Okay, my dears, I'm sorry it's taken me this long to get back into the swing of things, but here you have it: what kept me busy and happy last week was that Better Homes & Gardens was here to photograph our kitchen and bath!!!
I had such a great time..! And I can't say enough kind things about the team that came over to the house. Sandi, the field editor/stylist, was wonderful. She was funny, considerate, and has been doing this for some time, so she had an amazing ability to anticipate how the vignettes would look like on film (which, surprisingly to me, is quite different from how they might look in real life, both color- and composition-wise).
She was also incredibly patient with my constant questions and requests to move things or try this or that instead, and she even let me style a little (!!), which was not only incredibly generous of her, but also made me realize how much fun styling is...!
Brie, the photographer, was incredible - it was truly a gift to see my house come to life through her eyes. She is ridiculously talented and I encourage you to visit her site here. You will not be disappointed.
And then there was Mike, who helped Brie with everything from technical issues to (I kid you not) holding our ficus tree outside the window so that our neighbor's somewhat messy back porch would be hidden from view. He was, needless to say, indispensable.
I wish I had captured a shot of him holding up the tree..! Unfortunately, I didn't, but here are a few pictures I took that I hope you'll enjoy and will help give you a sense of what a chaotic scene it can be right outside the camera frame when you are doing a photo shoot...
The pretties - cake and raspberries on a beautiful stand, and gorgeous tulips in an ironstone pitcher (pay no attention to the surrounding madness).
Lovely Brie at work, secretly wishing walls and kitchen islands would be more helpful and move out of the way so that she could do her job more easily.
Sandi inspecting the shot and making mental notes about which things would need to be moved one or two inches this way or that, and such.
Mike and Brie working on the camera's focus in a rather tight space (again, if the house's walls would be a bit more cooperative and flexible..!)
Sandi, with Mike standing by, studying the shot, and getting ready to call it a day. And what a wonderful couple of days they were..!
If you guys (Sandi, Brie and Mike) happen to be reading this: I had the best time. The house felt a little bit empty after you left... Thank you for your generosity and the privilege of allowing me to watch you work. I feel like I learned a ton and I have renewed love and sense of commitment for design.
The magazine is called Kitchen & Bath Makeovers, a quarterly publication of Better Homes & Gardens. Sandi thought the kitchen would be featured in the Spring issue, perhaps on the cover (eeeeeeep!!) and the bath might be published in a later issue. I can't wait to see them in print!
(images: me)
I had such a great time..! And I can't say enough kind things about the team that came over to the house. Sandi, the field editor/stylist, was wonderful. She was funny, considerate, and has been doing this for some time, so she had an amazing ability to anticipate how the vignettes would look like on film (which, surprisingly to me, is quite different from how they might look in real life, both color- and composition-wise).
She was also incredibly patient with my constant questions and requests to move things or try this or that instead, and she even let me style a little (!!), which was not only incredibly generous of her, but also made me realize how much fun styling is...!
Brie, the photographer, was incredible - it was truly a gift to see my house come to life through her eyes. She is ridiculously talented and I encourage you to visit her site here. You will not be disappointed.
And then there was Mike, who helped Brie with everything from technical issues to (I kid you not) holding our ficus tree outside the window so that our neighbor's somewhat messy back porch would be hidden from view. He was, needless to say, indispensable.
I wish I had captured a shot of him holding up the tree..! Unfortunately, I didn't, but here are a few pictures I took that I hope you'll enjoy and will help give you a sense of what a chaotic scene it can be right outside the camera frame when you are doing a photo shoot...
The pretties - cake and raspberries on a beautiful stand, and gorgeous tulips in an ironstone pitcher (pay no attention to the surrounding madness).
Lovely Brie at work, secretly wishing walls and kitchen islands would be more helpful and move out of the way so that she could do her job more easily.
Sandi inspecting the shot and making mental notes about which things would need to be moved one or two inches this way or that, and such.
Mike and Brie working on the camera's focus in a rather tight space (again, if the house's walls would be a bit more cooperative and flexible..!)
Sandi, with Mike standing by, studying the shot, and getting ready to call it a day. And what a wonderful couple of days they were..!
