In the beginning

There is an old folktale that the Magpie is a rather clever builder, inspiring other birds in the art of nest building. Several people have urged Luke and me to begin a blog, and with recent events the opportunity now presents itself, so we're trying our hand at Magpie living.

This blog will be home-based, centered around whatever designs and projects we're doing at the time. Until recently those projects have largely been on hold given the housing market and consequently our purse-strings, but a couple of months ago a friend was looking for an avenue in which to invest and invited us to join him in a "property venture". (Horrid phrase!) Thanks to his trust, we have a lovely property in a very trendy Atlantan neighborhood to wipe clean and begin again. It's a dream to gut and redo a house! As we make progress and wade through decisions, I'll update this blog (I have much to catch you up on) and post various sources of inspiration, but there is an additional incentive for you if you're looking to do a home project or need a piece of furniture or two. As I scour the city and the web for deals, it's becoming a full time job (and my biceps have never been better as I restrain two toddlers from all the breakables in Atlanta). I see so many elegant pieces and such great deals and I want to make them available to you. You'll find items listed on this blog with photos and store info so that you can check on availability. Additionally, we have a tried and true list of sub-contractors, so please contact us if you need a recommendation.


I love designing houses and I want to create so much more than I can house in one home. The pleasure is in creating rather than owning. So here's our attempt at designing, renovating and flipping and hopefully it's an entertaining resource for you along the way. Enjoy!