The Gatewood Hall Gracious Home Journal

Made in America with Gatewood Hall: Are You In?

2011-12-01T00:43:00.011-05:00

Recently Shawn and I have been following a story on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer (http://abcnews.go.com/WN/mailform?id=14998335) that really struck a chord with us. The story is “Made in America Christmas”. According to this report the National Retail Federation estimates that the average American will spend a little over $700 on holiday gifts this year, totaling more than $465 billion. If that money was spent entirely on US Made products it would create 4.6 million jobs. But the story goes that it doesn’t have to even be that big…if each of us spent just $64 on American made goods during the holiday season, the result would be 200,000 new jobs. (That is AWESOME!!)

We would love it if all of our merchandise were made in the US…sadly it is nearly impossible to do that. We have always loved made in the US products and especially those with a Georgia connection. With this in mind Shawn and I are asking “Are you in?” and in order to help we are going through our product lines and marking them with signs and labels that show American products as well as those with the Georgia connection. So if you are in, you can easily spend your $64 on wonderful made in America products (and we have some good ones!!)

Look for the following signs throughout our stores! Feel free to ask us if you have any questions. Also we want to say thanks for shopping locally with us! We can’t begin to tell you how much we appreciate it!! Please forward this message to your family and friends so they can think about this no matter where they shop! Happy Holidays!

We're Celebrating Joy This Holiday Season At Gatewood Hall Gracious Home!

2011-11-23T14:49:00.010-05:00

We are celebrating "Joy" this Holiday season at Gatewood Hall Gracious Home!

"When was the last time your heart was lifted by a wave of pure happiness? When you felt so delighted by an unexpected little miracle that you couldn't stop yourself from smiling? When you found time in a busy day to give joy to someone else? Joy must be the way we travel. Give yourself the gift of joy, and pass it on to others."

Our holiday theme was inspired by the wonderful new gift book that we will be selling by the same name"Joy"written and compiled by M.H. Clark.

We loved the concept from the book that said:"It's been said that days are long but the years are short. We fill our days with obligations and appointments, and reserve joy for special occasions, holidays, weekends and stolen moments. If we want joy to be the story of our years, joy must be the story of our days. Joy must be a daily choice, a habit, a promise we make to ourselves."

Isn't that food for thought? So as we all get busy with the "holiday duties" we are hoping that our theme will remind all of us to celebrate "Joy" in everything that we do throughout the year! We promise to do our best to help.

Come by our stores and see our new arrivals and our 2011 Holiday collection. (P.S. The book "Joy" makes a wonderful gift for only $12.95 check it out!)

Another Wonderful Blue Ridge Memory! Thanks Jamie & Nathan

2011-10-16T20:59:00.010-04:00

Shawn and I have attended many weddings...several because of the event component of Gatewood Hall. I happen to love weddings, I'm sentimental and often get a little "teary eyed" even if I barely know the couple. I guess I just like the significance, the ceremony, and even the hope of two people who among their friends and loved ones share this special time of commitment to one another.

This past evening we were fortunate enough to be guests at the wedding of Jamie Abercrombie and Nathan Nicholson. (I don’t always post about other people’s personal events but, I was so touched by last night that I wanted to share this experience with you. I received approval of the bride prior to posting this on the blog). I have to tell you that this truly was another special Blue Ridge Memory! An absolutely perfect North Georgia autumn evening at Aska Farms, the mountain vistas were amazing. As the sun dropped into the horizon we sat on bales of hay in a picturesque field, there were beautiful, rustic floral arrangements in mason jars, (designed with love by those creative Dorn gals!) We listened to some wonderful acoustic songs of love well chosen by Jamie (I'd actually love to have a cd because it was such a great mix!) and anxiously waited for the ceremony to begin. And when it began...Wow! The neutral color pallet, selected by the bride let everyone shine, honestly this was one of the most handsome bridal parties I have ever seen! (It was a bit of a hike from the house to the alter in the field) These beautiful ladies walked like professional models in high heels into the mountain field. I thought to myself poor Jamie has to make that hike in her gown... Not to worry she had already figured that one out...she was delivered to her obviously proud father in a beautifully restored 1955 Chevy! (How's that for a grand entrance?)

Jamie is a gorgeous young woman but on this day she was even more stunning and radiant she chose the perfect simple yet elegant gown by Vera Wang adorned with a fabulous custom necklace by her friend Lynn Kemp (Owner/Designer of Gawdy Baubles & Made It! jewelry). During the ceremony set against the most beautiful mountain backdrop it is hard to describe the special mood, but there was this peaceful calm that just felt so wonderful and sublime! From the wedding party including the bride, groom and even the guests it was just relaxed, intimate and genuinely fun. Who could ever ask for more on their special day?

A fantastic reception followed with delicious food and drink, fun toasts and dancing. It was a true celebration of two hearts joined together supported by people who sincerely wanted to be there and be a part of this special moment in Jamie and Nathan’s life.

As Shawn and I left the party we both commented “Now, that is what a wedding should feel like! What a great time!” The real message of this posting it that as I reflect on last night and what made it such a special time is that the Bride and her Groom really set the tone. Jamie and Nathan have been together nine years already (Their anniversary of their first date was this past Tuesday!)…so maybe that honest, heartfelt love generated this peaceful and ever-so-relaxed calm that everyone got to experience. What I know for sure is this…I along with everyone that I spoke with thoroughly enjoyed this special evening and I am happy that I was lucky enough to be a part of it! Jamie and Nathan thank you for such a special Blue Ridge Memory, we wish you all of the best for a wonderful life together with lots more love, laughter and happiness that you both deserve.

Autumn Harvest at Gatewood Hall

2011-09-23T00:03:00.013-04:00

Well today is the first day of Autumn, and while I know not everyone is crazy about this time of year (Shawn Hall being one of those) I happen to love it! Many of you have heard stories about my mother and how much she enjoys decorating for the holidays and seasons...I remember my very first apartment, late September and she shows up with mums, and pumpkins that she had just purchased at the farmer's market to "help me decorate and get into the fall spirit" you guessed it, she loves the fall too!

Fall is especially nice in the North Georgia mountains, our neck of the woods becomes majestic and mother nature...well, she just "shows out"! Our very beloved British friend Ellie used to sit in a rocking chair on the porch of our cabin and look out at our view of Rich Mountain and say "That my dear is evidence of God!" and I couldn't agree more.

It's not just the beauty, it's the color, the crispness in the air, the idea of nesting and cozying up that I just love. (Don't get me wrong in early December I'll be dreaming of Spring) But for now I enjoy how some things just sort of slow down.

So this time of year brings us to our next theme that we call Autumn Harvest at Gatewood Hall! We'll be highlighting some of the our picks or things that we have in our shops and in our community that we especially love this time of year!

Some great fall inspired gourmet gear and goodies for your pantry or to keep handy for hostess gifts!

Beautiful decor for your harvest table and wreaths for your doors! Love these vintage looking wild turkeys and the faux gourds and pumpkins that we have look unbelievably real!

The new fall Caspari collection of napkins and guest towels are exceptionally beautiful this season. My mom always says buy those pretty paper napkins, "don't store them away, use them...they make an ordinary sandwich or drink taste better". You know what? She is right!!

We love this line and we have carried it for quite awhile, and they keep adding more beautiful pieces. These new items are gorgeous! I love the wood and pewter mix on the salad and nut bowls. The stag wine glass would be a great gift for the man in your life. Imagine a good red wine in that glass while sitting in front of the fire in your mountain home! The little squirrel on the stump is a salt and pepper set, the stump is for salt the squirrel holds pepper...how great is that?

A new gourmet line that we have is Captain Rodney's! The Boucan Glaze is a quick and easy cooking trick. It can be brushed on as a glaze for any game, fish, fowl, beans or vegetables. Straight out of the bottle, it makes the perfect dipping sauce for chicken or shrimp, quick and easy to use, always ready to add just the right amount of sweet spice to any dish. This glaze is added after cooking so you get full, rich flavor without the time and trouble of a traditional marinade. No long waits, just easy, all-natural flavor. We love the recipe for the famous cheese bake appetizer...we'll give you the recipe card on the bottle but- just to get your mouth watering.. you mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese, mayo, scallions, top with crisp bacon bits and buttery cracker crumbs and then drizzle with Captain Rodney's sweet, spicy glaze bake and serve warm with crackers, it is DIVINE!! Our friend who turned us onto "Hot Squeeze" told us about Captain Rodney's, what a great gift to keep on hand! Another one of our customers Martha from Alabama (who does famous catering) says she's used Captain Rodney's forever, she said "We call it the stuff that could make cardboard taste good!" She serves it over her well-loved southern fried chicken, YUM!

We also have Captain Rodney's Temptation of Jezebel Sauce which brings back a traditional recipe of the Treasure Coast. A sweet and tangy taste of the old south with tropical pineapples, sweet apples, cracked black pepper and a little horseradish for just the right amount of bite. Try it as a glaze over meat and vegetables or serve it as an appetizer with cream cheese and crackers. (I love it on a ham and swiss cheese sandwhich or biscuit). With just one bite you will see why the Temptation of Jezebel is impossible to resist.
Gosh now I'm so hungry!! Happy Fall Y'all! Please do come in and see us!

**P.S. I just had to come back in and add this footnote. It is around 11AM, I just called my mother on her cell to tell her to be sure to read this new blog post that I wrote last night..."OK" She said "Honey, let me call you back I can't talk, I'm on my way to Grandma's, I picked up mums and pumpkins and I can't even see out of my car, this is bad, I'm gonna have to pull over to rearrange..." I laughed and said- be careful, just call me later...Is that funny or what?? :) I LOVE YOU MOM!!

Pantone Reveals Spring 2012 Color Trend Forecast

2011-09-16T01:20:00.006-04:00

Pantone Spring 2012 Color Report is revealed. It is Fashion Week in New York, and you have probably seen all of the new fashion commercials on television. The Kardashian’s collection at Sears, Mark Anthony & Jennifer Lopez at Kohl’s and the biggest shock of all Missoni at Target. Many of the zig zag Missoni items have already sold out, some pieces are already on eBay at four times the price. I guess it is as close as many can get when you consider that one of their tank shirts are being sold at Target for $29 versus the original for $595 at Bergdorf Goodman.

This is also the time that The Spring 2012 color report from Pantone is revealed. Pantone, a global authority on color for the last 18 years, surveys the prominent colors at New York Fashion Week each season to reveal the upcoming color trends that are expected to be most popular in fashion and interiors. Because we work in the Interior Design and Retail business we always like to keep on top of this report. In a few short weeks we’ll be going to the international Home Furnishings Market in High Point and it will be interesting to see these new color trends on furniture, fabric and other home accents.

You will notice that this season’s pallet features a variety of colors, ranging from cheerful vivid hues to muted tones and pastels. Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®, spoke of the new color report in a press release, stating “Consumers look to spring for renewed energy, optimism and the promise of a brighter day. They have learned how color can help them alter a mood and provide the vitality and enthusiasm that enables them to experiment with new looks and color combinations.” I like that there are some natural versatile neutrals to add practicality to this season's brights. Driftwood, an adaptable blend of beige and gray with a slightly weathered feel, and Starfish, a perfect warm summer neutral, complement all colors featured in this season's top 10

The Spring 2012 Color Report is called “Dance Into Spring 2012” Visit the Pantone website (http://www.pantone.com/pages/fcr.aspx?pg=20911&ca=4) to learn more about the 2012 Report. Let us know what you think about Pantone’s selections, as well as your favorite color from the palette.

Photo credit: Pantone.com & Target.com

Check Out The Sweet Shoppe Blue Ridge

2011-08-31T21:44:00.013-04:00

Have we got something fabulous to tell you about. We have a new Sweet Shoppe in Blue Ridge and it is WONDERFUL!!! Susan Catron and Nikki Gribble opened this great place a little while back and shame on us, we just now got a chance to visit. You probably know both of these ladies as they have been very involved in our community for awhile but lucky for us they have decided to share this side of their talents with us in their new Sweet Shoppe! The space itself has never looked better, it reminds you of a little French Patisserie, so quaint and cozy! Filled with beautiful confections including home-made cookies, hand-made artisan truffles, premium dipped north Georgia apples, berries and cherries UNBELIEVABLE!! They also have some very, very special gourmet cupcakes. In fact they have so many flavors you can visit their website (www.sweetshoppeblueridge.com) for their entire menu or friend them on FaceBook (facebook.com/sweetshoppeblueridge) for the daily menu. Today we had Tres Leche (my favorite!!), Chocolate Cream Pie (Shawn's favorite), Key Lime Pie & Blond Bombshell (my second favorite)!! They are as beautiful as they are delicious. We can't wait to try Banana's Foster, Mississippi Mud, Orange Dreamsicle...oh who are we kidding...we want to try all of them. We hear that their new fall menu is coming out soon.... Heaven help us! Wonder how many Weight Watchers Points are in these babies??? Oh who cares, they are worth it!

Above a skewer of blueberries, hand-dipped in luscious, premium chocolate! Susan told me that Nikki is the "Chocolatier" and I am telling you each treat is like a beautiful, ittle work of art!

Above handmade artisan truffles, in flavors like Thin Mint, Oreo Cheesecake, Orange Melt, Coconut Cherry, and Irish Cream! What a beautiful gift these would make!

The Sweet Shoppe Blue Ridge is located in the courtyard below Harvest across from Christy Lee's (576 East Main Street, Suite D Blue Ridge, Georgia) and get this they are open late on Friday and Saturday so you can stop in after dinner for a little dessert treat. Also great to know they will ship their speciality items!! Treat yourself, go in today...Tell them Corky & Shawn sent you...you will probably see us there. ENJOY you are gonna love it!!

Our Field Trip To The Cashiers Designer Showhouse

2011-08-21T21:59:00.014-04:00

Yesterday Shawn and I took our annual field trip to check out the 14th Annual Cashiers Designer Showhouse sponsored by the Historical Society in Cashiers, North Carolina. We love to visit the Highlands and Cashiers area, visit some of our favorite shops and we usually grab a delicious southern family style feast at the Dillard House.

This years showhouse called "Reflections" is an older log home built in 1967 from logs reclaimed from Tennessee Valley Authority construction sites, a second wing was added later in 1971. (I love it when they choose to decorate an older home, that is always a little more of a challenge and often requires a lot of creativity.) The forty-two acres that the property sits on is absolutely beautiful!! This years designers did a wonderful job and we would encourage you to treat yourself and make a road trip to check it out.

The stone terrace entrance was designed by James Farmer, it was lovely. In the photo above I love the color story cleverly tied together with the large bowl of heirloom tomatoes. (We also love James' beautiful new book "A Time To Plant" check it out next time you are in the store)

This was one of my favorite rooms, the Writers Retreat designed by Barbara Heath of The Mercantile in Atlanta it was such wonderful, calm room. (If you've never been to The Mercantile you should go, Barbara is the owner and her store is really fabulous!)

This is a view of the Shawn's favorite room the Lounging Porch designed by Francie Hargrove. It was so inviting, you actually felt like lounging here. The tall, stone fireplace and long drapery panels were so dramatic!

The dining table on the lounging porch was stunning, Hargove used beautiful, horn handled cutlery, and some gorgeous Jan Barboligio candelabras.

The library designed by Lynn Monday was such a cozy space, I love that she used such beautiful contemporary pieces to incorporate in a very rustic setting to create such a beautiful design. I also love the symmetry of this room.

Notice the unusual bookshelves, everyone can use some of these techniques like hanging art or even stag horns, and groups of books along with special objects to create visual interest on their own built-ins.

Of course Shawn enjoyed the many gardens and sitting areas. We thought the Adirondack wood furniture here was wonderful!

You really should go and check out this beautiful showhouse! For more info visit their website at www.cashiershistoricalsociety.org/about/cashiers-designer-showhouse/hile We so enjoy visiting the beautiful North Carolina Highlands area...But when we arrived home last night we took some friends out on our boat on Lake Blue Ridge and there is something really special about a Blue Ridge, Georgia sunset!!

Byrds Cookie Company Now Available At Gatewood Hall

2011-08-18T07:30:00.000-04:00

Another fabulous arrival to Gatewood Hall Gracious Home- We are pleased to bring you Byrd's Famous Cookies from Savannah, Georgia! Byrd Cookie Company has been a Savannah tradition since 1924, when Ben T. Byrd, Sr. began making cookies by hand, packing them in wooden boxes and delivering them in a Model-T Ford to Savannah stores. Over the years, the company has earned its reputation as a leader in the specialty food industry, receiving many awards honoring the company's superior products and package design. Although their gourmet delicacies have brought much acclaim, they have never lost sight of the importance of personal commitment to their customers. Whether you choose their unique, delicious cookies, or the savory, epicurean cheese biscuits , you'll discover that their products are perfect for any occasion. We are very proud to bring them to you at both our Blue Ridge and Big Canoe locations.

The packages are beautiful and will make a great hostess gift or nice little goody to put into gift baskets. We loved the size because they are well-priced and perfect to keep on hand if a couple of friends stop over for a drink just open a box with abottle of wine and you are ready. Byrd's also offers wonderful larger tins that we may bring in closer to the holidays.

Some of the savory flavors include:

White Cheddar with Peppercorns- Smooth white cheddar cheese speckled with coarse black peppercorns will have your taste buds begging for more.

Cheddar Pecan with Cayenne- Sharp cheddar cheese and fancy pecans provide a rich flavorful crunch while a touch of cayenne pepper gives it a kick.

Gorgonzola with Honey & Walnuts- The distinctive taste of Gorgonzola cheese is perfectly accompanied by the sweetness of honey and crunch of walnuts.

We loved the festive cocktail shaker filled with their Savory Cocktail Mix which is a delicious combination of Byrd's New York Cheddar Cheese Biscuits, roasted almonds and sun-sweetened cranberries. (YUM!)

