News
Hearts and Flowers Are So Apropos Right Now
Posted on February 08 2019
How To Add Style to Buffet-Style Entertaining
Posted on February 01 2019
Whatever the meal, a buffet translates to easy dining. And if you’re entertaining at home, setting up a buffet also can be a great way to feed a crowd.
At luncheon and dinner parties, I sometimes find the table pre-set with the appetizer course, which is followed by the host’s instructions, in so many words, to get up and reach for a plate on the buffet. At other gatherings, the meal begins at the buffet itself.
Father-Son Eateries Deserve A Hearty 'Ole!'
Posted on January 25 2019
Sweet Memories Of Brownie Will Last Forever
Posted on January 18 2019
I wish Brownie McLean, who died at age 101 on Jan. 9, could be here to hear the many stories people are telling about her and her many escapades, including a few that I might add.
She may have been a Palm Beach social icon, but I knew her as a friend who just happened to be a client.
Refresh Decor With an Ice-Cream Palette
Posted on January 11 2019
Book Recalls Charms of the Ultimate Hostess
Posted on January 04 2019
If one of your New Year's resolutions is to read more, I heartily recommend "Popovers and Candlelight", a new can't-put-it-down book by Marcia Biederman (SUNY Press, $19.95).
It is the story of the rise and fall of Patricia Murphy, a restaurateur who truly captured the imagination of the social and traveling public. The book is subtitled: "Patricia Murphy and the Rise and Fall of a Restaurant Empire".
Start the New Year With Gold and Silver
Posted on December 28 2018
Horses Ride Rescue For Many A Room
Posted on December 21 2018
Looking For Holiday Decor? Shop Local
Posted on December 14 2018
Crayons Enliven Decorating Choices
Posted on December 07 2018
Were you a Crayola child?
I know I was, and I believe nearly everyone has been influenced in one way or another by those crayons in Crayola’s distinctive yellow-and-green box.
Orchids Add Aura of Tropical Splendor
Posted on December 04 2018
It’s certainly the season to deck the halls with boughs of holly. But why not deck the walls with watercolors of orchids and other tropical flora?
One of my favorite artists, Karen Eskesen, will be presenting her portfolios of watercolors of lovely blooms this week at one of my favorite events of the season, the annual Christmas Boutique sponsored by the Garden Club of Palm Beach.
Metal Adds Mettle Throughout a Home
Posted on November 26 2018
Dress Up Your Thanksgiving Dinner With a Turkey Platter
Posted on November 16 2018
Next week brings us Thanksgiving Day, perhaps my favorite holiday of all, a time to enjoy the festivities while giving thanks for so many blessings.
Because I grew up in the land of the Pilgrims, I am fully indoctrinated in all the traditions related to Plymouth Rock — the dresses, the hats and those wonderful buckled shoes. In fact, I played the part of a Pilgrim man in many school plays. Not only that, but the militia leader of the Pilgrims, Myles Standish, is said to be part of the family tree.
Women Who Bring Color and Style to the Palm Beaches
Posted on November 09 2018
Music Adds Finishing Touch to Any Home
Posted on November 02 2018
I could very well say I grew up in the Paramount movie house in Lynn, Mass. My sister and I never missed a Saturday, when the double feature kept us entertained and informed, thanks the “News of the World” and other newsreels.
These days, when most of the grand movie palaces have been torn down or replaced with multiplex cinemas, I am not as much of a moviegoer as I once was. But when my friends tell me about a super movie, off I go.
Decorating with Pumpkin Orange Not a Scary Idea
Posted on October 26 2018
Remembering Friend and Fellow Decorator Mario Buatta
Posted on October 19 2018
Nantucket a Destination and a Design Inspiration
Posted on October 12 2018
Summer may be in rear-view mirror, but I still have Nantucket on my mind for design and decorating inspiration.
When I think of Nantucket, I always think of weathered gray-shingled houses overlooking cobbled streets where the sidewalks wave because of their uneven bricks. It’s a look you’ll find in many historic Massachusetts towns.
Rosewood Hotel Co. Founder Ran Properties of Distinction
Posted on October 05 2018
Look To The Clouds For Decorating Ideas
Posted on September 28 2018
From puffy to layered, from dense ripples to small shapes floating gently by, clouds are almost always on view in Palm Beach that range in colors from deep slate to light gray, not to mention those bright white puffs.
Clouds also have made their way into the home of many Palm Beachers, whether they’re depicted on ceiling and wall murals or on fabric and wallpapers.
Let Your Paintings Inspire the Decor
Posted on September 22 2018
Portrait of a Gentleman: Remembering Ralph Wolfe Cowan
Posted on September 14 2018
I was so saddened to learn last week of the death of painter Ralph Wolfe Cowan, a friend who was well-known to many a Palm Beacher for his lavish portraits.
