Family | Lori May Interiors

April 15, 2013

Guess where we went?

If you follow me on instagram or facebook, this will not be a surprise at all. Last week was spring break and we took the girls to…

…the Grand Canyon! What an amazing place. It is truly awe inspiring to stand there and look over the edge at something that has been there for millions of years. We joked about the first explorer who came upon it. Can you imagine? No cell phones, no mail, no way to share this phenomenal discovery!

It is so hard to describe the massiveness of what you see there standing at the edge. I love this picture of Eric. Not only does it show you how cute my hubby is, but it also helps you see the vastness of the Grand Canyon. Amazing!

After our visit to the Grand Canyon, we made our way to Sedona. While I enjoyed the Grand Canyon, Sedona was my favorite. It was a perfect day and our first stop was a ride on the Pink Jeep Tour. Eric made these reservations and I’ll be honest, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into.

This is the “hill” that we had just driven (slid) down right before the jeep behind us. We were actually sitting at a 45 degree angle while the driver told us a few interesting facts. My oldest loved it, my youngest covered her eyes for most of the ride.

This view at the top was well worth the rough ride, though.

This is right before we left to go home. We were all tired, but so happy that we came. If you haven’t had the chance to visit the Grand Canyon or Sedona, AZ, be sure to add them to your bucket list. You will not be disappointed.

I’ll be back to the business of design this week, so stay tuned to instagram and facebook at Lori May Interiors for a sneak peek into my week! I’m thrilled to be the keynote speaker at the Designer’s Workroom Council annual meeting this Thursday. It’s sure to be a fun day! If you’re in the Atlanta area, I’d love to see you!

by Lori | Filed Under: Family, Getaways | 3 Comments

February 20, 2013

My week in pictures

Hello again friends. When I checked in with you last week, I mentioned that there was a lot going on. Today I thought I’d share a few pics with you, some work and some personal. Enjoy!

Sherry and I took apart our Inspiration House space on Tuesday. It was certainly bittersweet. Hard to believe that what was once this…

…became this, in an hour. Such a wonderful experience. So many wonderful people. I was honored to be a part.

After work, came play, and we were off to spend some much needed time away.

We headed to the NC mountains to stay in Angela’s cottage. The kids stayed back at the cottage with my parents and Eric and I toured the Biltmore.

If you have the opportunity to visit this American “castle”, please do. I’ve been before and each time, I discover something new. I only wish they let you take pictures inside. :(

This was my favorite shot. I have no idea how old this wisteria vine is, but it’s a beauty. If you follow me on Instagram and Vine, you saw many more pics and my first ever videos. You can find me at Lori May Interiors. I’d love to hear from you!

We were able to make a quick stop here after our Biltmore tour.

Not real sure what these were used for, but I loved the colors.

I still regret that I didn’t get these stars. I think they would have looked great in Kate’s room.

Pins and bouys, anyone?

Sherry, I thought of you when I saw this fab brass propeller. Perfect accessory for a bookshelf. At $75, it was a bit rich for me.

Love the sparkle and shine.

Great use of old yard sticks.

One of my favorite chairs.

Great lamp.

Back to the Biltmore for just a second. Remember the shot of Eric and I at the beginning of this post. The bright blue clear sky? As we were leaving this is what we saw. I should have known something was about happen.

This is what happened. We woke up Saturday morning to this. My kids were ecstatic!

The day was spent doing this. So happy that my sweet nephews were able to join us too!

By Monday morning, this was the view as we headed back to Atlanta. I hope you all had a great week last week. I’m still getting back into the swing of things. Four day weeks are always hard for me. I’ll be sharing that master bedroom reveal that I told you about on Friday.

See you then!

by Lori | Filed Under: Bedrooms, Family, Getaways, My Projects, Shopping | 13 Comments

December 17, 2012

Broken

As I sit here this morning, it is still pitch black outside and my children are sleeping soundly in their beds. I can’t help but think that there is a mother in Newtown, CT sitting as well mourning the loss of her own child.

