Jean Govoni Salvadore and her Dolce Vita

Yesterday was a typical Monday. I was drowning in emails, drowning in laundry, and drowning in stress. But you know what? I'm going to stop complaining about things like that. Why? Well, because Jean Govoni Salvadore would never whine and moan. She would stay positive and upbeat despite the laundry and emails.

Salvadore is the author of My Dolce Vita: A Memoir, a recently published book that chronicles Salvadore's career first as the Rome based public relations person for TWA and later as the PR doyenne for Villa d'Este in Lake Como. I recently read the book, and while I was intrigued by her impressive career, I was even more taken with her positive attitude. Salvadore is a woman who seems to roll with the punches and who appreciates all that she has been given and all that she has accomplished. Isn't that refreshing in a world in which mean spiritedness seems to run rampant?

Of course, being enthusiastic about one's career is made a little easier when one has encountered interesting and notable people throughout the years. As one of the early female public relations executives, Salvadore charmed her guests with her sunny demeanor. During her years with TWA, Salvadore greeted such luminaries as Richard Burton, Nehru, Hedda Hopper, and Audrey Hepburn when each visited Rome. And later, as the "ambassador" of Villa d'Este, she went on to meet the likes of Billy Joel, Robert Mitchum, and Barbra Streisand as well as to promote the resort in the far corners of the world. What a fascinating woman! What is even more impressive is that she became lifelong friends with many who she met during her career. One of those friends is Pamela Fiori who wrote the foreword to the book.

So why am I writing about a book that isn't design related? I think it's because I believe that we all need a pick-me-up every now and then, and this book is just that. It's breezy, engaging, and fun. It's the perfect antidote to all of the heaviness we see on the news. And quite frankly, it's nice to see someone who, despite an enviable career, has remained down to earth and, from what I can tell, nice too.



Salvadore, at right, greeting a young Shirley MacLaine. Both are attired in Chanel suits.




Salvadore with Richard Burton.





Salvadore's house on the Villa d'Este property was once a greenhouse, seen here in an old photo.





The author with Pamela Fiori and Colt Givner.


All images from My Dolce Vita: A Memoir by Jean Govoni Salvadore; Glitterati publishers.

From Cashiers to Klosters

I just returned from a really nice weekend up in Cashiers, North Carolina where I attended the Cashiers Designer Showhouse. Carole Weaks, Tammy Connor, Tish Mills, Barbara Heath, and James Farmer were just a few of the talented designers who decorated rooms at the charming 1960s-era mountain house. There was even a dose of Hollywood glamour thanks to Mary McDonald and Nathan Turner, guest speakers at the event. The whole weekend (especially the pleasantly cool nighttime temperatures) got me in a mountain state of mind.

So, with mountain houses on the brain, I decided to feature these photos of the Klosters chalet of Robert Ricci, founder of Nina Ricci. Okay, so it might be a stretch to go from Cashiers to Klosters, but they do have something in common. Hiring a top designer to makeover one's mountain house is just as important in Cashiers as it is in Klosters. And in the case of the Ricci home, the top designer just happened to be Georges Geffroy. I'd say that's impressive, wouldn't you?




Suede upholstered doors were an unexpected touch to Ricci's chalet.




Geffroy was responsible for the design of the staircase as well as the terracotta and marble tiled entrance hall floor.




The living room had a pine coffered ceiling and walls covered in Thai silk.




The dining room featured cabinets painted in a style that was indigenous to the area around Klosters. The pedestal table and dining chairs were custom designed by Geffroy.




The dining table set for dinner.


All photos from Architectural Digest Country Homes.

Antiquing with Barry Hutner

Like most Southerners, I was fortunate enough to grow up in a home filled with antiques. And, again, like many Southerners, I don’t think that a house is really finished until there are at least a few antiques placed throughout the house. Perhaps an antique console or an old oil painting. To me, a house devoid of anything old is rather sad. So why do some people avoid antiques altogether? If you’re a die hard contemporary furniture devotee, then I understand why antiques might not fit your lifestyle. And if you’re shying away from buying antiques because the whole process gives you fits of anxiety, well, I get that too. I admit that I’m not completely confident when buying antiques. I feel as though I have a good eye and that I can pick some nice pieces, but when it comes to making a final decision, I get a little nervous. Is the table I’m buying really a Regency era piece? Am I overpaying for it?

