• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • MEET CHRISTY & AMY
    • IF YOU’RE NEW HERE…
    • WORK WITH US
    • 11 MAGNOLIA LANE 101
    • DISCLOSURE + PRIVACY (the fine print)
    • BEST OF 11 MAGNOLIA LANE
  • TOUR OUR HOMES
    • TOUR OUR HOMES
    • CHRISTY’S MAGNOLIA COTTAGE
    • CHRISTY’S MCC HOUSE
    • Christy’s Stuttgart Flat
    • Amy’s Virginia Craftsman Home Tour
    • AMY’S VIRGINIA CRAFTSMAN Building Process
    • HOLIDAY HOME TOUR SERIES
  • CELEBRATIONS
    • EVENTS + ENTERTAINING
    • GIFTS
    • HOLIDAYS
    • RECIPES
  • HOME
    • CLEANING
    • DECORATING
    • ORGANIZING
    • ROOM BY ROOM
      • BATHROOMS
      • BEDROOMS
      • CLOSETS
      • CRAFT ROOMS + OFFICES
      • DINING ROOMS
      • KIDS’ ROOMS
      • KITCHENS
      • LAUNDRY ROOMS
      • LIVING + GREAT ROOMS
      • OTHER SPACES
      • PANTRIES
      • PLAYROOMS + BONUS ROOMS
      • PORCHES + OUTDOOR SPACES
    • TIPS
  • SHOP
    • SHOP OUR INSTAGRAM
    • SHOP OUR AMAZON STORE
    • FRIDAY FAVORITE FINDS
  • PROJECTS
    • CRAFTS
    • DIY PROJECTS + TUTORIALS
    • FURNITURE
    • PRINTABLES
    • WINDOWS, DOORS, + WALLS
  • LIFE
    • FRIDAY FREE FOR ALL
    • HEALTH
    • SIMPLY ON SUNDAY
  • TRAVEL
  • CONTACT
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

11 Magnolia Lane

Sharing our easy DIYs, decorating, entertaining and more!

The Kitchen Photoshoot is in the Can!

May 31, 2012 By Christy 18 Comments

This Post Contains Affiliate Links

237 shares
  • 45

Woohoo!  It’s done–except for waiting for the issue to come out.  The team from Better Homes & Gardens Real-Life Kitchens & Baths Magazine (say that five times, fast!) descended on Nashville last week and, after shooting some fabulous, high-end spaces, they came to my humble abode.  So what did I do?  Headed to Disney World, of course, with my family!

Real-Life Kitchens & Baths features kitchen redos done on a budget

Seriously.  I wasn’t here for what will probably be the one-and-only photo shoot of my entire lifetime.  Because as luck would have it, they decided to come to town during the ONLY week in the first half of 2012 when we had plans…plans we’d made last November, and paid for last December.  The hubby will be gone for work all summer, and next summer we’ll be moving again, which always means no vacation, so we didn’t have many options but just to go to Florida!

I called in reinforcements–two of my bestest friends, Carolyn and Andrea–and asked them if they could “be me” for the day.  Here they are:

Carolyn, Andrea, and me, at one of our military formals

We’re not normally dressed like aging prom queens…here’s a real-life snap:

Carolyn, me, and Andrea

Yes, we’re in a ladies’ rest room in the above picture.  Where do you hang out with your girlfriends?!

So, these two dear friends drove to my house early in the morning to meet Bonnie Broten, the editor who “discovered” my shoestring-redo of a kitchen here at 11 Magnolia Lane (read the redo posts HERE and HERE, or check out our truly magazine-worthy old kitchen HERE).  She was accompanied by the photographer and the photographer’s assistant.  I had left them a sparkling clean kitchen and cleared the counters of everything that made it look like people actually USED the kitchen!

Prior to the shoot, I sent Bonnie lots of pictures of “props,” also known as “stuff I have collecting dust in my cupboards.”

She and the editors had decided on pink as the accent color to make my beige and white kitchen “pop.”

I left all the props on the dining room table, and left the crew and my girls some snacks and a fridge stocked full of water and soda.  Then I snuck out of town!

While the pantry wasn’t included in the shoot, I still feel like a new woman after tackling that dreadful space and making it awesome!

I can’t show any of their photos, of course, because that would spoil the surprise, but the girls did shoot a few behind the scenes snaps for me.

