Five Questions With…
{ Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 }
Rhiannon Apple, Kirkwood Spring Fling
When Rhiannon Apple isn’t busy managing an active team as Moxie Interactive’s VP of Trends, she’s busy managing an active team of volunteers that puts on the annual Kirkwood Spring Fling Festival & Tour of Homes. As chair of the Kirkwood Spring Fling Festival & Tour of Homes for the past two years, Rhiannon keeps a fast pace from January through May. The five year Kirkwood resident on what makes Kirkwood awesome, and why you should make plans to hit the Spring Fling this weekend…
Q. A potential home buyer is thinking about buying in Kirkwood. Sell them on the neighborhood…
A. Kirkwood captures the true sense of the word “community.” There is a strong neighborhood association, as well as neighbors who come together from all walks of life and demographics to help one another in times of need. Whether it be a house fire, surgery, funeral or candlelight vigil to help a family heal, the residents band together. Of course, we enjoy the good times as well, like the traditional Sunday Coffee gatherings, Spring Fling, blessing of the animals or volunteering at Teen Club.
Our business owners are always the first to step up for donating to our school or a neighbor’s Walk for the Cure. It’s like living in an episode of “Cheers” where they always know your name. Where else do neighbors who have the personal cell phone numbers of their city councilperson, police detective turned close friend and UPS driver ban together to save a school, collect clothes and goods for a family whose home has been damaged by fire, and insist on picking you up from the emergency room even if they aren’t your closest buddy? Where else can you go to a cute little bistro, stop by and chat with the firemen, grab a smoothie, head to the park for Screen on the Green, and help prune the trees and mulch the park just because you want to?
Q. Hidden Atlanta gem?
A. The old Pullman Train Yards. They are closed to the public, but the buildings provide a peak into the history of our neighborhood.
Q. You’re given an unlimited budget to produce next year’s Spring Fling. Plans?
A. We’d offer all of the food and beverages for free, so that it could be a true celebration of the neighborhood. Right now, it’s our community’s largest fundraiser and there is pressure to sell a lot of beer and booths to cover our costs.
Q. Favorite neighborhoods, other than Kirkwood, of course?
A. I love all the surrounding neighborhoods we are sandwiched between: East Atlanta, East Lake, Edgewood and Candler Park.
Q. What is the Kirkwood Spring Fling and Tour of Homes, and why is it a must-attend event?
A. The Kirkwood Spring Fling offers the diversity of a big Festival with the warmth and ease of a neighborhood party. Folks can browse the open air Artist Market, with more than 90 booths, in the shade of giant trees, enjoy the music of live bands and singers on the Mainstage, and play with their children in our creative Kids Area, which includes a playground, Moonbounce, storytelling and crafts.
Kirkwood also has a diverse collection of building styles from classic Victorian cottages to craftsman bungalows to modern lofts and everything in between. Some of our best homes will be showcased on the Tour of Homes.
Admission to the Festival is free. It is held in Bessie Branham Park and the surrounding areas. Tickets for the Tour can be purchased in the park at the Festival or in advance at several local businesses. All proceeds go to benefit the Kirkwood Neighbors’ Organization, a local 501c3 non-profit group dedicated to community improvement.
{ Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 }
Bill Peace, High Style High Rise Home Tour
Bill Peace of Atlanta-based Peace Design is one of six top designers participating in the month-long High Style High Rise Home Tour at The Residences at W Atlanta – Downtown. His decorated model, created in conjunction with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, is on display through April 1st, with ticket sales benefitting the High Museum. Definitely worth checking out, especially if you choose to “supersize” your time at the W Downtown by swinging by BLT-Steak and/or Bliss Spa….
Q. Atlanta hidden gems?
A. It may not be hidden to some, but my neighborhood is a true gem. I have walked, cycled and sometimes swayed my way through Virginia Highlands since the 1980′s. The intown community has a southern pace with a progressive energy– young and old who could live most anywhere choose this charming village. From the many established shops, to the hot eastside outpost for Jimmy Stanton’s stylish Stanton Home, to the modern classic fashions of 310 Rosemont to the restaurants I have designed over the years like Fontaine’s, El Taco and recently Genki– I continue to love working, shopping and eating my way through the best neighborhood in the city.
Q. You’re hosting a delegation of top designers from around the world, and you’ve got 24 hours to show off Atlanta to them. What’s on the agenda?
A. The Peace Design Tour of Atlanta would be centered around a few of my favorite things….architecture, art and food!
We would start the day at the original Highland Bakery for a hip take on a southern breakfast before a quick walk through the Sol LeWitt’s 54 Columns urban sculpture on N. Highland at Glen Iris. From there we’d go to the High Museum to catch the Picasso to Warhol exhibition and show off the elegant Richard Meier and Renzo Piano building. Stepping across Peachtree Street to MODA, we’d explore the current show on chair design…Stories in Form.
