The English Cottage Charms of Podge Bune
I have been just about to bust to post my darlin’ English friend-designer-artist Podge Bune’s house in East Hampton. It is in the June issue of House Beautiful, and it’s one of my favorite houses ever. It should be noted that somewhere in there is the color of Podge’s riotous […]
I have been just about to bust to post my darlin’ English friend-designer-artist Podge Bune’s house in East Hampton. It is in the June issue of House Beautiful, and it’s one of my favorite houses ever.

It should be noted that somewhere in there is the color of Podge’s riotous red hair, which explains a lot.
As a contributing editor for the magazine it is my privilege to “scout” for projects to publish, and every now and then I find one. Podge’s wonderful, slightly eccentric, higgledy-piggledy and utterly artful blend of furnishings, fabrics, prints, paintings, and mementos surrounded by gardens, hammocks and water–is just plain heavenly.

To me the best kind of decorating is the kind that doesn’t look it. The kind that looks as if one just chose the things one loved, accumulated them over time, added bits by necessity along the way, and didn’t always worry if they matched. From that comes a crazy, glorious mix that is exactly the people who live there. If anybody is crazy-glorious, it’s Podge.

This kind of decorating is also accessible and real. So full of heart and soul you can’t help but be drawn to the people who live here lest they be as guilelessly charming as their house.


It should also be noted that the House Beautiful-watermarked photos are by Francesco Lagnese, and the others are by Podge and me. My photography skills need work, but I thought you’d enjoy seeing what the magazine doesn’t show.
For instance no self-respecting shelter mag today would show a Herend figurine (or not since about 1985 anyway), but I love how Podge is undaunted by the contemporary dictates of cool and displays hers in a beautifully patinated corner cabinet.

And what have you done with your little figurines and such? You know who you are… Rather than scatter them willy-nilly, group them together as Podge has done to give them credence as a collection.





And how bout this pink action?

Pink again.





Read Christine Pittel’s excellent interview of Podge here, and find out how she got the name “Podge.” Hint: She was not a skinny baby. And see the House Beautiful photos here.
The House Beautiful watermarked photos are by Francesco Lagnese. The others are by Podge and Frances.
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