Carolyn and Andrea report that much of the work of a photo shoot involves lighting the shot, checking it again and again on the computer and having it approved via internet before snapping the final pic.  They texted me to get the password for our wireless network, but other than that, I didn’t hear a peep.

I love how the area that’s being photographed is *perfect* and there’s a perfect mess everywhere else!  That’s exactly what I do when I’m taking pictures!

Those gorgeous peonies were on their last legs when we made it home from Florida, but they sure were pretty in the shoot!

The pink cushions were just for the shoot…this is what I usually have on my chairs:

There were a few minor hitches, of course.  The valance over the kitchen sink took about an hour to get draped and folded just the way they wanted, and the seagrass pendant shade over my kitchen table was hanging just a little crooked.  Andrea weighed one side with a metal clamp from my husband’s workbench and all was well…

Not everybody was happy with the fact that our kitchen was going to be in Better Homes & Gardens.  The cat was most definitely pissed (there’s really no other word for it).  He wanted to sleep under my bed and access was DENIED all day long!

Angry Kitty!

In the end, the girls and I decided that it was probably God’s plan that I be out of town for the shoot because they’re not sure I would have handled it well (as if!).  I promised them that when their kitchens are photographed for BH&G, I will help out while they go to Florida to relax!

They’re not sure exactly which issue we’ll be in, but chances are that it will be Spring of 2013.  That timeline is typical–you always hear about magazines shooting Christmas spreads in May and June–but of course it’s hard to wait.

I can’t thank Bonnie and her team enough (and of course Carolyn and Andrea, too!) for all their efforts.

Thanks for stopping by!

icon-facebook-1icon-instagram-1icon-mail-1icon-pinterest-1icon-twitter-1

Filed Under: General/About Us, Kitchens, Room Makeovers Tagged With: BH&G, budget, kitchen, magazine, redo

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mandi says

    May 31, 2012 at 11:40 am

    This is my first time coming by your blog and I’m excited to read more! Your kitchen is beautiful! We are in the midst of a whole home reno and part of that is a brand new kitchen. I took so much inspiration from your photos as I’d love my kitchen to look like yours. How exciting to be featured in a magazine! Congrats!! And love the pops of pink! Too fun!

    Reply
    • Christy says

      June 1, 2012 at 9:56 pm

      Thanks, Mandi. I’m glad you like it! Keep us posted on how your reno is going–I know it’s tough to be in the middle of all the upheaval, but you will be thrilled when it’s all done!
      ~Christy

      Reply
  2. Candy says

    May 31, 2012 at 9:08 pm

    CONGRATS……….how exciting, and you didn’t eeeeven have to be there. I’ll be lookin for you in the spring issue of BH&G. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Christy says

      June 1, 2012 at 9:56 pm

      Thanks, Candy. It was pretty cool that I got to skip town, huh?!

      Reply
  3. Chessa says

    May 31, 2012 at 10:27 pm

    Very cool! I look forward to seeing you in BH&G!

    Reply
    • Christy says

      June 1, 2012 at 9:57 pm

      Thanks, Chessa!

      Reply
  4. Joni Webb says

    June 1, 2012 at 3:43 am

    your kitchen looks adorable, but i am really really jealous over your pantry! i want mine to look just like yours!

    Joni

    Reply
    • Christy says

      June 1, 2012 at 9:58 pm

      Thank you, Joni. I can’t tell you how good it feels to have the pantry done!

      Reply
  5. janet metzger says

    June 1, 2012 at 5:08 am

    How fabulous was that!!!!! So happy for you and I am looking forward to seeing the issue when it hits the stands.

    Congrats!

    janet xox
    The Empty Nest

    PS…you and your gals are beautiful!!

    Reply
    • Christy says

      June 1, 2012 at 9:59 pm

      Thanks so much, Janet. As always, I appreciate the encouragement (and the kind words!). ~Christy

      Reply
  6. Liz says

    June 1, 2012 at 6:42 am

    How cool is this! What great friends that you could leave a magazine photo shoot to them. I’m new to your blog and found you at At the Picket Fence. Your kitchen is so sweet, beautiful and cozy. I look forward to seeing you in the glossy pages! How absolutely fun! Stop in and see me at Quirky Vistas sometime!
    Liz

    Reply
    • Christy says

      June 1, 2012 at 9:59 pm

      Thanks, Liz. I’ll be sure to stop by!!

