Old World Beauty at the Beach

The rooms of a very classic and simple clapboard style East Hampton home live a design life of exotic travel to far corners of the world. Husband and wife owners Ian and Emilie Irving have pooled their wares from years of collecting (separately and together), cultivating a singular style -- one layered with rich textiles, a variety of chintz upholstered furnishings and a range of period art and antiques. Detailed images were featured in this past weekend's issue of T Magazine and are not to be missed -- see more here.

Ian and Emilie share well regarded reputations within the antiquities field....  Ian worked for a number of years at Sotheby's and remains a noted dealer of rare silver. Influenced by her years of traveling abroad and seeking out unexpected decor, vivid textiles and distinctive jewelry, Emilie founded Xenomania in 2013, a shop space in the East Village to source all of her handselected finds. Vogue featured images upon first opening -- check out more below.

Fairfield Showhouse

This early 19th century Victorian charmer is one of my absolutely favorite homes lined along Fairfield's quintessential Old Post Road. It's St. Paul's Episcopal Church rectory and located a stone's throw from my parents. While I was home in August, I noticed extensive renovation work happening on the exterior & interior. So happy to learn that the design overhaul was prompted by the decision to create this home into a premiere showhouse, fittingly titled Designer Showhouse on the Green. Ticket sales benefit twofold -- the rectory is receiving long overdue repairs & restoration work and proceeds are going to the local non-profit Operation Hope.

In addition to 15 of the area's top design talents responsible for each room's design, design chairman of the Designer Showhouse on the Green is Ellie Cullman, founder of the highly acclaimed interior design firm Cullman & Kravis. Connecticut Cottages & Gardens is featuring the Showhouse in their October issue, and it's now OPEN through October 25th -- ticket info here.

Images Connecticut Cottages & Gardens

Book Review : Carrier and Company

Hitting bookshelves tomorrow, 9/22, is the premiere monograph Carrier and Company: Positively Chic Interiors, highlighting a decade of completed work from the portfolio of this East Coast based design firm. Husband & wife partners Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller founded their eponymous company in 2005, after leading successful yet separate careers in artisan driven fields. The pair were prompted to forge their respected talents by "a shared vision for how much better, more interesting, more creative two can be than one."

Selected titles for the book's chapters reflect a spirit and style indicative of each featured project.... "Luxuriously Modern" fittingly describes the Mid-Century Modern home of client Jay Fielden, editor of Town & Country magazine, nestled within the tree filled rolling hills of an idyllic Connecticut town. This is the home that introduced me to Carrier and Company's excellent work, having initially seen the interior photos in Elle Decor's September 2010 issue. Not long after the story was published, the home suffered a devastating fire, resulting in Jay and his wife Yvonne determined to salvage and rebuild. The couple once again turned to Carrier and Company to handle the interior design, due to their distinct ability to blend seasoned with current. Utilizing treasured pieces fortunate enough to be saved, while at he same time layering in recently acquired furnishings, the design duo culminated a style that echos a comfortable elegance set within the backdrop of a quintessential contemporary structure. Images above & below, note the details of expertly mixing a range of periods, from antique to avant-garde, tied together through a calming tone on tone color palette.

In contrast, I absolutely fell in love with Carrier and Company's design of the Sitting Room in NYC's 2014 Kips Bay Showhouse (written previously here) and included in the chapter "Bohemian Glamour." Jesse and Mara infused touches of refined richness at every turn, by selecting a masterful mix of metallic and light reflecting finishes applied to the walls, floors, fabrics, furnishings and accessories that collectively inspire city sophistication & luxe living enveloped by classical architecture. Images above & below....

The 200+ color photographs featured in this hardcover book reveal the level of skilled design expertise that Carrier and Company seemingly makes look effortless....  You'll find yourself hovering over each alluring image, in an effort to understanding the layered design components -- fabrics, furnishings, art, antiques -- that harmoniously achieve a space that is both livable and timeless. Jesse and Mara explain....

"Steadfast longevity is our aim as designers, because we want our clients to enjoy their residences time and time again, and hopefully years from now. Rooms that are timeless, elegant, and chic withstand the tests of time not because they are outside of time but because they manage to survey time - to look forward and backward through the history of design decoration, and style."

*I have The Vendome Press to thank for extending me a copy to preview....


