They say everything is bigger in Texas, and the old adage certainly rang true of the 3rd Annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas. While the star-studded event was originally scheduled to run through October, it was unfortunately cut short and closed yesterday after opening to the public for only four days. If you missed out, don’t fret… The Glam Pad is sharing highlights today!
From maximalist and bold to pretty and serene, 24 top design firms from across the country transformed a 12,470-square-foot estate located in Dallas’ posh Old Preston Hollow neighborhood. As with any show house, there were over-the-top theatrics, but there were also some timeless, classic rooms TGP adored. And we were delighted to meet many of our favorite designers!
Let’s take a peek inside with photography by Nathan Schroder, unless otherwise noted.
Harold Leidner CompanyM + M Interior DesignM + M Interior DesignM + M Interior DesignM + M Interior DesignPatricia McLean InteriorsPatricia McLean InteriorsPatricia McLean InteriorsShelley Johnstone DesignShelley Johnstone DesignShelley Johnstone DesignShelley Johnstone DesignShelley Johnstone DesignSchooler KelloggSchooler KelloggSchooler KelloggSchooler KelloggBlaire DesignsBlaire DesignsAvrea CompanyAvrea CompanyAvrea CompanyAvrea CompanyNoel PitmanNoel PitmanChristopher PeacockChristopher PeacockChristopher PeacockAlessandra Branca (photography by Jay Simon of Ten Ten Creative)Alessandra Branca(photography by Jay Simon of Ten Ten Creative)Alessandra Branca (photography by Jay Simon of Ten Ten Creative)Anthony BarattaAnthony BarattaAnthony BarattaGraci InteriorsGraci InteriorsIsabel Ladd InteriorsHarold Leidner Company
In 2020, the internationally recognized Kips Bay Decorator Show House announced its newest satellite show house in Dallas, Texas. For the Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas, the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club partners with two local charities: Dwell with Dignity, a nonprofit agency dedicated to creating soothing, inspiring homes for families struggling with homelessness and poverty, and The Crystal Charity Ball, another Dallas-based organization whose mission is to aid, support and make contributions to children’s charities in Dallas County.
Kips Bay would like to thank The Shade Store, the Exclusive Window Treatment Partner of the Kips Bay Dallas Decorator Show House 2022.
“Everyone copies her, everyone references her, including me,” Tory Burch states in her foreword written for the book, Bunny Mellon Style, published last year by Gibbs Smith. Written by Thomas Lloyd, Mellon’s grandson, Bryan Huffman, interior designer and a dear friend, and Linda Jane Holden, Bunny Mellon Style is the fascinating story of an American style icon. The authors reveal how Mrs. Mellon’s style developed and how she became a self-confident, hands-on designer of homes and gardens in a privileged world. They share her style in furnishings, art, and collectibles; her dietary habits and penchant for picnics; her personal investment in designing every aspect of her homes, secondary buildings, and gardens; and her love of fashion and jewelry. Unpretentious and down-to-earth, Mrs. Mellon was disciplined and self-taught. Although moved in the upper echelon of society, – her friends included Jackie Kennedy Onasis, Billy Baldwin, Balenciaga, Givenchy, to name a few – she preferred not to be in the public eye.
Bunny Mellon Style offers a rare inside glimpse into Mrs. Mellon’s charmed life. The authors uncover personal writings and correspondences, and they share stories from people who knew her, who were employed by her, and who spent time in her home and gardens. The Glam Pad is delighted to welcome Lloyd and Huffman today to share 10 Tips for Achieving Bunny Mellon Style! Limited imagery from the book is available for online publication, but you can purchase a copy here and follow specific examples they provide by page number.
Painting by Natalie Aldridge depicting Mellon’s iconic pink living room in her Manhattan townhouse
10 Tips for Achieving Bunny Mellon Style
By Thomas Lloyd and Bryan Huffman
1. How to create timeless interiors:
Bunny was partial to small, cozy spaces for daily living and small group entertaining. She created many separated, flexible spaces with a movable collection of tables and chairs to adapt each space to people’s needs. She preferred muted wall colors and natural textures.
