Hello, yellow, so glad you could make an appearance.

Yellow can be stunning, cheerful, mellow, and serene.  With so many options, there is definitely a shade of yellow to perfectly complement your life.  The color evokes an instant warming sensation no matter the tint or shade.  Conjuring up thoughts of warm summer days, blooming daffodils, and tasty lemonade, who would not want a piece of summer year round?  You can use yellow as a bold statement in a bright color selection or use yellow as a tranquil color selection.  Either way, yellow can be a magnificent accent to your home.

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 A splash of bright yellow accessories, artwork, and upholstery trim adds just enough spark for an impact, but does not go overboard.  If you want to interject bright colors into your rooms, keep the accents to a tasteful minimum.

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I would want to walk through this door any time.  Talk about starting your day off on the right foot.  A vibrant pastel yellow door is instantly welcoming.  There is the feeling that any person living behind a yellow door celebrates life.

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Yellow fabric is an easy way to update any space.  I always say select neutral furnishings that will never go out of style.  Accents can easily be changed as your own tastes change over time.  The inspiration room above would look fabulous with any accent color, but the fun use of yellow patterned drapery and accent pillows makes this space modern and hip.

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Pottery displays are practical as well as beautiful.  By grouping a selection of yellow bowls to complement fresh lemons, this kitchen looks cohesive.  Open shelving and glass front cabinetry may scare some of the less organizationally oriented of us, but keeping all of your dishware to clear, white, and a pop of color will never look messy.

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Sliding barn doors have been popular lately, so has a yellow and gray color scheme.  This bedroom and bathroom combination balances the calming effect of warm grays with the brightness of yellows.  I would have some productive days waking up in this bedroom.

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For the more traditional of you, this room elegantly incorporates yellow without seeming garish.  An interesting choice for a traditional mirror, yellow adds an unexpected life to this living room.  This space has a calming effect with the use of tans and creams that seem to beckon you to the space.

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Blue and yellow tend to have either a country or beach undertone when mixed together, but the use of a warm yellow with a slate-blue give unique character to this bedroom. Modern over-scale stripes on the wall complement the more traditional tufted sofa and four poster bed.  This room would be great to recreate by mixing your family heirloom furniture with more present day colors and accessories.

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Pow, this home has a personality.  The use of bright yellow accent walls and drapery magnify the natural light pouring into the space.  This placement is a good design trick if you lack natural lighting in your own home.  Bright, almost neon colors will never leave your home feeling dim.

Let There Be Light!

Lighting is one of the easiest design tricks to create any ambiance for any occasion.  Layering levels of light by means of table lamps, sconces, chandeliers, pendants, and recessed fixtures will insure you have ample viewing capability in a task area or romantic, soft lighting for a quaint dinner party.  Lighting in dining rooms is extremely important to consider when creating your dream space.  Do you want understated elegance or do you want a punch of personality?  All of the impressions from conservative to modern can easily be created with the proper selection of a chandelier evoking who you are and what you want to express. 

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Do you embrace nature and clean lines?  This dining room will definitely spark your interest with a play on textures.  The geometric shelving recesses backed with wood planks serve as the perfect backdrop for spot lights to create shadows.  A large drum inspired light fixture hung unusually high in a dining room insures no conversation and view interruption at this table.  You may want to create your own natural escape with the light fixture below.

Click to Enlarge- Mambo 8 Lt Pendant, 135-410-F

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Do you have a flair for Modern Baroque style?  The juxtaposition between historic Baroque moldings and black lacquer furnishings will prove to be a showstopper in any dining room.  Graphic elements such as the black and white Marilyn Monroe art piece and the cluster of cylindrical crystal chandeliers will leave a lasting impression upon your guests.  You may not live in an old Baroque Chateau, but you can start to recreate this room's personality with the light fixture below.

Click to Enlarge- Karel 12 Lt CHNDLR IMP-CH, 632-12-514

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You may be more inclined to embrace classic design in your dining room.  Muted colors and reflective surfaces create a glow in this space that can be recreated at night with the use of a stunning chandelier and buffet lamps.  The chandelier below adds a touch of sparkle without being too ostentatious.

Click to Enlarge- Crystal Lights Chandelier, Large, CUC9891

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If you embrace whimsical design, try staggering a cluster of pendants or chandeliers above your dining table. These chandeliers give the appearance of glass orbs floating in space, an unearthly ambiance for any dinner party.  On a smaller scale, more fitting to most homes, use a cluster of crystal pendants for a similar feeling.

