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styling your bar // by michele

Any room with a bar, whether it be a coffee bar, wet bar, or dry bar makes us happy! They are equally functional as they are stylish, but sometimes styling them can feel overwhelming!

Here are a few tips to take away the guesswork!

Fresh flowers, herbs and garnishes are a must! Not only do they look pretty but they add color and can be used when mixing drinks for your guests
Corkscrews are easy to add to a bar-the more interesting, the better. I like to place them on a small decorative dish or bowl. Same goes for matches-I love a good match collection from places I've been or dined. It's a lovely reminder of festive times and often a conversation starter.
Trays are a must at a bar- they are a nice layering piece and allow you to group decanters, glasses or bottles together for the perfect moment!
It's all about the mix when styling the shelves. I like to use glassware on the 2 lowest shelves mixed in with decorative items like wooden or bone boxes, plates on stands, footed bowls, candlesticks and small pieces of art. It makes your bar feel more collected and visually interesting. When styling always remember to have items of varying heights on each shelf to keep the eye moving!

As much as the accessories complete the space, a good background will set the stage. I love using a high gloss paint, (or lacquer), antique mirror, or wallpaper for maximum impact in a small space!

Hope this helps as you prepare for hosting season! Cheers!

news from around the office

Is there anything better than fall? These -ber months bring so much coziness and fun tradition. We have some exciting things happening in the office over the next few months and we are so excited to share with you!

Michele has been in the full swing of back-to-school and all that comes with it. Volleyball season just ended, but dance team is starting up! She’s bouncing between games to make sure not to miss a second!

Erin has loved being back in the office the past few months. She’s looking forward to all of the family time and cool weather in the coming months.

Grace has officially started full time at MGI. She has been an incredible addition to the team! She just got back from Iceland where she spent lots of time outdoors chasing waterfalls.

We are wrapping up a few projects we have loved working on over the summer. Fall brings in some new inspo as well as some new projects. We can’t wait for you to see all of the stellar selections made within the MGI family. Make sure to follow along on instagram so you don’t miss a thing!

hot new bombshell: Chat GPT // by erin

Chat GPT has been such a hot topic in the office lately! We are pretty divided on how we see it, use it, and judge results. Here are our thoughts on it and how we see utilizing it in design:

PROS:

Chat GPT can give clarity. I personally use Chat to give detailed outlines for several things from meal plans and grocery lists to what my morning routine should look like during the summer vs. winter. We have used it in the office to give us blog post ideas and instagram content rollout plans. Having a search engine that compiles info from everywhere is really helpful.
Chat GPT can give some design insight. My aunt was recently painting the exterior of her home and was having a hard time picturing what it would look like. While Chat couldn’t produce an exact rendering of her house, it gave some examples that gave her some peace. (Side note: I have found an app that uses AI to create renderings of your home with specific paint colors- we ended up using that instead!)
Chat GPT gives an answer instead of a research project. When we google questions, we are met with links that we have to sort through to find the answer we are looking for. Chat GPT just answers the question right away. For example, we needed quick standard measurements for a bunk bed in a 10ft. tall room. Chat GPT was able to produce a quick answer instead of us having to sort through and read about how to build a bunk bed. So much quicker!

CONS:

Chat GPT doesn’t always have the right answers. Crazy, I know. Recently I was trying to think of a book that I had read something in. I asked Chat and it gave me the name of a book I had never read. I asked a follow up, “Are you sure it isn’t ____.” It corrected itself and said that that was the correct book. Use at your own risk and discernment!
Chat GPT still has a long way to go on renderings. Have you seen the AI photos of people with 6 fingers? It was crazier when I asked for a rendering of my aunt’s house and it gave me this cartoon version.
Chat GPT. is making us dumber. MIT has found that Chat GPT users have lower brain engagement, impaired memory and lower critical cognitive processes. According to the researchers, “Cognitive debt defers mental effort in the short term but results in long-term costs such as diminished critical inquiry, increased vulnerability to manipulation, and decreased creativity.” Decreased creativity? Not worth the risk!

While there is a place for all new technology, we still feel like nothing can compare to the creativity of the human mind, especially when it comes to creating spaces that feel like home.