Newsletter Archive

Impromptu parties?  That is my signature! Pulling a party together at a moment’s notice came from years of experience.  My husband has a reputation for being the “host with the most,” especially with his business clients and colleagues in his industry. When customers were in town, he would often call from his office and ask if he could extend an invitation to his guests to come to our house for a drink before they went out to dinner. It was always good for business, so I learned early on to say, “YES, of course!” With three little ones at home, I did not always have the luxury of going out to buy something pre-made or get ingredients.  I learned a repertoire of quick and easy hors d’oeuvres. Here, I want to share one of my easiest recipes! It requires only two ingredients. I can almost guarantee you’ll have both ingredients,

Giving considerable thought to your guests’ seating arrangements for a dinner party can enhance their overall experience, and yours, especially when you place guests together that hit it off. Nothing like great combinations and jolly conversations! But, when seating a group that is not the typical “boy/girl” dinner party, or your close friends whom you know would like to sit together, or you are confronted with either a group of guests you don’t know well, or a group of just ladies, or just gentlemen, the art of diplomatic “seating” can be a bit of a challenge. Everyone wants to be to the right of the host or hostess as the guest of honor, right? And, it is doubtful that anyone really wants to be seated in the middle/center of a long table… which some view as purgatory! So, how do you seat everyone, and still make them feel equal in

Memorial Day: Fly Your American Flag It is truly an honor to fly our American flag, which hangs over the front door at Fox Hall most of the year, weather permitting. Memorial Day in America is a day we pay homage to our fallen comrades. Freedom is not free. Unlike Veterans Day, which is a celebration, Memorial Day is a day of thoughtful reflection over those who didn’t come home; the solemn cost of freedom. My father served in the U.S. Army.  He taught me how to respect our flag. Memorial Day is a day to honor and show respect to our men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Flying our flag honors our great country and those who have served to protect it. Flag etiquette when a flag is being hoisted up the flagpole: ~If a gentleman is wearing a hat, the hat

Friends and clients frequently ask me: What is a durable, yet soft and pretty, upholstery fabric, that can withstand children, dogs, and food stains, yet will assuredly relay an elegant, timeless aesthetic? Easy answer! Without a doubt, it’s Ultrasuede. It was first invented in 1970 as a synthetic ultra-microfiber, and now, some consider it passé. I think it is anything but… it is fabulous! I have specified it for a breakfast room banquet, club chairs in a library, living room chairs on yachts, an English Chesterfield sofa in a well-used telly room, and even for curtain panels for a living room in Bermuda. I had our antique George III sofa reupholstered in two colors of Ultrasuede for our Palm Beach apartment. It’s divinely soft and allows a serious piece of “brown furniture” to have a whimsical and refreshed appearance. I don’t have to worry about grandchildren sitting on it with

Upholstered seating has been around for centuries, thank goodness! Sitting on a hard wooden chair for a length of time (my old school days!) is not quite as inviting as a soft, plump, down-filled cushioned chair or sofa! Upholstered pieces most often feature only one fabric. Yet, traditionally, French and English chairs quite often are upholstered in two different, but complementary, fabrics: one pattern on the backside, and a different one on the front. The next time you are tempted to have a piece of seating upholstered, I hope to inspire you to consider using two complementary fabrics. Of course, the choice of piping, gimp and trims, along with decorative pillows, will also add to the bespoke appeal of the piece. For our George III sofa, I had the backside done up in white, while the front side and seat cushion was in pinky-peach. I’ll write about the “ultimate child

I never had a clue about what Mummy did for me until I had my own children, and then I asked myself, “Gosh, how did she do it all?” I am so blessed to have had such an inspirational mother. The older I am, the more I admire her love and accomplishments. I adore my mother-in-law too! She has been a role model and the ultimate cheerleader for my husband and me. I hope to emulate both Mums for my children, and their children too. Some consider Mother’s Day to be a trite “Hallmark card” day. Not me! I believe that this is a day to celebrate just being alive, because without your mother, you would not even be here, right? If you are in a quandary about what to give your Mum, remember that the most meaningful present is a homemade card or gift. Outside of that, here is