Welcome to TGP Tidbits where we round up the happenings and our musings of the design industry each week. This week we take a look at the Casa Lopez collection for Figaret, afternoon tea with Dior at The Lowell, and an 87-Year-Old Georgian Revival demolished. Written by Natalie Aldridge.
Casa Lopez for Figaret
Prepare to fall in love with a delightful convergence of interior design and fashion. Figaret, the French shirting specialist since 1968, and Casa Lopez, renowned for its fabric and home decor, have orchestrated a captivating capsule collection perfect for the sunny summer days ahead.
This beautiful partnership is full of mesmerizing creations, each a testament to the artistic synergy between these two illustrious houses. Casa Lopez’s iconic prints, celebrated for their bold and lively plant and animal motifs, take center stage on a selection of premium fabrics, including crisp poplin, piqué cotton, sumptuous silk, and breezy linen.
The collection distinguishes itself with unique cuts reminiscent of men’s suiting, drawing inspiration from the distinctive personal style of Pierre Sauvage, the discerning owner of Casa Lopez. One of the standout features is the innovative collar design, eschewing the traditional collar stand to deliver a fresh, contemporary, and effortlessly chic look. The collection can be shopped here!
Afternoon Tea with Dior
Dior has teamed up with The Lowell hotel for an extraordinary Afternoon Tea service! Few things epitomize elegance quite like high tea, but throw Dior into the mix, and you’ve unlocked a whole new level of sophistication. Celebrating one of Christian Dior’s favorite blooms, the Lily of the Valley, this tea service includes scones with Devonshire cream, chicken curry tea sandwiches, pistachio choux, and “Jardin Bleu” as the signature tea, all showcased on Dior Maison’s exquisite Lily of the Valley tableware collection.
These delectable treats, crafted by the Michael Smith decorated Majorelle restaurant and available from Wednesday to Sunday afternoons, are even more enchanting when served on the Dior Limoges pieces designed by Cordelia de Castellane, the artistic director of Dior Maison. This delightful collaboration might just be the most elegant and delicate experience around.
An 87-Year-Old Georgian Revival Bites the Dust
The beloved Spencer Love House, a stately brick Georgian Revival manor and an icon in Greensboro’s Old Irving Park neighborhood, has been demolished. The Glam Pad far too often has to report such tragedy! Sold for an impressive $4.5 million on February 28, 2024, the new owners wasted no time reducing the historic manor to a mere pile of memories. This grand residence stood proudly for 87 years before its untimely end. Reports indicate that the real estate agents involved in the sale were blindsided, completely unaware of the buyer’s plans to raze the home—an unfortunately common fate for unprotected historic houses.
Images courtesy of Katie Redhead, Tyler Redhead & McAllister Real Estate.
Built in 1937 by William Hollyman Jr and Otto Zenke for Spencer Love, the founder of the global textile giant Burlington Industries, the house has a rich history. In 1941, it was acquired by Benjamin Cone, who served as Greensboro’s mayor from 1949 to 1951. Benjamin’s father, alongside his brother Moses H. Cone, co-founded Cone Mills in 1895. Benjamin Cone later became chair of both Cone Mills and Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital.
The home eventually passed into the hands of McElveen-Hunter, the founder and CEO of PACE Communications. She also served as the U.S. ambassador to Finland from 2001 to 2003 and broke barriers as the first female chair of the American Red Cross Board of Governors. The legacy of this residence is as storied as the distinguished individuals who once called it home—a legacy that, unfortunately, will now only live on in the annals of history.
Roy Carroll, the new owner, stated “We had hoped to renovate the home, but ultimately found that was not a feasible option to meet our needs. We were able to salvage fixtures and elements of architectural value to incorporate into our plans. We intend to preserve the picturesque, scenic trees on the property and undertake the great responsibility of protecting the iconic feel and aesthetic of the Irving Park neighborhood.”
Sadly, now we can only hope that the home built in its place maintains the aesthetic and integrity of the neighborhood. You can read more about the remarkable history of this lost treasure here and more on Preservation Greensboro’s efforts here.
Read our favorite articles of the week!
Visit a Historic Hamptons Cottage That Became One Designer’s “Labor of Love” written by Margaret Zainey Roux for Frederic.
Gil Schafer’s Got a Gift for Shaping Houses That Are Grounded, Gracious and Gorgeous written by Ted Loos for Introspective Magazine.
Shop this week’s inspired finds!
The Carrolls should not have bought the house if it didn’t already meet their needs. Renovate what? It was in pristine condition. It’s the ultimate in selfishness to tear down a house like this if it isn’t what you want. Find/build another, if it is not to your liking. Don’t tear down a landmark.
Stunning house
This makes me so sad. Tearing down beautiful architectural history is happening everywhere. The house will probably look like all new builds. A big, white box. Sadly, the new owners have no vision. And, in my opinion, I believe the agents had somewhat of an idea of the new owners’ intentions.
People with taste should get money and people with money should get taste. It is obvious which category the Carrolls fall into.
It makes me sick when too rich people buy these historic houses have no idea what they mean to the communities, and say oh it was too costly to repair then tear it down (which probably cost MORE than renovation) just to build some crappy new modern house that will never be a historic house worth saving. Its selfish of these too rich people!
This is SO UPSETTING!!! How can we please prevent people tearing down property!!!??? This property is GORGEOUS….WHAT else do you want!!??? I live near this property. Probably a white box with black windows will replace this home…
I agree that it is sickening what is happening all over the country to lovely old homes. I just don’t understand buying a property only to tear it down, especially one with such a provenance. It’s a crime.
This is such a sad story. The home was magnificent!! I would love for you to close the loop and show what is ultimately built to replace this majestic, historic home- but that may be more upsetting … new build cannot compare to what was torn down and all the community history that was disrespected by these actions. Thank you for preserving these images of this grand dame!
Thank you for your comment, Joyce. We hope by increasing awareness it might help lead to ending this madness. I think you put it perfectly, it is completely disrespectful of the community’s history.
Xx,
The Glam Pad