Happy New Year!

I had a small supper for a few friends before a party tonight: It's not New Years Eve in my book without sauerkraut and kielbasa! I kept the centerpiece simple -just a bunch of candles on an antique mirror. A celebration of light! I used an assortment of mismatched crystal, my grandmothers silver, my coalport harebell china and some white...

Continue Reading... Label: China of the week, just for fun

Thank you, PVE!

Probably the best part about blogging is the friendships that happen between bloggers. Along the way I've made quite a few friends, but the first was Patricia from PVEdesign. We met while I was in NYC a few months back and toured the Cooper Hewitt museum together to see an exhibit on interior watercolors (read the original post HERE).Well...

Continue Reading... Label: blogging

Chateau d'Anet

Beautiful picnic, right? but check out the background. The Chateau d'Anet in Normany was originally built for Diane de Poitiers, the mistress to Henri II in the early 16th century as a gift from the king on the land of her former husband's estate. Interestingly enough, she was 20 years his senior, talk about cougars!Her remains were laid...

Continue Reading... Label: Architect, Interiors, travel

so Habitually Chic!

While visiting family in Pittsburgh for the holidays, I had the pleasure of meeting Heather from Habitually Chic. Here we are in front of our favorite store, Toadflax. She doesn't think the picture turned out well, but I think she's beautiful, don't you?We intended to spend the afternoon shopping on Walnut Street in Shadyside but rainy weather...

Continue Reading... Label: blogging, pittsburgh, shopping

St Louis crystal

I'm coveting these St Louis crystal tumblers and glasses featured in Classic Entertaining I mentioned on Wednesday. I never really liked colored crystal-but a large portion of this book is devoted to them. I think I appreciate them more in a rainbow spectrum such as this and not matched. I'm rethinking in CO...

Continue Reading... Label: covet

Day after Christmas leftovers?

This pretty dining room would be a perfect place for breakfast, don't you think? Featured in Classic Entertaining that I mentioned on Wednesday, this room features a rare lilac covered cheese dish-I assume it's Wedgewood Jasperware. Isn't it so beautiful? Love those amaryllis t...

Continue Reading... Label: China of the week, covet, flowers, Interiors

Merry Christmas

To everyone celebrating Christmas today, I hope you all have a day full of joy and hope!This is my tree a few years ago in a larger apartme...

Continue Reading... Label: holiday

Christmas eve meal

I've been reading the book Classic Entertaining by Henrietta Spencer-Churchill and came across this beautiful dining room set for dinner in an Oxfordshire country house. Perfect for a Christmas eve meal, don't you think? Love these flowers, don't you? And for dessert, how about these beautiful plates set alongside a bronze equestrian statue?...

Continue Reading... Label: Architect, flowers, holiday, Interiors

Doubt

It had been awhile since I had seen a really GREAT movie in the theater. Sure, I've seen a lot of fun fluff this year that I really enjoyed -but nothing that I would call a future classic. Now, however, I can't say that.Doubt is so expertly written, wonderfully acted and extremely well made that it is destined to be a classic. Not only does...

Continue Reading... Label: movies

Carriage House, revisited

In the December 2008 issue of 'This Old House' magazine is one of the most elegant conversions I've ever seen! A former 1916 Carriage House (garage and servants quarters) from a grand estate in Bernardsville, New Jersey, was bought and converted into a weekend getaway for a couple by Hiland Hall Turner Architects. Measuring in at 3,500 sf,...

Continue Reading... Label: Architect, Interiors, magazine

Weekend!

I hope you all enjoy your snowy weekend!! It's starting to feel a lot like Christmas :-)Image of Carnegie Mellon University cam...

Continue Reading... Label: weekend