It has been awhile since my last post and in the past few months I have been working on some exciting projects including living room updates, children’s spaces and kitchen remodels. What has been amazing for me to continue to observe along the way is how elements of design are always around us and how they help to shape our views of the world. Perhaps I have been keeping myself busy trying to escape the reality that a milestone birthday was approaching…the BIG 4-0. On our annual family trip to Rosemary Beach in June my (several years younger) sister pointed this out and was so kind to let me know that she wanted to plan a special birthday dinner to celebrate. I was completely honored and knew I was in good hands due to the facts that my sister has impeccable taste and also that she happens to count Dori Waller, an incredibly talented event planner, as one of her dearest friends.

One of the first big decisions was where to have this special evening and Dori immediately recommended the Schermerhorn Symphony Center here in Nashville. I was intrigued as I have attended some fabulous large events there and because it holds a special place in my heart as my husband’s company was part of the team that helped to create this magnificent structure. In fact, one of the first performances held there in 2006 was a concert for the individuals who helped to build the Schemerhorn and we were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend. We considered a few restaurants and other venues for the dinner but Dori felt like a room in the Schemerhorn would provide a more intimate, private setting for a special birthday dinner with close friends and family. This leads me back to my initial musings on the realization that our own personal design aesthetic is constantly evolving and influencing our choices in how we decorate, dress, party plan, etc.

One of my favorite photos (it has occupied a space on my Pinterest page for a number of years) is one of Tory Burch in her Manhattan Apartment on Fifth Avenue. This apartment, decorated by Daniel Romualdez, has been reprinted in many different publications, most recently being Architectural Digest, and has served as great inspiration for me. Tory Burch is such a style and fashion icon…timeless and classic beauty at its best. I have long-loved pretty much everything blue-and-white: china, fabric, books, etc. and I come by it honestly…you should see my mother’s house! Of course I love all of the blue-and-white accent pieces on the mantle, wall and tables but it is the soft, grassy green wallpaper and layering of various greens on lampshades and trim, that truly “make” this beautiful room in my opinion. Using this as our “jumping off point” for my special evening, I took as a sign when I saw photos from the Schermerhorn and the “Green Room” was available!

Pretty much anyone who knows me knows that I ADORE the work of the extremely talented duo of Nico And Lala and count on them for all of my paper needs. They helped to design my company logo and were familiar with my blue-and-white obsession, which made things easy! For the invitations, they incorporated the perfect shades of blue and green, a custom watercolor logo and mailed them in moss lined blue mailer boxes with custom stamps and calligraphy.

menu cards with hand calligraphy added a personal touch to each place setting

I worked with Dori and the team at the The Social Office and loved the idea of using linens in a soft greens and accenting with blue-and-white centerpieces for our table. We enlisted expertise of our family friend, the incredible Mark O’Bryan, and the Tulip Tree to fill those pieces with beautiful fresh flowers in varying shades of white and green. I wanted simple, understated, yet fabulous, and they delivered!

Dori never misses a single detail, and to complete our beautiful table she selected blue glassware from Vintage Vessels, and my favorite, the most gorgeous “Charleston” dining chairs from Please Be Seated rentals. Please Be Seated is Nashville’s premier vendor for luxury rentals and is owned by Paul and Mary Huddleston, who are an incredibly talented couple who happen to be our neighbors!

Finally, a perfectly styled table deserves nothing less than an incredible meal prepared by none other than Kristen Winston Catering. Kristin created a “visual feast” including a butter lettuce wedge with poached shrimp, pan-seared Chilean sea bass and frozen key lime mousse that had guests pining for more!

Two weeks have passed and I am still smiling from the memories created that evening. I will forever be grateful to my sister, Dori ,and the host of others who wanted to make my “introduction to forty” such a special one. They each considered my love of design and appreciation of timeless and classic details, and collectively worked to bring my vision to life!