News & Notes

Fabulous Rooms #2: Victorian Writing Room at the Greenbrier

This second Fabulous Rooms post is in response to the first (Living Room at Lyford Cay), wherein I solicited favorite rooms from readers. Paige Ward wins a nickel* for submitting the Victorian Writing Room at the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia. Originally decorated by the legendary Dorothy Draper and carried on today by her protege… Continue reading Fabulous Rooms #2: Victorian Writing Room at the Greenbrier

Desert Blooms, a Labyrinth, and a Little Dust-up

The last few weeks have got me discombobulated and now back in hectic New York, where workmen are hanging on a scaffold outside my office window and apparently in the process of drilling the building into kingdom come. So I’m calming myself–and you too, maybe–with a walk through the Sonoran desert in Arizona. Can it… Continue reading Desert Blooms, a Labyrinth, and a Little Dust-up

Now THIS is a tag sale… Nina Griscom’s gowns? Carolyne Roehm’s cast-offs?

Count me in. My only regret in attending the tag sale of the century–Elizabeth Taylor’s jewels and Albert Hadley’s One King’s Lane loot notwithstanding–is that most of the clothes will be of a size that would barely fit around my leg, let alone the rest of me. But hey, pocketbooks, scarves and shoes don’t care… Continue reading Now THIS is a tag sale… Nina Griscom’s gowns? Carolyne Roehm’s cast-offs?

Wisdom from Mae West

You only live once, but when you do it right, once is enough. And to this I would only add words from the great Austin Powers: “Yeah, baby.” Here’s to doing it right, right now. Happy weekend.

Furniture Market Finds and High Point Highlights

It’s been fun these past few days reviewing fellow bloggers’ notes on their favorite finds, fads and trends from the High Point furniture market, and one is eternally grateful for not having had to go one’s self. High Point is a big deal in our industry, of course, not to mention in my home state,… Continue reading Furniture Market Finds and High Point Highlights

Dream Kitchen Has Great Ideas for Yours

For anyone working on a kitchen just now, House Beautiful includes a “kitchen of the month” in every issue, and they’re always full of good ideas, even for those of us working with what we have. For the April issue – off the newsstands but now online – I interviewed New Jersey designer Nicole Hough… Continue reading Dream Kitchen Has Great Ideas for Yours

When a Friend Dies

Apologies for my absence. Regular posts will resume next week. The phone call came last Sunday. My sister, her voice broken, “Have you heard about Robert?” Not family, but same as. My throat constricts and my body fills with cold stones. Car accident. There was a memorial service in his hometown of Raleigh on Wednesday… Continue reading When a Friend Dies

New York Flower Show Dinner Dance – Part 2

New York Flower Show, Part 2. Drumroll please. (In case you missed, here’s Part 1.) Benefitting the Horticultural Society of New York, and therefore all New Yorkers and the universe. Also some great ideas here for you to try at home. Or not. Here’s my table, by the talented team at Plaza Flowers, who are… Continue reading New York Flower Show Dinner Dance – Part 2

New York Flower Show Dinner Dance – Part 1

In a city of beautiful parties, this is one of the most beautiful. And fun. As a board member of the Horticultural Society of New York and a chair of this party, I am biased of course. But don’t take my word for it, look: By Jodi Zimmerman Designs. Love me some pink. The theme this year… Continue reading New York Flower Show Dinner Dance – Part 1

Pretty Spring Things, for $79 and up

It has been an especially pretty spring, don’t you think? Starting early as it did and carrying on. If we have many more 87-degree days in New York like we had yesterday it will begin to fade, but meanwhile so much beauty to celebrate…like pretty shoes… Not to talk about money, but when did shoes… Continue reading Pretty Spring Things, for $79 and up

David Hockney Landscapes

Someone just told me about a gorgeous new book on David Hockney, and I wish I could remember who, but thank you so much, whoever you were… and presumably still are… I’ve raced ’round the corner to Archivia Books to fetch it. Actually a catalog of the just-closed exhibit at the Royal Academy in London,… Continue reading David Hockney Landscapes