The sweeter flavors include:

Key Lime Coolers- A quintessential Southern dessert, Key Lime pie has long been enjoyed at many a picnic, dinner and social gathering. Bursting with this same fresh Key Lime flavor, our award-winning cookies capture the tart-but-sweet taste and pleasing crunch of this much-loved delicacy.

Georgia Peach - As deliciously Southern as a fresh Georgia peach. Our delicate, bite-size cookies are reminiscent of the tangy goodness of a tree-ripened peach and the rich flavor of sweet cream, with enough zing to keep you coming back for more.

Triple Chocolate Midnight Truffle- Our rich dutch chocolate cookie is loaded with dark chocolate chips and then sprinkled with cocoa powder for a triple chocolate treat. Packaging features natural tan linen with mocha accents.

Benne Wafers- Long known as "the seed of good luck," the rich flavor of the benne seed has graced Southern recipes for generations. Still made in the same tradition, our thin, crisp cookies are laden with crunchy benne seeds and sweetened with a blend of maple and brown sugar for a true one-of-a-kind taste.

Come by and check them out, you will love them!!!

New Paula Deen Furniture Arrives At GH

2011-08-11T23:54:00.018-04:00

You may remember the photo below from a FaceBook post I did from the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina back in April...Shawn and I were fortunate to meet Paula Deen again as they were doing the photo shoot above. We had the opportunity to have met her before in Savannah, this time she was so sweet she kindly said "I thought I recognized ya'll!...so warm from a woman who meets thousands of people! (And for the record I tried to take a photo of Shawn and Paula however, I was a little nervous...I was apparently shaking and the photo was blurry leaving many to ask if we got butter on the lens!)

At any rate we fell in love with her newest "Down Home" collection. We are told that many of the pieces are reinterpreted vintage and antique pieces that she personally owns. We just really felt whether you were a Paula Deen fan or not the line was so fresh, the details are very special and unique...we had to bring it to you.

The chair below comes in other finishes and in a arm chair version. It is called the Corrie Kitchen chair. I believe Corrie is Paula's niece, and we heard that she has a version of this chair in her guest apartment at Paula's Savannah home. We think it is a great scale and looks great at the Sawhorse desk.

Probably one of our favorites is the cabinet below (called the Dish Pantry), love the color combination! The details are wonderful. It is a perfect display piece in a dining room, living room or office.

These little cloverleaf shaped end tables below are called "Lemonade Stands" and the colors are wonderful. So unique they feel vintage. There are several finishes including Molasses (dark rich, stain), Porch Swing (Distressed white), Screen Door (a blue green), and Oatmeal.

Another great cabinet below called Paula's Kitchen Organizer..it is really fabulous! We thought it would be perfect for a small kitchen in a cabin or lake house. It is finished so beautifully inside, it has an outlet for appliances, wouldn't that be wonderful in a guest suite with a coffee maker, or mini microwave? Love it!!

This great drop leaf end table below is wonderful in the living room but, wouldn't it be great between two twin beds!

Come in and see some of these wonderful new pieces for yourself. They really are special and we are thrilled to be able to bring them to you. As Paula might say...See ya'll soon!!!

A Great New Gourmet Line to Add To Our Summer Pantry

2011-07-27T13:47:00.012-04:00

As you know we just finished the July Market in Atlanta and it was a really good show! Shawn and I wanted to find some more gourmet lines to bring into both shops not only for our GH Summer Pantry but for some great staples throughout the year. The criteria was- it had to be versatile, unique, delicious, simple and well priced. We also wanted it to be "giftable" so a pretty package was certainly a plus. We found several new lines and I am happy to introduce the first to you this week (yes, it has already arrived believe it or not).

We are thrilled to bring you Foxys Gourmet! This exciting new line met all of our criteria and more! We can't wait for you to try their products. They are beautifully packaged making them great gifts and all of their products are:

• MSG free; No trans-fat; No artificial sweeteners
• No artificial color; No preservatives
• Made in nut free facility

Experience the versatility of the savory gourmet dip mixes. Some of the flavors include Sun Dried Tomato, Garlic Herb, Cheddar Onion, Olive Tappenade, Lemon Dill, Onion Chive, and Roasted Red Pepper. These delicious dips can be used as toppings on countless entrée possibilities. Have one as a dip for crusty French bread, sliced vegetables or flat breads. Delight in the ease of creating gourmet dips at your next epicurean event. Simply add sour cream and mayonnaise and you can even dress them up by adding fresh items like chopped parsley, spinach or even olives to create an incredibly delicious "home-made" tasting treat.

You will enjoy the Sweet Dips as a topping on many desserts and fruits including bananas, strawberries, pears, apples, and so much more! The dips are so easy, simply add milk, cream or water to the mix to create an incredibly rich, creamy and delicious sweet treat. We went crazy over the Creamy Caramel, you just add water and you have a incredibly rich, decadent caramel sauce great on apples or drizzled over cheesecake!

And just wait until you try the amazing cocktail mixes. You can be your own bartender and dazzle your friends and family with impressive martinis, daiquiris, mojitos, and margaritas! Master the art of modern entertaining and use these gourmet mixes to make delicious and unique cocktails. Combine the mix with a few bar ingredients to create a sensational drink. These tasty mixes will become a delightful addition to your cocktail repertoire. Imagine some of these fabulous concoctions:

Chocolate Seduction Martini
Raspberry Buzz Mojito
Cool Lime Mojito
Cotton Candy Daiquiri
Raspberry Lipstick Margarita
Cloud Nine Martini

And get this there are 12 more flavors!!!! Come in and see us and we'll show you the whole line!

the girl & the fig for your Summer Pantry

2011-06-24T08:34:00.008-04:00

We love "the girl & the fig" products at Gatewood Hall. We started carrying this wonderful line last year and many of you have come to love it!! Created by Sondra Bernstein proprietor of the renowned Sonoma, California restaurants Estate, The Fig Cafe and The Girl & The Fig these products will make feel like you are in the wine country! These are great additions to your Summer Pantry!

The fig and port vinaigrette is the signature dressing for the famous grilled fig & arugula salad at Sondra's girl & the fig restaurant. A perfect balance of tangy and sweet. Serve on a salad of arugula, toasted pecans, pancetta, grilled figs & chevre. (say it with me, HEAVEN!!!!). You can also use it as a marinade for pork or chicken.

The Apricot Fig Chutney is probably one of the most popular products from the girl & the fig. Plump apricots and calimyrna figs are a fantastic combination for flavor and texture. With a hint of ginger, spices and dried cherries, this chutney is a very versatile condiment that will add another flavor dimension to your favorite dish.

Serving Ideas:

The most popular box lunch sandwich from the girl & the fig is the house-roasted turkey, apricot fig chutney, fiscalini cheddar cheese on a baguette. (YUMMY!!). A great and easy appetizer is to take the small phyllo shells and put a small piece of brie or goat cheese, spoon in a little chutney and warm in the oven, delicious and easy gotta love that! You can also...

- Add to a cheese and charcuterie platter.
- Marinate chicken or pork chops with apricot fig chutney and grill.
- Serve as a condiment for pork loin, roast chicken, turkey breast
- Serve on a Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Mix with Cream Cheese or Mascarpone and make Stuffed French Toast.

The red onion confit is a blend of red onions, red wine vinegar, red wine, sugar, thyme, salt, pepper. Serve with charcuterie dishes, grilled sausages, barbecued chicken and meats. Add to a turkey or cheese sandwich. It almost has a sweet and sour flavor and adds a nice addition of flavor to the most basic recipes.

Serving Ideas:

- Serve with charcuterie dishes, grilled sausages, BBQ chicken and meats.
- Add to a turkey or cheese sandwich.
- Use as a condiment for cheese platters.
- Warm gently and use as sauce for pork, chicken, turkey, or beef.
- Use as a sandwich condiment or on a burger. YUM!
- While braising, add a couple tablespoons to the pot.
- Add a few tablespoons to sautéed vegetables. (I do this and it really dresses up something simple!)

The salts are wonderful blends that include:

Fennel citrus herb blend - A blend fennel seed, lemon and orange peel, sea salt, lavender, mustard seed and other spices. Sprinkle on fish, chicken or pork before pan searing or grilling. Add water to brine pork or chicken.

Lavender sea salt- Simple lavender flowers blended with grey sea salt. Subtle scent and flavor makes this a great addition to certain dishes for an unusual dose of flavor. (I love it on fresh heirloom tomatoes!)

Citrus sea salt- Oven dried lemon and orange peel mixed with grey sea salt. Sprinkle on fish, chicken or pork before pan searing or grilling. Toss with pasta or risotto. Serve as a condiment on the table.

We also have Sondra's outstanding cook book that is full of great recipes that promote her vision of country food with French passion.

Stop in this weekend we will be having tastings of some of the girl and fig products...we will get you hooked!! See you soon!

Exciting News! Gatewood Hall Gracious Home is Opening a Second Store in Big Canoe!

2011-06-14T23:48:00.006-04:00

We wanted our Blog and FaceBook friends to be the first to know...We are so excited to announce (drum roll please!!) GH is opening a second store! Our new store is located just inside the gate at Big Canoe and we are thrilled! Thank you to all who have supported us over the last five years, it is because of you that we are able to take this next big step at Gatewood Hall Gracious Home! This was not an easy decision, believe me we had to put a great deal of thought into it and we really appreciate the support of Ann at Big Canoe who really worked hard to help the details come together (We jokingly say we surrendered to her persuasion!).

We have some wonderful customers and friends from Big Canoe that kept teasing us and saying we needed to open a location closer to them but honestly this growth just wasn't a part of our business plan at this moment. However, as you have heard us say before we believe everything happens for a reason, so when Ann came to us we really had to take a look at this opportunity. While the space is not huge we plan on stocking it full of some wonderful things from our bigger main store, when asked what we sell I say everything for a gracious life...from soap to sofas!

Our goal is to have the store open Saturday June 25th! (fingers crossed). Wish us luck! We will keep you posted. Thank you again for all of your support, we feel so fortunate to be able to continue to pursue our little dream called Gatewood Hall Gracious Home!

Sansaba for Your Summer Pantry

2011-06-10T23:42:00.006-04:00

This week we are highlighting a perfect product for your summer pantry. A longstanding GH Favorite... Sansaba Preserves! The original Peach, Pecan & Amaretto has been a top selling product for us since we opened and we still love it! All of the flavors are great over cream cheese and served with crackers for a great appetizer. One of our customers loves to make special sundaes with Breyer's vanilla ice cream, and I love to (O.K. I know this not a heart healthy recipe) pan fry homemade pound cake (from the freezer) in butter and then top with any flavor, add some whipped cream...YUM!

Try this recipe for a easy yet fantastic pie that everyone loves!

One of our customers made this pie for a church social and everyone went crazy over it. She was so excited because she isn't much of a cook so she is usually asked to bring paper products however, after this pie everyone asks her to bring dessert. She bought a case of Sansaba to have on hand, and get this she won't give out the recipe as it is now her "secret". While this recipe calls for peach, pecan and amaretto it really works well with any of their flavors.

It is great on pancakes, or waffles on slathered on a biscuit (another customer told me last week that she eats it straight from the jar! I'll mention no names, we don't judge!)

Finally, one of my favorites is to grill chicken and then baste it with the peach, pecan and jalapeno serve on rice and it is AWESOME!! Come try it out if you haven't already! A must have for your summer pantry.

Summer Entertaining is Simple With a Well-Stocked Summer Pantry

2011-06-03T18:09:00.008-04:00

It seems like during the summer unexpected guests can drop in at anytime, but that doesn't have to catch you unprepared. The key to successful entertaining on the fly is the idea behind the Gatewood Hall properly stocked “Summer Pantry”. Below is an extensive list of items a gracious host or hostess could keep on hand. Please don’t be overwhelmed. Rather than store them all just select a few that suit your tastes. Pick items that you love and that are versatile (for your needs) and then keep them in supply. Convenience products are not all the same. I have a few of my favorites to keep in the pantry and freezer during the summer for last-minute appetizers, snacks, quick meals or to dress up leftovers. I will share those with you over the next few weeks.

As I have mentioned, I believe the key to the successful Summer Pantry is to stock up on versatile, shelf-stable ingredients so you can knock out a tray of hors d'oeuvres at a moment's notice.

Must-have options for the cupboard:
o A good quality mild cracker or crisp bread
o Cheese straws- (A true southern expectation. There are so many great store-bought versions there is no need to make them, most are foil sealed which gives them a long shelf life, or you can even freeze them.)
o Pickled veggies— For serving as antipasto or garnishing a Bloody Mary or Martini
o Canned dolmades- (stuffed grape leaves), a Greek treat stuffed with rice.
o Jarred roasted red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes— Items like these plus a little fresh garlic dress up a jarred pasta sauce, or can be used atop crackers in hors d'oeuvres
o Jarred pesto- Spread it on crackers or slices of crusty bread. (Pesto just tastes like summer to me and while I love to make it from scratch there are so many great jarred versions you can’t go wrong.)
o Nuts- Pistachios, smoked, mixed- (My favorite is Marcona almonds from Spain. They are sold at many specialty stores, but the best buy is from Costco. Marcona almonds are flat and crunchy, and have a more delicate flavor than American almonds. They're simple, classic, satisfying and healthy too.)
o Stuffed olives— keep a few jarred or canned varieties on hand, preferably good quality ones with a twist such as stuffed with garlic, jalapeno, or even almonds. (Sometimes I’ll buy a mixed jar of olives, drain and refill with a hearty red wine, but be sure to refrigerate if you do this)
o Unique or special salsa- (I usually keep a regional peach or fruit version and a great traditional flavor)
o Olive tapenade
o Jarred eggplant appetizer
o Wonderful fruit jam or chutney

o Good local honey
o Really great mustard
o Your favorite mayo (you can add things to it to make it a great spread)
o Dry salami, pepperoni or other cured meat
o A can of quality Italian tuna in oil for sauces or topping salads and crackers- (Truthfully I never keep this on hand this but I have a friend who swears by it!)

Beverages

o Champagne or Prosecco— Serve alone in the evening or mix with juice and garnish with a strawberry for mimosas at brunch
o Sparkling water
o Soda
o Beer
o Red wine
o White wine

Seasonings, Stocks & Spices

o Extra virgin olive oil
o Balsamic vinegar and a flavored dipping oil- (like garlic, basil, or lemon)
o Sea salts ( I love the flavored versions like lavender or citrus)
o Chicken, Beef & Vegetable stock
o Garlic powder- (I prefer the jarred crushed garlic)
o Canned Italian tomatoes and paste (I love good canned tomatoes!)
o A good pre-made canned sauce (You can add some spices to give them a bit of flare. Without question an unusual pasta and a jar of sauce + added fresh garlic and herbs to brighten the flavors create a no-fuss dinner.)

Rice & Pastas
Boil, drain and pour your favorite sauce and you are good to go.

o Arborio ( aka: Risotto)
o A couple varieties of pastas (I like the idea of Penne, Linguini and Tri-colored Fusili)
o Jasmine or Brown Rice

Crusts, Bread & Shells in the Freezer
These are great to have in the freezer. Just thaw and fill with just about anything for a last minute appetizer or dessert.

o Frozen puff pastry
o French Baguette
o Ready-made pizza dough
o Pie crusts

Cheese in the Fridge
Most cheeses last for a really long time in the fridge, and can be a valuable addition to your Summer Pantry

o Cream cheese
o Goat cheese
o Wedge of Cheddar
o Chunk of Parmigiano- Reggiano
o Brie

Desserts

o Vanilla ice cream (a really good one, I prefer good ole Hagen Daz)
o Cookies (I have a friend who makes a big batch of their favorite cookie dough and freezes them for an easy quick sweet end of a meal sometimes they make ice cream sandwiches. Take your favorite cookie, put a spoonful of ice cream and top with another cookie. Keep in the freezer until you are ready to serve. A simple & fun treat!)
o Pound cake
o Frozen fruit
o Chocolate or Caramel (I love a really great jarred chocolate or caramel sauce, in the summer there is something about a really great sundae or ripe fresh fruit dipped in chocolate or caramel simple yet decadent!)

Miscellaneous Items
o Beautiful or fun paper napkins & plates
o Easy melamine plates, trays and service ware
o Nice looking tooth picks & bamboo skewers

You don't want to be caught with nothing to serve when people drop by and your well-stocked Summer Pantry (and freezer) will ensure that you always have fun, party food available without much prep required. I will spotlight some of my favorite products, where to get them and what to do with them over the next few weeks. I know we have some really great entertaining friends out there…Have I missed something that you love to keep in your Summer Pantry? Please share your ideas! I love hearing from you!

Happy & Gracious Summer Entertaining!

Corky

The Summer Pantry- Fine Provisions by Gatewood Hall

2011-05-27T13:37:00.018-04:00

It’s the official kick-off of summer and with that we are rolling out something fun at GH! Welcome to The Summer Pantry- Fine Provisions by Gatewood Hall.

We love gracious entertaining! Summertime in the north Georgia Mountains is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors, friends and family in our beautiful part of the world. Some people find entertaining effortless it just comes naturally but, others find it daunting and often overwhelming. It concerns us because those that fall into the second group often say forget it because they feel it is just too much hassle, especially in the summer when they’d rather be out having fun instead of worrying about “party details”. That is where we at GH come in with The Summer Pantry.

The Summer Pantry at Gatewood Hall Gracious Home is a great corner of our store where we will stock some wonderful, fine provisions that are unique, special and most of all VERSATILE and EASY! These provisions include wonderful gourmet food items that can dress up anything from cream cheese to your favorite dish, great books on entertaining, beautiful napkins and accessories, to the perfect CD for the soundtrack of your get-togethers.

