While reading 'The private world of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor" by Hugo Vickers, I noticed these fantastic mirrored doors in the Chinese Room of the Duke's bachelor quarters at York House (St. Jame's Palace).
These are not your developer grade sliding mirrored closet doors. I think they help what would otherwise be a rather dull but undeniably beautiful room come to life. I think this room looks very current, don't you? Do you like the idea of mirrored doors?
Why don't you refashion your chipped or broken china as beautiful desktop accessories? Here I'm using a chipped Wedgwood jasperware creamer to hold paperclips on my desk at work.
Waste not, want not; Definitely cheers up my day!
You may remember I broke my old camera a few months ago and was on the search for a replacement. My replacement is a Canon Powershot SD1200 is and I can't say enough good things about it. I think the photographs have been excellent at 10 MP (judge for yourself though, the last 2 months worth of posts have used this camera); it's tiny and fits into my pocket and is super easy to use. My previous camera was also a canon powershot from 2002 but the difference is really amazing; Technology has come so far!
Recently at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, I got a chance to see just how far camera technology has advanced. Above you see a number of cameras from the last century in all shapes and sizes.
This Ansco Cadet has the most enormous flash but is basically the 1960s version of my canon amateur powershot. You need luggage to tote this thing around though, definitely NOT pocket size!
This Thorton-Pickard Mark III Aerial gun from 1915 was used during WWI to spy on the enemy. I wouldn't advise this for everyday use unless you want an adventure in prison!
This little promotional velveeta camera was probably my favorite; so cute! I don't know if you had to save up UPC points from boxes or not to earn this, but it was definitely worth it!
Just a short post to share this taste of spring with you. Cherry blossom time is finally here and tourists are crowding the city to see our beautiful springtime.
I hope everyone is having a great weekend!
Unless it's a beauty like this one! After yesterdays post, celebrated blog commenter Toby Worthington contacted me with this fence he designed for his own house.
Toby based the design on a fence in upstate New York found in a book by a local architect. The design complements his 1860s Gothic painted brick house; Now THATS something I'd want to see, how about you? Thanks for sharing, Toby!!
Washington is a city of fences. Most townhouses that have any garden at the front inevitably have an antique iron fence guarding their plants and hard work from passerbys and dogs. At the 'patina' house I spied this neoclassic design, seen below, very unusual here in DC where a more Victorian approach is typical, like seen above.
Do fences make for good neighbors? Love to see examples of fencing in your area!
Recently in Georgetown I spotted this elegant entry. I love the stone stair and curved railing with integrated lamp posts. I might paint the door a brighter contrasting color, but this is conservative Georgetown afterall!
I hope everyone has a great weekend. Remember, design is in the details!
There is a charming 1920s Chinese building in DC that always seems to draw my attention at L and 11th street.
Formerly the Chinese Community Church building, it now lies vacant and is ripe for development, don't you think? I wonder what the interior is like...
I love the turquoise and red color scheme and the iron light fixtures. And who can't help but notice the clay tile roof and brackets! 
The patina on the facade is charming, but I know people in the neighborhood think this wear is just a sign of neglect. I just worry that a developer will get ahold of the building and take away every last ounce of originality and charm!
Yesterday Catherine from The Shiny Pebble tagged me in her Bag tagging post. I feel so guilty that over the past 3 years (and change!) I have been tagged quite a bit and have never played along; Bad blogger! I thought it might be interesting to compare my workbag to a woman's purse as all of the other nominees were ladies. However -my messenger bag is basically a 'manbag' as you can see - so purselike it's embarrassing! Lets dig through this mess, shall we? Don't judge!
-Reading materials for the bus - check! Vanity Fair and Veranda today.
Have you read this month's Vanity Fair (they have a great website btw!)? Featured is a book called 'Mad World: Evelyn Waugh and the Secrets of Brideshead' by Paula Byrne and I can't wait to read it. As most of us know, Brideshead Revisited was highly autobiographical for Waugh and this book digs into the details. I can't wait to read it! 
You may recognize Madresfield Court, the real Brideshead, at the top of this post as well as the stairhall above, as it has been used in numerous masterpiece theater mystery episodes. I love this room! Cozy yet grand, mixing the best of the antique with the new -photographs and portraits, electric light and fireplace. During World War II, the house was planned as a place of evacuation for the Royal family.
Here is Hugh Lygon, the 'real' Sebastian -quite dashing in his double breasted suit and slicked back hair- but not quite as handsome perhaps as Anthony Andrews who played the part in Brideshead revisited from 1981.
Above is Lord Beauchamp, the inspiration for Lord Marchmain, who was in exile from England like in the book, but for much more scandalous reasons! The real story behind this family was even more extraordinary than depicted by Waugh in Brideshead, hopefully this new book is a good read. I'll let you know! 
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