Click to Enlarge- Wanderlust Chandelier, CUC9001

Click to Enlarge- Moonlight Pendant, CUC9067

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All of these light fixtures can be found on our website at www.thegreathousestore.com

Hudson Valley- A Modern Classic

Our team at The Great House has been tirelessly working over the last month to add one of our newest lighting lines, Hudson Valley Lighting.  We are still finishing up the process of adding images, but we would love for you all to check out this lighting selection.  Hudson Valley Lighting creates modern, traditional, vintage, and reproduction light fixtures in a multitude of finishes- there will definitely be a piece (or several) that fits your taste.

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This unusual piece combines modern straight lines with a bit of whimsy by the addition of circular crystal pendants.  Definitely a topic of conversation at the dining table...

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With intricate details, this chandelier exudes modern styling with an unexpected use of traditional pleated lamp shades.

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Some of The Great House Store's most popular items are sconces, and this one is sure to wow.  Sconces are such a versatile light fixture- you can always find a dark spot to dress up with one of these.

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Known as an "Island Light" by Hudson Valley, this fixture will perfectly crown an island or peninsula counter.  Another interesting use for this style of light fixture is to use it in a narrow space with high ceilings.  This will give you the drama of a chandelier without looking crowded.




Check out all of these beautiful products as well as hundreds more on our website at www.thegreathousestore.com

New Year, New You, New Construction

With the year 2012 fast approaching, I am sure you all are thinking of resolutions (that hopefully will work out this year), cleaning up the left overs from the family Christmas gathering (I am still finding "sippy cups" in unusual places), and most importantly getting yourself organized for a prosperous New Year.  Organizing your life in ways as small as tidying up your work desk to renovating a master bathroom or kitchen, there is always a sense of peace and tranquility that arises from a well organized space.  Over the past few months our own Mrs. Randy Hall of The Great House wanted a new and improved master bathroom.  With the chaos and clutter that always follows construction, the end results of organized bliss makes the process worth while.  With a muted color palette, ample lighting, and glistening fixtures, this master bathroom provides an instant "Ahh," only found with the most organized of spaces.

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By keeping the colors neutral, this master bath embraces its petite size by allowing as much light as possible to reflect off all surfaces.  Polished chrome fixtures, granite counter tops, mirrors, and glass accessories add instant glitz to a minimal bathroom design.  Do not be scared to layer your lighting in a bathroom just as you would in a living room.  Overhead fixtures, sconces, and even table lamps work harmoniously in a master bathroom to provide you with the correct ambiance for any mood.

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An open vanity in a bathroom may scare some of you, but baskets and glass containers will provide storage in a decorative way.  We all have the same bathroom essentials, why not embrace them?  Baskets hold soaps, sponges, and tissue, while glass containers may hold cotton balls and bath beads.  Accompanied by a crisp folded stack of white towels, this open vanity is not only practical, but beautiful.  Let us not forget about the modern take on a free standing bathtub... notice how the graceful, fluid lines of the tub flow with the selection of round mirrors, oval lamps, and organic French sconces.  By embracing the curve, your eye easily maneuvers from one aspect of the room to the other without any feeling of what could be a cold, sterile bathroom.

To further embrace the concept of organizing your space as well as your life, we at The Great House would like to also show you some images that stylishly organize our troublesome areas...

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We all know laundry rooms can become an overwhelming mess- with kids throwing dirty sports equipment and your husband dumping his lawn mowing pants, but you can achieve a spotless laundry room like this image.  The whole idea is to provide enough cabinetry to not only hide your clutter, but to essentially organize items for you.  A hanging rack for your air drying clothes, a drawer for each of your family members' clean laundry, a cabinet for your detergents and stain removers, cubbies for linens, and boxes for lost socks.  Take an inventory of your current laundry room and then assemble a game plan for how best to design your space.

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I am sure we all wish to have the ample pantry space like this image, but take inspiration from the concept of open pantry shelving.  By creating narrow shelving, you prevent the clutter that arises with deep shelving and stacking of products. With labels facing forward in a single line, you will constantly know what items you have and if the items are still in date.  This image takes the necessities of a kitchen and organizes them in a way that alludes to a large art installation- what an inexpensive way to make a statement in your kitchen. 

