We had a lovely weekend with the girls and tons of fun (a little too much fun Friday evening... the wine was flowing freely and before you knew it, we had gone through many many bottles. How old am I???).
On Saturday, we headed out to Virginia Highlands- a great little area of shopping, dining, and super-cute houses. (Note to self: home tours in December, which I missed last year. Must do in 2010!).
For me, Virginia Highlands is one of those great areas that you should get to often, but somehow don't. Saturday, I made the great discovery of Bella Cucina...
Their mission? "To enhance the lives of our customers everyday through the spirit,
beauty, and sustenance of artful food."
The shop is actually part of an enterprise, created by Alisa Barry because of her "passion for food and all things Italian." She also has a blog, The Art of Food, which I encourage you to check out! Note that her last blog posting was on Meyer Lemons. Yes, I think we have a connection.
Needless to say, this little stop had me at hello. Their fabulous little sauces are not cheap but they are delicious and the store offers several recipe cards to make the most of their little jars of heaven.
While checking out, I chatted with the clerk about the decor, which I also loved, and found out that the shop owner's significant other (husband? I'm not sure) is a designer and was behind the shop's decor.
Meet Smith Hanes.
Smith has also been involved of the design of Serenbe, this amazing little community centered around smart development and protection of greenspace.
Blue Eyed Daisy Bakeshop
The Farmhouse at SerenbeAnd one of my favorite restaurants, JCT Kitchen.
Smith is not limited to commercial projects, either, and brings this modern country farmhouse look to Atlanta residences.
Alisa and Smith's home, a 1908 Sears kit house, has also been featured in design magazines. These photos all courtesy of Country Home. The couple's love for art and modern flair is evident throughout the house.
And there we are. I hope that you enjoyed this little introduction... Off to Miami today for work!
Emmie
