Welcome to TGP Tidbits where we round up the latest happenings and our musings of the design industry each week. This week we take a look at Mary McDonald’s Latest Collection for Schumacher, Stephanie Sabbe’s new concept store, Heirloom Artifacts, and a peek inside Natalie’s Upper East Side apartment! Written by Natalie Aldridge
Mary McDonald’s Latest Collection for Schumacher
Million Dollar Decorators, the short-lived reality series that covered the drama of interior design, aired on Bravo when I was thirteen years old. The hysterical and glamorous Auntie Mame-esque designer Mary McDonald captivated my attention. Not only was I enamored by her award-winning work, but by the prospect of pursuing a career in interiors.
More than a decade later, Mary McDonald continues to inspire me and my work as an interior designer with her illustrious projects and notable collections with industry giants. One such collection with Schumacher has made waves in the industry. First released 2013, McDonald’s collection with Schumacher redefined classics with a modern edge. Since its initial debut, the collection has grown with additional color ways, trimmings, and prints.
In a much anticipated lead-up, Schumacher has just released an exciting new collection of performance fabrics and trimmings with McDonald. Featuring springy greens, spritely hues of blue, sunny yellows, and dashes of pink, the collection screams outdoor entertaining while still remaining classic. Take a look below and click here to view the whole collection!
We also adore this quick-fire interview with Mary McDonald herself!
Nashville-based interior designer, Stephanie Sabbe, has launched her first ever home goods concept store. Known for her organic approach to traditionalism, Sabbe has forayed her eye for objet into Heirloom Artifacts. The shop offers a selection of artisan textiles, antiquities, and a variety of home accessories, including candle chasers, accent pillows and restored antique chairs, all carefully curated by Sabbe herself.
Aiming to provide a creative space for all, the shop also hosts monthly workshops like chain stitching and still-life painting. The store is located in the Belle Meade neighborhood of Nashville and is surely a hidden gem one mustn’t miss.
TGP x Homeworthy
This week our very own Contributing Editor, Natalie Aldridge, let Homeworthy inside her chic Upper East Side abode. Lover old school glamour, quirky collectibles, and classic interiors, Natalie takes us inside her her 500-square-foot apartment filled with stories and good humor. Stay tuned for a more in-depth look tomorrow on TGP!
We love introducing favorite designers and getting to know them better through our ongoing “Style Profile” Q&A series… Today we are delighted to welcome Anne Hulcher Tollett, Principal and Creative Director of Hanover Avenue, a full-service interior design firm located in Richmond’s historic Fan District. The north star that guides their process is: “Design everything our clients need and want in creative ways they’ve never seen or imagined.”
From high-end residential to boutique commercial, Hanover Avenue uncovers each client’s distinct style while designing spaces they’ve never dreamed possible – beautiful rooms that feel like a perfect reflection of what they love and how they love to live. Whether traditional or modern, Hanover Avenue believes rooms ought to be gracious and beg a person to come inside – comfortable, practical, with enduring style and unexpected moments of personality!
“Good design isn’t just about picking fabrics and finishes,” says Tollett. “It’s about creating a dialogue between every element in a room. I have just as much fun reimagining my client’s existing furniture as I do knocking down walls and designing a new kitchen!”
Welcome, Anne!
Anne Hulcher Tollett (center) with her design team and French Bulldog “Souvenir”
Q: When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in interior design, and what did your career path look like?
A: I know it sounds crazy, but I’m sure I wanted to be an interior designer before I even knew my playtime could be a career! Was I three years old? Four? For as long as I can remember, I was imagining new spaces, studying floor plans, wishing I could move walls or raise a ceiling. Interior Design has always just been my default to boredom…. Stuck in an ugly waiting room? Re-imagine it! Dying in a boring statistics class? Re-design the chairs!
I began studying Interior Design at The University of Georgia, and because my parents decided to have a grizzly divorce right in the middle of that, I found myself taking a break from college and becoming an intern at Sotheby’s (first in New York and then in Los Angeles). In their 20th Century Works of Art Department, I was totally immersed in decorative objects and furnishings. Pure heaven for me! After Sotheby’s, I finished my degree in Painting and Printmaking at VCU – a turn of events that has ended up being the best thing for my design career! Those fine art classes taught me to see spaces as a composition much like a painting or sculpture.