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Here is another take on organizing open shelving. A collection of like items, such as the white and cream pottery of this image, adds interest without looking busy.  Yet again, a monochromatic color scheme adds a calm aura to a space without looking overdone. The panty space is one that you can feel good about keeping open. The shelving of the kitchen is mirrored in the pantry and again, similar to the previous image, the kitchen necessities are on full display as their own decorative pieces.  Glass jars and bottles pay homage to the past, while allowing you easy access to their contents.  Feel good about decorating and organizing your pantry; pantry's have had a bad rap for too long.

We wish you a Happy New Year and the best of luck organizing your spaces to provide a sense of ease and tranquility...

Mr. 30A- Luxury Living with a Casual Twist

When The Great House began working with Mike Matz, who we dutifully dubbed "Mr. 30A," we were extremely enthused about working on the project at hand. Located on gorgeous 30A, nestled amongst WaterSound, Watercolor, and Seaside, Florida, Mr. Matz's residence pays homage to the grandeur as well as rustic charm of beach architecture. Being a high-end real estate broker, Mr. Matz is knowledgeable about interior design as well as the positive impacts a comfortable design can have on creating a beautiful lifestyle. We at The Great House embraced Mr. Matz's appreciation for modern design as well as his appreciation for antiques to create a home that is comfortable, collected, and centered.

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With an incredible ceiling structure and massive windows, a key design consideration for the living room was to take the vast, open space and thoughtfully decorate the room in a way that still provides a cozy feeling. No one wants his or her space to feel cold and sterile.  Mr. Matz desired a home in which his friends and family are comfortable- not hesitant to mess up a "fussy" design. The inclusion of warm neutrals and carefully placed lighting, create an instant warmth to envelope any person in the living room. Notice, too, how the large window treatments puddle on the hardwood floors. This is an instant design trick to make a room feel homey- as though the sharp geometric structure of the windows are melting into the warmth of the space.

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Overlooking the living room, the dining room space embraces simplistic elegance. A gray washed table with minimal accessories complements the color palate of the adjoining living room.  Sticking to the clean and thoughtful design aesthetic, there are no glitzy crystals to be found on this chandelier.  The fine craftsmanship of this iron caged chandelier hints on a traditional aesthetic but still provides a rustic masculine charm.  A simple basket of greenery on the dining table brings nature indoors.

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By covering the location of the flat screen television behind two pecky cypress cabinet doors, the overall design of the Matz's residence is not compromised.  Adorned with an artful finish, the cabinet doors allow the option to conceal the electronics for more formal gatherings where the warmth of the fire is the focal point. We at The Great House cannot express how much we enjoyed working with Mr. Matz.  His passion for 30A, his love for the architecture, landscape, and culture, proved to be wonderful inspiration for this project.  What a fabulous way to love your surroundings... 

Take a look at some of the following images of Mr. 30A's home:

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Working with Mike Matz was a wonderful experience, and he was nice enough to provide The Great House family with his own personal feedback on our design:

"As a real estate broker in a beach resort area focusing on the high end, luxury market....I feel I have maximum experience on design. Hiring Randy Hall's group out of the Atlanta area has turned out to be a very wise move. Her brilliance and eye are truly a gift. She's brought my lake view home to a level that has literally over-exceeded anything I had imagined. Her eye is unmatched in my opinion.....I would highly recommend her....my home has turned out to be simply elegant. Thanks to Randy and her team!" 

If you love the look of the Matz's residence, please check out or design website at www.thegreathouse.info or find the perfect home furnishings for your home at www.thegreathousestore.com.

Currey and Company- Our Newest Obsession

We at The Great House Store have been working long hours to prepare our newest product lines for the beginning of the upcoming year.  In January of 2012, we will be introducing a vast array of new manufactures and products that will more than double our website's current product representation.  One of our newest additions will be Currey and Company.  This fabulous company headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, provides a vast array of lighting, home furnishings, accessories, and garden furniture.  Their aesthetic is sure to appeal to those of you enjoying any design style from French to urban.  The use of natural elements such as twisting branches or natural shells add a sense of whimsy to Currey and Company's aesthetic.  Founded in 1988 by Robert E. Currey, initially named Garden Source Furnishings, Currey and Company evolved from specializing in garden furnishings to their current strength in providing unique UL listed light fixtures.  Take a look at the following examples direct from Currey and Company, and we are sure you will fall in love.

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Known as the Chartres Wall Sconce, this flirty fixture will add sparkle to any space.  Imagine this reflective fixture flanking an over-scale upholstered headboard with bedding that accentuates the metallic silver finish.  One word- divine!

