Project 366...

[deltamiss]

Project 366 called early today. ;)

Last week (or maybe week before last) Portraiture by Melanie earned the Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce Visual Improvement Award. What an honor! Granted, Melanie and Jeff had little to do with the outside renovations of the building, but still...

The historic building faces west, and the sun was just peeking over the tops of the tall buildings when I took this picture. I hate the reflection of the buildings across the street obscure the window display, but I forgot to recharge the battery in the camera and could only get two pictures before it went dead. :( You can at least see the difference in Melanie's studio and the ratty building next door. Basically, that's what Melanie's looked like until the redo...maybe worse.

Yep, I'm proud of Mel and Jeff. They have worked so diligently to build their business and the hard work has paid off. :D

Photo of the Day...'First Award'...I expect there'll be many more.

Comments

I'd be proud too!

[kattraks.livejournal.com]

They have every right to be proud of this venture, the building, the interior, the photographs, all of it is A1 and excellent in everyway.
Of course, you know me. I'd be proud as all get out just to know this couple, much less if it were my daughter!! *hands you a magic wand and grants you the ability to BRAG loud and long*

Re: I'd be proud too!

[deltamiss.livejournal.com]

Hahahahaha! Thanks for the wand. I'm sure I'll be using it A LOT. :D

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Take a full facade picture when you can, please? The bit I see looks wonderful and what a contrast to the brick horror next door. Congratulations to Mel and Jeff! And you, mom, have every right to be proud.
:)

(I kinda like the reflection of the building across the street. I may have asked before but what is the population of your town?

[deltamiss.livejournal.com]

I think Kinston's population is around 28,000 or so. The last census was in 2000 so I'm not really sure.

Go here to see a full tour of the building: http://unblinkable.livejournal.com/1163349.html

The inside is soooooo Melanie/Jeff!

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

WOW! The place is gorgeous!
No wonder you...and they....are so proud!
It's SO...big city?

I LOVE it! I wish I needed a photographer!
:)

[deltamiss.livejournal.com]

Isn't it grand?!?!

I think one of the reasons they won the award is because some of the people who make the decision were at the ribbon cutting and saw the inside, too.

It is big city sharp! The mayor even commented that Jeff looks like a NYC photographer. LOL! Jeff has semi-long hair...total contrast of our mayor's conservative style. :D

Mel and Jeff have great taste and are both very creative. I'm just more proud than I can put in words. :D

[unblinkable.livejournal.com]

Thank you!!! :D

[brendamom.livejournal.com]

This is a wonderful, light filled storefront. Congratulations are due.

[deltamiss.livejournal.com]

Yes, it IS wonderful! They are truly enjoying the studio. :D

[unblinkable.livejournal.com]

I decided that the building wouldn't look NEARLY as cool without my logo and window display. :D

[deltamiss.livejournal.com]

That is so true...otherwise it would just be a...building on a corner. :D

[unblinkable.livejournal.com]

Yeah... cause there are a couple of other buildings downtown that have done facade changes that didn't get this. I think it's the overall look and personality that won, and not just the fact that redid the facade.

[gen-here.livejournal.com]

Granted, Melanie and Jeff had little to do with the outside renovations of the building, but still...

OUCH!

I highly doubt that the building owner would have made the improvements if it were staying vacant!

[deltamiss.livejournal.com]

I didn't mean that as a slam, Genevieve. Melanie and Jeff didn't have much to say about the outside renovations done by the owners. If I recall, the building was slated for renovation before Melanie and Jeff signed on as occupants. I may be wrong about that, but I don't think so.

The inside, however, was ALL their doing and looks fabulous.

I'm very proud of Melanie and Jeff, and believe they deserve the award. If I hurt anyone's feelings by saying that they didn't design the outside, I apologize. I certainly didn't intend to do so.

[unblinkable.livejournal.com]

Well, we did have final approval on anything they did. Gram was very clear that, even though they wanted to do the corner entrance, it was my call. And they let me choose what they painted gray and what got painted the "brick color" to match the upper floors (since that wasn't anything they could see from the old black and white image they had of the bank). So I kinda feel like we were in it enough to count. :D

It wasn't slated for anything until we signed the 5 year lease. That was the condition before they opted to put a dime into it. That's also why so little else is being done downtown... we've got to find more businesses willing to sign on the dotted line so that building owners can feel safe about moving forward. Nasty catch-22.

[jazzyglo.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's great! Congratulations to Melanie!

[deltamiss.livejournal.com]

They deserve it, too! :D

I posted a link to a photo tour of the inside if you want to take a look. The link is in my reply to pondhopper. ;)

[jazzyglo.livejournal.com]

I saw the pictures. Wow! It's such a beautiful studio. They did an excellent job.

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

Congratulations to all involved. Very attractive, indeed.

[deltamiss.livejournal.com]

Melanie and Jeff have worked very hard to build the business. Acknowledgment of that is sweet. :D