Easy Guide to Create Beautifully Lit Rooms

Light fixtures make a room. Here is a favorite from Murray Iron Works in LA. Whether the fixture is for a dining room, living room, entry, or restaurant, the chandelier or fixture is critical to the impact of the room. Check out the pasta ribbon inspired fixtures custom made in Scotland that make the restaurant Bibiana in Washington, DC so amazing. Not to mention the fabulous food and people watching (Madeleine Albright and Sonia Sotomayor dined... Read More

The Vanishing Trousseau

What did Isabelle, the princess of France in 1397 and the humble city girl in 1910, have in common? Only the common thread of cloth contained in their trousseaux yet separated by about 500 years in time. A Trousseau is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as “the personal possessions of a bride usually including clothes, accessories and household linens and wares”. Up until the 20th century, tradition dictated that a trousseau not only include... Read More

Use Mirrors to Accentuate Rooms

Mirrors are a wonderful way to accentuate a room.  They make a fabulous statement and are less expensive than fine art.  I use them frequently in an entry and in living rooms, and sometimes porches too! Mirrors bring light to a room, expand a room and sometimes reflect back a pretty outdoors.  I almost always use custom mirrors in bathrooms, adding character and elegance. My favorite for custom frames is Framemasters …see the entry frame and... Read More

The Calligraphy Brush

Simple in design, yet complex in expression, the Chinese calligraphy brush dates back to 4,000 BC.  The brush is an extension of the calligrapher’s arm and when expertly maneuvered, the brush’s movements have been compared to the dance of a highly choreographed ballerina.  A calligraphy brush is to be respected as it represents a time-honored art form, playing an intricate role in Chinese and Eastern Asian painting. The body of the brush can... Read More

Antique Silver Trophies

Silver, considered the OTHER precious metal, has doubled in value over the past couple of years.  One of my favorite representations of this metal is the silver trophy which can be displayed beautifully in one’s home.  The Grecian trophy was one of the earliest forms of this type usually found in the shape of a warrior. However, in 1699, a two- handled silver trophy  designed by Jesse Kyp, was awarded to an equestrian athlete in New England... Read More