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The Marais Mirror pays homage to French design with the fluid, flowing lines coupled with nature inspired details.  The gray washed finish will add drama without overpowering your space.  This piece will be amazing over an entry table or vanity.

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For the more edgy of our followers, the Montauk Square Coffee Table is one of the newest pieces to the Currey and Company product line.  We adore the juxtaposition of the organic wood base and the rigidity of the concrete top.  By mixing your warm tones with cool tones, this table will accentuate any color palate as well as provide a strong impact.

Written by Cameron Coxworth

All images directly from Currey and Company's official website.

A North Carolina Custom Retreat- Simple Elegance Included

We at The Great House have been working with a wonderful couple in North Carolina this year.  Incredibly, this couple had the opportunity to travel to France and gain inspiration for creating their own custom dream dwelling.  To accentuate the French architecture they love, Randy Hall and our staff used design techniques from the past as well as present to accentuate the design of this lovely French home.  The results of combined partnership between homeowners and designers create an elegant space appealing to most any taste.  A bit of traditional, a touch of French flair, and a tad of rustic elegance all working harmoniously to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.  Due to the time of year, we also were able to add Christmas decorations to the finished product.  By keeping holiday additions minimal, our adornments do not overpower the casual elegance created with this dining and entry space. 

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The warm yet neutral color scheme instantly provides a sense of warmth and home.  The over-scale French inspired mirror is one of Randy Hall's trademarks.  Sitting atop the fabulous painted buffet, this mirror and accessories will be sure to be a beautiful yet functional serving piece for all of the home owners' holiday gatherings.  The addition of full garland and neutral ribbons provide the holiday vibe without overwhelming the color scheme with traditional bright reds and greens. 

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Have you ever wondered how to dress an arched window?  We had a rod custom formed to the shape of the dining room window and selected a beautiful gold stripe silk that effortlessly pleats and puddles on the floor.  The reflection of light off the gold fabric further emphasizes the warm glow that radiates around the space.

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We all love the light fixtures in this space. Each one has an antiqued gold finish that adds a sense of age and depth.  If you will notice, there is no shortage of light in this dining room.  Lit recessed ceiling fixtures, a chandelier, sconces, and table lamps add options to the lighting scheme needed for any gathering.

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This is the entry vignette.  A painted cabinet with tassels adds the rustic charm of a French farm house, while the addition of a modern adjustable arm lamp adds unexpected interest.  We have included pops of greenery throughout the dining, entry, and foyer designs to continually draw the eye through the spaces.

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We at The Great House absolutely love the homeowners' selection of this iron stair banister design.  The dark iron evokes a French feeling of days gone by while also adding an unexpected black accent to the muted warm tones.  This contrast of colors automatically makes the curved staircase an instant focal point.  To accentuate the small cavity formed below the staircase, we created a small sitting area with decorative accessories to complement the dining room.  We like to think of this small sitting area as a snug place to read, a place to drop your purse or coat as you come home from an event, or even a place for the husband to wait for his wife to finish getting dressed for the evening.  

All our best wishes for a happy holiday from The Great House... 

Written by Cameron Coxworth

Welcome Corbett Lighting

TGHS is pleased to welcome Corbett Lighting as one of our newest designer lighting lines.  Corbett is known for fabulous lighting fixtures that are of the finest craftsmanship.  From bias cut crystal accents to handmade paper shades, Corbett always provides stunning light fixtures.  If you are looking for a light fixture that will stand alone in your space, Corbett definitely has numerous options at your disposal.  The company is and Arts Award Winner for "Lighting Manufacturer of the Year."  

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Provided by the Corbett Lighting website, this beaded chandelier adds a modern flair to a traditional shape.  Corbett is constantly pushing the standard for light fixtures, and you should check them out on our website at thegreathousestore.com.


Written by Cameron Coxworth

One Chance to Make a First Impression - The Entry Hall, Foyer Space

Whether you have a grand foyer, a small foyer or NO foyer at all... We all want to create a sense of welcome when we open our doors to guests.

I always tell my clients that when the Pizza guy says "Wow, this is incredible" when you open your door... take that as a huge compliment.  Remember, he sees it all!  We like to focus on entry spaces in all of our client's homes.  Once that is done you can greet anyone.  It is an entree to the rest of your home and very important in the grand scheme of things.

One of the things we love about decorating foyer spaces is that it usually is not an expensive space to do!  Creating a sense of Welcome can be simple.  Lighting, fresh greenery, mirrors and minimal art are all great ways to say, "welcome."

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