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A Miniature Spring Tablescape
Spring…at last? In trying to hasten the green landscapes that seem so long in coming, I resorted to creating my own for spring entertaining occasions in the house. And what a fun… Read More The post A...
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8 Sophisticated, Cool Cocktails
Just in time for the final fling of summer – Labor Day Weekend – a collection of 8 intriguing and sophisticated cocktails. Dare I say inspiration first came from the … Read More The post 8...
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A Picnic in the Garden: All About Pattern
September is truly the most beautiful month in Newport, a perfect outing for a small garden picnic. And under the canopy of grand old beech trees, Alice and Jim Ross… Read More The post A Picnic in the...
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Savvy Packing Tips to Keep from Unraveling While Traveling
Dear fellow travelers, lately I have been doing quite a bit of lecture, book tour and pleasure traveling, and I think we can all agree that getting from point A… Read More
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Chic it Up! The Whimsical Artwork of Patricia van Essche
There’s nothing more enchanting to me than refined and well-placed pen strokes on Strathmore paper…finished off with a luxurious watercolor wash in yummy colors. When Patricia van Essche’s work was...
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Bistronomy: The Best New Paris Bistros
“Bistronomy” is the latest trend in Parisian cuisine. I was so pleased to experience it firsthand at a recent talk and tasting celebrating Jane Sigal’s latest book, Bistronomy: Recipes from… Read More
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Summer House Parties: 13 Tips for the Gracious Host and Perfect Houseguest
Becoming the “perfect houseguest or gracious hostess” takes years of OTJ (on-the-job-training). Seldom do I spend a weekend in someone else’s environment that I do not come away with a… Read More
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Personal & Precious: The Art of the Thank You Note
In my most recent post we chatted about being a gracious host and a perfect house guest. A natural follow-on? Thoughts on handwritten thank you notes, both for the house… Read More
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What’s Out There: The Best of Fourth of July
Flirty and Frisky for the Fourth It’s as easy as 1-2-3-4 First — What to Wear Madewell’s off-the-shoulder broderie anglaise cotton-blend top and CO’s ramie-blend maxi skirt. … Read More
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A Refreshing “Devine” Summer Tablescape
Isn’t this fabulous! No surprise, when the designer’s last name is Devine…Michael Douglas Xavier Devine, to be exact. When I walked onto the terrace at Rosecliff during the pre- Newport… Read More
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Celebrating Iris Apfel’s 95th Birthday
There are parties…and then there are PARTIES. This, though, was not a big bash but a small, intimate dinner at our home with fashion icon Iris Apfel on her 95th… Read More
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Pardee Planning: Savvy Southern Hospitality
We’ve all had this experience – you are looking for one thing in an old file or seldom-used drawer and you come upon something quite by surprise — which then… Read More
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Newport’s Holiday Doorways
Our “City by the Sea” was founded in 1639, so the Colonial influence looms large in our history. Known as Newport’s “Golden Age” (as opposed to the “Gilded Age” of… Read More
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The Salonniere 100: 2017
If you don’t know the blog, The Salonnière, you will definitely want to. Let me introduce you…these are some ladies who know how to party! So it’s no surprise that… Read More
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Atlanta Garden Party
April has just arrived and I’m using it as an opportunity to share a Bon Appétit “Entertaining with Style” feature that was produced in 1994. Why? Because it is always… Read More
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A Miniature Spring Tablescape
Spring…at last? In trying to hasten the green landscapes that seem so long in coming, I resorted to creating my own for spring entertaining occasions in the house. And what a fun… Read More
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Summer Sips with Panache
The world of today and its fascination with “Lifestyle” has introduced some new takes on an old standby…the Cocktail Hour. Just a few days ago I had the pleasure of… Read More
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People, Places & Privileged Precincts Part 1
Having been a house guest a few times this summer, as well as a hostess, I’ve enjoyed gathering thoughts for each role…as well as some favorite images of “privileged precincts”… Read More
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People, Places & Privileged Precincts Part 2
Part two of this perspective on being a gracious weekend hostess comes with warm thanks to all my friends who have hosted me, from Palm Beach to Nantucket to the… Read More
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Chasing Away the Winter Doldrums
Waking on a gray, rainy day two weeks ago, I found myself yearning for a pick-up. Little did I know that a surprise was awaiting me on my sun porch…a… Read More
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