Images The Vendome Press

Sweet Briar : Banners

I had the opportunity to be back at Sweet Briar on Tuesday....   And enjoyed an extensive tour of the as-ever breathtakingly beautiful campus. During my 4 years I got to know most of the buildings like the back of my hand, but nothing prepared me for the wave of emotion that washed over when I stepped into Benedict, some 2 decades later. The main entrance hall has posted on 3 sides a collection of just some of the banners created during our fight for Sweet Briar to remain OPEN -- and seeing these "artifacts" from our struggle to save our school was extremely powerful and moving.

Making banners is just one of many traditions that occurs at Sweet Briar and they're hung outside on our Quad Bell Tower for all to take in. In years past, these banners represented more fun & lighthearted sentiments, but during our fight, the banners became a reflection of the impassioned tone of students and the alumnae & faculty who supported them. I now look at these banners as pieces of our Sweet Briar history, that will always remind us of the spirit that galvanized 10,000+ supporters of Sweet Briar College and securing the legacy of our founder Indiana Fletcher Williams' mission of providing education for women.

*My images above and below....

 The Library

 The President's House

Outside of Prothro Dining Hall, Looking Onto Reid Dorm

Spotlight :: Treehouse Milk

Kate Carter (left) and Bess Weyandt (right)

My Spotlight Series continues today, featuring a Q&A with Bess Weyandt & Kate Carter, founders of Treehouse Milk. Full disclosure -- I am head over heels for Treehouse Milk! After reading this article in the NYT about Almond-Macadamia Milk, I have been waiting with bated breath for someone locally in Atlanta to craft nut milks..... Well, the wait is over! Bess and Kate are making THE most delicious and creamy assortment of nut milks -- handcrafted with only the simplest & pure ingredients needed.

The pair launched their business this Summer and are receiving overwhelming rave reviews & support -- so much so that they are selling out everytime they make a delivery to Candler Park Market. You can also find them at additional locales around town and ordering is available through the website (be sure to check if you fall into their delivery area).

*Read more below about  Bess, Kate and Treehouse Milk.........

Kate and Bess, are y'all originally from Atlanta?  If not, where are you from and have long have you lived here?

Kate: I grew up in Gainesville, Florida, perhaps the only place more humid than Atlanta. My family drove through Atlanta on our way to get to pretty much anywhere, and I landed here permanently in 2004. Since then I've lived in Candler Park, and my family has grown to include two sons and two dogs.

Bess: I am an Atlantan, through-and-through.  I was born and raised intown, in Morningside. I left for college but came back and have been here most of my adult life.



How did the two of you come together to form Treehouse Milk?

Kate: Bess and I have known each other for six years. Among her many other talents, she's a powerhouse fundraiser and worked for my husband's political campaigns. I was a newspaper reporter and editor, and then taught high school journalism at Grady High School, in midtown Atlanta. Bess and I lived through my husband Jason's bid for governor last year, and we are thrilled to tackle a new and very different adventure in the nut milk business. Bess had thought long and hard about bringing fresh, small batch almond milk to Atlanta, and the two of us sparked our partnership during a walk on the Beltline last spring.

Pecan Milk and Cashew Milk

Could you provide some insight into the spark that ignited the idea to make homemade Almond Milk -- and is almond milk the first type you tried making? 

Bess: A few years ago, when I attempted to transition to a plant-based diet, I started drinking almond milk.  I’d known that it was something that could be made at home, but didn’t really get curious about it til last winter, at which time I started doing some research and learned about all the gross additives they put in the commercial brands.  When I couldn’t find anyone locally who was making fresh, two-ingredient almond milk, and started to see how almond milk was dominating the milk aisle, I thought, "wait a minute, there could be something here..."

Almond milk was the first thing we made.  But we started experimenting with other nuts pretty quickly. 



Do either of you have any sort of formal culinary training or has this process been learn as you go?

Bess: This process has been entirely learn-as-you-go.  I’d say that both of us like to cook and use healthy, local ingredients.  There was a lot of trial-and-error in the kitchen -- especially with the pecan milk.  But getting that one right was well worth it. 

Almond Milk and Cacao Almond Milk

Could you describe some of the details that go into your crafting your milks?  The time frame it takes from nut to actual milk, amounts that y'all are producing, where you're sourcing your nuts, etc.....

Kate: Before we started, we researched everything there is to know about nuts! We spoke with farmers, we interviewed agriculture professors, and looked at what other companies in major market cities were doing. We tried out many recipes, juicers, nut bags, and held tastings for friends. We landed on nut farmers that we feel great about, and we're especially excited about our Sweet Georgia Pecan Milk, which is made with Pearson Farm's Georgia grown pecans. We use an old-fashioned process for making the milk, and while most companies are higher tech, our made-by-hand process turns out to be the most delicious every time.