-Buy what you love and what is suitable for the spaces; do not merely follow a current trend/fashion. While Bunny’s interiors naturally evolved, the basic “feel” remained the same. (Examples may be seen pictured on pgs 79-81, 144, 170-171, 212-213)
2. How to design to your environment/location:
Start with location, horizon sightlines, and light. Is there a beautiful mountainscape, ocean view (pgs. 182, 183, 191), forest, or cobblestone city streets? How will the natural light cover the space for a residence? What elements of the outside world need to be welcomed or protected from the inside world of the home? Consider natural air-flow over sealed interiors. Always try to incorporate fresh flowers into each space.
Bunny’s Library (pgs 106-123) is a prime example of these tenets. The main wing’s windows are placed to capture the vistas and provide natural light; this extends to the skylights installed over her largest Rothko for further illumination.
The Mellons’ Oak Spring Farm in Upperville, Virginia, Courtesy Thomas Lloyd
3. How to achieve interesting collections:
Never purchase for notoriety—purchase and collect for personal joy and always try to learn an interesting story to share with others on how/why you choose the item/artwork. Integrate a variety of different items that all share different stories and functions which open up your life more to others who visit. Different artists or different stories around the same artist both work.
(Pgs. 70-71 showcase her passion for 18th and 19th-century porcelain vegetables and fruits. With pg. 76 revealing further collections.)
Colors should be based primarily on the location of the property. For her New England beachside homes, (Nantucket, Cape Cod) Bunny was drawn towards light blues (pgs. 170-173)and weathered wooden floors (pgs. 202-203) with stone exteriors (pgs. 54, 88-89, 106-107) to complement the surrounding environment. In the Caribbean, however, she turned to whites, yellows, and oranges (pgs. 210-211, 219) to help support the surrounding tropical greens and blues.
Interior colors throughout were primarily neutral, often with a strié or crosshatching technique, with pockets of color, such as the library (Gothic Room) at Oak Spring (pgs. 64-67) with its soft citron yellow, the vibrant coral crosshatching in the DC library (pgs. 130-133) and, most notably, the striking blue crosshatching in the New York dining room (pgs. 150-151).
5. Suggestions on fabrics and paint:
Bunny preferred handwoven, organic materials, often created especially for her by friends like Andy Oates, whose ‘Nantucket Looms’ firm provided innumerable nubby linens and cotton in neutrals (pgs. 171, 175, 184), and windowpane plaids (pgs. 119, 191, 197-199) for many of her houses. Another fabric supplier was Tillett Textiles, whose ubiquitous “butterflies” popped up in many colors throughout her houses (pgs. 79, 81, 82, 230), along with yet another Bunny staple: Toile! If ever there were something that comes to mind in many of her interiors was the use of toile, mainly in hues of blue (pgs. 86-87, 149, 252-255). She often used printed fabrics applied in the same manner as toile (pgs. 140-141, 159, 186, top).
6. Incorporating antiques:
Antiques are always important, especially in smaller, more portable forms such as small side tables or corner desks that can be rearranged along the perimeter if the room’s purpose changes. (pgs. 57, 59, 64-65, 68, 80, 137, 239, 242, 243) Again – using family heirlooms with interesting stories is preferred.
7. How to collect and decorate with art:
Anchor one important piece around each room or a collection of similar smaller artworks together (pgs. 64, 74, 79-81, 130-131) – like in a small library – along the shelves themselves. Select works that utilize the same colors you want to promote throughout the interior space (pg. 57, 69, 74-75, 132, 144, 151, 156). Pick an artist you love and again – anchor each piece of that artist with a collection story – how and why you got it.
Bunny relaxing in her Cape Cod home in the early years. Paintings often were relocated as the Mellons’ collection grew. Courtesy Thomas Lloyd
8. How to create a welcoming environment for visitors and guests:
Bunny welcomed visitors by awakening their senses of sight and scent upon arrival; flowers from the gardens and greenhouses were omnipresent in the rooms, with especially large arrangements in the foyer (pg. 57, 60-61, 134-135, 156-157) which filled the air, often mixing with her Rigaud scented candle. There was always a warm and welcoming feel with nothing ever feeling “fussy” and “fixed.”
Small and simple individual welcoming gifts is the best way – with notes & small presents written and selected by Bunny herself.
