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 Rita Konig collection for The Lacquer Company, a rare Gilded Age mansion that has hit the market, and The Design Social Pop-Up in East Hampton. Written by Natalie Aldridge.
Rita Konig for The Lacquer Company
The Lacquer Company has unveiled a new collection of sleek, glossy designs in collaboration with British designer Rita Konig. Rita Konig, an AD100 veteran, has been a long time collaborator of The Lacquer Company. Renowned for her layered style, Rita Konig’s projects equally prioritize beauty and functionality, crafting spaces that mirror the lives of their owners. These are the same principals Rita employees in her collection.
In their latest iteration, the brand’s popular Hudson nightstand, a stylish two-tiered bar cart with scalloped edges, and an updated, larger Belles Rives coffee table featuring a built-in storage shelf have been reimagined.
A Rare Gilded Age Mansion Hits the Market
Nestled on the Upper East Side, the magnificent Gilded Age mansion at 15 East 63rd Street has just hit the market for $65 million. Built in 1901 for financier Elias Asiel, this palatial residence has miraculously withstood the demolition frenzy of the 1920s, which claimed many of its peers during a period of rapid growth in New York City. It stands as a testament to an era when the industrial elite spared no expense, ensuring their homes were as flamboyantly adorned as their fortunes allowed—a time when true craftsmanship and architectural integrity prevailed.
This Beaux Arts-style masterpiece, sprawling across 18,000 square feet, was envisioned by the renowned architect John H. Duncan, famed for designing Ulysses S. Grant’s tomb and numerous notable Manhattan residences and Greenwich estates.
Clad in limestone and exuding Parisian elegance, the mansion has seven bedrooms, twelve full bathrooms, and four powder rooms. This mansion once doubled as the home and studio of the legendary fashion designer Oleg Cassini, who famously styled Jackie Kennedy, Joan Fontaine, Joan Crawford, and other high-society ladies worldwide. Adding to its allure, it sits among other Gilded Age survivors that once housed New York’s elite, including the Woolworths, Bloomingdales, Brokaws, and Hammersteins. On East 63rd Street, history truly lives on. Let’s have a peek inside!
The Design Social Pop-Up in East Hampton
If you’re a design aficionado enjoying summer in the Hamptons, don’t miss the Design Social Pop-up at Guild Hall in East Hampton today. From 10 AM to 6 PM, explore offerings from over 40 esteemed creatives in boutique textiles, wallcoverings, and home products. The event will span several key locations throughout Guild Hall and will feature favorites like Sister Parish, Flora Soames, Peter Dunham, and Casa Branca.
As part of the event, join two insightful conversations moderated by Kaitlin Petersen, Editor in Chief of Business of Home, and Rachael Rummel, Style and Market Director of Veranda. Both discussions will take place in the newly renovated theater. Attendees will also have the unique opportunity to tour the recently unveiled historic theater with a Guild Hall staff member, delving into its rich history and the details of its extensive two-year renovation.
Love it or hate it, technology is constantly changing the way we live, often blurring the lines between fact and fantasy. A quick scroll through Instagram whisks you away to a fairytale world where puppies never have accidents, red wine is never spilt on pristine furnishings, and couture-clad Influencers while away their days in a never-ending series of picnics, gourmet meals, date nights, dream vacations and perfectly decorated homes. Social media has changed the way we consume information, market our businesses, spend our time, and interact with society. Now, we have Artificial Intelligence – and even AI Influencers! – knocking at the door.
The other day while scrolling, I stumbled upon the dreamiest pink parlor, stopping me in my tracks. It had received over 28k likes, yet upon closer inspection I realized it was not real at all… it was AI! Falling down the rabbit hole, I started poring through the creator’s account @jenconnell.home. Jen Connell is a creative director whose own real-life, picture-perfect, 240-year-old home in the Irish countryside has graced the pages of House and Home magazine. She began dabbling in AI while decorating her home, as a way to further cultivate her vision. Thoroughly intrigued, I reached out to Jen and am delighted to welcome her today for a Q&A as we discuss the future of Artificial Intelligence and its implications for the world of Interior Design.
Welcome Jen!
