IT ALL BEGAN WHEN JOHN ELLIS, FRIEND AND MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER,
SPOTTED A WHIMSICAL LITTLE COTTAGE
ON THE VENICE, CALIFORNIA HOME TOUR
AND JUST KNEW (WITH A LITTLE SUPER STYLING)
IT WAS A PERFECT MAGAZINE STORY!
JOHN SENT ME THE SCOUT SHOTS WHICH I PASSED ALONG TO
(WHO ELSE BUT!) COTTAGE STYLE MAGAZINE
AND OUR SHOOT WAS BORN...

When I arrived, this is how the living room looked...

And here it is "super styled"...
a large pot of fresh meadow flowers
a "moment" of a cuppa tea and juicy peaches
furniture rearranged to provide drama and lead the observer into the shot
and the crowning touch?
​John's pulling in the verdant outdoors. 

AND THEN THERE WAS THE DINING ROOM...BEFORE...

 ...and after!
shelf to kitchen tidied up 
the addition of posies, a crisp linen to soften the lines,
an inviting jug of cool limeade
and a "moment" added of getting ready to set the table
​with plates & silver readied on the chair.

THE KITCHEN BEFORE...

And after!
added large chunks of color and life
with fresh fruit, viburnum blooms, and herbs on the window sill
accented the nook by bringing in the yellow door frame.

BREAKFAST NOOK BEFORE...

And after!
minimized the ordinary chairs
and again, added yellow door frame for punch
and life with fresh sunflowers, a pile of strawberries
and...a toppling stack of waffles for whimsy!

OFF TO THE STUDY....BEFORE...

And after!
​Invited the reader in by
replacing the desk chair with a more comfortable one 
added more comfort with pillows, throws, and an open book
filled in the empty middle space with a "coffee table"
made out of a wooden tray and a stack of drawers!
a cup of sharpened pencils and a more interesting desk lamp frame the shot

COOKBOOK SHELVING BEFORE...

AND AFTER...

Rearranged books and colorful vintage Bauer pottery
for a better balance
(always more interesting to display books both vertically and horizontally)

THE BEDROOM...BEFORE...

And after!
placed a vintage oil painting to fill empty wall space
enlivened the room by opening windows and added fresh oleander blossoms 
changed the camera angle to eliminate a dark chest

AND FINALLY, THE BATHROOM...BEFORE...

And after!
simple addition of color for punch
and opening the mirrored door adds interest in the reflection
(and keeps the photographer from appearing in the image!)

AND THE FINAL PRODUCT!
COMPLETE WITH ALL THE DELICIOUS DETAILS....

LONGING TO SEE MORE STYLING BEFORES & AFTERS?
please scroll down and subscribe!
​(if you haven't already...thank you...)

SHE COVERED THE WALLS OF HER STUDIO WITH PAGES THAT INSPIRED HER...

ALL OF WILD FLOWERS AND GARDENS AND
​EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN THE NATURAL WORLD...

THEN HANNAH WENT INTO THE WOODS TO FORAGE...

...AND PALE PINK CAMELLIAS...

​AND FILLED HER STUDIO WITH BEAUTIFUL CLIPPINGS...

SHE THEN FILLED HER SHELVES WITH ​ALL SORTS OF CONTAINERS AND VASES...

AND THEN HANNAH STARTED WORKING...SHE CLIPPED...

AND TIED...

AND ARRANGED...

SHE ADDED WILD FLOWERS TO HATS...

AND BLOSSOMS TO BELTS...

SHE FILLED BOWLS WITH WILD FLOWERS
​AND PERCHED THEM ON LADDERS...

 THEN HANNAH'S TWINS JOINED IN...
 HER DAUGHTER CECELIA HELPED HER IN THE STUDIO...

AND HER SON SULLIVAN PITCHED IN WITH THE FORAGING...

Today Hannah Hall has a thriving business in Hendersonville, North Carolina
where now that she's made her dreams happen
 she takes her client's dreams 
​and makes them come alive!

HANNAH AND SON AND DAUGHTER
AND WILD FLOWERS AND BRANCHES AND TWIGS
ARE ALL LIVING HAPPILY EVER AFTER...

I MET HANNAH HALL WHEN I PHOTOGRAPHED HER
FOR JO PACKHAM'S MAGAZINE WHERE WOMEN CREATE

AND THE DAY WE SHOT WAS MAGICAL!
enjoy!.

            Here's how I styled it for                                  and here's how I styled for
                    Country Living...                                         Romantic Country
    SIMPLER, CLEANER, MORE GRAPHIC LINENS...                            MORE FLOWERY BED LINENS...             
   SWITCHED OUT MATCHY MATCHY NIGHTSTANDS                   MORE ROMANTIC  LIFESTYLE WITH TEA TRAY

          styled for Country Living...                           styled for Romantic Country...
 REMOVED CUTSEY PLATE HOLDER ON WINDOWS...ADDED              FLOWERS ON BOTH TABLE AND SIDEBOARD...
  GRAPHIC PILLOW...SIMPLE BAR SET UP IN CUPBOARD         KEPT ALL FLORAL PILLOWS...ADDED AQUA TABLECLOTH

...HERE'S OUR EUREKA SPRINGS COTTAGE AS YOU MAY REMEMBER IT IN 
COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE...

AND HERE'S HOW YOU MAY REMEMBER IT AS YOU SAW IT IN
​ROMANTIC COUNTRY MAGAZINE...

 Hope you enjoyed my little "Double Duty" story 
and don't forget to scroll down and subscribe if you haven't already!

No problemo -- I grab the boots brought as props for one of the vignettes...

And jump in...
Whatever it takes for a successful shoot!