Shell House at Ballymaloe

I have a long list of things that I want to do "someday", and one of those desires is to attend classes at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. Really, it's more than a passing fancy. I am positively dying to enroll there before actually someday dying.

Of course, it's the esteemed cooking instruction that is Ballymaloe's big draw, but I recently learned of something else that has intrigued me. There is a Shell House, reminiscent of follies from the olden days, on the Ballymaloe property. I'm not sure how I have overlooked this design tidbit after my many visits to their website, but better late than never. The Shell House was constructed in the mid-1990s by Blott Kerr-Wilson. According to Ballymaloe's website, the roof is entirely covered in scallop and mussel shells that were once served at Ballymaloe House and Ballymaloe Cookery School. That's one clever way to use leftovers.

I found these photos of the Shell House on the Blott Kerr-Wilson website, and I urge you to visit the site as you'll find amazing examples of their shell houses. For more information on the Ballymaloe Cookery School, click here.

Brooke Astor and The Philosophers' Room

Funny enough, one of my favorite Parish-Hadley designed interiors is not Brooke Astor's library, although I do fancy it. Nor is it the yellow drawing room of the Paleys. Instead, it's the snappy-looking room seen above, one that was featured in Christopher Petkanas' Parish-Hadley: Sixty Years of American Design. What drew me to this Parish-Hadley room was not its leafy green vista, but rather the geometric-print fabric hanging on the walls combined with the blue lacquered bookshelves. To me, this room is so quintessentially American, comfortable in a crisp, chic, and casual way. Can't you just imagine what it must have been like to lollygag in this room on a Sunday afternoon?

The book only mentioned that the solarium was part of a 68-acre Westchester County estate, something which left me wondering for years who owned such a lovely garden room. But now I know where this room is located thanks to the Sotheby's catalogue for the Brooke Astor auction. It's at Holly Hill, Astor's estate along the Hudson River. Finally, the mystery is solved, although I'm sure that quite a few of you knew who the homeowner was long before the auction catalogue was published.

According to the catalogue, this is the Philosophers' Room, a fitting name for a room filled with such a collection of books. What struck me about the catalogue's photos, seen below, is how bright those blue bookshelves really are. I don't think they're being auctioned off, but the Roman marble head of a Satyr, perched on top of the bookshelf, is. (That too you can see below.) And wouldn't you love to see a close-up shot of the books? I can make out a few titles: The Flowering of the Middle Ages; Pearls: A Natural History; American Rococo, 1750-1775: Elegance in Ornament. But the other titles in the library? I suppose that in a way, the mystery surrounding this room endures.












Image at top from Parish-Hadley: Sixty Years of American Design by Christopher Petkanas. The remaining photos courtesy of Sotheby's.

Palm Beach Entertaining

I do enjoy books on entertaining, and this fall there are quite a few new book releases that look intriguing. One that I just finished reading is Palm Beach Entertaining: Creating Occasions to Remember by Annie Falk. The book, a fun and zippy read, is filled with lush photographs of food and table settings, but what I appreciate even more are the recipes and tips provided by some of Palm Beach's leading hosts and hostesses. After all, those Palm Beach denizens really know how to throw a party.

With recipes like Vegetables Provençal, Cheese Grits, Chicken Hash, and Chocolate Bundt Cake, this book promotes a traditional yet comfortable style of entertaining right down to the Tiffany flatware and Blue Canton china. And really, I think that's how most of us entertain. Exotic and new is fun to try along the way, but inevitably, we always come back to the tried and true classics. I think that after reading this book, you'll find a few new ideas and dishes to add to your entertaining repertoire.




Lunch with the Ladies at the home of Victoria Amory. The menu included Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onion Tarts, Turkish Eggplant and Yogurt Salad, and Shrimp Skewers with Cumin and Honey.




Dinner in the Country at the Pine Creek Sporting Club home of Karin and Joe Luter. This menu featured Cornmeal-Crusted Quail and Wild Turkey Pot Pie.



The well-outfitted butler's pantry of Lars Bolander and Nadine Kalachnikoff.




Gathering at the Lake House with Talbott Maxey and Kit Pannill. Dishes include Roasted Caprese Salad and Ham Rolls.


All images used with express permission of the publisher. Copyright Palm Beach Entertaining: Creating Occasions to Remember by Annie Falk, Rizzoli New York, 2012.