Mr. Cowan, who died at 86 Sept. 4 in West Palm Beach, was prolific, working on canvas after canvas during his lifetime. His color and sepia portraits captured some of the world’s most powerful and popular personas — Johnny Mathis, Debbie Reynolds and royal families, including the Sultan of Brunei and Monaco’s Princess Grace, Prince Rainier and Prince Albert.
Palm Beach Couple Embraces Colorful Design During Ireland Trip
Posted on August 31 2018
Small Hardware Stores Going Strong
Posted on August 24 2018
I have always loved hardware stores. I’m not thinking of the big warehouse stores of today, although they certainly serve their purpose if you need the widest selection possible.
No, I’m more partial to smaller mom-and-pop hardware shops that recall days gone by, where one could find everything from paint to brushes, from garden tools to saws and nails. And that’s not to mention garden furniture, kitchen utensils, seeds for the garden, clocks, candles, toilet brushes, bath mats and even stoppers for sinks.
Ireland's Junk Store is Really a Treasure
Posted on August 17 2018
Obsolete Items Find New Place in Decor
Posted on August 10 2018
How Chocolate Can Add Flavor to Your Home
Posted on August 03 2018
Every so often, I see a house I think is special, particularly one painted in a manner that takes me by surprise. There are many lovely sections of Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, where the owners of properties go the extra mile to say “welcome home” with plantings, color selection, pathways, garden furniture or with door decorations.
In the Summer, Cool Maine is the Main Place to Be
Posted on July 27 2018
Ireland Provides Beautiful Scenery and Inspiration for Design
Posted on July 19 2018
Peonies Offer Super Colors For A Bedroom
Posted on July 12 2018
Crafting in Scouts Set Tone for Career in Design
Posted on July 06 2018
I was, once upon a time, a Boy Scout. I remember crafting with my cubs. I believe those crafting lessons helped lead to my days as a decorator. Teaching woodworking to young boys — making a tie rack, book ends or a wall plaque on which alphabet letters, made of strands of spaghetti, were applied — was a beginning of my love of design.
Go Red, White and Blue in Your Home
Posted on June 29 2018
Independence Day is approaching, so to all I send greetings for a happy Fourth of July next week. It's that time of year when we honor our country, our freedom and the red, white and blue - although we really should do that every day, Shouldn't we?
Decorating in Palm Beach: White and Green Create a Fashionable Scene
Posted on June 21 2018
Glamour Has a Place in White House and Your House
Posted on June 15 2018
Pearls Make a Fashion Statement as Jewelry and a Design Choice
Posted on June 07 2018
Decorating Advice for the Royal Newlyweds
Posted on May 25 2018
The Carlyle in NYC a Celebrity Magnet and Designer's Inspiration
Posted on May 18 2018
Could The Carlyle in New York City claim the title of “America’s hotel”? I think you could argue for that, if famous and stylish guests are any indication.
All Carlyle lovers may want to check out a new — and terrific — 90-minute documentary film, Always at the Carlyle, directed by Matthews Miele, who also helmed Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s. The film premiered May 8 at New York’s Paris Theatre, where a packed house enjoyed the flick and marveled at the hotel’s history.
If You Redecorate, Plan to Donate, Too
Posted on May 11 2018
Don't Forget Details That Complete a Home
Posted on May 04 2018
Art and Decor: Lake Worth Show and Businesses Worth a Trip
Posted on April 27 2018
What is going on down the road at our next-door neighbor’s? Now, I’m not talking about the house over the hedge but our neighboring town, lovely Lake Worth.
If you’re headed to the South End in the next couple of weeks, you should head just across the Lake Worth Bridge to visit the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.
Help Your Living Room Bloom in Springtime
Posted on April 20 2018
Even Umbrellas Make a Design Statement in Palm Beach
Posted on April 13 2018
Look For a Visual Symphony When Decorating
Posted on March 30 2018
Easter Colors Mark the Beginning of Spring
Posted on March 23 2018
Shabby Chic Could Be Just the Right Fit for Palm Beach Home
Posted on March 16 2018
St. Patrick's Day is a Perfect Time to Think About Visiting Ireland
Posted on March 09 2018
Find decorating inspiration in colors from the fruit bowl
Posted on March 02 2018
Silver As Good As Gold For Decorating
Posted on February 23 2018
Are we in a golden age?
Probably so, if you consider the value of gold. These days, many a gold bracelet and broach are being melted down to re-emerge, at some point, as a new piece of jewelry. I know jewelry designers who even melt down gold pieces that they have had in inventory for some time- pieces that have not found a happy home. But even with recent market fluctuations, gold is still valued - and silver is not far behind.
Mural walls worth a look in a home or business
Posted on February 16 2018
Find design gifts that come from the heart at Valentine’s Day
Posted on February 09 2018