As I said I love to entertain, I know that I am my mother’s son because she has always loved to entertain and decorate. (My parent’s home is always in season, they especially love this time of year decorating their lake home getaway in North Carolina. I am telling you from Memorial Day to Independence Day and into the fall, everything…even down to the boat dock and boat house will be “all done up” and this is a place where wonderful memories have been made!) But sometimes mom and I tend to get carried away with details, we keep adding to the menu, or stressing over that one extra “thing”…(ask Shawn about the time I bought a baby grand, player piano the day before a holiday party for 80 guests…It did turn out to be a hit albeit, a bit expensive however, I love that piano to this day). This extra stress can be dangerous when entertaining because it can take all of the joy and spontaneity out of your event.

We are also fortunate because we have some friends who are great at entertaining. We can tell you one in particular can pull together a fabulous dinner party for 10 people in an hour! (We are talking Sunday evening, at his second home in Cherry Log Mountain…just on a whim!). Again, this is where the Summer Pantry idea came from. What we have come to learn is that if you have a well-stocked pantry with the right provisions great entertaining can be easy for anyone. So for this wonderful summer season we at GH will be sharing and posting ideas and tips as well as new products and recipes for your personal summer pantry. In the store we will be offering more weekend tastings and maybe even a mini-workshop event and some block parties to get you inspired! If you have some great ideas or tips that you’d like to share we’d love to hear from you! In the end our goal is that we want to help you be able not only to relax and enjoy your time in the mountains but, also be able to create some wonderful memories with your family and friends with some easy and gracious entertaining.

Have a wonderful Memorial holiday as we remember all of those who have fought for our freedom in this wonderful country. Come in and see us this weekend and check out “The Summer Pantry”.

Check Out Our Friends New Business: The Wild Deal is Launched

2011-05-17T09:17:00.003-04:00

Some friends of ours recently started a new business called The Wild Deal that we think is awesome. The concept is really great and we thought it would really appeal to many folks in our area. It is also great timing for graduation or Father’s day gift ideas.

The Wild Deal was launched by a small group of family and friends with a love for the outdoors. Some of them obsess about fishing, some obsess about hunting, and others just enjoy anything physically challenging and potentially dangerous in the realm of outdoor adventure. Being outdoors has always helped these folks escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The Wild Deal was created with the intent of helping others escape to the outdoors in an affordable fashion. The hope is that the great deals they bring to people, will help them be able to escape more often, or maybe even allow someone to really escape for the first time.

Select your territory and choose from deals like rafting on the Nantahala River, or deep sea fishing in Florida. There are even some side deals for gear and equipment. The Wild Deal obtains incredible discounts in the fields of Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Adventure and makes these discounts available to you through the use of a collective buying business model. Because they bring a large volume of customers to retailers and guide services, the retailers and guide services in turn save time and money on marketing, and are willing to pass the savings on to you.

The core value at The Wild Deal is quality. They only deal with guide services and suppliers that provide quality experiences and quality products. There's no risk involved for you or the retailers and guides. It's a win-win for everyone. It's well worth it to them to sell their quality products and services at a discount, if it introduces them to a lot of new customers. And, it's definitely worth it for you - just check out the deals and please share this info with your friends and family too!

The email is info@thewilddeal.com

or their website is http://www.thewilddeal.com/

you can even follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

The Fannin County Chamber is AWESOME!!

2011-05-13T14:07:00.019-04:00

Our Fannin County Chamber ROCKS! We were asked to participate in an event that was held this past Thursday night to host several travel writers from across the US and Canada. The media marketplace event was called "A Little Taste of the Georgia Mountains", and we were honored to be asked to participate! We were paired with a restaurant and ours happened to be one of our favorite's Blue Ridge Brewery (Woo Hoo!)

Shawn, Brenda, Becky and Chrissy had the store all spruced up for our guests! I have to say I think our little town looked awesome! All of the merchants had really stepped up and put in some hard work to get camera ready for our guests.

One off our favorite artists and friends Lynn Kemp came to hang out with us show off her fabulous "Made It!" jewelry line with our visitors. They raved about her wonderful collection, we even sold a few pieces that night!

Oh man- you would not believe the spread that Blue Ridge Brewery put out! Lamb chop lollipops with herbed couscous, spinach pizzas, hummus triangles, Polina's famous open face egg salad with pepperoncini, charcuterie samplers (one of my ultimate favorites), their outrageous chocolate pie and of course some of Pat's very special beers! Without question team BRB BROUGHT IT!! Our guests were blown away...I saw one of them taking a photo of the lamb chop plate!! Shawn, Becky and I were very polite until all of the visitors had been through but let's just say when the last guest left our store "we helped clean up!!" and it was pure heaven!! Pat, Polina, Sandy and Beverly we are proud to have been teamed up with you, thanks for all of the hard work, and fun time!

We also sampled Girl & Fig Mostarda and our newest gourmet goodie from Atlanta, Georgia Hot Squeeze...our guests loved them!! (If you haven't tried them yet you are missing out!)

We had these stickers made up! Because we love our town, and we love our Chamber! Great job Jan, Elaine, Jode, Donna and the volunteers that made this special event happen! You all did a great job shining a light on our corner of the world, the event was so professional yet casual and gracious! THANK YOU, we appreciate all that you do!

Hot Squeeze Arrives at Gatewood Hall!

2011-05-12T09:37:00.000-04:00

At Gatewood Hall we are always on the search for new products! A few weeks ago one of our wonderful guests told me about a gourmet product that was created and made in Atlanta. I love Georgia products so I was interested…I quickly did some research and hooked up with Sue Sullivan the creator of a product called Hot Squeeze Sweet Heat Chipotle Sauce. Once I heard her story I knew that I wanted to try the product and meet her. So this past weekend I received my sample and started on my research (and you thought I was off being lazy on Saturday!) I am so happy that I looked into this because I love Sue’s products and after having the pleasure of meeting her I am excited to be a part of her adventure to get her product in the hand of everyone. It is clear that she is a passionate entrepreneur who is proud of her creation and wants to share it with folks and I just love that about her! I want to share Sue’s story and tell you about her two sauces!

Before Hot Squeeze, Sue Sullivan was a caterer in Atlanta, Georgia she began catering when her children were babies as a way to be a stay-at-home mom. Sue’s husband, who at that time worked for CNN, hired Sue for her first film production catering job. The business grew and grew and by the time her children were teenagers, she had taken on a business partner, renovated a commercial kitchen in her home and was working full time catering film production lunches.

Hot Squeeze began innocently enough as a chipotle glaze for a pork tenderloin served at one of those lunches. It was an instant hit, so she tried the glaze over grilled salmon and flank steak. Then she started using it in recipes for black bean chili, stews, and mashed sweet potatoes. It became a signature ingredient in her catering menus and a staple on their tables. Sue and her partner soon found that clients poured it on everything—meats, vegetables and even on salads, soon it had to be available at every lunch they served.

Word about the delicious sauce spread within the industry and film crews from all over the US, when on assignment in Atlanta, began to request catering from the “two women with the incredible sauce,” and they soon became known as the “Chipotle Sisters.” Clients begged them to bottle the sauce so that they could buy it at home.

For years Sue’s clients continued to tell her that she should bottle the sauce, and for years she would look at them like they were crazy — She was busy enough running a catering company and as she says she had no clue how to bottle a sauce.

As a self-proclaimed workout-aholic, Sue tells the story that her spin class instructor always asks that the group share their New Year's resolutions. In 2006, she told her class that she was finally going to get Hot Squeeze into a bottle. It took her 10 months to actually do this! She said that she asked a lot of questions, researched everything, and then took a leap of faith, but in October of 2006 the first run of 500 cases of Hot Squeeze was produced. (Sue says she felt a little like Lucy in the candy factory when she saw those first bottles come off the assembly line!)
So what exactly is Hot Squeeze Sweet Heat Chipotle? Well it is a very versatile sauce with personality. It's smoky (because of the chipotle, a smoked jalapeno pepper). It's spicy, it's sweet, it's sassy and it's sexy all in one bottle!

Use it as a condiment, like a steak sauce. But it’s not just for steak—it jazzes up everything on your plate from meat, fish, potatoes, to vegetables and even salad.

Use it as a finishing glaze. Let’s say you’ve just grilled up some salmon. Squeeze on the Hot Squeeze and watch as it coats the fish with a sexy glaze that tastes as great as it looks. Tired of baked chicken? Transform it into something exceptional with a little Hot Squeeze! Some say it’s got Asian nuances, others think southwestern and still others think barbecue. Once you realize how good Hot Squeeze is on food, try using it in recipes for chili, black beans, vegetable casseroles and soups, it adds that extra zip. Mix it with mayonnaise for a sandwich spread or add it to vinaigrettes for a new twist on salad dressings Hot Squeeze can be used as a stir-fry sauce and a bbq sauce. Hot Squeeze can be drizzled over goat cheese or cream cheese for an easy appetizer or used as a dip for egg rolls or meatballs.

Sue’s newest creation is Hot Squeeze Orange Ginger Zing (OGZ) It’s got a bold burst of orange and fresh ginger and just a little bit of zing. Like Chipotle Sweet Heat, this sauce was created to do everything! I used it on shrimp this week and served it with brown rice and it was outrageous. It tasted like a gourmet recipe that I had worked on for hours! Sue said people have even used OGZ on cheesecakes and ice-cream. And the great news is that we all know that Ginger is really good for you!

Both of the Hot Squeeze flavors puts an end to condiment clutter because you can clear out all those other bottles of sauce. With Hot Squeeze you’ve got it all—sauce, marinade, dressing, glaze—in one bottle! I’m already addicted. I LOVE THIS STUFF!! It is a sassy, all-purpose sauce that is good for you, too! All natural, fat free, low sodium, kosher and shelf stable. Each flavor has endless uses in your recipes and at your table…come try it this weekend…I promise you are going to be addicted too!

You know it is addiction when you are at one of the new "trendy & fancy" gourmet burger places in Atlanta and you are enjoying what once was your favorite turkey burger and you think to yourself..."Darn, do I have that sample bottle of Hot Squeeze in my car? it would be awesome on this!" Yep- I seriously did that!!

Made It Jewelry By Lynn Kemp At Gatewood Hall

2011-04-29T18:52:00.009-04:00

You are going to love this story! After selling his ceramics company “Our Name is Mud” a few years ago, John Nelsen realized his gift and passion is finding talented local artisans and helping them “make it” big. Today, a journey that began with handmade ceramics... has evolved into a new venture helping handmade jewelry artists called “Made It!”.

The interesting twist this time around is after finding a handful of great handmade jewelry artists, instead of producing product he likes, the final vote of whose product gets made goes to the people buying it... you the customers. An online voting system fueled by social media and national publicity campaigns drives consumers to participate in choosing their favorite artists and jewelry. Then the top vote getters get made. Consumers get what they want jewelry designs already in demand in retail stores. The business model is sort of like American Idol but with fabulous jewelry artists!

More importantly, this opportunity is helping very talented small local jewelry designers share their inspired creations in a way they couldn’t do alone because John will have it manufactured. And how rewarding to know that every “Made It” designer presented has a pre-established fan base with consumers that love their jewelry, looking for stores like Gatewood Hall that carry their designs.

But wait it gets better!! What makes this story even better is that one of the first three artists selected is our very own Lynn Kemp from right here in Blue Ridge! We have been fortunate enough to have known Lynn for awhile now, not only is she just a wonderful person, she is a wife and mother that we just love she is also a very, talented jewelry designer that is driven by fashion and inspired by nature! Straight out of the gate Lynn’s leather bangles were named a top seller at the winter shows.

We were thrilled and very proud that we would be able to sell Lynn’s “Made it!” designs. We picked up the line at the unveiling in January and we received a partial shipment this week! You will love Lynn’s designs and they are perfect for Mother’s Day! Come in this weekend and check them out

Just in at Gatewood Hall Gracious Home!!

2011-04-22T17:38:00.010-04:00

We were gone to Savannah and St. Simon Island part of this week for business but we were so excited when we returned to find some new arrivals! Above is a new line that we just love; French inspired, vintage-look, serving and entertaining pieces. I love the white metal and enamel pedestals!

These plates may look like beautiful ceramic dinnerware but they are even better, they are made of melamine so you'll have no worries when using them outdoors or throwing them in your picnic basket to take on the boat (they are even dishwasher safe)! Come see them to believe them!

These gorgeous pillow are made for outdoors but they are so wonderful you'll want to use them indoors too! They are stain and fade resistant, they are even washable, perfect for your deck, screened in porch, dock, boat or pool area. We have a few different styles but they have a huge catalogue with many color ways and since they are made in Florida they can be shipped very quickly. We also received our new shipment of Lenny and Eva Jewelery! Come in and see us and these new arrivals this weekend!

Fun Stuff!

2011-04-08T21:57:00.005-04:00

We are back from from North Carolina and the International Home Furnishings Market it was a great show, and we found more great new lines for GH! Thank you to Becky and Brenda for holding down the fort while we were away. Above are some new pillows that we were able to bring back with us! They are so much fun, and very well priced. Not pictured are two nautical flag pillows the would be perfect and fun for your lake house.

In this week (Finally!!!) are new Fire Pots. Several of you have been asking about them and they have arrived just in time to enjoy with our beautiful spring mountain weather.

We also received some of our new Waxing Poetic jewelry this week. There are some great new pieces like the bracelet above that utilizes clips to showcase the special charms that you've been collecting. It's really a special way to tell your story! Check back with me as I'll be sharing more about our trip and new lines! HAPPY WEEKEND! We look forward to seeing you!

Cookin Chicks Comes to Blue Ridge!

2011-03-16T18:01:00.013-04:00

We have a new business here Blue Ridge that has a concept that we just love! Let us introduce you to "Cookin' Chicks", they offer wonderful homemade meals without the hassle. Two self-described "Soccer Moms" said to themselves...just how many times can you go to the drive thru? They recognized that nearly everyone wants to be able to offer their family a nice homecooked meal, but the reality for many is that our busy, hectic and real world lives makes that goal nearly impossible.

The Cookin Chicks (pictured above) Nicole Hamilton Honeycutt and Kathryn Learn Harris have opened at 2460 East First Street Space C-6 Blue Ridge, (behind Taste of Amish).

Let Kathryn and Nicole do the shopping, chopping and cooking for you. Their meals make great gifts for a new neighbor, a friend with a new baby, or even a pot luck supper. They make a homemade meal ready to pop in the oven. The dinners include a main dish, a side dish and dessert that comes packaged (see above...how cute is that) and ready for you to pick up!

An example of one of their delicious meals above, creamy chicken and wild rice, fresh salad with poppy seed dressing, and classic chocolate brownies...YUM! Currently their hours are Tuesday and Thursday 3:3o to 6:00PM, you can check out their FaceBook page for upcoming menus http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cookin-Chicks/188819031145143 , you can call (706-455-0235) or email (cookinchicks@yahoo.com) them to pre-order your supper!! Dinners are available for two, four or six people with prices from $15 to $35. We can't wait to try their meals out and hope you will also, tell them Corky & Shawn sent you!

Egg Cups...There Not Just For Breakfast Anymore!

2011-03-12T00:06:00.016-05:00

We're bringing Egg Cups back! Although they are becoming more and more collectible, I started thinking about these handy little things almost three years ago when I was planning the Spring tablescape at our old location. Kelli and I had come across a photo in a magazine where someone had used them at each place setting and we loved the idea but our Easter merchandise had already been ordered and egg cups were not on the list. This January at the Atlanta market I ran across some and knew GH had to have them.

Sure you can use the egg cups in the traditional way for a hard boiled egg.

Or even to display some beautiful decorated Easter eggs (love these above by Martha Stewart!)

How about egg cups as flower vessels? I love this idea, so much that I recreated it using permanent flowers and faux eggs for our newest tablescape.

Clever as a place card holder!

I love the idea of using a collection in the photo above!

Add to a pedestal for a big bang for your buck, especially when utilizing a variety of flowers in the same color (Very French...oh la la!)

Another great by Martha and crew! Use them with tea lights for candles!

Probably one of my favorite ideas, with petite servings of salads, or in this case pimento cheese or you could do some fancy egg salad with some smoked salmon or caviar! YUM! Let me know what else you come up with! See you in the store!

Photo credits Martha Stewart & Southern Living

Spring Has Arrived At Gatewood Hall

2011-03-09T22:57:00.017-05:00

Spring has arrived at Gatewood Hall Gracious Home! O.K. so today is a little confusing... as I write this we are having snow flurries, but my Forsythia (Yellow Bells) are in full bloom. Mother Nature is just messing with us! Nonetheless, Shawn and I are soooo ready for Spring, one of our favorite times of the year so we are doing our part to bring it into the store and get you inspired!

Vintage look chicks, Easter cards and bunny candy jars!

You will love the foil bunnies and vintage look Easter signs!

These faux Forsythia, and Dogwood branches are very realistic, just a sprig or two in a vase will brighten up any room!

People are always asking what they can do with their cloches or bell jars...Chocolate bunny under glass anyone?

We have a new tablescape! How about a spring garden party all done up with butterflies, french tulips, pussy willow, and of course our beautiful Juliska dinnerware!

Come by and I'll give you my "secret" yellow peeps cake recipe. (Is that Juliska cake pedestal and dome gorgeous or what?)

Everlasting Easter eggs and oh how I love egg cups, there are so many things that you can do with them, just ask me! I'll probably do a whole blog post about them. It should be a beautiful weekend, our clocks will be springing forward (Shawn is thrilled about that!) and so will we. Come see us (we have jelly beans) and we will get you in the mood for spring!

Gatewood Hall Introduces Caldrea's Mandarin Vetiver

2011-03-08T00:19:00.003-05:00

Most of you know that Caldrea creates quality, earth-friendly products in their exclusive signature fragrances for cleaning your entire home. They use the finest plant-derived ingredients and essential oils to provide natural freshness and cleaning potency. No harsh chemicals, no harsh fragrances; a simple, stylish and fresh approach to cleaning in a fragrance collection of your own choosing. We love Caldrea, we’re proud to be the exclusive local partner store in our area! We are also excited about sharing their newest collection!