If you guys (Sandi, Brie and Mike) happen to be reading this: I had the best time. The house felt a little bit empty after you left... Thank you for your generosity and the privilege of allowing me to watch you work. I feel like I learned a ton and I have renewed love and sense of commitment for design.
The magazine is called Kitchen & Bath Makeovers, a quarterly publication of Better Homes & Gardens. Sandi thought the kitchen would be featured in the Spring issue, perhaps on the cover (eeeeeeep!!) and the bath might be published in a later issue. I can't wait to see them in print!
(images: me)
WOW Maria- how thrilling! having already seen your kitchen and bath here on your blog i know how beautiful they are, but i can't wait to see them in the magazine after they have worked their magazine magic. congratulations! robin
ReplyDeleteHey, congratulations Maria - what a wonderful experience for you. It's all very familiar to me - and I know it's exciting to see the process and to glimpse all the work that goes on to show a story in a magazine. it's a big job isn't it. I knew your house was awesome.
ReplyDeleteYou asked about the old window in the party shot I posted - we put an old window between our living room and great room - opened the space right up and I love it! Perfect for parties and just keeping an eye on Midge - aka Lily. We had to take the old glass out after having Lily - it's so thin and fragile. I'm not a fan of closed off rooms and big bare walls.
Wow!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting, can't wait to see the photos. :)
AAHHH - HOW EXCITING AND GREAT!!!!!! I am so happy for you now! :o)
ReplyDeleteMaria, that is FANTASTIC!!! I get goose bumps just reading about it. You must be over the moon excited! And I am so excited for you!
ReplyDeleteSpring - come quickly!
Cyber hug, OX Mon
OH.MY.GOD! That is beyond cool. Its frozen! They sure picked a beautiful kitchen and bath to use in their magazine, and I think it will make a great cover! hip hip hurray!
ReplyDeleteOMG Maria that is sooooooooo exciting!!!!!!!! How awesome to be published! What an honor too...even your bathroom is magazine worthy!!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see the issue now! Yeah!
Love your kitchen!!!!!
:) T
Maria-
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you! That is such exciting news. The photoshoot looks like so much fun and I love the story about the ficus. I can't wait to see your house in print either, so definitely keep us updated!
Allison
eeeeeeeek....I knew it! I'm so thrilled for you! everything looks like so much fun .....and so fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI looked at the photographers site.....yowsa!....she is a talented girl! I absolutely cannot wait to see the finished photos, and the COVER.....you go girl......that is amazing!!
wonderful stuff my friend! CONGRATS!
xoxo
I am sooooo happy I stumbled onto your blog this morning! What inspiration! You have a lovely home...and I can't wait to see it on the pages of a magazine! It is truly spectacular...you have an amazing talent! ~mary~ vintagehomeandgarden.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteCongrats, so well deserved!!!! I love the "behind the scenes" captures you have here ~ and WOW, Brie Williams is an amazing photographer!
ReplyDeleteOh, hooray! All of your hard work paid off :) That must be truly rewarding. I can only imagine that this photo shoot and publication is going to mean more great things for you!
ReplyDeleteYour kitchen is really a special one.
XO,
Jacci
Oh wow! WOW! That is so great Maria! Your house looks beautiful so of course it should be in a magazine and the cover too!!! Congrats. This is so cool :)
ReplyDeleteAwesomeness in the extreme! How cool! I can't wait to see the photos in print. Be sure to keep us posted about publishing dates and such. I will mention that it makes me feel good to know the pictures in mags are 'staged' and not reality for most of us :o) Although your kitchen would still be gorgeous with dirty dishes stacked to the ceiling!
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOODNESS!!!! that is AWESOME! how exciting! i am not surprised, though...i feel like i am already looking at a Better Homes and Gardens magazine everytime i read your blog! please do keep us posted! i can't wait to see it!!
ReplyDeleteThat is so exciting! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI have been following your blog for few weeks now, and I have to say that both your kitchen and bath are so inspirational!!! Congratulations on the photo shoot! I don't personally know you , but I think your style is so down to earth and beautiful! Congratulations again!!!
