Last week, Fifi came to my home to do an article for Romantic Country magazine. We had worked together in the past on a few small projects but I'd only met her briefly at our friend, Carol's home. It was a joy to spend the day with her and I was happy to have her come and visit the Cottage. She's cute as a bug and filled with interesting stories. Accompanying her was photographer, Mark Lohman, who was witty as well as talented. He made me giggle quite a few times during the day, with his teasing comments.
He also showed me a photo he had taken of his dogs, that has to be the most beautiful pet portrait I have ever seen. His two Shih Tzus are running toward the camera, with their hair flying in the wind, happy looks on their little turned up nose faces, and a blurred out, elegant garden behind them. That guy is an artist. What a picture.
Fifi and Mark made my home look lovely, I was impressed with their work. And I enjoyed not working on the story myself, just stepping back and letting the pros do it. In the past, with numerous articles, I've been the stylist or was writing the story. This time, I was just the home owner, and that was nice.
I never really considered myself a professional, even though I was involved in dozens of published articles. It was all a bit of a lark, and I like having it on my resume (if I actually had a resume, which I don't), but I never considered it a real job.
Since I have worked on past stories, I did know how to be prepared for the chaos of styling and how to be ready when Fifi and Mark arrived.
If you are going to have your home photographed, here are a few suggestions:
1- Don't try to pre-style it, you don't know what the camera angles will be.
2- Don't have your heart set on a certain look. Things WILL be moved, rearranged, shuffled, changed, and might even be a totally different take on the room than you'd ever thought of.
3- Have fresh fruit and flowers ready to go, but don't put too much time into flower arrangements, chances are they will be redone more than once throughout the day. Have extra vessels handy for switching blossoms around to reuse in different rooms. You don't need a ton of flowers, because they can be recycled from room to room. (and save your receipt, the flowers are usually reimbursed)
4- If you own extra pillows, throws, rugs, china, etc, have them handy. The stylist will have ideas on making the house fit the magazine, and a color theme she has planned, and it helps if she has access to your extras to bring her ideas to life.
5- Have a place to stash the coffee maker, toothbruses, and other mundane, daily used, objects. But don't put it away too soon, you might want to offer a pot of coffee while everyone is working.
6- Clean up as you go, because the messes just get worse from photo to photo, as things get pulled out of cabinets to be used, or items get stored to one side of the room to be out of a shot. If you save all of the pick up for the end of the day, it will be too much to handle!! But do be careful not to put away things that might be used again. Like the pink flowered rug I brought down from the girl's room, it ended up in almost every shot, all around the house.
7- Don't be insulted or hurt if your home doesn't look like your version of your home in the pictures!! Its all your stuff, just rearranged. You might even pick up some good design tips from the experts and leave your new look in place.
Here is my bedroom after some of Fifi's redos.
Here is how it looked when they arrived.
My home was a little too neutral for what Fifi wanted, but it was easily fixed with throw pillows from the sofa, and the studio along with a pink rug and quilt from the girl's room.
I love this look, but couldn't leave it this way, or my sofa would not have any cushions.... And in "real life" if the chair was in the middle of the room, you couldn't walk through to the bathroom. Or see the TV, which is high on my list of importance.
My two footstools got a work out, as well as the chippy chairs that the kids use, all were used in other areas too. And see the pink rug again? Like I said, it made it into almost all the shots. The floral can filled with lilies was the bedroom trash can.
The surprise lilies are growing in abundance right now, and we could gather an armload for her to use in this shot. They were plopped right on top of the remnants of trash in the bottom of the can. Glamorous, huh?
There is that pink rug again!
In "real life", if you had that many pillows on a sofa, there would be no room for your backside. But it looks nice for the magazine, doesn't it? I could be tempted to leave it this way, but I think I'd get too many complaints from the family.
I didn't hear the dogs complaining about too many pillows, though. They'd be happy if I left all of those on the couch.
