In the Country

2012-03-03T17:45:00.002-08:00

a rainy weekend is perfect for catching up on laundry...I love my laundry room, so love putting on an old movie and ironing all those linen napkins that pile up! the smell of the dryer and using those perfect Laundress washes make it even better... also finding lots of things popping up in the garden, so filling glass vases with snowdrops and daffodils make it even more enjoyable...photo by eric piasecki for Martha Stewart Living

a visit to colonial williamsburg

2012-02-26T18:38:00.000-08:00

I spent a day at one of my favorite places this week, on a sunny day with the gardens sprouting and spring in the air...always inspiring, always welcoming, always so much to see and so little time...here are some of my favorite images...

snowdrops

2012-02-13T16:29:00.000-08:00

a sure sign of spring...the snowdrops are blooming!

black slipcovers

2012-02-06T16:24:00.000-08:00

the winter look...black linen slipcovers on the sofa... black jugs and bowls and shawls transform the sitting room...with a crate of blooming paperwhites to usher in spring!
photograph by jeff mcnamara

in the barn...

2012-01-01T09:16:00.000-08:00

winter white studio...photos by jeff mcnamara

a pale christmas...

2011-12-22T17:39:00.000-08:00


a nautral color palette inspired by robins egg blue, white flowers and pale greenery, perfect for keeping my bedroom a calm retreat over the holidays.......photos by john bessler

my family style christmas

2011-12-19T17:33:00.000-08:00

On this icy cold day, I remember my brother Dennis taking all the kids out to get the Christmas tree in his vintage pickup as I'm preparing for Christmas Eve with the family at my home...while pulling out all the old family photos + home movies of Christmas' past, I found these favorites from my "White Christmas" book...still love these shots by William P Steele! Hope your Christmas is as warm and filled with family Christmas memories as mine!

a wing chair by the fire

2011-12-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

a leather wing chair by the fire, candlelight, and paperwhites ... simple styling for the holidays...
photograph by jeff mcnamara

branches and berries

2011-12-11T09:54:00.000-08:00


I love buying simple roping and green wreaths at the local farmstand or garden center, and then adding lots of berries and branches to add texture and subtle color...I like to harvest privet berries from the hedges, snips of cedar and pine and cypress and tuck them into the wreaths or baskets for the doors ...the natural smell of the greenery always says christmas to me!

10 favorite things

2011-12-07T13:42:00.000-08:00

getting my gifts ready for christmas and love these choices from the new general store:
1. sheepskin rug $60
2. rosemary olive oil in wood crate $40
3. wood pruning shears $25
4. cream colander $28
5. wood pizza peel $18
6. washed cotton bath salts $21
7. wedgwood stoneware juicer $20
8. zinc thermometer $21
9. paperwhite candle $15
10. belgian linen waiters apron $50

you can shop online at www.thenewgeneralstore.com

a long island christmas

2011-12-04T17:48:00.000-08:00

bringing the christmas tree home

love putting the tree on the porch... scallop shells + little white lights are
perfect for this seaside setting, keeping it simple and natural

stacks of creamy hand knit sweaters + blankets are stacked on this table in the entry of this country house

a simple sprig of greens + pine cones on the screen door

a collection of vintage handblown glass carafes + glasses are stacked on an old wood cabinet in the kitchen...a danish ship's lantern hangs above + a bunch of white hyacinths is a classic scandinavian holiday touch
photographs by jeff mcnamara; meadowcroft, west sayville, long island

a few favorite things

2011-11-25T06:32:00.000-08:00

stoneware bowls, linen napkins, teak cake servers and rustic glass bottles...a few of our favorite things at the new general store event this saturday on long island...please visit us here or online at www.thenewgeneralstore.com

2011-11-23T18:01:00.000-08:00

spicy pumpkin soup

2011-11-23T06:43:00.000-08:00

making gallons of this soup for our new general store event on sunday...i found the recipe on ronda
carman's all the best blog last year and it has become a staple in my house this fall season..so easy, so delicious, so comforting on these cool days.

