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Is it just me that feels like this Summer season has flown by?

Actually, this entire 2024 year is starting to feel a little bit like a blur. However, in many ways it feels like it was just January. Yet, here we are savoring the final weeks of Summer and all things Summertime. I always try my best to take it easy during the hot and humid months of Summer, especially down here in the Gulf Coast.

My body and my skin can't bear the heat, as I suffer with terrible heat rashes when my skin is exposed to the sun for even the shortest amount of time. So Summer for me is always filled with as much indoor activity as possible with the air condition blowing.

And, ironically for this particular Summer Recap newsletter, my Photographer, Stacy Marks and I shot indoors instead of our usual outdoor newsletter shoots. But that wasn't the original intention. We were set to shoot at a landmark, outdoor New Orleans location. However, the downpour of rain forced us to pivot and shoot indoors at the last minute.

As I recap all things Summer in this newsletter, I'd also like to share with you all how unexpected pivots are oftentimes God's way of redirecting our course or putting us on the path we're meant to be on in life's journey. More on that later...

Or, rather before I get too deep in that message, I'd like to acknowledge all of my new email subscribers and welcome you all to the

Allured By Design® family. I'm so happy to have each of you here and I look forward to sharing more of my home and lifestyle world with all of you.

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All Photo Stills of Tachic Hickman-Piazza were shot on location by

Stacy Marks Photography

As many of you already know but especially for my new email subscribers...

I use my newsletters as a way to go beyond the world of interiors and home decor. And, more of a way to connect with you all if possible on a deeper level by addressing things going on in our world and things that we may all be dealing with in some form or fashion.

My newsletters also serve as an opportunity for me to highlight my hometown and most favorite city in the world, New Orleans...showcasing a mixture of beautiful city exteriors and cultural landmarks.

But most importantly, my newsletters are meant to be a source of light and hope. In these current and uncertain times...

Anything that brings light I believe is always welcome.  

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So the last time we spoke in newsletter format, I'd just returned from yet another amazing Italian vacation. My Husband and I celebrated his 50th Birthday with a late Spring trip to Italy touring eleven cities in total, including our favorite Italian city of Florence. And, for the first time ever, we finally visited the island of Sicily.

If you missed my Spring Recap 2024 Newsletter, it's such a treat!!

But, you can always catch up by clicking here.

As Springtime turned into days of Summer, my schedule was both busy, yet simultaneously relaxing and still. As I mentioned earlier, I always try my best to take it easy during the unbearable heat of Summer. Yet, sometimes life has other plans and my schedule takes a life of its own. Thankfully, this Summer season has been a good, tolerable pace of busy but not overwhelming.

The moments of relaxation and being still has evoked deep reflection about life, my journey, my dreams & goals, losses I've endured, where I am currently and where I'm headed. In addition, I've had time to reflect on all of the instances I've had to reroute and make pivots...which brings me back to the message I began sharing earlier.

So let's dive into that, shall we? I think we shall.

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The day Stacy and I shot the beautiful visuals for this newsletter, was also the day I filmed my "Christmas In July" segment on Great Day Louisiana. In an effort to take advantage of me already being in full hair and makeup and in the exact suit I wanted to be in, I thought it best for Stacy and I to shoot right after I was done with filming.

How come? I was trying out this new, quick weave bob style that I debuted for my Spring trip to Italy. Fell in love with it and had it re-installed for the Summer in a lighter honey blonde color. But by the time the day of my shoot came...I didn't have another day or week left to give to this hair, OK!!! My scalp was in full itch mode and screaming to be thoroughly washed, conditioned and set free!!

So separating my shoots was absolutely not an option at this point. Filming for Great Day Louisiana and shooting my Summer Recap newsletter had to all take place on the same day...Because, ultimately I really wanted to have this hairstyle included in a professional shoot to share with you all.

And, I knew immediately after I wrapped up filming the

"Christmas In July" segment...This hair was saying good-bye!! So it was either we take advantage of it all on the same day or not at all. And, being the ever so ambitious and determined woman that I am, not even a down pour of rain was going to stop my photo shoot from happening.

