Newsletter Archive

Mirrors can be used for a myriad of creative applications!  They add sparkle to any space, and historically were used to double the reflection of candlelight before electricity. Here are a few “mirror” design ideas to enhance your interiors. Think about mirroring your ceiling in the dining room, adding a touch of unexpected glamour. Guests will love the reflection of the chandelier lights, along with candlelight on the dining room table. Small spaces are expanded with mirrored walls. While renovating our c.1803 Fox Hall, I mirrored the wall behind the sink, floor to ceiling, in our tiny bathroom. Even though it appears that we have “two loos,” the mirrored walls offer a marvelous illusion of space, and it also serves as a dressing mirror for me! When in France, you may discover and be enchanted by how artwork is hung on top of a mirror. This technique gives depth to

Pretty hats have adorned ladies’ heads for centuries. Give me an occasion, like a European wedding, horse race, or Easter Sunday, and out comes my collection of pretty hats. I adore wearing them! Do you? I realize now, more than before, how imperative it is to wear my “casual straw hats” when I am outdoors and in the sun. When wearing any type of hat, the inevitable happens. Hats can give you flat, unattractive “hat-hair” or “hat head.” This phenomenon is either created by the hat’s weight or the heat under the hat’s crown.  Essentially, the hair on the top of one’s head is squished down and not as puffy as before you put your hat on! Here is my simple secret (which I created out of my hat-hair desperation).  It continues to work well for me, and my wish is that it works for you, too, to avoid “hat

Foo dogs, also known as Chinese guardian lions or iconic mythical creatures, hold great cultural significance in Chinese art. These mythical beings, usually found in pairs, stand guard at important places like palaces and temples. Considered the “bouncers of the spirit world,” they protect sacred spaces from negative energies and unwanted guests. Having foo dogs in your home is like having the most adorable security team, and they’ll steal everyone’s heart with their fierce-yet-adorable charm. My first pair of foo dogs became mine when I was a child in Taipei, Taiwan. I pleaded with my parents for a dog, and they surprised me… with foo dogs! They have been with me ever since, and I hold them dear to my heart. Their unique blend of lion and dragon features gives them a “fierce and fabulous” charm while also bringing good luck, prosperity, and good fortune. Over the years, I have

If you, too, are an avid collector of various porcelain plate patterns, you may agree that one can always have more porcelain designs, from plates and platters to service pieces! It is one reason I created the “Equestrian Collection.”  With a penchant for horses, I wanted a pattern to use daily for breakfast so that I could happily “gallop into the day!” A Butler’s Pantry is a clever and efficient place to store various porcelain collections. The week before Lady Carnarvon arrived from Highclere Castle (aka Downton Abbey) to attend a luncheon at Fox Hall, the pipes broke in the laundry room above my Butler’s Pantry. Water gushed through the ceiling, ruining the cabinetry, floor, and beyond… not the best timing for a disaster to happen! New cabinetry was installed. My vision for a replacement wallpaper was a “blue and white Canton porcelain plate design.” Several wallpaper samples arrived but

Your darling questions inspire me.  Here is one about baby showers! “Mrs. Holden, my friends and I are in our late 20s/ early 30s and are entering the season of babies, which is lovely, but we can’t seem to find any “guidance” on baby showers and registries.  We are sooo excited to read your replies to our questions and are truly so grateful! Xoxo Mary Claire” Here are her questions:  Who should host the shower? Any member of the immediate family (especially the mother) should NOT host a baby shower before the baby is born.  This old-school secret code is still relevant today because it appears audacious, as if the expectant mother just wants presents, which is self-serving by having her immediate family host the party for her. But, if a friend (or a distant relative) hosts the shower, their only interest is to provide the bride or expectant mother

Having a party?  Remember to embellish your mantel because the fireplace is the focal point for any room! Recently, a darling millennial bride asked my advice on how to decorate her Living Room mantel for an upcoming cocktail party. Here are her questions: How do I decorate a mantel in a classical style? Symmetry is key! Symmetry plays a key role in classical design. I like to start with a centerpiece. Choose something that is meaningful to you and also complements the room’s theme.  Then, work out in pairs by flanking the centerpiece on either side. Continue to work out in pairs, at varying heights, to add interest. The length of your mantel will determine how many items can be displayed. What are the two key elements that adorn the Living Room mantel at Fox Hall? A pair of vases for flowers. Flowers are like earrings to a dress on a