Another one of my posts for the Remote Stylist went out on Monday via their daily Style Library email; click here to view the email on the web … or just read on!  Also take a quick minute to sign up for the Remote Stylist newsletters.  Not only will you get to read what I have to say about the latest in Charlotte, but you’ll also get the hometown scoop from some of my favorite bloggers, including Shay at the Designer Detective and Paloma at La Dolce Vita.  And now for the tzd spotlight on Mrs. Howard …

Whether you live in Charlotte or just happen to be in the area, you absolutely must pay a visit to the Mrs. Howard and Max and Company showrooms, located together in the fully restored former Charlotte Women’s Club building on Morehead Street near downtown Charlotte. Phoebe and Jim Howard purchased the building – designed by Charlotte architect Charles Hook, completed in 1925 and awarded historical landmark designation in 1978 – in mid-2008 and completed the extensive renovation in time for the store’s opening in January 2009. As Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams commented during their recent visit, Mrs. Howard is truly the most beautiful furniture store in the country. Think I’m exaggerating? Just take a peek at these pictures.

Not only are the furnishings – by some of my favorite manufacturers including  Hickory Chair, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams and Oly Studio, as well as custom pieces – and accessories exquisite, but the architecture of the building is absolutely stunning. You don’t find millwork like that in new construction! In fact, the feeling you get from the store is as though you have walked into the most remarkable private home … and you wish you could move right in! Of course, Phoebe Howard is a renowned designer, who has been featured in magazines including House Beautiful, Elle Décor and Southern Accents – so it is no surprise that everything, from the window treatments to the floor coverings to the tablescapes, reflects her signature aesthetic. Mrs. Howard is also a great source for unique gifts, ranging from the latest design books, candles or interesting tabletop items like a bone-handled magnifying glass or the glass salt-and-pepper shaker sets that I couldn’t resist buying for two friends.

Unable to visit in person? You can keep up with the latest arrivals – and live vicariously – through Mrs. Howard Personal Shopper, a blog written by Leah Kennelly. The Howards also have stores in Atlanta, Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach, so you can add those to your “must visit” list as well!

Need help selecting furniture for your home?  I’d love to help!  Email me at traci@tracizeller.com! 

Like this post?  Be sure to subscribe to my RSS Feeds!  Or, to view this blog through Facebook, click "Follow this Blog" in the NetworkedBlogs box.  You can also find me on Twitter, @tracizeller, and on Facebook, where my fan page is www.facebook.com/TraciZellerDesigns.  Thanks for reading!

As a girl who grew up in southwest Georgia (and you wonder why I like country music?), meeting Suzanne was a little like meeting a hometown hero.  Suzanne has been creating stunning interiors in Atlanta, Georgia – and around the country – for over twenty years.   To me, Suzanne’s interiors are much like Suzanne herself – quietly elegant, gently traditional, and always with a graceful sophistication.  Suzanne has a manner that puts you immediately at ease … even if you are consciously trying to make a good impression!  (Oh, no, I’m not talking about myself.)  When I asked her to take a picture with me for my blog, she immediately agreed and – of all things –  began to thank me for the kindness that fellow bloggers and I have shown to her.  Suzanne truly deserves it, however, and you can see her great talent in every interior she creates and every product she designs.  

Suzanne currently designs collections for luxury manufacturers Hickory Chair, Safavieh, and Visual Comfort lighting … and I love every single piece.  Suzanne’s collection for Hickory Chair is amazing, and it was awesome to see it showcased so elegantly in the Hickory Chair showroom.  As Heather with Habitually Chic mentioned, I also love how Hickory Chair uses products from designers' other collections in their showroom as it really lends itself to a cohesive,curated space.  Did you notice the Safavieh rug in the first photo?  Love, love, love it!  Here, you see Suzanne's Loring cocktail table, used as a pair (as she and Mariette Himes Gomez both spoke about). 

My beloved Brock Moran has one of Suzanne's Alexandra side chairs in its showroom, and I want to run away with it every time I visit!  

Of course, we know that I am currently infatuated with all things quatrefoil.  I'm working on a post about the use of the quatrefoil in design, and you can be sure the Alexandra chair will be part of it.  Surely some of my obsession stems from the fact that I – like Suzanne – am in love with all things French.  I studied French in college (no grade below an A-, thank you very much, but please don't ask me to conjugate any verbs!) and lived in La Rochelle, France for a summer.  (Carol, remember our nightly trips for pain au chocolat? YUM!)  But I digress ...  

Here are a few more amazing spaces, courtesy of the Hickory Chair website. 

I love how the upholstery of the Candler twin beds is tone-on-tone with the walls.  If I had twin girls, these beds might be mine! 

Isn't this setting so simple, yet elegant?  I love the striped silk on those Anastasia benches ... and the contrast created with the casual slipcover on the chair.   

Budget a little tight these days?  (Whose budget isn't?!)  I also have great news for those of us who aren’t able to afford a whole house full of the high-end items that Suzanne has created for Hickory Chair and other luxury manufacturers.  One of my favorite catalog retailers, Ballard Designs, just signed Suzanne to produce four collections of home décor products.  This marks the first time that Ballard Designs has teamed with an independent designer to design exclusive product.  Suzanne will style six to eight spreads in the March/April 2010 catalog using “regular” Ballard products.   Her line for Ballard Designs will then debut in August 2010.  I’m already looking forward to it.  Thanks to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (the newspaper I grew up reading) for bringing us this exciting news!     

Finally, thanks so very much to those of you who have clicked to "Follow this blog" ... and a special congratulations to Liz Richardson for winning Suzanne’s new book, Inspired Interiors!  Liz, please email me (traci@tracizeller.com) your address so I can get the book in the mail to you.  I'll be having another contest very soon, so stay tuned for details. 

Oh, and a little birdie (ok, fine, it was Suzanne) told me that she’ll be coming to Charlotte – Mrs. Howard (the new high-end furniture and interior design store on East Morehead Street), in particular – for a book signing.  She’s not sure exactly when, however, so keep watching my blog and I’ll let you know as soon as I hear something.

Photos not taken by Traci are from Hickory Chair

Like this post?  Be sure to subscribe to my RSS Feeds!  Or, to view this blog through Facebook, click "Follow this Blog" in the NetworkedBlogs box.  You can also find me on Twitter, @tracizeller, and on Facebook, where my fan page is Traci Zeller Designs.  Thanks for reading!