Legendary Rooms for Americans Abroad

I'm most excited about the October issue of House Beautiful, especially considering that this particular issue profiles Americans living abroad, a departure from our usual stateside focus. One article of particular interest to me is "Legendary Rooms for Americans Abroad" which profiles some of the memorable international interiors that American authors, tastemakers, and designers called home-at least when they weren't at home in America. But, I'm a little partial to this article as I helped with a bit of the brainstorming.

The homes range from Ernest Hemingway's Cuban domicile to that of fabric designer Jim Thompson in Thailand. Accompanying the photos is commentary on each room provided by a slew of designers including Alexa Hampton, Suzanne Rheinstein, and Hutton Wilkinson. I'm only going to show a few photos so as not to spoil it for you, but do pick up a copy and enjoy these worldly interiors.



Jim Thompson's Living Room in Bangkok, Thailand




Pauline de Rothschild's library at Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, France.





Van Day Truex's home in Gargas, France.

All images used with the express permission of House Beautiful.

Pleased as Punch

When was the last time you attended a party where punch was served? Today, it seems that most punch serving and imbibing occurs during Christmas when no holiday party is complete without a bowl of eggnog or milk punch. Traditionally, non-alcoholic punch was served at ladies' teas and showers. I recall on more than one occasion attending daytime parties where Lime Sherbet Punch was served. (Do you remember Lime Sherbet Punch? I bet many of you do.) To this day, I like the taste of that green-hued punch, although the frothy film that settled on top always bothered me.

I found these punch-y photos in a 1934 House Beautiful. Funny enough, the article's author wrote, "It's a long time since anyone has given a great deal of thought to punch. But now that the ingredients for those fine and mysterious concoctions are available again, there seems every reason why punch should regain its old popularity as a festive accompaniment to festive occasions." Ah, yes, that pesky Prohibition seemed to have put a damper on things. I do agree with the author's sentiments, though, that punch should once again regain its popularity. Next time you have friends over for cocktails, why not serve up some party punch in a great big bowl? No Hunch Punch, mind you, but something more mature. Perhaps Champagne Cup? I can't vouch for the taste of it, but based on the recipe below, I just can't imagine that it would taste anything less than delicious.



Champagne Cup

Use one quart of champagne, the cut-up peel of two oranges and two sliced lemons, a slice of cucumber peel, a jigger each of brandy and cointreau, a pint of club soda, a teaspoonful of sugar or more if desired. Place the peels of the oranges, lemons and cucumbers in bottom of punch-bowl. Over these pour the brandy and cointreau, then the champagne, and lastly the club soda. When mixed, place a large piece of ice in bowl and garnish top of ice with pieces of rock candy and a few slices of orange.

(The best part of the recipe is the suggested food accompaniments: Raisins chopped and mixed with sherry, spread between thin, diamond-shaped slices of white bread. Pâté de fois gras sandwiches, or small pastry shells filled with it. Small turnovers of pastry glazed with white of egg, without filling. Chopped lettuce, mixed with sour cream, a little sugar, lemon juice and salt- spread between thin slices of white bread or Boston brown bread. Sandwiches made with chopped sautéed mushrooms, canned shrimp, or crab meat, cut fine, mixed with cream sauce, on top of rounds of toast. Any kind of simple cookies, wafers, champagne Chantillys and cashew nuts.)



A red and white tablecloth sets the tone for a Claret punch party.




Swedish glögg served alongside oatmeal, rye and spice cookies, orange cake and almonds




A Victorian style table set with fringed fish net cloth. I don't suggest that you replicate this table.




Silver and glass accessories suggested for punch service.

An Atlanta House Tour

I want to share with you a special Atlanta house, one that has both inspired me and influenced my style of decorating. Belonging to a dear friend of mine, the house made a terrific impression on me during my first visit as a young 23 year old. All these years later, the house still never fails to charm me.

My friend purchased her home 60 years, a decision influenced by the fact that friends lived across the street. Even today, it’s a home that she continues to love, nurture, and decorate. Two things struck me upon my first visit: first, it’s filled with all kinds of collections and personal treasures. Family heirlooms and mementos, porcelain, shells, and books are all displayed with flair and gusto, something that gives the home great personality and warmth. I wish that some of the world’s too-perfectly decorated houses could borrow some of these treasures as I think they would go a long way to warm up those houses.

The other thing that I learned during that first visit is that classic, tasteful design never goes out of style. Lacquered walls, Chinoiserie, mirror, collections, and antiques- all of which make appearances in this home- trump decorating trends always. My friend’s stylish trappings make the home feel exactly like a Manhattan apartment within the shell of an Atlanta house.