That’s why I have enlisted the help of Barry Hutner, proprietor of Parc Monceau Antiques in Atlanta. Barry is considered to be one of the top antiques dealers in the country. (Lucky for me that his shop is right around the corner from my home!) In the past, I have gone to Barry for advice on collecting. He is always so knowledgeable and, more importantly, he understands how best to decorate with antiques. He is not one to advocate a period room look. Rather, he advises designers to mix antiques with classic 20th century pieces or fresh looking fabric and colors to create a tension between the old and the new. Barry believes that it’s this tension that adds so much life to a room. And you know what? I agree with him wholeheartedly.

Barry told me that it's a great time to purchase antiques as their prices are at 1990s levels. That said, he advises building one's collection over time. Buy one good piece a year and in ten years you have ten wonderful things! The important thing to remember is that you should buy antiques that are good quality and that are timeless looking. That way, your heirs will fight over your collection, something that will validate your purchases. Joking aside though, the goal is to think of these antiques as friends you'll live with all of your life. Just look at people like Bill Blass, Nan Kempner, and Jackie Onassis. Did they redecorate and start completely anew every few years? Of course not. They lived with their collections for years!

I asked Barry to provide me with a list of those must-have pieces that should form the core of one's collections. I've included the list below with Barry's thoughts on each. I also chose examples in each category and, when possible, included a 20th c. example. You know, just to add a little tension.

Parc Monceau is located at 425 Peachtree Hills Ave, No. 15, Atlanta, GA 30305. For inquiries, call (404) 467-8107 or email info@parcmonceau.com. To view more inventory, visit their website.









Italian Giltwood Mirror with Birds


Mid-century brass mirror attributed to Mastercraft

A Mirror: "I can't imagine a room without a mirror. They make such an architectural impact in a space."




Pair of 19th c. Italian armchairs


Set of four 19th c. English hall chairs

A Set of Chairs: "A strong pair of chairs balances everything. And, one can never have too much seating."




18thc./19thc. Italian Giltwood Console with marble top


Mid-century silvered horse head and hoof bronze console

A Classic Console: "Consoles can be very glamorous and they add instant impact to a room. Perfect for a foyer, a dining room, a bar..."




19th c. French Louis XV silver over bronze chenets



Late 19th/ early 20th c. brass and iron andirons

Andirons and Chenets: "Andirons are the jewelry of a room. The fireplace is usually the focal point of the room, so you want to make it look its best. A fireplace without andirons makes a room look totally unfinished."



19th c. Louis XVI style French settee


Louis XVI Style settee

A Settee: "Settees are not just for living rooms anymore. Considering using one in a bedroom or even a dining room."




Pair of crystal lamps attributed to Baccarat, 19th c.


Contemporary obelisk lamps of mounted marble

A Great Pair of Lamps: "Lamps are one of the easiest ways to start your antiques collection. A good quality pair of lamps can set the tone for an entire room."

Duarte Pinto Coelho in the Country

Last week's post on Duarte Pinto Coelho's Madrid home generated a lot of enthusiastic response. It seems that quite a few of you are as taken with his work as I. Fortunately for those of us who can't get enough of the late Portuguese designer, I found old photos of his country home in Trujillo, Spain. Published in Architectural Digest Country Homes (1982), the home, built and designed by Coelho, is elegant, layered, and comfortable- just as his Madrid home was. I wonder if Coelho simply refreshed these interiors throughout the years, or if he embarked on a major overhaul from the time it was published in 1982 to last year when he died. Does anybody know?




The Living Room. The 18th c. Chinese wallpaper once hung in the home of Sir Walter Scott. The kilim rugs and mix of prints adds some exoticism, and yet it's still a very refined room.