Where can shoppers find your milks currently?  And for those that have already been buying Treehouse, what is the overall feedback?

Kate: We are really excited about the feedback we're getting.  We've heard people say that once they tasted ours, they couldn't stomach the mega store brands, which are stingy with the nuts but heavy on the chemicals and water. We deliver to many neighborhoods in intown Atlanta, and customers can easily sign up for home delivery on our website, Treehouse Milk.

Our milks are flying off the shelves at Candler Park Market, and we're selling our milks through Fresh Harvest, a terrific CSA home delivery company. You can also find us at Morningside Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, at Grant Park Farmers Market every other Sunday, at Buttermilk Kitchen in Buckhead, and at Ponce City Market's Spiller Park, where they're using our pecan milk to make ridiculously good lattes. The list keeps growing, so we will keep people updated on social media.

Sweetened Almond Milk and Macadamia Milk

What is your outlook for the business -- how would you like to see Treehouse Milk continue its success?

Bess: We’re still pretty early.  Some days we look at each other and say, “can you believe we’ve only been doing this for X number of weeks?”  We pride ourselves on being local and we love Atlanta, so we want to do as much here as we can.  For instance, we’d love to see school cafeterias here offer fresh nut milks.  And we also want to share the magic of Georgia pecan milk with the world.  There are a lot of directions we could take this; that’s what makes it fun.   


Would you like to share any upcoming happenings for Treehouse on the horizon? 

Kate: Well, we're just really excited about what's on the horizon for Treehouse Milk. A significant percentage of households are non-dairy, and there's no other company in Atlanta that is focusing on making fresh, pure nut milks. We think there's a hole to fill, and we're extremely excited to be in the right place at the right time. We both love Atlanta and feel like our brand encapsulates a lot about the ethos of our city, which is embracing a healthy and outdoor lifestyle with a focus on the Beltline, an old-school meets new-school charm, and infusing nature into the urban landscape.


Images Treehouse Milk

Refined Elegance in Hudson Valley

The interiors of director James Ivory's Federalist-style home in NY's Hudson Valley reflect signature elements -- classic elegance in a refined country setting matched with patina rich story telling decor -- that are indicative of some of his revered (and my favorite) films.....   "A Room With A View" and "Howards End". Last weekend's T Magazine featured his 19-room historic residence, that Ivory purchased in 1975. Images above & below.....

James Ivory at his Kitchen Table

 *Images T Magazine

Denim Blues

A collection of favorites, inspired by the cover of the Serena & Lily catalog that arrived in this week's mail....   The color of the moment >>> Shades of Denim Blue

Jack Rogers / Essie / Serena & Lily / Mast Brothers (image) / Benjamin Moore / Hable Construction / Imogene + Willie

Elle Decor - A Cape Cod Cottage

In Memoriam :: Gerry Hayden

So upsetting to read the obituary in the New York Times for revered chef & restaurateur Gerry Hayden. Diagnosed with ALS in 2010, this shining star in the culinary field passed on too soon at the age of 50. Hayden, along side his wife Claudia Fleming and partners Michael & Mary Mraz opened in 2006 The North Fork Table & Inn in Southold, a quaint town located towards the end of Long Island. Not only did this charming eatery elevate the dining scene of the area, it put sourcing ingredients from the long established local farming community a priority for their signature in-season dishes.

*2 weeks ago, while visiting my family's place out on the North Fork, we enjoyed a lovely dinner at the North Fork Table & Inn -- perfect service & serene decor. We returned the following day to the restaurant's Food Truck for lunch. My photos above & below + watch the video to learn more about Gerry Hayden.

Chef Gerry Hayden

Image

One of My Dishes -- A Variety of Local Tomatoes & Beans Paired with  Fresh Herbs

A Chef Cutting Herbs from the Garden Located Right Outside the Restaurant

Hot Pink & Coral at the US Open

Currently spotted at the US Open.....   Both the men & women (Eugenie Bouchard above) players wearing Hot Pink & Coral detailed tennis tops, bottoms & footwear. Taking color inspiration, a selection of accessories & decor.....

Tom Dixon Wingback Chair / Madeline Weinrib Ikat Pillow / Rikshaw Design Tassel Top / Jack Rogers Jelly Sandal / Hunter Boots / Kate Spade Flamingo Clutch

September Covers

Australian House & Garden / Adore / InStyle UK / Elle Decoration