spicy pumpkin soup

ingredients:

3 1/2 cups vegetable stock

1 cup whipping cream

30 oz. canned pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

garnish:

grated parmesan

chopped fresh cilantro

toasted pumpkin seeds or pine nuts

herb pan-fried croutons

bring vegetable stock and whipping cream to boil in heavy medium pot.

whisk in canned pumpkin, cumin, chili powder, coriander and nutmeg.

reduce heat to medium, simmer until soup thickens slightly + flavors blend for 15minutes.

season to taste with salt and pepper.

ladle soup into bowls. garnish. serve.

thanksgiving in the country

2011-11-21T08:27:00.000-08:00

stocking up on firewood and kindling for thanksgiving weekend, tucking in these creamy pumpkins everywhere!

getting ready for Thanksgiving

2011-11-18T08:56:00.000-08:00

the thanksgiving holiday is starting early as i have houseguests coming this weekend, and i'm setting the table with my favorite things from the new general store...stacks of linen placemats and napkins, the stemless glasses and slate place card holders...the wood pizza boards are perfect for serving cheeses and i'll have a pitcher of local cider...my favorite serving pieces from barbara eigen will be pressed into service too...i love all the natural linens and woods and artisanal glass and pottery for an autumnal look ! www.thenewgeneralstore.com

A Visit to London

2011-11-14T05:58:00.000-08:00

Petersham Nurseries, Richmond

Bailey's Home + Garden, Herefordshire

I've just come back from a week in London and have had so many requests for my favorite places, I've decided to post it !

My London List:

Breakfast/Brunch at THE WOLSLEY

PORTOBELLO ROAD antiquing on Saturday

NOTTING HILL area wandering

DOVER STREET MARKET - ROSE CAFE for light lunch tea

BOND STREET shops/ galleries

EGG - inspirational shop on Kinnerton Street

MARGARET HOWELL- classic English clothes with an edge

COS (new favorite black clothes shop!)

TATE MODERN- Gerhard Richter show + great art bookshop

DESIGN MUSEUM - Butlers Wharf
SIR JOHN SOANE MUSEUM- a step into the past, amazing house of 18th c architect + his obsessions

BEN PENTREITH - unique English home accessories
PERSEPHONE - classic women's books in beautiful bindings

DAYLESFORD shop - today's style organic food, cafe + home goods (Notting Hill or Pimlico)

THE ORANGE - chic new gastropub on Pimlico Road

PIMLICO ROAD- home/antiques shops

LIBERTY'S - the original London department store

WHITE COMPANY - all white bed/bath/at home wear/childrens' clothes

FEW + FAR - artisanal home accessories/jewelry/fashion

VICTORIA + ALBERT MUSEUM - rich with decorative arts exhibits, new food galleries/restaurants

V+ A READING ROOMS - great new bookshop cafe

STAR OF INDIA - the best Indian food...try the coconut nan + string beans with cashews

CABBAGES + ROSES - quintessential English country house fabrics/ fashion/ soft home accessories

COLUMBIA ROAD - flower market, antique shops, HUMMINGBIRD BAKERY for cupcakes + ANGELA FLANDERS for custom fragrances

LABOR + WAIT - traditional household goods.

AESOP'S - bath and beauty products boutique

STORY- romantic and rustic setting with the best pizzas

ALBION - cool grocery and restaurant

If you have access to a car for an afternoon:

PETERSHAM NURSERIES for the best garden accessories and lunch in their garden setting

Train accessible:

DULWICH PICTURE GALLERIES - the first art museum, designed by Sir John Soane

GREENWICH - Maritime Museum and a stroll through this 18th century setting

KEW GARDENS- the most magical greenhouse

Favorite Day trips:

BAILEY'S HOME AND GARDEN in Herefordshire

BATH for a Georgian architecture experience and a visit to Jane Austen's world

OXFORD - train to the Ashmolean + Pitt Rivers Museums and a pub to settle into

in the kitchen

2011-11-11T14:16:00.000-08:00

it finally feels like fall and i'm so glad its the weekend...time for a fire, potting up bulbs, a pot of tea and some jane austen...

sunday brunch

2011-10-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

in this stormy fall season, one of my favorite rituals on sundays is to make a frittata and rosemary roasted potatoes...a spicy bloody mary, and time to read the new york times is heaven. today's frittata is caramelized red onion, goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes, black olives, rosemary and red pepper flakes...i always run it under the broiler with grated parmesan to make it crisp and more flavorful ...fingerling potatoes from the farmstand drizzled with rosemary olive oil and a sprinkling of mint salt(both from the new general store) and tossed with fresh rosemary sprigs go in the oven at 450 degrees first for about 45 minutes...while the potatoes are roasting, I prepare the frittata...2-3 eggs whipped with a bit of water and herbs + red pepper flakes mixed in and then cooked in a cast iron skillet (turning the liquid under to cook)is my approach I also coat the pan with the sun dried tomato oil from the jar...then add the cheeses and other toppings...an easy 1 hour meal that varies with the season and what's in the fridge!

pumpkin style

2011-10-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

from autumn with matthew mead

from country living

a visit with jane cumberbatch

2011-10-20T18:45:00.000-07:00

just back from a week in london visiting my friends jane cumberbatch, catherine calvert and katrin cargill... brainstorming about new book ideas, and celebrating the publication of jane's new guide to simple living called Pure Style: Recipes for Everyday

her garden with its beautiful apple tree full of ripe green apples was ready for harvesting for her apple crumble recipe, one of many favorites in her book... can't wait to make it back at home with the fireplace burning and the kettle on!

white halloween

2011-10-04T15:07:00.000-07:00

now this is a halloween look i can live with...interpreted by matthew mead for his autumn issue! can't wait to make those ghost pound cake slices and get my white pumpkins ready...

first days of fall

2011-09-24T07:05:00.000-07:00

misty mornings, evening fires, white pumpkins...

autumn with matthew mead

2011-09-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

a fall harvest supper at my home is featured in the new Autumn with Matthew Mead...we made my favorite pumpkin ravioli with brown butter sage sauce, and invited friends for a fall supper out in the woods... best part was the tarte tatin (from Donna Hay) with sea salt caramel gelato for dessert ...get all my entertaining tips and recipes in this new issue on sale now at www.holidaywithmatthewmead.com

autumn rituals

2011-09-08T07:41:00.000-07:00

time to light the fireplace in the evening, bring out a stack of soft wool throws, and add a rug to warm up the room...much as i hate to put away the white linens, i love to layer in dark rich browns and blacks in textiles and branches to replace the summer garden flowers and shells as the new season comes in...

fall weekend reading

2011-09-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need" ...Cicero

I stocked up on new mysteries and historical novels for the hurricane weekend here and was lost in their pages for days...
Well, no gardening this weekend, but so happy to have growing bookshelves and electricity!

Here are my recommendations:

1. The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy : a love story and insight into a woman's life on the Isle of Guernsey in the early days of WWII occupation ...brought back the wonderful Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Shaffer and Barrows
2. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh: how the message and passion for flowers can transform our lives ...evocative contemporary San Francisco setting.
3. The Bitter Truth by Charles Todd: WWI nurse Bess Crawford comes home to London on leave and gets embroiled in a murder investigation in Suffolk and rescuing a baby in war torn France
4. Bound by Sally Gunning: next in her series of 18th century New England historical novels, this story brings to life women's lives on Cape Cod in this period of political unrest and search for independence.

In the stack to read next stormy weekend (I have to get back to work!)

5. Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks, first native American graduate of Harvard in 1665 from Martha's Vineyard and his living in two different cultures.
6. A Book of Secrets by Michael Holroyd: an evocative tapestry weaving together the lives of Violet Trefusis, Alice Keppel and Eve Fairfax in the Italian village of Ravello
7. On Canann's Side by Sebastian Barry, a woman's journey from Ireland in WWI to America over a 70 year period

kindling

2011-09-03T19:09:00.000-07:00

as the days get shorter and the nights cooler, it's time to light a fire in the fireplace at the end of the day, and this season, there is a lot of kindling to gather from the latest hurricane on long island...I bundle twigs and branches and tie with twine to use as firestarters and give as gifts for friends who have fireplaces in the city! photograph by michael skott
from THE NATURAL HOME by tricia foley

Autumn with Matthew Mead

2011-08-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

Can't wait to see the new issue...we created an autumn harvest dinner party and there are lots of great menu and entertaining ideas!

Booth House Benefit

2011-08-21T07:01:00.000-07:00

Last night, we had the open house/reception of the Booth House our local historical society has been working on for 10 years! We had an amazing turnout, the sun came out, and the house looked beautiful. I hosted a light supper for friends at my house after and we had about 70 people come for a great evening. We set up tables all over the house, the studio, boathouse and patio, the fare was a buffet of great summer salads made fresh from our local farmstand and my herb garden...a great way to celebrate the end of summer!

Mary Louise Booth House

My house set up for party

Mary Louise Booth

2011-08-15T08:16:00.000-07:00

She was born in Yaphank and grew up to know everyone who was anyone—
President Lincoln, Georges Sand, Winslow Homer, Oliver Wendell
Holmes. As the founding editor of Harper’s Bazar, she performed a
“great service” to suffrage, according to her friend Elizabeth Cady
Stanton, “by showing that a woman can hold for years a place at the
head of a profession so difficult and so arduous”. She had a passion for
flowers and perfumes, a weakness for lace and an eye for talent. She published Louisa May Alcott and Wilkie Collins and at her Manhattan home, she hosted legendary Saturday night salons. She wrote the first history of the city of New York in 1859, was fluent in seven languages, translated over 40 books and was first secretary to the Women’s Rights Congress at Seneca Falls in 1855.

The birthplace of Mary Louise Booth on Main Street in Yaphank is being restored by the Yaphank Historical Society and Suffolk County Dept of Parks Historic Services as a period house museum and will be open to the public. www.yaphankhistorical.org

still -lives

2011-08-09T05:49:00.000-07:00

photographer Tara Sgroi visited last week and captured lots of beautiful images around my home...

blackberries and cream

2011-08-02T05:13:00.000-07:00

this time of year, all I need is a cup of blackberries and a drizzle of cream for breakfast or dessert, to eat simply or mixed with peaches or ice cream...our farmstand is brimming with them this week...for dinner parties, I fill these little silver cups with berries on a tray and serve with a bowl of coffee ice cream and let guests help themselves...
photograph by matthew mead for"Summer"

The Laundress comes to visit

2011-07-29T13:42:00.000-07:00

our friends from The Laundress came out from the city yesterday for lunch and a private shopping session at The New General Store...they wore their summer whites and showed us their new home cleaning product line which we'll be featuring in the fall and we all had such a great time! We set the table with our Barbara Eigen serveware mixed with teak accessories, some vintage pieces, and our favorite glasses, a jug filled with greenery and asked a few other friends to stop by and meet Gwen, Lindsey and Gelina...we're already planning our next lunch and visit!

photographs by tara sgroi

en plein air

2011-07-26T12:11:00.000-07:00

a group of women friends are coming out to my house for a few days visit as one friend is watercolorist and has offered to give us landscape painting lessons...I'm sure we'll be in flipflops and old shirts, but love the idea of these women painting nearby on Long Island a hundred years ago in their straw hats and shirtwaists !

