Barton Heights
Nancy Lancaster, Virginian and English society decorator, once said, “We vulgarize everything we touch.” She was referring to a historic old home with a modern in-ground swimming pool. Born in 1897, she was very romantic about southern architecture and style. It was this aesthetic that made her a popular designing force among the English country home set. She may have known Barton Heights in its hey day, and the romantic southern girl would be drawn to it even still.
The Town of Barton Heights is the location of my novel’s back story. (Coincidentally, it was where my grandparents and great-grandparents lived.) Touted as the first trolley suburb of Richmond, the houses were constructed in the late 1800s and for many years this was a fashionable and tight-knit community. John Barton’s vision of homes with fanciful details was fully realized, and although he left town to escape hungry creditors, his house still stands. Sturdy. Defiant. Regal.
Here’s a sample of the neighborhood now…
Venice Beach
My favorite Alice Munro quote is from one of her short stories. ”“They were all in their thirties. An age at which it is sometimes hard to admit that what you are living is your life.” I have been thinking a lot about those words lately, as my employment prospects remain sluggish in Virginia — so where else could I live my life? New York. Denver. Los Angeles. Just to start with.
First, you have to imagine it, so I did. Venice Beach (where artists were in abundance in the 1950s) seems like a cool place. The convenience of big city life and the coziness of a waterside community certainly appeals. What would my place look like? I see a mid-century structure with interiors that have punches of East Coast traditional and LA modern. Kind of Mad Men meets Jonathan Adler. Check out this idea board and see what you think.
A Gift of Beauty
I recently celebrated my birthday, and my friend Mary Beth Tombes gave me a very cool gift — a year-long membership to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond. Isn’t that neat? I am already enjoying spending time in this local treasure.
The property was the Powhatan Indians’ hunting grounds, and was once owned by Patrick Henry. In the late 1800s, prominent Richmonder Lewis Ginter bought the land and built the Lakeside Wheel Club, a one-story structure that was later modified and incorporated into Bloemendaal House (now used for events). The Wheel Club was a destination for Richmond bicyclists. His niece later purchased the house and property and designated both for development as a botanical garden upon her death.
Now, it is a magnificent refuge with a gorgeous library, children’s garden, tea house and a wide variety of gardens. I will be celebrating all year-long…
The Cosmos Club: A Glittering History
Washington’s Cosmos Club proves that history can be relevant and glittering. I was bedazzled by the interiors when I attended a recent reception. The occasion was a Sarah Lawrence alum gathering. The history of the Cosmos Club is present in every room, not as homage to the past, but as a celebration of its continuum.
The Club was born on November 16, 1878, and the membership acquired the current property in 1950. The central part of the building was constructed in 1873 by Curtis Justin Hillyer. In 1898 it was acquired by Mary Scott Townsend, granddaughter of Gustavus Scott, from 1794 to 1800 one of the commissioners of the District of Columbia. The Hillyer residence was completely reconstructed in the period 1899–1901 with the addition of two wings under the direction of Carreère and Hasting, who also created The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia.
Among its members, over the years, have been three Presidents, two Vice Presidents, a dozen Supreme Court justices, 32 Nobel Prize winners, 56 Pulitzer Prize winners and 45 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
This majestic structure feels like a private home, and so, at least for an evening, you can imagine yourself living quite a grand life in our nation’s capitol!
Herb Ritts: LA Style
There’s something about black and white photos — the depth and interest they show is unequalled. Herb Ritts, who left us too soon in 2002, had a special relationship with the camera, nature and LA’s celebrity culture. If you’re in SoCal, don’t miss Herb Ritts: LA Style, the first major Los Angeles exhibition of his work.
Ritts was the epitome of Los Angeles style where he chronicled fame while achieving his own. He used the California sun, sea and desert as backdrops to revisit and reinvent old Hollywood glamour and style. His favorite time of day to shoot was 3 to 6 p.m., when he was able to capture that magic L.A. light.
He was largely self-taught, developing a distinctive style that bridged the gap between art and commerce. Ritts had a knack for catching the essence of celebrities’ personalities, which made fans feel like they had a connection to them in a way that was unique before Twitter and Facebook.