By the way, there are a few things that my photos do not capture, but they are things that add to the pleasant atmosphere of the home. There is always a fragrant candle burning, one that imbues the house with an appealing fragrance. When I shot these photos a few weeks ago, the subtle scent of spruce filled the air; it smelled divine. Also, I have never visited her when music was not softly playing in the background. Most often, it’s the Great American Songbook. And finally, thanks to the previously mentioned lacquered and mirrored walls, the house positively comes alive at night. It looks so lovely bathed in soft light. It’s also the most fun time to visit as that’s when the conversation seems to be at its best!




Brown lacquered walls serve as an elegant and dramatic backdrop to various collections.




Boxes of all sorts- Limoges, silver, and ivory- are displayed on a living room side table.



A secretary stands in one corner of the living room and is filled with antique porcelain.





This ornate sterling silver porringer and spoon, purchased by the homeowner's mother-in-law in England, was used to feed all four of my friend's children.




A collection of framed dried flowers and leaves includes the homeowner's dried Lily of the Valley wedding bouquet.




The Reading Room is used as a repository for books, paintings, and objects. The walls are mirrored, while the wainscoting is covered in a trellis wallpaper that has been made to look antique.



A portrait of the Colonel, a family ancestor, is displayed prominently in the reading room. An antique chest holding antique porcelain sits beneath it.




When he married, the Colonel gave his bride a horse, a bridle, a saddle, and a crop as wedding gifts. The crop is displayed here alongside the Colonel's swagger stick.






Shells and shell-encrusted objects can be found throughout the house.




The petite antique bed was a display piece purchased from the downtown location of Rich's.




Dolls, once owned by the homeowner's mother, are now framed and hung in the bedroom.




Also hanging in the bedroom is this Horst photo of Hubbell Pierce, the New York entertainer with whom some of you might be familiar. Pierce was a native Atlantan and life-long friend of the homeowner. Above the Horst is a baby photo of Pierce.





A collection of antique evening bags is displayed on the powder room walls. Some of the bags belonged to the homeowner's mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.





The silver chalice to the right is a family heirloom. During the Civil War, silver was often buried underground to escape notice by Union soldiers. The chalice's dents were caused by soldiers striking their swords into the ground in an effort to find hidden silver. Fortunately, this piece escaped detection.







The homeowner's love of cats is evident in her kitchen where a wall is devoted to cat-themed art. I especially like the framed quotation by Jean Cocteau, seen above.

And The Winner Is....

Just wanted to announce that the winner of last week's C. Wonder/ The Peak of Chic contest is Michele Nichols of Atlanta!

Congratulations, Michele! And thank you to everybody who entered the contest.

Billy Baldwin Does Dallas

The photo above is one with which most of you are familiar. It shows the Dallas living room of the Harding Lawrences which was decorated by Billy Baldwin in the late 1960s. I first saw the photo years ago while reading Billy Baldwin Decorates, and there were two memorable things about this photo. First, the combination of those pink walls, floral print fabric, and modern artwork looks smashing. And secondly, there was some kind of color separation issue with the printing as the blue and white garniture looks strangely bleached out. (That problem seems to have been corrected in Adam Lewis' recent book, Billy Baldwin: The Great American Decorator, where the photo also appears.)

I was always curious as to what the rest of the home looked like, and I recently found additional photos in the May 1970 issue of House Beautiful. Now you know that I think Billy Baldwin was one of the greatest decorators ever. However, while the rest of the house was attractive, it seems to have lacked the punch that the pink living room had. The article did mention that when the Lawrences purchased the house, it was a dark, gloomy Tudor style house. Baldwin was charged with making the home bright and light, and that he certainly accomplished by painting walls and trim in soft, pale tones and upholstering furniture in colorful, cheery prints. Still, for me, the masterpiece of the house is that gorgeous living room, a room that ranks up there as one of the most attractive of all Baldwin's work. It just doesn't get much better than that.



In an effort to make the home feel comfortable, the Lawrences chose to forgo a formal dining room in favor of a combination dining room and library.




The sitting area of the dining room cum library with accents of sunny yellow.




When the Lawrences entertained (which, according to the article, was not often), they set up three tables to accommodate no more than twelve guests.




The "South Porch" where the Lawrences relaxed and took lunch. The cotton fabric was of French origin and made especially for Baldwin.




Mr. Lawrence's dressing room had walls upholstered in brown and white striped cotton.




The master bedroom, an oasis of beige cotton, boasted a view of Turtle Creek Park.




A view from the staircase. You can see the South Porch straight ahead on the first floor, with what I believe is a glimpse of the pink living room to the right. Note too the plaster palm torchères.


All photos from House Beautiful, May 1970.