Tags
The internet facilitates a lot of happy connections for fans of any particular activity or subject. As a design enthusiast, I’m always excited to be introduced to a new [to me] designer. Sometimes the way I stumble upon them is surprising, although by now it shouldn’t surprise me what can be found online.
That is exactly what happened the other day. I started my morning with my “must read blog favorites”. Talk of the House is one that always entertains. Kelly does a fantastic job sharing wonderful places to visit, things to do, and in this particular post, shared 21 beautiful window boxes. One of the homes she featured caught my attention and I left my comment with Kelly and went to visit the source for this charming home.
That link took me to another blog site. Holly Mathis Interiors. There I learned that this particular home was on the cover of Southern Living Magazine this past March and Holly provided the link to see the article. It turns out Holly has been helping the owners with the interior of this home. If you’d like to see the inside of this charmer, visit HERE.
While viewing the slideshow at Southern Living of this home (above), I found another cottage that looked interesting… {still with me?} I followed that link and met (figuratively speaking) Melissa “Missi” Ervin of Charleston, South Carolina {thank you, Southern Living and all involved on this magical tour of great cottages and a wonderful designer}.
Melissa a native of South Carolina, earned a degree in design from Clemson University. After graduation, she earned her architectural license while working in the field. Her passion for interior design deepened while working for several significant interior design firms for a decade before starting her firm, Melissa Ervin Interior Design in 2008.
With her architectural background and her years of design experience, she has a talent for creating timeless beauty in the homes she works on.
For Charleston, South Carolina, Designer Missi Ervin and homeowner Sam Cato, renovating a former horse stable and carriage house in Aiken meant returning the historic cottage to its equestrian roots. – Southern Living
A Horse Stable Turned Cottage from her portfolio and the Southern Living feature is my favorite. I invite you to visit her site for more wonderful design inspiration. Enjoy the tour…
I hope you’ve enjoyed meeting Melissa Erwin. Be sure to visit her site for more of her work.
Karen
Garden, Home & Party 
laney said:
…beautiful in all its simplicity…love love the light fixture over the kithchen table…in fact…love that there is a kitchen table!…the bathrooms echo the charm of the house perfectly…another lovely post…blessings laney
Karen B. said:
Hi Laney, There were so many details in and around this house that spoke to me. I loved the country feel of it. I don’t have a kitchen table since we remodeled and I confess, I really miss one. I grew up in a house where the kitchen table was where we all gathered for most meals. The dining room table was reserved for the holidays. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, I always enjoy our visits. Karen
On Wed, Jul 9, 2014 at 2:11 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
>
Jardin said:
Lovely post … and, as you say, always great to find new sites to visit – thank you!
Karen B. said:
Thank you. I always feel like it becomes a small world when I meet a new site/blogger that I enjoy. A pen pal of sorts. 🙂 Karen
On Wed, Jul 9, 2014 at 2:59 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
>
gentdesign@gmail.com said:
Check out the painted paneling pictures…..looks good.
Ann Marie Gent 630.567.6055 Sent from my iPad
>
Victoria • Restoring our Victorian said:
Pretty sure that if Lewis Carroll were to write Alice in Wonderland today, she would fall down the rabbit hole of the Internet…
I love the storage drawers in the otherwise-wasted-space of the knee wall in the bathroom. I have seen that a few times since the invention of Pinterest, and I always think it is so smart.
Karen B. said:
You’re right and it’s (internet) so addicting. I’m currently on a 12 step program to get off. 🙂 I do find some great ideas while browsing other people’s homes! 🙂 Karen
On Wed, Jul 9, 2014 at 6:21 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
>
taylor greenwalt said:
Hi Karen….what a charming home…I love the pictures of the dogs….so cute!
Karen B. said:
Thanks, Julie. I hope you are well. xo, Karen
On Wed, Jul 9, 2014 at 7:09 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
>
Linda Coble said:
Karen,
What a wonderful wealth of information and pictures in this post! Kelly Mathis and Melissa Ervin are certainly two talented ladies. I loved the “tour” of the window boxes. My favorite was the B&B with all the geraniums. I want to move in.
Kelly - Talk of the House said:
Karen, thank you for the sweet shout out! Your following a winding path to end up with your post sounds so much like my brain. I am glad to know I am not the only one to get lost in the internet. 🙂 Love love love the kitchen table, the artwork, and that bathroom! Beautiful work by that designer. Thank you for sending me over to enjoy her rooms!
Karen B. said:
Kelly, We’re kindred spirits! I almost didn’t post this because it was so rambling, but I couldn’t leave the blue shuttered image off because I think it’s one of those favorite home images that you can look at over and over. xo, Karen
On Wed, Jul 9, 2014 at 7:43 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
>
Chronica Domus said:
Hello Karen,
This looks to be a beautifully calming place to relax. I love the external surroundings and the easy and relaxed feel of the interiors. This house looks to have been put together over time with the owners collections, which is a good indicator that it will still appeal a long time from now.
Karen B. said:
CD, That is one of the parameters I look for in a home. A home always feels more inviting when you observe the layers of life the residents have included. 🙂 Thanks for joining in the conversation. Karen
On Thu, Jul 10, 2014 at 8:12 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
>
Vicki said:
That is fun to discover a new designer. I can see why her work caught your eye. Her style reminds me a little of Amelia Handegan’s, with that muted color palette. I like all the nods to nature with the animals and little prints.
