Edith Wharton: The Decoration of Her House

(EdithWharton.org)

Care to ohh and ahh over Edith Wharton's house and gardens?

In the PBS show, Moment of Luxury, designer Bill Stubbs takes a trip near Lenox, MA to the author and designer's legendary house. Unfortunately, my PBS station does not carry this program. Thankfully, there's the internet!

(EdithWharton.org)

Believe it or not, there is an Edith Wharton blog:

http://www.edithwharton.org/blog/

(bygonebooks blog)

The estate and gardens website is:

http://www.edithwharton.org/

This is my kind of reality television!

Brew a fresh pot of coffee or tea and sit back and enjoy:

(Mr. Stubbs, don't you want a Southern perspective on your show? I wouldn't mind tagging along. We'd have a glorious time, I promise!)

A House that Needs a Party

Have you ever seen a house that just needs to have a party? Well, here's one for you.

The coats are being taken.

(Side note: Meg at Pigtown Design, this is what I envisioned for your office foyer!)

The trays are passed.

There is a bountiful spread covering the table--and fabulous china too!

Relaxing after dinner.

Lively post-party conversation in the kitchen.

Off to sleep after a delightful evening...

to rise in the morning for a swim...

and a walk.

I hope this Monday brings your much happiness--and maybe a party invitation in the mail!

Didn't that house need some life in it? It looks like it was made for entertaining.

How about hosting at your house? Anyone having a great Christmas party at home this year?

Oh, and if you want to host a party in this house, you can. It's for sale, just under 4 million.

(thanks MLS for the photos)

Classic Modern

Last year I toured this house and was amazed that so much style could be packed into such a small home. The house was built in the 1920's and does retain much of it's original character, despite it's cutting-edge styling.

To the left of the main living room you'll find the dining room.

How I wish I could be this "edited".

O.K., no, not really. I like all of my stuff.

How do you like the chandelier? I know most of you have seen light fixtures similar to this one, but as I recall, this is real wax that has been electrified.

Now, look at the kitchen below, who would have thought of using that sconce in the kitchen?

I think it's the touches like that which truly set this interior apart.

Also, notice the metal windows with the great muttons and mullions in the "x" pattern.

Here's another thing: this house is DECORATED for Christmas!

Imagine the restraint one must have!

I adore the wreaths and paperwhites being forced.

The master bedroom above.

Quiet and simple--words I would use to describe the entire house.

I don't think there is one of us who wouldn't love to soak in this tub.

Isn't the marble wonderful?

By the way, the home is for sale. Any takers?

Take Out the Tub?

Here's another swoon-worthy bathroom. Isn't it just lovely?

Notice something missing? Yes, the tub.

Is this a design trend, or do people just not take a tub bath the way they used to?

I wish I had documentation about the source of the above photo. Anyone out there know?

I'd love to see more of this room. Could the tub be located elsewhere?

What I really admire is the "jewel box" idea behind it. The designer has taken a relatively average sized bathroom and turned it into something luxurious.

I certainly don't think I'd miss the soaking in this bathroom.

I think the steam shower would be just fine.

Now, another bathroom, could be a powder room/half bath.

What great decorative storage the baskets provide.

Unfortunately, I don't know the source of this photo either.

I'm wondering if this is a bathroom that once had a tub.

It could have been removed and these shelves put in it's place.

I've seen a bathroom recently that did almost the exact same thing. Imagine the above bath with only the top shelf. It was used as an office, of all things.

The top shelf served as a great desktop.

Just think, if the bathroom had a separate shower, the "desk" area could serve as a vanity/make-up area.

Do any of you remember the Christopher Lowell project that converted a tub into a sofa? It was quite creative. He took a standard built-in tub and had plywood upholstered to fit over the top. The apron of the tub as skirted. Quite interesting.

Here's another use for the bathtub. How about converting a claw foot tub into a settee. I don't think so. It if works for you, contact www.reestore.com.

It's better than have it rest in a landfill.

Time to speak up.

Do you take a tub bath everyday?

Are you a fan of the shower?

Would you buy a house without a tub?

Would you miss your tub if it were gone?

Well Done

What a quaint flagstone patio-the herbs, the maple and ivy.  

A lovely spring morning to all of you.  

This past weekend I saw a number of real estate signs in yards of homes in our town.      

(This interior must have been inspired by the main lobby at The Cloister on Sea Island.  

The first two pictures are from the same house.)

Haven't you wanted to step inside-or in the back yard- of some of the houses you see for sale?  

Well, thanks to the internet, we can.  Let's go.  

  

Some of the interiors look quite familiar.  

Doesn't this look like something we've seen in a magazine?

I think I've seen that chair before as well as the chandelier.

(The picture above and the picture below are of the same house.)

Not a bad lake side view.

Calm and soothing bedroom.

Doesn't this remind you of Phoebe Howard?

(The next three pictures are all in the same house.)

This wood paneled living room invites one to lounge for hours.  It's fairly family friendly too.   

Where's my lemonade?  Look at that sky, and the green!  

Could the relator have taken a better photograph?

Beautiful wine cellar with a slate floor.  

I wonder how many bottles this holds?

(FYI:  all homes shown above are listed for two million plus.)

Are you in the market for another house?

What are you looking for?

You Never Get a Second Chance

(Tria Giovan)

I'm thinking of having the front door painted.  I've always had a stained door so this is a big change for me--and I don't do change very well.  My set up would be similar to the door shown above.  I'll have a glass door with a solid door behind it.  I've thought it would be fun to have a punch of color  in the foyer.  Blue, green, red...humm, I just don't know.

For fun, here are a few pictures of lovely "first impressions".  Enjoy.  

(photo: Pieter Estersohn; designer: John Bobbitt)

No color needed here--just oxygen.  I've gasped it all away!

(Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn)

What an interesting mix.  Traditional, contemporary, coastal, early American.  Anything goes.  Stained door.  

(photo: Jean-Francois Jaussaud; stylist: Emile Yannoukou)

Any one want to move in with me?  Looks like there will be plenty of room! (oxygen needed here too!)  Stained door--ugh, I'm so predictable!

(photo: Mark Lohman; stylist: Cynthia Marks)

Stained door, again! Casual, warm and welcoming.  This is a "take your shoes off" kind of house.  

 

Yes, I know, I'm GSG and this is a green door, but isn't it great!  I'm leaning this way.  That is until I see something like this:

Decisions, decisions.  

Alright blog friends, what kind of door do you see for GSG's future?  I'm all ears.  

British Bespoke Kitchens

(photo Maia C.) (and thank you Henry Ford)

A bit of fantasy here.  The homes and the kitchens featured below don't belong to one another.  

One of our fabulous bloggers from across-the-pond has been so kind to inspire me with thoughts of an English kitchen.  In honor of Europafox, I give you English "handmade" kitchens:

Any of you out there have a blue front door?  

This garden is for Pearls and Grace.  It's got her name on it.

I really like the table in the center of the room.  It makes the people the focus-not the appliances.   Adore the wooden counter tops.

This exterior is for you Tartanscot!  Although, I think you may need something a bit more Scottish! 

(All kitchen by Violet Designs, West Sussex, UK)

Wasn't it refreshing to see a few kitchens that you haven't seen in blog land a million times?  Let's hear it.  What are your likes here?  Any one ohhing and ahhing--or are they just o.k.?