So what did we do? We pivoted and moved our outdoor shoot to an indoor shoot instead. But here's the message...

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I had been visually planning the look of what my Summer Recap newsletter would look like for quite some time. I knew I would be rocking this beautiful, yellow-linen pants suit with the beauty of the intended outdoors location behind me in the backgrond. When the rain came, I wasn't yet moved to pivot. However, once it became clear that the rain wouldn't let up and the streets began flooding...I was forced to change my plans.

In addition, I was absolutely not trying to have rain and mud ruin my suit!! No Ma'am!! No Sir!!

As such, Stacy and I headed out to Metairie, where the rain was no more than a drizzle. I parked my vehicle at Lakeside Mall and sat still in my car to think and figure out next steps. I knew pretty much all of the management staff in most of all of the home furnishings and decor shops in the mall. From the larger brands to the smaller boutiques, I have a direct relationship with them all and they all know me the moment I walk in their stores.

My first thought was to go inside of Pottery Barn, as I have a design trade account with them. But I aborted that idea almost immediately because PB had already begun their early Fall transition and this shoot was all about late Summer. The outdoors here in New Orleans allows me the freedom to shoot my quarterly newsletters at any given time during whatever season. But indoor shoots, unless pre-staged...limits your control of what the season actually is.

I needed an interior that was not only luxurious but also season neutral. And, Just Like That...I walked into RH Gallery, spoke to the management staff and immediately secured my location for my shoot. Having an existing relationship with the staff I'm sure helped, as it's no easy feat to spontaneously or last minute get approved to shoot in a location without any previous conversations being had.

The approval to shoot was one I was most grateful for and didn't at all take for granted. Occurrences such as this is the reason I greatly pride myself on building strong relationships with brick and mortar stores.

As you support them, they in return will also support you.

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As I walked around and took in the showroom floor of

Restoration Hardware, which is the name RH Gallery is popularly known by...I immediately realized, that this was always where this particular shoot was supposed to take place.

That realization became even more clear the minute I saw the first few images Stacy captured. Stay with me, as I work to add more context to this message...

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My newsletters as you all know are purposefully intended to go beyond interiors. So the visual focus is always more on beautiful exteriors and outdoor landmark locations. In addition, my newsletters tap more into the lifestyle content of my brand than it does home design. But as I'd been sitting still and reflecting this Summer season...I was so eager to share some new and beautiful interior visuals with you all.

If nothing else, to ensure my audience that design is still at the very beating heart of my brand and although lately I've been quite heavy on the lifestyle content...lifestyle has not taken over. I do believe that God hears all of our thoughts and unspoken prayers, as the forced pivot allowed me to come back to the roots of my brand and share with you all my love for beautiful interiors and exquisite design.

The luxury suit that I envisioned in an outdoor setting seemed now like a distant memory, as I took in how perfectly it aligned with the refined, luxurious and high-end backdrop of RH Gallery. And, yes while it's only a photo shoot...the message itself is so much bigger!!

The message itself is this...

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While we busy ourselves making plans, God is making even bigger and grandeur plans to either set or keep us on our course. Or, to even force us to pivot from our original plans so what he has destined for us all comes to pass.

In these images, I could finally see a glimpse of the woman I'm becoming, the woman I've long desired to be. I see a glimpse of the future I dream of and the level of success I aim for, including the empire I envision building with the many endeavors I plan to execute. I can honestly tell you that I've never seen that woman in any of my photo or video shoots. For the first time ever, I saw her in this shoot.

I saw the future of endless potential and possibility!!

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What I saw and what I see...all stemmed from a forced or unexpected change of plans. A necessary pivot that resulted in a clear, concise message and a moment that was always supposed to happen without me even knowing it.

I truly hope if not all, some of you really get the message behind this story of pivoting. For many, change or a change of plans can be extremely hard. But it can also be beautiful, if we simply embrace it.

With change, comes lessons that are worth learning and growing from.

As seasons change, so do we. At some point, we all have to come to terms with a necessary change, an unexpected reroute, or a need to simply pivot.