9. Should you design your home with entertaining in mind?
You should always be able to adapt any room to entertain if needed. Collect and arrange tables and chairs that can be easily moved into different configurations to make guests feel more comfortable in the space. (Pgs. 57, 74, 75, 138, 150-153, 172-173, 198, 223, 227, 243, 248-249).
Courtesy Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum; photo by Paredes
10. Things every well-appointed home simply must-have:
If Bunny were an example of anything, it would be to express yourself and your interests through your interiors; actually setting your own “stage.” Comfort, a cozy chair by the fire, with a light throw within reach, adequate small tables to pull up for a drink or to place your book, proper furniture arrangement, which allows coziness for one or two yet can expand as necessary to accommodate a larger group, adequate yet soft and flattering lighting, something personal and fun. Eliminate stuffy, “showy” objects that are meant only to impress. And, always have some sort of “living thing” such as plant(s) and/or flowers to bring the outside in. In short, make it comfortable and welcoming, showcasing you, not your Decorator.
Welcome to TGP Tidbits where we round up the happenings and our musings of the design industry each week. This week we delve into Kips Bay Dallas, The White Company’s newly released book, Silvia Furmanovich for Bergdorf Goodman, and Walk With Me: New York. Written by Natalie Aldridge.
The 3rd Annual Kips Bay Dallas Show House
The 3rd Annual Kips Bay Dallas Show House opens tomorrow, but amid controversy, instead of running for a full month, the public opening has been shortened to just four days. The Glam Pad will be sure to bring you all of our favorite rooms, but in the meantime, you can catch a sneak peek here. For ticket information, please click here.
9250 Meadowbrook Drive
The White Company’s New Book Release
Founded in 1994 by British powerhouse Chrissie Rucker, The White Company is best known for its principally white and luxurious bed linens. Since originally coming to market with a twelve-page brochure, the company has grown to have many collections, over 50 stores, and an ever-growing presence that has inspired the art of living in simplicity. An homage to this notion, Rucker has released her second book, The Art of Living With White: A Year of Inspiration. Featuring ten stunning homes, the book explores different ways to use white and neutrals throughout the seasons. Rucker also illustrates her tips and tricks for living peacefully, beautifully, and within the context of white and rich neutrals.
To celebrate this momentous release, The White Company hosted a dinner party alongside Heather Clawson of Habitually Chic. With Rucker at the helm, all guests in attendance, including myself, were treated to a serene evening on the rooftop of The Moore hotel in Chelsea. The dinner table was adorned with a White Company linen table cloth, white flowers in darling bud vases, and pristine dinnerware. The event was filled with laughter, lively conversation, and abounding excitement for the book.
Silvia Furmanovich for Bergdorf Goodman
The stars, and maybe diamonds, have aligned. World renowned Brazilian jewelry designer, Silvia Furmanovich has partnered with Bergdorf Goodman to create a collection of homeware available exclusively on the seventh floor of the legendary department store. Born in São Paolo to a family of Italian goldsmiths, Furmanovich developed an eye for the extraordinary at a very early age. In 1998 she established her jewelry business, by appointment only. In 2009, Furmanovich opened her first boutique in São Paulo and has since become one of the globe’s preeminent industry leaders.
Taking her colorful and daring work to the next level, Furmanovich has now unveiled a new handcrafted collection of homeware. Using her signature wood marquetry technique, the collection is comprised of small decorative objet, lamps, small side tables, and other ornate pieces inspired by her recent tour through Uzbekistan.
Celebrations were in order Wednesday evening for the collaboration atop the storied Fifth Avenue department store. I had the pleasure of attending and viewing the collection in person. And oh my stars, how the beauty of each piece radiated throughout the space. Adorned in her own designs, Furmanovich commanded the room, and with a radiant smile she discussed her work and the collection.
Take a look!
Susan Kaufman Takes Over Unsubscribed
One of The Glam Pad’s favorite photographers, Susan Kaufman, has given city dwellers of New York a new perspective on the place they call home. Known for capturing New York’s unique moments, architecture, and haunts, Kaufman recently released her first book, Walk With Me: New York, photo documenting her favorite spots around the city.