Jen Connell in her Irish countryside home
Q: First of all, you have exquisite taste! Your real home, as featured in House and Home magazine, is perfection! How did you develop an interest in interior design, and do you have professional training?
A: Thank you, that’s very kind. I’ve always had an interest in interior design since I was quite young. I grew up with creative hobbies including drawing and singing, and interiors ended up being another outlet to explore. I’ve always had a particular interest in the romance of period homes in England, Ireland and France. I don’t have specific interior design training, although I’m considering it! There are lots of transferable skills from my day job however.
Q: Please tell us a little about your day job as a creative director.
A: I’ve been working in the creative industry for around 12 years. My day job involves developing strategic creative solutions for brands – everything from design and video to set design, copywriting and team management. There’s a lot of overlap with interior design. One of the benefits is not having to compromise on my ideas as I’m designing just for myself at the moment.
Q: How did you develop the idea of creating AI-generated interiors for your Instagram account?
A: It’s an expectation of my day job to always be learning and to adapt to new technologies and innovations. I was curious and wanted to explore the possibilities of AI. As interior design is one of my hobbies, it seemed like an exciting route to pursue. I also find interior design can sometimes be a little too exclusive. You’ll often find that people with fantastic ideas are limited in what they can design, and AI is the perfect way to creatively experiment and express themselves without the constraints of budget, time or fully committing to a design for their home. For me personally, I’ve been really enjoying this new creative outlet. It allows me to conjure up these fantastical spaces and inspire real design changes in my own home. I use the real rooms in my house as a jumping off point and layer in the ideas I’d like to explore. I’ve found it much more helpful to use AI to explore creative ideas than my usual methods. Now I’m only limited by my imagination.
Q: The AI images you create are so incredibly realistic, they are virtually impossible to tell apart from real interiors! Can you tell us about the tools you use and your process of creating them?
A: I think they are somewhat realistic but there’s always a detail that’s somewhat off. This doesn’t really bother me, I find the errors and artefacts of AI interesting and sometimes amusing. Like any other type of creative, it’s not about perfection. I’ve been using Midjourney to generate my images. If I really can’t get an image right, I can further edit it with Photoshop. I’ve been researching best practice for AI on forums, like how to input the best prompts but I still have a lot to learn.
Q: Some people are saying AI will replace human intelligence, but we would imagine it still requires a great deal of personal style, insight, and attention to detail to create images such as the ones you have made?
A: I very much hope that’s not the case! I think there’s an understandable amount of fear around AI, especially when it comes to making human-made creative work obsolete. But I don’t think that will ever happen. There will be change, and we have to move with it. Humans will always create. I know there have been similar reactions with every wave of new technology, the move from hand drawn to digital design being the first that comes to mind. Many design purists would have rebelled against that movement. Certainly for me, I will always value human made art. I work with creatives every day, I support local and international artists and musicians by buying and sharing their work. I think all types of creativity can co-exist.
To answer your question regarding what it requires to develop quality AI imagery – yes, it requires all the elements a designer would normally need. You need to have a vision and discerning taste, to start. It’s almost like the creative director and junior designer relationship. You develop the direction and instructions, and the AI tries its best to follow. It still needs a lot of guidance and revisions to get to the place you need it to be. For me, it can take anywhere from 8-30 revisions before I get an image I’m happy with.
Q: What implications do you think AI holds for the future of the interior design industry as a whole?
A: It’s definitely shaking things up! While the technology is exciting, we do need to prioritise the ethics of AI. My instinct is that creatives should be compensated for the use of their work to train AI. At the same time, I’m also aware that ‘sampling’ creative work without cost is normally permitted, within reason. I’m also concerned about the environment and the impact of new technologies. It’s 2024 and we expect companies to be as sustainable as possible. AI companies need to follow suit.
As for the impact AI might have on interior design – for now, I feel it’s most useful in the conceptual phase of design. I think it can help designers and clients swiftly visualise options for their space. In the future, I see it being another string to a designer’s bow. As creatives, we all have our favourites tools to use and some may embrace AI and some may not.
A: That’s a great question. I have lots of ideas. As I’m a designer by nature, I would love to explore developing interior design products and/or services for clients. It’s would be a big shift for me but my mind is brimming with design ideas. I would love to dip my toe and partner with brands on home decor collections. I also love that interior design is currently just a hobby for me, sometimes when you try to make the switch from creative hobby to turning a profit, it can suck some of the joy out of it. But we shall see!