I got married and moved to Austin where I was making art and teaching art lessons, but so much solo studio time made me miss the camaraderie of people and the creativity of interior design. On a whim, I applied to be the in-house designer at Wildflower where I built a loyal client base. Within a year, I started my own firm, and here I am 20 years later, still doing what I love! Now we are a proper atelier of interior designers with experience from around the country and the world. It is a dream. I never take one minute with our fabulous team or our incredible clients for granted!
Q: How do you define your style?
A: Liveable. Well-traveled. Gracious. On trend but never trendy. I like rooms that look like they evolved over time and beckon you to come in to plop down on the sofa. Even the most beautiful fabrics or complicated profiles are meant to be lived in and enjoyed. I like creating spaces that have a soul, a history, a few imperfections, a little “twinkle in the eye”…. Even our most carefully curated rooms never take themselves too seriously. I like rooms with a little humor and a quiet confidence knowing they will stand the test of time in both durability and style.
Q: Who are your favorite designers (past and present)?
A: Bunny Williams is still practicing and at the top of her career, but she is a mentor to so many of us for her deft furniture plans and layering of textiles, light, and antiques. Even if you are a modern designer, it is worth studying Bunny’s furniture plans and color theory. She is a genius at space planning! Beata Heuman is newer in her career, and her use of color, irreverent profiles, and combinations of color is incredible! Her design has an unstudied, effortless quality with a flawless execution. Her spaces have a lighthearted humor that I find so endearing. I am never bored when I see rooms from either of these two amazing designers.
Q: What is the first thing you do when embarking upon a new project?
A: We take time to really get to know our clients…. We ask what they love and how do they love to live? We think about their spaces “today and tomorrow” because we want to ensure the interior design is enduring both aesthetically and practically. We discuss what existing furnishings (if any) have sentimental value so we can be sure to include those in the plan, we take careful measurements, and we make sure we all have our arms around the budget. We have found this approach creates a solid base which fosters client trust, designer confidence, and ultimately, great design.
Q: Over the last two years, how has interior design changed and also the way your clients are living? Are they requesting fewer open concepts, and more home offices, gyms, etc?
A: We haven’t seen much change over the years. Is that weird? Most of our interior design is so carefully tailored to our specific clients that every project ends up being unique. The only real change we have seen in the industry over the last two years is the ridiculous lead times for furniture and the cost increases. We sure do miss 2018!
Q: What are 5 everyday luxuries you could not live without?
A: Is coffee a luxury? I can’t live without morning caffeine, so that’s top of the list. I drink it out of a drip machine we got for a wedding present 20 years ago. I like it to taste like dessert – oink!
Diorissimo perfume by Christian Dior. I have been wearing it since middle school. I basically bathe in it… If they ever stop making this scent, I will short circuit.
This isn’t an everyday luxury, but I am so grateful to have a wonderful housekeeper to clean my house. I have endless respect for full time working moms and dads who come home after long days at the office to scrub a toilet!
Trish McEvoy high volume mascara in jet black. It costs way too much for a dumb tube of mascara, but my Gawwwddddd, is this stuff ever worth it! This magic mascara has no clumps. No smears. No Trashy Lashy!
This one isn’t a luxury for me. It’s a luxury for my funny Frenchie named Souvenir. It’s called Blissful Dog Elbow Butter, and it’s not for his elbows, it’s for his adorable and boopable nose! It keeps him looking glossy, and boogie, and on his A Game when clients visit the studio.
Q: Where do you find inspiration?
A: Oh gosh, this probably sounds so contrived, but so much inspo is found in nature – the color of the sky meeting the sea, the color of orange berries on a green bush, a stormy sky. Entire palettes of rooms can be created from the colors of a peach on a tree. But I am MOST inspired once I meet a new client and begin working on spaces with them. The treasures they have collected over the years, the trips they take, their lifestyle, their hopes and dreams, those are the things that are the true impetus for creativity for my team and me! It’s easy to pull colors and profiles together, but the real thrill comes when we have been so inspired by the family we are designing for that the final result looks like it all just appeared out of thin air – perfectly designed as if by interior design *magic*!