On Wednesday, September 28th, Kaufman will be celebrating the release of her book at Unsubscribed located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. From five to seven o’clock you will be able to sip and shop at 25% off. Those who purchase will also receive a free book. Don’t forget to stop in!
Lastly, The Glam Pad is currently undergoing a much needed facelift which will be unveiled next month. In the meantime, we are experiencing some technical trials and tribulations. We appreciate your patience as we work to bring you a lovely new website!
This summer when we featured a stunning 1920s Grandmillennial home located outside Chicago, readers wanted to know more about the talented designer, Alexandra Kaehler. So we are delighted to feature her today for a Style Profile Q&A!
Alex grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, where she lives now with her husband and children. After she began what she believed to be her dream career in advertising, she quickly realized design was her calling after starting a lifestyle blog in 2009. She attended a post-graduate program, at Harrington College of Design and went on to open her firm, Alexandra Kaehler Design in 2011. She desicribes her style as eclectic. “The tension of different things makes a space interesting—shiny with matte, square with round, feminine with masculine,” she says. “We like all different time periods and aesthetics, so mixing them is the perfect way to create aspace in our eyes.”
Alex believes the most important thing is to fill your house with things you love. The “aesthetic” will build on that. There is nothing better than looking around your home and seeing things that make you happy, she says. Second, nothing should be too fragile or delicate that you aren’t able to enjoy it. A home is meant to be loved and lived in. Let’s get to know more about Alex and take a look insider her exquisite portfolio… Welcome, Alex!
Designer Alexandra Kaehler and her beautiful family
Q: Tell us a bit about your career path. When did you know you wanted to become an interior designer?
A: I always knew I wanted a job with some sort of combination of business and creativity. I landed on account management in marketing, however it didn’t fill the creativity dreams I had nearly as much as I thought it would. While I was working in marketing, I started a blog writing mostly about interiors design, with some lifestyle mixed in. This was 2009 when blogs were basically your Pinterest boards. I shared homes I loved, decorating finds etc. I realized after two years that my job in marketing wasn’t making me happy, and to be honest, it was really making me miserable. After interviewing at some other agencies, a childhood friend of mine said, rather bluntly (which I love) “You have loved design your entire life, you write about it on your blog, why aren’t you doing THAT?” And a switch flipped. It had never even occurred to me that it could be a career. I enrolled in design school, kept writing my blog, and got an internship. The rest is history!
Q: What is your favorite aspect of your job?
A: For me, home as always represented something much larger than a physical place you live. I always found comfort and peace in my home. Whether it was my childhood home, my college apartment, my first condo with my husband or the home we’re now raising our family in. So for me, to be able to create a space like that for my clients is such a gift.
Q: Where do you source inspiration and/or mentorship?
A: Quite a few of my friends are also designers, and not only have they helped me grow and been my sounding board, I’m entirely inspired by them as well. Instagram, fashion and travel are some other sources for inspiration for me.
Q: Do you have any favorite go-to colors, paints, wallpapers, linens, artists, etc.?
A: Anyone who follows me on Instagram knows my love for green. I love all shades of it, from mint to olive to emerald. I also love floral print fabrics and wallpapers. They bring the outside in, which is so much of what I love about green too. I also love adding a grasscloth for texture on the walls.
Q: What are you currently working on that we can look forward to in the coming months/years?
A: We have experienced incredible growth over the last couple years. It has given me the opportunity to pause and evaluate exactly what I want out of this business. I have three young kids, and as much as I love my job, I want to be present for my kids more. So I have made the decision to focus on Chicago and Chicago suburban projects only right now. Thank goodness that has worked out for us (for now)! I have no doubt it will change as my kids get older, but right now, being close to home is fantastic. We have two ground up construction homes that I am giddy about. These are clients who want to build new, but feel old. Truly a dream come true for me. So we’re putting a ton of thought into the little details (like millwork) that are often forgotten about in new construction homes. We also have quite a few renovations that are equally as exciting. I am like a kid in a candy shop lately at work. We just have so many incredible projects getting ready to be executed!
Q: What is one fail-safe design element that every room should have?