Coelho's collection of marquetry objects and a close-up of the gorgeous wallpaper.




Another view of the living room.




The dining room/kitchen. Notice the charming blue and white tile around the doors.



The master bath with more beautiful tile.




Coelho's bedroom. Neapolitan gouaches surround the headboard.




The pool at Coelho's villa.


All images from Architectural Digest Country Homes, Jose Luis Perez photographer.

TypeCase for iPad

I finally got the iPad 2 a few months ago, and for whatever reason, I thought it would change my life. Well, it has and it hasn't. Not that I'm saying it's not terrific, because it is. I think my big issue is that I'm so used to using my laptop that, well, old habits die hard. It's the typing that I find difficult on the iPad. Obviously, I wouldn't type a thesis on the iPad, but I do use it for emails and short documents.

Funny enough, I ran into my friend Aida Flamm at the Barnes & Noble earlier this summer, and she had the coolest iPad case. It was red lizard embossed leather, and the best part of it was that it held a wireless Bluetooth keyboard. A full-sized keyboard, I might add. As it turns out, she and a few partners own the company that makes the iPad cases! The case is called TypeCase and the company is CaseGoods. They come in red lizard leather, black or brown croc leather, black calf hair leather, and black or tan plain leather. And evidently it's the only iPad case on the market with a full-sized keyboard.

I was so interested in the case that Aida was kind enough to give me one. I've been using it for a while, and I have to say that I'm using my iPad more often than I used to. The keyboard makes life easy, while the case itself looks nice and professional should you use your iPad for presentations. There is even a kickstand at the back that allows you to prop up your iPad as well.

I took a few photos to show you what it looks like when in use and closed. (By the way, it works on both iPad and iPad 2.) I really like it and thought I would share this with you...just in case you're not absolutely loving the iPad as I used to!

For more information or to purchase a TypeCase, go to www.casegoodsproducts.com.

Françoise de la Renta on Entertaining

In the January 1982 issue of House & Garden, the late Françoise de la Renta wrote a very charming article on entertaining. In it, she mentioned that she loved to host teas, though she also wrote that if she hosted dinner parties, she usually did so two nights in a row. That way, flowers and wine did not go to waste and leftovers could be incorporated into the second dinner's menu. And, she felt that crowded tables of 12 helped to spark conversation. Very practical and sage advice indeed.

But practicality aside, de la Renta really nailed it, so to speak, when she wrote about the essence of entertaining. "Abundance- abundance of fruit, wine, bread, intelligent conversation, laughter- is the essence of a wonderful party." And "My dining room is my theater. I've invited with great care and I seat my actors the way I think they will enjoy themselves the most." With sentiments like that, it's no wonder that de la Renta was considered to be one of New York's most thoughtful and elegant hostesses.





At de la Renta's Manhattan apartment, a Russian tea inspired by those of composer and author Nicolas Nabokov's childhood. Treats included black, gray, sweet and sour, and golden brioche breads.



A blue and white place setting at de la Renta's dining table.




Outdoor dining at the de la Rentas' Santo Domingo house. The terracotta plates, glasses, and pitchers are perfect for the outdoors.




A smaller table at Santo Domingo set for an intimate dinner.


All images from House & Garden, January 1982.

The Legendary Duarte Pinto Coelho

I'm sure that many of you have heard of the late Portuguese interior designer Duarte Pinto Coelho. I'll be honest- I never had until I bought the June issue of Spanish AD. And I'm sorry, too, that this article was the first that I've read about Coelho because by the looks of these photos, I have really missed out on a lot!

Coelho died last year, and the contents of both his Madrid and Trujillo homes were auctioned off earlier this summer at Christie's. The photos featured here were taken at Coelho's Madrid home. I wish that I could tell you more about the article, but unfortunately I don't speak a lick of Spanish. But really, you don't need text to accompany these gorgeous photos. The home's beauty speaks for itself.



































All photos from Spanish AD, June 2011, Manolo Yllera photographer.