Introducing a new twist to citrus in the Mandarin Vetiver Collection, new for Spring 2011. Herbaceous, woody vetiver has long been a favorite of the world’s most distinguished perfumeries and its timeless appeal makes it a modern classic. Fresh, light citrus is its perfect partner. Lively top notes of blood orange and grapefruit give way to tangerine blossoms and woody petitgrain. Earthy vetiver brings refinement and sensuality to balance this sublime citrus composition. Base notes of white thyme round out this chic fragrance, creating a fresh and lasting impression.

Vetiver is a fragrant grass native to India. Today it grows in tropical regions around the world, mostly for the perfume industry. In India, vetiver roots are woven into mats that are hung in doorways and misted with water to cool and refresh the air as it moves through the home. It is available in hand soap, lotion, dish soap, laundry as well as room & linen spray. Come in and smell this new fragrance for yourself, we think you will love it.

More Spring Arrivals This Week! Come Check Us Out!

2011-03-04T01:07:00.007-05:00

It has been a very busy week here at Gatewood hall Gracious Home as our new merchandise rolls in from the Atlanta Market. We have received Cucina's newest scent called Ginger and Sicilian Lemon. Olives have been cultivated along the shores of the Mediterranean for centuries. Their oil is treasured for its cosmetic qualities, and cleanses sensitive skin without over drying. Cucina Purifying Hand Wash is formulated with extra virgin olive oil and other olive derivatives for mild yet thorough cleansing. Subtly scented, this natural product is biodegradable and soft on skin. It is specially designed for use in the kitchen. Tangy citrus and exotic ginger team up for a deliciously fresh and inviting fragrance. We love it and know that you will too, perfect for the spring & summer. (**Remember Cucina discontinued the fig fragrance so this can be you new favorite!!)

So much great new wall art and mirrors arrived this week. Vintage transportation signs have become so popular. Typically these are found on canvas rolls around Europe, and were used on buses to show the routes. They can be really pricey, we found these reproductions with a great price point that you will love.

We love owls and thought these well-priced trays and dipping size bowls were wonderful!!

I have barely scratched the surface on all of the new merchandise, so you have to come in and check out our newest goods. (Easter goodies are here too!!) Look forward to seeing you this weekend!

New This Week at Gatewood Hall

2011-02-25T00:45:00.006-05:00

We have already started receiving some of our new arrivals from the Atlanta Market! We decided to create a small "Bon Voyage Travel Section", we found some great and fun items to include!! From one of our new lines (pictured above) are some clever map motif items. We have a hip flask, luggage tag, and toiletries kit. We also have thermos, and matching wrapping paper! We thought these would make great gifts for friends heading out on a vacation, graduation or even for retirement!

When Shawn went to Europe I picked him up a "City Walks" deck set for Paris, he said it was so fun. There are several walks that you can do around the city in which you are traveling so you can ditch the usual tourist traps and vacation like a native—on foot! With 50 adventures to choose from in each deck, just pick a card from the deck and be on your way. Whether you're a first time visitor to the city, or just want to discover new terrain, City Walks gives you an intimate view. Each card in the deck outlines a self-guided walking adventure, with a detailed map on the front and information on the back filled with insider tips. So, pick a card, any card, and start exploring! We also found some great travel journals and "best of" type books like the one above for Paris Markets and nearby restaurant recommendations (love that one!!). Be sure to check out our new travel section and let us know what you think!!

When we came across Ridley's old fashioned novelties we knew we had to get some of these for our store. Shawn and I loved the vintage packaging and thought that these would be so much fun especially for those of you who have cabins! The first series we ordered is the classic garden game of croquet and the now popular again bocce ball (perfect for Spring which is just around the corner!) Seriously, how fun would it be to have garden party? Invite friends over for nice spring brunch or early evening supper, have some drinks and play croquet and bocce ball!! (Be sure to take photos and share with us!!). We thought these would make great house warming gifts or even a great Father's day gift! We also have the compendium set with those old-fashioned games of pick-up-sticks, marbles, jacks, dominos and a yo-yo. This would be perfect to have tucked away for the kids or grandchildren to pull out on a rainy day, play games and have some contests. I think the packaging is so cool that it would look great in your living area on a shelf or coffee table!

Other arrivals include some great accessories, some new art, mirrors and a new shipment of books! Come see us this weekend!

Beautiful Spaces

2011-02-16T06:06:00.008-05:00

If you don't have a subscription to Southern Lady Magazine you need to rush out and purchase a copy of this months edition. We love this magazine and were thrilled to see one of our customer and friend's home featured in an article entitled "Beautiful Spaces: Delightful Southern Interiors"...the title is very appropriate!

When not enjoying their cabin in north Georgia our friends live in this stunning home near Fairhope, Alabama. (A wonderful place to visit if you haven't been!) Shawn and I were fortunate enough to have been guests in their home and we both fell in love with it. I have told so many people about it because it is so special. The couple who have a daughter and grandchildren who live nearby, worked closely with their architect to design the home to really fit the way that they lived.

You enter the home in a gracious foyer, just to the right is a very large open space that includes a living, dining and kitchen area (shown in the photo above). Every detail has been carefully thought out from the built-in cabinetry, to the beams in the ceilings to the beautiful marble in the kitchen. The decor has such a casual elegance and it really fits the lady of the house. Along the back are a series of sliding doors that open to a wonderful and expansive "sunroom" that overlooks a lake. This room is very large with various seating areas, a television cleverly hidden behind a custom sunflower painting, and a great wet bar area perfect for entertaining...again all designed for the way these folks like to live and enjoy time with their family and friends.

To the left of the foyer is a very grand master retreat featuring his-and-hers bathrooms (how perfect is that?) I could live in their master suite! I love the look...notice the elegant-French inspired detail with the sophisticated mirror table mixed with the simple casual bamboo shade. The centerpiece in "her" bathroom it the gorgeous free standing tub with windows that offer a view of the lake.

I always appreciate it so much when people allow us a glimpse inside their homes, and this one in particular is a real treat with so many wonderful ideas. Be sure to check the magazine out for yourself. Thank you to our friends who opened their doors to Southern Lady Magazine so we could all enjoy a tour!

New Chair Arrivals at Gatewood Hall

2011-01-28T16:17:00.010-05:00

I have a "thing" for chairs...really both Shawn and I do. I think our love of unique chairs is because we both feel that you can take a mundane or simple sofa add a really special chair, some fantastic accent pillows, and have a "WOW" or "custom" look...all because of that unique chair. We have some new arrivals this week, mostly chairs. Look at that leather tufted chair and ottoman set above...that baby is sexy! It looks vintage but it is new and bench-made in the USA! It is so comfortable and can be used in either a casual or dressy setting. LOVE IT!

We fell in love with the clean lines of this chair when we were in High Point this fall. The nail head feature will allow it to be a little less traditional, however it could work very well in the most formal setting.

The slip covered chair above is so well designed and very comfortable...it also swivels. I think this is a perfect reading chair for the bedroom, or a pair in a small gathering area would be so useful because they can turn 360 degrees.

Here we go again with a photo that just doesn't do this chair justice. You have to see it in person because it is wonderful. The wood is a grey driftwood finish, it has two fabrics a neutral linen look on the front and a rustic burlap on the back, and the spaced nail head is just the special detail that makes it all come together.

Finally, we saw this leg saddle stool and had to have it. It is such a statement piece! Again we believe you could use it in so many settings it would be great in a formal setting because it is so unique, but it would look so great in front of a fireplace in a rustic cabin. Come in and see our new arrivals this weekend! We can't wait to see you!

Are You Ready for Valentines Day?

2011-01-27T06:53:00.002-05:00

O.k. Cupid, It might seem early but Valentines Day is just around the corner are you ready? Don't worry, at Gatewood Hall we can help, we have some great gift ideas and inspiration for your special someone!

Just in from the winter market is Votivo's newest fragrance, the Rush Of Rose candle. Perfect for Valentines Day this candle is an explosion of fresh, green Damascus Rose buds, surrounded by light, watery notes and soft woods that bring a youthful revitalization to the Classical Rose of yesterday. We love it because it is so fresh and not too sweet because of the wood undertones!

We have great napkin box with frivolous heart weight sets by Mariposa. The Jan Barboligo rustic heart-shaped collector wine cork is a perfect gift for him!

How about a romantic table set for two with Juliska dinnerware? For inspiration check out our display table in the store. Shown above we used the the King and Queen of hearts tied with a lovely red ribbon as our napkin ring & place card. We filled vases with conversation heart candies and tea light candles. A red organza runner, old fashioned, heart-shaped paper doilies, and red glitter hearts finish our look!

The special little cornerstone tray by Juliska was such a hit last year that we brought it back. Beautifully gift boxed, it is inscribed on the back with "Love Conquers All" making it a really special memento. We can just imagine it on a bedside table as a place to put your rings for a daily reminder of a special love.

We also have vintage-look valentine cards, "Be Mine" hand towel sets, beautiful Caspari napkins, music cd's with romantic standards, heart-shaped frames, great gift books and some really fun valentine serving plates and bowls.

More traditional and romantic? How about a piece of jewelry from Waxing Poetic, Belouise, Lenny & Eva or Silver Seasons? Let us help you put a wonderful gift basket with French and Italian shaving products for him. How about a "pamper yourself" luxurious bath and body basket for her. None of those ideas strike a chord? A beautifully gift wrapped Gatewood Hall Gracious Home Gift certificate is always a hit!! Come in and let us help you with the perfect surprise for your special Valentine or heck a little something for yourself...Indulge a little! See you soon!

Back From The 2011 Atlanta Winter Gift Market

2011-01-21T13:36:00.018-05:00

Yes, we are back from the winter market in Atlanta and we are worn out but we had a great time! We love to bring you new items and lines, in fact we measure the success of a market on how many new lines we find to bring to Blue Ridge. This market was excellent, we are excited to tell you that we have twelve new lines!!

The new lines range from new handbags, to candles, and linens!

These new pillows are gorgeous and best of all you would never believe that they can be used indoors or outdoors. There are so many selections that we will have a huge ring of fabric selections for you to choose from.

Waxing Poetic had so many new entries. We loved this charm bracelet!

This new line of bedding is wonderful and made with 100% organic cottons and linens from France, Belgium and India! They feel great and even offer linens for the baby!!

This new chandelier can be rustic or urban! It is awesome (my photo doesn't do it justice).

This is similar to the bed that we had last year however this one is in a natural / driftwood finish and it is beautiful!

Along with the new lines we placed over 40 orders with existing vendors and their new entries. We have already started receiving some of this new merchandise and will probably be getting shipments over the next 60 days so I'll do postings when we have new arrivals...check back often or better yet just come on in and see us!! Happy Friday, we'll see you this weekend!

Winter Market 2011

2011-01-15T00:19:00.005-05:00

As I mentioned in previous FB postings it is Winter Market Time again in Atlanta. We enjoy and love this time of year because we usually find some fabulous new things at this show. This year we had to work a little harder than normal because of the "blizzard". We finally made it in and it was a mess, but once inside we forgot our troubles and "got to shopping and buying"!! We are so excited because today was very productive..we already bought two new lines that we just know you are going to LOVE!!

Above Shawn with one of our favorite reps and friends Jill looking at some of the new Lenny and Eva items (THEY ARE AWESOME!!!), Waxing Poetic has some really exciting new entries too! We found a ton of great new accessories, as a matter of fact while we did do some re-ordering I'd say that 90% of what we purchased today is brand, spanking new product! We found some great new art, and you will be amazed at some of the new candles. We can't wait to show and tell you more about our unique and wonderful things! Wish us luck tomorrow!! While we are away go in and see Becky we have put out some fantastic new Valentines goodies. Have a great weekend!

Gracious Mountain Living

2011-01-03T08:25:00.020-05:00

In celebration of the New Year Shawn and I were invited to a couple of parties, one was Friday, New Years Eve and the other was New Years Day. We always consider an invitation to one's home an honor and a treat because someone is allowing you to come into their "inner domain" and see how they live. We find it really wonderful here in the mountains because something about this special area encourages people to want to "nest" and really create their own "sanctuary" or "getaway". Perhaps it is for many a second home and an opportunity to create a place that is very different from their primary residence therefore they take more risks and have more fun with their decorating options, or maybe for others they are at a different phase in their lives and they have come to understand how they want to live and entertain while at their special place in the mountains or on the lake. Either way we are fortunate to know some folks who really understand what we define as "Gracious Mountain Living". I hope our kind hosts will not mind but I wanted to share some of their secrets and special details with you.

The party on Friday night was described as "Champagne and Chocolate" and what a decadent evening it was. First I want you to get the setting of our friend's mountain home! Because they love to entertain while in the mountains she and her husband took a small log home near a lovely creek and designed some thoughtful additions to really enhance the way they would utilize their second home. The area that was originally the living and dining room is now solely the dining room with a very large round table in front of a stone fireplace with a huge, beautiful chandelier that is made up of patina finished metal leaves. They also added a very large gathering room with plenty of seating and another stone fireplace along with a great deck, outdoor fireplace and screened in pavilion overlooking the creek. (While they were at it they built a garage with an apartment and bought the adjacent cabin for a guest cottage so we lovingly call this their "compound"). It is no wonder that we love this woman as she is a consummate shopper, with great taste, she loves home decor and we describe her look as upscale lodge. She has a wonderful knack for mixing rustic and elegant. Picture beautiful rugs layered with real hides, lots of texture in her tapestry fabrics on the pillows and draperies, leather chairs and mohair sofa. She is also great with scale, I love her use of oversize pieces of furniture that really make her rooms feel larger. Finally, her art is amazing she collects original oil paintings that she loves and she has a great collection of mostly nature inspired subject matter in various size and genre.

The party was so lovely, with lots of candles and her additional beautiful holiday decor. The large round table in the dining room was layered with amazing cakes and pastries, truffles, gigantic chocolate dipped strawberries with fresh whipped cream, another friend even brought delicious pink champagne cupcakes!! There was Veuve Clicquot Champagne (my favorite!!) and a wonderful champagne punch. I loved that our host had a tray with various unique champagne flutes...it was fun to watch guests "choose the flute" that they wanted to be toasting with at midnight!

What a wonderful party! In her true form our host created an elegant, sophisticated environment that was very, very welcoming and comfortable. It was a great way to celebrate the new year and we are thankful to have been included.

On Saturday we were invited to visit the mountain home of some other friends for their "Traditional New Year's Day Fare". This was our first time to their home but we just knew that it would be special and we were right. Our friends are a Mother and her two adult daughters, along with a son-in-law and two of the most adorable young grandsons. Mom wanted a getaway where she and her family could be together and make memories and she found a place that with some vision and renovations could be the perfect retreat from their busy lives in Atlanta.

Situated on a great piece of property with a beautiful view their retreat has been created with entertaining in mind. The home has a a bunk room for the boys, a master retreat for mother, and bedrooms for both daughters. They also have a large gathering & dining room, newly renovated kitchen, a cozy finished terrace level, media room and even a craft room (and believe me these ladies are CREATIVE and CRAFTY!). They have several outside living areas where I am told they do the bulk of their entertaining. These areas include a lovely screened porch with that great view, decks, and even a guest house. My favorite area is at the terrace level where they have their stone fire pit, hot tub, a really cool outdoor shower and the piece de resistance the specially designed (by grandmother) tree house for the grandsons. (We are talking trap door, operable windows, dutch door, and room to run around...every kids dream!)

The decor is so welcoming, casual and comfortable. They have several wonderful originals by the artist Cornbread. Some great collections like the wonderful vintage picnic baskets and the clear glass antique oil lamps that look so great on the large mantle mixed with Mercury glass and evergreen for the holidays. I love this idea, they have a rustic bulletin board just off the kitchen with tons of family photos (both old and new). This home is just a place you want to hang out and relax. Another special point is that the homeowner's sister purchased two cabins just up the road, so this really is a place where family memories are made, with aunts, uncles and where two generations of cousins get to spend time together.

Remember I said that they were creative and crafty? They have so much fun like a recent family contest where they wrote odd ingredients on pieces of paper, you then drew a piece of paper with the ingredient and they had a "cook off" to see who could make the best dish (Strawberry Rhubarb pie won!). They also had an entire beautiful, gingerbread village on display that they completed with friends at a gathering just after Thanksgiving a tradition that they started years ago...how fun is that?! (I spoke to one of the daughters today and they were doing decoupage projects!)

Now about the party! When we arrived we were graciously and quickly offered a cocktail. I loved that they had large mason jars pre-made with special family recipe of whisky sours and bloody Marys of course with all of the accoutrement including pickled okra, celery and dilly beans to garnish your drink. The kids played while we sat on the screened porch in rocking chairs enjoying our delicious cocktails just visiting. Then there was the food...oh, the traditional southern food! The buffet included ham, turkey, cornbread, black-eyed peas, the most delicious greens and 'hoppin john that I have ever had! For dessert there was coconut cake and my all time favorite a seven layer caramel cake. Just when you think it couldn't get better we had a sinful tiramisu cordial (mother's special recipe, that I must have!!)

What made this party so wonderful was the welcoming and relaxing way everything was presented. The hosts made it seem effortless (and we know how much work was involved prepare all of this.) Having the bar and a couple special signature drinks ready is always so smart. But I feel the most important part is just loving what you are doing and where you are doing it. When we left Shawn and I discussed how we loved the way that they "really used and enjoyed" their very special mountain retreat.

THANK YOU to our friends who really get the "gracious mountain living" idea, they understand how fortunate we are to be able to be here in this special place. We feel fortunate to have been included in their fetes and can't think of a better way to bring in the new year. I hope their ideas inspire you to put together your own special gathering or maybe even start your own family traditions!

Happy New Year from Gatewood Hall Gracious Home!

