The Truth Behind Ivy-Covered Houses
Last week on Instagram, I posted a gorgeous ivy-covered home posing the question, “Has anyone ever lived in an ivy-covered home? I hear the ivy is damaging and would love to learn more.” The post generated over 6,000 likes and 135 comments! It seems most everyone loves the romance of these charming homes… but they can be high-maintenance. After reading all the comments, I thought it would be fun to summarize them here today and share a plethora of additional ivy-covered eye candy.
Comments regarding problems with ivy included damage to bricks and to mortar between the bricks, as well as ivy finding its way into screens, cracks in windows, and spaces between wood siding. Apparently it can hold moisture against the house causing mortar to crumble. One person had to replace the mortar between the brick. Ivy can also adhere to stucco causing stucco to pull away from the house. Some comments suggested there was less of a problem in dry climates vs. damp, high humidity climates. However, others indicated that they had not had these issues.
There were two things that were apparent in these comments. One: Ivy has to be maintained, i.e., trimmed at least a couple of times a year, kept away from screens and windows, and kept away from creeping into vents, etc. Two: One should choose the best type of ivy… Apparently some types of ivy are more damaging than others. English Ivy, Boston Ivy, Fig Ivy, and Virginia Creeper were suggested as less damaging alternatives.
Another problem mentioned with ivy was the critters that it can attract. Rodents, spiders, birds and their nests, and bugs and insects in general are a few examples. One person described how a snake had crawled up the ivy onto the roof and into a vent going into the house. It got under the bed in a guest bedroom and caused quite a stir. Another said her ivy was used by squirrels as a super highway to the roof of their house where they caused damage. They cut the ivy back several feet from the roof and solved the problem. One person said that her ivy had become a breeding ground for big cockroaches.
In spite of these potential problems with ivy, very few people indicated that the problems were so great that they had it removed from their homes. The sentiment seemed to be that it was worth the hassle. One person said that it takes a long time for it to do serious damage. “It just takes monitoring and maintenance to keep it in check.” Another said “there is always a price to pay for fashion.” Regarding the potential damage, another person said “but I don’t care, it is too beautiful.”
A popular alternative, Virginia Creeper, can grow in sun to full shade, where soils are soggy to dry and even in lightly alkaline soils. The adaptability of the plant makes it suited for any site but care should be taken to keep it off wood siding and gutters. The vine climbs and adheres to vertical surfaces with aerial roots, and the weight of the plant could pull off boards and misalign gutters.
Additional information on Creeping Fig can be read here, and visit here for more on English Ivy. These are two more alternatives that were mentioned. Another recommended alternative is Fig Vine. But some warn of the damage they can cause as well.
There seems to be mixed reports on all suggested alternatives. I think the bottom line on all ivy type plants, even the alternatives, is that they can cause some damage, especially if they are not kept in check. But they are so beautiful that they are worth it! To see my Instagram post on the subject and all 135+ comments, please click here. I’d love your thoughts, please weigh in!
Château de Morsan is for Sale
Nestled in the midst of the forests of Normandy, France is the elegant and romantic Château de Morsan, one of the few remaining folies in France. It was originally built around 1760 as a hunting lodge by the Marquis de Morsan, a confidant to Louis XV, for the King’s visit. The architect was Ange-Jacque Gabriel who was also the architect of the petit Trianaon at Versailles and the Folie of Madame de Pompadour, the mistress of the King.
The current owners saved the abandoned dwelling and embarked upon a highly documented 10-year restoration dedicated to preservation of the architectural integrity of the era. Images from the real estate listing and past media coverage, including The World of Interiors, are below. At the end is detailed information the owner graciously provided with all of the inside scoop regarding the sale of this national monument… Enjoy!
