With my affinity for foxes, an English painting of a running fox is prominently placed above the second landing in our front hall. One of Fox Hall’s notable architectural triumphs are the two Palladian windows located on the same wall in the front hall. It is one of the only houses in America with this distinctive feature. Hence, the name “Fox + Hall” was a fitting appellation for our home.
When my daughter Alexandra lived in England with her husband, both of their houses came with a name. It was then that I realized that an English country house is actually required to have a name. The house name is used as the actual mailing address, tantamount to our house number and street address in America.
May I inspire you to consider creating a name for your house or apartment, if you do not have one already?
For two hundred years, our c.1803 house has historically been referred to as the General Soloman Cowles house. While that name will always be associated with the house, we decided to create our own name soon after we moved in over twenty years ago. I love that Fox Hall has an exclusive and personal meaning to us.
In my Palm Beach book, The English House, is the house featured on the cover. It has a divine linen closet filled with embroidered towels and linens, which I show in the Darling Detail section of the book.
Not only is it delightfully dignified to have a name for your house, it is also a reason to have towels embroidered, stationery engraved and a multitude of treasures created with the name on it. From a doormat to a bespoke mailbox, tissue box, waste bin, ice bucket, soap or butter mold, to bookplates for your books and door knockers for the doors, there are endless options! Create a name that you adore and that has a unique meaning or a historical reference, and one that gives you a sense of pride and pleasure.
Have fun with the name you choose too! When we decided to name our carriage house at Fox Hall, we took a family vote on several nominated names and “Little Fox” won. And, the same scenario when we bought our place in Palm Beach. “Petite Fox” became the appointed name.
I worked with my embroiderer to create a unique Little Fox design for the linens at our carriage house.
Grandmillennial Tip:
When we filmed the pilot show for my public television series, it was in a grand house in West Hartford, Connecticut. The owners, who are dear friends, gave me a limoges box as a memento gift. It has a rendering of the house on the front and the name they created for their house, Eyrie Knoll, on the back. Every time I see it, it brings back fond memories for me.
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