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 Now, for those of you who've been following my brand since the beginning or at least for quite some time, you'll already know my love for RH Gallery runs very deep. I have several pieces of their furniture in my home and also one of my favorite daily, monogrammed robes comes from Restoration Hardware. Many of the furniture pieces in my home from RH Gallery are shown in my home tour video.

You can view it by clicking here.

My robe in particular became a fan favorite with many inquiries being sent my way asking for the source details. I debuted my robe for my 2020 Holiday Look. To see it, click here and here.

Also, as much as I'm a hardcore advocate for supporting small businesses and shopping in local design boutiques...there are indeed several big brand stores I love as well. When my Husband and I began the process of building our home eleven years ago, RH Gallery was one of the first interior design stores I began sourcing furniture from. I've always loved their refined and luxury aesthetic. In addition, I loved even more their passion for recreating historic pieces of furniture from previous centuries and from various countries and continents.

Being born and raised in the city of New Orleans, a city that prides itself on historic preservation...I think it's hard for any native New Orleanian to not have some kind of appreciation for antiques. I just so happen to absolutely love the aesthetic of pairing the old with the new, representing the charm of things of the past with the beauty of the modern world.

Restoration Hardware specializes in this very approach to design and they do it so darn well. The craftsmanship of their pieces never cease to amaze me. And, even though in recent years, they've evolved to appeal to a more modern aesthetic...their love for pairing the old with the new is still ever present.

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To date one of my favorite collections from Restoration Hardware is their Thaddeus Forged Iron Collection. It was first introduced in 2017.

I remember my jaw dropping wide open the minute the debut of the collection hit my email. I just remember being so mesmerized by the beauty of the entire collection and even more allured by each of the looks RH Gallery put together with this stunning collection.

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The Thaddeus Collection is described as Forged By Fire. It merges the rustic sensibility of hand-forged iron with cool Italian Carrara marble. Employing an ancient fabrication process, artisans hand hammer the metal bars to reveal an alive, imperfect and organic texture.

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I'm a huge fan of hand hammered metal accents!! As someone that appreciates the beauty of antiques and find charm in organic imperfections...it was only natural for me to fall in love with everything about The Thaddeus Collection.

While I don't personally own any of the pieces within the collection just yet, please know that it's been on my dream home mood & vision board since its debut. The style of my current home doesn't quite fit

The Thaddeus Collection. Oh, but the plans I have for the future!!

And, that's not to say that my current home isn't beautiful. I'm sure you all know how much I love my home and have invested (and continue to invest) into the beautification of "House Piazza."

However, as a Designer I'm also very aware of scale and space...and of course the overall aesthetic of how each piece in a home tells a much better design story when it all harmoniously ties in together.

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The Thaddeus Collection is one that's so well designed and so luxurious it's imperative that everything in the home only compliments its beauty and works well with it - from the height of the ceilings to the finishes & architectural features within the home to the flooring down to every single detail and accent.

In my honest opinion, I'd need to completely update and redo most of the rooms in my home to accommodate such refinement. Otherwise, I would run the risk of pieces of the collection looking out of place in my current home. This is where understanding not just good design but also smart design comes in handy.

For example...updating your furnishings and decorative pieces, yet leaving your home finishes and lighting accents (ceiling fans, chandeliers, pendants, flush mounts, etc...) outdated will stick out like a sore thumb and honestly either ruin or work against the beauty of your updates. Design can be a very expensive investment and for most of us, myself included, we have to go at a pace that financially works best for our pockets. This oftentimes means updating our home in phases.

But here's the thing...there's absolutely nothing wrong with updating our homes in phases or one room at a time. The key is making sure we finish the overall task and ultimately complete the rooms we've started, without leaving multiples rooms touched, yet incomplete. Otherwise, there's no real unison or harmony of a great design story being told in your home. What you have instead is an interrupted flow.

An uninterrupted flow of great design with everything in harmony and all working together room by room is a far better living space to walk in each and everyday. Mentally and emotionally it's a game changer!!

And, dare I say even spiritually. A harmonious home with a great flow of design can and will uplift your senses and your mood each and every time.