Q: What advice can you give anyone within the design industry who is interested in dabbling in AI?
A: Keep an open mind, research the various tools and platforms that are available. Experiment and have fun!
Q: What projects do you have on the horizon for your real home?
A: So many! The top of our list is our kitchen redesign. We live in a period home and the kitchen is very modern and lacking character. I’m working with London based designer Emily Cove on the kitchen design. She’s an unbelievably talented designer who also happens to be my cousin! She has years of experience working with period homes so I hope to learn a lot from her. Following that, we also need to look at a dressing room design. We’re gradually doing smaller garden projects too. One day we’d love to renovate the stone barn on our property, but it will take years before we can fund that project. The house will be a lifelong project but I’m excited about that.
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
A: Just that I’ve been surprised by and grateful for the interest in my AI designs! I don’t think I’ll ever be over the fact that Richard E Grant likes my posts or Kathy Hilton follows me. It’s bonkers!
Jen’s Irish countryside home
Thank you, Jen, for joining us today! We love the way you are utilizing AI to enhance your already-brilliant talent, and we cannot wait to see what the future holds!
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 Café Ginori at Bergdorf Goodman, Ralph Lauren Goes Patriotic for the Olympics, and The Lanesborough’s Bridgerton Tea Service. Written by Natalie Aldridge.
Café Ginori at Bergdorf Goodman
A New Yorker cartoon famously quipped, “I want my ashes scattered over Bergdorf’s,” capturing the allure of this iconic New York institution. If you share a passion for this legendary department store, you’ll adore the newly opened Café Ginori within its walls.
Tucked just beyond the beauty counters, this charming café is a vibrant, candy-colored escape into the world of Ginori 1735. Known for its exquisite Italian porcelain, Ginori 1735’s fanciful dishes grace the tables of the finest restaurants and the china cabinets of the most stylish individuals worldwide.
Ginori’s journey began in 1735 in Doccia, Tuscany, when Marquis Carlo Ginori founded a porcelain venture inspired by Italy’s rich art and culture. For nearly three centuries, the Florentine company has pursued a timeless mission of transforming porcelain into pure beauty and celebrating the artistry of everyday life. Today, Ginori continues to evolve through the creativity of new generations, blending art with daily life and redefining porcelain and style for the contemporary world.
This collaboration between Bergdorf Goodman and the renowned Italian porcelain maker celebrates exquisite craftsmanship and the warmth of Italian hospitality. All dishes will be served Ginori’s Oriente Italiano collection meanwhile the interiors are just as sumptuous with Ginori wallpaper, fabric, and other Italianate finishes. Be sure to stop in for a bite or a cocktail!
Ralph Lauren Goes Patriotic for the Olympics
Ralph Lauren is back to outfit the nation’s finest athletes for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Just in time for the Fourth of July, Ralph Lauren has unveiled their official collection. Since 2008, Ralph Lauren has been the go-to designer for Team USA, and for their ninth collaboration, they’re bringing their signature Americana flair and preppy athleisure to the chic streets of Paris. It’s a match made in fashion heaven!
In celebration of this momentous occasion, the Ralph Lauren flagship women’s store on Manhattan’s Upper East Side has become a patriotic extravaganza. Take a look!
The Ralph Lauren Olympic Collection is now available for purchase here! Happy Fourth of July!
The Lanesborough’s Bridgerton Tea Service
Calling all Bridgerton fans! Lady Whistledown requests your attendance for a delightful afternoon tea…
Image Courtesy of The Lanesborough
The Lanesborough has introduced the Bridgerton Afternoon Tea, the latest in an series of seasonal afternoon tea services. This limited-edition menu celebrates the Regency era—a time of lavish revelry, elegant soirées, grand feasts, and beautiful clothing—with a modern and playful twist. Set in the iconic London hotel’s opulently adorned Regency dining room in Knightsbridge, this experience is bathed in natural light from a domed glass roof by day and showcases the hotel’s stunning interiors. Who could resist an afternoon tea in a setting like that?
