Gorge on this eye candy

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Welcome to my rabbit hotel. I am making some minor edits in my DR, and that involved some old Parsons chairs I thought were from Ballard but are not (they say Crate and Barrel, c1986!)

That led me to try to see if CB ever mfd furniture for others (looks like no) and then led me to reading their history and then on to Ballard's history and then a Cote de Texas blog on Helen Ballard's home and estate sale.

You must must see this. I have totally internalized her style over the years and I always love what she does. You know a house is good when you think your fave room is the guest suite kitchen. or maybe the laundry room or dog room.

https://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-beautiful-house-in-atlantaagain.html

wet bar!

PR!

guest K

I've always liked rustic rooms w some b/w. a touch of gilt, touch of green, and yes, I agree animal prints are classic. I see now this was part of her formula. My first NYC apt had a Ballard zebra rug.

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Comments (12)

daisychain Zn3b
3 years ago
Gorge indeed. The light fixtures, fabrics, gardens, ... so much to appreciate.

Also, thanks for the reminder about cote de Texas. I used to pore over her blog and valued (still do) her introductions to designers and styles I wouldn't have otherwise stumbled on. The pics always took so long to load, but were well worth the wait.
localeater
3 years ago
Wow, just wow. So much to love; the outdoor spaces all made me swoon.
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Joanne, I wrote an even longer response to this, I'm sure it was totally wordy. Even more so than what follows. I love words and storytelling. BUT lucky for you, it disappeared into the ether. As Frosty Cherry blooms have opened most of them have had an increasing amount of red in them. But to tell the truth, I'd have been perfectly happy to have something that was more white with flushes of another color, like the initial photo. That's where this community comes in: what might you suggest that maybe has a tinge of color, but tends toward white? It's not that I don't cruise violetbarn and selectivegardener fairly regularly, window-shopping as it were. But those aren't the only sources, and they don't tell one anything about performance. And leaves are important to me, as well as flowers. The rest of this is only relevant to people who have nothing better to do at the moment. One of the excellent things about Frosty Cherry is its leaves, as far as I can judge in a mere four months' acquaintance. They're much more regular and tailored-looking than the other Russian that I have, Masha Rasterasha, whose leaves are large and exceedingly flamboyant. Don't get me wrong, I love Masha's leaves! Loved them from the first, when he arrived with only four leaves, but all so happy. (Masha is not a she. For once, this is definitely a "he" violet. He might be gay, but he's a HE. Massively so.) I've been looking around some, at Russians. Foliage definitely trends toward the exuberant devil-may-care side, when I can find illustrations. When I knew nothing about Russians vs anything else, I just went shopping and picked some stuff the blossoms of which appealed to me. Pictures of flowers were generally all that was available, not pictures of whole plants. I knew it was a risky way to shop but there seems at present to be no other way. I strongly believe marketers need to offer pictures of whole plants, not just flowers. Anyway, I got what I got, and I'm working with it. I reckon if some of them fade into the sunset over time, well. They won't be the first, nor the last, and I'll have learned something.
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Tina Marie
3 years ago
Another one that is too fancy and grand for my taste. I do not care much for the outside of the house at all other than the stone and the french blue shutters and I noticed some of the window trim is french blue also. The wet bar is awful but I do love the powder room. I liked the plainer rooms better (the foyer, the landing area, the laundry).

The outside areas I like MUCH better! The garden area with the curved door, the pergola dining area, the firepit area, the greenhouse! Even though we have never wanted a pool, the setting of that pool is gorgeous. I love the trees hanging over the pool, although I can imagine the mess that would cause.

I used to read Cote de Texas also. Haven't in quite some time. Poor Joanie, so much has happened with her. Maybe I'll revisit.
User
3 years ago
That's so lovely. I think it exudes a relaxed formality that provides a sense of order, yet beautifully invites one in with a warm embrace. The beams, floor, fireplace, and chandy in the living room are TDF.
llitm
3 years ago
What TM said.

Dang, that is one large home, one I could never feel comfortable in. Some of the elements Ida mentioned I like but if you really need me I can be found in one of the lovely outdoor spaces.
mtnrdredux_gw
Original Author
3 years ago
It is a little grand, but I don't see it as fancy at all; in fact that's one reason why I like it! Interesting!
Sueb20
3 years ago
Some of it I like a lot. Some I find too, too...I don’t know, too much on display.

I like this! The pinboard and the books.

I love the use of the wall sconce here.

And I want the lamp below.
tartanmeup
3 years ago
I wasn't familiar with the Ballard story so thanks for sharing. Can certainly appreciate a lot in these pictures. Love to analyze the decor mix in each room and see what resonates with me and what doesn't. The estate has classic timeless bones (that don't come cheap as we say). Obviously a labour of love created by someone with a strong and cohesive aesthetic.
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I think she should have just relocated to France. I do love the light and a lot of it, but I can't help but feel that it is a bit pretentious. Still, if it made her happy, good for her. The exterior is sublime. I liked the green pots in the photo of the sale.

Overall, give me a real French home in France. Atlanta just isn't on my list of places to live (no offense intended if you love living there-we have a nephew there and he likes it, but not for me).

ETA: One more rant-cotedetexas makes me nuts. If she tells me to "notice' this whatever one more time, I will scream.
User
3 years ago
Ha! Yeah, she goes a bit overboard with the "notice" directives.
Tina Marie
3 years ago
LOL @cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA) you wouldn't find me in Atlanta! We go to that area occasionally, but oh, the traffic! Once again, I am not a city girl!!

Maybe "fancy" isn't the right word. There are several things that are quite ornate and that's just not my jam.
Allison0704
3 years ago
I am exhausted. Couldn't even finish looking at all the photos. The house exterior and grounds are gorgeous, but the interiors are too much. Half, maybe better.

Gorge on this eye candy

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daisychain Zn3b

localeater

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Gorge on this eye candy

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