Top 10 Blog Posts for 2010

Sometimes the verticality of our posts sinking, sinking into the archives makes me wistful. Wonderful friends and family have been so generous to share their amazing homes and photos, I wanted to resurrect some of our most fun and unique posts from 2010.

My wonderful daughter took these photographs while working on Lindsay Coral Harper's  "Let the Wild Rumpus Begin" table. These designer tables from the Lennox Hill Neighborhood House Gala at Sotheby's make me want to throw a party. O.K. I know, everything makes me want to throw a party!

The Best Farm Ever has me fantasizing about building a barn house. Did I say party? Party heaven is right here, with outdoor fireplaces blazing, monopoly money changing hands among frenzied children in the circle grouping, and pizza piling up on the kitchen counter. Football injuries aside, this gathering took the party prize of the year. 

Mrs. P's dedication to her mountain house renovation created a perfect year round getaway for family and friends. This image is a perfect example of using a large scale fabric with matching drapes to make a small room seem intimate and inviting. Don't miss the before pictures in this post, you won't believe the transformation. 

I hope Maria from Colour Me Happy is reading this post. Take Fun Seriously shows a playful mix of bright colors and eclectic furniture in this delightful party fortress. Run downstairs and see my favorite girl cave!

Phoebe Howard's eponymous design palace, Mrs. Howard's, in Charlotte is worth a plane ticket. The nail head trim reiterating the sunburst motif mirror in this dining room is a handsome foil to the soft chintz on the chairs. Every room in this design mecca is literally breath taking. 

Bobby McAlpine alum, Ruard Veltman, of Charlotte collaborated with Mrs. G. to create this Lutyens inspired mountain retreat that I call Nieu Neo Georgian.  The research laid the groundwork for a previously unpublished McAlpine house. The shared DNA is really interesting, start with Sir Christopher Wrenn who perfected Georgian, and embrace the transmutations of the Arts and Crafts crowd. I have more to say about that down the road, I'm smitten with Lutyens. 

Sir Bobby, who I have officially knighted in honor of Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, interpreted Mrs. D.'s vision of a Pennsylvania stone farm house. I still owe you part II. I was waiting until the winter got really bleak to cheer you up. 

My ODF (oldest and dearest friend) is married to Edmund Hollander whose unerring taste and contribution to landscape architecture is as grand as Gertrude Jekyl's at the opposite end of the century. I recommend he collaborate with Sir Bobby, for the complete reincarnation of the Lutyens /Jekyl country house revival. If you are the type of person who watches movies over and over, just to study the interiors, Ed did the landscape for the Hamptons House in everybody's favorite, Somethings Gotta Give. It was listed for a mere 10 million. You can see more of Ed's exteriors for this house on Linda Merrill's post here.  

Speaking of movies, this James O'Connor playhouse was featured in the disappointing remake of Sabrina. This rare glimpse into the old country estate boom on Long Island was embraced by the preservationists in our crowd. This beautiful Sister Parish living room survives intact, from when Bunny Williams was her assistant! We have some more pictures of the old estate for the old Long Island crowd posting soon.  

Sending buckets of sunshine to all in gray January. This is my Edmund Hollander inspired window box. 

Metrolina Flea with Eddie Ross, Part II

We could have followed stylist and designer, Eddie Ross at Metrolina Flea, for days.  We witnessed his "on steroids" creativity in so many ways, nudging us out of our shopping ruts and showing us how to repurpose mother of pearl buttons, old costume jewelry earrings, and even the ever stodgy chenille.

I had some shopping remorse about leaving these beautiful bottles behind. They were originally clear medicine bottles, but magnesium in the glass formula caused them to turn this beautiful shade of purple which compliments the traditional orange and brown tones of the fall harvest table. They are perfect for low, long flower arrangements, on the dining table, or at each place, with a name card propped against them. More brilliantly, Eddie Ross's idea of pouring different salad dressings in them and setting them on the buffet, is even better. I was thinking of massing them with different postprandial (after dinner) liqueurs, with a little sign on them that says: 

For $35.00, you can have a lot going on. There were buckets of antique keys at Metrolina.  I've been fascinated by some of their very beautiful,  ornate designs, complex function, and heft. Now I know where to put them: mysteriously, around the house so you wonder what wonderful doors they may open. Use your imagination. 

Stacking etched, colored glass, or crystal compotes with crudites  or flowers is an Eddie Ross signature. I can't wait to play with this idea in a couple of weeks. The important take away from Eddie's ideas, was to mix old and new, rough and shiny. The dynamic interaction of opposites is a strong theme among design leaders. For example, mixing an etched water glass at the table with another colored or modern piece makes a party look fresh and inviting. An entire tabletop in our Mother's and Grandmother's era makes my straight back ache. 

via Eddie Ross

via Mrs. Howard

Here is the delicious chocolate and pink motif Eddie chose for his event the night before, at Phoebe Howard's over the top, gorgeous store in Charlotte. I love the step away from the earth toned tables and use of a fantastic shocking pink, which sets off the traditional 19th century brown transferware plates. Note the vintage post card from Metrolina flea used as a place card.  There is simply nothing flea about it. See what you can create, over time, for a song at the flea circus?  I love that Eddie Ross and Jaithan Kochar are all over the country, meeting the "little me's" of the world in person, demonstrating how style and taste are priceless, not to mention affordable.  

