Architect spotlight

Do you know of the beautiful design store in Charlottesville, VA called and George?  Bethany has been there many times and I have yet to go, but the mother-daughter team has impeccable taste, the kind we want to emulate (plus, the store is named after their prize bulldog, George!).

There is an architect affiliated with their services by the name of Bethany Puopolo and she has a wonderful story.  I first stumbled across Bethany's work on and George's blog, highlighting an addition of an elevator to a historical home. It looks as if it's been there all along!

But then when I explorered Puopolo's website seeing more of  her work, her home and the process behind the design, I fell in love with Bethany Puopolo's aesthetic, love of pure materials and letting the outside come 'in'. Her 2400 square foot Virginia farmhouse of has slate floors made from slate dug from her property, and she has replaced modern drywall with natural wooden walls and board and batten. A liveable house where barn boots are not a curse word!

Her architectural studies of historic preservation led her to use barn builders and post and beam construction in their new home in the Virginia countryside. I am drawn to her love of animals and the 1000 sq. feet of porches that encompass her home so that she can see her animals and her land.

The pale color she uses in her home, the love of nature, her use of natural wood in decorating and simple furnishings all come from her Swedish roots and is quite easy on the eyes. She is featured in Southern Living. 

-Nancy

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[Ceiling] Obsessed Much?

Hiya Folks!

I'm interrupting my regularly scheduled vacation to bring you a guest post update (and because I miss you all).   I'm over at The Mustard Ceiling today, paying homage to our friend Elizabeth and her blog - talking about the art of incorporating the ceiling into the room design.

If you haven't guessed by now, ceilings are kinda our thing.  We're just really into them, whether we're doing canopies on our current project, or painting them dark colors or revelling in some wallpaper goodness; we love to include the ceiling in a design plan. Kinda like the wonderful ceiling at our favorite Charlottesville haunt, And George: 

Pop on by The Mustard Ceiling to see the obsession unravel.

-Bethany

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 Nancy and Bethany

Lonny And George

Did you see my girl Christy Ford in the new Lonny?  You may recognize her store and style from our favorite Charlottesville haunt, And George.  Christy and mom, Jan Roden, run this oh-so-chic boutique named after their lovable bulldog, George.  Sadly, when the hubs and I visited and George last month, we found out he had just passed away the week before.  We felt so horrible and Wilma was devastated to hear that news. 

As if this family isn't talented enough, Christy's husband founded the Organic Butcher in Charlottesville and McLean and Christy herself is an amazing photographer, employed for some time in NYC shooting fabulous interiors.

Check out Christy's Charlottesville home.

Do you spot George in the painting?

The store...

I've said it once, I'll say it again, you have to stop by And George if you're ever in Charlottesville.  It's a beautiful curated store full of fantastic finds.

-Bethany

I've Got a [Store] Crush : and George

One of my favorite stores of all time is and George in Charlottesville, VA.  Years ago, my mom, brother and I had taken a weekend trip to the beach during the spring - it was not quite warm enough to sit on the shore, but I couldn't pass up the chance to look at the water.  So I sat in my jeans and sweatshirt out on the bulkhead of the bay and read the copies of House and Garden that were laying around the house.  I stumbled across an article about the mother-daughter design team that heads up and George and was hook-line-and-sinker (beach pun intended).

What might have sealed the deal was the namesake of the outfit, a cuddly English Bulldog named George.

Wilma is totally crushing on George, too, btw.

I've since had the pleasure of visiting and George many a time and I could spend hours in there just soaking it up.  I love the feel Christy and Jan have created. Jan is a talented designer, who uses the store as a springboard for her custom design services and Christy is a master photographer (can't you tell from her yummy pics here?).   I can even convince my hubby to go in with me, in hopes he'll get to meet the elusive George once and for all.  Unfortunately, we haven't yet.

and George promotes the work of a local Charlottesville artist, Abby Kasonik, who's moody turquoise paintings just do something to stir the soul.  Her art is displayed throughout the store and punctuates the neutral, calming environment they've created.

I think I love the Giannetti's paintings so much because it reminds me of these beauties.  Beachy, moody, vibrant but soothing!  

If you're ever in the area, stop by!  You won't be sorry.