Image Courtesy of The Lanesborough
Meticulously crafted by Head Pastry Chef Pierre Morvan-Benezet, the menu pays tribute to the prominent families of Bridgerton. It features an exquisite selection of delicate finger sandwiches and sumptuous pastries, designed to transport guests back to an era of elegance and indulgence. It’s time to dust off those Regency duds and join the fun!
Meet Bradley Odom, a master of transformation who infuses life into interiors across the nation with his distinctive ethos—a seamless blend of the “raw and refined.” From intricate renovations to ground-up constructions, Bradley’s interiors embody innovative beauty and timeless style, always with a touch of the unexpected. Think a disco ball perfectly placed within an elegant sunroom.
Bradley’s journey into design began in the heart of Mississippi, where he immersed himself in his grandfather’s upholstery shop, discovering the essence of quality craftsmanship. This early exposure sparked a love for design that would later define his career. After shaping visual aesthetics for international apparel and home furnishing brands, Bradley took a leap of faith and returned to school, honing his skills at the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design. In 2015, he launched Bradley Odom Interior Design and Dixon Rye in Atlanta’s bustling design district.
At Dixon Rye, Bradley has crafted a shop that Architectural Digest lauds as one of America’s Most Beautiful Home Stores. His bi-annual sourcing adventures whisk him around the globe, uncovering antiques and rare treasures from places like France, Italy, and Africa. These incredible finds not only enhance his own projects but also grace designers’ creations nationwide.
Welcome, Bradley!
Q: When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in interior design?
A: Honestly, it was a winding path towards interior design. I’ve always been extremely design motivated and passionate about aesthetics, but I didn’t make a decision to go after my interior design career goal until I was in my forties. I had spent my entire career in the design world with brands like J.Crew and West Elm, but it wasn’t until I decided to go back to school at SCAD to get an interior design degree that I knew exactly what was next for me.
Q: Tell us a bit about your career path. Did you take a traditional path to becoming an interior designer?
A: Definitely not! I started my career in retail, followed by creative directing at some global brands, deeply within the corporate sphere. It took a real leap of faith to leave that behind and pursue interior design, as well as opening my own retail shop.
Q: How do you define your style?
A: Textured, curated and well edited. I don’t really like to lock myself into a category of traditionalism or modern. Every room I design has aspects of many different design styles. It creates an amazing tension that gives a room both balance and interest. It really takes a well-trained and editing eye to pull it off, but when done well, a space really begins to feel singular and unique.
Q: Who are your top five interior designers (past/present)?
A: Billy Baldwin was absolutely brilliant. I love Vincenzo De Cotiis. No one does a kitchen like Steven Gambrel. Hugo Toro is killing it. I like people who put their own stamp on design and Axel def did that.
Q: What drew you to develop Dixon Rye?
A: I did and still do see Dixon Rye as a place I can show my artistic and creative expression of myself. I’ve always wanted to explore an aesthetic that I thought was underrepresented – a mix of the raw and refined, an emphasis on luxury’s humble origins, with its roots in the South. In that, I knew we could have a great retail experience showing wares from all over the world and focusing on who and where things were made, but all while doing beautiful design work and creating the products we felt were missing from the market.
Q: Where do you enjoy sourcing antiques and art?
A: I love Belgium. Literally everything about it. It’s such an inspiration for me. I equally love the markets in the South of France.
Q: What is one fail-safe design element that every room should have?
A: Damn good lighting—invest in it!!
Q: What is your favorite design or coffee table book?
A: Lalanne is one I could go back to over and over again. I also love Ralph Lauren’s book—what an inspiring story about building an iconic brand.
Q: Do you have any favorite “movie houses” and how have they inspired you?
A: George’s house in Tom Ford’s A Single Man. I never tire of that house.
Q: What are you currently working on that we can look forward to in the coming months?
A: So much! I’m excited about a residential project in Atlanta we’re kicking off—it’s a 1929 Schutze house. I find that starting with a historical house with incredible bones can be so inspiring and lead to really incredible work. But we also have some really exciting partnerships happening. You’ll be able to see my collection soon in L’Atelier Paris Haute Design showrooms. We’re really excited to showcase our own designs in ranges, range hoods, hardware and cabinetry.