A: Oh gosh, that is tough because every room serves a different purpose. Are you an entertainer? If you are, you probably want a spot to sit and have a cocktail and a bite to eat in every room, so a card table would be great to have in your living and family rooms. Are you a homebody? You probably want a cozy reading nook in each space of your home. Depending on who you are, and how you live in your house, this answer can change drastically. That is part of what I love about my work, helping my clients understand how they are going to live!
Q: What changes have you seen in the design world post-Covid? Any changes in what your clients are requesting?
A: I definitely never would’ve guessed we would be discussing “zoom backgrounds” when we design offices, but its in every single one of my presentations now. You have to consider desk placement in regard to light, and what your background will be for your call. There is obviously a focus on home offices, but there is also an excitement around entertaining that is really fun. People are so enthusiastic about hosting parties and have friends over again!
Q: Who are your favorite designers – past or present?
A: I love classic American design like Parish Hadley, but also am so inspired by English designers like Colefax & Fowler. There is an effortlessness that English design has that I just love to explore. There are so many current day designers executing this beautifully, just in a new fresh and more American way. Designers like Ashley Whittaker!
Q: What is your favorite easy weeknight meal?
A: We are a pizza Friday house, so I guess my other favorite easy weeknight meal is pasta. Can you tell I’m a carbs girl?
Q: Any fun facts people don’t know about you?
A: Yes… I’m a weird one. I don’t drink any caffeine and don’t know how to ride a bike. Everyone has their quirks, right?
Thank you so much, Alex, for joining us today! We cannot wait to see even more work. For additional information, please visit alexandrakaehler.com and follow @alexkaehlerdesign on Instagram.
Welcome to TGP Tidbits where we round up the happenings and our musings of the design industry each week. This week we explore the newly released Veronica Beard for Juliska collection, the latest prints from Oscar de la Renta for Lee Jofa, and Clementina’s Sketchbook fall stationery release. Written by Natalie Aldridge.
Veronica Beard x Juliska
Last year we featured the stunning Long Island retreat of Veronica Swanson Beard, co-founder of Veronica Beard, decorated by Chiqui Woolworth and Brittany Bromley. We could not stop poring of the rich layers of the home that so beautifully captured the essence of the fashion designer. Recently, the dynamo designer along with her co-founder, Veronica Miele Beard, paired up with dinnerware powerhouse and Glam Pad favorite, Juliska.
Entitled Bohemian Vine, the fourteen-piece collection has us jumping for joy. With the weather finally cooling and Autumnal entertaining on the horizon, it is time to refresh the china cabinet. Inspired by the Iberian coast, both Veronicas sought to incorporate the deep blues of the sea, terracotta, and cactus green as the primary colors of the collection. The collection parts from tones traditionally associated with the colder months making for an interesting twist to a seasonal table.
Oscar de la Renta never ceases to leave us clamoring for more. And the fashion house’s ability to bring fantasy to reality extends far beyond glamorous frocks. Since the inception of Oscar de la Renta Home in 2002, the late designer has outfitted the chicest of women and their homes. In 2010 Oscar de La Renta paired with textile giant Lee Jofa to create a line of fabrics and wallpapers taking their influence in interiors a step further. The collection since has become a mainstay of the textile house with new fabrics and wallpapers emerging each season.
Just in time for the Emmy’s and New York Fashion Week, Oscar de la Renta has released two new prints, Benday and Pagoda Toile. Sublimely feminine, each print has been shown carefully draped upon dress forms creating a dialogue between the two ends of the fashion house. How divine would these prints look adorned on a settee or made into a ball gown?
In the same vane, we could not get over the beautiful Oscar de la Renta gown wore by Sydney Sweeney to this week’s Emmy Awards. With a large bustle train and hand embroidered fabric, the gown is reminiscent of a bye-gone era of glamor.
We cannot over emphasize our love for the hand-written word and beautiful stationery! As ardent supporters of snail mail, we are always looking to refresh our stationery stock piles. This spring The Glam Pad introduced artist and designer Clementina Zegna, founder of Clementina’s Sketchbook. Her cheeky approach and beautiful hand-watercolored illustrations took us by storm.
This week Clementina introduced her fall stationery collection, and we are smitten! Note the mushrooms, a “growing” trend The Glam Pad highlighted in January.
