Charlotte Moss Townhouse

Last week I visited the new Charlotte Moss Townhouse (located on E. 63rd St.). I was quite anxious to investigate the store as there has been so much buzz about it. I can now say that the shop is well worth the hype.

The shop is five stories, with the fourth floor devoted to her offices and design business. When I entered the store, a staff member advised that I start on the fifth floor and work my way down. The interior of the townhouse is absolutely gorgeous. Each room is a little jewel box with beautiful wallpapers, curtains, cabinetry, and well, everything! On the fifth floor, there was a front room that was draped in a fantastic striped fabric. There were ikat print pillows, Chinoiserie side tables, and other Asian type accessories. The back room contained stationery and new design books, including Moss' "Winter House" and others. Off of this room, there was a chic little terrace with black treillage. Moss did a great job with the terrace.

The third floor was comprised of the Bedroom and the Library. The bedroom is truly every woman's dream. There is a huge four poster bed that is draped and swathed in Moss' fabric for Brunschwig (the website says that it is "Edith's Reverie"); there was also linen galore, particularly the Valombreause line. For those of us who cannot buy enough vintage design books (and I think that is most of us!), the Library is chocked full of old books on design, etiquette, entertaining, and all of the other "finer" things in life. I remember seeing a book on Diana Vreeland, a "Tiffany Tablesetting" book (the one from the 1960s), and a 1930s (?) book on marriage. The Library is painted dark grey and is rather masculine in a very tailored way. Another interesting room is the Cabinet of Curiosities, which is off of the Library. There are cabinets that contain Wedgwood basalt pieces, creamware, and other antique knick-knacks. The ceiling is papered in a variety of old maps.

The second floor has an interesting room at the front in which vintage couture gowns are displayed (quite magnificent). You can also find jewelry such as some shagreen cuffs in bright colors and Sorab & Roshi jewelry (you can also find luxe bedroom slippers in this room!). The hallway that connects this front room to the back Dining Room is filled with cabinets of William Yeoward crystal and vintage silver table accessories such as salt cellars. There are floor to ceiling cabinets in the Dining Room which display china (unfortunately I can't remember which patterns- my mother and I became distracted by some mirrored Chinoiserie placemats, which fortunately she bought). The ballgown-like green silk taffeta curtains are also to die for.

Finally, on the ground floor is the Conservatory with different types of garden implements, Charlotte Moss candles, and porcelain and ceramic fruits and vegetables. Oh, and Moss' pagoda logo is found throughout the house in both the decor and on various gifts (just look at the door handles above).

So, that's the tour of the Townhouse, and I hope I haven't put anyone to sleep! Something I almost forgot- the entire staff was so helpful and friendly, something that can be rare in some New York shops. It's definitely worth visiting the next time you're in New York.

Going Dotty

Looking through the June issue of Elle Decor, I was struck by the red and white polka dot print chair in the home of Debbie Bancroft. One of the first things that came to my mind was the cover of the most recent edition of Dorothy Draper's classic "Entertaining is Fun!". Polka dots, at least to me, are associated with whimsy, fun, and playfulness. We certainly see our share of stripes and geometric prints, but how often do you see polka dots used for a large scale application such as an upholstered armchair? Is this graphic and slightly retro print primed for a comeback?

"Entertaining is Fun!: How To Be A Popular Hostess" by Dorothy Draper


Larabee Road Tidbit Plates by Kate Spade


"Hyannisport" Bedding at Schweitzer Linen



Polka Dot Folded Notes from Carrot and Stick Press


"Polka Dot" Print in Chocolate and Natural, at Lewis & Sheron

Image at top: Bedroom of Debbie Bancroft; designed by Richard Mishaan; chair fabric is "Polka Dot" by Scalamandre.

Get The Look: Hollywood Regency

For those who crave the Hollywood Regency/ Kelly Wearstler look, you may want to visit Inside Avenue. The online furniture and accessories retailer sells a variety of "looks" for one's home, but where they really shine is in their separate Hollywood Regency department. Looking for that Greyhound dog sculpture that Wearstler made popular? They've got it. Want some mirrored furniture to add to your home? There's plenty of that too. This site is a great resource for those accent pieces that one sees frequently on the pages of Domino. Here are a few picks that caught my eye:



Red Mirror Nesting Table


Versaille Table Lamp


Mirrored Ceramic Garden Stool


Yellow Temple Jar

Photo at top: Joy Bedding

Shopping in Atlanta

A reader asked me the other day to post some of my favorite shops in Atlanta, New York, and LA. Unfortunately, I've only been to LA once, and it was so long ago that I can't remember where I went! I can, however, talk about Atlanta and New York. This week I'll post about shopping in Atlanta with an emphasis on design/home furnishings/accessories. For those of you who live in Atlanta or have visited the city, I would love for you to add your favorites to this list! Look for New York shopping next week.