Karen B. said:
Hi Vicki, I have always loved nature and when it can be woven into a home without looking forced or overly “decorated” its very appealing. I hope you had a wonderful vacation! Karen
On Thu, Jul 10, 2014 at 8:30 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
>
Gretchen said:
What a charming house, homey but with so much style. I love the exterior and was happily surprised that the inside was just as wonderful.
Karen B. said:
Gretchen, I read that Melissa Ervin studied to be an architect but was so drawn to design work that she’s incorporated both arts…very well, I think. Karen
On Thu, Jul 10, 2014 at 8:37 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
>
Gretchen said:
That would be ideal, a designer/architect.
msshe said:
I so much want black window boxes for my brick house! And looking at the link reminded me how much I want some!!! I fell in love with them the last time I was in London in the Spring. I have looked around the internet…and many are vinyl…of which I am hesitant. Do you have any sources?
Sheila
Karen B. said:
Sheila, I confess, a few years back I wouldn’t have touched vinyl with a 10′ foot pole, but I think they’ve gotten much better quality (the vinyl). In fact two of my friends purchased Smith and Hawken window boxes, years ago before he sold his business to Scott – the lawn company. They produced top quality garden products however, the liners, which were wood, eventually rotted. Now they are both buying vinyl inserts for their window boxes. As far as resources for finding such things… there are 2 that I’ve heard are worthwhile…not from personal experience but friends. Neither are inexpensive. H. Potter: http://www.hpotter.com/search.php?search_query=window+boxes&x=0&y=0 and (you’ve probably heard of this one) Charleston Garden https://www.charlestongardens.com/index2007.cfm I think black window boxes would look amazing on your brick house. xo, Karen
On Fri, Jul 11, 2014 at 3:38 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
>
msshe said:
These are great links….having fun looking.
Karen B. said:
Thanks. I love it but I’m careful as I find it addictive. 🙂 Karen
Sent from my iPad
>
Sarah Rideout said:
I never tire of seeing pictures of the Aiken House, that has been my all time favorite house in my home town and when I finally got a glimpse into the interior after years of daydreaming it didn’t disappoint.
Karen B. said:
Sarah,
How lucky to be able to see it in person. It captured my heart when I viewed it from the Southern Living article. It looks like a very pretty area to live in.
Thanks for stopping by, so nice to meet you.
Karen
kristywharvey said:
What beautiful work! Thanks for sharing with us, Karen. Isn’t it just amazing what you can find online? It’s so wonderful… And sometimes a little distracting! Ha! Hope you had a fantastic weekend! xo Kristy
Karen B. said:
Kristy, As one of my readers stated…it’s (internet, pinterest, instagram, etc) like Alice in Wonderland venturing down the rabbit hole! 🙂 It sure is fun, but I’m trying to be diciplined about the amount of time I spend, so that I don’t miss summer! 🙂 Enjoy your upcoming week. xo, Karen
On Sun, Jul 13, 2014 at 8:09 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
>
trouverlesoleil said:
I subscribe to Southern Living so I must have seen the home you mention at the top.. I’ll need to check the link! The window box is so pretty with the dark shutters ~ I love that look! The kitchen is gorgeous and I like the chandelier.
Karen, it’s been so crazy with the house .. I do hope you excuse my absence. We are in over our heads .. or should I say without a ROOF over our heads! I don’t think I’ll be doing this building thing ever again. The outcome will be good but it’s a lot of work.
I hope you are enjoying the remainder of the weekend! xxleslie
Karen B. said:
Leslie, Every renovation we’ve ever tackled, which I think is much smaller than what you are doing, has always resulted in me being stressed and exhausted in the end. You have my sympathy and support. I know it will be worth it about a year after it’s finished. Like child birth. Don’t worry about your absence, your readers love your posts and it sounds like, through the comments, we can all be patient. Have a great upcoming week. Xo, Karen
Sent from my iPad
>
mydesignchic said:
Her work is amazing! Love the collected feel and the statement lighting…so gorgeous!
Karen B. said:
I confess, I’m always delighted to find a new (to me) designer. You have provided me with many of my favorites with your featured posts of designers/architects. Thank you! Karen
On Sun, Jul 13, 2014 at 8:32 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
>
Jennings & Gates said:
Pretty. I love the white walls and the artwork, I love the sofas and how she pairs high-low cost. And maybe the biggest compliment is that it doesn’t look decorated! A great success. Thank you for the marvelous post. xo, N.G.
Karen B. said:
N.G., Maybe that’s what attracted me to her style. The home featured looks inviting and lived in. 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your week. Summer seems to be flying by. Karen
On Mon, Jul 14, 2014 at 4:12 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
>
Sharon said:
I love the long and winding roads that blogging takes us on. What a charming home. It reminds me so much of the home I grew up in, my mother had a very similar decorating style. Xx Sharon
Karen B. said:
Wow, Sharon, that is so cool. I imagine that when growing up with one style a person leans towards something different. That was my case. I wonder if I would love Melissa Erwin’s style if I had grown up with it. Thanks for sharing this. We’ve missed your posts, I hope you had a wonderful holiday. Karen
On Thu, Jul 17, 2014 at 9:52 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
>
Teresa @ Splendid Sass said:
Karen, I don’t think I have ever seen a post you write that I don’t love! These images are so stunning and quaint.
Teresa
xoxo
Karen B. said:
Hi Teresa, You just made my day. Thank you so much. I hope you have a wonderful week! xo, Karen
On Mon, Jul 21, 2014 at 7:22 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
>