Framing Art

Not with gilded framing but with architecture! A great piece of art is a wonderful focal point through an opening or in a niche. I was recently reminded of this while going through images I had taken with my phone: the one in question is this image from the Renwick Gallery. Operated by the Smithsonian and located across the street from the White House, it was the first art museum built in the country.

Bar lighting

While in Greenwich, CT last year, I took this picture of a light fixture in the restaurant L'escale at the marina. I love the witty use of an upturned glass for a pendant over the bar. The food and views of the water were superb too!

Estate sale finds

Lately I've been attending estate sales over the weekends. They're hit or miss but usually a lot of fun. A few weeks ago I visited a definite hit, the sale of Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart's DC house (read an article about the sale at the Post HERE). I was able to acquire quite a few really interesting things and as it was the last day of the sale, for practically next to nothing. My favorite find would have to be these 2 pillows covered with a collection of antique cigar silks.These squares of fabric were popular a century ago when selling cigars as a collectible (sort of an adult version of toys in a cereal box) and would have motifs of flora, fauna or in this case, flags from different countries. I love that this collection had obviously only recently been turned into 2 throw pillows by Stewart's widow who has lived on in their house for decades following his passing. The fact that some of these squares are frayed only adds to their appeal.
And here they rest on my couch now, a reminder of a great man and a very fun outing!

An Artful Home

One of my personal pet peeves is when people refer to a 'house' as a 'home' (are you listening to me, house-hunters?). There is a time and a place for both words but often, home is overused. The main difference is that 'home' is a feeling while house is a physical place or object. When talking about design, I always refer to a 'house'. That aside, one of the ways to turn a house into a home is through personalization; In this case, the use of a metal work artist to turn functional bars into pieces of art, giving the house an artful character. This isn't something you see everyday and the homeowner obviously put a lot of thought and expense into this detail. Located in the garden is this lovely old concrete bench covered in lichens -another artful addition. What have you done with your own house to make it your home?

Raji's 2 Tastemaker Tag Sales

You probably have heard me speak of my friend Raji before, the talented DC based designer who did my favorite room at the Hamptons Designer Showhouse. Now we all have the opportunity to have a piece of her fabulous style through her 2 One King's Lane tag sales!

One of my favorite items up for grabs is this Grand Tour Style Candlestick -you'll have to beat me to it! Sales start January 31 at 9pm EST/6pm PST.

See the preview for furniture, lighting, textiles, and art HERE
See the preview for vintage accessories and tabletop HERE