Urban Grace Interiors {the blog} bio picture

Welcome to my blog!

My name is Erika and this is my blog.  You might have come here from my old blog- if so please update your feed or bookmark the new site... I promise it'll be much better than the old blog.  If you are new around here welcome!  I'm so glad you are here.  A little background on me: I am a new mom to a precious little girl, a designer, a wife, and the mother of two rescued dogs (Penelope & Paisley).  I am passionate about design, and I also enjoy gardening, good pens, art, photography, antiques, traveling, and rescued animals. 

If you are curious about my design business, Urban Grace Interiors, you can click that link above titled "Portfolio" that will take you to official website.  This blog is just my daily ramblings... some of which are design related, and some of which are not.  I hope you like what you find here... I aim to inspire.

 

 

another one bites the dust

JTE

Here stands J.T.E. 

That stands for “John the Electrician”.  Not to be confused with the John the Homeowner or John the Mirror and Glass Guy.  Each new project brings a slew of new relationships which really brings me such delight.  I know it is weird to get sentimental over an electrician and other tradesmen, but I really find such joy in working with new people and building new relationships.  This project pictured above is wrapping up and where JTE stands later today a beautiful walnut countertop will be slid into place.  Above JTE is a collection of CX Designs Cristallo pendants.  This home is in the local development of Alys Beach, and if you are ever in my neck of the woods you should add a visit to Alys Beach to your list.  Have dinner at the Caliza Pool, lunch at George’s and visit Studio B for a class!

Yesterday (and I am sure again today) this house was buzzing with many worker bees.  I’ve been working with these homeowners for a couple of years now… and it is really hard to believe the project is coming to a close.  Nineteen mattresses and truck fulls of furniture were delivered yesterday.  Mirrors and lights were being installed.  Very soon I won’t be seeing their names in my email inbox… and that will be sad.  (I hope they will still email me even if it isn’t about furniture or tile or lights!)  I know there will be new names in my inbox and new projects starting.  I am blessed to be doing what I love.  Blessed that people like those moving into this home this weekend trusted me enough to let me have a hand in how it will look on the inside.  I hope they enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed designing it!!

December 17, 2009 - 4:43 pm Laura Casey Interiors - E- Love the light fixtures! Can't wait to see it all. Thanks for the precious card! XO

December 17, 2009 - 5:16 pm Mag - It is great that you appreciate your tradesmen so much, you couldn't do your jobs without each other! The fact that you like them just makes everything better.

December 17, 2009 - 5:25 pm Claire Wood - We just visited Seacrest Beach this fall for the first time. The entire are (Alys, Seacrest, Rosemary) is just beautiful. You are one lucky gal if you live nearby!

December 17, 2009 - 5:47 pm Sherry Fagin - Oh...I so hope you post photos of this house. I LOVE the lights!! LOVE them!! We have vacationed in Rosemary and Seaside and are well aware of the beauty and cool-ness of Alys Beach. Tell JTE he did a great job!

December 17, 2009 - 6:08 pm Jacci - That's so awesome, Erika :) I can tell just by JTE's picture that he has a fun sense of humor while he works. I can totally see how relationships develop over a project like this one. You chose some seriously gorgeous fixtures, btw. And a walnut countertop - I can see it there and it's amazing.

December 17, 2009 - 6:22 pm Krista - Absolutely LOVE the lights!! :-)

December 17, 2009 - 6:26 pm grace - i am ALL about lighting, and the ones above totally stopped me in my tracks and made me want to do some type of dance. Not only are they gorgeous, but I've never seen anything like them!! you are ALWAYS ahead of the game and so innovative. i can't wait to see more pics...and whoa- 19 mattresses? holy cow!!!! that's a lot of beds to make. So awesome erika! i know you made your clients house a home, which is what it's all about:)

December 17, 2009 - 6:27 pm JTH - As the J.T.H. in this post, I can only say how fortunate we have been to be able to work with you. We're truly going to miss the daily interaction, your sense of humor, and your work ethic. One thing we WON'T miss is your style, as we'll be fortunate enough to enjoy it every time we're in the house. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you've done for our entire family. Erika, you're one of a kind.

