Emily Post wrote a chapter in her book Etiquette on the “Well Appointed House” back in the 1920s. Today, Melissa Hawks’ carefully curated luxuries for the home offer a modern day version of that vision. Based in Greenwich, Connecticut, Melissa founded The Well Appointed House in 2001 while she was working as a young advertising executive in New York City. She wanted to bring unique home decor finds that were readily accessible in Manhattan to a more widespread audience. It was one of the first e-commerce destinations for home decor enthusiasts. Today, the website has grown to include more than 8,500 items, and Melissa has become a celebrated expert on how to live a Well Appointed Life™.
Naturally, Melissa also lives in the most beautiful home, which happens to be my absolute dream house. The Mary C. Morrison house, also known as “Twin Elms,” was originally built in 1912 as a summer retreat for a family living in Manhattan. It has breathtaking marble fireplaces that were carved at the turn of the century, along with exquisite woodwork, mouldings, and ceilings. Since moving in, Melissa has replaced all the windows, replicating the originals exactly with old fashioned chains and pulleys. “I have focused on the spirit of the house, which is very Georgian in design with Mediterranean aspects like the tile roof,” she said. Let’s take a tour! Images below are from Matchbook Magazine, unless otherwise noted.
For more treasures from The Well Appointed House, you can shop here and follow the blog here. And Melissa offers eDesign services! You can also follow along via Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

This house is so pretty. And those Cavaliers….seriously? They are gorgeous. No really, the whole house is perfection – thanks for sharing!!!