Q: What is your favorite movie house of all time?
A: Ok, ha! I literally had to ask my team what this meant because I thought you meant “movie house” like “cinema”…. I get it now, but there isn’t just one house….! Like a true designer, I love rooms from several!
The upstairs hallway in Meet Joe Black! French Gray walls with INSANELY amazing art. The Rothko up there is BONKERS against those paneled walls.
The kitchen in The Game with its neutral palette and classic finishes. So timeless!
The Family Room from the townhouse in The Undoing. I love the cozy ocher mohair sofa, relaxed art, and inky walls.
Nan Pierce’s Dining Room in Succession is so chic, warm, and classic. There is an understated elegance to the space given the scale of the house, and I love a dining room with a fireplace!
I love the slipcovered furniture against the antiques in the Living Room of the beach house in Something’s Gotta Give! Forgiving fabrics and finishes are so fantastic in rooms with loads of saltwater covered people and pets. And I love that there are plenty of table lamps for reading (builtin bookcases galore!) and end tables to place a drink. An ottoman anchors the room and doubles as a coffee table. It’s such a classic and durable space!
Jules’s Bathroom from The Intern. I’m a sucker for a clawfoot tub, mosaic floors, killer brass fittings, and a shelf built into the wainscotting for bath potions! This room will never go out of style!
And the united team vote for best whole house if we haddddd to pick jusssst one is Anatomy of a Scandal! “Layered, Moody, Chic, Approachable, Timeless, Livable”, says the Hanover Avenue design team!
Q: When you aren’t busy designing, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
A: I should say I mountain climb or sculpt or write short stories, but really, I love to just lounge and hang with my family and friends. Work is so fun that it never feels too much like work, but I do think it’s important for the team and me to step away so we can be recharged. Every night, we all head out of the studio to be home for dinner, and when I get home, my husband and daughters and I will play with the pets, chat about the day, sometimes play spades, sometimes dream of our next family trip, or just watch the news. It’s really laid back during my free time, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
A: Thank you so much for including us! We love The Glam Pad!
Thank you, Anne, for joining us today and sharing your refreshing and elegant approach to design! For additional information, please visit Hanover Avenue and follow@HanoverAvenue on Instagram for ongoing inspiration.
The new year brings a moment of reflection of the past and anticipation for the year to come. Each January, The Glam Pad often takes this time to speculate and predict the design trends of the new year. While we are ardent proponents of timeless classics and tend to shy from trends, our interiors evolve with time making trends worth evaluating…. particularly when they involve classic styles. There is always room for a balance between the classics and of-the-moment pieces.
Without further ado, here are our top six design trend predictions of 2023.
Nods to the 90s
In a linear fashion we have moved from 1980’s flashy hues and bold prints to the 1990’s quieter counter parts. Nostalgia for the 90s is in full swing after louder interiors reminiscent of 80s opulence have been the domineering trend. One show in particular has helped to usher in the 1990s zeitgeist.
The Crown, now in its fifth season, regularly portrays intimate spaces of notable royal residences including Buckingham Palace and Balmoral. Though, it was not until the latest season, taking place in the late 80s to early 90s, that Princess Diana’s private Kensington Palace quarters had been displayed. Making a departure from the typical royal English environ, her apartment was feminine, but with a casual elegance not often seen. With wallpaper borders, damask prints, and muted hues, her private residence perfectly captured her youthful spirit and relatability.
Between the Grandmillennial movement, “Barbiecore” and the “Coquette” trend, feminine style is here to stay. The color pink is a cheerful and uplifting response to the difficult years we have all experienced, and florals and chintz have made an undeniable comeback… And perhaps there is even a bit of Shabby Chic nostalgia?
Over the last few years, greens of the emerald variety have captured our hearts. From striking lacquered millwork to luxe velvet upholstery, we cannot get enough of green. The good news is – it’s here to stay, but we will begin to see more natural hues. Following a cycle of daring colors, natural hued greens will provide relief and a return to a more organic approach to design.
