Initial Thoughts

Valentines: Fun Facts, Gift Guide and Brief History

Valentine’s Day… the day we celebrate love, new and old… a day that has become synonymous with flowers, cards and chocolate.  According to the History Channel, approximately 150 million Valentine’s Day cards are…

Shadows in the Garden: a Winter Revelry

It is about this time of the year– after the first snow and while my Christmas tree is still up — that I start dreaming about the gardens that I visited…

Super Secret Storage: Hidden in Plain Sight

“I have far too much storage space.  ~Said no-one ever.”  Truer words were never spoken! In my family, growing up Southern was all about entertaining, so it was imperative early…

14 Steps for Hosting a Sizzling Valentine Party

The heat is on! Having been selected one of ” The Salonniere 100: The Nation’s 100 Best Party Hosts in the Country” (oh, my…) I’m often asked to describe my…

Sleeping with Louis (XV)

When asked to designate my favorite piece of furniture in our home, I become very nostalgic in recalling the original setting for this particular piece – a lit a’ la…

The Sole of the Garden

The “Sole” of the Garden

Did you know that Christian Louboutin, footwear designer to the Stars, also makes men’s shoes–even as large as size 13? Not until a very witty friend, Kent Russell ( garden…

Dresses - Design

The Art of Style: the Jacqueline de Ribes Costume Exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Costume exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum in New York are world-renowned–and justifiably so–for presenting designs of those who adhere to their own principles of individuality and style. Fortuitously, the…

Toss the Scale! (And other January Wellness Tips)

There are no coincidences. While I was searching for notes on a kitchen faucet that needed replacing, I “chanced” upon an old file. curious, I opened it — and couldn’t…

An Overlook of 2015: the Essence of Private Newport Style

An Overlook of 2015: the Essence of Private Newport Style

Swimming along into 2016 but lets take a peek back at 2015.Here they are–your favorites and ours … 21 Images that Capture the Essence ofPrivate Newport Style Wishing you many…

New Year's Eve

Toasting the New Year

From Newport with warm wishes… Here’s to the joy of family, the happiness of friends and days filled with laughter in 2016!