This isn't quite my "real life" look. Because the pupeesh think that rugs are pee pads, I don't usually have one on the living room floor. I swiped this one from the upstairs. And that half wall is actually a dog pen. I keep a gate across it, and the dorkies have access to the fenced in yard through a pet door in the corner. For the occaision, I took down the gate and put away all the dog bedding.
The pupeesh were also banished for the day, but forgave me when they got plenty of snuggles when Fifi and Mark finished.
I'm afraid I didn't get photos of the styling upstairs. Sugarwings will be sooooo thrilled to see her room in a magazine. She was counting on them taking pictures of it, even though I told her that it wasn't a done deal, we'd have to see what Fifi chose to feature. Plus, I'm not sure she even knows what a magazine is, but she was excited about it anyway.
A photo shoot ain't for sissies, that's for durn tootin. After a day of housework to prep, and a day of pictures, plus the clean up that goes along with it, I was beat.
But no matter how exhausting it can be, it sure is fun to see the spread when it's published. Plus, Fifi and Mark make the experience delightful, they are such nice people to spend a day with.
I love love it!!!! I can't wait to see the magazine.Absolute beauty.
Posted by: Michele Collins | August 11, 2013 at 01:56 AM
Oh Karla...I can't WAIT to see your gorgeous home in the magazine!!!! I was fortunate to meet sweet Fifi when she came to Georgia to shoot a friend of mine's home and I was present! She is absolutely MAGICAL!!! She moved stuff here and there to make the shot the best it could be and then we could all see it on the computer...the woman is AMAZING and is an expert at what she does. Please let us know what issue, OK? xxoo, Dawn
Posted by: Dawn Edmonson | August 11, 2013 at 03:20 AM
WOW, FIFI looks like Helen Muren! YOur house is so beautiful both brfore snd sfter, They would walk into our house and say who dusts all this stuff!Ha! Anxious to see u soon! Love Randy
Posted by: Randy Nathan | August 11, 2013 at 08:50 AM
As thrilling as it will be for you to see your house in the magazine (again!) it will be equally thrilling for those of us who have been lucky enough to be in your house, to see a house we know in a magazine! I LOVE YOUR HOUSE! I love the Before and I LOVE the after! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all the pink and roses! Can't wait for it to be published!
Posted by: Gail | August 11, 2013 at 09:33 AM
I adore both the before and after photos of your home... it is inviting and comfy both ways! Your home is so beautiful in every nook & cranny, and always filled with love & life!! Please let us know when the issue is available. Congratulations Karla!
Posted by: Tami Hacker | August 11, 2013 at 09:50 AM
I love seeing all the befores and afters. when will the article be publixhed?
Posted by: Janet Ghio | August 11, 2013 at 09:51 AM
OMG! so excited for you - so well deserved for you to be featured!
Posted by: Kelley Crisanti | August 12, 2013 at 12:18 AM
What a delightful and informative post!
I remember Fifi! Must visit her blog again!
So interesting to hear how a photo shoot really goes. Very interesting.
But of course, you have a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful home, which must have been a Joy for Fifi to use.
Tessa~
Posted by: Tessa | August 12, 2013 at 09:56 AM
How exciting! I can't wait to see it in the magazine!
Posted by: Sheila Rumney | August 12, 2013 at 10:00 AM
congratulations, Karla, on having your divine home featured...... I can't wait to see the issue!
Posted by: Mercedes Scott | August 12, 2013 at 11:37 AM
What An Honor Karla ~ Good for you!!! It sure looks beautiful!!! When will it be on the shelves and available in bookstores? Any idea?
Posted by: Mrs. Tricia K. Johnson | August 12, 2013 at 01:18 PM
What fun Karla! Your home is lovely before and after...Fifi must have been in HEAVEN with all of your beautiful treasures to choose from for her styling! xo
Posted by: Suzanne Duda | August 12, 2013 at 09:00 PM
I agree with the other ladies Karla, your home is always beautiful. Thank you for being so "real" and sharing the inside story with those of us not fortunate enuff (or talented enuff) to ever experience that. I often put myself down because no matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to make my rooms look like they do in the magazines...now I know the secret. Don't worry...it's safe with me.