Just like the phrase coined in 1943 by the British Ministry of Information in the midst of WWII, buying less, repairing more, and getting creative with DIY projects will once again come to the forefront. This trend has already begun to take hold in the fashion industry. Many designer giants, like Coach and Valentino have piloted up-cycling programs to give their products a new life.
With growing climatic and economic concerns, purchasing habits are shifting. Many feel inclined to invest in beautiful goods that will last for generations to come. There is nothing more sustainable or economical in the long term than acquiring goods, and many times antique goods, that will last many lifetimes.
We all need a little whimsy! After the pandemic and other global events, we are ready for some fun. Parting ways with a serious approach to interiors, we will begin to see more irreverent touches filtrate into homes. Whether it be seemly disparate styles, cheeky needlepoint phrases, artwork that makes you do a double take, or mix-matched throw pillows, there is an art to evoking a smile or even a laugh within a space. A dose of kitsch could do us some good!
Welcome to TGP Tidbits where we round up the latest happenings and our musings of the design industry each week. This week we take a look at Linda Rodin’s latest venture, Linda Hopp Denim, the Bridgerton Prequel, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, and Michelle Nussbaumer’s magical Christmas in Gstaad. Written by Natalie Aldridge
Linda Hopp
In 1979 fashion maven Linda Rodin opened the first-ever clothing store in Soho, Manhattan, called Linda Hopp. A smashing success, the store featured her clothing line as well as other designers such as Calvin Klein and Norma Kamali. The store aided in the transformation of SoHo from an industrial district to a refuge for artists and a bustling neighborhood filled with shops.
Dawn Mello, the fashion director of Bergdorf Goodman at the time then gave Linda Hopp an opportunity all fashion designers dream of, an in-store boutique called The Hopp Store. Fast forward to Rodin’s post-Linda Hopp years, she became a successful stylist for 35 years and created the cult-classic beauty line, RODIN olio lusso.
After an incredible career, the style icon has now revamped Linda Hopp name with a trailblazing line of denim. Embodying the true spirit of Rodin herself, the collection juxtaposes clean hems, funky silhouettes, and to die for fabrics. As an ardent wearer of denim, Rodin intends for the collection to be playful and elevated while still being staple pieces. Denim for days!
Take a look. And don’t forget to spot Winky, Rodin’s beloved Poodle.
Calling all Bridgerton fans! In the midst of 2020 when fantasy was deeply needed, hit show Bridgerton came on the scene giving us all that touch of wondrous fictional romance. Based on the Regency romance novels written by Julia Quinn, the Netflix series portrays London high society through a whimsical lens. The story follows the eight siblings of the noble Bridgerton family as they navigate life in search of love, adventure, and finding themselves.
After two successful seasons, Netflix has announced a prequel limited series following the story of Queen Charlotte, the show’s haughty queen at the helm of high society. Entitled Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, the series will shed light on the early lives of some of the more senior characters.
To ring in the New Year, Netflix released a first look at the young Lady Danbury, played by Arsema Thomas. This scene of a deep stare with to impeccable costumier has us clamoring for more!
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Netflix
Christmas in Gstaad with Michelle Nussbaumer
Interior designer Michelle Nussbaumer is known for her innate ability to create layered environments. Often using an eclectic mix of patterns, antiquities, and new objet, her interiors evoke a story. The AD 100 designer and author of Wanderlust never misses the beat when creating a home made to stand the test of time and trend.
This Christmas, Nussbaumer gave an inside glimpse of Christmas at her family’s cherished chalet in Gstaad, Switzerland. Perched within the alps, the home exudes history and beautiful memories. Each room, much like Nussbaumer’s other properties, is decorated to a tee. She carefully balances the tradition of Swiss homes with her irreverent decorative sensibility, worldly travels, and love of entertaining. Take a peek!
Images courtesy of Michelle Nussbaumer and Mary McDonald.