As new design books are unveiled for fall, The Glam Pad always enjoys sharing our favorites. We are huge fans of Atlanta-based Suzanne Kasler, so naturally we were thrilled to get our hands on her latest book Suzanne Kasler: Edited Style, released this week by Rizzoli. Heralded as one of America’s most influential interior designers, Suzanne Kasler has always has her finger on the pulse of emerging home style. This latest compendium of her firm’s new interiors is all about selectivity—a wealth of au courant design ideas that resonate with today’s personally expressive sensibility.
Suzanne Kasler is renowned for designing elegant and serene interiors that are always comfortable and welcoming. Referred to as “a designer’s designer,” she creates chic, approachable interiors that appeal to both connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike. Lavishly illustrated, this book profiles Kasler’s most recent work that further establishes her as one of the industry’s leading style makers. Spaces exude elegance and élan, blending colorful and neutral palettes and mixing contemporary furnishings with antiques.
Starting with the redesign of her celebrated Regency-style home, the featured projects range from family-oriented houses and casual beach and mountain retreats to inviting country getaways. Kasler offers reflections on such topics as fresh ways to make guests feel welcome; living with art and collections; and much more. Providing a wealth of original design possibilities, Edited Style is an essential edition to everyone’s design book library.
Welcome to TGP Tidbits where we round up the happenings and our musings of the design industry each week. This week we look at the Park Avenue Duplex of our dreams, the newly released Tutti Frutti collection by Dior Maison, and new Rose Cumming fabrics for fall. Written by Natalie Aldridge.
A Park Avenue Duplex Hits The Market
It is not everyday an untouched Upper East Side duplex hits the market let alone one in the most elusive of buildings, 740 Park Avenue. Located at the cross streets of 71st Street and Park Avenue, the Rosario Candela Art Deco gem looms large. With sleek lines and an unassuming facades, common traits of Candela architecture, the building bares home to highest concentration of billionaires in the world. In order to even be considered by the board for one of the 31 lavish residences, applicants must be able to show a liquid net worth of $100 million. It is no wonder the building has been dubbed “the most powerful address.”
Constructed in 1929 by the grandfather of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who also resided there as a child, the building has had it fair share of scandals… The most recent being that all three of the building’s duplexes are on the market at the same time! Take a look inside our favorite here.
Dior Goes Tutti Frutti
Autumn is quickly approaching yet we cannot seem to part with the blissful hallmarks of Summer. In a final Summer hurrah Dior Maison has released Tutti Frutti, a new collection of tableware sporting chic fruit ornamentation in high octane colors. While the collection pays hommage to summer, the retro motifs of fruit feel seasonly versatile. And in true Dior fashion, the majority of the collection is comprised of hand-blown glass and Limoges porcelain pieces. Dreamy (or fruity) to say the least!
Since Cordelia de Castellane, author of Life in a French Country House, took over as creative director of Dior Maison, the legendary couturier has developed a home line worth coveting. Castellane has brought her ease of living and simplistic yet elegant approach to style to the line.
New 2022 Releases for Rose Cumming and Classic Cloth
Two years ago, we wrote about how The Wells Companies saved the iconic fabric lines of Rose Cumming Chintzes and Classic Cloth from extinction. The Glam Pad adores Rose Cumming and was excited to learn Wells Textiles is launching new textiles this fall as well as expanding Rose Cumming’s product offerings with the reintroduction of Zebrine, Banana Leaves, and Sheryl wallpapers.
The collections are imbued with a modern-day perspective while paying homage to the rich heritage of each brand and their continued celebration of superior craftsmanship and partnerships with the world’s leading weavers and printers. We are particularly excited about the new colorways for Sheryl – the chic and whimsical “tufted” trompe l’oeil wallpaper that was part of Rose Cumming’s original collection – and the refreshed color palette of the iconic Zebrine.
If you are not familiar with the purveyor of good taste known as “Stuffy Muffy” online, we are delighted to make the introduction! On Instagram and her blog, Stuffy Muffy (aka Emily Jackson) shares “a chic cocktail of a la mode entertaining, delicious decor and marvelous musings,” In addition, Emily is a freelance writer for a variety of interior design publications. With an international sensibility, traditional tastes and a fervor for history, she believes in always adding a fun twist on formal.
