Alessandra Branca in Palm Beach
Those of you wintering in Palm Beach will want to pop by designer Alessandra Branca‘s new showroom, Casa Branca on Worth Avenue. The studio and showroom features Casa Branca’s fabrics, wallpapers, and decorative objets alongside vintage and antique pieces. With the activity and development in home and design in Palm Beach and the greater Florida area, Alessandra is excited to expand her brand into the South East in addition to current locations in Chicago and Los Angeles. Let’s take peek with photography by Carmel Brantley.
To learn more, please visit www.branca.com and follow @abranca on Instagram for ongoing inspiration. To see more of The Glam Pad’s favorite highlights from Alessandra’s portfolio, please click here. We also recommend her timeless book, New Classic Interiors.
Style Profile: Molly Moorkamp Shakes Up Fashion With Timeless Style
By Lacelliese King
Over the past few years, I have come to know and love the New York City-based designer Molly Moorkamp for her line of ladylike basics that are anything but basic: her classics like silhouette-skimming shifts, swishy separates, and simply-executed sweaters all promise to stand the test of time in both form and in function.
(Personal recommendations include the white Dodie shift, the Nina sweater, and the perennially sold-out Amelia skirt and Daphne sweater.)
When Molly and her brother Sam Moorkamp launched her collection in November 2018, Molly was deemed the “designer dressing a new generation of uptown girls,” by Vogue. Two years later, she has proved that her talent for dressing women extends well beyond the boundaries of the Upper East Side, and is equally befitting of girls of 17 as much as girls of 75.
A few other qualities to admire in Molly: she navigates the fracas of social media with an enviable elegance that hearkens both vintage glamour and modern sensibility—very tokens of the Moorkamp brand itself. She is a walking Rolodex when it comes to knowing the crème-de-la-crème of NYC bakeries, florists, and cafés, and is my current go-to source for film recommendations, having curated an extensive two-part list of classics that made it off the “MM” cutting floor.
I find Molly’s style to be boldly demure; sophisticated, yet unpretentious; non-conforming, yet utterly appropriate. And upon even closer consideration, in a world of fashion excess, it would seem that she has mastered the art of restraint in everything from accessorizing (for the style-minded) to merchandising (for the business-minded). And, she makes a mean “Molly martini.” Or two? The art of restraint, after all, includes knowing when not to exercise it!
Shake it all up, and you get a mixture of style savvy and design derring-do that makes just the right recipe for a fascinating style profile. With that, it is a delight to welcome Molly to The Glam Pad today. Grab the olives, cue the vodka and sit down with us for this edition of Style Profiles!
Q: How do you describe your personal style?
A: Feminine, Classic, no twist. We need to stop twisting.
Q: Who are your top five favorite fashion designers and top five interior designers (past/present)?
A: Fashion Designers:
Cristobal Balenciaga, Marc Bohan for Christian Dior, Oscar de la Renta (my former boss), Bill Blass, Sam Moorkamp (my brother and co-creative partner of MM).
Interior Designers:
Daniel Romualdez, Renzo Mongiardino, Mario Buatta.
Q: What are five (material) possessions you could not live without?
A: My charm bracelet, a mechanical pencil for sketching, Elnett extra strong hold hairspray, Stubbs and Wootton monogrammed velvet loafers, my personal collection of MM shifts.
Q: Describe your go-to, everyday outfit.
A: An MM shift or Daphne sweater with white jeans and nude ballet flats paired with a frosted lip and a fresh haircut. Never a lot of accessories. We’re in an extended period of over-accessorizing.
Q: What is your single must-have piece from the Molly Moorkamp collection?
A: Anything from our bridal collection – particularly custom.
Q: Where do you find mentorship and/or inspiration for your business?
A: I was lucky enough to be Cheree Berry’s first intern when I graduated high school in St. Louis, way before moving to New York to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology. I worked for her every summer in college. Seeing a boss and mentor of mine grow a small business into a thriving company was an excellent example. She helped me nail my first apprentice-ship at Oscar de la Renta, and the rest is history.