This is a once-a-lifetime-opportunity to own an incredible piece of French history! Additional information can be found via Handsome Properties International. The chateau is listed for €1,000,000. Additional details, provided by the homeowner for this feature, are below…
“The house is a national monument, a summer house, not built for all seasons. There are two Renaissance towers, standing and three stables, all needing to be restored, and the windows and shutters on the house should be replaced by double glass, etc. The roof which is slate, needs rebuilding, as it is original, that can be done correctly with slate for around 200,000 euros. It has a nice servants cottage and quite a lot of land, it is very safe and protected there, two hours from Paris, and no one could find it. The land is quite fertile for growing vegetables, flowers, and herbs, and there is a very choice parcel of land with trees to build a large guest house, There are about nine or 10 acres, and is great for horses, it is horse country. It has everything.
With a good and responsible buyer who loves the l8th Century, and period furniture, the house can be sold more or less furnished at a very reasonable price. The furnishings are the right period for the house, so it could be sold furnished or semi furnished, to the right person.
A lovely couple reside onsite as caretakers. We have known their family for years, and the young man can do everything, he is very skilled and diversified, and does extra projects. She is very artistic, and keeps the house up.
It has important wood paneling and fireplaces, and it should not be changed or damaged, We can not sell the property to anyone who would destroy any of the original details, it has been maintained for nearly 300 years, and is a summer house. Central heating can be revived, there are radiators that function, and the plumbing should be brought up to date. This is not a house for the faint hearted, it is for a French history buff, and someone who wants to live in the beauty and charm of the l8th Century. It is a romance with the past, and absolutely incredible in the summer… let’s say to die over… and absolutely unique. There are less than six of these l8th Century folies left in the country.”
Style Profile: Julia Amory of India Amory
For Julia Amory, founder of India Amory, creating a lifestyle brand was her destiny. Julia’s stepgrandmother is Alexandra Stoddard, the celebrated lifestyle expert and author almost two dozen books including Creating a Beautiful Home and Living a Beautiful Life: 500 Ways to Add Elegance, Order, Beauty and Joy to Every Day of Your Life. And Julia’s husband, Minot, happens to know a thing or two about lifestyle brands as well. His great aunt was the late Lilly Pulitzer.
Julia developed the concept for India Amory in 2016 while searching for printed fabric to use for the tables at her beautiful wedding in Southampton. Unable to find the perfect print at an affordable price, she decided to design her own pattern using the Indian block print technique and produce the napkins and tablecloths herself. Julia was so inspired by the process that she left her career in financial services to follow her true passion by developing the India Amory brand. Today, I am delighted to welcome Julia for a Q&A!
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: In all elements of style I have always gravitated towards what my family calls “happy colors.” I grew up in a house where we believed that beige is not a color and we simply “could not cope with taupe” – the exception being camel hair coats. Growing up in New York in the ‘90s – this wasn’t a particularly “en vogue” approach to style. In both my personal style as well as home decor I believe that simple lines and saturated colors are an unbeatable combination. I don’t do trends.
Q: Who have been your greatest role models?
A: My grandparents, Alexandra Stoddard and Peter Brown are among my greatest role models. My grandfather passed away several years ago but I grew up spending a tremendous amount of time with them in both New York City, where I also grew up and in Stonington, CT where they have a summer home.
In a day in age where people wear flip flops on planes, I don’t think that I ever saw my grandfather not wearing a coat and tie. This isn’t to say there was an unnecessary formality to the way they lived, rather an elegance and a wholistic approach to the pursuit of living a beautiful life! There was certainly a degree of eccentricity that went along with that – matching your chopsticks to your Shanghai Tang tunic (for dinner in restaurants) was a must and underlining the New York Times with a hot pink ballpoint pen over breakfast (also always in a restaurant) was a daily ritual. They lived in a rose colored world of Porthault, Pucci and spontaneous jaunts to Paris and Bermuda – it wasn’t always “real life” but it was a wonderful fantasy to be exposed to growing up!
Art has always been a tremendous part of my understanding and approach to style. My mother took me to children’s classes at MoMA every Saturday when I was growing up and trips to the MET were a weekly adventure. I strongly believe that exposure to art at a young age helps to shape one’s understanding and ability to work with color. I consider Roger Muhl to be one of my greatest sources of inspiration.
