Newsletter Archive

Little nuances can make a big difference when creating a charming experience for your guests!  Here are a few no-no’s to know… the timeless secrets that Mummy shared with me.  They continue to hold true in the present day, and will for another generation of grandmillennials, too! Each country has various traditions. These no-no’s, while in no particular order of significance, are worth being aware of in America. Some are in reference to old-school proper etiquette, and others are simply advice from years of entertaining. Mainly, these tidbits are what I call inherited gems. Take them or ignore them.  I’m grateful because knowing these no- no’s have served me very well. Per the request of several of my darling subscribers, I will continue sprinkling in a few of these FFPs as the topic in my future newsletters. They will all touch upon various aspects of gracious living. The word “forbidden” is

The loveliest and most meaningful gifts are bespoke!  A commissioned piece of art gives artistic freedom to create the vision you wish. This oil painting of Fox Hall was a gift I gave to my husband, Stuart, for his birthday.  Our two Jack Russells are now in “biscuit heaven”  but live on in the painting. I am wearing a pink gown that I designed for our elder daughter’s wedding reception in Berlin, Germany. In the sky, there are three stars of Orion’s Belt, representing our three children. Helen Galick was the artist, but sadly is longer taking commissions. What do you give the person who has everything?! Recently the question, “What do you give the person who has everything” was posed to me. Do you agree that a handmade or bespoke present can be the most meaningful kind of gift? I encourage my children and grandchildren not to buy a

Holly’s five simple interior design tips to enhance your house, now! My interior design firm, Holly Holden & Company, Ltd. www.hollyholden.com, specializes in classic and traditional design. I believe in designing once… for a lifetime! Who wouldn’t want to hear those words?  Designing with decorative accessories and techniques that stand the test of time, and enhance your home with little effort, translates to a good investment for your design dollars.  You might have fun implementing them along the way, too! Brass Stair Rods: Something as simple as adding brass stair rods to your carpet runner on a staircase is a timeless decorative detail. Stair rods are appropriate in cottages and castles, and everything in between! You can order them with a clear lacquer finish so that they do not require polishing. When I hosted my public television series, You Are Cordially Invited, I discussed brass stair rods at Highclere Castle, aka Downton

This is one of my most favorite Katherine Houston ceramic pieces!  The tender asparagus stalks appear as if they are dancing around a maypole. And the pink ribbon of hearts… well, just because! Summer is the sensational season for flowers and fresh vegetables. They are especially appreciated by those of us living with the “four” seasons of New England!  Mother Nature’s gift of magnificent flowers and vegetables have a natural shelf life and then, voila, sadly they are gone. The clever solution to this natural phenomenon? Well, it comes in another form of brilliant magnificence… masterfully sculpted, beguiling botanical ceramic creations by the stellar artist, Katherine Houston. I gave a talk at the charming Chilton Club in Boston, about my first book, The Pretty and Proper Living Room.  My precious friend, and the member who arranged the event, Tita Hyland, also hosted a divine luncheon after the lecture.  To my right, she

The acclaimed Chef Daniel Boulud at Blantyre Hotel in the Berkshires, his recent endeavor to keep a portion of his staff working at this new destination outside of NYC.   Photo credit: Dani Fine Photography Inc. Introducing French, Michelin-Starred Chef Daniel Boulud! Have you ever dreamed of having a French, Michelin-starred chef in your kitchen, especially during these mundane quarantine times? Take me away and indulge me in fine-dining, please dear genie! Just the sight of fine-dining in a movie inspires Stuart and I to look at one another, and take yet another sip of wine, pretending to partake in the on-screen moment and savor one of our cherished pastimes… dining well. You too?! Your wish will come true in NYC with a new dining experience that comes to you with the take-out and home-delivery options now offered by the ingenious Chef Daniel Boulud. He has thought of adaptive ways to keep some

At Fox Hall as the sun was setting and the candles added their magic touch! Ala von Auersperg and Dining Al Fresco!  Have you ever wondered what to wear to a particular function, then get there and wish you had worn something else? How comforting it is to discover a clothing line that can be worn to a multitude of functions! How lovely it was to be invited to wear one of Ala von Auersperg’s colorful creations and be part of her “At Home with the Women of AvA,” which was an article celebrating entertaining al fresco! Ala paints her own designs, which are then magically transformed into flowing fabrics that adorn her fashionable clothing line. Her goal is to create clothes that are “effortless, yet elegant and versatile, and can be glamorous, no matter the size or the age of the lady wearing them!” That solves the question of what to