Alexandra Stoddard - A Class Act

A couple of weeks ago I had the great pleasure of meeting design icon and prolific writer and philosopher Alexandra Stoddard. I had heard her speak in the early 80's when I was just beginning my design career and found her to be very refreshing and unpretentious which was not the norm for most designers I had met. Since then she has written 29 books and designed countless residences, and commercial properties. Recently she has relocated from New York City to her country home in Connecticut. The home is profiled in the December issue of Country Living Magazine.


She and her husband, the love of her life, are inseparable and do virtually everything together. He accompanied her on her trip to Las Vegas. I had the opportunity to give her a copy of my book and was so please when a couple of weeks later I received this lovely hand written note from her. ( She writes all of her books longhand on special paper!).


I thought this was such a classy thing to do for such an established and busy women. I think that in this age of electronic communication we can forget the power and emotion of real handwritten mail. How lovely it is to receive such a gift. I've been inspired and I am going to re- dedicate myself to sending notes.


This is the home that Mrs. Stoddard and her husband have restored. It is located in Stonington Village Connecticut at the Northern tip of the state. I adore her bedroom - It looks so sunny and warm.


The house is chock full of treasures and art which are a passion for the couple and every item has a story. Before they located to the home permanently, Alexandra and her husband would take some of their favorite paintings with them from the city to the country and back again. Mrs. Stoddard says she loves to be surrounded by her favorite things.



The house has a front and rear parlor which she has decorated by mirroring the furnishings in both rooms. Here you can see the matching love seats in a bright flowering chintz. Her passion for flowers is evident throughout the house and the garden.


She is the type of person who takes pleasure in every action in life as she writes about in her many books. I was so impressed with her attention to the little things. As she was signing books for her fans she wrote each comment thoughtfully in beautiful flowing script with a lovely pen and blotted each signature with tissue paper so it wouldn't bleed on to the facing page. She then included a small length of colorful ribbon in each book as a book mark.

I live my life in such a hurry - with little attention paid to the many tasks that I accomplish every day. I rush to get here or there. I am constantly in a race to meet deadlines and due dates. In 2008 I am going to try to slow down and take some time to smell the roses and pay attention to what I am doing so I can actually enjoy it.

Here's hoping you are enjoying the little things!

Happy New Year!

Getting it Together for the New Year

2008 is just a couple of days away - Are you ready???? I know I'm not, but I'm trying to get a head start by weeding out some of the clutter and getting my essentials in order.
Here are a few things I found that might help you get the year off to a good start.

First of all, you need to take stock of your general mental health and well being. This diagnosis wheel from Knock Knock should do the trick.



Next, make sure to thank everyone for everything they've done for you over the past year and for all of those great gifts you received over the holidays. These little personalized notes should do the trick!


Now it's time to get serious and get your schedule in order. You're sure to stay on track using this saucy little number from Kate Spade, a pink-gold day planner.


And of course, no self respecting fashionista using a pink-gold day planner should be caught without a matching pencil bag!!

For those more casual moments on the run you can grab this little gem - compact and self contained, it's a calender at a glance.


Prioritize your calender with these perky place holders

Making lots of lists for the New Year? This pad lets you make them and keep track of them all in the same place!


I'm ordering some of these great painted wood desk organizers from The Home Storage Warehouse for my office so I can start fresh in 08. I figure if I have a lot of really organized looking receptacles, bins, and paper holders in my office, it will automatically look and feel more organized. (I like to live in denial or as I refer to it - living in my bubble!)


Hope you're all successful in getting it together and enjoy a hassle free, highly organized, 2008.

Merry Merry Christmas

Here's hoping everyone has a happy and meaningful holiday. Take some time to enjoy the little things and the great traditions of Christmas. Here are some images from this years National Gingerbread House Competition. They look good enough to live in.


2007 Grand Prize Winner


2006 Grand Prize Winner



2007 Entry

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

If Only I Spoke Another Language

But alas I am but an ignorant American who can only manage to massacre her own English language. Europeans are so continental with their multi-lingual skills. If I spoke Scandinavian (Is that a language ?) or Dutch or Swedish or whatever the fabulous blog Dream House is written in I could figure out what the heck she is writing about. But since I am ignorant in the Nordic languages I can only look at the gorgeous pictures of her fabulous dream house. Please check it out even if you are, like me, lingually challenged.

Calling All Super Stars

Another season of Top Design is upon us! I can't wait. The next season of Design Star on HGTV is also in it's final audition call backs as we speak. Thank goodness these shows don't need writers. I can't live without my reality TV.

If only I were young again and anorexic and super energetic and beautiful and tan and had really good, straight, super white teeth and perky boobs and long curly blond hair extensions and rock hard abs and super buff arms and perfectly botoxed brows and fabulous power tool skills and superior TVQ, I would so get down there and try out. I just know I would win!

Not-So-Extreme Holiday Makeover

So, you've decided to host the perfect Holiday soirée. The Tree is trimmed, the halls are decked and the table is set with your finest china. Everything is just as you had envisioned until you take a look at that dingy old sofa or chair with the threadbare, dirty upholstery. Can your party really be the success you are sure it can be when you are overcome with fear that your guests will notice that your furniture hasn't been updated since 1980? Will someone sit on the chair that Uncle Larry spilled red wine on last Thanksgiving? What about the ottoman that serves as your dogs chew toy!

Have no fear - you still have time to pull off an instant makeover with slipcovers.

These great slips from Before-n-After could be hiding all sorts of sins but you'd never know it.


Whether you go with a ready made or semi-custom slip cover companies now offer many options that give your furniture a custom high-end look. These are not your grandma's sofa throws with chain fringe trim.


Stretch and Cover is a company that has pioneered a new type of stretch fabric that is made specifically for slip covers. The weave is multi-directional and is formulated to rebound and keep its shape.


Each product comes with retainer bars and straps that are designed to help keep the covers in place even with daily use.


For a more casual look try these styles from Conterelle, one of the companies that modernized ready to buy slip cover design.


Found these chenille covers on Overstock.com. They are well priced and available in rich colors.
Another Overstock.com find.




For a brighter and more varied selections of fabrics try The Slipcover Company. They have a large selection and very good pricing.

These dining chair covers are my favorite. I love that they come in short and long skirt styles.



Finally, how about these winter whites? These would look beautiful in any holiday dining room and they only cost $10.99 !!!!!!

Here's hoping your Holiday Parties are smashingly successful. That no one gets food poisoning or drinks too much eggnog and that most of all, no one looks under the slipcovers to see what lies underneath!

Sleeping in Style

Somehow to me bedrooms seem so much more inviting in the winter. I think it's because they represent warmth and comfort. I find that during the fall and winter I tend to spend more time in my bedroom. Maybe it's due to the fewer hours of daylight but I think I just like the way it makes me feel.

I've been working on my new book The Design Directory of Bedding and thought I would share a sneak peek of some of the beds and bedding styles that will be featured. I would happily curl up and take a mid-winters nap in any of these.

Panel beds


Ornate four poster beds and carved wooden classics.


Fully upholstered beds.


Wicker and rattan


Canopy Beds


Draped beds


Iron Beds

No matter what type of bed you choose for your room I hope you enjoy the winter months cozying up under the covers.