Emily lives in Atlanta with her husband, two young children, and Westie. In addition to her writing, she enjoys zhushing her 1940s home, traveling, needlepoint, a page turning read, and supporting worthy causes. It is a pleasure to welcome her today!
Q: When and how did you first become interested in interior design?
A: From a very young age, I think antiques were my gateway drug! My great-grandmother Honey was an antiques dealer in little Brownwood, Texas and left behind an abundant collection for her grandchildren to call their own. My parents’ home had all manner of brown furniture in every room along with plenty of silver service and decorative objet. I’ve always sought pieces and spaces that have a story to tell, life is more interesting surrounded by a bit of the past.
Q: How do you define your style?
A: Impossibly traditional, bucking every trend in the book. I’ll never turn down a weathered wicker piece or a ruffled skirt on anything, I suppose you could say I lean toward feminine flair and thoughtful details.
Q: What designers inspire you?
A: So many decorators from the past including Albert Hadley, Nancy Lancaster, and Billy Baldwin. My latest saved design posts on Instagram are rooms by Caroline Gidiere, Anne Wagoner, Marie-Caroline Willms, Katie Wolf, and Rebecca Graham. The stream of exquisite decor inspiration is endless!
Q: What led you to create Stuffy Muffy, and what is in store for the next 5 years?
A: I was looking for a creative outlet like Pinterest, one where I could stay anonymous and share my very niche tastes with like-minded aesthetes. The Instagram caption text could be rich with history and artful themes, which back then (2015ish) was appreciated. In the next 5 years I hope to still be sharing inspirational images peppered in with delightful finds and recipes.
Q: Tell us about your beautiful home and what renovations you made?
A: Thank you! It is a cottage-esque 1940’s house with great bones such as high ceilings and a floor plan that flows intuitively; these qualities make the square footage feel grander. Together with Tillman Long Interiors we renovated the kitchen, adding a breakfast room and mudroom, and carved out space for a true primary bedroom all while staying within the original footprint. We’ve learned to live efficiently with the quirks of an older abode, closet space is maximized and architectural elements such as plaster walls are embraced. While this isn’t our forever home, it will always be very special to our family.
Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
A: Free time with two young children is limited but I so cherish it! Cooking a new recipe is a simple pleasure I try to find time for weekly. I also love to needlepoint, read, practice pilates and sneak out to a fun dinner with my husband or girlfriends.
Q: What are 5 everyday luxuries you could not live without?
A: Good quality eggs with richly hued orange yolks, nothing else will do!
Airpods to listen to my constant stream of podcasts
Tata Harper Illuminating Moisturizer, it takes me from sallow to bright-eyed in an instant
Wusthof knives for all my daily chopping needs
A fluffy Weezie Towels robe is what I melt into every evening
Q: What are your number one secret for setting a lovely table?
A: Candlelight! It sets the mood and makes everyone look their loveliest.
Q: What is your favorite family weeknight recipe?
A: My go-to is always a three-ingredient Chicken Pommery but in the thick of summer, I will make this Sweet Corn Gazpacho often.
Q: What is the key to hostessing the perfect dinner party?
A: I can’t wait to get back to entertaining after our dining room zhush is complete, I miss it! I would say preparation is key and establishing a very warm, welcoming tone with music, lighting, cocktails, simple menu and a thoughtful guest list will make for the most memorable evening. You don’t have to have the grandest home or fanciest catering to make a lasting impression. In his book, Confessions of a Serial Entertainer, Steven Stolman captures this sentiment so well: “I think that much of the dread to entertain comes from an inability to be spontaneous, from thinking that one’s home isn’t up to snuff. I don’t care if you live in a penthouse or a fifth-floor walk up; for crying out loud, buy a bottle of wine and a can of peanuts and call me!”
Thank you, Emily, for joining us today and providing a glimpse inside your très chic world!
For ongoing inspiration – and delicious recipes! – please visit www.stuffymuffy.com and follow @stuffymuffy on Instagram.
