I must see the homes of Atlanta…Jill Sharp Brinson

28 Monday Feb 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, Designer, Gardens

Tags

Atlanta home, House Beautiful magazine, Jill Sharp Brinson

I’ve commented here before about the incredible, seemingly endless, stream of beautiful homes that appear to exist on every block in Atlanta. I would be naïve to think the city doesn’t have its share of unattractive regions within its limits, much like every other metropolitan city in the nation, but seriously, I think Atlanta got more than its fair share of strikingly beautiful homes {she whined}. Which is code for having the good fortune to have a wealth of talented architects and designers in the region who can create the optimal home for those interested in owning one.

I was taken with the beauty of a home in the December/January 2010 issue of House Beautiful and yes, it’s an Atlanta home!

The home of Jill Sharp Brinson and her photographer husband, Rob Brinson, is the perfect “marriage” of farmhouse and sophisticated loft. In the House Beautiful interview with Lisa Cregan, Jill says that she and her husband “have a love affair with rural settings” so it is no surprise that they have created a home and garden that gives the ambiance of a country farm, complete with English garden.

Jill is the Creative Director of Ballard Designs. In the HB interview it becomes clear that Jill’s design point-of-view is a home with lots of texture, not a lot of color and a rustic and traditional-styling with a little industrial influence (which clearly over-simplifies the incredible beauty she has achieved).

The rooms are filled with natural light, and because the rooms aren’t stuffy you immediately feel like you would be so comfortable in a home like this! The Brinson’s have 3 dogs and have stated they are ‘hands on’ in their garden.

All of the above images by Simon Upton via House Beautiful

She and her husband lived in a loft (images below) for 6 years before moving into this home. Jill’s photographer husband retains the loft for work and their visiting guests.

Rob Brinson said he uses the wall to display the images he's working on. I love the brick wall!

The sink was a "find" of Jill's.

Natural light floods the space.

Even the bathroom exudes a timeless sense of style.

I've always liked the rustic charm of brick walls.

To visit the website for Jill Sharp Brinson go HERE

A trip down memory lane…House Beautiful

06 Monday Sep 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Uncategorized

≈ 21 Comments

Tags

House Beautiful magazine, JoAnn Barwick, simple design

One of the first “shelter” magazines I subscribed to as newly-married homeowner was House Beautiful. About the same time we purchased our first home JoAnn Barwick was brought on board as Editor of House Beautiful.

Isn't this a welcoming entrance?

Wikipedia says: House Beautiful is an interior decorating magazine that focuses on decorating and the domestic arts. First published in 1896, it is currently published by the Hearst Corporation, who purchased it in 1934. It is the oldest still-published magazine in what is known by publishers as the “shelter magazine” genre.

It was launched in the UK in 1989, targeting Middle England. Is that anything like “middle earth”? 🙂

I was very sad when JoAnn Barwick left the magazine in 1991…I felt like a good friend had moved away and I would miss her musings and insights into hearth and home and all that accompanies that. Those of us who share this passion for home I believe we get attached to those who share our love!

The other favorite I enjoyed during those Barwick years with House Beautiful was a feature that was always on the very back page of the magazine called “From Thornhill Farm” written by Dee Hardie. Dee’s images and words about life on a farm were wonderful. She and her husband, Tom, had 4 adult children (although I believe during her time with HB she lost one of her sons) but she shared the joy of children (and eventually grand children), gardening, cooking and family life with such enthusiasm it was like a breath of fresh air each month.

It was a happy surprise when I opened the July/August 2010 issue of Traditional Home to see a wonderful cottage owned by my “friend” JoAnn Barwick and her husband Fred. Her style preference has always been Swedish (she has published a couple of books featuring this style of décor) although she is of Norwegian descent. As you can see in the images, she keeps her rooms simple, understated even, but always warm and welcoming.