Two Musts - Elle Decor & Vogue Living

Two Musts - Elle Decor & Vogue Living

The November issue of Elle Decor is out and it is especially beautiful this month. I would suggest you run over to your favorite bookstore today and pick it up. And this month, don't wait for your subscription copy to arrive. My copy is already a mess, totally trashed out from schlepping it around with me. The cover shot is from the Boston Black Bay street apartment of designer Frank Roop and his wife Sharon. Photos from this living room and study are worth the price of the issue alone. Also featured are the design team of Sills and Huniford with an art filled NYC apartment. But wait, I haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet:



Blogger favorite Steve Gambrel shows off his latest, above, a glorious NYC apartment located in a 1895 building. Two standouts are pictured here: the custom Troy rug and the yellow Clarence House silk drapes. Do NOT miss the custom brass art lights which become sculptures in Gambrel's hands. And another not to be missed, the master bedroom closet. Any man would die for a closet this gorgeous. Gambrel's success here shows how he takes something utilitarian and turns it into art.


But my favorite story in the Elle Decor, possibly of the year, is Alex Papachristidis' Manhattan apartment. A riot of color, pattern, art and exotic "Grand Tour souvenirs" - the home is cluttered perfection. Fortunys, ikats, and antique suzanis coexist as if they were taupe and cream linens instead of vibrant reds, pinks, yellows, and greens. There are enough up-to-the minute trend alerts here that it's obvious the space will be outdated next year. But still, I'd spend a year here, living quite happily.

Vogue Living is special, too, this time around. In what has become a publishing trend, magazines come out with quarterly "design issues" and it appears that Vogue has Oprah and In Style beat by a mile. The articles are typically Vogue thought-provoking pieces, and story after story is filled with fresh ideas to ponder. There' s a great take on design books, an interesting pictorial on Vermeer decor, and an excerpt from Polly Devlin's new book: A Year in the Life of an English Meadow. The features are particularly enjoyable: an English castle, an Arabian tent, and a peek into Jennifer Garner's french styled garden. My favorites? Kathryn Ireland's new home. Having just published her first book, Classic Country (highly recommended!), she moved into a "cluster of 1920s stable buildings" in Ojai. I adore her style - casual, warm, and cozy, totally without any hint of pretension anywhere. But, saving the best for last:

The star of this issue is Carolina Herrera, Jr. and her husband's Spanish estancia, pictured above. If this shot of their bedroom doesn't send you out rushing to see more, we definitely have different perspectives! That's ok, I guess, but how can you not love a room with a balcony overlooking a view such as this, the Pierre Frey Le Coq toile, an antique dressing table, the beamed ceiling and terra cotta floor along with a fireplace thrown in just for pure romance? Heaven!

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I Bet You Can't Eat Just One

I Bet You Can't Eat Just One

My family has a few classic recipes that are always a hit but the one for pumpkin cookies is an all time favorite. I've tried to make them myself but they never turn out the same in my gas oven as they do in my parent's electric one, so they always make me a batch and send them to me. But only once a year and only in October. It's a tradition that all my friends and co-workers look forward to with child-like anticipation. They are really that good and that well known. If you decide to make these cookies, and I highly recommend that you do, you might want to consider making two batches. They are not only delicious but also highly addictive and you definitely won't be able to eat just one!

Pumpkin Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
½ cup butter
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup raisins

Glaze:
¼ cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 – 2 tablespoons milk

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together sugar, pumpkin, butter and orange peel. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Drop by teaspoon onto un-greased baking sheet. Bake until light golden brown about 8-10 minutes. Immediately remove from baking sheet and cool. Spread with glaze. Enjoy!

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Remembering Princess Grace

Remembering Princess Grace

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco and there are quite a few things going on to remember the life and legacy of this style icon.

First, Sotheby's in New York will exhibit Grace, Princess of Monaco: A Tribute to the Life and Legacy of Grace Kelly. This exhibition will feature dresses, jewelry, photographs, letters, video and other unique items, most of which have never been seen outside of Monaco. These items span the extraordinary life of Grace Kelly, from Hollywood star and style icon to Princess of Monaco as a wife, mother and humanitarian. The exhibition will be accompanied by a commemorative catalogue, published by the Consulate General of Monaco. The proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit The Princess Grace Foundation-USA, which is dedicated to identifying and assisting emerging talent in theatre, dance and film.
On October 25th, at the annual Princess Grace Awards gala in New York, Sotheby's will auction off two outfits worn by Grace Kelly to benefit her foundation. One of the dresses is the Helen Rose ball gown worn by Grace Kelly in 1956 musical comedy High Society, seen above and below.

The other dress is a Givenchy-designed sleeveless dress with matching fringed bolero jacket that she wore on an official 1961 visit with Prince Rainier to a White House lunch with President and Mrs. Kennedy.

From October 21 - 26, six gowns of historic note worn by Grace Kelly/Princess Grace of Monaco will serve as inspiration to some of America's best known fashion designers (Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Ralph Lauren, Zac Posen, Ralph Rucci, and Vera Wang) as they create one-of-a-kind haute couture to celebrate the classic style of the American-born Princess in the 25th year since her passing. The designs will be exhibited at Saks Fifth Avenue's New York City flagship store during October's A Celebration of Grace and each will be auctioned with final bidding at the Casino Couture event at Sotheby's on October 24.

