Water Bill Update+ Dutch Colonial Masterpiece!

Wow!  My water story went viral! I was on AOL, Yahoo the Huffington Post and on TV three times!  The people from Fox & Friends even called me!

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See that nice screen shot of me?  ha ha.

Well, I wish I could say that all the publicity fixed the problem.  It didn't.  The City of Atlanta Department of Wetershed Management DID replace my meter, so that's a huge step in the right direction.  They also said they would erase the $6,00o bill that I got last month.  That was human error that occurred after they put on the data logger.  They also erased the next two highest bills, which were for several thousand dollars.  That leaves me with a $900 balance.  I still don't think that is fair since I have been overplaying them for a year.  It also does not totally solve the problem of why the bill has been so crazy.  I had another plumber come out (the 4th) to confirm there were no leaks.  Now I have to get a 5th plumber to come out at the same time as a person from the city, which is called a water audit.  After the audit I have to go back to the water board appeal hearing.  I am so tired of dealing with this.  I have put at least 40 or 50 hours into dealing with this for the past year.  I am just so ready to have a normal water bill and get back to life as usual.

Moving along...

I shot this amazing Dutch Colonial home a few weeks ago.  It is located at 537 Hillside Drive with interior design by Mandy Culpepper.  Listed by Erin Yabroudy and Wendy Wood Leebern.

It's been a while since I was totally floored by a house... and I was thrilled to pull into this driveway!

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It feel like you are in Europe as soon as you hit the gravel.

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I started outside photographing the grounds.  It was all so lush and perfectly landscaped.

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Loving this bench!

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You know my favorite color is orange!

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No, the house does not come with this super cute dog!537 Hillside Drive -FMLS21

I could take a snooze on this hammock, especially after my late night last night watching fireworks at Cherokee!

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There is a treehouse!  My entire adult life I've wanted to build myself a treehouse... although I would NOT run water to it!  (re: my $9,000 water bill).537 Hillside Drive -FMLS27

I love this picture because of that swing...  If I knew where that was from I would def register for it.  Awesome!

When I was finished with the grounds I headed inside...

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The foyer reminds me a little bit of our famous Neel Reid House on Andrews.537 Hillside Drive -FMLS29

Office with fireplace off of the foyer.537 Hillside Drive -FMLS30Another view from the office back into the foyer.

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This is the view right as you walk into the front door.  Love the carpet!  537 Hillside Drive -FMLS34

This is the dining room to the right of the foyer.

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I love the kitchen!  Any type of exposed shelving always gets me... and the stainless steel island... oh my.

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This kitchen opens to this amazing breakfast room, which opens to the porch.  Those chairs are fantastic!

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This is the view looking back into the kitchen.  Great looking!

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The formal living room is off the kitchen and the library.  The red is such a bold choice and works so well.  I'm also slightly obsessed with the bird painting above the fireplace (it looks kind of like the shirt I am wearing on the news in the screen shot at the top of this post).

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This hallway leads from the kitchen to the great room.  That's a great coffee table/ottoman.

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This is my favorite room in the house.  I'm a sucker for cathedral wood ceilings... AND cow rugs... and framed American flags.  Duh.

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Loving the color of the walls and the fun pillows!

For more information on this great house (and upstairs pictures), please check out Erin Yabroudy's blog.

 

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NEW ART, an update on your favorite house, and a quick favor (please).

Hey kids.  How is your Thursday going?  I for one am ready to kick it into high gear with this Holiday Party thing.  Bring on the egg nog (which I've never actually tasted, but is sounds Christmas-ie).

Love the holiday parties.  Two years ago I wore this dress (detail of dress in above photo) to the Christmas party, and it was glorious. :)  Tonight I am going to my dad's company party and am trying to decide on an outfit...  To see what I choose become a fan of this blog on The Facebook and I'll post a picture tonight.  duh.

I'm thinking I am going to wear this hot little number I got from Urban Outfitters.  I spied it in the window when we were in Chicago and then waited for it to go on sale on the website for like 70% off...  it came Monday.  #cheap.  The only problem is it's a little short and creates a bit of a middrift issue...  so we'll see what happens.  #gametimedecision

Changing the subject...

As a little Christmas present to me, I was hoping you guys would take these two quick polls.  I am trying to reshape the focus of this blog.  I would assume most of you come here to read about houses, but I'm not quite sure.  Recently I have been trying to broden the focus of the blog a little bit and include more community happenings, things about my personal life, and fashion.  I just want a little feedback.  Maybe you love knowing what is going on with me... or maybe you're like, "shut up Blayne and show me more houses."  Who knows?  Oh... that's right.... you do.  Please please take a quick moment to answer these questions so I can taylor the blog to what you want.  Let's be honest, if you guys don't like the content why am I even writing this?  If you have more you would like me to know (please) you can email me at [email protected] or leave me a comment at the bottom or this post.  There is also a place where you can fill out your own answers, and I am always looking for laughs, so feel free to be as funny as you want.  (You can choose multiple answers as well)

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Thanks so much for doing that guys!

Moving right along...

Remember this house?  I wrote about it here in what I called a "Once in a Lifetime Post."  Sold by Linda Williams and Neno Schildgen of Beacham & Company in 2010.  Architecture by Neel Reid and Duane Stone.

Interiors by Margaux Interiors Limited

Best bedroom I've ever seen in any house anywhere....  now that's saying something!

This is the only home in Atlanta I can actually say this blog helped sell.  The owner loved the post I wrote about the house (to read that post click here) that she ended up buying it!  Go This Photographer's Life!!  It was one of my proudest blog moments.

Through the blog I met the new owner of the home.  We became fast friends.  Apparently she is a fan of my art...  yippie!  She is working with Margaret Bosbyshell and Clary Bosbyshell of Margaux Interiors Limited to redesign the interior of the home.  I had the privilege of getting a sneak peak into the new interiors, and they are unbelievable!  According to the homeowner, "Margaret's experience and talent paired with Clary's edge and fashion-forward approach is the one-two punch that is perfect!"I am so excited to see how they improve something I thought was perfect in the first place!!

The new homeowner actually commissioned me to take photographs of her husband's plane.  I am so honored to have some work hanging in MY FAVORITE house in Atlanta!  I am also so honored that Margaret and Clary said it was ok to use my art.  They have amazing taste.

I love commission work.  It's always so interesting to be presented with an idea but allowed to put your own spin on it.  (If you are interested in commissioning your own art from me, please contact me at [email protected])  She took me out to the hanger, showed me the plane, and said I could do whatever I wanted.  Here are the pieces I came up with...

What do you think?  I hope you all have a nice Thursday :)

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