In addition, it evokes a sense of pride and deep gratitude simply for the feelings you feel every time you set foot in your home. Every time you visually see and experience the design story of your home being told from the time, care, attention to detail and money you've invested into creating the beautiful sanctuary that is your home...is an experience that's not only humbling but also priceless.

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I, for one care very deeply about the design stories I want each of the rooms in my home to tell. I also care about the feelings each room evokes when I walk in them. I love the design story my current home tells. It's one that showcases my love for color, particularly the color blue. But also showcases my love and appreciation for neutral palettes and the pairing of vintage things with those that are modern and new.

The vision I have for my dream home tells a similar design story but on a much larger scale, where refined luxury will without a doubt take center stage. The story will be told in a way that I've long been both inspired by and greatly admire all of the amazing design stories RH Gallery shares with us through each of their gorgeous collections.

Also, I have to say I truly love how Restoration Hardware has evolved over the years and what the brand has evolved into. RH Gallery is no longer just a fine furnishing store. They're now a full-fledged lifestyle experience...with many of their show galleries now having luxury dining restaurants on location to dine in.

In addition, they also have the RH private jet and yacht experiences, and even an RH Guesthouse of luxury designed apartments and suites to rent for short term leases in New York.

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To learn more about RH Gallery restaurants and which locations offer this luxury, fine dining experience, click here.

To learn more about RH Gallery private jet and expedition yacht experiences, click here.

To learn more about RH Gallery New York Guesthouse and the cost to rent, click here.

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Restoration Hardware has truly expanded on their passion for creating luxury and are clearly working to consistently appeal to all of their consumers who aim to live and lead a luxurious lifestyle. However, the more I live, learn and grow...I've come to realize and understand that luxury means something different to each person. Not everyone's idea of luxury is the same.

Luxury for some is as simple as a good meal, while for others it's being surrounded by or immersed in a beautiful environment. But I think ultimately luxury goes beyond the physical and it's much more of a feeling or an experience.

My love for RH Gallery has always at its core been tied to the feelings evoked whenever I set foot onto one of their showroom floors. It is a complete experience like none other and if you've never visited one of their stores, I can't encourage you enough to do so and then come back and tell me what that experience was like for you.

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The very first time I visited the New York location in the meatpacking district a few Summers ago, I was literally almost moved to tears to be surrounded by such attention to detail and so much elegance in everything crafted. Experiences like that oftentimes inspire us to dream bigger and even encourage us to envision ourselves in settings like that on a regular basis.

I returned to that same New York location last year to celebrate my 44th Birthday at their rooftop restaurant. It was myself, my Husband and my best friend who lives in New Jersey. The three of us sat, dined, dreamed, lived, indulged and had the most amazing experience at the location of a home furnishing and now lifestyle brand that I've been a loyal client of for the last decade.

For me, that moment was all about the feelings that came along with that dining experience...from the stellar service to being surrounded by all things opulent to most importantly celebrating it with the people I love. It was an experience I thoroughly enjoyed and look forward to experiencing it again and again in other locations.

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Rest assured, one of my big dreams is to do an RH Gallery city and country tour. I'd like to personally visit more of their locations in various cities here in the states and also in other countries where their showroom floors are legendary for being even more grandeur and palatial.

And, who knows? Just maybe at some point, I'll incorporate visiting an RH Gallery location into one of my customized, design-based international group trips.

You'll have to stay tuned for that, myself included. 😉

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What We’re Up To

As I mentioned far earlier in this newsletter, the Summer season for me has been a mixture of busy and relaxing. Busy in a way of having a host of things on my plate to handle as usual. Yet, relaxing in a way where my schedule hasn't been overwhelmingly busy with little to no time for sleep or no moments of relaxation. Or, no room for flexibility.

Don't get me wrong...I love being busy and I love the act of being productive with my time. I love the feeling of accomplishment that comes along with executing and completing things on my to do list. However, I've never been a fan of or enjoyed the kind of busy that's stress and anxiety inducing.

Give me busy and highly productive at a manageable pace any day over busy and stressed the hell out. So whenever my schedule allows for me to stay busy but still have some much needed time to myself, I'm always most grateful for seasons like that.