2010-12-30T23:56:00.007-05:00

I always love the start of a new year! While I am not big on "resolutions" I feel it is important to reflect back on the previous year, make plans and set goals for the new year. What a year this has been!! This time last year we were planning and organizing our move, so it's hard to believe that we have already been in our new location for nearly nine months.

Shawn and I want to take this time to give some thanks for what has been a very great year for our beloved little store.

First, we want to thank our families! Especially our parents who have been some of our biggest believers, they saw the Gatewood Hall Gracious Home that we dreamed of and they helped us with physical, and loving, emotional support to get us open in our new location. Another part of our family that we are extremely thankful for is our GH Team, Becky, Brenda and our honorary team member Layne Prather who have worked so hard in making GH2.0 successful.

We also have had great support from some vendors and vendors representatives. While we have a few great reps there are two that have been with us since the very beginning, who have protected us, and helped us so much along the way that we have come to think of them as dear friends...Jill Collson and Anne Jarboe thank you for being AWESOME Reps and wonderful friends too! We appreciate you more than you know!

Finally, we owe thanks to you, our loyal customers. Thank you for following us to our new location, thank you for telling your families and friends about us, and thank you for buying from us. We never forget that you always have the opportunity to shop at other stores, or even online yet, you choose to visit us and buy from us and for that we are very, very grateful. Because of you not only are we able to follow our passion and have our store but we have won awards, been recognized by our peers and been able to make local charitable contributions to Paws in the Park/Blue Ridge Humane Society, Light Up Blue Ridge, Project Open Arms, the Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association, and The Sunny D Children's theater.

We look forward to what 2011 brings. We are excited and committed to be the first to bring you new and unique product lines that you will not find anywhere else in our market. We promise to continue to look at trends and for new ways to inspire you in your decor and gracious lifestyle. We will continue to look for great quality and well priced items for you and your home. And we will make sure to have more fun events like block parties, trunk shows and celebrations...really just any reason for us to gather together and enjoy ourselves in beautiful Blue Ridge, Georgia!

HAPPY NEW YEAR & THANK YOU!

Sincerely,

Corky & Shawn

New Furniture This Week at Gatewood Hall Gracious Home

2010-12-03T00:57:00.006-05:00

We received a shipment of furniture this week that you are going to LOVE! These pieces are not only great looking but they have many practical options. Check out the media easel above, unusual and versatile too! The finish is so great it is called "whiskey barrel"!

This console with casters could be used in almost any room. You could use it as a sofa table, sideboard, or entertainment center.

This sideboard looks vintage but has some great convenient, modern and practical storage areas!

The photo just doesn't do this desk justice. It is so good looking and the little details are unbelievable!

Some great new chairs, we have mixed them at a tasting table and it is a great look. Come in this weekend to see all of our new arrivals. We can't wait to see you!

Gatewood Hall Gracious Home Featured in Home Accents Today Magazine

2010-12-01T14:44:00.005-05:00

Gatewood Hall Gracious Home is in the press again! We are very honored to have been featured in the November 2010 issue of Home Accents Today Magazine. Yes, that is our Autumn table on the cover!!

The article from the magazine is above (not sure if it will be legible from the jpeg file, but once it is posted in their online magazine I'll include the link). The beautiful photo images were created by Chris Hefferen owner of Foundry Digital (Chris is so awesome, what that man can do with light is unbelievable! Thank you Chris for making us look so good!)

Gatewood Hall Gracious Home Presents Trunk Shows and Specials This Weekend!

2010-11-23T11:51:00.013-05:00

To help you get you ready for the Holidays we will be adding even more fun to Light Up Blue Ridge this Saturday November 27, 2010!!

We will be hosting Trunk Shows and special friends from some of our favorite lines like Beloise, Waxing Poetic, Pure Sanctuary, and Lenny & Eva Jewelry. Steve the owner/designer from True Riches will be here with some of his wonderful new one-of-a-kind crosses and we will be showing some cool belt buckles from a great line called Princess & Butch.

We are the place for Gracious Gifts and we can't wait to see you this weekend!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Join Gatewood Hall for Blue Friday & Light Up Blue Ridge!!

2010-11-22T19:51:00.006-05:00

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us and we are celebrating in Beautiful Downtown Blue Ridge!! The fun starts early on Friday November 26th. You've heard of "Black Friday"...well, we will be celebrating "Blue Friday". It will be old-fashioned shopping at its best! Stores will be opening early, and staying open late!! There will be early bird specials and strolling holiday entertainment!

The fun continues into Saturday, November 27th, for Light Up Blue Ridge!! Santa and Mrs. Clause will arrive by train, there will be entertainment by Bartlee Norton and 64 Highway, and Maxwell Taylor. (Maxwell is WONDERFUL! We discovered him a few years ago when he performed at our friend Marlis' birthday party in Atlanta and we have enjoyed him ever since!). At dusk the lighting of the great tree is always loads of fun!! Please be sure to come downtown and see us! Remember our customers are welcome to park in our private GH lot behind our building!! (Please be sure to come in and get a parking pass)

We can't wait to see you! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Gatewood Hall The Place For Gracious Gifts & Holiday Decor

2010-11-20T09:02:00.016-05:00

We've been busy elves this week finalizing our all of our Christmas decor and goodies for you! This year we are telling three holiday stories!

The first is "Shiny, Silver & Bright", our main tree is decorated in silver, platinum and mercury glass. I love the silver, glitter and bejeweled butterflies & dragonflies. What really makes this tree pop is the way Shawn layers everything. The silver glitter fern fronds, berries and leaves just add that dramatic, sparkling touch!

The second story is "Vintage Christmas". Think vintage look chocolate molds, cloaked Santa's, glitter snowmen, ornate holiday cards and beautiful canvas holiday journals! Don't you love the cloche ornaments above? In the Victorian days industrious mothers used old jars and would make similar ornaments using bottle brush trees and holiday toys.

The third story is "Redefined Rustic" in our Lodge Lounge we have decked the tree with beautiful mercury glass fish, acorn and pine cone ornaments. We have some beautiful bird ornaments and great looking bird nests to hide in the tree! Add in some hand blown and painted hunting (complete with the ATV), boating and fishing Santa's and as usual we have redefined Blue Ridge rustic! We also have some great looking deer statues, and stag heads that are in a natural finish. I love the artificial magnolia leaf wreaths, they look so real!!

Just arrived new Swedish "good boy & girl soaps" that are so fun and they smell like gingerbread cookies! They will love to wash their hands when it is with Gingerbread Soap! "When the kids are good and wash their hands, they deserve a treat, and one that's really neat! Like a warm bath to give them dreams of yummy gingerbread cookies and mugs of cocoa and cream". They make GREAT STOCKING STUFFERS!! We also just received some fun PEACE and JOY soaps for the older kids!

You will love the new Juliska Wreath and Boxwood pattern for the holidays. They also have some beautiful new gift-boxed items that are well-priced. The cheese platter and knife is sure to be a favorite gift year round!

Finally, just in time for getting your home ready for the holidays, we have received some furniture from our recent High Point market trip. This leather and one of a kind vintage prayer rug chair above is wonderful!

We have four new styles of dining chairs that can be covered in many different fabrics. All of them are very comfortable which we felt important so that you and your guests can linger longer after a special meal! Right now we are offering a 30% discount on these styles!

Come in today and see us!

Cucina Rustica Is Always A Treat!

2010-11-02T23:31:00.007-04:00

This past Saturday night we enjoyed dinner at Cucina Rustica and as always it was OUTSTANDING! Cucina is always consistent, since they opened we have never had anything but excellent meals there. I have tried most of the items on the menu and you can't go wrong with anything. It is always a perfect choice to take your visitors.

Cucina features Italian country cuisine with definite highlights of chef Isabella's northern Italian heritage (her father is a well known chef also). The emphasis is on light, flavorful but not overpowering sauces and fresh ingredients. To add a special touch, a wood-fired oven is used to prepare baked dishes. The main entrees and pastas include favorites such as: Crespelle al Forno, Baked Spinach and Ricotta Crepes (heavenly!), Fillet Mignon with Porcini sauce (Shawn's Favorite), Tortellini All Nonna which is Meat-filled tortellini tossed in a rich cream sauce with prosciutto, peas and parmigiano (my favorite!) or even a traditional Pizza Margherita. They usually have daily specials that are out of this world. The dessert choices include several wonderful delights including the Tiramisu Della Mamma (it is absolutely the best Tiramisu that I've ever had). The separate dining areas allow for seating of private parties. For those who enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer with their dinner, Cucina Rustica is one of the first restaurants in Fannin County to receive a pouring license.

If you haven't been to Cucina Rustica you really are missing out! I promise you will love it. Owners John and Isabella along with their excellent, well-trained team will take great care of you, and you will leave in happy bliss! Located only about five minutes from downtown Blue Ridge at 76 Forge Mill Crossing in Morganton. It is best to make a reservation by calling 706-374-7474. Go treat yourself and tell them we sent you!!

Cool New Stuff This Week At Gatewood Hall!

2010-10-23T00:27:00.010-04:00

We have received so much cool new stuff this week at Gatewood Hall. We have the best new line of ceramic fire pots and fuel gel...just perfect for this time of year. They add such a warm, cozy touch to your outdoor living spaces! Come in and let us show you how they work!

So many of you have asked so we have also brought out all of the seasonal and holiday fragrances from Votivo, Paddywax and Caldrea, you are going to love these new scents. Great gifts for the holidays. Remember these are all seasonal, limited reserves so be sure to get them before they are gone.

Several great new mirrors have arrived (Shawn is crazy for the French door with shutters pictured above). You'll love some of the great new French look pillows (that are great prices), and we have some wonderful vintage goodies from one of our favorite vendors we brought back from our recent trip to the International Home Furnishings Mart in High Point, North Carolina. Come in and see all of our newest goodies! Shawn, Brenda and I look forward to seeing you!!

Don't forget to "Help Us Help Them"... We will be donating 10% of our regular sales this Saturday to Paws in the Park and the Humane Society of Blue Ridge, so come shop while feeling great that you are also helping out such an important and worthwhile cause.

Paws In The Park...Help Us Help Them!

2010-10-21T06:55:00.000-04:00

This Saturday October 23rd is the Fourth Annual Paws In The Park Fall Festival. Sponsored by the Humane Society of Blue Ridge, and the Arts Center the mission of Paws in the Park is to focus on awareness and development of animal advocates through education and championing the treatment of pets with respect and kindness.

All leashed pets are welcome! You can participate in the Pet Parade featuring pet participants in their best Halloween costumes. Which is followed by the Blessing of the Pets and the Pet Halloween Costume Contest. Past participants and winners have been pot belly pigs, alpacas, lamas, puppies and dogs!

This year’s event will be larger than ever with exhibitors, arts and craft vendors, various demonstrations, food and prizes! Bring your pet for LOW COST rabies injections and micro chipping between 12noon and 2pm.

The event will conclude around 2pm with a raffle drawing for many gifts donated by local merchants and event supporters. Raffle tickets will be sold throughout the event. Participation in the raffle will automatically enter you into the grand prize drawing. Pet adoptions, sponsored by participating pet rescue groups, will be available throughout the event as well.

We at Gatewood Hall Gracious Home would like to ask you to "Help us Help Them". In honor of this wonderful cause we will donate 10% of our Saturday October 23rd regular sales to Paws In The Park! So come in a shop and feel great knowing you are also helping out such a worthwhile cause! As always we look forward to seeing you

For more information about Paws In The Park email pitp@tds.net

GH in the Big Canoe Newspaper Smoke Signals!

2010-10-20T06:57:00.000-04:00

Gatewood Hall Gracious Home was recently featured in a special High Design section of the Big Canoe newspaper called Smoke Signals. Click on the above photo to read the article!

Bienvenue à la maison Shawn! All Is Forgiven.

2010-10-03T19:19:00.011-04:00

Shawn is home from Europe! In light of today's heightened security threat level seems like timing couldn't be better. He told me that he had a great time and while he thoroughly enjoyed the trip he is happy to be back home. He loved the "Shawn's Away Sale" because he is inspired from his travels and ready to go to the International Home Furnishings Market in a couple of weeks and find more new and wonderful things for Gatewood Hall Gracious Home!

Of course I have enjoyed playing the martyr but truth be known I was all for Shawn taking this trip, it just wasn't a good time for me to go. But let me add this...when he returned with several of my favorite French shelter magazines, gorgeous, fresh macaroons from Ladurée- Paris (that he had picked up on his way to the airport) along with my favorite tea and a tin of shortbread from Harrods in London all was definitely forgiven.

If you have never had a French macaroon you are missing out. Not to be confused by our American coconut version the French version is actually small, round cakes, crisp on the outside, smooth and soft in the middle, and they are made every morning in Ladurée’s "laboratory". With each new season, Ladurée pays tribute to this its most famous creation by creating a new flavor. We are talking flavors like Chocolate, Vanilla, Coffee, Rose, Pistachio (one of my favorites), Raspberry (Shawn's favorite), Blackcurrant Violet, Caramel with salted butter, Red Fruits, Orange Blossom, Liquorice, Lemon and Ginger. They are sooooo delicious and I think Ladurée’s are the best. www.laduree.fr/

Today I enjoyed the beautiful Autumn weather, had tea and cookies while I read (well looked at the pictures) in my new French Magazines (HEAVEN!!). Thank you Shawn and bienvenue à la maison (Welcome Home!). I will share some inspiration from these mags in a future posting. Have a great week!

Wonderful Things!

2010-10-01T00:46:00.005-04:00

It has been a very busy week at Gatewood Hall, as many of you know Shawn is in Europe so I can't thank Becky and Brenda enough for helping "hold down the fort" while he was away. We have received so much new inventory (a bunch of Holiday arrived this week...Oh just wait until you see!!!)

One of the new items we have just put out is a limited edition fragrance by Archipelago called Black Forest. It is the soothing scent of Douglas Fir and Ebony wood and a subtle hint of Black Currant so perfect for the mountains especially this time of year. We have the 8 oz. diffusers and the hand poured, soy wax blend candle (which will burn for more than 50 hours). The packaging is beautiful and would make a very nice gift. Come in and smell for yourself.

A few weeks ago artist Ande Cooke turned me onto this blog called Honey and Jam and I have to tell you I love it. Here is the kicker...the writer and food photographer is local, she along with her mother and the rest of the family are said to make some of the most wonderful artisan breads that they sell locally, usually at the Blue Ridge Farmers Market. Well I fell in love with the blog the young lady is named Hannah, and her photography is absolutely beautiful! I probably sound crazy but I believe she captures the essence and feeling of the food with such simple nuance. Twice while at the farmers market I have looked for her so that I could introduce myself (I know...now I sound like a stalker!) unfortunately Hannah and her family haven't been there.

This past Sunday I arrived late to the store and Becky is helping some folks and I just jump in to do my usual wrapping with tissue and bows and the customer says these things are for my daughter she is a food photographer...(Ping, my ears perked up) I said who is your daughter because I think I am one of her new groupies...and sure enough it was Hannah turns our that she and her family have been in a few times and she buys some of her photo props from GH! The entire family (her sisters were there also, I think they thought I was nuts because I was so excited to meet all of them) were so very nice. Turns out they have been really busy with other stuff and that is why they haven't been at the market. Hopefully they will get back there before the season ends. In the meantime grab a cup of tea sit back and enjoy Hannah's beautiful, mouth-watering blog http://www.honeyandjam.com/ you will enjoy it and you deserve it!

Finally, while Shawn is away Becky and I decided we'd have a sale (teach him to leave us behind!!). Handbags and wallets are 15% to 50% off, all in-stock jewelry is 20% off, Cat Studio is 25% off, and we are still marking down. It is almost time for the High Point market so we need to make room for more new things! Stop in and see us this weekend, the fresh autumn weather has been AWESOME!

This Week at Gatewood Hall

2010-09-16T23:40:00.004-04:00

It has been a busy week here at Gatewood Hall Gracious Home. If we missed you last Saturday or Sunday we were at a linen and gourmet show in Atlanta. We felt productive and got a bunch accomplished. Mostly re-orders but a few new things and a couple of new lines. If you haven't been in recently please do...we have the store already for fall and a ton of new merchandise.

The furniture pictured above arrived this week. I love the bar stools and dining chairs! They have that Jenny Lind look that I am crazy for and the ticking and burlap make me sing!!! Come in and see for yourself!

Also just in is Ralph Kylloe's newest book, proving that he is the king of rustic, this is Kylloe's 20th book on the subject that exudes both luxury and comfort, history and innovation. This time Kylloe focuses on the work of Larry Pearson, AIA, who is recognized as a leader in rustic design; his work has been featured on the Travel Channel's Grand Castles of America and HGTV's Spectacular Homes, as well as in major shelter magazines, including Veranda and Metropolitan Home. Pearson Design Group was the recipient of Mountain Living Magazine's prestigious 2009 Home of the Year Award.

Fifteen rustic homes (Montana, Wyoming, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Minnesota and California) designed by Pearson are featured in this book. Sympathetic to regional conditions and using local materials, these homes showcase deliver solace and comfort to their inhabitants through a series of innovative spaces based on historic precedent and celebrated through the personality of hand craftsmanship. Ralph Kylloe, leading authority on rustic furniture, is the author of 20 previous books, including Cabins, Rustic Artistry for the Home, Cabin in the Woods, Cabins and Camp, Rustic Traditions, and The Rustic Home. We love his books if you don't own any yet treat yourself to his newest, you'll be addicted!

Finally, please don't forget about our block party on Saturday night September 18, 2010 6-9 pm. We will have some refreshments, prizes and a few specials so please bring your friends and come in and see us!

