Homework: Brian Patrick Flynn at Home and at Work

Blayne Beacham February 11, 2011

The first time I saw Brian Patrick Flynn of Decor Demon, I thought, "I don't know who he is, but he's important." 99.9% of the time I am way too intimidated to speak to people like that, but luckily Brian spoke to ME (I was holding "The Beacham Series," which he recognized... yea!). It seemed I was the last person in Atlanta to not know of him. You may have seen him in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles 10 Under 40 feature this month in which he talks about being completely self-taught. We got to know each other when I went to shoot something for him to use in one of his editorial design projects for HGTV. Yes, he produces, writes and styles shelter magazine content, photography and video...for HGTV! People around the world dream of that job and he actually has it, plus the network handpicked him to write posts for their blog, Design Happens and he hosts a web series on hgtv.com called "Fast Fixes" which he describes as "higher-end DIY". He also let it slip out during our shoot that he's been the home and garden producer for Movie and a Makeover on TBS as well as the show's on-air design talent for 7 years. Yeah, he's actually on TV! Brian doesn't really talk about it and doesn't think it's a big deal...at all. As if that weren't enough, in his free time he takes on his own design clients, writes and produces DIY articles for houzz and writes Decor Demon; every single magazine-quality image was created from scratch specifically for the site with Brian art directing and prop styling every shot himself. Are you kidding me? I'm so jealous of his job and his swanky retro modern home he decorated himself with almost all custom or vintage pieces! I think he's amazing, and was thrilled to work on this blog post with him. I asked the questions and took the pictures. He answered the questions and told me which shots we needed to bring the answers to life. We had so much fun getting ready for this together, even running to Yogurt Tap for White Chocolate and Graham Cracker frozen yogurt topped with multi-colored gummy bears. I hope you enjoy getting to know my new friend as much as I have.

1. Why do you call yourself a decorator even though you design almost everything from scratch?

Denial, I think---and possibly the harsh ramifications of the American legal system. I'm self-taught and lack the ASID or NCIDQ stuff. Technically, I'm a decorator.

2. If you could work as a designer/decorator in any other city, what would it be?

Kinda-sorta L.A.; I'm on an inspiration-high each time I'm zipping around the Hollywood Hills, but I don't necessarily wanna LIVE in Los Angeles. The midcentury modern homes there are SICK; my dream would be to work on 1950's and 1960's Hollywood homes full-time but still actually live in Atlanta. I love it here. Atlanta and I are meant to be together. We're like Spencer and Heidi, Carrie Bradshaw and Manolo Blahnik, or perhaps, Naomi and Wynonna.

3. Pet peeves and cliches that drive you crazy...or not?

As far as pet peeves go: sticks in a vase shoved in a corner, themes in kids' rooms, "art" bought at big box retail stores, swag window treatments, leather rolled-arm club chairs in manspaces...I could keep going but then people who like this stuff would hate me on the Interwebs and pull that let's-leave-scathing-comments-on-blogs-about-this-dude-and-totally-ruin-his-day nonsense. No thanks! Now, as much as I wanna be over the empty-frames-grouped-and-hung-on-a-wall-thing, I kinda still like it. In fact, I did it above my media room sofa using spraypaint in violet, plum and bronze tones.

4. If you were forced to hire a designer to do your personal home, who would you use and why?

Phoebe Howard. Everything Phoebe uses is timeless, classic and made from the finest materials and/or craftsmanship. She's also uber-refined whereas I paint red-orange zig-zags on wood floors and upholster walls with royal purple velvet; it would be a complete escape from my borderline-living-on-the-edge routine, plus I'd learn a great deal about restraint...in a good way.

5. What are you working on right now?

Pick up your camera, meet me in Inman Park at 3:15pm and I will show you. I'm just about to start a floor-to-ceiling redesign on an industrial-chic loft.

My client, Meghann, is a publicist. Her existing interiors make me wanna punch a squirrel. It's all starter stuff with colors that just do NOT work with the space. We're toning it down, BIG TIME.

We've decided on a handful of greys and plums. I always pick up $5 testers from Sherwin-Williams, then paint all potential choices in groups on walls in different areas of the space to see how they play with the supplied light. Our winning color? "Mystical Mauve" but since anything referred to as mauve is scary as hell, I will simply refer to the color by its product number. Once the space is finished, I'll confess---kinda like when you serve someone tiny chicken empenadas at a cocktail party, then once they rave about the taste, you admit they were actually reindeer or polar bear.

Although I'd have opted for fabric on the dining room walls, budget called for low price-point wallcovering; we stuck with a modern floral from Graham & Brown which we ordered online. It showed up only three days later.

Meghann wants feminine, but more Wilhelmina Slater from Ugly Betty than Holly Hobby or tea party-poodle-skirt-girlie. We're using modern and vintage lines, then mixing in some femme tones like the pink/grey geometric from Duralee and a budget-saving black/white zig-zag we found at Forsyth Fabrics for about $10 per yard.