Ever since I heard the news of the school shooting on Friday, I have been unable to think of anything else. I have obsessively read any update I could get my hands on about this tragedy. The pain that I feel for those families is almost unbearable, although I cannot fathom the pain that they feel. Perhaps it is because both of my daughters are in elementary school or even that my youngest is a 6 year old 1st grader, but I am not ready to move past this unthinkable act and talk about my frivolous design projects or worry as I have in the past about how I’m not posting as much as I should…

Of course, I had something different I had planned to share with you today, but it will have to wait for another day. Today is about remembering those sweet children who had their whole lives ahead of them and their amazing teachers who gave their lives trying to save them.

It is also, however, about finding a way to protect our children. As I listened to President Obama speak last night at the memorial service in Newtown, he said our first priority is caring for our children. And then he asked a simple question, “Are we doing enough?”. The simple answer, no, we are not. I realize that there are people who will say that there was nothing we could do to prevent this from happening and that sometimes bad things happen. I cannot accept this. My only job on this planet is to care for my children. To guide them, to protect them and to help them as they grow.

I do not have all the answers, but I know that this must end. We must join together and find a way to protect our children. If we don’t do this, we will be nothing. As the most powerful nation in the world, I know that this is possible.

Yesterday, I read a blog post that touched me deeply. I hope you’ll read it to. The Anarchist Soccer Mom: Thinking the Unthinkable This woman could be any of us sitting at our computers on any given day. Think of your day to day struggles and then try to fathom hers. We must help her child. We must help all the children. It is our responsibility as human beings.

As a nation, we are broken. We must start from this day to repair ourselves and worry about what is important. These children who were lost were my children. They were your children. It must be our mission in this life to protect them all.

by Lori | Filed Under: Family | 15 Comments

November 19, 2012

Our home in the AJC

A few weeks ago, I was thrilled to be interviewed by Linda Jerkins of the Atlanta Journal Constitution about our home remodel. The story was in the paper today and to say I was honored was really an understatement.

What a wonderful way to start the holiday week. I’m incredibly thankful for the past year, for my work and for my beautiful family. I’ll be spending Thanksgiving with my extended family and I can’t wait. It seems that the older I get the more I treasure these moments. We’ll all be together, the cousins will play, the parents will reminisce and I’ll try to take in each moment with a thankful heart.

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank all of you who read this blog faithfully. You’re continued support and enthusiasm means the world to me.

Thank you.

by Lori | Filed Under: Family, Holidays, My Home, My Projects, Outdoor spaces | 8 Comments

August 14, 2012

Where has the summer gone?

My girls went back to school today. While I have to admit, I’m sad to give up the days without a set routine. I’m ready to get back to it. It has been difficult this summer working on client projects, taking care of the girls and keeping up with general house stuff. Throw in a vacation and visits from family and general chaos ensues. There is a certain laid back feeling to all of it and I’m going to miss it. It’s time, though. The girls are so excited about the new school year, their new teachers and old friends and I’m excited to get back to full time work and this blog.

The blog break was unplanned. I had intended to blog twice a week over the summer, but client projects and family had to come first. I have really missed you all. I’m anxious to talk to you all again, see your favorite things on Facebook, twitter, instagram and Pinterest. You know, just catch up.

So, let’s get started. How was your summer? Are you ready for the fall routine? Thoughts of fall (or even Christmas) decorating starting to cross your mind? Join me on Facebook (I have a new page!), twitter and instagram at LoriMayInteriors. Let’s share our thoughts and catch up. I look forward to hearing from you. Be sure to leave your twitter handles, Facebook page and instagram names in the comments, so I can follow you back!

by Lori | Filed Under: Family, My Projects | 2 Comments

July 12, 2012

Artist crush: Katie Robinson

Today I want to share with you my latest dk Gallery artist crush. My mom was in town recently and as always dk Gallery was one of our first stops. As we walked in, we were met by the beautiful paintings of Katie Robinson. They were so new to the gallery that they were still sitting on the floor. Of course, we had no intention of actually buying artwork that day, but we were both mesmerized by Katie’s work. My mom and I both decided to each take a piece home to see it in our own spaces. This is always a must when making an investment in original artwork. You can love it to pieces in the gallery, but once you get it home, it may not give you that same feeling. To me, artwork is all about emotion. How does it make you feel? What does it make you remember? Who does it remind you of?