Q: What are some of your favorite design-oriented places in NYC to shop and explore?
A: My neighborhood! I study the goings-on of Madison Avenue retail like a credit analyst…also I always pop into the best florists in my neighborhood when I need a break from work for some inspiration in color and composition. Plaza Flowers or ZeZe specifically.
Q: We know you love a good cocktail hour: what are your five “bar cart” essentials?
A: A proper bar needs not only to be stocked, but also back-stocked, and in close proximity. That’s number one. I think a range of glassware is important too: it’s good to have something you use every day such as these simple basket weave crystal glasses from Pottery Barn; something for a special occasion like Baccarat Harmonie from Scully & Scully, and something unique but not too delicate to “wow” guests (vintage or something picked up while traveling with some color, such as these tumblers from Houses & Parties).
Guests should not feel scared to break a glass, but it should inspire nonetheless. There should be generous bowls of cut lemons and limes regardless of serving 2 people or 10. One last thing – it’s important to think of your bar as any other service area of your home – it should be beautiful but also make sure it functions completely as a space (even if it’s just a tray on a console). Nothing is worse than an uncomfortable guest watching you fly around your house getting ice, mixers etc. from various spots. I could go on…
Q: Tell us about your ideal day in the life of Molly Moorkamp… where did you go, who did you see, what did you have to eat (and drink!)?
A: I’m an early bird, up before most. I most likely will not go to the gym and scan the NY Post instead (awful habit). Grab a cappuccino at St. Ambreous and hit the ground running. I make a to-do list every morning, and attack my emails (a la Melanie Griffith commuting on the Staten Island Ferry in Working Girl).
My brother and I will head to the garment district almost every day to check in on our factory development and production. We’re really a bunch of old school 7th Avenue slickers. I’m a wild creature of habit, so we both eat the same silly salad every day (yawn) and drink far too much coffee.
The Molly Martini playlist revs up around 4:00 and the martini is poured around 6. I’d love to find myself at a neighborhood haunt freezing outside with friends. Donohue’s (UES ladies you get it), Match 65 and Orsay have been my go-to’s during quarantine. If it’s a night in, I’m reviewing movies for our next MM movie list. Cold cream and lights out.
Q: What can we look forward to from MM in the next six months?
A: We have a lot of exciting top-secret developments planned this year, including expanding on all our major categories: cocktail, knitwear, bridal, swim. While I’d love to expand into every dream category of mine this year, slow and steady wins the race.
A closing thought: As all of Molly Moorkamp’s patterns are hand-painted by a team of MM illustrators, we can only hope that Molly’s design expertise won’t stop at the closet, but might extend to outfitting other areas of the home as well… stay tuned! Thank you, Molly, for sharing your time and lovely thoughts with us! Shop the Molly Moorkamp collection here, including bathing suits and new releases for Resort 2021!
Design Spotlight: Marchioness Home & Garden
Don’t you love it when you find a kindred spirit on Instagram and end up scrolling for an hour? That is what happened when I discovered Bethany Berk, interior and garden designer and founder of Marchioness Home & Garden, a beautiful antiques and textiles shop. Today we will take a peek inside her beautiful historic home!
With 25 years of experience in home remodeling, retail, antiques, textiles and manufacturing, Bethany developed Marchioness Home & Garden as the culmination of her expertise, travels and passion for design. A California native who has called San Francisco, Paris, New York City, Los Angeles home, Bethany now resides outside of Boston in the New England countryside, where she recently finished renovating a historic property on the Charles River.
Her house was built in 1905 and given as a wedding gift to Christina Hunewell from her father H.H. Hunewell. The house has had only two owners since the early 1980s. It was solidly built and kept in excellent original condition. However, all the systems – electric, plumbing, air, heating and chimneys – had to be updated. “Breaking into horsehair plaster walls to remove 100 years old cast iron pipes that go three floors up and down was painstaking work,” said Bethany. “The inspiration behind the updates was really the house itself and the natural setting on the river in which its situated. Once on the grounds and inside the house it feels as if you’ve slipped into a time warp to 100 years ago.”