Last year we toured the beautiful home of Amy-Beth Ellice, British cookery extraordinaire and author of Amy’s Baking Year. We adore Amy-Beth’s timeless classic style, elegant tablescapes and entertaining tips, and of course, her delicious recipes. Amy’s Baking Year journeys through the seasons with delightful treats for all occasions, featuring everything from back-to-basic and traditional classics handed down through generations, to Amy’s own creations that will take your breath away. We were so inspired by the New Year’s Eve dinner party for four she hosted last year, and we are delighted to share highlights… and a few recipes. This looks like the perfect way to ring in the New Year!
The recipe for Amy-Beth’s champagne cocktail can be found here, and her Baked Alaska here. Click here for a tour of her home. You will also want a copy of her book, Amy’s Baking Year (her second book is in the works!) and for daily inspiration, please follow @amybethellice_ on Instagram.
Welcome to TGP Tidbits where we round up the latest happenings and our musings of the design industry each week. This week we share an inside look into Next at Christie’s and New Year’s Eve 2022. Written by Natalie Aldridge.
Next at Christie’s
Christie’s has been auctioning works of art, furniture, and more with storied pasts and provenance since 1766. With such history, it is rare up-and-coming artists make an appearance within the hallowed halls of the institution. That changed last year when Christie’s debuted Next at Christie’s, a non-selling exhibition of artworks by the next generation of emerging artists. In partnership with Good Eye Projects, a new London-based artist residency program, the exhibition works to spot light highly promising young artists.
After a successful first year, on January 12th Christie’s will open its doors once again to showcase the works of six new artists. The second iteration of Next at Christie’son view from 12th to the 20th of January in the St. James’s galleries in London. If you find yourself in London, take a peek at this exciting exhibition.
Choon Mi Kim, UntitledAbi Ola, Bouquet 1
New Year’s Eve 2022
With Christmas behind us, we are now looking forward to the New Year. This past year has brought us new horizons, inspiration, and passion for beautiful spaces. New Year’s Eve marks the beginning of new opportunities and a chance to renew.
Of course, New Year’s Eve also brings a chance for memorable decorative moments. Whether you are throwing a large soiree, an intimate dinner party, or simply staying low-key, we have gathered a bevy of inspiration for you.
If you are like us here at The Glam Pad, you will be celebrating Christmas until January… We can never get enough! Today also happens to be one of the best shopping days of the year, and you won’t want to miss our favorite selections from all the best After Christmas Sales! Also, we’d love to know what holiday home tour you viewed this season that inspired you most? We have shared so many, but below are a few more Christmas treasures to keep you in the holiday spirit…
One of our favorite holiday home tours this year was the ancestral home of floral designer Mary Spotswood, as featured in Flower Magazine. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is decked for the holidays in Colonial Williamsburg inspired finery. Of course we adore her needlepoint stockings… Click here for a tour!
We love following Leben Riebe @vintageholiday for all things Christmas Past! You can take a tour of his exquisite Fort Worth, Texas home filled with vintage Christmas decorations by clicking the video below. And don’t forget to follow @vintageholiday for ongoing inspiration.
Mary Ellen Becker has perfected Grandmillennial Style, and her home is so beautifully decorated for the holidays it even caught the eye of The Wall Street Journal! We love the tree bows she made from scraps of leftover Schumacher fabric and the picture of her lovely Grandmother in the background. Visit @murpheybeckerart to see more.
The cozy Colonial home @thecolonial_on_park is an Instagram favorite! We love every single room… It is hard to pick just one, but wouldn’t this kitchen be the perfect place for. baking Christmas cookies?! See more at @thecolonial_on_park.
And if Santa didn’t bring you everything on your Christmas list, do not fret! Below we have rounded up our favorite After Christmas Sales for your shopping pleasure… Enjoy!
Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, Todd Richesin’s design philosophy exudes a chic glamour that always feels comfortable and inviting. He believes rooms should be collected, not decorated. Classically inspired decor, pretty palettes, and comfortable spaces are trademarks of his style. The Glam Pad is a huge fan of Todd’s work as we featured him in 2016 for a Design Crush, and again in 2018 when we toured this gorgeous home he designed. We were also ready to pack our bags last year and head to Key West, Florida when this stunning home he designed came on the market! Today, we are delighted to take a peek inside Todd’s beautiful home, which exudes classic Southern style and is decked in its holiday finest.
