sunday tradition ~ part sixteen

For part sixteen of my Sunday tradition, I thought I’d mix things up with an unexpected springtime post…the twist, it’s a “painted garden” by Rodolfo Fantuzzi!

Boschereccia – or “Little Wood” – dates back to 1810 and is one of the finest examples of garden style trompe-l’oeil from the early 19th century…complete with a French parterre and Classical ruins, it is located in Bologna and is now part of the Bologna University…

Imagine how breathtaking this would be in person…my favorite, the last image, one of two Doric temples that hide the main entrance doors…artful, theatrical, so beautiful…enjoy!

photos and resources from The World of Interiors

Read Full Post »

sunday tradition ~ part fifteen

For part fifteen of my Sunday tradition, I chose a summer favorite from 2006, a Sag Harbor home designed by Ruby Beets Old & New…inviting and soothing, I’m passionate for the palette and relaxed ease of the interiors…the wall color evokes the sea on a winter day…sofas are slipcovered in a washable cotton duck…the reproduction dining table takes on an aged driftwood gray patina after receiving a thin coat of whitewash…the 1920s lyre-back chairs hail from an old hotel in Maine…kitchen and dining room cabinets (close up below) were rescued from a local hardware store, painted ebony, they provide the perfect backdrop for a collection of white dishes, a lovely mix of vintage and new ironstone…this home may have started out as a shingle box built in 1986 but with tremendous vision and creativity, it has been transformed into an artful gem brimming with personality and beauty…enjoy!

If you love this seaside home, then you may want to check out Ruby Beets Old & New located in Sag Harbor…the shop combines decorative antiques, vintage and contemporary furniture, lighting, accessories, art and photography…I have yet to visit the store in person but I’m a huge fan of their 1st dibs storefront and website…I hope to plan a trip to Sag Harbor someday soon!

photos from House Beautiful, July 2006

Read Full Post »

sunday tradition ~ part fourteen

It’s May 1st and a gorgeous spring day in the Northeast! Absolutely perfect weather…light cool breeze, sunshine and every shade of green imaginable…so in digging through my archives this morning, I searched for a home that felt like today…crisp and refreshing…easy and relaxed…light filled and inviting…for me, this home has it all!

Shad Island, a Georgian Revival mansion, overlooks the picturesque Hudson River…homeowners Martina Arfwidson and David Weiss lovingly rescued and restored this diamond in the rough…from dark and stuffy to light and airy, the couple succeeded in creating their dream home…a romantic oasis! Enjoy!

below, this dining room is one of my all time favorites for its simplicity and feminine beauty…Arfwidson is the co-owner of Face Stockholm, a Swedish cosmetics company she runs with her mom…the table was once used at the Madison Avenue shop and the metal chairs are from her mom’s Stockholm apartment

photos from Elle Decor

Read Full Post »

sunday tradition ~ part thirteen

For this Sunday’s post, I chose a beloved catalog I had filed away from 2000…it was from a show at the Arden Gallery in Boston featuring oil paintings by the one and only Anne Packard…renowned for her paintings of Cape Cod and Provincetown, she captures the spirit and palette of the Cape like no one else…interestingly, this show featured a few Italian landscapes so I thought it would be a clever departure to highlight these unique pieces…for those of you who know and love her work, I hope the four images below are a pleasant surprise, and for those of you experiencing her work for the first time, I promise to write future posts filled with Anne’s paintings of the dunes, ocean, and ever changing light of Cape Cod…please enjoy this trip to Italy as seen through the eyes, hands and heart of Anne Packard

below, Italian Hillside, 48 x 60 inches, oil on canvas, 2000

below, Italian Reflection, 60 x 48 inches, oil on canvas, 2000

below, Path, 30 x 25 inches, oil on canvas, 2000

below, Pompeii, 48 x 36 inches, oil on canvas, 2000

Read Full Post »

sunday tradition ~ part twelve

For part twelve of my Sunday tradition, I’ve selected a beloved archive featuring one of my all time favorite homes…this Hampton’s beauty is the creation of Tim Haynes and Kevin Roberts, principals of the New York design firm Haynes-Roberts Incorporated…quintessentially New England, this home is new construction yet evokes an old world charm through careful use of reclaimed materials ~ old wood plank flooring from an 18th century Pennsylvania attic, black, gray and white marble flooring from a 200 year old English country home, new brick tumbled to weathered perfection, the textured beauty of venetian plaster walls ~ within this light filled gem, they lovingly furnished their home with cherished pieces from the 18th century to the mid twentieth century…in the living room, Sol LeWitt’s Double Pyramid No. 3 (1986) floats effortlessly next to a pair of 1950s American chaises from Alan Moss, NYC while overhead, a sculptural Austrian chandelier, ca. 1950, plays with form and function…I’m in love with the flood of light, long sight lines and thoughtfully edited palette…my eye is at peace, fully able to appreciate the open spaces and remarkable beauty of each artful element…please enjoy

photos by Francois Halard for House & Garden, June 2006

Read Full Post »

sunday tradition ~ part eleven

This light filled Houston home has been a treasured archive of mine since 2005…I find the simple palette and thoughtful mix of furniture incredibly pleasing…at the far end of the living room, a relaxed linen sofa happily co-exisits with a Saarinen marble top table and French reproduction chairs…taking center stage is a sculptural antique daybed complete with a custom mattress and bolsters upholstered in mohair…I’m in love with the play of texture and form! Bravo to homeowners Steve Henry and TC Le Normand for creating such a casually elegant home! Enjoy!

