*To get a ticket to the “StyleBlueprint Toasts a Year Well Blogged” cocktail party on Feb 4th, benefiting NCA, email liza.graves@styleblueprint.com and I’ll let you know if we have any tickets left.  $60/ ticket  $90/ patron ticket.  Now, on with the post!:

I (Liza) miss my friends Rachel and Amy. When I found out Rachel was helping Amy design a new room, I knew I had to tag along on their trip to Franklin.  Yep, Rachel’s the force behind NestEgg, a blog with which I know many of you are obsessed because you tell me that all the time!  Here’s some things we scouted out in the amazing shops found in Franklin, TN.  There is a reason this town was voted both the #1 small town in TN as well as a TOP 5 place in America to antique shop.  Welcome to Franklin:

Category #1) Like things belong together. They look better together.  Remember that for your bookcases and shelves.  Here’s proof:

Clear glass jars at Scarlett Scales

Birch "books" at Scarlet Scales. She had birch wrapped glass vases as well. See Lonny online magazine p.163 of issue 2 for this look.

www.lonnymag.com

All three of us (that's Rachel in the background) noticed the purple glass and commented, "Hmmm, never seen purple glass..." Then we walked across the street to Arbor Antique Mall and found....

More purple glass! So, be on the lookout.

Concrete balls at PD's. I think they were $3.99 each...maybe $4.99. PD's has them in blue also.

After seeing local Nashville gal Genia Gilchrist's home in Southern Living (the owner of Gilchrist and Gilchrist over in Berry Hill) I have decided I need to collect mercury glass. If I bought ALL of this at Scarlett Scales, it would only set me back $170. Reader question please comment on this: do you think a display of mercury glass is only appropriate during Christmas time? I kinda like it all year but I certainly don't want to display it and have guests wondering if their coffee will also be in Reindeer mugs....

Category #2: Rachel talked Amy and I into a stop by The Franklin Marketplace. I LOVED this store and I found a future blog post: The TN Barn Project.  Check out these tables from the brothers who reclaim the wood from the falling barns.  I love the old wood being made into a modern look.

Category #3: When hitting antique stores, it’s sometimes like hitting your own attic.  What do I do with THIS?  Here are some ideas Rachel and I came up with:

Some of these could be made into stellar lamps. You could also line these up in a cupboard--love that look. See this picture of pottery laden shelves that Rachel took in Atlanta at Market:

love this look

Fill this antique wagon with garland, berries and pine cones and place it next to your front door (if it's a covered area) each December. You better get there quick, because I just may head down to the Arbor Antique Mall for this purchase.

How sweet would these old Watkins spice containers be filled with wild flowers for an outdoor party?

You could use these old drawers as a home for potted herbs or simply place three mason jars inside and separate your silverware to place on your kitchen table, and eliminate the need for that drawer space. Perhaps a good mail catch by the front door.... Fill with apples on a mantel....you get the picture, endless possibilities.

And while we all agreed that SOMEONE needs this antique typewriter for their little girl's room (an American Girl Kit fan?), we also agreed that no one on this earth needs the following:

Is this not the creepiest?

And, some misc pics from the day:

I read on NestEgg that one of Rachel’s clients has a thing for crowns.  Check these out from The Iron Gate:

I, on the other hand, have a thing for coral. (BTW, have you all noticed all the seashell accessories lately? They are EVERYWHERE)  The Iron Gate has the best selection of coral I’ve seen anywhere:

I don’t have a picture of me from this day, but you’ve seen Rachel, and here’s Amy.  She’s too cute and pregnant with #4!

Amy at PD's. She's sitting in this chair that we all had a fit about...it's great.

We all had fun, got to hang out and “work” all at the same time.  As most of these pictures posted today prove, similar things should be placed together to show off their best.  Friends are like that too.  We all shine a little brighter when together. Grab some friends and head to Franklin.

Remember my dilemma and comment if you have thoughts: Is a display of mercury glass only appropriate during Christmas time?

Stores we hit: Scarlet Scales, PD’s, Arbor Antiques, The Iron Gate, and The Franklin Marketplace and remember to check out Rachel’s blog: www.nestegg.typepad.com

Rachel Halvorson is a local designer whose talent and eye I truly respect. You’ve seen her name pop up here a few times. I asked her to share some basic tips which we could all use when decorating our homes.  Overall, her advice seems to be: go bigger not smaller.  I guess once you go bigger, you never want smaller.  There was no double entendre intended with that…you with the dirty mind!  Shameful.  Anyhow, Rachel can be reached at rachelhdesign@gmail.com and her blog is www.nestegg.typepad.com Hope you enjoy! -Liza

From Rachel:

Liza and Elizabeth asked me to put together three things that people tend to overlook when decorating their homes. Here goes with my top three…

1. Scale

It is important to pay attention to details but most of the time people get caught up in the little things and forget to see the big picture. (This is also true with just about anything in life, right?) Remember to take a step back and look at the room as a whole. Look at the largest pieces of furniture in your room- Do they seem to be the same scale?

People tend to lean towards small scale when they need to lean towards LARGE scale. It’s better to go with a few big pieces of furniture, not lots of little pieces. This will make your room seem larger and will almost always create a statement.

Steven Gambrel

2. Things

People tend to hang on to everything… and display everything. Don’t be afraid to get rid of things. In other words, carefully edit your rooms.

tom scheerer

If you feel like your house might need some editing set aside one day (when you can be ALONE) where you go into your living room and take ALL of the accessories that are currently displayed and place them all on a table. Get rid of at least 1/3 of it. (You can either put it in storage, sell it on ebay, or give it to Good Will) Take the other 2/3 and place them in a different spot.  Drastic, huh?  It will be like therapy.  You will feel THAT good!

Also, try going bigger with your accessories.

via cottage living

It will feel like a new room. Try it! You can’t lose.

3. Lighting

People tend to overlook the lighting in their rooms.  Unless you’re like Liza and you have a certain despised master bedroom chandelier that stares at you in the face every morning saying “can’t get past me!!”   She’s right and I’ve just ordered her a new one

And don’t be afraid to go big on your lighting either. Actually, I feel like it is safe to say: when in doubt- get the bigger lamp or light fixture. Hmmmm, do you notice a common thread here?!

Bobby Mcalpine, via House Beautiful

When I first read the news last Thursday that Southern Accents was discontinuing its publication, my first thought was, “What about the Southern Accents Showhouse?” I look forward to that issue every year.  In fact, my favorite house of all time, which happens to be near where I grew up, was the Southern Accents Showhouse of 2005, “Old Dominion”.  As a tribute to Southern Accents, and perhaps to give you some decorating inspiration as well, feast your eyes upon my dream house.

Be sure to pick up the Sept/Oct issue as this is Southern Accents last.  I hope this years 2009 Showcase house will be featured; it is in Fort Worth, TX.  If you would like to see photos from other Southern Accents showhomes, check out Rachel Halvorson’s post today at www.nestegg.typepad.com.  Since Southern Accents will remain online, perhaps it can print again in the future.  So long my favorite….I’ll miss you.

If I ever build custom, this is what my house will look like. Well, perhaps this outline with a modern spin.

A close up of the stone work

Can I move right in? No need to change a thing!

Isn't this the dining room you want to linger in?

Perfection

OK- so I'd have to redecorate the Master Bedroom. I'm up for the challenge, and I'll keep the color scheme!