Christmas at Jill’s- Fabulous!

Last year’s January issue of House Beautiful remains one of my favorites. It’s cover story was Jill Sharp Brinson’s house in Atlanta – a wonderful example of Rough Luxe as seen through the eyes of its owner, a highly talented designer. Jill holds the quite impressive title of Creative Director at Ballard Designs- one of the better home décor catalogues available. I immediately feel in love with her unique house – the quirky architecture, the interiors, the steel windows, the green gardens – it remains at the top of my all time favorites!

In fact, much of blogland went crazy for the house too. Valorie of Visual Vamp created a faux magazine cover copying Jill’s cover which spurred me on to create my own faux cover of House Beautiful ala Cote de Texas.     Well? Do you think my cover looks like Jill’s?   ha!

Over these past two years – Jill and I have exchanged emails – she is really so sweet and giving. Today, I was shocked to get a Fed Ex envelope from Jill with the new Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine in it. The cover is of Jill’s dining room, styled for Christmas.

I thought I was share the pictures with you since most of you won’t be seeing this local Atlanta magazine, which is a shame because it is a great one.

Jill Sharp Brinson’s dining room made the cover of this month’s Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. No, I don’t think I’ll be styling my dining room for a faux cover again – but I do have a skirted table too – in all white! Jill husband Rob Brinson took all the photographs for this story.

Is it fair that someone so talented should also be so gorgeous? Jill, with the blonde hair, is pictured with another beauty, Suzanne Kasler, an interior designer from Atlanta who worked on the styling with Jill. Kasler has a developed a line of furniture and accessories for Ballard Designs.   Here Jill and Suzanne pose in front of the fireplace in the main living space.

The front entry is decorated for the season with greenery and candles. I love how she lined her steps with the votives. But, the “Joy” is what really makes it all so special! Jill and Rob’s house was built in the 1930s – inside, ceilings reach up 20 feet.

The entry door is glass and steel, as are the windows throughout. Here a small Frasier Christmas tree designed by Kasler for Ballard sits in a bucket planter. On the wall is a large photograph that is from Jill and Rob’s upcoming book. Can’t wait for that one!

Steel doors and windows are so gorgeous! I wish they weren’t so pricey because they really make a house special.

Here, is the entry hall as shown last year in House Beautiful. Notice the collection of white birds sitting on the high shelf.

The main living room with garland around the sconces and paper whites. I am loving the new all muted white and khaki colors.

Throughout, Jill and Suzanne used Christmas decorations that Suzanne designed for Ballard, such as linen tree skirts with velvet trim, glass ornaments, and others.

Across from the sofa, votives lead up to the library loft. Notice the glass ornaments in the tree – these ornaments come from Suzanne’s collection for Ballard Designs.

And, at the bottom of the stairs, a brown cowhide covers an antique chest, while a pinecone wreath hangs from the contemporary mirror.

Above the fireplace, a pink suzani hangs – adding just a touch of pink to the room. Notice the branch over the dining room table – Jill says she hangs different things from the branch – depending on whatever catches her eye.

The focal point of the Christmas decorations is this tree. Jill, inspired by the artist Christo, wrapped it in 8 yards of gray matte silk. Jill says the tree is “modern, pretty, and a little bit of wow.”   Just as she likes to live, she elaborates.   In the background, you can see another cowhide that sits under the sofa and chairs.

Here’s a glance back at the living room as seen in the House Beautiful spread. I still love the textile hanging from the loft and those covering the sofa! Maybe this is the “summer” décor.   It looks like she got a new dining room table with a glass top – here the table is more of the Belgian look so popular today. The room past the living area is the master bedroom.

In the dining room – two more Kasler trees flank the window with its hanging wreath. Notice the photograph of the horse inside it. Kasler ornaments were added to the lanterns. And, the biggest change is the skirted table with its bold chevron black and white pattern.   To create an instant change of tables like Jill did, check out the party tablecloths available at Ballard Designs HERE.

The Dining Room as seen last year in House Beautiful.

Probably my favorite room in Jill’s house is this one with the fabulous double lanterns and gorgeous shelves with chicken wire. I swear – one day soon I am going to have a carpenter build me doors like this to cover my own family room book shelves. And, notice the Kooboo chairs and white cowhide – two things I did copy straight from Jill! Is there a prettier room anywhere?

In Jill’s beautiful kitchen, she put 3 of Suzanne’s mirrors for Ballard Designs in the windows, then garland was added to the vignette.   Jill says the mirrors look like jewelry.   Notice her adorable farm sink and the sconces above it. Love, love love this!

From the House Beautiful story – look at this arched steel door leading from the kitchen – it is phenomenal, it takes a utilitarian space and turns it into an art gallery- like space.

And, from House Beautiful, Jill’s yard – all greenery and gravel – it looks like it a garden in Provence.

Suzanne Kasler’s Collection for Ballard Designs includes an assortment of Christmas merchandise. Besides several trees, there are linen skirts with velvet trim in different colors that can be monogrammed.

There are gift tags and ribbon.

And, there are glass ornaments and wreaths, among other items. See the Suzanne Kasler Collection for Ballard Designs HERE. If you visit the web site – check out Suzanne’s gourd lamps – I’m going to order a few for a client of mine. They look wonderful, especially for the price.

The entire December issue of Atlanta Home & Lifestyles is pretty. I loved this story on tablescapes created by different chic shops in Atlanta.   My eye went to this table – I have green glasses I bought at Pottery Barn a decade ago that I could use to try to recreate this tablescape. Brown and white transferware could be substituted too. What I like about this is it’s not too over the top that you couldn’t actually set a table just like it.

Sunny ikats, feathers, and beaded pears, along with gilt mirrors were used to create this table. Love it!

I think this would be a great Hanukkah tablescape with the blues and the whites of the rock quartz.    If you had different colored Foo dogs, you could use those instead of the blue – the main idea would be to match the vase and the dogs. Now, where are the dreidles?

The magazine’s web site is HERE – digital issues are available although the current issue isn’t loaded yet – so you may have to wait a few weeks if you want to view it online.

And finally, a huge thank you to Jill and Rob for sharing this latest photoshoot of their wonderful home. A very Merry Christmas and Happy and Healthy New Years to you both!!