I know... this now iconic table, Eddie Ross just styled for Lonny, has gone completely viral.  Unexpected color is really coming back. I've linked you to the "behind the scenes" Eddie Ross photo shoot for Lonny, because I really had to know,  how he managed the plethora of china, crystal, vintage postcards, ornaments and ephemera Eddie draws upon for his amazing vignettes. He told me about his prop room, and Lonny scooped us. Surprise? 

via Lonny

Eddie and Jaithan are moving!  I cannot imagine how they can even contemplate this gargantuan task. 

I am not yet in recovery for my transferware addiction. If you see an Etsy button on our blog, you will know I've finally hit rock bottom. I embrace Eddie's enthusiasm for blending different patterns, eras and styles at the table. You can't always find the ten or 12 matching plates at the same time, but often you can find two sets of 5 that work beautifully together. Again, the mix brings new life to old favorites.  I call it "Art Blendo!" Vive La Difference--burlap and silver! 

I brought this Staffordshire blue sugar bowl home for $50.00, and believe me, I've paid more. I use them for flowers, but we stayed outside of the box most of the afternoon, so I loved Eddie's suggestion of using them by the sink for scrubbers or sponges. 

These images were from our summer entertaining post. The arrangements were easy to make, by creating a grid over the tops with scotch tape.  As we wandered through the myriad stalls of linens, paintings, prints, glassware, toys....Eddie jumped to this collection of lusterware.

You can see stylist muscles flexing here. How beautiful would this collection be, grouped, on your thanksgiving table or sideboard, mixed with votives to illuminate the iridescent glazes? We were feeling it.  Steve Gambrel's table at the Lennox Hill Neighborhood gala is a good example of using contemporary ceramics at different heights to create a striking table scape, helping us to imagine the multitude of possibilities with our individual collections. 

Sky is the limit when setting your tables and vignettes.  This image is from our post on the designer tables at this year's Lenox Hill Neighborhood house gala. Color outside the lines. Create magical settings, but most of all, sit down and love your family and friends in the moment.   We had such a fantastic time with Eddie Ross and Jaithan.  I'm a little trigger happy to make reservations for their Texan tour of Roundtop. 

If you are a die hard Eddie Ross fan,  view our YouTube videos!

Design Headquarters, is firmly anchored in Charlotte, North Carolina. Phoebe, aka Mrs. Howard, and Max and Company, have taken over the palatial former Charlotte Women's club.  Collaborating with her talented husband, Jim, the couple create breath taking architectural rooms in multiple styles that are timeless.  Downstairs, Max and Company has a more modern, youthful take on decor. Upstairs, Mrs. Howard dazzles us with elegant, colorful, layered rooms. Take a lesson from the Howards! I have literally sifted through all their design projects on their websites, and there isn't a: "Ho-Hum" in the bunch. The look, within any genre, is perfectly balanced. Beach houses, mid century modern, eclectic, mountain and urban rooms are executed with equal skill. If there is a more beautiful store in the world, it is probably theirs.

The first three rooms at the street entrance to the store, were kept original to maintain the historic character of the house. Jim's architectural additions to the building are seamless, and look entirely original.

This Geometric tile floor in this hall is so chic with the opulent paneling and retro chairs.

This sophisticated focal point in the hall has a stunning floor with a three dimensional effect. The symmetry is restful and interesting. As we wander from one splendid space to another, the versatility and originality knocked our socks off.

We loved how the monochromatic oriental panel creates flow between these two spaces. The relating walls in the bedroom beyond, are perfectly hand painted. 

Nail head trim is all the rage in upholstery. The designers crafted a hefty pattern on the velvet fabric walls, instantly lightening the formality with the small scale chintz fabric on the chairs, and a country table. The Yin-Yang design concept speaks to me. 

This detail, taken from Mrs. Howard's website, highlights her signature sunburst mirrors,  repeated in the nail head motif. If anybody can beat this English country dining room, send me a picture!

Here is one of the max and company rooms. Dovecote loves the egg prints!

Mirrors are like bracelets for Mrs. Howard. She stacks them! This room positively glows with elegance. The detail of the drapery fabric repeating the molding on the horizontal plane enhances the geometric pattern of the mill work, reflected in the mirror.

Clean and serene. This mountain house from the website is fresh and light. Grey really is a pastel color, blending evenly with soft blue.  A Gustavian desk doubling as a bedside table is practical and pretty.  Of course the coterie loves the egg prints. 

I couldn't resist this picture. I don't think I have ever seen a fabric I love more! The lantern on the ceiling is a trademark touch.  Browse through the Howards' design projects and let us know which rooms you love the most.