The exhibit, at the J. Paul Getty Museum, includes celebrity portraits, nudes and VOGUE editorials. A great summer treat since it doesn’t end until mid-August.
In the Pink!
Banana Leaf Wallpaper. Secluded bungalows. Hollywood glamour. It must be the Beverly Hills Hotel — just a few weeks shy of 100! Can you believe that his hotel use to be surrounded by bean fields? Designed in Mission Revival grandeur, The Pink Palace was originally white and six miles from a train station. In the 40s, the interiors were outfitted in pink and green, and the hotel’s glamour and uniqueness reflected the burgeoning motion picture industry.
The Hotel’s epicenter has always been the Polo Lounge, so named because movie stars such as Will Rogers and Spencer Tracy like to repair there for food and drink after polo matches. The Banana Leaf Wallpaper remains a defining look that has been copied in many interiors in SoCal and other locales.
Isn’t it great that iconic glamour is still popular?
In Your Easter Basket!
Easter is almost here! Did you have a basket when you were growing up? That was a big deal in my family. Easter Sunday was a holy day, but it always began with a visit from the E-Bunny. I have an April birthday, so many years I celebrated my birthday and Easter on the same day (I collect rabbits — big surprise, right?).
Even if you are on a limited budget (aren’t we all?), you can still participate. The various dollar stores, Target and the drug chains have sales and great ideas for making the day fun. And, you can make a basket out of a mug from a thrift store or a dog bowl for a friend with a new puppy. Use your imagination which is always better that spending lots of money. Here are some colorful staples which always find their way into my baskets…no matter the container. Happy Easter y’all!
Albert Hadley: A Brave and Creative Eye
That is how The New York Times described Albert Hadley who died on Friday. I loved how he mixed modern and traditional furnishings, art and fabrics. While his tastes were usually bent towards the spare, his thirty-year association with society decorator Sister Parish saw a softening of the lines he once favored. Mr. Hadley’s interiors were endowed with savoir faire, elegance and livability.
A southerner, Mr. Hadley attributed his aesthetic to his Tennessee roots. A graduate of the Parsons School of Design in New York, he is most famous for Brooke Astor’s red library and the Kennedy White House private quarters (which was a collaboration with Sister). Below is a small sampling of his work. There’s lots of information regarding his achievements on Twitter and the myriad of design blogs — google him and you will be amazed.
The Pioneer Woman Cooks!
Today I received an early “birthday treat box” from my darling friend Sharyn Rosenblum at William Morrow. Wow! She knows how to spoil a girl, and Ree Drummond’s “The Pioneer Woman Cooks” was included in the bounty. I have long been a fan of Ree’s cooking and lifestyle blog. Ree is a writer, photographer, ranch wife and mother of four. Her blog, ThePioneerWoman.com, attracts more than 20 million page views per month, and her Food Network television show, The Pioneer Woman, is already a hit.
What I find so inspiring about her is that she seems to always be discovering new ways to express her creativity. Her blog includes her passion for photography, which, given the setting of her life, makes it really fascinating. Please check out this cookbook — my friend Sally Wolfe loves Mango Margaritas and now I have the perfect recipe. I am crazy about Eggs Benedict, but was always too timid to make it. Ree shows me exactly how!
Thank you Sharyn, my love.
Step by step instructions such as these below, make the reader feel empowered to actually make these delicious meals.
Crosby Street Hotel
I first learned of the Crosby Street Hotel from Australian Vogue Living. When I was in New York last summer I peaked in the large casement windows and was dazzled by the imaginative design and architecture. The red, blue and orange lanterns that were swinging from the ceiling inspired me to go to Pearl River Market, and buy inexpensive versions for my own home!
Located in the heart of SoHo between Prince, Spring and Lafayette streets, British duo Tim and Kit Kemp had it built from the ground up on the site of a vacant parking lot. Kit decorated all of the interiors including the block long bar, enchanting lobby and over 80 guest rooms. There’s even a cinema for hotel guests.
European style that feels a lot like southern charm. And, such great and brave color choices. I’ll be in New York in June — maybe I will splurge on a drink and soak up the atmosphere.
