I’m scrambling & packing for quick trip to U.S., but wanted to put a few amazing things I’ve discovered in London on your radar. Each one deserves a dedicated blog post of its own, but for now I’ll just give you a “taster,” as they say here in U.K. & you can let me know which ones you want me to expand on soon, ok? Enjoy!
Read MoreI recently had chance to spend a full day in the English countryside for a decorative painting course and thought I’d share some of the lessons I learned not just about “art,” but really about living. With all the news these days, it seems we need things to keep us centered- and this workshop did just that for me. Hope you are well & that these pix and words might give you a lift too….
Read MoreHello from London!! It has been WAY too long & I’ve missed everyone - I’ve been deep in the trenches of British decorative arts scene & was apparently not quite ready to come out of my creative cocoon:) But I’m finally settled here & bursting with things I want to share with you this Fall - & beyond.
Read MoreHappy Spring! After a mild winter here in London, we had SNOW on April 1st - no joke. Ignoring that, I’d say spring has definitely arrived & I wanted to share with you a beautiful place I got to go recently. Hopefully it will inspire you to bring a little of the garden indoors, or a little bit of your home outdoors...
Read MoreWith all the tense news these days, I thought that sharing a complete departure from that - beautiful Paris - could do us all good this week. I went there last weekend & was drawn to its energy and color and creativity more than ever. Allons-y!!
Read MoreAs it is truly the dead of winter, I thought we might need a little lift - so I’ve gathered “bits & bobs” as the Brits say, a random assortment of things to keep us amused until Spring! From what to watch, read and see - here goes….
Read MoreWell, THAT was incredible! The first trip I booked when I knew we were moving to England was a pilgrimage to the Bloomsbury group’s home base in Sussex, UK called Charleston Farmhouse. I kept reading about it via my interior design favorites - Kit Kemp, Beata Heuman, & more - and now I see how it IS the jumping off point for so much of inspired English design. Let’s dive in!!
Read MoreDo you ever stumble upon someone with a new point of view & suddenly all you see is that style? That is the case for me with the new book Decors Barbares: The Enchanting Interiors of Nathalie Farman-Farma (Vendome Press). It sums up so many things I’d been thinking about but didn’t know how to express visually.
Read MoreAm I the only one who got a pit in her stomach as we enter ANOTHER season in the pandemic?? One of my few salvations has been distracting myself with beautiful coffee table books. Lucky for all of us, I got to interview the author of the best design book I’ve read this year, “Summer To Summer: Houses By the Sea” (Vendome), Jennifer Ash Rudick. Let me take your mind off the news by following our inspiring conversation here!
Read MoreI’ve been binging some good stuff lately & wanted to share — nope, not just TV but books, podcasts, & more! From humor to introspection, I feel like having a range of things to occupy my mind is really, REALLY key during this strange time. So here’s my list - what’s on yours??
Read MoreThis week’s post was supposed to be different, but I’m pulling the rip cord & instead sharing some hilarious & useful tips for essentially muddling through this time in one piece. There will be no exhortations to color code your spice bottles or any kind of virtual fitness challenge. There will, however, be wise & often comedic observations that hopefully make you feel a little lighter when you’re done reading this post.
Read MoreI’ve been at a loss about what to cover during these crazy days - I started a half dozen posts that just didn’t feel right. But as I looked around, I saw so many women I admire using this time in really uplifting & profound ways….so THAT is what I want to share with you now! And maybe just maybe it will spark an idea or a solution for you during this trying time. Be well!!
Read MoreAs we’re all still processing the turn of events & coping with a LOT of family togetherness, I thought I’d send along my favorite kind of therapy: MOVIES. All five of these movies/shows have an element of travel & sophisticated dialogue….which let’s just say I’m bit nostalgic for as I sit here in a very frumpy sweatpants/PJs outfit, with background noise of my daughter using blender for a smoothie, my husband talking loudly on international conference call & the dog scratching on door to be let in. Calgon, take me away!!
Read MoreThe house is finally quiet so I can collect my thoughts & tell you about some things I’m looking forward to this year, work-wise, design-wise & personally. Would love to know what’s on YOUR agenda!
Read MoreI’m a pretty bang-up last-minute shopper, but certain people on my list require more advance planning. You know those people — they have an eye for detail, quality, originality, beauty….love gorgeous packaging & something perhaps bespoke. If you have someone like this on your Holiday Shopping List too, NOW is the time to get ourselves started! I’ve rounded up a bunch of ideas to suit this super-discriminating type — let’s go….
Read MoreHappy Fall! I have to admit this is my favorite season & not the least because there are so many cool cultural things to do. I say “cultural” with a small “c” because of course I have to include guilty pleasures ie; returning TV shows & design books — nothing too high brow on my list! ENJOY…
Read MoreOne of the odd things about being an Empty Nester is not having an “excuse” to hit up every art supply, stationary & Big Box store in my zip code in search of perfect Back-to-School supplies for my daughters. Well, who says I can’t do that for MYSELF?!! Because yes, every girl needs the perfect set of desk ware — no matter her age:) Here are my favorites…
Read More’m reading a business book now called “The Messy Middle: Finding Your Way Through the Hardest & Most Crucial Part of any Bold Venture” & it speaks to exactly what I’m feeling - & perhaps you are too? Maybe you’re trying to turn a hobby or a passion into a business (me, blogging) or maybe you’re half-way to reaching a personal goal (renovating a house, writing a book, running a 10K) & you have to make it happen every day, whether there are cheering fans or in reality, probably just YOU trying to keep your dream going…
Read MoreSummer vacation often means stopping in to see - or stay with - friends along the way….so it’s high season for hostess gifts! I had so much fun pulling these together for you - let me know what you think & if there’s something special you like to give? (just don’t say home-cooked items because that’s just not going to happen in my world :) …
Read MoreSummer is finally in full swing - so why can’t I relax?? Crazily, it’s because I always overestimate how our summer house will be “done” by this time & then find myself facing reality of projects still unfinished from last summer:( Talk about a First World problem, I know! But if you are on nice long summer vacation or have a place of your own somewhere special, you want to ENJOY it. Here are a few hacks I’ve found to get you there quickly - so you can chill out…
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