Charming in Connecticut, by Elena Phillips
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed that Gracie Studio is one of my favorite accounts. Because of the endless colors and patterns from which to choose, I never tire of hand-painted Chinoiserie wallcoverings. When Gracie posted this dining room by designer Elena Phillips, I simply had to see the rest of the gorgeous home. Elena graciously provided additional images for today’s tour along with additional details on this gorgeous home!
The house was designed and built in the early 20th century by the renowned architect Cameron Clark for the VanSinderin family in New Canaan, Connecticut. “Woodley,” as the house was originally called, was enjoyed as an equestrian country retreat. The property included the main house, stone and carriage barns, chauffeur quarters, and a secret sunken garden. Renamed “Treetops” after the long driveway studded with majestic trees in 1925 by Walter S. Hutchinson, then-Washington Post editor of the Sunday magazine section, the home has endless stories and a colorful history. Photography by Jane Beiles unless otherwise noted.
So beautiful, yes? You know I have a passion for old homes, especially ones with a story! They just don’t make them like they used to. To learn more about Elena Phillips and see more of her incredible work, please click here. Thank you, Elena for today’s fabulous tour!
Pretty Pink Tulips
Nine years ago, Elizabeth Moyer from Pretty Pink Tulips decided to plant pink tulip bulbs along the front and side of her house. This became a tradition, her outdoor “signature,” and the inspiration for the name of her fabulous blog. She now plants over 1,000 tulip bulbs each year year. A fellow native Texan, Elizabeth lives in a beautiful Colonial style home in New York State where she is passionate about living, giving, and entertaining with style and grace. While tulip season has come to an end, I wanted to share highlights of Elizabeth’s gardens from this year and years past… Enjoy!
Prior to tulip season, Elizabeth’s daffodils bloom just in time for Easter. Yellow is everywhere in her yard between the daffodils and the forsythia. The tulips are starting to come up, but they don’t bloom for another two to three weeks….
Each season I await anxiously to see the new blooms in Elizabeth’s gardens. Her home is meticulously landscaped and beautifully decorated to welcome them all. For continual updates, please follow Elizabeth on Instagram and via her blog, Pretty Pink Tulips.
Beautiful in Belle Meade
Belle Meade (French for beautiful meadow) is known as Nashville’s most beautiful neighborhood, and today we are going to step inside a 1920s estate known as “Meade Haven” for a grand tour. When I found the listing images, I fell madly and hopelessly in love, as this home exemplifies everything I love about traditional design. It is elegant, it is pretty, and it is timeless. It does not believe in trends, but instead that classic good taste was designed to last a lifetime. It is quietly demure, always classy, and never flashy or brash. This is a family home where memories are made and captured in sterling silver frames, and the wedding china is not reserved just for special occasions. I imagine it has hosted endless showers, holidays celebrations, and dinner parties… guests are always welcome, and they never want to leave! There is nothing stuffy about this home… it is comfortable, inviting, and always impeccably mannered. Let’s take a look inside…
Meade Haven indeed! Wouldn’t you love to live here? Built in 1929, this home is just under 6,000 square feet on over one acre and contains five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. It sold last year, but you can still see the listing images here.
Artist Update: Paige Gemmel
It pleases me to follow the ongoing success of Paige Gemmel, the Florida-based artist who created my logo. You may follow Paige on Instagram, and she offers her Palm Beach Chic meets Chinoiserie artwork via Etsy. However, paintings usually sell before they are complete, and Paige has a lengthy wait list for new work. Luckily, she is now offering prints, and she has partnered with Anthropologie to offer the most darling throw pillows!
Please visit Paige on Etsy for additional information on her prints – there are over 25 darling creations available! – and visit Anthropologie for the pillows. Stock up now, these items are selling like hot cakes!
Bailey McCarthy’s Biscuit Home
You may recall seeing designer Bailey McCarthy’s delightfully whimsical Texas home featured in the February issue of House Beautiful… I love her fun and colorful style, and I also am a huge fan of the fabulous linens available through her company, Biscuit Home. As Bailey states on Biscuit’s website, “We are passionate about traditional interior design and lifestyle, striving to honor Southern traditions by adding to the conversation with products that put new twists on the classics. We believe sophistication doesn’t have to be stuffy, and good taste should never be boring.” Sign me up! Below are a few showcase images I pulled from the Biscuit website and Instagram account…
So fun and fresh! All Biscuit Home products are made in the USA, and all artwork is original to Biscuit. Of course I love all of the monogrammed options, and the printed linens provide an affordable alternative to Porthault. I also love Biscuit’s monogrammed napkins… these gingham napkins are perfect for summer entertaining! To see more and to shop the rooms above, please visit Biscuit.
Aquazzura for de Gournay
Just a quick post today to let you know the long-awaited Aquazzura for de Gournay collection is now available for purchase! The five-piece shoe collection was inspired by tropical Columbia, and it is so Palm Beach Chic…
If you are looking for a last-minute Mother’s Day gift, trust me Dear Mom would be thrilled with any of these options. Since orders won’t arrive until after Mother’s Day, simply print the image of your purchased shoes and slip it inside her card. I personally have my eye on the embroidered loafers… hint, hint. The Aquazzura for de Gournay collection is available exclusively at MatchesFashion.com.
