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The Art of Setting the Table
Even if at first glance you didn't realize that the woman pictured above was Pauline de Rothschild, you might have guessed pretty quickly that the elegantly-frocked, coquettishly-posed woman was some...
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Blue Print Dallas
When I was in Dallas a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit a real gem of a shop called Blue Print. The store, which carries new furnishings, antiques, accessories, books, and art, is located...
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Jean-Louis Deniot: Interiors
I am still working my way through my stack of recent book releases, but in the meantime, one book that I do want to bring to your attention is Jean-Louis Deniot: Interiors, written by Diane Dorrans...
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Alain Demachy, Polymath Designer
Although I haven't seen a great deal of the work of French interior designer Alain Demachy, I have seen enough to know that I admire both his style and his skill. I was first introduced to Demachy's...
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Bonfire of the Vanities
Quite a few people have told me that Tom Wolfe's 1987 best-seller, Bonfire of the Vanities, is right up my alley. I have not read the book, nor have I seen the 1990 film version, so I don't know...
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Tiger Tiger!
I always look forward to new No. 9 textile collections thanks in large part to designer Richard Smith's inventive and sometimes whimsical designs. Smith's extensive knowledge of history and the...
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Revisiting Denning and Fourcade
Truth be told, I am not an ardent fan of the work of designers Denning and Fourcade. I feel guilty writing that, because Robert Denning and Vincent Fourcade were awfully talented. My hang-up - perhaps...
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Over the last year, I have lectured at antiques shows, museums, women's groups, and cultural events. My speaking engagements have kept me on the road for much of the year, and yet, I have loved every...
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No Time for Tea
If you'll recall, I recently wrote about how I relished the thought of afternoon tea. I was reminded of that blog post after reading Jeremy Musson's book, The Drawing Room, and attending his recent...
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The Winterthur Collection at Currey & Company
I had the privilege of touring Winterthur a few years ago, and it was truly remarkable. What is equally remarkable, though in a much different sense of the word, is the number of designers who have...
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Frederic March and Henry Sleeper
High on my list of places that I wish to visit is Beauport, the Gloucester, Massachusetts house of Henry Davis Sleeper. Built by Sleeper in the early twentieth century, Beauport was decorated in myriad...
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A Macy's Thanksgiving Day Feast
Some of you might be traveling to your Thanksgiving destinations today, while others are at home, likely baking a Pumpkin Pie or setting the Thanksgiving table. Speaking of holiday tables, I couldn't...
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Getting into the Holiday Spirit
I'm attempting to write this blog post while in a semi-delirious state. You see, a few neighbors and I have been carefully planning our building's annual holiday party, which takes place Friday. As...
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Pondering the Next Hot Color
By now, you have likely heard that the 2015 Pantone Color of the Year is Marsala. I typically don't give much thought to the Color of the Year, if only because I'm focused on other things. But this...
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Raoul Guiraud and Le Style Anglais
I was first introduced to the work of Parisian decorator Raoul Guiraud thanks to the cover of Le Style Anglais, 1750-1850. I admit that I purchased the book solely because of its cover, which featured...
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Wishing You the Happiest of Holidays
As we go our separate ways for the holidays, I want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. A heartfelt "Thank You" for your support, your readership, and your friendship over...
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Dash-ing Rugs
As much as I love the holidays, I can do without those "let's rehash the year in entertainment" segments on television and online. Honestly, I don't know how much more I can handle of George Clooney's...
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An Exotic Fantasy
Bear with me as I give you the back-story to this blog post. A month or so ago, I read decorative arts historian Haydn Williams's fascinating new book, Turquerie, with the intention of reviewing it on...
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Versailles on a Small Scale
Look at many of today's formally-decorated, French-inflected houses, and you'll likely find that the inspiration for their interiors was Versailles. Yes, Louis XIV's palatial exercise in...
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Van Day Truex Envy
Jealousy reared its ugly head last week as I was perusing the February issue of House Beautiful. It was while reading the article on designer John Peixinho's attractive Newport house that I about fell...
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