December 17, 2009 - 6:31 pm Donna - This picture leaves me wanting more...looks like a fantasitic project...can't wait to see some finished photos!

December 17, 2009 - 6:37 pm Janell Beals - I've never heard anyone else say it exactly like you just did. I am also very fond of my favorite tradesmen!I hope you post more photos of the home, this area with all the fixtures is quite intriguing!Janell

December 17, 2009 - 6:44 pm Katie - Love the lights! Love Rosemary/Alys beaches!

December 17, 2009 - 6:46 pm jane - what a set of lights!i'm in awe of your talent, erika!(and an early merry christmas to you + your family)

December 17, 2009 - 6:53 pm Kara Hebert - LOVED Sloane's card. So perfect. So You! You need to update your p-fol soon and show us some new project pics! : xoxo your card is on the way...

December 17, 2009 - 7:36 pm Marianne Strong - I know exactly what you mean, every word! You get so attached to clients and workers, it is hard when it is over.Love the lights!

December 17, 2009 - 7:41 pm Meagan Claypool - Oh Erika, those light fixtures are just WONDERFUL!!!!!!

December 17, 2009 - 7:44 pm jen - 19 mattresses??????????????????????????????????????????????????????

December 17, 2009 - 7:49 pm Rebecca - those fixtures are amazing. I know exactly what you mean about no more emails from clients you adore. I feel the same way. When my brides get married, they are no more too and it makes me so sad. After working with them for a year or more, we always seem to bond.

December 17, 2009 - 8:02 pm alison g. (brazil) - Looks like the hint of something amazing. Will this be just another teaser, or might we see a bit of the finished project? Please, please, purrrty-please (if you can, of course) ;)

December 17, 2009 - 8:52 pm linda@LimeintheCoconut - ...If those lights are not the quintessential beacons of gorgeousness...I don't know what is!Beautiful...lucky them...lucky you!

December 17, 2009 - 9:54 pm Paloma {La Dolce Vita} - Erika, I am dying over those light fixtures! I think hanging them together like that is brilliant. I did a post on Alys Beach earlier this year. That place is so gorgeous! Do you have more pictures of this project? If so, pleeeeease share them with us! I'd love to see more. :)

December 17, 2009 - 10:03 pm darci - Those pendants make my heart swoon.And I loved Alys Beach (we spent a week in Rosemary this summer and ate at the restaurant at the Caliza pool and at George's as well).And thanks for sharing - it's kind of crazy how close you get to people when working on a project and how quickly that fades when the project wraps up. :(

December 17, 2009 - 10:05 pm Kim - LOVE LOVE the execution of these lights. They are fabulous!!!

December 17, 2009 - 10:05 pm Annmarie - WHAT!? That is crazy cool. I think I love those clients that they listened to you and did this. AND the smiling electrician, that he didn't hate you (and that he pulled it off with aplomb)! We NEED to see the finished shots. Please, JTH???

December 17, 2009 - 10:06 pm Natalie - I love how the pendants turned out. I remember researching those for Renata and I thought it was such a cool idea. You go girl! :)

December 17, 2009 - 10:43 pm Jessica - I LOVE the lights as well...beautiful! You are amazingly talented. I was at the Drew's home the other day for a Christmas party and took a tour of the house (I had been there before, just not in all of the rooms).... absolutely LOVED what you did with the dressers and the master bathroom (and every other room...). If I could afford you I would hire you - hopefully someday! ;) hope you have a wonderful first Christmas with sweet little Sloane!

December 17, 2009 - 11:08 pm http://aspoonfulofdish.blogspot.com/ - Love those light fixtures. What an original look. Can't wait to see the finished product. Hope you are well.

December 17, 2009 - 11:33 pm ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage & Junkologie - Those light fixtures are stunning! I can't wait to see it all finished!

December 17, 2009 - 11:55 pm Chrissy - Oh my goodness ... I LOVE those lights!!! So beautiful! I doubt we will be able to afford to put one of those in the house we are building but I'm still bookmarking it. A girl can dream. Maybe next year for my Christmas present ... :o)Wish we could see the whole house. I bet it's AMAZING!

