Black Interiors

Is black really dark and depressing?  The use of black in interior design can be sharp, cool and expressive. We love the use of black in these interiors...

Albert Hadley

Our entire industry is celebrating the great American interior designer, Albert Hadley (1921-2012).  He was born in Nashville, TN and was a graduate of the Parson School of Design in New York and Paris.  His long time design partner was Sister Parish, and they together made Parish-Hadley, Associates in 1962. Hadley won numerous design awards and worked with a variety of styles including modern, Victorian, and Georgian.  Some of Hadley's clients included Oscar de la Renta, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, The Gettys, The Astors, and Diane Sawyer.  Albert Hadley was inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame in 1986.  He will be missed by many.

Statues

If only statues could talk . . . think of what they could share.

Here are some images we found beautiful of statues used in interiors and gardens. 

Breathtaking Pools

Queen Mary's Dollhouse / Queen Elizabeth

This most elaborately crafted dollhouse, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, was presented at the British Empire Exhibition in 1924, and was to serve as an emblem of Imperial Britain post-World War I.  Queen Elizabeth’s grandmother, Mary loved tiny objects and this dollhouse became the inspiration for one of the most extraordinary gifts ever presented to the Royal family.  Slightly Baroque in style and five feet tall, the miniature castle has original writings by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Rudyard Kipling, miniature paintings by da Vinci and Rembrandt, petite silver serving trays, a Rolls-Royce and limousines in the garage, a flushable toilet, Dunhill rolled cigarettes, a grandfather clock, a lawn mower, and much more.  This dollhouse is located in Windsor Castle.

Interesting facts about Queen Elizabeth…

* The Queen is the first British monarch to have celebrated a Diamond Wedding Anniversary.

* The Queen is patron to more than 600 charities.

* To formally greet the Queen men should perform a neck bow (from the head only) while women perform a small curtsy. On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is 'Your Majesty' and subsequently 'Ma'am'.

* The Queen is 5ft 4 inches tall.

Queen Mary

Queen Mary's Dollhouse

Dollhouse Dining Room

Dollhouse Library

Wine Tasting Tables

Ever wonder how long man (or woman of course!) has been drinking wine? 

Here are a few interesting facts about wine:

* The earliest known wine production dates back to 8,000 years ago in the country of Georgia, 7,000 years ago in Iran, and 6,100 years ago in Armenia. 

* Wine is made from one or more varieties of the European species Vitis vinefer, such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. 

* A ”vintage wine” is one that was made from grapes that were grown during a particular year.  

* Wine tasting, is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine, including 5 basic steps: color, swirl, smell, taste, and savor. 

* Wine tables provide functional working space, can provide bottle storage, and are prevalent in home design today.  

Here are a few of our favorite tables to inspire you, not only to drink good wine, but to drink it upon something so beautiful.