While her journeys in search of antique treasures have taken her around the world, Bethany’s greatest joy is delighting in the country landscape of her own home, from admiring a family of swans on the river, to seeding and planting in her garden, or harvesting honey to share with others.
Bethany has such exquisite taste, and you can shop her beautiful curation of antiques, linens, botanical prints, tapestries, garden accessories, and more via Marchioness. For daily inspiration, please follow @marchionesshg on Instagram. Bethany is also featured in the January/February issue of Victoria magazine on the Art of Correspondence.
Valentine’s Day Gifts and Tablescape Inspiration
Cue those candy hearts! Love ’em or leave ’em, Valentine’s Day is almost here, and we are playing cupid when it comes to finding gifts that (we hope!) you will love. Here is our gift guide at first blush — but check back for more fun finds for everyone on your list. And for festive tablescape inspiration, keep scrolling to see the most exquisite Valentine’s tablescape in the most beautiful Gracie-clad dining room!
Let’s start with decor: the cutest XOXO and I Love You balloons for under $9!
This Etsy shop has the absolute best door wreaths… the hearts are perfect for Valentine’s!
Jeepers, creepers, where’d you get those peepers? We heart these sunglasses for your minis, and the not-too-grown-up version as well.
Not a heart-shaped box, but personalized travel jewelry cases under $50 are the peak of practical chic.
So much to LOVE about this red-hot bathing suit.
Earrings that the Grandmillennial maximalist and minimalist will adore.
You cannot go wrong with this heart sweater, under $25!
Valentino heels that simply sizzle for Valentine’s Day.
True love: a mother-daughter gift or present for mama-to-be, this book by Claiborne Swanson Frank is a new classic. (Dreaming of a perfectly pink getaway? We also love this book authored by Aerin Lauder full of timeless scenes from Palm Beach.)
Or perhaps you’re waxing traditional? Give roses, but in candle form for a decidedly modern twist.
And speaking of roses, you can find the most beautiful and romantic heirloom garden roses here, ready to ship across the U.S. For the gift that keeps on giving, we recommend the 2021 seasonal bouquet subscription.
“To my forever crush-tacean” … adorable placemats from Mercedes Salazar are a unique find to charm even the crabbiest of Valentines!
It doesn’t get any more romantic than antique jewelry, and this diamond and ruby ring is calling our name!
Need more ideas? Scroll down (and check back!) for our of-the-moment finds for Valentines of all kinds, and we also recommend the following Valentine’s Day shops from a few of our favorite destinations:
For everyone:
Personalized, one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day Guide at Mark & Graham
For littles:
Maisonette’s Love Shop is full of fun goodies, toys, pajamas, and outfits for babies, toddlers, and kids
For the Grandmillennial:
Bows & Blue has just that and more (we love these heart frames).
Nicola Bathie Jewelry’s Collection is a one-stop shop!
For him:
We love a man in pink, and this linen shirt and quarter-zip sweater are a great shade.
The good kind of baggage to bring to the relationship… the classic Rimowa suitcase is a gift of love he’ll carry for a lifetime.
Brew some romance: this espresso machine is on at least one wishlist we know of!
And finally, how gorgeous is this Valentine’s Day tablescape designed by Laura Nell and Christin of Cloche Designs for The Avenue by Lindsey Zorich?! You can read all about it – and shop the look – here!
Style Profile: Erin Donahue Tice
Erin Donahue Tice is an accomplished artist who lives in Austin, Texas in a beautiful 1940s home designed by Kristen Nix. Known for clean lines and timeless interiors, Kristen worked with Erin and her husband to completely renovate and transform the home which hadn’t been updated since the 1990s. Erin’s traditional style is accentuated with bold color throughout, providing the perfect backdrop for her abstract art.