America’s birthday is next week, and we are getting ready to celebrate! For a little red, white, and blue inspiration – #verytgp style – we have compiled a few favorite images below… Enjoy!
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 Skye McAlpine Archive Sale, Mathilde Favier’s Living Beautifully in Paris, and Erdem’s ‘Imaginary Conversations’ exhibition at Chatsworth. Written by Natalie Aldridge.
Skye McAlpine Archive Sale
Skye McAlpine is unveiling her first-ever archive sale, running from Thursday, June 27th to Monday, July 1st. Known for her blend of easy, lived-in Italian style with English propriety, Skye was born in London and moved to Venice with her family at the young age of six. Now a food writer passionate about shared meals, she draws inspiration from Venetian craft and the Italian dolce vita lifestyle while always bringing things back to her British roots.
Splitting her time between London and Venice, Skye McAlpine channels her love for entertaining into her craft. She pens a regular recipe column for The Sunday Times, contributes to Vogue, the Daily Telegraph, and Vanity Fair, and has authored three cookbooks: A Table in Venice, A Table for Friends, and A Table Full of Love: Recipes to Comfort, Seduce, Celebrate & Everything Else In Between. Named one of the 50 most influential women in food in 2020, she has also designed a tabletop collection for Anthropologie and a table stationery line for Papier. Her latest venture, Tavola, showcases essential table pieces inspired by her cookbooks, making cooking for friends as effortless and enjoyable as a sunny Italian afternoon.
The sale showcases a stunning selection of Tavola pieces straight from the archives, each sold individually so you can mix and match to your heart’s content or snag that one must-have item. With limited quantities up for grabs, demand is expected to skyrocket, so get ready to shop! The countdown is over. The sale is officially on and can be accessed through Skye McAlpine Tavola here. Happy hunting!
Living Beautifully in Paris
In the world of interior design, few cities captivate the imagination like Paris. Living Beautifully in Paris provides an look into the heart of this iconic city, led by the ever-chic Mathilde Favier, Public Relations Director at Dior Couture.
Mathilde, a scion of one of Paris’ most creative families, is known not only for her influential role in fashion but also as a gracious hostess and social architect among the city’s elite in fashion, beauty, art, interior design, and gastronomy. With her extensive network and profound understanding of Parisian culture, she is the perfect guide for this stylish escapade.
Enriched with lively texts and interviews by Frédérique Dedet, the book welcomes readers into the private world of Parisian life. Mathilde leads us through exclusive spaces, chic boutiques, artistic studios, elegant homes, and gourmet kitchens of some of Paris’ most esteemed personalities. Through their personal stories, expert insights, and shared secrets, readers gain a unique and intimate glimpse into the vibrant core of Paris.
This exquisite book is a true sensory delight, crafted as a scrapbook overflowing with previously unpublished photographs and documents, alongside stunning new photography by Pascal Chevallier. These images capture not only the breathtaking beauty of Paris but also the dynamic individuals who define its cultural scene.
For interior design aficionados, this book is more than just eye candy—it’s an immersive journey into the essence of Parisian style and spirit, offering boundless inspiration and insights into the world of high-end design and culture.
Erdem’s ‘Imaginary Conversations’ Exhibition at Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House has long stood in my mind as the epitome of British elegance, architecture, and history. As the residence of seventeen generations of the Devonshire family, including the iconic Duchess of Devonshire, it also holds one of Europe’s most significant private art collections and an extensive archive.
In 2023, the Chatsworth textiles team had the delightful opportunity to welcome fashion designer Erdem Moralıoğlu and his talented design team to estate. They delved into the rich historic textiles archived in the Devonshire Collections. Erdem was given full access in addition to the estate, its gardens, and the family. Inspired by the legendary Duchess Deborah, Erdem’s Spring Summer 2024 collection reimagines these historic patterns, drawing from the shapes, silhouettes, and styles she adored.
Image courtesy of ERDEM
On view now until October 20th, ‘Imaginary Conversations: An Erdem Collection Inspired by Duchess Deborah’ offers a glimpse into Erdem’s creative process, from the initial thrill of uncovering treasures in the Chatsworth archives to the meticulous work and artistry involved in designing new garments.
