The Artful Dwelling

Storytelling Through Design

I love stories. I am a self-admitted Pollyanna. I have been wandering lately through a lot of different stories. I have also been inspired by many different mediums, photography, wood, metal, jewelry, fabric, and lots of other things.

I just had the experience of a lifetime, and one to check off the bucket list. I just got back from South Africa. I have wanted to go to Africa since I was very little. I have traveled outside the US before, but going to South Africa made my mind explode. So many stories in that country, good and bad. I witnessed so much that colors my world now.

I saw a giraffe hiding in the trees as I caught air on an ATV. I felt the giant, slimy, pink tongues of elephants as I fed them. I got wet from the spray that comes out their trunks as they get mad when you walk away from giving them snacks. I saw the truest color of tawny, tawny lions as they walked silently through the same color tawny grass and cross the road about 20 yards from us. I saw a very non-attractive wildebeast, stand by himself, stomp and snort at the lions passing by, like "I see you wandering towards my herd, STOP IT". I witnessed tribal workers in our hotel protest being treated horribly by another ethnic group-but their protest was not violent, it was joyous, vibrant, resilient, and wonderfully musical. I witnessed prejudice towards us, American white people-story was because the local platinum mine had shot workers protesting to get more wages. The same local mine is sponsoring my new found friend's daughter to come to America to college.  Flew down the longest zip line and felt like I was actually flying like a bird. Cried when I left this amazing country and my new found friend wondering how she was going to make it when she kissed her daughter goodbye to go to a city, Washington DC, when she did not even know where it is. I got to put my hands on fantastic hand-made, local products that I want to bring to the United States.  

How do I weave such stories into people's homes and lives? It's such an honor and pleasure to have this challenge, and offer my gifts and talents to do so. I've got so many ideas, projects, products to show you! I get rather hyper about it. It's all about listening, listening to a person or a families story and translating that into colors, accessories, furniture, art, rugs, and lots of other ideas.

You'll get to see more of what I have found on various media-on this blog, facebook as Dwell Nashville, Zazzle as The Artful Dwelling, Pinterest as Dwell Nashville, and The Artful Dwelling. My story has lots of facets, so I have a couple of alias' floating around.

If you'd like me to be involved in your story and your home, please email or call me. I would love to help.

 

 

Relocating to Nashville?

Relocating to Nashville?  Would you like to take a tour of Nashville, experience the culture, and look into real estate?

There are so many questions when you move that create a lot of stress and soaks up your time. Myself and two other women, small business owners, have created the brand of Gal Friday.  We offer Concierge Services to help answer those questions. We offer Relocation Services to make the move easier for you. We can call the gas company for you, find you movers, unpack and set you up in your new home, offer interior design and renovation services. We are not like Angie's list--we are a family companies that all know each other, vouch for each other, and will get the job done right. You can reach us through one phone call and we manage everything.

Most people call a real estate agent first when they are planning to move.  However, by law, a real estate agent cannot give you the skinny on traffic, neighborhoods, schools, give quick estimates on remodeling, or see how a house can be changed to fit your needs. A realtor may send you a list of 20-30 homes that fit your criteria. If you don't know the area, it's hard to cut that list down. Our real estate consultant can help narrow that list down quickly, and save you and the realtor time and money. A realtor can give you a list of schools to go visit, a list of movers, a list of architects to interview....That's where we come in! We are your extra set of eyes, ears, hands, and basically your clone!

For LifeStyle Management, we can buy your groceries, walk your dog, be your virtual assistant, have house cleaners show up, organize your things, be the voice of reason (you don't need those pacifiers anymore, your kids are grown!) or run your whole life, if you don't want to. Give us a call!

You can find us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gal-Friday/504228829588504

Welcome

Welcome to The Artful Dwelling. I am Patricia Parrott, Owner and Creator of this unique design experience. I am an interior and exterior design consultant in the Nashville, TN area. However, I love to create more than just good design. I love to create a whole experience that can appeal to more than just one of your senses. Along with great design, I combine art, photography, and food on this blog to make this a very unique experience.

My love of life, family, friends, colors, textures, fabrics, furniture, food and more all culminate into one unique designer package, offering my clients someone who will not only listen to what they are saying, but a designer who can then take those ideas and turn them into reality.

Whether it’s a re-model, new construction or dream stage, I love working one on one with builders and families to design a home that will reflect how a particular family actually lives.

My wish is that through a small piece of advice or a delicious food recipe, I can assist my clients in creating their own artful dwelling and respite, so that their home is a special place where magic happens.

If you need help with a remodel, addition, or new construction and would like your home to reflect your personality, lifestyle, and how you really live, connect with me.  I'd like to chat with you.  Maybe have a cup of “virtual coffee” and discuss your design thoughts and dreams. I also seem to have a lot of funny things happen to me in my pursuit of my passions, so I am all for being real! I’ll post all my funny adventures here on the blog!

Enjoy!

Pat