Here are a few more of Katie Robinson’s pieces. You can find her on Facebook, her own website, as well as dk Gallery’s website. Her pieces have an ethereal, soothing quality. Many pieces have a touch of metallic and a wash of acrylic that makes them feel at home in a beach side retreat as well as the most contemporary of homes.

Here is what Katie says about her work, “I like to observe color in different settings, take a mental snapshot, and then make the colors come alive again on the canvas-in no particular order. I find color inspiration in textiles, fashion, and nature. My goal with each painting is to try not to manipulate it at any point in the process. Someone once described my art as a happy accident. I take that as a compliment!”

I love the idea of art being a happy accident. Katie’s artwork gives me a calm feeling and makes me smile. What a wonderful happy accident!

After my mom was able to see her piece over her bed in the master bedroom, she had to have it.

This piece does not have the acrylic wash, so the texture is much softer. (I apologize for the grainy photo. Unfortunately, I forgot my regular camera.) The colors and tones of this piece are perfectly in sync with the neutral palette and splash of blue in my parent’s master bedroom.

This photo does not do the artwork or this room any justice what so ever. The blues of the space were completely washed away. Just imagine the walls in a cool blue and the painting coordinating perfectly. (I’ll be sure to take more photos with the fancy camera next time.)

To see more of Katie Robinson’s work be sure to visit dk Gallery. If you’re not in town, you can visit them online as well, although I highly recommend an in person visit if you’re able. I’ll be happy to meet you there and introduce you to a few more of my artist crushes. There are many.

What do you think I decided to do? Could I live without my own Katie Robinson piece? More to come on my latest artist crush…

by Lori | Filed Under: Artwork, Bedrooms, Family, My Home, Tips/Tutorials | 2 Comments

June 4, 2012

Hello from Hilton Head!

Hello there friends. Yes, I’m on vacation, but I feel like I’ve been neglecting you all so much that I wanted to pop in and show you the view from our gorgeous home here in Hilton Head. We are here with our extended family and looking forward to some rest and relaxation. Don’t worry, though, I’ve got a few things planned for you as well.

On Wednesday, I’ll take you on a tour of the beautiful neighborhood near our home here in Hilton Head and on Friday I’ll show you how to add a chic beach look to your home without it looking like The Salty Dog.

Have a great day and I’ll see you back here on Wednesday!

by Lori | Filed Under: Family, Getaways, Outdoor spaces | 2 Comments

May 21, 2012

What I’ve been up to lately…

Hi all,

I know that my blog posts have slowed to a crawl, but you guys are still on my mind constantly. Today, I thought I’d share a few photos from what I’ve been up to these last few weeks. I’ll be off the radar for another week or so. This week is the last week of school and I’ll be spending most of my time at my girls’ school and working on my existing and new client projects. I have so much to share with you all, but my girls come first right now. They are so excited about the last few days of school. It feels like there are parties every day! I know that many of you are doing the same thing this week, so enjoy and I’ll see you back here in a few!

Thought I’d share this with you first. This is what my desk looks like right now. Think I need to spend a little time here? But instead, I’ve been…

…here, doing a lot of…

…this, for…

…this sweet girl and…

…her phenomenal soccer team. We had the most amazing weekend ever and I can’t tell you how proud I am of these girls. They are warriors!

They may not have ended up with the final win, but they fought hard until the end and were great sports through it all.

We spent the weekend before here in Fountain Hills, AZ. We all went out to celebrate my fabulous mom in law’s birthday.

It was a great trip. We took a boat ride and watched bald eagles nesting. Charlotte thought that was pretty cool.

I’ve been incredibly blessed with several new design projects these past few weeks as well. I’m looking forward to sharing my new projects and the final pics of some projects that have been in the works for some time now. Here’s a sneak peek.

So, that’s what’s going on for me right now. How about you? Are you crazy with work, kids and life? You’ve gotta love it! I truly appreciate your patience. I’ll see you back here soon!