HURRICANE SEASON, Carolyne and Ralph

via Carolyne Roehm

I couldn't resist this image featuring Carolyne Roehm's use of the "Classic" hurricanes by Ralph Lauren Home... Inspiring!

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In A Chinese Garden, Charleston

image via Carolyne Roehm blog

The charm of a garden in Charleston, at the home of tastemaker Carolyne Roehm, had me thinking of the new wallpaper and fabric by Miles Redd for Schumacher...

Brighton pavilion, Miles Redd for Schumacher

Looking forward to a very festive and fun holiday season!  Enjoy!  DF *****

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The Real Charleston

The Citadel, Charleston, SC

SAVE THE MALES, the bumper sticker said, on the back of a crusty looking station wagon, or was it the ubiquitous SUV?

Billy and I had been visiting Charleston, and went over to the Citadel for a visit, since his son had gone there on a football scholarship.  The Citadel is the real thing, and like a West Point of the south.  You'll see the cadets in their uniforms on the streets- and they add a character to a place already loaded with it.  Add to this, the famous Spoleto festival, and you have a potent mix of history, culture, and sense of place.

via Calling It Home



 

 

This wonderful sense of place, the authentic quality, draws people like the designer Carolyne Roehm, and the image above reminded me of her- CR is someone who can make the sometimes hackneyed idea of a blue and white table setting seem new and fresh again.  That talent is one that can be learned, via years of exposure, travel, and study. 

 

My absolute favorite time of year to visit old Charleston, is in the Spring, when the azaleas are blooming.  Book a trip now!  Enjoy!  DF *****

 

 

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Carolyne in Carolina

Carolyne Roehm, Charleston, SC

Beautiful and talented, Carolyne Roehm, has done it again! She has created a magnificent "Chinoiserie Room"~in her historic Charleston house, read all about it on her site!  Her taste is exquisite, and flawless...the touches of fuchsia are sublime in this Paris green room.The simple curtains show off the silk fabric, and lighten the mood, while the painted floor evokes Pauline de Rothschild at The Albany...a room for beauty's sake, and for nourishing the soul, and as the lady herself has said, the fulfillment of a long held dream.  Congrats Carolyne!  (it took two years to get the mirrors from England)  CR, the designers designer!DF *****  Here's a great interview with CR on NYSD click here ...

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Fantasy in Decoration III

Anouska Hempel

Ann Getty

Carmen

Carolyne Roehm

Casa Battlo by Gaudi'

Celerie Kemble

Versailles

Renzo Mongiardino

Louisville

Maharaja of Jaipur

Widcombe Manor Bath

Widcombe Manor

I felt compelled to add to my mood board for inspiring images...these all resonate for me.  I see a recurring motif in these images- a love of grandeur and beauty!  I never knew that my old friend, Lord Fry, who lived to be 81, had owned and lived in the manor house shown above.  When I was introduced to his lordship, he was living in the royal crescent...he was quite a dashing figure- see here for more on Jeremy Fry.  Stay tuned for more inspiring images to come!  Cheers!  DF *****

Verdura

Room of the Week: LeGare Street

The word is out- Charleston is HOT! Of course, we in the South have always known this, and are most proud of this elegant old grande dame...Apparently, Ms. Carolyne Roehm, the famous NY socialite-designer has now bought a place in Charleston.  The area known as SOB, or South of Broad, incorporating the famous Battery has become an ultra chic place to have a pied a terre, and you can even buy one from a descendant of one of the oldest families in town, Mr. Daniel Ravenel... known as The Sword Gate House, 32 Legare was built in the early 19th century for a Huguenot colonist. 


32 LeGare Street, Charleston

 I was checking out Charleston real estate listings, since my clients have their place there on the market (people flying in from all over the world to view it in person)  and found this elegant and stunning room located in a significant property located in their neighborhood at 32 LeGare Street...asking $23,000,000.00 -!  I still remember not too long ago, shopping with my client in the Gucci shop on King Street, and there was this absolutely gorgeous woman shopping there with her teen aged son...and she was dripping in Hermes' and was sporting a diamond ring that must have been a good twenty carats...


Beautiful Carolyne Roehm, NYT

 Which reminds me of a very charming story I read on the NYSD, attributed to Peter Evans;
"Christina Onassis once told me that she wore diamonds at breakfast, because (they look so pretty in the morning sun, you have no idea how erotic men find dew on the rocks) she smiled mischievously!  I just love that !  Very imaginative.  Interesting note- CR's New York drawing room has brown velvet walls, and so does this Charleston salon, and gauffraged to boot! 


Book by Carolyne Roehm

O.k., so I know I drop a LOT of names in this little old blog, but you know what, it's my blog, and if you don't like it you don't have to read it! LOL!  Here's a great book CR came out with, I highly suggest it as a fabulous decoration for one's own low table...ENJOY!  DF ***** 
PS: we were very saddened to hear of all the loss of human life under the fury of the storm called Sandy...
  
  

Elegant Palettes and Inspirations

Socialite Carolyne Roehm inspired me to add more blue and white bits to the small Parsons table I was given by famed New York society decorator Albert Hadley. Shown here. I also have been working on an elegant Naples villa for new clients and here is the color scheme I'll be presenting to them with William on Monday, yes, that's right, Memorial Day. Work! You better WORK! That's right!

I was so surprised that my dear Jessica Sanchez was not our new American Idol. I feel like she stole the show! There is no accounting for the taste of the American public I suppose. However, I think they all felt sorry for Phillip as he has had some health problems. Congrats Phillip! But seriously, Jessica was channeling Whitney! What's not to love?

Another inspiration today- my fave blogger designer in NYC posted about Caswell Massey soap! Why is this inspiring? Apparently the French believe that giving friends some lily of the valley in May is good luck. CM makes a lily of the valley soap! Who knew? Did you know that CM also is 250 years old, from Newport R.I. and carries Roger and Gallet? Fab! Enjoy! DF *****

Mrs. Roehm at Ainsworth-Noah!

Carolyne, Lisa, Winton, Hal

Great shot!

A small sample of the treasures at Ainsworth-Noah

My old friends Hal and Winton, from Atlanta (see all three of their homes in back issues of Veranda) just emailed me to let me know that they are continuing the business (Ainsworth-Noah, the premier design source in the south) after 35 years....and shared some party pics from when Carolyne Roehm was visiting them recently. I still remember when Dottie and I bought some things from them for our house back in the late seventies! And dear Nicholas helped us with our selections. Hal and Winton have a fabulous penthouse in the same towers as our friend Jennifer Boles, from The Peak of Chic...I hope to see them soon - since am now working on a large project in South Carolina. As Albert always says, the continuity of madness prevails! Enjoy! DF ******