December 18, 2009 - 7:12 am michele - I know they'll miss you too. You are so talented. I adore those lights. Is it too rude to ask for details about them? Lucky homeowners to have such a beautiful home and such a lovely designer!

December 18, 2009 - 8:01 am MaryBeth - Wow, I love all those lights. 19 mattresses? Please please please show us this house. Tell the homeowners I am on bended knees, begging. MB

December 18, 2009 - 8:55 am Ashley - I echo the rest of your commenters...I hope to see more of the house. You are such a talent!

December 18, 2009 - 9:00 am Rachel Ridd - Beautiful lights. I immediately went to the site. I would love to see more of your work, but I totally understand your hesitations. I would love to hear more about the products you use.

December 18, 2009 - 9:17 am Sarah - Ohh I can't wait to see more of this house!

December 18, 2009 - 9:26 am elizabeth - i agree with everyone else, please share more pics! I love the large windows.

December 18, 2009 - 9:31 am Richard Cleves - Hello Erika, we were thrilled to see our lighting featured on your blog! I love what you did with the arrangement - very creative! To think these lights were still at the glass blowers in Murano at Thanksgiving, and now sparkling at the beach in Florida, I hope to see some more shots, but I like the "work in progress" too. Nice job JTE, thank you! Richard, Co-Owner CX Design New York.

December 18, 2009 - 9:51 am Kate - Wow, those lights might have sealed the deal. I have to hire you! You have such an amazing eye. Thank you for sharing the picture. Have a wonderful Christmas.Oh and we love George's and eat there when we come to Seaside. Now that Southwest has a flight into Panama City starting in May, I think we'll be there more!

December 18, 2009 - 10:29 am Sue - BEAU-TI-FUL!!!!We visited Alys Beach this summer - it is quite a haven they've built. I hope you post pics of the rest of the house!!!

December 18, 2009 - 10:40 am Melissa - I am envious that you love your job so much! I love that room! The lights are amazing. Wish we could see more final photos of your projects but obviously I realize for confidential and privacy reasons we can not.

December 18, 2009 - 11:36 am julie - i remember those cad drawings! haha!! looks good e!! xo jewels!

December 18, 2009 - 11:36 am Bailey@ www.peppermintbliss.com - Holy Jingle Bells you are GOOD. This was seriously good for my weary eyes. I can't wait to see the finished product! I love your passion for your work, I know it must be hard with a gorgeous baby at home, but I think little Sloane is very lucky to have a mommy that is so talented and driven...And the more pictures you want to post of your babies (Sloane and your work!) would really rock my little corner of the world! Merry Merry!

December 18, 2009 - 12:28 pm Candace - Aren't those pendants beautiful? They remind me of glass Christmas ornaments! Stunning! Your story of "John" made me laugh - at one time our lawn guy was "Al", our carpet installer was "Al", and car guy was also "Al" - Unfortunately they were all unreliable, so henceforth anyone running a little late or didn't return a call was nicknamed "Al"...

December 18, 2009 - 12:51 pm Christina - Wow, I LOVE those light fixtures. Your job is fascinating!

December 20, 2009 - 10:03 pm Diane R. Bois - JTE uses that broom like he does at home & sence I seen this shot of his lighting work I have a new one in our diningroom. floresent. JTE looks handsome thanks, your little girl is darling. Wait till she is 15 like ours.

December 28, 2009 - 2:41 pm Elizabeth - ooh, wow! this looks amazing. i love it!

December 30, 2009 - 9:28 pm cristin @ simplified bee - What a great idea! Beautiful.xo, cristin

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December 17, 2009 - 7:06 pmShes.No.Martha - [...]  http://blog.urbangrace.com/?p=1207 [...]

January 25, 2010 - 8:29 amOCD Delight » Urban Grace Interiors {the blog} - [...] These clients sent an email a few months back requesting spice storage on the interior side of their cabinets.  The cabinet shop had an option, but it wasn’t very cool looking.  You know, it’s always nice for things to work well and look cool.  [...]

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