Furniture/Antiques
Belvedere- 996 Huff Road. This shop, owned by Julia-Carr Bayler, has been at the top of my list since it opened almost 10 years ago. Specializing in mid-20th c. pieces, the look is glamour and elegance. No clunky furniture here. They also carry Christopher Spitzmiller lamps and Jonathan Adler pillows and ceramics.

Scott Antique Market- This monthly antiques market is legendary both in Atlanta and beyond. It's a great place to find reasonably priced antiques. There is a lot of ground to cover, so wear your walking shoes!

Travis Antiques- Galleries at Peachtree Hills. A great source for 20th c. French furniture, paintings, and accessories. This store is open to the public. Travis and Company also has a wonderful showroom in ADAC (Atlanta Decorative Arts Center), which unfortunately is to the trade only.

Interiors Market- 55 Bennett St. Comprised of numerous antiques dealers' stalls, this is a great place in which to spend half a day. Many different styles can be found here: French and English antiques, mid-20th c., etc.

Linen
Belle Chambre- 318 Pharr Road. I love this shop for beautiful table and bed linens as well as candles and soaps.

Home Accessories
Lush Life- 146 E. Andrew Dr. Great accessories such as crystal obelisks, coral, sterling silver shells, cachepots, and candles. They also create lovely floral arrangements.

Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts- 100 E. Andrew Dr. A traditional gardening/home decoration shop. Boxwoods has wonderful plants and garden urns. In addition, it's a perfect place to find a hostess gift. Great antique furniture and porcelain, too.

Beth Ann- 47 Irby Ave. Beth Ann's background is in makeup consultation and application. Over the years, however, she expanded into jewelry and accessories. Recently, she branched out into home accessories, and she carries items such as cocktail napkins, candles, and decorative items. You can also purchase furniture from Bungalow 5 from her.

This is just a *short* list as I could go on and on. Please share with me any shops that you like!

Woodgrain China

Have you ever heard the saying "you can never be too rich, too thin, or have enough china"? OK, so I made this up, but I know I'm not alone in my love for china. There are so many beautiful patterns that it is very tempting to keep adding pieces to one's collection. My current favorite pattern is faux woodgrain. The faux-bois trend has been popular in furniture and garden urns for a few years now, and we are now seeing trompe l'oeil woodgrain show up on tabletop accessories.

What is interesting is that this design motif has been around for centuries. Moss carries a Nymphenburg porcelain breakfast set and platter (above) in a woodgrain pattern that was designed in 1796. The woodgrain serves as a backdrop to a trompe l'oeil etching that looks as if it has been tacked to the wood background. There is even a small "rip" at the bottom of the etching. I love how this rustic design pattern seems so sophisticated here.

For something more casual, Gump's has these hand-painted woodgrain ceramic plates.

And for outdoor entertaining, how about these melamine plates at Bongenre? The Texquite pattern is a modern-day, rustic interpretation of the Nymphenburg pattern!

Threshold by Kendall Wilkinson

Threshold is a fabulous design shop located in San Francisco. The spacious shop, owned by decorator Kendall Wilkinson, consists of lively tableaux that feature furniture (both antique and new), accessories, candles, books, and other chic items for the home. Wilkinson has a knack for mixing the traditional with the contemporary, but her real forte is her use of boldly colored accent pieces. Fortunately, much of the shop's wares are available for purchase on the website.

C. Bell Palm Beach

Someone recently told me about a fun design shop in Palm Beach called C. Bell. Located on South Dixie Highway, the shop stocks new and refreshed furniture that really has that Palm Beach Vibe. Take note: these bold pieces are not for the faint of heart, but they would certainly provide some wow to a room!

Murray Moss, Meissen, and More

For those of you who have visited Moss in Soho, you may know it as a mecca for modern design. While Murray Moss fills his shop with both the latest and the most classic of modern pieces, he also has one of the most magnificent collections of traditional porcelain china. Meissen, Nymphenburg, and KPM all fill the shelves.

Meissen is one of the oldest and most prestigious makers of European porcelain. One of my favorite Meissen patterns is "Rich Court", which was designed in 1745. According to the Moss website, Augustus the Strong commissioned this service, which was exclusive to the Saxon court until 1918. The pattern contains beautiful images of dragons and birds depicted in red and gold.

For a more feminine (and less grand) pattern, I think the "Neuosier Flowers and Fruit" by KPM is absolutely charming. I could see using this for a ladies' luncheon, displayed on a cerise or lettuce colored linen tablecloth. The hand painted design is so delicate and beautiful!

Moss also carries more unique porcelain pieces. This Meissen Lobster Box is both wonderful and weird. I would never have guessed that this piece was designed in 1770!

And, for strictly decorative use, these Chinese figures by Nymphenburg would look absolutely stunning on a table, on a mantle, or anywhere you want to add some Chinese chic!