New Arrivals This Week At Gatewood Hall Gracious Home

2010-09-09T20:27:00.003-04:00

We received a new line of jewelry this week and we are so excited. We are one of about five places in the state of Georgia that have this exclusive! You will love it! Each piece is hand made in the United States and it is just done so well. Not only is it unique but the prices are excellent. The Lariats are great! Wear them long and tied in a knot, or double it and wear it choker length. The lariats are gold plated chain or gold plated chain with stones or pearls. All of the stones and pearls are natural (no glass) and show natural variations. Come in and see these beautiful pieces.

We are also so proud to feature local artist Ande Cook's Blue Ridge series of Cards. Ande is a fine art painter and illustrator. She says that like many artists, she cobbles together a living however she can, but she insists on a creative path whatever the price!

Ande has illustrated several children's books including "Firefly's First Flight" and "The Merchant and the Parrot" as well as event posters, cards, and museum catalogs. If you are not familiar with her work come by for a taste in her cards. I promise they make you feel good and smile! She captures the essence of the north Georgia in The Blue Ridge series which includes; The Bear, Sugar Creek Church, Eva in the Creek, and my favorite Weekend at the Cabin.

We look forward to seeing you soon!!

The Cashiers Showhouse

2010-09-02T01:03:00.012-04:00

This past weekend Shawn and I took off to Highlands and Cashiers, North Carolina. We were invited by our friends at Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine to visit the Thirteenth Annual Cashiers Historical Society Showhouse. The 3+ Million dollar showhome is located in the Wade Hampton golf community and boasts some wonderful area designers.

I wish I had a better photo of this room (below) it was one of my favorites by Suzanne Kasler. Through this window is a picture perfect view of Whiteside mountain...the builder absolutely "nailed" the home's location selecting the perfect site on the lot. When you walk into the foyer you can only say WOW to see this amazing view framed by Suzanne's clean, yet inviting design. The showhouse ends soon if you can make the trip it is worth it, and the proceeds help support this wonderful organization. (Tickets are $25)

We were very fortunate because the weather was perfect. We visited some great shops in both Cashiers and Highlands. Sadly one of our favorite places Dovetail Antiques was closed but we were able to check out another favorite, Summer House and it was as fabulous as ever!

If you have never been to the Old Edwards Inn you are really missing out. The Inn is beautiful, the courtyard is so cozy and the food is delicious. We didn't have time to enjoy any Spa services but we hear that they are wonderful.

We love the wine garden patio! We had some wonderful gastro-treats like their housemade pimento cheese with spicy flatbread crackers, and a very unusual, yet delicious charcuterie plate that included a duck prosciutto and smoked salmon! My favorite sandwich is their grilled chicken with melted brie, applewood smoked bacon on this fantastic roll...YUM! Shawn is crazy about their burgers! Really...we love everything about the Old Edwards Inn, they know how to do it right! And you know us we absolutely love the details and boy do they watch the details from the complementary truffle-seasoned popcorn in the garden to the Frette linen napkins right down to the meticulous landscaping and grounds you won't want to leave!

While we did have a wonderful time as always it was great to get back home to our beloved and laid back Blue Ridge!

The Girl & The Fig Products at Gatewood Hall!

2010-08-20T06:39:00.003-04:00

We are so pleased to be able to offer "the girl & the fig" products at Gatewood Hall. Created by Sondra Bernstein proprietor of the renowned Sonoma, California restaurants Estate, The Fig Cafe and The Girl & The Fig these products will make your mouth, heart and stomach sing for joy!

Mostarda is an Italian condiment made of candied fruit with a kick from mustard or mustard seed. Traditionally mostarda was served with boiled meats called bollito misto which is a speciality of northern Italian cooking. More recently it has become a popular accompaniment to cheeses. Subtle flavors of rosemary, cinnamon, coriander, and ginger add depth and create a nice balance in the multi-dimensional product. Serve alongside charcuterie or cheese, or even as a spread on a sandwich . We served a sample at our last block party and Brenda along with one of our guests agreed that it would be fabulous on a peanut butter sandwich..that is where Italian meets the south! I think a big tablespoon in Greek Yogurt or in oatmeal would be extremely satisfying. Also delicious as a condiment or sauce with grilled chicken, pork, lamb, and sausage. You will love it!

The salts are wonderful blends that include:

Fennel citrus herb blend - A blend of fennel seed, lemon and orange peel, sea salt, lavender, mustard seed and other spices. Sprinkle on fish, chicken or pork before pan searing or grilling. Add water to brine pork or chicken.

We also have Sondra's outstanding cook book that is full of great recipes that promote her vision of country food with French passion.

Stop in this weekend we will be having tastings of some of the girl and fig products...we will get you hooked!! See you soon!

Oh Boy Have We Got Some New Arrivals For You!!

2010-08-06T13:30:00.001-04:00

Boy oh boy, have we got some new arrivals for you! We (and by we I mean Shawn, Becky and Brenda...because I've been in ATL) have been busy all week receiving, unpacking and displaying "new stuff". We have some funky, fun, vintage and one-of-a-kind stuff pictured above (I especially love the lamp and zinc trough!)

We thought these water and wine glasses were great. They are from a new vendor that we are very excited about because they really have some unusual items!

These French hand-painted dessert plates would make lovely gift, or would they would be great to hang on the wall. We have the hens, the gardener and cherries. Wait until you see them in person because the photo just doesn't do them justice.

Lenny & Eva introduced these cool new necklaces that you can personalize with your vintage sentiments and charms, they also have some great new leather braided wrap bracelets that you can wear several different ways. All you L&E lovers need to come in and check out these new items...you will have to add them to your collection.

When we were at the mart I can't tell you how much time we spent reading and laughing at the Anne Taintor merchandise! We have some of her new items including pill boxes, magnetic postcards, matches, shot glasses, coin purses, bags, flasks and of course napkins. Come in for a giggle!

We also received a shipment of books...a lot...(so please come in an buy some Shawn is ready to kill me...I can't help it...I LOVE BOOKS!). JellyCat Stuffed animals they are the best...wait until you see the new guys! Caspari napkins, including some of the new fall patterns. Pre de Provence soaps...and new handbags !!! Woo Hoo! Come in and see us this weekend. Shawn and I will be there to take you on a tour of the newest goods! Can't wait to see you!

A Busy Week...

2010-07-31T09:25:00.011-04:00

Whew, it has been a busy week! We have been working on a sales, leasing, conference and amenity center down in South Georgia (and oh my was it HOT down there!). I have included a few photos for you to see (they are from my phone, I'll post some better photos later).

Don't you love this mirror? I think it looks great with my favorite BCL Jenny Lind Lamps!

As always thank you Becky and Brenda for keeping things together this weekend! We received a ton of new merchandise in this week so go in and visit them. (Our A/C works well and it will be nice and cool!) HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

New Arrivals From Market...Already?!

2010-07-22T21:26:00.010-04:00

It is no secret that Shawn and I are immediate gratification folks so we are so excited that we already have items arriving from the Atlanta market that we attended last week. Above are great things from one of our favorite and exclusive lines! A couple are re-orders that we quickly sold-out of: the wire mail basket and the wire garden tea-light stakes...you asked so we brought them back. We ordered the metal numbers about three weeks ago and sold out the the first weekend we put them out so we brought those back too! Something new is the vintage look metal French wall signs...Parlez-vous Francais? (do you speak French?)...Nope? Neither do we. So I'll tell you what they told us they say..."Idleness is the mother of all evil". Don't you just love that?!

When we opened in our new location we brought in Archipeligo, and it seems like you love it as much as we do!

Boticario de Havana the first scent we brought in is described this way. "In the 1940's the world flocked to Havana; they came for the nightlife, but left with the secrets of the "boticarias" - the small apothecaries that dotted the side streets and specialized in natural skin care remedies made from local plant materials. Coffee bean, tobacco flower with pure essences and extracts of orange, sugar cane and sweet pineapple were used to promote beautiful, soft and healthy looking skin. Today we know these ingredients contain the alpha hydroxy acids, antioxidants and other agents that actively moisturize, hydrate and reduce redness associated with rough, dry skin." We originally brought in the perfume, body lotion, body wash and bath salts...they have been a big hit. The new items from this market are the candle (it's wonderful!!), shampoo, and conditioner!

Our rep gave us samples of their Milk line to try and both Shawn and I thought it was marvelous! A pure and simple additive for the bath and body dried milk solids with natural soy and oat proteins combine to gently nurture and sooth the skin. Soy Milk products are blended with proteins, amino acids and lipids- allowing for rapid hydration and cell regeneration. Oat Milk products are blended with oat grain to soothe the skin. We have the body lotion, body wash, hand wash, and the best stuff of all...the unbelievably rich bubble bath.

Table Topics have been so popular and one of the newest versions sounds great (and the timing is perfect for all of those kids getting ready to head off to college!) They can spark fun conversations that take them beyond the oh-so-boring "what's your major?" and lead them to questions that they just wouldn't think to ask on their own. They'll talk about everything from the best cheap food near campus to the best parties to the three causes they care about most. This college-life inspired set of conversation starters makes meeting new people and making new friends way more fun. But, we have to warn you, these questions might be the start of an all-nighter. Heck, you can't study ALL the time!

This is only a sampling of our new arrivals this week so please come in this weekend and check out some of our new stuff! See you soon!!

SUMMER MARKET TIME!!!

2010-07-18T00:08:00.006-04:00

It's Market time again in Atlanta! Thanks to you for a great second quarter, we have sold a lot of things and we have made room for some more fabulous GH finds! We are searching for some great new things for you. This is always one of our favorite shows and this one has exceeded our expectations. Not only have several of our regular vendors had some fantastic new items but we have already ordered three new lines that we are very excited to bring to Blue Ridge.

How about two new scents of potpourri? You will love the new candle line from Paddywax and some great new holidays items from Caldrea, Votivo and Cucina. We are so thrilled that there are new books from Ralph Kylloe (two new titles) and Bunny Williams. Great new jewelry pieces from Lenny & Eva, Waxing Poetic, Pure Sanctuary and Four Seasons. I've only scratched the surface...Stay tuned for more details. Have a great weekend go in and see Becky and Brenda!!

Happy 4th of July!!

2010-07-03T00:48:00.013-04:00

Sometimes I forget how much I love Blue Ridge! Years ago when we bought our place up here I told Shawn that I'd never take our beautiful long range mountain view for granted...Well I think I may have to some degree. Recently, we worked on a project in South Georgia, I have also been busy in Atlanta so I really haven't been up here for a few weeks. I have to tell you when I arrived this evening it just felt so good to be here and I took a look at our view and thought to myself, wow I have really missed my mountain home.

I'm also pretty patriotic, and with all of our concerns I still consider myself so fortunate to be be an American, living in this wonderful country of ours. I think Fourth of July in our north Georgia town is a really fun and special time. Americana at it's best.

Get up early Saturday and go downtown to our wonderful Blue Ridge Farmers Market in the park, oh the local goodies that you will find!! Then head over to L&L Beanery Cafe and have their delicious breakfast Casserole! By now it should be close to 10AM and time for the Annual Fourth of July Parade so head over to the park near East Main. This year the bands are awesome so ENJOY!! Go into Love Dogs & Cats Too and see Larry and Ricki and pick up some treats for that lucky cat or dog. Pop into the Little Shop and stock up on those wonderful Hallmark cards. If you haven't been in the new location of The Multitude Gallery just next door, you will be stunned at how beautiful and spacious it is. David has some beautiful new items! Now you need to make your way over to see us at Gatewood Hall. Come in and say hi and check out some of our new arrivals...Now you can go visit Just Judy, Kristina Lee's and the Gnarley Bear. I bet you will be getting hungry so now you can go visit Pat and Polina at the fabulous Blue Ridge Brewery (I am sooo craving their summer gazpacho and house burger!!) for some great lunch and a glass of wine or special beer. When you are finished you will be primed to head over to see Sarah at Out of the Blue...Oh the wonderful things to try and buy...(not just my favorite girl that Sarah, but one of my favorite shops!!) How about some delicious fudge from Three Sisters Fudge, just across the street from Sarah's. You still need to go see Bradley and Candel at Fezziwig's and make your way into ssShiney Baubles for that special piece of "bling". There is still just so much to do in our beautiful downtown Blue Ridge we've only scratched the surface.

Tonight don't miss the fireworks over Lake Blue Ridge! Have a great and safe Fourth of July!! See you downtown!

Below are some photos of our recent model project we completed in South Georgia!

Hot Fun In The Summertime!!!

2010-06-25T22:58:00.006-04:00

Is it hot enough for you?? The days of summer are upon us, but that's o.k. because there is so much fun stuff to do in the North Georgia Mountains!

First of all you can always come shop at Gatewood Hall, our AC is on and we have lots of new stuff to show you! This week we received some new rustic crosses from True Riches they created a new smaller size that we love (we asked them to create this new size for us and they did! Thank you Steve & Jill!!) We also received some new crosses that are made out of recycled Coke bottles they are so neat, that last time we got them in they never made it on the floor because one of our customers saw them as we were getting ready to put them out and she bought all of them! We also have a new line of glasses that are so beautiful! These colorful glasses have a brocade design and look great to mix and match; they are available in high ball and rocks sizes.

With Independence day coming next weekend there will be concerts in the park Friday night! Saturday July 3rd is the Annual Parade in downtown. The fun starts at 10AM so come get your spot early. After the parade come over to our back parking lot because we are told that the Amazing Seed and Feed Marching Abominable Band from Atlanta will be playing for your pleasure. Saturday night head out to lake Blue Ridge for the fabulous fireworks display!! It is sure to be a wonderful weekend and we can't wait to see you!! (Be sure to check out our Summertime Playlist below...some of our summer favorites!! Let me know what you think.)

Surf's Up Blue Ridge!

2010-06-11T00:24:00.007-04:00

You have probably read about Stand Up Paddling in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal or even this months Southern Living magazine but, you might not have known that this fun and fast-growing activity is available right here in Blue Ridge. Thanks to Chris Tilghman and his company Surf Blue Ridge you can catch this new wave in water sports. This sport provides core strengthening, endurance, balance and oneness with the water and nature. With roots in Hawaii, SUP has expanded into mainstream surfing culture globally.

The sport has flowed inland from the oceans to our beautiful lakes and rivers. No surfing experience is needed. Whether you seek the peaceful enjoyment of nature, power paddling or a downriver rush, we are told that SUP is an activity for everyone of all ages!

Inspired by a lifetime of water sports, Chris Tilghman brings the first stand up paddle company to the North Georgia Mountains. Chris has over twenty years experience surfing some of the world’s best waves in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Cape Hatteras, California and Hawaii. He spent five years living on Kauai’s North Shore with his wife Rhonda and honed his skills on 15-20 feet high waves.

In 2006, our friends Chris and Rhonda made their home in Ellijay (and we are thrilled because they are great people!!). Wanting to provide a unique experience for enjoying the local waters, Chris is excited to introduce Stand Up Paddling with the Hawaiian spirit of aloha and surfing.

Stop by their cool, new store front on East Main Street in downtown Blue Ridge (near the train depot, beside Twigs to Furniture, The Real Estate Connection and Three Sisters Fudge). You can also call them at 706-889-9747 or check out the website at http://www.surfblueridge-sup.com/. You are going to love Chris and Rhonda be sure and tell them that we sent you!

Let's Celebrate Springtime in the South!

2010-06-07T07:15:00.002-04:00

Is it just me or is this one of the prettiest spring seasons we've had in a long time? Shawn and I love the south in the springtime (hence the Indigo Girls song "Southland in the Springtime" on our blog play list). I love old southern Hydrangeas, Magnolias and Gardenias and it just seems that as I have been out and about I've noticed that the Hydrangeas this year are some of the deepest blues and purples that I can remember, and my Gardenias and Magnolias are going crazy at my home in Marietta. I take full advantage of this bounty and have bouquets throughout my home... I even haul them to our mountain house!

I moved to North Carolina in early May of 1973, I was only an infant (o.k. I'm lying but, I was pretty young). When I left Topeka, Kansas it was not great weather and things were still pretty brown, as our plane landed in N.C. I was overwhelmed by all of the green trees and quickly thought to myself this must be why they call it Greensboro.

We moved into an old neighborhood with huge trees, gigantic Magnolias, and enormous Gardenia and Hydrangea bushes. One of our neighbors introduced us to these wonderful unfamiliar flowers. To this day I can remember going into the Kale's old home (it seemed very large to me back then) with the attic fan running (yep, they had no AC!!) and the smell of these powerful flowers wafting throughout every room in the house...I have dearly loved the south ever since!

I remember telling Shawn's late grandmother Margie Hall about those Gardenias, they seemed almost elusive to me now because while I found those little "greenhouse" varieties I missed those big "rose-like" blooms found on the old fashioned, overgrown, southern kind. Margie had a green thumb (we know where Shawn gets it!) and she promised to "root" me some down at her little "getaway" place she had kept at the beach. She described a few different ways to do this and she made it sound very easy. Shortly thereafter she sent Shawn home with a few plastic gallon-milk jugs full of "rooted" Gardenias direct from the coast of North Carolina! Shawn planted them not knowing that a few weeks later we'd get a wild hair to sell our house and build another (same exact floor plan just a little bigger and with a basement, and a few upgrades we decided that we couldn't live without, literally only a few blocks away...it's a long story about loving your home that I'll share at a later time...) Anyway Shawn dug those little Gardenia bushes up and planted them at our new home, and they have flourished...actually almost overtaking one of our entrance gates to our backyard. We may end up selling that house but I pray that we can take some of those fabulous plants with us! We enjoy them so much, and they are such a wonderful reminder and celebration of Shawn's very special Grandma, Margie Hall!

So- to get to the point (thank you for letting me share my happy spring memories!), let's continue to celebrate spring! Come out and enjoy a lovely spring evening in downtown Blue Ridge. Please join us at for our second "West Side Block Party" this Saturday June 12, 2010. Hopefully the weather will cooperate but, we are going to have it come rain or shine! We look forward to seeing you there! Happy Spring!!