      Reply
  7. Ellie says

    June 1, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    So cool! I can’t wait to read that issue when it comes out. Bummer you weren’t there for the shoot! I LOVE your pantry, by the way!

    Reply
    • Christy says

      June 1, 2012 at 10:00 pm

      Thanks, Ellie. I know, I hated to miss the shoot, but I have to believe that it was probably for the best. Glad you stopped by. ~Christy

      Reply
  8. Cristina says

    June 2, 2012 at 9:25 pm

    Congratulations Christy! Your kitchen is beautiful! I’ll be looking forward to see it again when the issue comes out!

    Reply
    • Christy says

      June 4, 2012 at 8:56 am

      Thanks, Cristina. I have no doubt that we’ll be seeing your kitchen in a magazine one day, too!

      Reply
  9. Shawne says

    June 3, 2012 at 4:14 pm

    Can’t wait to see it!! I hope you’ll let us know when the issue comes out!! Also, as someone who volunteers running a lost and found Facebook page for my local humane society, I say a big THANK YOU for putting a collar and a tag on your precious kitty!!! You have no idea how I wish other pet owners were as responsible!

    Reply
    • Christy says

      June 4, 2012 at 8:59 am

      Oh, yes, Shawne. We don’t want to lose our friend and have him not be able to find his way home! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Lowest prices. Straight Teeth,

•Don’t Miss A Thing!!•

•Do You Know Jesus?•

•Featured In•

Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Copyright © 2022 · 11 Magnolia Lane· Blog Design by Little Blue Deer
Privacy Policy

11 MAGNOLIA LANE IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR US TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM AND AFFILIATED SITES. AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE, WE EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. WE ALSO PARTICIPATE IN SEVERAL OTHER AFFILIATE PROGRAMS; THIS INCOME ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF YOUR USER EXPERIENCE AND KEEPS OUR CONTENT FREE. WHEN YOU PURCHASE THROUGH ANY OF OUR AFFILIATE LINKS, WE EARN A SMALL COMMISSION AND YOU DON’T PAY A CENT MORE THAN YOU WOULD OTHERWISE; THAT WOULD BE TACKY!   READ OUR FULL PRIVACY AND DISCLOSURE POLICY {HERE}.
  ©11 Magnolia Lane 2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s authors and/or owners is strictly prohibited. Please email us at admin@11magnolialane.com for more information.

  • MEET CHRISTY & AMY
    • IF YOU’RE NEW HERE…
    • WORK WITH US
    • 11 MAGNOLIA LANE 101
    • DISCLOSURE + PRIVACY (the fine print)
    • BEST OF 11 MAGNOLIA LANE
    • Back
  • TOUR OUR HOMES
    • TOUR OUR HOMES
    • CHRISTY’S MAGNOLIA COTTAGE
    • CHRISTY’S MCC HOUSE
    • AMY’S NEW HOME BUILD
    • HOLIDAY HOME TOUR SERIES
    • SPRING HOME TOUR SERIES
    • Back
  • CELEBRATIONS
    • EVENTS + ENTERTAINING
    • GIFTS
    • HOLIDAYS
    • RECIPES
    • Back
  • HOME
    • CLEANING
    • DECORATING
    • ORGANIZING
    • ROOM BY ROOM
      • BATHROOMS
      • BEDROOMS
      • CLOSETS
      • CRAFT ROOMS + OFFICES
      • DINING ROOMS
      • KIDS’ ROOMS
      • KITCHENS
      • LAUNDRY ROOMS
      • LIVING + GREAT ROOMS
      • OTHER SPACES
      • PANTRIES
      • PLAYROOMS + BONUS ROOMS
      • PORCHES + OUTDOOR SPACES
      • Back
    • TIPS
    • Back
  • SHOP
    • SHOP OUR INSTAGRAM
    • SHOP OUR AMAZON STORE
    • FRIDAY FAVORITE FINDS
    • 11 ML ETSY SHOP
    • 11ML ORGANIZING SHOP
    • Back
  • PROJECTS
    • CRAFTS
    • DIY PROJECTS + TUTORIALS
    • FURNITURE
    • PRINTABLES
    • WINDOWS, DOORS, + WALLS
    • Back
  • LIFE
    • FRIDAY FREE FOR ALL
    • HEALTH
    • SIMPLY ON SUNDAY
    • TRAVEL
    • Back
  • CONTACT
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
237 shares
  • 45