Initial Thoughts

North Carolina

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…

Monograms for the Home: The Art of Making your Mark

Monograms are a favorite pleasure of mine, adding such personal details to this lovely world in which we are privileged to be a part. What a wonderful bit of serendipity…

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…

Rosecliff - Newport RI

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…

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…

Dallas Welcomes “Living Newport”: A Book Signing at Madison 214

What a beautiful setting for a “Living Newport” book signing! “The Setting”: Madison 214 in Highland Park Village, DallasThe Event: A champagne “Living Newport” book signingThe Date & Time: Friday, October…

A Brasserie That Parisians Would Envy

Part of the charm of serendipity is that it can present itself when you least expect it. In this case, it was a girls reunion on  the “Eastern Shore” (we all…

Moss - Garden

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), …

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…

Door Knocker

Paris Doors to Fall in Love With

  Who doesn’t need a Paris “fix?” Since I can’t be everyplace at once, I asked a just-returning chic friend to create a French doors pictorial-get-away for those of us…