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. The name we chose included “hall” and hence,“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 mailing address versus a house number and street address as we do in America.
Create a name for your house or apartment and have fun with it!
For two hundred years, our c.1803 house has historically been referred to as the General Soloman Cowles house, and it will always be associated with the house, but we created our own name, Fox Hall soon after we moved in twenty-five years ago.
On the cover of my “Pearls of Palm Beach'' book is “The English House.” Their linen closet is filled with towels and linens embroidered with the house name, shown in the Darling Details section of my 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 and/or theme. From a doormat to a bespoke mailbox, tissue box, waste bin, ice bucket, butter mold, door knocker, and bookplates for your books, there are endless options! Create a name that you adore and that has a unique meaning to you, or has a historical reference.
When we decided to name our carriage house, we took a family vote and “Little Fox” won. The same scenario for our abode in Palm Beach. “Petite Fox” became the appointed name!
My embroiderer created a unique “Little Fox” design for the linens at our carriage house.
Grandmillennial Tip:
Using the name of your house can be used to personalize gifts you give to others. We filmed the pilot TV show for my public television series in a stunning house in West Hartford, Connecticut. The owners gave me a limoge box as a memento gift which has a rendering of the house on the front and the house name they created, Eyrie Knoll, on the back. I smile at the memory it brings whenever I see it!
What is your house name?!
Xx
Holly
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