There are also two new books out to commemorate 25th anniversary of Grace Kelly's death including Grace Kelly: A Life in Pictures and The Grace Kelly Years: Princess of Monaco. They would make a nice gift for the holidays for any chic and stylish friend or for yourself to remember the style icon who had an Hermes bag named after her. Now that's chic!

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Round Top, Texas

Round Top, Texas

Round Top, Texas - population 77, except for the first two weeks in April and October each year. This is home to one of the largest antiques fairs in the United States. Started 40 years ago by Emma Lee Turney, the festival has grown from one location into a festival that overflows to all the tiny towns that surround Round Top. During the festival, large temporary, makeshift tent cities spring up where thousands upon thousands of dealers sell their wares. Once, the Round Top Antique Festival meant Americana and Texana antiques. Today, French, Swedish, and English antiques have overtaken the prominence that Americana and Texana once enjoyed. Now highbrow antiques share space with the very lowbrow: vintage, bric a brac, and just plain junk are plentiful in areas where the rent for stalls is cheap. If you love antiques and love to have a good time - Round Top is something to experience at least once in a lifetime. Situated between Austin, San Antonio and Houston, Round Top is a few hours drive through gorgeous countryside. The spring show is an especially nice time to go because the Texas wildflowers are in full bloom and the fields are a vibrant shade of blue from the bluebonnets. Until Round Top has been experienced, it's hard to explain the vastness of it all, and yet, despite it's size, it's still just down home Texas at its core. Web site of the Round Top Register is a good place to start if you plan to come next spring.

Round Top is a charming, tiny town halfway between Houston and Austin. Usually it's a sleepy, quiet place.

Round Top, before the invasion, nice and quiet.

The Big Red Barn. And no, that woman is not in my party!

Country Home Magazine always has a booth up front.

and Mary Emmerling always comes to sign books.

White ironstone is everywhere. I love ironstone and collect it.

Garden antiques and furniture were popular this year.

Trend alert: Silver domes.

My idea of heaven: English ironstone, Staffordshire, transferware and Mason.

I collect Mason ironstone and just had to buy a few pieces for my collection.

And two transferware plates. Notice the vendor excitedly adding up my purchases in the back.

Leaving the Big Red Barn, we head to a different area of vendors. Stuff is everywhere, overflowing.


A pumpkin patch of antique vases.



This tent city advertised itself as European Antiques, one tent of many.



Swedish sofa and French chair. At this point I am wondering why I wasted two hours in the Big Red Barn.


French settee. Painted antiques are much more in demand now than those with typical fruitwood finishes.


A Swedish tall clock. I want one of these, but pass this up.



Another booth with more painted French antiques.



This booth was huge and specialized in European antique linens.



A petite French woman owned this booth filled with both Swedish and French antiques. She has stores in L.A. and Dallas.



A yard full of muslin covered furniture.



Further along, we come to Marburger Farms. Relatively new to the Round Top festival, this tent city has grown from one tent to six huge ones.



A booth at Marburger Farms. Known for a more European look than that at Round Top, Marburger Farms has become a huge presence at the festival. It takes at least two days to cover it properly. I tried to do it two hours and only made it to one tent.



Of course this sign lured me in here.



Trend alert: large clock face.



Antique books by the yard. Had to pass these by, no more room for books that only look good, but won't read.



This statute was a standout at Marburger Farms.



Trend alert: Faux deer heads and intaglios.



This booth was one of my favorites. African and Eastern goodies. Kelly Wearstler has dozens of these Chinese calligraphy brushes in her home. I have one now.


More African goodies.


Ethiopian crosses. George Cameron Nash showroom sells these at quite a markup.



The best was outside behind the booth. A stack of zebra rugs which I could not say no to.


Now, this is a gorgeous chandelier: wood, gilded column and crystals. Too pricey, but a one of a kind piece I hated to leave behind. At this point I'm really regretting the money I spent at the Big Red Barn. Note to self: skip the Big Red Barn altogether next time.


This sofa reminded me of my new one.



Display of antique bottles.



I love French settees. If I had the space, I would have a settee in every room.



This dealer became incensed when I politely asked if something was a reproduction. Sorry, I still don't believe him. His prices were too cheap. All I could think of was how disappointed in me House of Beauty would be!

Hollywood Regency: there is virtually none here at Round Top and there is no mid century modern that I saw except for the junk from grandma's attic type.

Leaving Marburger Farms, tent cities pop up all along the way to Warrenton, Texas.

Only in Texas: A suburban with a longhorn rack on it's hood. Edit: Liberty Post asked me whether I saw the Junk Gypsies, a trio of vintage-styled glam ladies who set up shop in Warrenton during Round Top. This suburban actually belongs to them. Thanks Liberty for the reminder. Check out the Junk Gypsies' web site for all kinds of wild merchandise: chandeliers, t shirts, pillows and coffee mugs are a small offering.

Warrenton, Texas: fields and fields of vendors everywhere. Lured by the low rental rates, thousands of people sell mostly bric a brac and vintage goods in Warrenton. You couldn't see it all even if you spent days looking.

Going home: Wait, one last stop! The Lone Ranger sells Swedish antiques out in the open in Warrenton. He informed me that he had sold a truckload that morning to top Houston interior designers who had beat me there. I couldn't say no to a gray Swedish clock that is now living on my landing. Imagine how I felt when I got home and discovered the insides had been replaced by a battery operated chime. Ebay anyone?

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