Our Own Artists at Gatewood Hall Gracious Home

2010-05-29T01:12:00.024-04:00

Since we will be celebrating Arts In The Park this weekend we wanted to do a posting featuring our exclusive GH Artists. The first is Marilyn Sparks who after following a successful career in the fashion industry, she discovered her passion for painting. Marilyn's experience with color, texture, and proportion are evident in the way she combines these elements on canvas. The self-taught artist is continually evolving, recreating and reinventing herself through her bold barns, bright florals, and peaceful landscapes.

Sparks paints in her studio in Cumming, GA., and happily sheds her fashion image for a painter’s smock. She has had several one-woman shows in Atlanta and in Highlands, NC and has participated in group shows in Charlotte, NC, Jacksonville, FL, Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston, SC. We especially love her barns, and still life flowers. Marilyn even has a couple bright, whimsical paintings that are meant to be hung outside on a covered deck or screened porch!

Kathy Pollard was born in Gadsden, Alabama and began private art lessons at age of 12. She has won various private contests throughout her painting career. Kathy now spends her time between Dunwoody and the North Georgia mountains. I love her pallet knife work.

We have two original oil paintings on linen she just brought in. One is a painting of the pink apple blossoms that she painted after she enjoyed this recent season at Mercier Apple Orchard, the other is Lake Blue Ridge both are absolutely beautiful.

Pollard believes the meaning of painting to be "The true freedom of your self-expression, meaning having the ability to express yourself. Through a dedicated study, we seek knowledge of the craft. As we grow, develop, and practice the skills and principles, our own unique expression and our signature comes forth."

Katherine Getty’s love affair with art dates back to nursery school when she discovered crayons. It was cemented by her kindergarten experiences with mud pies and the messy joys of sculpture. Although throughout her childhood and adolescence, she was always involved in something creative, she decided not to pursue art as a career and instead worked in healthcare for two decades. She began reconnecting with her art in the mid 90’s and attended the Santa Monica College of Design, Art and Architecture for two years. During this period, she primarily worked with three dimensional media.

Getty’s left the medical world in 2005 and moved to Georgia to change careers. She started painting in July 2005 and fell in love with oil paint. Katherine’s work deals with the loving bonds between humans and animals and with the healing power of the natural world.

Katherine's work is so beautiful and precise we have actually had people ask if it was an enhanced photograph.

Come in today to see and appreciate these Artist's wonderful talents.

This weekend only we will take 10% off of their work as part of our Art in the Park celebration. See you soon!

So Many New Arrivals This Weekend!!

2010-05-27T23:54:00.008-04:00

WOW, DO WE HAVE ALOT OF NEW GREAT STUFF THIS WEEKEND! We received some new chairs and lamps from our High Point trip back in April! I especially love the two chairs shown here, they are wonderful and well priced! We have also received some new artwork, as well as some Lenny & Eva charms and sentiments.

Our great selection of new books is here just in time for your summer entertaining! I have to tell you, Paula Deen's new title Savannah Style is a beautiful book that pays homage to one of my favorite cities in the south! You will love the Lee Brothers cookbook, a fresh and simple take on great southern favorites! And because of his love for fresh flowers Shawn loves the new book Southern Bouquets.

This will be a wonderful weekend in downtown Blue Ridge! Come down to Arts in the Park and stop in and see us! Have a great Memorial Day! We'll see you soon!

Arts In the Park Festival This Weekend!

2010-05-25T06:59:00.000-04:00

The 34th Annual Arts In The Park Festival is this weekend in beautiful downtown Blue Ridge! This is one of our favorite weekends of the year. The festival is sponsored by the fabulous Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association who does an outstanding job bringing and keeping the arts in our beloved town. Their Mission is to:

Provide Opportunities in the Realm of Art for Personal Growth of the Individual and the Economic Growth of our Community

•Enhance and Preserve the Quality and Accessibility of the Arts
•To Honor Our Rich Heritage of Mountain Culture
•Promoting Contemporary Multi-Cultural Arts
•Catalyst for Economic Development in the Community

And they do a darn good job at striving towards reaching this goal! Arts In the Park is just one of several events that they have throughout the year and it is awesome.

This festival has grown over the years and boasts some of the finest arts and crafts in the southeast. As in the past, all applicants for the festival will be juried in order to maintain the tradition as a premier show. The quality and diversity of the arts and crafts presented improve each year. The festival will be May 29th and 30th, 2010 10AM until 5PM. Admission is $5 for adults, children 12 and under are free. Please do come out and support the arts you will have so much fun doing it!! And don't forget to stop in and see us too!!

Gatewood Hall Is Celebrating Their Fourth Birthday!!

2010-05-18T17:46:00.015-04:00

Our wish is already coming true!! It is so hard for us to believe but it is already our fourth birthday! I guess the years fly when you are having the time of your life!! Thanks to all of you we are ready to roll into our fifth year in our new location and are we ever thrilled.

We will be celebrating this Saturday with lots of fun specials, and refreshments heck, we may finally have the design center open...who knows!! Please come in and celebrate with us, we look forward to seeing you!

TO OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CURRENT AND PAST TEAM MEMBERS THANK YOU FOR THE PAST FOUR GREAT YEARS WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!!

Corky & Shawn

Gatewood Hall Named One Of 50 Retail Stars in the Nation

2010-05-13T23:24:00.007-04:00

So this is our big news and we are SO EXCITED!!! Home Accents Today Magazine and AmericasMart released their annual list of Fifty Retail Stars for 2010, where they present 50 independent home accent retailers that are significant players in their respective markets throughout the nation and Gatewood Hall Gracious Home was named one of the Fifty selected!!!!

This is from the press release- "This list recognizes enterprising home accents retailers who are meeting the challenges of an increasingly competitive marketplace with innovative strategies and creative solutions. All 50 Retail Stars are creative in their merchandising, contribute to their communities and distinguish themselves from the competition. They excel at innovative marketing and advertising efforts, head-turning in-store displays and out-of-the-box business ideas. These retailers represent the best and the brightest."

We can't tell you how much we appreciate this honor! It is so exciting to be recognized within the professional community. Thank you for your support, because this recognition would be nothing without you and your support

Remembering your Mom!

2010-05-08T04:42:00.005-04:00

Don't we love our moms? Have you picked up something special for your mother yet? Don't feel bad you still have time and we are here to help! The good news is that we received a new shipment of spring and summer handbags and some beautiful new jewelry this week. We also have a new line of one-of-kind rustic, handmade crosses by True Riches. Each cross is made from old barn wood or reclaimed clapboard siding found right here in Georgia and each has a special "found object" embellishment! They are wonderful and exclusively found in Blue Ridge at Gatewood Hall.

And if all else fails every mom loves a GH Gift certificate!! Stop in today and see us and we will help you pick the perfect gift for your special mama!

We Love La Pizzeria At Cucina Rustica

2010-05-06T18:26:00.006-04:00

Shawn and I had lunch at La Pizzeria at Cucina Rustica if you haven’t been yet you just have to go out and try it. They offer the same classic and comfortable rustic environment as their parent restaurant with high quality food at affordable prices.

In their casual atmosphere you can enjoy one of their multiple high definition flat screens, and free WIFI. Their menu Items Include: New York Style Pizza whole or by the slice, Calzones, gourmet salads, wonderful sandwiches, wings and burgers as well as beer and wine.

I love their Meatball sub and their homemade potato chips with bleu cheese and balsamic glaze!!!! DELICIOUS!!! We had such a nice chat with Isabella and her daughter…we just love these folks! Please go out and see them and tell them we sent you!

They are open for lunch and dinner, call (706) 374-3700 for details. DIRECTIONS: From Atlanta: Just North of Blue Ridge on 515N, ½ mile from Hwy 60 intersection. Turn Right under the Cucina Rusctica sign onto Forge Mill Rd, turning on the first left into their drive.

Mother's Day Is Almost Here!!

2010-05-03T23:13:00.006-04:00

Mother's day is nearly here and we have some great gifts for her at Gatewood Hall Gracious Home!

How about a great pink bag designed in Paris? We have some very well-priced bags that she will love!

Jewelry??? A silhouette charm from Waxing Poetic makes a personal and special gift. We also have some wonderful sterling silver key charms by Pure Sanctuary. We have lots and lots of great things for that special lady in your life! Come in and see us!

More New Furniture Arrivals

2010-04-29T06:55:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not we are already receiving furniture from our recent trip to High Point and we are thrilled. This week some pieces from a new exclusive Gatewood Hall line arrived. We chose this company because of the depth of their lines they have everything from cottage, traditional, to some wonderful industrial pieces (which will be here in mid-summer!). Their case goods are well priced and offer great features. For example night stands offer a hidden area where you can hide the cords to lamps and cell phone chargers, buffets offer tall areas for serving trays and drawers with pins to arrange your other serving pieces.

We love the table and chairs in the photo above. The chairs are sort of a modern take on a classic Windsor chair and the table comes with two 18" leaves that will take it to 108", perfect for seating 10-12 for dinner!

A more traditional table shown with a interesting take on a Parsons chair (great nail head feature!). We love the curved dining bench!

It seems that we are always looking for a desk for our home offices, this secretary desk is a stunning yet practical option that would work well anywhere in your home! Come by and take a look at some of our new items!

We're Having A Block Party!!!

2010-04-26T21:05:00.003-04:00

We are having our very first ever West Side Block Party this Saturday night, May 1st, 2010 from 6-9 PM! West Side shops and restaurants will stay open late, there will be evening shopping, art, refreshments, entertainment and prizes (you could even win $100 cash!!) Come enjoy a lovely spring evening in beautiful downtown Blue Ridge. We look forward to seeing you!

3rd Annual Taste Of Blue Ridge

2010-04-23T01:35:00.005-04:00

Don't forget one of our favorite events for one of our favorite causes- The 3rd Annual Taste Of Blue Ridge to benefit the Humane Society of Blue Ridge Saturday April 24th, 2010 6-9 PM at Riverstone Medical Campus. Tickets are $30 advance and $40 at the door. There will be tastings of beer, wine and lots of great food along with live music, live and silent auctions with some great offerings! You will have a wonderful time we promise. See you there!

Back From The High Point Market!!!!!

2010-04-22T23:03:00.009-04:00

Yes, we are back from the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point and we brought some great finds with us!! Most of our new merchandise has been ordered and set to arrive over the next few weeks (or months in the case of one vendor!!). But as purveyors of wonderful things we shop for "FINDS" some vintage, some "one-offs" some reproductions and some new! You have told us that you love some of the industrial finds that we have had in the store and we couldn't agree more! I love the juxtaposition of putting a clean edge industrial piece with something a little more soft and refined. The adjustable draftsman stools above are obviously great for sitting but they make great end tables too.

Everyone has raved about our industrial coffee table with drawers so we were are excited to bring in the console. The drawers offer useful storage and the reclaimed wood on top make it very easy to live with!

This adjustable table with the distressed, worn patina would look great in any urban setting or cabin. While it isn't really old, you can have fun making up stories about where you found it!!

This lamp is the sister to the copper lamp that we have had in the store before. We love it because it is small enough to use on a desk, but because it is metal it would work well outside on a covered porch too.

Everyone always wants to buy our potpourri displays so we were excited to stumble across some more of these vintage Hungarian wash basins on the stand and the baby bath tubs. As shown above they make great beverage holders but they are also great as unique planters. We love storage baskets and thought these vintage industrial baskets were wonderful. We also found some fabulous "very large" French-looking market baskets (sorry my picture didn't turn out). And just wait until you see the antique hotel keys that I found...from an old Italian hotel in Venice. I did some research and found a postcard at an online auction that had been sent to someone in the US in 1918 from the actual hotel...so of course I bought that too. Not sure what I'll do with them but we'll come up with something.

Shawn and I will be in the store this weekend so do come in and see us!

It's Market Time Again!

2010-04-16T23:55:00.005-04:00

It's that time again! Shawn and I are in High Point, North Carolina for the Spring International Furniture Market. Market actually starts tomorrow however a couple of our vendors invited us to come in early for a preview of some of their items. WOW, we have already found some cool stuff. I love the finds that one vendor in particular has and what I love the most is that we get to take them with us (I love immediate gratification!!) So we loaded up the GH Van and will have them on the floor very soon.

We are so very fortunate, as both of our families live in the area we get to enjoy a nice visit with loved ones also. I was able to spend some time with my very special grandmother, and had dinner with my parents, brother, sister-in-law and my fabulous niece and nephew (who was awarded today with A/B honor roll and perfect attendance for the second quarter in a row...I'm so proud of him! GO HUNTER!!) Shawn went to visit his parents and had dinner with them. We are already worn out!!

Tomorrow we will start early with appointments. We will find some more wonderful, new things for you. While we are away Brenda and our newest team member Becky will be holding the store down. We are thrilled that Becky has joined our team, she has some wonderful experience that be a great addition to Gatewood Hall. Please come in and introduce yourself to Becky this weekend.

The photos are from today at one of our stops...cool vintage and reproduction pieces. Have a great weekend!

PS- No, I haven't forgotten about the exciting new announcement, we can't announce it just yet, we will soon I promise.

Have a great weekend!

What An Exciting Week!! THANK YOU!

2010-04-09T22:49:00.009-04:00

What a great and exciting week! We have been so overwhelmed by everyone's gracious and kind response to our new store. The support that our families, clients, friends and team have shown to us over the last few months has been appreciated more than you know. The old saying that "it takes a village" has never been more true. Both Shawn and I want to say thanks to some people who helped us to get through the ups and downs of this move.

First to our families, as many of you know Shawn's mom and dad came down a few times and helped us for days. My dad came from North Carolina with one of his good friends and brought a crew of nine that helped get a ton of things done. All along my mom was there to listen and encourage us to push on through some of the drama and obstacles that we faced with the move and build out. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, Bunky, Virgina, Larry, and Patti! We love you and appreciate your support

Thanks to our clients, it never ceased to amaze us that just when we had nearly reached our wits end we'd run into one of you who would say something kind, you'd be excited for us, and as they say enthusiasm is contagious and we'd push on!

Thanks to our friends yes "we got by with a little help from our friends!" Especially Layne Prather... YOU ROCK! You were like a guardian angel, from packing, moving, directing, and cleaning you helped us so much that we just can't thank you enough.

To our GH team- Frank (our newest buddy), Carlos, Brenda and Kelli- THANK YOU! We really appreciate your hard work, your patience for putting up with us and helping us with the creative design vision that Shawn and I had for Gatewood Hall.

We have some bittersweet news. You may have heard that Kelli Luaces is no longer with us. We guess it is sort of like being proud parents to be able to say that after 2 1/2 years of our training and working with Kelli she's grown...she has been offered and accepted an exciting position as the creative director of Petaluma Collective, an intresting new concept that will be opening soon here in Blue Ridge. We wish her well and the best of luck in her new role. With that said we are happy to say that we have nearly finalized the hiring of our two new team members that we will tell you more about a little later!

Finally, we are about to go crazy to let you know about the most exciting, happy news that we received this week. But we can't just yet...Stay tuned for our big proud announcement!

Come see us this weekend we have received some great new items...Be sure to check out Lenny and Eva! It's an awesome new jewelry line exclusive to Gatewood Hall. You'll just love it!

See you soon!

Corky & Shawn

OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!!

2010-03-27T00:30:00.003-04:00

It's true the new and improved Gatewood Hall Gracious Home is finally open! While we still are missing some new products and we have a few kinks to work out we are ready for you to come by and see us! So far we are thrilled with our new place and hope that you will love it as much as the old location. Please come in and see us and our new digs this weekend! We'll post more photos later but in the meantime...We can't wait to see you!!

Say a Little Prayer!

2010-03-18T03:08:00.003-04:00

Good Morning Everyone! Shawn and I just got in from the new store...It's coming together...we promise. Our current plan is to open our new location this Saturday at 10 AM, say a little prayer! We are still waiting on a few new items, and we have some stuff that still needs to be done to the building but we want to open! We have had so many positive calls, and visitors and we just can't thank you enough. We are so excited to show you around our new place so please "stay tuned" to the blog or facebook for updates. SEE YOU SATURDAY!

OUR NEW LOCATION IS OPENING SOON!!!

2010-03-12T23:19:00.003-05:00

Yep, it's official today was our last day in our old location. We will miss that old place but we are thrilled with our new location and we can't wait for you to come in and see it. We plan on wrapping things up this week in the new space and hopefully (say a little prayer for us!) opening the new store next week. Please stay tuned to our blog, facebook or twitter for actual details. To those of you who have stopped in to say hello and check on on us, thank you so much for caring and being excited for us and the next leg of our GH journey...Each of you have helped keep us going through the madness and we appreciate you very much!

Corky & Shawn

Final Days of Our Moving Madness Sale

2010-03-05T23:24:00.003-05:00

WHEW! We are nearing the final days at our current location and pulling out all the stops! We have so much stuff on sale you won't believe it!! Come on in and SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!!

PS- We can't wait for you to come to our new place (a lot of new stuff has been arriving!) but we are not quite ready...we are so excited!!!! Please note our computer was moved this week therefore we will only be able to accept cash or check. See you this weekend!

Moving Sale Madness Continues This Weekend!

2010-02-26T04:30:00.000-05:00

YES, THE MOVING SALE MADNESS CONTINUES!!! We are making great progress at the new location, but we are starting to realize how much stuff will have to be moved...UGH! So we have gone crazy marking even more stuff down! Everything in the store is at least 25% off! There are a ton of items spread throughout the store that have been red-lined now to 50% off. Finally, for some really outrageous bargains check out the "Last Chance" items which include samples, odds and ends as well as some slightly damaged merchandise that are more than 75% off...If you're like me this is the stuff I love to find at sales...I guess it brings out the creative treasure hunter in all of us! (The one that loves it when someone admires something in your home and you get to say you won't believe what I paid for this..it was such a great deal!). We look forward to seeing you soon! THANK YOUR FOR YOUR BUSINESS, ENJOY THE MADNESS & HAPPY SHOPPING!

