Ablaze in Newport: A New England Autumn
Autumn is my favorite season. So all the more reason to make a priority of designing our gardens and grounds with an eye to those fall trees that like to “step… Read More
Entertaining
13 “Steal the Show” Tips for Fall Entertaining – in a Barn
We’ve all been there…you go to a party in an inspired and compelling setting, you dream about re-creating it…and then life happens and you never think about it again. Not… Read More
48 Hours in Woodstock, Vermont: A New England Fall Story
“Leaf-Peeping,” as it’s affectionately called, is a New England fall tradition (October 10th is considered the peak color for the season). But that was really just an excuse to get… Read More
Chic it Up! The Whimsical Artwork of Patricia van Essche
There’s nothing more enchanting to me than refined and well-placed pen strokes on Strathmore paper…finished off with a luxurious watercolor wash in yummy colors. When Patricia van Essche’s work was brought… Read More
Savvy Packing Tips to Keep from Unraveling While Traveling
Dear fellow travelers, lately I have been doing quite a bit of lecture, book tour and pleasure traveling, and I think we can all agree that getting from point A… Read More
Dahlias: Stars of the Autumn Garden
Dahlias, the iconic fall bloom, are truly a native flower of the Americas. With a histoire that goes back to the Aztecs (it was considered to be Montezuma’s favorite flower), … Read More
Entertaining, Newport Style: Secrets to throwing a Great “Pardee”
Image of Bettie taken mid-party by Maaike Bernstrom. This picture was featured in The Salonniere article, which commented, “With a surname like Pardee, you know she’s going to be our… Read More
A Picnic in the Garden: All About Pattern
September is truly the most beautiful month in Newport, a perfect outing for a small garden picnic. And under the canopy of grand old beech trees, Alice and Jim Ross… Read More
8 Sophisticated, Cool Cocktails
Just in time for the final fling of summer – Labor Day Weekend – a collection of 8 intriguing and sophisticated cocktails. Dare I say inspiration first came from the … Read More
Private Gardens in the North Carolina Mountains
I’ve had not one, but two opportunities to be in the North Carolina mountains this summer. What a wonderful counterpoint to Newport – vistas of rolling mountains versus long ocean views –… Read More