The Iconic Scalamandre Zebra

You have to go all the way back to 1929.  That's when the inconic Scalamandre Silks was created by Franck Scalamandre.  The founding of the company coincides with a growing movement in the United States of restoring historic houses and furnishings.

It was in 1945 that Scalamandre created the iconic prancing zebras on deep red wallpaper for the newly opened Gino of Capri restaurant in New York. Based on original artwork by Flora Scalamandre, this playful wallpaper was also immortalized in films such as "Mighty Aphrodite" and "The Royal Tennenbaums" along with making guest appearances across the country via Kate Spade and Barneys New York retail installations.  This favorite pattern was on display in Charlottesville at the infamous Caspari store.  So if you don't want to dish out hundreds or even thousands for the fabric or wallpaper, you can bring this pattern into your home via napkins, place mats, invitations, wrapping paper, and gift bags.

I am also loving the scarf:

I love it in other colors too!

A Thankful Thanksgiving

I promised to show my purple table setting from Thanksgiving.  It all turned out well, we had a great dinner.  A ton of work for a two hour meal!

 Kate Spade china, Matouk and Williams Sonoma linens, Chantilly sterling (Gorham), Waterford crystal (the old stuff), vintage placecard holders (sterling, crop and stirrup, found in London).

Hope you had a wonderful holiday!

J Crew for the Holidays - New Picks

It's snowing heavily here in Virginia, seems more like Christmas than Thanksgiving, so how appropriate that J Crew pulled out the holiday-wear.  There are tons of things I am loving too!  Like this black and white wool sweater....

 I love this pullover. It comes in three colors and I like all three, but the blue and cream are my favorites.  It's so different.

 This necklace will make your holiday sparkle. 

 I love this turtleneck too!

 This boiled wool scarf will make a great gift.

 And this bracelet is just wonderful...

 This Barbour scarf will go with all my coats, well maybe not all of them...

Safe travels today!

Thanksgiving Memories and Tradition

My favorite Thanksgiving memory…
2013, my entire family met in North Carolina and we went out for Thanksgiving at Graylyn, an incredible estate built in the 1930's, we had a wonderful dinner.  It was the last time my entire family was together, my dad was in poor health and he made an valiant effort to be with us all on that day.  I will never forget it. 

This year we’ll be celebrating…
At my house, on the farm, in Virginia.  My mother will be with us and I like to invite friends who do not have family in the area, the more the merrier.  We will try to make it special without my dad but he will be there in spirit, of that I am certain. I hope it won't be snowing, but it might. At least I am not in Buffalo.

I usually decorate the table with…
Kate Spade china.  This year I am adding purple to the mix, so we'll have beige and browns with purple accents, and I am not a purple person.  My dining room walls are pale pink so the oranges of autumn and pumpkins don't do well so I have to be creative. I pull out the fine linens, the silver, crystal, the whole works.

My favorite dish…
My sweet potato soup with rum cream from The Inn at Little Washington here in Virginia.  I make it every year and it's always the most popular dish.  And I order a smoked turkey from Greenberg in Texas. It arrives on Tuesday.  Divine.

This year I’m feeling most thankful for…
Being healthy.  I have lost so many friends to disease this past year, people far too young to leave us.

Waste Not, Want Not

A cute wastebasket should be an element of most rooms, especially powder rooms, guest baths, and guest rooms.  But they are hard to find. The good news is that once you buy one it should last forever and there's much to choose from.

Etsy is a good source with great prices, and this one fits that bill.  You can see it here.

The Well Appointed Home has the best selection I have seen but the selection is pricey.

And this Dana Gibson one is divine!  You can find this one here.

Have a wonderful Monday.

Magnificent Magnolia

If you live in the South, maybe you're down deep enough to have Magnolia. I'm not so lucky but my mother has a tree in her yard.  Magnolia is a great alternative to holly, cedar and other greenery at Christmas. You can make some great wreaths, use it to fill large pots outside, or place on the mantel. If you are really bold, spray paint it gold!

This mantel is divine.

I love the simplicity of this wreath. Less is definitely more.

As a garland, it is an unexpected look but very chic.

Lovely!

All photos are from Pinterest.

Chantilly Equestrian Plates

I'm in love with these plates (so what else is new).  You can buy them here.

 

The Caspari store blog, used them for a recent bachelor's party here in the Virginia Hunt Country.  If you have not seen the blog, you should read it. See it here.  And if in Charlottesville, go to the store on the downtown mall, it's divine!  The other one is in Paris.

 

The plates are French, of course. 

French Faience Tableware
The Faiencerie de Niderviller was founded in 1735 by Mathias Lesprit. In 1748 the baron Jean Louis de Beyerle purchased the domain and it began to thrive with his enthusiasm and ambition. He surrounded himself with renowned artists and expert chemists to create a luxurious faience (tin-glazed earthenware) intended for the aristocracy, the dignitaries of the church and the rich bourgeoisie.

After the death of King Stanislas of Lorraine in 1766, the baron of Beyerle was forced to sell the Faienceier to Adam Philippe, Comte of Custine. A man of taste, an entrepreneur and an innovator. The Comte was, unfortunately, guillotined during the French Revolution. It was Lanfrey who saved the factory when it was to be sold as national property. From then on, Lanfrey gave a free rein to his creative genius, definitively mar king his place in the art and history of faience in the Lorraine region.
Chantilly by Niderviller is a handsome equestrian motif collection. The ecru background and octagonal shape of the plates makes this dinnerware quite distinguished and unique. A striking table setting or accent piece for the home or office. Hand-decorated, dishwasher and microwave safe. Made in France.

 Happy Friday!

Paper Whites

Christmas is synonomous with paper whites in my book.  I buy bulbs every year around Thanksgiving and have them in the house usually until early to mid-January. No need to buy a kit, you can do it yourself and this makes a great gift too!

If you don't have a nursery that sells the bulbs for about $1 each, you can order them here online.

I use the same dish every year, a square glass one that I picked up at Walmart for less than $10.  Something like this will work although the sides are a bit higher than I would prefer, but you get the idea:

You need to add rocks to the vase to keep the bulbs in place. Walmart, Target, Michaels, all will have them, or a good garden store like Ivy Nursery here in Virginia.

Add the rocks, the bulbs, water, wait a few days, your bulbs will start to bloom. 

Throw in a lovely gold ribbon to tie your plants when they get too tall! Love them! They are a part of my Christmas every year!

Five Fab Gifts

My sister keeps asking for gift ideas, so I thought I'd help her out today by coming up with five fabulous gift ideas.  Christmas is only a little more than a month away.  Can you believe it?  This frigid cold weather is not helping either.  Who wants to shop when it's 10 degrees outside?  No one, except online.

You cannot go wrong with candles. If you need to buy something for someone you don't know well or need to take a hostess gift for Thanksgiving, for a dinner or cocktail party, this just works. I think these are just darling. The R. Nichols Glow Candles come in "mow," cruise, breath, bloom and surf.  See them here.

 

Loving this scarf, so holiday-like too from J Crew Factory.

These plates from Anthro will look great in the cabin or anywhere else for that matter.

And these have to be the cutest Christmas dishes I have seen in years.  Adorable!  Also from Anthro. 

Cocktail napkins make a great Christmas gift or hostess gift.  You can never have too many of these right?  I love these from Matouk.  They come in many colors too. You can find them here.

 Happy shopping!  Stay warm out there!