My design segments on Great Day Louisiana most definitely kept me booked and busy this Summer season. Prepping for each segment and appearance and then onto filming them definitely requires a lot of work. And, then promoting my segments calls for more work. But, it's work that I highly enjoy doing and I'm always so thankful for each opportunity I'm given to make an appearance on the show, as a Guest Designer.

If you missed any of my Summer design segments on Great Day Louisiana this season, click here, here and here.

I've also been very busy with my travel partnership with EF Go Ahead Tours. My first group trip to Florence, Italy takes place next year in late Spring, May 2025. As the Host, Curator and Group Coordinator of this trip...I've been very busy with keeping all of my registered participants up to date with all pertinent information.

We're currently eight months out from departure and very soon the six month countdown will officially be on!! In addition to keeping busy with all things pertained to my group trip...I'll very soon begin preparing to travel back to Italy later this year for a business work/training tour in Rome with EF Go Ahead Tours. The countdown for that trip is officially on, as I'm only a little over a couple months out from departure.

Yet, at the moment my mind is focused on the few remaining spots I currently have available on my group trip to Florence, Italy next year. I had a few people cancel that could no longer commit to my trip. As such, it's opened up some spots for anyone aged 18 and over to claim.

I currently have two available rooms that can accommodate up to four people in total in either of the below ways...

1 person per each private room

2 people per each shared room

For clarity, the two available rooms can be used as private rooms for solo travelers, or as shared rooms for couples or anyone traveling together. Because I have no idea how long these rooms will be open and available...of course it's first come, first serve. So I can only encourage you all if interested in my trip, to please claim these seats as soon as possible.

To learn more about my group trip, including dates, trip cost, deposits, travel insurance and more...please review my most recent travel email campaign linked below.

OPEN SPOTS NOW AVAILABLE

https://shoutout.wix.com/so/3aP4FFZNf?languageTag=en

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To head directly to my travel site, view my daily itinerary, register, and sign up for my group trip please click the link below.

JOIN ME IN ITALY

 https://www.grouptoursite.com/tours/florence-allured-by-design-2025

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If you're brand new to my blog or to my email list and would like access to content released prior to you joining the Allured By Design® family...

You can always head to the home page of my website and peruse about, where you'll find all of my video content. To head there, click here.

Also, if you'd like access to previously released newsletters from the beginning up until now, my links page on my website will grant you access to each one.

In addition, my links page will grant you access to press articles and my Vimeo and YouTube Channels. The Allured By Design® YouTube Channel is where you'll find all episodes of my limited web series titled, Boutique Shopping Saturdays With Allured By Design.

My YouTube Channel also includes behind the scenes footage from my web series and a recap video of my local premiere.

To access all of that content, click here.

For anyone not following me on my social platforms, I can't encourage you enough to do so. There is where you'll always find a host of seasonal home and lifestyle inspiration where I use my home,

#HousePiazza as my main portfolio, mixed in with select client projects.

I also share a lot of design inspiration I find in my travels on my social platforms.

Also on my social platforms, you'll find additional photo stills from various shoots, reels and videos that aren't shared in my newsletters or blogposts. My handle is the same everywhere...

@alluredbydesign

Facebook + Instagram + Threads + TikTok + YouTube + Vimeo

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If indeed you're a novice Allured Love and not precisely sure what this brand of mine is all about...

Is she a Designer?

Is she a Filmmaker?

Is she a Creative?

Is she a Producer?

Is she a Writer?

Is she a Storyteller?

Is she a Travel & Luxury Lover?

Is she a Fashionista?

Allow me to clear up any ambiguity...

Allured By Design® is a Home & Lifestyle multimedia brand where Interior Design, Life, Luxury, Art, Culture, Travel, Fashion and Filmmaking and the exquisite art of creative storytelling all intersect and are all celebrated.

Here is where you'll always find me working to celebrate and share with each of you, all that I love and all that my brand represents. 

As we very soon get ready for a change of weather with the incoming season of Fall, let's all relish in our final days and weeks of Summer and the warmth that it brings.

As always, thank ya'll for rocking with me!!

I'm forever grateful and humbled.

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Until next time...

⚜️Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler⚜️

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