Pure holiday perfection! For additional information, please visit Todd Richesin Interiors and follow @toddrichesin on Instagram for ongoing inspiration.
Welcome to TGP Tidbits where we round up the latest happenings and our musings of the design industry each week. This week we share an inside look into Rudy Saunders’ needlepoint ornament collection, The Sil Shop’s upcoming Aspen pop-up, and a look at some of our favorite Instagram accounts to follow this holiday season. Written by Natalie Aldridge.
A Very Needlepoint Christmas With Rudy Saunders
Interior designer Rudy Saunders never ceases to amaze with his talents. The New York based designer and resident Upper East Sider has an old-style edge, endless creativity, and beaming smile that has taken the “grandmillenial” scene by storm. And I do not just say this because he is one of my greatest friends!
Decorating aside, Saunders has become the poster boy for all things needlepoint. Starting as a child along with his mother’s guidance, he has forayed his pastime into an ever blossoming collection of needlepoint canvases and has garnered a hefty following of needlepointers who look to him for inspiration.
With Christmas just days away, we have an inside look for into Saunders’ needlepointed ornament collection. Each year Saunders’ adorns his tree in exclusively needlepointed ornaments hand done by Saunders’ himself. The tree totals an astounding 112 ornaments with 28 new additions this year alone. Take a look!
Our Favorite Holiday Instagram Accounts
Christmas is just around the corner, and there are so many Instagram accounts that have been getting us into the holiday spirit! Here are a few of our favorites…
Jeanna Crawford (aka The Queen of Christmas) is a holiday personality who crafts elevated Christmas and seasonal designs to inspire her community of Christmasers all year round. She offers so much inspiration from easy, festive tablescapes to this incredible ornament garland we’re totally making next year!
The Glam Pad has written frequently about favorite holiday china patterns, and the classic Spode Christmas Tree is at the top of the list. We love following @addictedtochina year-round for inspirational tablescapes, but we have been particularly loving their fresh take on Spode Christmas Tree this season!
We love Lydia’s classic style and passion for entertaining. Her tips on decorating with oranges at the holidays and using vintage Santa mugs to add Christmas spirit to a tablescape caught our eye!
A TGP favorite, The Sil Shop has announced a very exciting pop-up coming to Aspen, CO in the new year. Known for its curated collection featuring the work of emerging designers, The Sil Shop offers exclusive pieces that cannot be found anywhere else on the Internet.
February 22nd to the 23rd The Sil Shop will be offering their one of a kind goods along side Of Rare Origin and Tyler Ellis. Hosted by Amé Damaso in a private residence, this pop-up will surely impress.
The Glam Pad adores the colorful, whimsical style of interior designers Lance Jackson and David Ecton, the dynamic duo behind Parker Kennedy Living. Five years ago, Lance and David relocated from Atlanta about 70 miles northeast to the small town of Commerce, Georgia, where they purchased the century old residence of former Georgia Governor L.G. Hardman. Listed on the National Register, Lance and David have impeccably restored the Mediterranean Revival style Governor’s Mansion, documenting their progress on Instagram @thegovernorsmansion. The home has been transformed into a magical showplace, reflective of their style which they describe as Southern Regency with traditional Palm Beach overtones.
Today Lance and David are sharing a peek inside the Governor’s Mansion – in all it’s holiday finery! – along with instructions on how to make their exquisite vintage Christmas tree topiaries.
Vintage Christmas Topiaries by Parker Kennedy Living… Instructions below!
How to Make a Vintage Christmas Tree Topiary
1. Pick your favorite planter or cachepot
2. Add a styrofoam cone to the inside – hot glue down
3. Pick your favorite glass vintage ball ornaments – shiny brites are the best.
4. Start from bottom up adding the shiny brites to the cone with hot glue.
5. Add larger shiny brites first & with your way to the top of the cone with smaller sizes.
6. Add tinsel garland to the openings between the shiny brites with hot glue.
Enjoy!
For more information on Parker Kennedy Living, please visit their website and follow @parkerkennedyliving on Instagram for ongoing inspiration.
Queen Charlotte: A 