Kristen added thoughtful touches like painting the hardwood foyer into a blue and cream checkerboard, using a sage green lacquered wallpaper on the dining room ceiling, wrapping the now open concept family room/kitchen in a unifying blue-grey grasscloth, and enveloping the master bedroom in neutral Quadrille Arbre De Matisse using an old school “pattern on pattern” effect. “We have forged such a tight bond from working on this project,” said Erin. “Kristen also found a way to incorporate my artwork throughout the house – including a massive 48×72 canvas piece I painted to be hung in the formal living room, and a grouping of collages I created for the casual family room.”
Today, The Glam Pad is delighted to welcome Erin for a Style Profile Q&A along with a tour of her beautiful home and peek at her incredible artwork. Photography is by Hannah Mayson and Michael Hunter Welcome, Erin!
Q: What led you to become an artist, and how did you develop a passion for abstract art?
A: I actually spent over a decade working in the PR industry for firms in Chicago and NYC. I specialized in PR for corporate brands, mostly in the advertising/media and entertainment sectors. I loved my job but after having two sons back-to-back, I decided to take some time off to try the full-time mom thing. My second son, George, bless his heart – was a very tough, colicky baby. He really put us through the ringer. I think the first six months of his life were some of the toughest of my entire life. I decided I needed to reclaim a part of myself at that point since although I LOVED being a mom, I was missing having an outlet just for ME.
Around the same time, my husband and I were decorating our house in Austin (where we moved in 2014) and shopping for abstract pieces for certain rooms. We were coming up short, not finding any artwork we truly loved in the Austin market. I thought, why don’t I try to paint something myself? So, I went to my local art store and talked at length to the store employees and loaded up on supplies. I set up shop in our back-guest house and got to work. Not only did I create a piece for our living room, I discovered a newfound love – painting! I got lost in my paint brush, spending many nap times and late nights painting in my little studio.
After about six months of painting behind closed doors, I decided to launch my work to the public. I had a lot of encouragement from girlfriends, my parents and my husband. I taught myself how to build a website and launched an Instagram page – that was in September 2018. It feels like a million years ago, but also like a very short time ago that I had no idea I could even paint let alone sell my work!
Q: When did you become interested in interior design, and who are your favorite designers – past and present?
A: I think I first became interested when I met my husband in 2010. He was a very “evolved” man and had a beautifully decorated pre-war apartment on the Upper East Side in Manhattan when we met. It was the nicest, chicest bachelor pad I had ever seen, and he had enlisted his friend (and now very well-known designer) Lindsay Coral Harper to help trick it out. He had red Scalamandre Zebras wallpaper covering his tiny NYC kitchen an antique mirrored backsplash. He also had a super “Mad Men-esque” Ralph Lauren deep charcoal cashmere sofa and really interesting objets lining his built-ins. It was such a unique and cozy space, and I started becoming much more interested in design from that point forward.
Now that I’m an artist, one of the best perks of my job is collaborating with interior designers on projects. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with designers throughout Texas, as well as in places like Nashville, Richmond, Chicago, Seattle and beyond.
Some of my favorite designers are Caroline Gidiere, Mark Sikes, Anna Louise Wolfe, Lauren Lowe of Lauren Elaine Interiors, Hillary Taylor Interiors, Meredith Ellis and Heather Chadduck. But the list is endless. I also constantly reference Lee Radzwill – she was such a talent in so many areas, and I love how she effortlessly decorated her homes, each with a distinct yet recognizable look.
Q: How do you describe your style?
A: Traditional with a splash of contemporary. But mostly traditional.
Q: Your home is absolutely beautiful! What was your involvement with the restoration and design?
A: Thank you! In 2019, we decided we needed more space and purchased a new house in our same historic neighborhood in Austin, a 1940 colonial. We gutted the home and brought it out of its bad 1990s makeover with the help of a female dream team of Carlie Blanford (CB Crafted Homes) and our designer and friend Kristen Nix, Principal of Kristen Nix Interiors. We were very involved in the process given our love of design, but also completely trusted Kristen and Carlie to make it beautiful.