I kinda despise new things unless I can design them from scratch; I prefer vintage whenever possible. Since I'm creating a custom bed, we're

forced to save as much as possible in regards to all other purchases. We scored this lamp from Highland Row Antiques for a cool thirty bucks. Once the room is put together, we'll top it with a new lampshade. I'm thinking it'll be hot pink, then we'll spraypaint the bottom of lamp the same hue.

All of the living room furniture we'll be using was picked up at flea markets. In fact, the sofa, side chairs, bedside tables, dining chairs and table base all came to less than $500; however, we'll be splurging on upholstery and refinishing. The furniture is in production right now but my seamstress already knocked out the pillows. From the hot pink linen to the rich, plum velvet, these are the tones that will flow throughout the entire space.

6. What does your own home look like?

Come over with your camera and see for yourself but don't get too excited, all we can do is shoot tight, detail shots. Ain't no way I'm gonna blow my chances with a national glossy shelter pub. They'd be all like "Awe, hellz nawe. You can't be up in here if your crib's already been published, dawg." and I'd be all like "Y'all need to step off and chill, dawgs. The twitters and the blogosphere is where it's at, ain't y'all heard? Y'all better recognize". You get the point. It's a mashup of 1960's and 1970's set inside a 1955 midcentury modern ranch. Tons of texture through fabrics like silk-linen, velvet, boucle, Belgian linen and also through my grasscloth-covered walls. I've got pretty much all vintage pieces in grey tones accented with black, violet and tons of bronze and metallics. While it's masculine, it's also kinda elegant.

7. The last thing you bought for your own home?

Leather upholstered doors with bronze nailheads. Well, they were the existing doors, I sent them out to be upholstered. I bet you've never had someone tell you that before, huh?

8. Mood boards or sketches?

Trays. I fill trays with fabric, tile, flooring and finish options first, then once that's solidified, I move on to space plans and sketches.

9. If you had 10 minutes to do a "Supermarket Sweep" of Home Depot, what would you get and why?

50 gallons of porch and floor paint, 3 HVLP paint sprayers, 5 cases of white gloss spray paint, 2000 linear feet of 1X8 MDF trim, stainless double door refrigerators, noiseless stainless dishwasher, 2000-sf of decking planks, exterior landscape up-lights, 2 tons of pea gravel, oil-rubbed bronze door hardware, 25 sheets of 4X8 beadboard and the most expensive pressure washer they stock. Yes, I have thought of this situation before. Many times.

10. If you won the lottery what would you do?

Purchase small homes in the following places, then spend two years living in and fully re-doing each one: cabin in the North Georgia Mountains, townhouse in Chicago, cottage somewhere on a lake, loft in downtown Denver and a two-story house somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.

11. Fill in the blank. If I never saw the color ___ again I could die a happy man.

Beige. There is no other choice. I loathe beige.

12. If you were stranded on a desert island (this is my favorite game) and could only bring one of the following, what would it be? [blanket, pillow, book, kitchen utensil, swimsuit, pair of shoes, T-shirt]

Blanket. I could use it wisely as shelter, fold it nicely as a pillow, wrap it around my head and play dress-up, wear it like a cool island sarong or stake it in the ground with a branch, then let it blow in the breeze as a get-me-the-@$#%-off-this-island flag. Well, as long as the blanket isn't beige, that is.

Love. Him. - bb

Dutch Colonial Gets Fresh!

Blayne Beacham June 10, 2010

Janey Lowe has a new listing!
This beautiful home is located a shot walk from Chastain Park and has an amazing backyard.

Architect: William B. Margeson

4 Bedrooms
3 Full, 2 Half Baths
+/- 1.23 Acres
Jackson School District

Here's what I love about this house. When you walk up it all feels very Dutch Colonial. It has the typical roofline, appears to be one story (it's actually 3), is made of brick, and even has a divided Dutch door on the left (a door where the top can open while the bottom remains closed). The fun part about the house is going inside where the interiors are fresh and classically updated. Perfect for a modern family who wants a huge backyard and to walk to Chastain park!

For me, Dutch Colonial homes have an almost farmhouse feel, but these interiors represent classic Atlanta style! You can see the finishes are immaculate, and there is tone of space.

Love this formal living room!

And here is the dining room. You can get a feel for the layout here by looking through the foyer and into the living room.

This brick-walled wet bar runs between the kitchen and the dining room. I love exposed brick in a home!

Can you believe the space in this kitchen? I love the pattern in the wood floor. Can't you imagine cooking with all your family gathered around talking?

I love the appliance placement in this kitchen, and that there is so much counter/prep space.

Here is a shot from the breakfast area showing the layout. You can see the wet bar to the left and the dining area to the right, and the screened-in porch beyond that.

Here is another dining area lined with windows.

Can you believe this porch? These vaulted ceilings are amazing, and look at all the privacy.

This is an additional porch off the kitchen.