Gloria in Virginia
Posted by: Gloria McAllister | August 13, 2013 at 02:09 PM
Oh that is so exciting -- I just cannot wait to see your home all pink-ified by Fifi on the pages of that magazine! I loved the glimpse into the process, too. Fascinating.
Posted by: Laurie | August 13, 2013 at 04:29 PM
Every room looks beautiful. I think it would be fun to have someone come in and take my stuff to restyle my home. I think I would be amazed.
Congratulations!
Posted by: Carol | August 14, 2013 at 01:28 AM
Hi, Karla -- I've been saving and savoring this post till I had time to really sink into it! I love Romantic Country (before and after they featured the Gypsy!) but I could never imagine how anyone could have a home so neat and so lovely to be in it, except maybe you! So you see, you are living up to all my expectations!
Your home is beautiful -- I've always thought so. I like lots of the things they did -- but agree that the pillows look great in the photos but would last only briefly in real life (I am known as the Pillow Queen, and that's not a compliment as far as Rick is concerned!)
It was fun to see your notes and tips, too -- not that this would ever happen to me, but once I start playing with redecorating (after retirement next month!) you have some good tips there! Fun post!
Posted by: jeanie | August 14, 2013 at 12:20 PM
I think it would be awesome to have someone else come in and show me what I could do with what I have!
Posted by: Kathy | August 14, 2013 at 02:47 PM
I absolutely LOVED hearing about and seeing what Fifi did to restyle your home. She already had a whole lot of beauty to work with, that's for sure!
You write with such "real life-ness," with humor thrown in, and I just love it.
What a cute picture of one of your doggies perched on the couch, wearing what appears to be a toothy grin for the camera!
Congratulations for being featured, Karla, and I can't wait to purchase the magazine when it comes out!
Posted by: Linda P. | August 15, 2013 at 08:48 AM
Can I say I knew you WHEN? Before you were famous. :) I'm joking with you because I know all the fame in the world wouldn't change you one bit. However...your house did change. I think it is interesting that Fifi wanted punches of color. I love the chic mono-neutral look, yet in my own decor, I respond to happy colors and just go with it. Over a year ago I did re-do my bedroom in shades of beige with no color creeping in so far.
Posted by: Charlotte | August 17, 2013 at 08:24 PM
I always love looking at your house and the different ways it was styled just added all the more charm. You are such a talented and creative lady. Congratulations. I am looking forward to that issue especially.
Posted by: catieAn | September 08, 2013 at 08:17 PM
I t is very exciting, I also had my house featured in a magazine 10 years ago, , and yes there was lots of rearranging, moving stuff, losing stuff, lighting in right places, and so on as you sais, but it was fun and when the magazines came out, the photos came to life, they we wonderful. I still look at those magazines from time to time as I do not live there any more, but it was true experience, and I loved it . can't wait to see your home featured.
Posted by: Melissa Harrison | June 26, 2015 at 11:50 PM
Yes, its very exciting to be featured, isnt it, Melissa? These photos were used in Romantic Country, Country Sampler Homes Tour, and Daphnes Diary. They went a long way!
Posted by: Karla Nathan | June 27, 2015 at 12:57 AM
I wish you girls lived next door to me and Ziggy (my Yorkie). What fun you must have. I also love to look at: Magnolia Pearl catalog on line. You look like you might be friends with them.
Best wishes and thanks for sharing your lovely life!
Jeanne
Posted by: Jeanne C. Wolf | July 30, 2015 at 01:20 PM
I LOVE your cute little house dear:) LOVE Maria from inredningsvis.se
Posted by: maria ljungström | October 18, 2021 at 03:24 PM