This home felt much grander in scale than our previous bungalow, so we needed to purchase new, larger furniture and rugs for most of the rooms. We also doubled down on keeping many of its historical elements in place (intricate moldings, original fireplaces, shiplap that we discovered in my son’s room, scalloped trim around a bathroom ceiling, etc.), but also modernized certain spaces with interesting contemporary art, and wallpapers. My favorite room is our dining room where we used Schumacher’s Madame de Pompadour on the walls but covered the ceiling in a sage green lacquered wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries. It’s the perfect juxtaposition. I also LOVED Kristen’s idea to have our entryway floor hand painted with a blue and white checkerboard design. It brings the whole space to life and you can see that floor from almost every angle in the house.
I also was involved with the home on a deeper level because I created custom artwork for two of the rooms – a large canvas for the formal living room, and a set of collages for the casual family room. It was fun to collaborate on this level with Kristen.
Q: Do you have any favorite pieces of furniture or collections?
A: Antiques will always be my favorite. I’m obsessed with a vintage chinoiserie chest Kristen sourced for our living room. I also love a large Hendredon dresser we had in our NYC apartment but had been sitting in storage since we moved to Austin in 2014. Luckily, we (barely) got it up our stairs and it fit perfectly in our master bedroom and brings the right amount of warmth to our very neutral room.
Q: What are five possessions you could not live without?
A: 1) Obviously my kids, although what do you define as “possessions?” 🙂 2) Lululemon Align Leggings – I wear them on repeat 3) Eos chapstick 4) My “My Pillow” – I have neck problems and I swear it helps!) 5.) My gold Chanel ballet flats
Q: What are your tips for incorporating abstract art within traditional interiors?
A: It’s all about the mix. I LOVE mixing abstract art with more traditional interiors. The key is color. Try to coordinate 1-2 colors between your interior fabrics and your artwork. I also think that a traditional art light can tie abstract artwork into a traditional space seamlessly. Most of all, invest in art you LOVE. I always say you’ll find a place for it. It’s very pleasing to the eye to go from one traditional element to a more modern one. Have fun with it!
Q: Where do you find inspiration?
A: So many places, but interior design and travel are my two go-tos. I love to look at interior design coffee table books as well as Instagram accounts to find unique color combos to use as a jumping off point. I also love to look at photos of places I’ve traveled (my favorite happiest place being The Hamptons), and draw in the colors of nature to my pieces. I always tend to gravitate to blues and greens in my work. I actually just created a commission for someone who had traveled around to many of the national parks for her honeymoon and wanted a piece to remind her of the trip. I got lost in her photos of the rivers, wildflowers, trees and blue skies in our nation’s great outdoors and it was great inspiration for the painting.
Q: When you aren’t busy painting, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
A: I’m mostly with my husband and our two boys – William (5) and George (3), and we have a third boy coming in June, so that will definitely keep us on our toes! But other than that, I am very into entertaining and setting tablescapes. Right now, it’s mostly for the fun of it since we aren’t having dinner parties these days. I also love to exercise and have been very into virtual classes by Obe, Exhale and Physique 57.
Q: Where can we purchase your art, and do you accept commissions? I have work available in a few places:
A: My website – erindonahuetice.com
2. Via galleries/art collectives – you can find the list here: https://erindonahuetice.com/pages/gallery-exhibition
3. And YES, I do commissions! It accounts for about 1/3 of my work and I work with clients and designers all over the United States. Commission inquiries can be directed to [email protected].
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
A: It’s my dream to continue collaborating with interior designers and clients to dress up their spaces. This past year has been such a tough one and I hope that I can keep creating happy artwork that speaks to my clients’ souls and makes them smile. Thank you so much for having me!
Thank you so much, Erin, for joining us today. Such a beautiful home and artwork! I am eyeing a particular piece for our home. 🙂 For additional information, please visit Erin Donahue Tice for additional information and follow @erindonahueticeart for ongoing inspiration. Erin has been featured in House Beautiful, Southern Home, and Luxe.