ReplyDeleteChiara
Gosh, how hectic all that must have been for you! Your house looks super, even with all that techie stuff thrown about. I hope that wonderful cake wasn't a prop and you got to eat it?
ReplyDeletewow! How exciting! What a wonderful way for all your hard work come together!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
That is so great! Your home is amazingly gorgeous so it doesn't surprise me at all. Congratulations! I can't wait to see all the final shots.
ReplyDeleteOMG darlin! That is just frickin fantastic! congratulations and I can NOT wait to see it! On the cover maybe? WOW! Your home is so incredibly lovely hun and so well deserved! YAY!
ReplyDeletexo
Melis
Better Homes and Gardens! How exciting! You have to remind us when it comes out (notice how I just assume we'll still be bloggy buds by then; I'm loyal that way).
ReplyDeleteI love your home. That cozy nook by the window is perfect. So glad LPC directed me to your blog...
woweeeeeeee! how exciting. like BH&G goes to "regular" people's homes?? so cool. your home is truly lovely.
ReplyDeletethat is amazing!! your house is so beautiful... i dream of living in a craftsman style house one day!!
ReplyDeleteOh my God. This is FABULOUS!!! How awesome. And thanks for the behind-the-scenes...so interesting! :)
ReplyDeleteSo so sooo cool! Congrats! The house is great and deserves to be seen!!
ReplyDeleteHow cool! no wonder! You kitchen is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAwesome, awesome, awesome. Love a chance at a behind the scenes look too.
ReplyDeleteI'm not at all surprised. I cannot wait to see your home in this publication. PLEASE let us all know when we should head to the magazine racks in our local bookstores! Of course you'd help with styling...you were born to style!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Maria! I am so happy for you! Your home is so gorgeous, I am sure it will be featured in many magazines. I can not wait to see the results. I am sure it will be great to see your home through someone else's eyes. Seems like you had a great time!
ReplyDeleteso cool to see how the pros do it! thanks for sharing these behind the scenes moments! and congrats on your lovely home being featured, maria.
ReplyDeletexo jill
I'm so so excited for you and delighted you enjoyed the process. But, most of all, I just can't wait to see the photos!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Maria!!
Oh how fun!!! Looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteI bet you felt like you died and went to decor heaven! WHat an AWESOME compliment to you and your abilities! CONGRATULATIONS! I'm excited for you and can't wait to see the mag! Just wondering...just recently www.theletteredcottage.net was shot for a mag and they sent props and a stylists and stuff. Did BHG do that too?
ReplyDeleteWow, congrats! on the feature! That's amazing--and so deserved!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! That is fantastic and well deserved. Your house is a magical place, it has a history that shines through while reflecting your present beautiful sense of style. Can't wait to see it all in print!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! That is so exciting. It's my secret dream to have our house photographed by a magazine one day.
ReplyDeleteHow thrilling! Thanks for taking us behind the scenes.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting and fun! I swear I have that exact cake stand? The one on the bottom here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessnichols/3704085573/
ReplyDeleteAnyway it all looks fabulous!
crazy week last week and i totally missed this....congrats congrats congrats!!!!
ReplyDeletei am sooooo happy for you
michelle
What a great experience! I can imagine how fun it was to watch the team do their work and to help out a little. Styling a home for a photo shoot has got to be one of the best jobs ever! Congrats, Maria!
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness. saw these at work the other day and couldn't gush. so here's a healthy dose now! so very exciting!
ReplyDeletemy mom and my grandmother are going to flip!!! i can't wait to tell them! congrats! xoxo so so exciting!!!
ReplyDeletehow cool is this! look getting to see behind the scenes.
ReplyDeletehow exciting maria!! congratulations!!! can't wait to see your beautiful space in print!
ReplyDeletexoxo
THE COVER!!!! i am screaming! i cannot wait to see the final photographs...thank you so much for sharing all the wonderful excitement with us...xo t
ReplyDeletemaria! such incredible news. i've been out of the blog loop since thanksgiving and am just trying to squeeze a few minutes in here and there. i've missed this milestone, and am sending you such congrats! xoxo, k
ReplyDelete