Image courtesy of ERDEM
Set within the guest bedrooms, the exhibition seamlessly blends together historic prints, drawings, textiles, jewelry, and photographs, all reflecting the eclectic taste of the late Duchess. It feels as though Erdem and the Duchess have engaged in a timeless conversation, designing these pieces hand-in-hand, creating a dialogue between past and present.
Image courtesy of ERDEM
This homage to British craftsmanship and flair celebrates Duchess Deborah’s unique spirit and enduring influence. Tickets to view the exhibition can be purchased here!
When a young family decided to return to New Orleans and renovate a house, they envisioned a home that was appropriately traditional for its architecture yet fresh and youthful for their family of four. The house, built in 1904, had been owned by members of the same family for more than a century and required a total renovation. Working with Lee Ledbetter & Associates and Yazoo Construction, designer Chad Graci of Graci Interiors was commissioned to bring to life their vision for a light, bright, airy, and inviting home that included specific spaces for heirloom pieces inherited from the client’s grandmother, appropriate lighting for art that the couple already owned, and incorporate the work local artisans.
A hand-painted Gracie Studio wallpaper with an elegant, metallic floral design set the tone. Chad traveled with the client to Dallas to customize the colors and pattern of the paper to work with the room’s arrangement of furniture and art.
“It has a deep celadon color, so everything had to flow from that,” Chad said. The celadon picks up in different ways throughout the first floor. The whole house has a palette of soft celadon, yellows, and punches of green and tan. I wanted all the rooms to be unique, but they had to relate.”
An octagonal and diamond pattern motif applied by decorative painter Thomas Oppliger transformed the floor of the foyer, and an animal-print rug that hides the wear of little feet on the high-traffic stairs. scale.
Graci added child-friendly touches such as the vinyl on the kitchen’s counter stools, a sisal rug in the living room, and stain-preventative treatments on fabrics. The result is a home beautifully updated to suit a modern family, but with a respectful eye that pays homage to its past.
To learn more, please visit Chad Graci Interiors and follow @graciinteriors on Instagram for ongoing inspiration. Described by Traditional Home magazine as a New Traditionalist, we are huge fans of Chad’s work and will be featuring more here at The Glam Pad… stay tuned!
Kristine Mullaney, Principal of Boston interiors firm Kristine Mullaney Design, is known for elegant interiors that are at once sophisticated and approachable. She sources one-of-a-kind antique and vintage pieces from around the world, and also creates bespoke pieces for her clients. This makes all of her designs as unique as each of the clients themselves and their home a true reflection of their personal style. She also believes that art is a critical element to finish the home, and sources unique works in galleries from Boston to London and beyond.
Today we will tour a beautiful family home Kristine designed in Back Bay, Boston. Her client wanted a classic but updated traditional home. “I mixed in lots of antiques and reproduction antiques/vintage pieces and then more transitional upholstery to achieve this,” Kristine said. “I love that the client was not afraid of saturated color, fun prints and bold pieces of art. Lots of the artwork is very playful, which also makes the house feel more modern and not so ‘stuffy.'”
Kristine discovered an antique Oushak runner Kristine on 1stDibs and customized the stair runner in the entrance based on the pattern, punching up the colors to make it feel more current. The leopard-print bench at the bottom of the stairs is custom from Dennis & Leen in Los Angeles, providing a dash of Hollywood glam.
The antique china case took over a year to fill, boasting a beautiful collection of antique and vintage fine china.
“The client showed me lots of pictures from books of old school Beacon Hill homes, however he did not want it to feel stuffy or too old-fashioned. The client also let me select all his artwork throughout the house. Some pretty amazing pieces; Wolf Kann, David Burdeny, Rodney Smith — just to name a few. It was so fun choosing art for this client!”
We adored touring this colorful, elegant home with a delightful touch of whimsey! To learn more, please visit Kristine Mullaney Design and follow @kristinemullaneydes for ongoing inspiration on Instagram.
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.
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.
We are delighted to welcome interior designer Meredith Ellis today for a Style Profile Q&A!