Lastly, my husband is the nephew of a great woman of style named Chessy Rayner and the home in which we spend summers in Southampton was designed and built by her. Chessy had a pioneering approach to decorating of mixing high and low before it was the chic thing to do. Her design firm MAC II has withstood the test of time, their work still feels relevant 20 years later. I’ve very much taken the high-low philosophy to heart with India Amory. Minot is also the great nephew of Peter and Lilly Pulitzer – obviously they’re icons and I consider them both tremendous role models!
Q: Please tell me more about the incredible family homes in which you and your husband grew up. How did these beautiful surroundings help shape your own style?
A: I’ll use this opportunity to talk about my husband Minot’s house in Palm Beach which was decorated by his grandmother Chessy Patcevitch – she was an incredibly stylish woman who I never had the opportunity to meet but who personified the kind of elegance that rarely exists in this day in age. Her husband was a man named Iva Patcevitch who ran Condé Nast – they were very glamorous! There is a tremendous amount of sophistication and balance with Big Chessy’s approach to style – playful colors are always grounded with important antiques and stripes are always rooted with more saturated deep color.
Q: I’m dying to hear more about your grandmother Alexandra Stoddard’s linen closet… That must have been such an inspiration!
A: Alexandra is perhaps the most stylish woman I’ve ever known – even her linen closet is perfect. In the Internet age – what you see is not always what you get. There’s can often be an element of falsehood in Instagram. With Alexandra what you see is what you get – that linen closet wasn’t styled for a shoot, that’s what it really looks like! She also has a ribbon closet (I know) and that was in their apartment in New York….She’s taught me that living elegantly is not about how you look when you leave the house but rather how the grace with which you live your life. When I was growing up, we would have dates to work on interior projects in my grandparents beautiful apartment in New York – these projects were more often that not working on things that nobody but someone who really SEES color and style would ever appreciate. We would paint the interior of her kitchen cabinets chartreuse, or re-grout the Portugese tiles on the floor of the front hall closet! And of course there was the ironing….Alexandra taught me to appreciate the the “zen” that comes with “pressing” your belongings – even your undies! As the owner of such an extensive Porthault collection I suppose it’s totally necessary but it is also a very calming exercise! My appreciation for beautiful linens and textiles from such a young age certainly lead me to what i’m doing now!
Q: Who are your favorite interior designers and style icons? Where do you find inspiration?
A: The Prince of Chintz – Mario Buatta, Eleanor McMillen Brown, Alexandra Stoddard and Chessy Rayner! 1960s Palm Beach makes me want to build a time machine and set the clock back. Slim Aarons photography makes my heart beat faster and the paintings of Roger Muhl make me want to pack up, move to the South of France and never look back. I’ve also always had a deep affinity for 18th century France and the garden design of Andre Le Notre.
Q: You had the most beautiful fairytale wedding, and I love that it was what inspired you to create your company. How can other brides use India Amory products for their own weddings?
A: Thank you! The wedding was so special not only because of the significance for Minot and myself but because it was the genesis of India Amory. The first fabric I had printed we ended up using for all of the tablecloths as well as the robes for the bridesmaids and boxers for the boys. Unfortunately as you’re working out the kinks of a new company (and developing prototypes in India) the boxers arrived with no opening in the front….needless to say the boys were good sports and we have fixed the problem since!
India Amory now offers full custom options for brides – custom robes and linens are such a fabulous way to create a unique event and we’re really aiming to do that at an accessible price point! We’re currently working with lots of brides and can’t wait to share the photos of their respective weddings!
Q: What are your top tips for stylish entertaining?
A: Do EVERYTHING in advance. I sweat the small stuff – I can’t help it! The visual element of a dinner party is perhaps more important to me than the food so I always like to leave myself lots of time to have fun with the part I personally enjoy the most which is the aesthetic component. I’m also addicted to both Amazon Prime and eBay for home accessories. This is not a sexy tip just a useful one. There is nothing you can’t find for your table by typing it in to either Amazon or eBay – it’s a great way to find things you haven’t seen in stores and save some money. And of course, printed tablecloths are a fantastic way to immediately create a finished looking table – owning rattan chargers that you can put on top of any printed tablecloth is such a fast way to create a complete looking table.
