kickoff to Summer Reading and “Women Build Worlds” Celebration, Kinston-Lenoir County Library, 510 N. Queen St., Kinston, NC 28501, 3 pm, Free and Open to the Public.
June 27: Beach Party with Beaufort Linen Co! Beaufort, NC. Details TBA.
August 4: Booktowne, Manasquan, New Jersey, Details TBA.
August 5: Browse About Books, 133 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, Details TBA.
August 5: Bethany Beach Books Signing,99 Garfield Pkwy, Bethany Beach, DE 19930; (302) 539-2522, 7pm, Free and Open to the Public
August 7: Private Cocktail Party, East Hampton.
August 8: East Hampton Author Night, East Hampton, NY.
August 11: Avon Free Public Library, Talk and Signing, 281 Country Club Road, Avon, CT 06001, Details TBA.
August 12: Bank Square Books Ocean House Summer Author Series, The Ocean House, 1 Bluff Ave, Westerly, RI 02891, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Books Sold by Bank Square Books, Cocktail Party and Signing, Tickets Required.
More events–including a fabulous night with our friends from Diane James Home–coming soon!
We recently received a question about our favorite ways to decorate above the sofa–and we jumped at the chance to find some fabulous examples of ways to do just that.
We love this monochromatic look, the way this painting blends with the wallpaper behind it creating a subtle statement that draws the eye again and again.
Then again… a bolder statement works so well. And, in this case, bigger isn’t necessarily better. With the balance of the lamps, the proportions work perfectly.
One of my favorite pieces in my house is a framed map from our honeymoon to the British Virgin Islands, complete with notes and pen marks. This map gives a similar vibe–and anything that evokes a happy memory is a bonus.
And embracing a theme–like this chic coastal style–is always welcome. With so many options, it’s hard to choose how to decorate over a sofa! What’s your favorite look?
Thanks so much for stopping by Design Chic today. We love seeing you here! And don’t hesitate to send us your burning design questions at [email protected].com.
I had the best week in New York doing the final meetings for my next book, Feels Like Falling and then at the Savannah Book Fest! And I got to make my NYC TV debut at NY Live–and feature some of my favorite products. It was so much fun!