With exceptional attention to detail and an eye for the creative, Meredith creates soulful homes, expertly layering pattern, texture and color to bring a curated, collected feel tailored specifically for each client. Her sophisticated yet livable spaces have garnered many accolades. Meredith began her career in 1998, working for the legendary New York Interior designer, Bunny Williams for five years before moving West to hone her skills as a Senior Designer under internationally renowned designer, Michael Smith. Meredith launched her own firm in 2008 and then relocated her business to her home state of Texas. Meredith is also the founder and owner of JAMES, a to-the-trade showroom with locations in Dallas, Houston and NYC representing dozens of well-respected lines of fabric, wallpaper, furniture, lighting, and carpets for Texas and the South.
She has been featured in several online and print publications including Architectural Digest, Veranda, Traditional Home, Luxe, Modern Luxury Interiors Texas, D Home, Better Homes and Gardens, Southern Living, The Los Angeles Times, Austin Monthly, Austin Way, and Austin Home.
Welcome, Meredith!
Q: When did you know that you wanted to become an interior designer?
A: I knew I wanted to become an Interior Designer when I was 23 working as a “Shopper” for Bunny Williams. Even though my mother was an Interior Designer, I was not originally looking to work in the design industry. However, my time spent at a large firm working as a part of a team where I was learning the business side as well as the creative side, became the catalyst for my decision to pursue it long term.
Q: How do you describe your style, and how did working for the legendary Bunny Williams influence you?
A: I create homes for my clients that are classic and livable, but they also have to be creative and reflect my client’s personality and style. My homes are layered, colorful, and filled with pattern. I love to use antiques mixed with contemporary pieces. These were the foundations of design I gravitated towards with both my mother and Bunny. Bunny was also instrumental in teaching us the importance of function and scale in a room. A house can be beautiful and formal, but at the same time very approachable and comfortable.
Photography Credits: Nathan Schroder and Meredith Ellis Design
Q: Which historic era or decade inspires you most?
A: I’m inspired by so many different eras, but I relay appreciate the architecture and furniture from the 18th century and the 1920-1940’s.
Q: What is the first thing you do when embarking upon a new project?
A: It’s important for me to know the client…how they live, what they own that they want to incorporate, and what they like and dislike. I’ll ask for images, magazine tear sheets, Pinterest pages, etc. I collect everything at the start of the project and study it which allows me to recognize patterns in their taste and aesthetic. I now have a solid reference point to formulate a direction for the project.
Q: Your rooms are always beautifully curated and look as though they have been collected over a lifetime. How do you create such perfectly layered interiors?
A: Thank you for saying they are ”perfectly layered”! What is really important is utilizing things that are personal to the client…. Incorporating antiques, bringing in pieces from different periods, and combining them with a mix of modern and vintage art to give it more of a “collected” feel.
Q: What is your favorite home fragrance and/or candle?
A: I am very sensitive to smell. I like fragrances that are subtle so when I find something I like, I tend to stick with it. I like Baies from Diptique.
Q: What is your favorite recipe (or take out) for busy weeknight dining?
A: I make a lot of soups/sauces in the winter and freeze them, so I can have something homemade for the family to quickly make during the week. A favorite is a Tomato (Spaghetti) Sauce recipe from the late “THE PEACH Tree” restaurant in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Q: What shifts/trends do you think we will see over the next five years within the design industry?
A: I really think we will see people buying more antiques, more small batch artisanal textiles, and wanting interesting interiors that are layered, but edited, and not over the top.
Meredith Ellis
Q: When you aren’t busy decorating, how do you enjoy spending your free time?
A: If I’m not working, I love spending time with my family and traveling!
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
A: I’m working on a lot of great collaborations right now, and excited for those to launch in the spring of 2024.
My second collection for Meredith Ellis Textiles, is also expected in late spring 2024!
In 2016, Traditional Home Magazine recognized Meredith as one of the nation’s Rising Stars of Design. In January 2017, she was named one of Luxe Magazine’s “Fresh Faces” showcasing 15 of the top trailblazing talents in the industry, and in 2018 she was selected by Southern Living Magazine to design the 2018 Southern Living Idea House.
At Dixon Rye, Bradley has crafted a shop that Architectural Digest lauds as one of America’s Most Beautiful Home Stores. His bi-annual sourcing adventures whisk him around the globe, uncovering antiques and rare treasures from places like France, Italy, and Africa. These incredible finds not only enhance his own projects but also grace designers’ creations nationwide.
