Behind the Scenes, Vivid Hue Home Shoot

I have been neglecting my blog posts lately and spending much of my design time on instagram.    For those of ya'll that follow my postings there, you know that today is a big and exciting day for me!  I've got a photo shoot going on at the house today. 

Photo from Vivid Hue Home iphone of Gridley Graves Photography

About six months ago, Anne Gridley of Gridley + Graves Photography contacted me about doing the shoot after seeing a few of my house photos on the blog.   I was over the moon excited.  The shoot will be featured in one of the Harris Publications' for home decorating.  It won't likely be in print until next year.  I'm thrilled with the opportunity! 

I swung into high gear finishing up partially completed projects around the house.  Including, the vestibule and completely making over my son's bedroom.   In the next coming weeks, I will be sharing details about these projects. 

In the meantime, here's a sneak peek into today's shoot: 

Photo from Vivid Hue Home iphone of Gridley Graves Photography

Gary Graves is a master at staging and styling.  It's amazing at how he's been able to transform my kitchen into an inviting and welcoming palette.  I almost feel like I need to add some vodka to the lemonade and kick start a party over here.  It's fascinating to watch talented minds work.  Love the ideas they've come up with for displaying my items. 

Taken from Vivid Hue Home iphone

These guys mean serious bizness.  It's amazing how these photo lights help optimize the perfect lighting.  The digital results are breath-taking.   (Of course, the talent of Gridley + Graves helps, too).   

I initially styled the mudroom bench to look like a little garden center.  Anne and Gary scrapped the flowers and garden shovel and opted for casual jackets hanging on the hooks. 

Vivid Hue Home iphone

Vivid Hue Home Mudroom, taken with iphone

 

After working so diligently to get the house styled for this shoot, I'll be sharing some updates made to the house that haven't been seen on the blog.  Look for that in the coming weeks.  (How's that for a teaser)? 

Vivid Hue Home iphone photo of Mudroom

 

Gary tweaks the pillows and curtains in the family room .  A lot of people on instagram commented on the art above the fireplace... this is by the talented and amazing artist, Antoinette Wysocki.  Read more about her here.  And visit her website here. 

Vivid Hue Home Family Room, taken with iphone

The study got all tidied up but won't be part of the shoot today. 

Vivid Hue Home Study, taken with iphone

Sunroom is bursting with peonies...

Vivid Hue Home Sunroom, taken with iphone

 

Vivid Hue Home Foyer taken from iphone

 

The team was here for about nine hours and said they got about 17 final shots.  I'll keep you posted when they go to print! 


Hope you enjoy your weekend! 

Gray Malin: Bring 'Gray Skies" My Way!

I am completely obsessed with Gray Malin. 

Gray is an extremely talented photographer with a background in marketing that has used his talent in both areas to catapult his career to severe heights.  He's a native of Dallas, Texas who was working at Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles after attending Emerson College.  In 2009, he decided to quit his job at Paramount and focus on selling his photography at the flea market every Sunday. 

But this wasn't just any ole flea market, this was the internationally famous Melrose Fairfax Flea Market in Los Angeles.  Gray diligently marketed his work to market goers and caught the interest of interior designers, celebrities, gallery owners and art lovers.  Once you see his work, I think you'll fall in love too. 

I originally fell in love with his series called "The Dolce Vita" where Gray and his team traveled through the Italian Riviera in an attempt to recapture the glamour of the 1950's and 60's era.  The resulting photos remind me so much of Massimo Vitali's work, and ya'll know how much I adore him!  

A La Plage Series Photo By Christina Lilly

Since then, I've discovered additional collections from Gray Malin, including 'A La Plage, A La Piscine.'   Gray's team traveled to beaches around the world in North America, Central and South America, Australia, Asia and Africa and photographed from the sky in doorless helicopters down onto the beach scenes below.   The result is a beautiful collection. 



Biondi Beach from Gray Malin

Gray's work has been featured on many prominent galleries and can also be found on One King's Lane occasionally.  It's also possible to purchase prints directly from the Maison Gray | The House of Gray website here.   Multiple sizes are available.  The prints are editioned, signed and in limited quantities.  Prices are reasonable.  (For example, if purchased directly from the Gray Maison website they start at $300 for a 19' x 17' up to $3,500 for 66' x 44').  Prints are unframed. 

I've seen excellent prices on One King's Lane for framed prints ($300-$500) for a smaller sized print.  Keep your eyes peeled. 

This is definitely going on my holiday wish list!

And as if it couldn't get any better, Gray also makes wallcovering.  And let me assure you, it's to die for.  I'll feature that in another post soon.  The dude isn't even thirty and already going places.

All photos courtesy of the Gray Malin website unless otherwise noted. 

  Cheers!  Heather | Vivid Hue Home

Meet Ditte Isager

I'm sitting at home on a day with severe thunderstorms and torrential down pours. In fact, I am positive Dorothy just flew by in her country dwelling with that green wicked lady trailing behind. Oh wait. Maybe that was my neighbor. Only I actually really like my neighbor. Oh sh*t. I bet that means my kids raided my avocado beauty masque again. 

I decided to be a good mama today and keep my five year old home instead of dropping him off at his outdoor YMCA camp. My decision was made just after the house lights went out and a stream of lightening directed my path to the bathroom to scold the kids. (For raiding my masque, remember?)  

Of course, as karma (or Murphy's Law or second-guessing-mommy-choices) would have it, as soon as I announced to the dude that he was spending a day with mom, he forwarded the memo on to his little sister that she was still going to school. Because her school is indoors. School actually being daycare but it makes my three year old feel bigger when we call it "school." Only now that summer is here and other kids are going to camp, she asks me incessantly when her camp begins. But I am a working mom. On most days. 

Today I'm waiting at home for a repair man to show up at my house anytime between a 36 hour window of time.  Because I don't have anything else to do but wait for them.  And watch Hoda and Kathy Lee drink wine on their morning show.  And I can't even drink wine to kill the time with them.  What kind of mom would do that in front of their five year old kid?  Plus it's only ten in the morning.  So there's that.  Because I actually drink in front of the kids but just not at ten in the morning.  I mean I don't even believe it's five o'clock *somewhere* yet. (IS it?) Oh, how do regular stay at home moms do it?

So while I'm already exhausted from this morning doing this stay-at-home mom thing...and waiting for the repair man to show up...what is the point of this whole post anyway?...(see what happens when i have time to devote to writing?) Well I wanted to share the beautiful work of Danish photographer Ditte Isager! 

 

{Photos Courtesy of Ditte Isager and Nordic Design  and Let Me Be Inspired}

Ditte was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and has been working in NYC since 2006. Her work is very raw and natural and beautiful. She specializes in shooting interiors, lifestyles, travels and personalities. Her clients have included Martha Stewart and Gordan Ramsey and she's been featured in House Beautiful, Elle and more!  Her style is very simple and Nordic. She loves photography because she says every day brings a new story.

And I of all people can relate to that! 

Until later...I believe that repair man is knocking at my door.