photos and resources from Country Home, September 2005

Read Full Post »

sunday tradition ~ part ten

It’s amazing how time flies! Here we are, already at part ten of my Sunday tradition! I have been saving this post for spring as it is one of my all time favorite summer homes…I didn’t think it would be fair to tempt you with this home until we had turned the corner from winter to spring…with longer days and bright sunshine, we can start to dream about summer…long walks, soft breezes, salt air and the smell of freshly cut grass…for me, this home embodies the spirit of summer…many of you might remember this beautiful spread from Elle Decor, if so, I hope it brings back some fond memories…if this is your first time, then please enjoy this remarkable home located between the main street of Amagansett, Long Island, and the dunes…

Partners in life and in Dransfield and Ross, the home goods company the couple created more than a decade ago, John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross fell in love with the original Italianate details of the exterior and the “architecturally pure” interiors of this 1863 gem. Drenched in history, the couple also fell in love with the stories from previous owner Constance C. Willis. According to Ross, “In the 1950s, her dear friends Jackson Pollack and William de Kooning would spend boozy evenings across the street at the Elm Tree Inn, and when the barstools were put up for the night, the painters would saunter over to her kitchen to play poker into the morning.” I  have always loved that story! How wonderful to have this little gem to tell their guests and who knows, maybe they are carrying on the tradition of late night poker in the kitchen!

The first two photos (above) are of the library…I love everything about this room…the porcupine-quill mirrors, the 1920s biscuit-tufted chairs, the soft soothing wall and trim colors, the 1960s wood sculptures…it all speaks to me…this room has been a “go to” favorite for years and years and I’m certain it will continue to inspire me…

photos and resources from Elle Decor

Read Full Post »

sunday tradition ~ part nine

For part nine of my Sunday tradition, I’m pleased to share with you an unknown clipping from my archives…the single page features a palatial interior on one side, pictured above, and an over the top mirrored/marble bathroom on the flip side (notice the intricate woodwork on the ceiling!)…if anyone out there knows the story behind this most spectacular home, please write me a comment…I have a feeling it is from British House and Garden or British Homes and Gardens…I’d love to know more! Hope you are enjoying this lovely Sunday afternoon!

Read Full Post »

sunday tradition ~ part eight

For part eight of my Sunday tradition, I’m pleased to share with you another one of my cherished archives, the Belgian home of Edouard Vermeulen. Located in a pretty village outside Antwerp, the 18th century manor house, or gentilhommiere, is a 20 minute drive to Brussels where Edouard runs the couture house Natan (commissions include weddings dresses for the royal families of Belgian and Luxembourg). Working with expert builders and architects, Edouard designed and managed the twelve year restoration from start to finish. Majors changes to the property included restoration to the facade and construction of a new main entrance at the front of the house. For the interior palette, he stayed true to his fashion philosophy ~ “I prefer not to be surrounded by pattern, so I opted for a simple, contemporary look that is easy to live with, but also sympathetic to the age of the property.” Using reclaimed rather than modern materials, he was able to capture the spirit of the 18th century. The black and white marble floor tiles in the hall came from a chateau in the Loire Valley, and the boiseries in the salon were found locally. Please enjoy this lovely trip to the Belgian countryside…

photos and resources from British Homes and Gardens, July 2005

Read Full Post »

sunday tradition ~ part seven

For part seven of my Sunday tradition, I’m thrilled to share with you one of my beloved archives, the East Sussex home of antiques dealer Diana Kelly. Located in the oldest part of Seaford in East Sussex, Diana’s home is a “glittering jewel,” filled with a stunning mix of antiques and personal treasures. She lives both above and below her shop in a historic home which dates from around 1780. When she bought the house, it was rundown and in need of an extensive renovation. With vision, imagination and exacting standards, she meticulously managed the restoration from start to finish. The basement is now her kitchen and dining room which leads out to a small sheltered courtyard garden, street level is the antique shop, with the living room directly above, leaving the top floor for her master suite equipped with bedroom, bathroom and dressing room. She drew inspiration for her dramatic color palette from the gorgeous 19th century Chinese lacquer paravent that hangs in the living room (pictured above and below). From the rich dark brown dining room to the breathtaking floor to ceiling mirrored wall in the bedroom, her home embodies her passion for all things beautiful…enjoy!

photos from British Homes & Gardens, November 2006

Read Full Post »