Before the world turned upside down, I decided to embark on a new journey for Andern Design. While chatting with my friend Mary Louise over a bottle of rose’ at the Galveston Country Club, we agreed that we should combine forces to create a one-stop-shop property center in Galveston. Mary Louise owns Caravella Coastal Properties and recently purchased a commercial property near the entrance of Pirates Beach. Together, with Kai Custom Homes, we have formed the Galveston Real Estate Center and are ready to assist with all your property needs - buy, sell, build & design! Message me to book an appointment - I’d love to show you what’s new!
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Where didya get that?!
I have a problem with just saying "thank you" instead of shouting out the discounted price of a seemingly pricey item.
Girlfriend: OMG. That rug is amazing! Is it new? Where didya get that?
Me: YES!! Isnt' it great!? You won't believe - I got it at XYZ for less than $300!!
Who doesn't love the look of a highly styled room!? It's the designer price tag that gets us all choked up. My friends and clients are amazed at the great interior accessories, art, carpets, lighting and furniture I find.
My husband loves the rock-bottom prices.
I've decided to offer Personal Buying to my services. Let me do the digging for you! I will scour antique stores, thrift shops, local HomeGoods (Oh, how I love HomeGoods!), and Round Top Antique Fair so you don't have to! Give me a call, send me your Pinterest board, and let me start hunting for some treasures to get your home on-trend and in style!
What's Thanksgiving Without Wine?
I could still enjoy Thanksgiving or any other holiday without wine, but honestly, I don't want to. I enjoy a beautiful glass of wine with dinner. I like one with dessert, too, and while preparing the meal, and... - well, you get my point!
Most of my friends would agree their current go-to wines for Thanksgiving dinner are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Pinot is a choice is solid (my personal fav) and possibly brilliant: A high-acid, low-tannin Pinot, can do right by almost all the side dishes a big bird requires. Chardonnay, for me, is a puzzler, at least if it's a buttery and oaky (at the bottom of my choices, for sure). I'd suggest trying a Rose', which has become one of my favorites over the past few years. Rose's are dry, crisp and bursting with flavor. I think they will be among the most versatile wines on your table.
The trouble with applying the "I'll drink whatever" principle to Thanksgiving is that there's just so much going on ― herby gravy, tangy cranberry sauce, savory dressing.... And sweet potatoes are, well, sweet, even without marshmallows.
It seems natural that wine for Thanksgiving should come from American makers. Above all, for your family at Thanksgiving, the wines shouldn't be intimidating. This isn't the time to show off or get overly complex. Bring out something familiar and yummy.
Dale Robertson at The Houston Chronicle suggests these wines that can be found locally:
2012 Golden Eye Gowan Creek Pinot Noir
Overall score: 17 (9 for quality, 8 for value)
Our tasters: Gave it a unanimous recommendation with four scores of 9 or higher. "A big, round and concentrated wine but one that's well-balanced."
Critical acclaim: Earned a score of 92 from Wine Spectator: "Generous, offering ripe plum, black cherry and wild berry flavors, with touches of anise and black licorice. Ends with hints of dusty dried herb and cedar that fold into the finish."
Buy it: $73.99
2012 Frei Brothers Reserve Pinot Noir
Overall score: 18.9 (8.9 for quality, 10 for value)
Our tasters: Gave it a unanimous recommendation with a high score of 9.2 and two scores of 9. "Cherry and tobacco notes. Well-structured but also yummy."
Critical acclaim: Earned a 90 from Wine Enthusiast: "Beguiling streaks of red cherry surround a light, spicy, food-friendly core that's well balanced and integrated, the oak and tannin elegantly respectful of the red fruit. It offers medium weight amid the smoothness."
Buy it: $21.84
2013 J Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Overall score: 17.9 (8.9 for quality, 9 for value)
Our tasters: It didn't work for one, but another awarded a 9.3, and two others scored it 9 or higher. "Pronounced dried red fruit. Finishes long."
Critical acclaim: Earned a score of 90 from the Wine Enthusiast: "Made in a full-bodied style, this estate wine is generous in blackberry, black licorice and dark cherry, with classic cola spice dancing around its edges. Smooth and memorable, it is made from a handful of vineyards, including Nicole's, Bow Tie and Robert Thomas, all vineyard-designates of their own for the producer."
Buy it: $32.89
Round Top Antiques Festival
If you know me, you know I love beautiful things, the thrill of the negotiation, and the hunt for treasure. All these come together in a perfect trifecta twice a year in Round Top, Texas. My sweet husband graciously takes over packing lunches and reading good-night stories to our children so I can drive 90 miles to the best antiques festival in the state! This year I joined some girls from Dallas and stayed at the sweet Ant Street Inn. This adorable Inn is located in downtown Brenham and sounds like a sorority house once all the ladies return to kick up their feet, sip wine, chatter about their purchases and strategize about the next day's itinerary. Relishing cheese, wine and a dinner of twice-baked potatoes from Lisa's Aunt Nancy was my favorite time of the day. I loved catching up and laughing with these ladies!
We kicked off the day at Blue Hills where I met Michael Lawlis and purchased a great looking side table for the beach house. I can always use more surface area to rest a wine glass or two!
My favorite stop is Arbor Antiques where I always find gorgeous goodies. I was sad to learn that the Mexican Shirt lady is going out of business. She had all her inventory 20% off! I fell in love with a sold item from Susan Horne Antiques, but am crossing fingers that she can source another. My friend bought a stunning pair of French needlepoint arm chairs from Maison Pernoud that will look amazing in her new home's foyer.
On my final morning, we hit one more road-side tent and Nancy found a lovely pair of vintage sconces from Galveston!! My heart sank as I did not see them first... That sweet woman let me purchase them for Bowen (thank you, Nancy!)!! I also found two wooden tennis racquets for less than half the price where I saw them at Arbors, so I picked those up as well! I plan to send them on to House of Lamps so Nancy can work her magic!
11" of Rain in Houston
Houston is under water and the rain continues to fall, locking our soaked city in fear of more damage. My heart breaks as friends post images of their homes, wrecked from water damage.
I would like to extend my help to friends and clients in need of quick quotes for insurance claims. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or requests for advice. kim@anderndesign.com | 832.528.3909
Adios, Zombie Mommy.
I'm 40.5 years old and my twins turning three this week (Hooray!), I'm crossing the finish line of "new mommy syndrome". I'm excited to refocus on myself, my design business, and my relationships (thanks to those that stuck with me through babies & construction). I can proudly say (most days) I no longer look a zombie in yoga pants and can manage to have adult conversations without interruption at least twice a day!
As I think about what "focusing on myself" means, I realize I'm a very different person than I was three years ago. I'm not as selfish. I'm not as carefree. I'm not the same size or shape. '
It's going to take some time to learn about this "new me" and I look forward to seeing how 2015 rounds out.
Kim @ 40