And this is a shot going back into the house from the screened porch. Look at those floors!

Here we are in the family room. Again, such a clean and warm room. I love the exposed brick around the fireplace. Also, you can see the divided Duch door where the top opens while the bottom can remain closed.

Did you notice the wood floors here?

And here is a better picture of the fireplace.

This is the main level master suite. The door in the back leads out to a private master porch.

Master bath.

I love this bathtub!

Do you want to go upstairs?

Isn't this a perfect family house? Wait until you see the terrace level...

And those doors open right to the backyard...

So, what do you think? Could you see yourself living there?

Don't forget to enter my Taigan Giveaway! It ends Friday, June 11th, so you still have time!

The Best Deal In Atlanta Real Estate, a Neel Reid Home

Blayne Beacham April 27, 2010

This is the first page of the most recent "Beacham Series."

Does that house look familiar? Guess what? It's back on the market, and it could be yours! This is literally the deal of the century. If I could buy it, believe me, whatever it took, I would!!

Any guesses why it should look familiar?

Holly Street from Things that Inspire did a guest post on The Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Blog called Twenty Beautiful Homes, Take Two, and this house was on the list.

It was also the cover of our Fall 2009 Issue of "The Beacham Series."

Basically, it's one of may favorite homes OF ALL TIME. It is listed with Beacham & Company agents Neno Schildgen and Linda Williams.

Click Here to see the listing.

Built circa 1900
Renovated by Neel Reid in 1920
Interior Design by Margaret Bosbyshell (amazing!)
6 Bedrooms
6 Full, 1 Half Bath
Carriage House above 3-car garage

This was the picture we used on the invitation of the magazine release party when it was on the cover. (To read about our most recent release party click here.) I love how the monochromatic feel makes the door pop even more.

Here's some shots inside the rotunda. Can you see the inlaid star in the foyer? I really love the matching paintings that flank the foyer.

I shot this house twice. During the two shoots they did a little re-mix... It's fun to see how things changed. The first time I shot the living room it looked like this.

And here it is the most recent time I shot it.

Don't you love seeing one room two ways? This goes to show that everything looks great with beautiful, classic architecture!

This is a detail of the painting above the fireplace. Does anyone know who the painting is by?

The other side of the living room, taken on my first shoot.

And here it is on the second. Notice the way the Greek Key pattern on the molding is echoed in the pattern on the rug.

Gasp! Can you believe how beautiful this dining room is? It is right off the living room. You can see the lattice work through the doors of the first pictures of the living room. There are so many things I love about this photograph.

1. Reflections - an almost must have for a strong photograph.
2. Texture and repeating shapes - another must have ... plus, look at the reflection in the mirror of the texture and repeating shapes. Bueno!
3. It's a square picture, but everything is slightly off center, which makes it evenly weighted on both sides without feeling bogged down in the middle. Killer :)
4. The contrast of the black dots on the white chairs make them feel almost 3-D
5. I LOVE that the whole photo could almost be in black and white, but then there is the pop of the green fern... It's the interplay of something so structured and man made with the bright organic living form.

And that my friends, is why is in one of my favorite pictures ever, taken at one of my favorite houses ever!

Would you like to continue on the tour?

Here is the office the first time I shot it. Do you recognize the orange pillows?

And this was the second time. The sculptural quality of the artichoke against the natural shape of the birds is so strong. Don't you love all the birds in this house? How many have you seen so far? Hint, there are two birds in the dining room picture.

I think this would be considered the drawing room. It is across the hall from the formal living room. This is the first shot...

Second shot.

I believe I've said before that green and white is my favorite color combination, making this my second favorite room in the world (you will see my favorite in just a bit).

This is the view of entering the kitchen from the den. Look at those counter tops. Swoon.

Here it is from the family room. Does anybody know anything about this kitchen? Who did it? I wish they would do mine :)

And a close up of the breakfast area. Can you see the sea shells in the chandelier? What about the curtain pattern? It's funky and classic at the same time.

And of course the family room. I could hang out in here, couldn't you?

And on to the master bedroom. Amazing, right? Can you imagine getting to sleep in here very night? You'd never have to travel! Does anyone know who did the painting on the wall? Isn't it gorgeous?

This is the master from the other angle. Look at the mirror! It's like it was made to hang there!

And a close-up of the mantel. Does this look familiar to you? It should :) It's on the banner. Now you know where it came form :) It just screams Neel Reid to me. You?

Let's head upstairs.

First stop, my all time favorite room. I said I like green and white didn't I? It's so fresh! I might just take a little nap... kidding.

Do you just adore the painting? The gold frame is ideal. (artist?)

And the little side table!!! I might have to try to find that book just to have a piece of the room.

Here is a second upstairs bedroom. What can I say, it's perfect.

The little sitting area.

This painting is by my good friend Kenson Thompson (it's a bird, are you counting?). If you don't know Kenson's work you should get to know it. She is literally a genius.