Q: What are five luxuries you could not live without in the home?
A: I’ll give you about eight because I can’t cut down to five!
- Gracie and Hudson – our English Cream Dauchshund and our lab mix. Nobody cares – but if you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see them pop up. There’s a lot of personality there.
My India Amory ankle length robe – it’s really more of a dressing robe, but perfect for looking civilized (when you’re not feeling it!). - Scent is nostalgic and Rigaud Cypress candles make me think of childhood.
- Printed tablecloths and napkins – you could be serving macaroni and cheese but really all that matter is that you have a “happy table!”
- Preserved boxwood. You can buy these preserved boxwood balls anywhere -they’re inexpensive, never die and really do make things feel a bit more “green” in the middle of an atomic Northeastern winter.
- Curtains and rugs and duvets. I’ve got a thing about all three. I don’t like a naked looking bed – which means at least two duvets, one on the bed, one at the foot and about six pillow – two Euro, two standard, one neckroll and one boudoir. Curtains – can’t cope with a naked window. And rugs – even if it’s just a sisal area rug, it instantly makes a space feel more complete.
Q: What are your long-term goals for India Amory?
A: To bring beautiful linens and custom pieces to the market in an accessible way that makes it fun to entertain! We’ve got a lot cooking – stay tuned!
Thank you, Julia, for sharing an inside glimpse into your fabulous world! India Amory currently offers a beautiful assortment of table linens, robes, and pareos. Custom designs are also available for fabric and wallpaper in a limitless array of colors and patterns. And for parties and weddings, India Amory offers beautiful and affordable solutions to large scale needs. For additional information, please visit India Amory, and follow along via Instagram for daily inspiration. I cannot wait to watch as this fascinating new brand blossoms!
Aerin Lauder’s New Palm Beach Inspired Collection for Williams Sonoma
Inspired by her family’s home in Palm Beach, Aerin Lauder has unveiled her new AERIN Collection for Williams Sonoma, and I want one of everything! The collection of more than 120 products was inspired by Aerin’s personal philosophy that living beautifully should be effortless. The assortment includes tabletop and entertaining pieces inspired by traditional blue and white Delft pottery, hand painted cachepots, sculptural pieces, decorative metal and ceramic objects, and artwork.
“Palm Beach was a significant influence on the collection, particularly the color of the sea, the palms, tropical flowers, and shells,” Aerin said. “I have wonderful memories of sunny days collecting shells on the beach with my sister and they’re a recurring theme in the series, from shell-handled cheese knifes to shell-embroidered pillows.”
The tabletop collection reflects Aerin’s alfresco gatherings with family and friends in Palm Beach. She wanted to recapture those summery, relaxed meals via Delft china-inspired dinnerware with a twist, mixing and matching patterns and styles.
The collection’s decorative accessories and furniture also look to nature, including bamboo and wicker for a casual look.
The home décor items include Chinoiserie florals and coastal-inspired motifs, natural fibers such as raffia and linen, and a muted pastel color palette with gold accents. The assortment includes pillows, bedding, hand painted cachepots and sculptural pieces, decorative metal and ceramic objects, artwork, chandeliers and table lamps in exclusive finishes.
The lighting selection of chandeliers, pendants, and table lamps are influenced by flowers and tropical plants as well as the opalescent quality of sea glass, with gold accents.
Pillow designs include floral-inspired textiles and shell embroidery.
Click items below to shop my favorites from Aerin’s new collection!
Click here to shop the AERIN Collection for Williams Sonoma, and for special behind the scenes videos with Aerin in Palm Beach, click here and here. If you don’t already own Aerin’s book, Beauty at Home, it is one of of my very favorites. It can be purchased via Amazon and William Sonoma. And to take my historic tour of Aerin’s family home in Palm Beach, please click here.