MOVING SALE 25% to 75% OFF

2010-02-17T06:09:00.000-05:00

You have been patiently waiting and now it is finally here The Gatewood Hall Gracious Home Moving Sale!! Starting tomorrow everything in the store is on sale at least 25 % off or more! We really don't want to move a bunch of stuff to the new store so our "laziness" is your opportunity! While we have decided to drop a few lines because others on our street have now started selling them, most of the items on sale are our exclusives which we will continue selling at the actual suggested retail price once in our new location so, now is a great time to stock up on your favorites, pick up some gifts or just treat yourself for pushing through this freezing cold winter!! Come by soon to get the very best selection. We can't wait to see you!

SWEETHEART SALE

2010-02-11T09:30:00.003-05:00

We are having a Sweetheart Sale at Gatewood Hall! Today through Monday you will find lots of great goodies for your special someone. A beautiful coffee table book, luxurious bath products, decadent sheets, a sexy candle or even some Waxing Poetic or Silver Seasons jewelry there are so many good options! Come in and see us and we will help you find that perfect gift!

Blog Reader Special! We love our blog readers! Print this post, bring it in and we will take 25% off of any single regular priced, in-stock item of your choice. This offer is valid until 02/16/10!

We look forward to seeing you!! Happy Valentines Day!

"I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm"

2010-01-30T10:44:00.008-05:00

"The snow is snowing, the wind is blowing, but I can weather the storm ...I've got my love to keep me warm". Kelli and I are in the store today! We have some excellent Valentines gifts and vignettes out, and we have some great sale items throughout the store so put on your coat and gloves and come on in!!

The cornerstone items from Juliska make wonderful gifts. The small square “Love Conquers All” tray that celebrates the splendor, artistry and romance of the season. Perfect for a special someone, with the heart on the front and inscribed with "Love Conquers All" on the back this ceramic tray will be sure to please lovers all year round. (It is also beautifully gift boxed!).

The Heartblessing wine stopper by Jan Barboglio is another wonderful Valentine gift! The iron tag says "In most wise and ancient cultures, it is customary for people to talk to their heart" and then it has a quote by Helen Keller "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched...but are felt in the heart". What a beautiful, romantic yet practical gift for him!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

What's Happening With The New Space?

2010-01-23T07:13:00.008-05:00

So many folks have been requesting an update on our new space...So let's start here...Have you ever had those times when you wake up so excited that you can't sleep, like it is Christmas morning or your Birthday (when your were a kid)? and then you jump up to get going and it seems like, things don't turn out exactly as you planned and in disappointment you ask yourself..."What was I thinking?" And then just when you are ready to throw your hands in the air and give up, something wonderful happens and you are back to being thrilled and excited again? Well...welcome to our world. As with any renovation or build-out it has been a series of ups and downs. Fortunately there have been no biggies, it's more of a situation of a lack of patience for both of us. Most of the time (at least 99%) we are that excited kid, we are ready to get in and start decorating and putting our new merchandise out so we can have you over. Then there is the other 1% when we are tired, overwhelmed and ready to kill each other, when it feels like one of those days when nothing happens and we ask ourselves "what were we thinking?".

Truthfully one of our biggest drives comes from you! We can't thank you enough for your enthusiasm. A day hasn't passed when one of you hasn't said something like "oh I am so excited to see what you do with that space" or "I think your new location is going to be great, it will be so convenient" or our favorite "When are you going to open in that new space?...I can't wait!".

I am happy to report that we are making progress! We feel that as of today we are on schedule (uh oh...I said it out loud so knock wood, say prayers, etc.) Most importantly we can't wait to be finished so we can have you over! As always thank you, thank you, thank you for your support. We have included some "before" interior shots for those of you who have never been in the old post office.

In the meantime we are making way for our new stuff. We are continuing our sale, we've been calling the sales by many different names but we really should just tell the truth it's the "We don't want to move it sale". This weekend we have savings from 15% to 50% so come in and grab some really good deals!

Blog Reader Special: Print this post and bring it in today (01/23/2010) and take 20% off any regular priced, in-stock item of your choice!!

Pantone Unveils Color of The Year 2010

2010-01-18T00:43:00.011-05:00

As part of our passion for for what we do we love to follow design and color trends, especially this time of year. This press release is very recent and names Turquoise as the 2010 color of the year. Typically after these type of announcements we in turn see tons of merchandise in this colorway...We just returned from the Atlanta Market and we saw some wonderful fabrics and great accessories utilizing the beautiful blue green tone but it really didn't seem overwhelming. Remember this unveiling also applies to fashion as well as home decorating. As with all trends you will always hear Shawn and I say "stay away from trendy"...that is unless Turquoise happens to be your favorite color then we say go for it! Our suggestion is that if you decide to tag onto a "trend" like this color, then use it as an accent. Believe us when we say a little Turquoise goes a long way when used appropriately. Start watching around to see how much of this color you start noticing. The other color to watch is Purple (in all different shades). We saw alot of purple at this last market. Happy decorating & enjoy the article!

Pantone Unveils Color of the Year for 2010:
PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise

Turquoise Transports Us to an Exciting, Tropical Paradise While Offering a Sense of Protection and Healing in Stressful Times

CARLSTADT, N.J -Pantone LLC, an X-Rite company (NASDAQ: XRIT), and the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced PANTONE® 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the color of the year for 2010. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of well being.

“In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”

Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.

In fashion, Turquoise makes a statement that can look elegant and dressy in fine silk and gemstones, or casual and fun in cotton and athletic apparel. Because of its versatility, Turquoise is a great accent color in jewelry, purses, shoes, hair accessories and even nail polish for women, and ties, shirts and sportswear for men.

For brides wanting a flattering choice for attendant apparel and accessories on their big day, Turquoise is now one of the nearly 200 PANTONE WEDDING Colors available from Dessy, a leading manufacturer of bridesmaid, social occasion and flower girl dresses, as well as destination wedding gowns under the labels Dessy Collection, After Six, Alfred Sung, Lela Rose Bridesmaid and Sandals Destination Wedding Dresses. PANTONE WEDDING exclusively from Dessy provides a collection of color tools to make it easy for brides to achieve perfectly color-coordinated weddings – from inspiration to “I do.”

Additionally, Turquoise is one of 3,000 colors available in Pantone’s line of superior-quality, eco-friendly paint. PANTONE Paints combine the accuracy of PANTONE Colors with the beauty of high-performance Dutch paints. Perfect for a powder room or bedroom, Turquoise is an evocative, spa-like hue that adds an undertone of warmth and excitement to any cool space. In the kitchen, Turquoise adds a unique flare to tabletop and appliances.

CABIN FEVER SALE!

2010-01-16T02:36:00.002-05:00

We hear you! The roads are finally passable, the temperature is above freezing, we even saw the sun peek out today...So we figured we need to have a sale because you need to get out. Please come see us this weekend we will be open Saturday and Sunday. And we will have some great specials on regular priced in stock merchandise: Pine Cone Hill PJ's up to 50% off, select Caldrea 50% off, some fabulous candles up to 5o% off, French Water L'eau 50% off, Natural Life 20% off, Cucina 20% off, Peacock Alley and Pine Cone Hill Bedding 20% off and select furniture is 20 - 30% off. There will be some other surprise savings too.

BLOG READER SPECIAL- Print this post and bring it with you to save 20% off one regular priced in stock item of your choice.

See you this weekend!

We Know The Feeling!

2010-01-10T21:17:00.003-05:00

We know how she feels...oh boy are we worn out! Sorry we've been out of touch but it has been "Atlanta Market Time" and while we are exhausted, we had a great time and we are really excited about the fabulous new lines that we have found for you! With our new bigger location and the fact that some of our current lines have now been picked up by other stores in Blue Ridge we wanted to really spend some time searching for great new products...We found more than a dozen new lines!! We are also thrilled with the new items that some of our existing lines introduced. Caldrea fans you will love their new fragrance and the new Pine Cone Hill beds are beautiful! Keep checking our blog for more details. See you soon!

Happy New Year From Gatewood Hall!

2010-01-01T00:55:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year to all of you from Gatewood Hall Gracious Home! We hope that this will be a wonderful year for you and your loved ones! We also want to take this opportunity to say thank you for a great year we sincerely appreciate you! We are looking forward to an exciting new year at our new location. We plan on bringing you the best, and most unique merchandise with the best service experience in Blue Ridge! Stop in this weekend for our NEW YEARS BLOW OUT SALE!! There will be some outrageous savings ranging from 20% to 60% off of the items you love!! See you soon!

Merry Christmas From Gatewood Hall

2009-12-25T20:34:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas! We hope you all had a wonderful and happy holiday with your loved ones! Tomorrow we will start our annual after Christmas sale. All holiday merchandise is 50% off and all regular priced merchandise is 20% off. YES THAT INCLUDES THE WHOLE STORE, FURNITURE, ART, AND LINENS!! There will also be some other surprise savings so please do come in and see us! (The Fine print- In store items only, no previous sales, no special orders, all sale items are final)

Last Minute Christmas Shopping!!

2009-12-24T01:10:00.002-05:00

Happy Christmas Eve Day! Have any last minute holiday shopping left? Are you like me and always leave the toughest people on your list until the last?...If so please do come on in and see us! We have several great gift ideas to help you, many items are on sale and as always remember we offer free gift bags and wrapping to our customers. All holiday merchandise is now 30% off (woo hoo!) and there are still some great things available that would make very wonderful, thoughtful gifts. Please note we will close a little early today, probably around 1PM. If we don't get to see you today we want to wish you a very merry Christmas!! Enjoy your holidays!

Holiday Sale This Weekend!

2009-12-10T21:07:00.004-05:00

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday all holiday merchandise is on sale 25% off! Great savings on all Christmas ornaments, napkins, books, CDs and candles! Come in early before all of the "good stuff" is gone. See you this weekend! We hope you are enjoying your holiday season!

Preferred Customer Holiday Open House

2009-12-07T01:44:00.001-05:00

Just in case we don't have your mailing address and we missed sending you a "paper invite", I wanted to make sure that our blog readers knew about our preferred customer holiday open house tomorrow night 6-8 pm.

We will be open late (as will our neighbors The Little Shop and Love Dogs & Cats Too) with some great prizes, delicious refreshments and wonderful holiday savings just for you! Please try to make it...it won't be the same without you!

Gatewood Hall Is Moving To The Old Post Office!

2009-12-05T01:21:00.008-05:00

Yes it's true! We are finally happy to announce that we are moving and expanding with more of what you love! (We actually signed the lease this time before making our announcement!) We are taking the old Blue Ridge Post Office on Depot Street, just next to the Blue Ridge Brewery. We are so excited as we will have nearly three times the square footage! We have a huge, private parking lot for our guests, no stairs for you to climb and an actual covered loading dock for our furniture (oh the simple pleasures)!!

We are already getting lots of questions like, "Will your new store have a post office theme?" or "How will you decorate around the post office boxes?"...and several folks have made the comment "Will it be the same look as your store now?" So here are the answers to those burning questions...No post office theme, no decorating around the PO boxes (they took those with them). Finally, while we have loved the space we are in now, and we are so proud that we originated our "setting or stage" in Blue Ridge it is no longer original because others have tried to recreate it. So- while we promise that we will not change our overall business model, we will maintain our desire for unique and special merchandise, and we will not get rid of any of our exclusive brands that you love. We will remain constant to our passion for gracious living and helping you create the lifestyle that reflects who you are by staying beyond "the trendy"...With that said we do have some exciting changes in store and the "look of our stage" will not be the same...it will be better! Most importantly we will strive to be original, and always bring you an exceptional shopping experience.

WE LOVE WHAT WE DO! Every day we feel so very fortunate that we get to run our little business, do what we do, and be able to share it with you! Thank you for helping make our dream a reality.

We'll keep you posted on our progress! We are thinking that it will be early 2010 when we open our new location. Go over and take a peak inside before we cover up the windows and get to work setting the stage of our new destination! (Hey and say a little prayer that Shawn and I don't drive each other crazy in the process!!)

Light Up Blue Ridge!

2009-11-26T06:42:00.005-05:00

Gatewood Hall Gracious Home has been proud to be a sponsor of Light Up Blue Ridge as long as we have been in business. It is one of our favorite events, and one that you will not want to miss! You can't help but get into the wonderful holiday spirit, while strolling our historic downtown area. This year promises to be even better than last year and the volunteer committee has some wonderful activities planned.

The fun starts around 11:00 AM Saturday, November 28th, and continues throughout the day until 9:00 PM. Mr. & Mrs. Claus are expected to arrive on the train at 12:30 PM, there will be live music, face painting, free photos with Santa, a parade at 5:30 PM and the lighting of the great tree ceremony at 6:45. Don't forget that all of your favorite stores (like GH!!) will stay open late and many will be serving refreshments.

Please make it a tradition and come downtown for all of the fun. For more information regarding Light Up Blue Ridge please visit the website http://www.lightupblueridge.com/.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T06:20:00.004-05:00

We wish you a very happy Thanksgiving! Shawn and I are thankful for you our loyal customers, friends and family...as always we sincerely thank you for supporting us! And we couldn't miss this opportunity to say thank you to our GH gals Kelli and Rebecca for all of their hard work!

Stop in tomorrow for some great "black friday" savings throughout our store! (PS..You will also probably hear about some exciting news that is breaking for GH!! Stay tuned for details!!)

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas!

2009-11-24T11:08:00.007-05:00

It's that time again. The most wonderful time of the year! Christmas has arrived at Gatewood Hall Gracious home and we can't wait for you to see our new holiday items.

We have turned the bedroom into a Winter Wonderland, with neutrals, soft creams, whites and tans accented with silver, crystal and mercury glass. You will love Kelli's latest display bed! Be sure and check out our peace sign ornaments encrusted with crystals!

In the living and dining area we went with traditional holiday reds and greens. (Sorry our photos didn't turn our so you will just have to come in and see us!!)

Happy holidays! See you this weekend!

Corky, Shawn, Kelli and Rebecca

We Appreciate You! Thank You for Supporting Us!

2009-11-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

The 3/50 Project is one that we have supported for awhile now. Many of you have heard about it and discussed it with Shawn and I. For those of you who haven't please take a few minutes to read the press release below about the project's founder Cinda Baxter. One of my best friends Stan, in North Carolina sent this to me and suggested that I share it with you (by the way he is is not a retailer just a supporter of small businesses.)

We thought it was an appropriate time to say THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR SUPPORTING US! If we don't say it enough we really appreciate your business. We know that you could make your purchases at some large chain store or "back home" where some of you maintain a primary residence but instead, you wait and shop with us in downtown Blue Ridge and for that we THANK YOU! We are so passionate about what we do and we realize that without you we wouldn't have the opportunity to do it. We are excited about our future and our goal is to continue to bring you wonderful and unusual new merchandise while providing the best service possible...All while having great fun with you- our customers, our friends! Thanks for helping us to live our dream.

Former Retailer Provides Her Own Economic Stimulus Plan for Main Street

The 3/50 Project unites small business and consumers in stabilizing their local economy Minneapolis, MN, March 19, 2009 — Having been an independent stationery store owner for fourteen years, Cinda Baxter understood the pain felt by retailers when the economy sank and consumers held back. What began as an economic downturn in the autumn had become a psychological tsunami by March 1st.

What the country needed, in her opinion, was a meeting of the minds between two groups that held valuable stakes in the game—small business owners and members of their communities. Enter The 3/50 Project. With a tag line “Save your local economy three stores at a time,” the Project’s goal is to promote shopping in locally owned businesses while thanking customers for the positive impact that decision has on a local economy.

“We’re constantly inundated with doom and gloom,” says Baxter, now a retail consultant and professional speaker. “The system is broken, the banks are frozen, the economy is bleeding. That’s all we hear. The images painted by the media are ghastly and devoid of hope. What we need—what we crave—as a nation is to pinpoint areas where positive change can occur, then feel good about having promoted them.”

By early March, she’d decided enough was enough, and that it was time to give retailers ammunition to fight back with. Rather than get tangled in complex messaging and deployment, Baxter combined a straightforward theme, a free flyer, and her blog as the mechanism to launch The 3/50 Project.

“We ask consumers to think about which three stores they’d miss if they disappeared, then remind them to return there,” explains Baxter. “Shoppers have become so rooted in thinking about the essentials that they’ve forgotten about the little gift store on the corner whose owner remembers their name.”

“Fifty comes from the idea that if even half the employed population spent a mere $50 per month in locally owned retail stores, those purchases would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue,” she continues. “That’s a huge impact for a relatively small investment.” Which leads to a third number on the flyer, sixty-eight—the dollar amount that remains in a community’s economy for every $100 spent in locally owned stores. By contrast, only $43 per one hundred remains local when spent in national chains; little or no revenue results from online purchases.

“In essence, the whole thing boils down to Pick 3, spend 50, save the economy. It’s really that simple.”

Since ease of use was key to store owners jumping on board, Baxter designed a free flyer for participants to download, print on any color printer, then hand to consumers with their purchases. “The idea is to look customers in the eye, put this right in their hands, and say ʻthank you for shopping in a locally owned storeʼ rather than just pop these in the bottom of a bag and hope someone sees them.”

Within 24 hours of providing the link on her blog, things began to light up. Retailers were sharing the flyer with other businesses. Property managers were spreading the news to tenants. Thank you notes were arriving via email every hour. Trade publications and blogs were asking about guest posts and columns promoting the plan, and a movie theater requested a copy large enough to display on their screens for waiting audiences to view. “The best part about 3/50 is that it’s so down to earth, so straightforward, so accessible,” reflects the enthusiastic champion of independent retailers. “This is a labor of love that store owners and customers can share.”

Given the level of interest, a dedicated website has been established to promote the movement, link to the free flyer, and list participating retailers and other supporters. It can be found at http://the350project.net/.