Fall is in the air here at The Glam Pad! Actually, it’s still blazing hot outside, but we can feel it just around to corner. Labor Day weekend is a wonderful time to stock up on fall staples, and we have complied a comprehensive list of sales and shopping ideas for you to kick off the season. We hope you have a lovely weekend with friends and family, and Happy Shopping!
click on items above to learn more
Ann Taylor: 25% off Full-Price Purchase. Use Code FALL
Anthropologie: Right now you can take an additional 50% off sale items at Anthropologie, which includes everything from candles to fall wardrobe essentials and more.
Bloomingdales: Take an extra 30% off items labeled EXTRA for total savings of 50-65%
Madewell: Score an extra 40% off sale and 30% off fall favorites while you transition into your cooler-weather wardrobe.
Mark & Graham: Labor Day Warehouse Sale up to 70% off.
Maxbone: Score 22% off luxe dog accessories sitewide with an exclusive for Underscored readers — through Sept. 4 use code DOGDAY22 for prices that beat the regular site discounts.
Target: Save on tons of categories from clothing for the whole family to bedding and decor for college students. Plus, Target’s 21 Days of Beauty promo offers 50% off daily Beauty Steals every day.
The Avenue: A-Z Labor Day Sale, Up to 75% off 300 + styles.
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Welcome to TGP Tidbits where we round up the happenings and our musings of the design industry each week. This week we look at the divine collaboration between Kravet and Corey Damen Jenkins, Miranda Brooks’ Cotswolds estate, and a fabulous giveaway from Bauble Stockings. Written by Natalie Aldridge.
COREY DAMEN JENKINS’ TRAD NOUVEAU
The much anticipated Trad Nouveau collection between Kravet Couture and Corey Damen Jenkins was released early this spring but we thought we’d showcase the beautiful collaboration today. New York-based interior designer Corey Damen Jenkins has been a Glam Pad favorite since he initially came on our radar with his sublime “Ladies Library” for the 2019 Kips Bay Decorator Show House. We also love his book, released last spring, Design Remix: A New Spin on Traditional Rooms. Jenkins has become a sensation in the design world and continually impresses us with his supreme attention to detail, use of color, and whimsy.
Kravet tapped the budding superstar to create his first-ever collection of fabrics and wallpaper for the textile powerhouse’s couture line. Consisting of over forty motifs and prints, the collection showcases incredible breath. From traditional prints, luxe chenilles, and eye-catching embroidery, Jenkins’ fresh approach has made the collection a mainstay for Kravet and go-to for designers. Take a peek at some of our collection favorites!
With the success of his first collaboration with a major textile house, it is likely to be one of many. We cannot wait to see what is to come from him. In celebration, let’s take a stroll through some of Corey Damen Jenkins’ work.
After lusting over the images of Miranda Brooks and Bastien Halard’s rambling estate, Catswood, in England’s pictorial and serene Cotswold released today on Vogue.com and dreaming of a cool breeze in the late August heat, I couldn’t help but fall down a rabbit hole of discovery.
Known for its rolling hills, quant historic villages, pastoral yet elegant estates, and attracting society’s posh, the Cotswolds boast a bevy of design inspiration largely untapped by us stateside. It was not until I briefly lived in the United Kingdom and spent time exploring did I realize the magic of this small countryside oasis.
Earlier this month The Glam Pad debuted the latest collection of beloved Bauble Stockings in collaboration with Dogwood Hill. Last year the collection was a sellout, and this year is quickly following suit. Despite the heat of summer, there is no time like the present to gear up for the holiday season and support a good cause.
The latest Bauble Stockings by Five Dogwood Hill Artists
As a gift to you, The Glam Pad has teamed up with two incredible brands – Bauble Stockings and Dogwood Hill – to bring you a festive set you’ll love. We’ve combined our love for meaningful products and beautiful paper to create a $745 prize package.
The prize package includes:
– Set of five (5) 2022 Dogwood Hill Bauble Stockings
– Custom 100 holiday cards + return address printing by Dogwood Hill
Click HERE to enter the giveaway! By entering this giveaway, you agree to receive email communications from all participating brands.
The giveaway starts August 31, 2022, at 9AM EST and concludes September 6 at midnight.
