Several months ago, I read on
Design Indulgence, how Lisa Mowry helped Sherry get her home published in "Better Homes and Gardens."
We had just finished the renovation of our house and I thought "What the heck...I'll send her a link." She was encouraging and asked for more photos. Slowly, other magazine scouts noticed our house on my blog and inquired about shooting it. So complimentary! Then, Lisa emailed to say that Amy Panos, Home Editor of "Better Homes and Gardens" said it was a "go!" Thank you, Lisa and Amy!
When I learned what shots/angles they were interested in,
such as "lightening up the mantel" I thought, "good idea" and bought wooden finials (above)
with a finish similar to the new chandelier.
"Add greenery." I bought some plants and a green throw blanket and asked, if the stylist could bring a green tray. "Take a shot of the office loft" What? I needed to straighten it up and make it prettier.
So, I borrowed some blue accessories.
"Shot of the pantry, cute red step stool." "Uh oh", I thought.
It needs more color and organization in there.
I cleaned it up a bit and added a seaside picture from Home Goods.
I figured that the stylist,
Laura Hull, would work her magic in here with some editing.
I also borrowed this piece of art from
here to lighten things up in the living room.
We were told not to wear black, white or prints. Tommy and Alie selected their options...
The shoot was scheduled for around my
husband's birthday so the kids would be home.
But then, unfortunately, Howard had to go on a business trip.
This was strategically placed.
I washed all the slip covers and put this sign up for Tommy and his friends...and then...
The photography shoot was yesterday!
Here is the photographer, Edmund Barr, with our daughter, Alie. Edmund would be aghast over this lousy photo (and I didn't have him sign a "waiver release" like we did).
He did the photography for one of my favorite table setting books,
"Flair."
Not only did he sign my book, he fixed our running toilet!
Something he learned from an episode of "Mad Men." What a guy! Now if he will just
erase my neck wrinkles for the magazine, I will love him forever.
Here is his assistant, Dyleen, setting up the high tech equipment.
Although they kept the mantel as I had arranged it,
their photo will be waaaaay better. In other rooms,
Laura used mostly my things but in different eye catching ways.
Edmund was good at getting us to relax...he took a picture of Alie and me setting the patio table and
of Tommy in the kitchen spinning a basketball on his finger. Normal stuff.
Except for where they were shooting, the rest of the house looked like chaos
(and it was so neat the night before).
Oh well, at the end of the day it was back to normal.
And we got to keep Laura's beautiful flowers and the new green tray!
They ran out of time and didn't shoot the pantry or my office (newly outfitted with borrowed items
from Debbie and things removed like the printer and file folders).
So, here it is again looking like Cinderella before midnight
(I glued the blue fabric on the desk blotter to lighten it up).
It might be a year before the photographs run in the magazine,
but what a fun day for Alie, Tommy and me!
Thank you, "Better Homes and Gardens!!!!"
And thank YOU so much for stopping by!
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