Enough culture already– for food we must first head downtown to the amazing new Alma Cocina for Chef Chad Clevenger’s inspired Latin and modern Mexican fare along with a few exotic Margaritas designed by the cocktail rock star, Vajra Stratigos. I am also proud to show off the restaurant’s interior– designed by Peace Design in collaboration with ai3.
Strolling through downtown we will of course check out the modern masterworks of modernist John Portman. Then back to the eastside of town to the Carlos Museum of Art and Archeology designed by Michael Graves. A quick stop for a bottle of something special from my friend Nick at Highland Fine Wine, light bites and a “Gigi Says” cocktail at Ecco in Midtown before an amazing feast with the food super star Kevin Rathbun at Kevin Rathbun Steak…another amazing interior!! If anyone is still standing we will finish it off with a late night martini at the Highland Tap.
Q. Big design trend on the horizon?
A. I have always avoided getting caught up in the trend of the moment. I believe quality and craftsmanship survive and trends fade. We will continue to see classic design, comfort and luxury thrive.
Q. Design trend that you can’t wait to see disappear?
A. Outrageous color and pattern with the attempt to imitate quality and good design! There is a trend to mix any and all color with pattern and call it good design and I believe color can be dangerous in the wrong hands!
In the space I designed for the High Style High Rise Home Tour there is a complete absence of color to demonstrate that the classic design ideals of form, scale, contrast, harmony, symmetry…or asymmetry are the essence of good design. It is important that the audience have an opportunity to contemplate design without it being camouflaged by random color and pattern.
Q. What’s so special about the High Rise High Style Home Tour at The Residences at W Atlanta- Downtown?
A. I believe the High Museum is a real treasure in our city. The opportunity for designers to invite the public through designed spaces for the benefit of the High is very special. The Residences at W Atlanta – Downtown offer an interesting range of living options that is captured in the variety of styles reflected in this tour with all the amenities of intown high rise living.
Photo Credit: Peter Block
{ Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 }
Kerry Howard, High Style High Rise Home Tour
When designer Kerry Howard isn’t popping up all over the television (Bravo’s Top Design and HGTV’s Design Wars, to be precise), he’s conceiving brilliant interiors all over Atlanta. Beginning March 9th, Kerry will take part in the High Style High Rise Home Tour at The Residences at W Atlanta – Downtown. Six of Atlanta’s top designers will be designing model units there, where they’ll be on display and open to the public for a month-long home tour. Check out what Kerry has to say, go take a look at the condos, and then give me a call when you’re ready to write an offer on one of them…
Q. What are your favorite Atlanta hidden gems?
A. One of my favorite hidden gems in Atlanta is Bjork Antikt, owned by Amy Wikman. It is a warehouse packed full of any type of furnishing you could possibly want and that would provide inspiration to any designer. You would never know what is in the building based on its outside appearance. I could literally spend hours in this space if I had the time and money to spend there.
Q. You’re hosting a delegation of top designers from around the world, and you’ve got 24 hours to show off Atlanta to them. What’s on the agenda?
A. Being the southern gentleman that I am, I would show them a little hospitality by starting with a visit to White Provision, located on the west side of Atlanta. I would take everyone to get a hot breakfast at West Egg and spend the remainder of the morning perusing through some of the furniture and accessory showrooms in that area. After lunch, I would take them on a pre-arranged tour of the southeast’s premier design center, ADAC, where some of the world’s finest showrooms are represented.
Q. What’s a big design trend on the horizon?
A. Well as those in the industry know, interior design usually follows fashion trends. I am excited to see a lot of color blocking happening with some major fashion designers. Within the next few years we will begin to see this color blocking trend happen with interior design. I could not be more excited for this trend to start! I do not think that most people fully grasp how much color can effect and change our surroundings.
Q. Design trend that you can’t wait to see disappear?
A. I feel like the economy has played a major role in influencing design over the past four years. I have seen so many interiors with a monochromatic scheme due to an economic influence. All of the reclaimed, recycled and reused furniture is starting to look really watered down to me. I think it is time for a resurgence of color in our lives.
Q. What’s so special about the High Style High Rise home tour at The Residences at W Atlanta- Downtown?
A. We all know the phrase “Location, Location, Location!” Well this magnificent piece of architecture is located on prime real estate, with views that are bar none for potential home owners looking for a less-is-more lifestyle. From a designer’s standpoint, even the interior selections were easy to work with. The Residences offer a blank slate from which to build a beautiful space that complements the panoramic views in Atlanta.
{ Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 }
Mike Monahan, Mike Monahan Home Inspections
The first call that you should make after going under contract to buy a home is to a home inspector. Unless you’re some freakish combination of Bob Vila and the annoyingly energetic guy on Extreme Makeover, it’s an absolute must. Mike Monahan is one of Atlanta’s best home inspectors, so I asked him a few questions to help explain why he and his fellow inspectors are such a key piece of the puzzle…
Q. Why is a home inspection absolutely essential for all homebuyers?
A. Home inspections are an absolute essential because most homeowners don’t know if there are problems with plumbing, roofing, siding, electrical, HVAC, framing (decks and structures). These items can be so costly to correct and more importantly dangerous. A plumbing leak can cost a fortune in damage but a fire can be catastrophic! Why take chances. And honestly, most home inspections have a net cost to the buyer of zero because they usually negotiate more in repairs than the cost of the inspection itself.
Q. Favorite neighborhoods?
A. My favorite neighborhoods are places where I have lived and worked for the last 20 years. Midtown, VA-Highlands, Poncey-Highlands, Brookhaven and unincorporated Dekalb (the triangle inside the perimeter between Lavista Rd. and GA 400 down to Midtown…..can’t go wrong!!! Reasonable taxes and good schools (generally).
Q. If you could give any advice to a homeowner about taking care of their home, what would it be?
A. Go outside when it’s raining and see what is happening with your gutters and downspouts! Most people rush into their houses and don’t look to see where the water shedding off their roof is going. Is it going into that crawl space that you never look in? Is it overflowing at the roof line way up there and causing soffit damage to the house? Water made the Grand Canyon and I promise it will EAT YOUR HOUSE ALIVE if allowed to do so! Pay attention to water at all times.
Q. What are some of the strangest things that you’ve uncovered during a home inspection?
A. The strangest thing I have found in a home inspection is a light switch in a shower stall. Yes, a working light switch…..CRAZY!!!
Q. Who is Mike Monahan, and why is he one of Atlanta’s best home inspectors?
A. Mike Monahan is an ASHI certified home inspector with 12+ years of inspections under his belt along with 6 years of Infrared Thermography (certified Level I Thermographer). I like to think I can explain in clear terms what is important and what is relatively simple for the homeowner to take care of. The purpose of a home inspection is NOT to terrorize the buyer but to educate them so that a rational buying decision can be made. After conducting more than 3500 inspections over the years, I haven’t seen it all but I’ve certainly seen plenty!
{ Friday, January 27th, 2012 }
Nick Arapoglou, Avenue Q
Nick Arapoglou is one of the stars of Avenue Q, the Horizon Theatre’s production of the big-time Broadway Musical. If seeing a rip-roaringly hilarious musical at one of Atlanta’s most beloved theaters isn’t enough for you, then you should consider buying a ticket just to see Nick. Any fellow New Yorker who has made the conscious choice to dump the Knicks for the Hawks is ok by me!
Q. Favorite neighborhoods?
A. I’m not sure I have an absolute favorite. The wonderful thing about being an actor in this town is that your constantly changing the location where you work. If you’re at Theatrical Outfit, you get to hang downtown on Luckie Street. If you’re at the Alliance, you can enjoy Midtown. Right now, I’m loving my time at Horizon in Little Five. There’s always something interesting going on there. Although, I get jealous whenever I see who is playing at the Variety Playhouse, since I know I can’t go to the show because I’m doing my own!
Q. Hidden Atlanta gems?
A. This might seem out of left field because I’m an actor, but I’m going to say the Atlanta Hawks and watching them at Phillips Arena! I’m originally from New York but I’ve adopted the Hawks as my NBA team, and I’m always so sad to go to those games and see the stadium half empty. They’re a really fun team and need some Atlanta love!
Q. You meet someone who tells you that they’re “just not that into live theater”. How do you sell them on what they’re missing?
A. There is NOTHING like live theatre. There’s a reason why the art form has been around since the beginning of language! What’s special about attending a play or a musical, is the knowledge that you could see a show on Friday and go again on Saturday and it would be completely different. You can’t cut and print live theatre as you can in film. It’s human and it’s ever-changing. Seeing the actors just a few feet away from you and not on a flat screen is always a more exciting and rewarding experience.
Q. What is Avenue Q, and why is it a must-attend?
A. Avenue Q is a Tony Award Winning musical that crosses Sesame Street with South Park or Team America Humor. Oh, and it’s all done with puppets. And Gary Coleman is a character in the show. It uses hilarious lyrics to tackle issues such as racism, struggles with sexuality, not fitting in, and even the internet’s porn epidemic. It’s far and away the funniest show I’ve ever done, but the wonderful thing about the show is the heart at the center of the play. It’s about finding your purpose in life, accepting things you can’t avoid, and appreciating what you have, no matter how bad things get. You WILL have fun!