cool baths

2011-07-24T10:49:00.000-07:00

on these lazy summer days, it's nice to have a cool bath and relax after a day at the beach...linen bath towels and mint or lavender salts are the perfect accessories...
www.thenewgeneralstore.com

sweetpeas

2011-07-10T17:41:00.000-07:00

I used to pass my current house for years driving by and the fence(unfortunately old chain link) was covered with masses of wild sweetpeas... I thought of it as the sweetpea house...The house was built in the 1820's, and recently found out that they were one of Emily Dickinson's favorite flowers and she had them planted at her home of the same period...When I bought the house a few years ago, I tore down the fence,and replaced it with privet and lost the sweetpeas, but think it's time to find another spot for them, as they belong here!

a visit with matthew mead

2011-07-07T06:37:00.000-07:00

friends matthew mead and his wife jenny were here last week working on their new issue for autumn and we created a wonderful sunday lunch out under the trees for them... we also had some time to visit down at the boathouse and catch up on what we're both up to these days, so hope you enjoy our chat and will check out his website as well!
http://www.holidaywithmatthewmead.com

july 4th, 1907

2011-07-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

4th of July, 100+ years ago in my small town!
love the flower decorated bicycles and civil war soldier leading the parade down Main Street where I live...

fresh air

2011-07-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

a perfect weather weekend to air out bedding and love bringing it back in with the scent of sun and fresh cut grass...

pink peonies

2011-06-24T18:37:00.000-07:00

I usually love all white single flower bouquets, but this time of year, pink peonies are irresistible! I put them singly in bud vases, in small bunches in glass cylinders on bedside tables, and in white pitchers or tureens for tablesettings
photos from "Summer" by Matthew Mead

hydrangeas are blooming

2011-06-19T18:06:00.000-07:00

the hydrangeas are starting to bloom and come in the most beautiful colors...from clear blues and lilacs to vibrant pinks, but my favorites are the soft "off-colors" of pale greens and creams and whites...make sure you give them a clean cut, cross-slice the stems with scissors and add fresh water every day for big lush bouquets that last, and if it doesn't rain, get the hose out to keep your bushes watered as they are very thirsty these hot summer days...I love putting one big flower head in a glass or vase for a mantel or bedside table, and for larger spaces, harvest a lot of stems for a big single flower bouquet or use as a great base for mixed flower arrangements...
from Sailing Style, photographs by Michael Skott

summer curtains

2011-06-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

it's time for simple cotton curtains that let the summer breezes come through...like these blue and white striped ones that allow privacy but let the light in...photographed at my friend Ellen O'Neill's summer house for the Sailing Style book.
photograph by michael skott

nantucket inspiration

2011-06-08T06:51:00.000-07:00

this time of year, i think of early morning walks in nantucket and its design inspiration from the simple natural landscaping by the sea, whitewashed picket fences, rambling roses, weathered wood shingles and crushed clamshell walkways...

june roses

2011-06-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

rosa multiflora alba
I know serious gardener friends see this rose as a pest as it rambles all over, but in early june on long island along roadways, in woods and gardens, this fragrant wild white rose looks beautiful to me...I love to snip long sprays of it, and put in large white pitchers or glass cylinders on big tables and cut the small ones for mantels or window sills or bedside tables...the creamy white roses are single petal in clusters and were discovered in france in 1824.

summer ironing

2011-06-04T08:40:00.000-07:00

i love soft wrinkled linens, but sometimes love the ritual of ironing sundried linens sprinkled with lavender water...

morning tea...

2011-05-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

it's just too nice these early summer days to stay inside, so breakfast is now lingered over in the back yard...a tray with tea (wedgwood drabware), a jug of flowers, and the ny times are all i need!
photographs by marili forastieri

The New General Store

2011-05-20T05:41:00.000-07:00

This is the weekend for our third annual New General Store event...we have 2 days of shopping, lunch at the farm table, book signing and vintage tent sale by Matthew Mead, and visiting with friends...Our local historical society is having their community yard sale down the road, so there will be lots of activity! all the details are on the website: www.thenewgeneralstore.com

wisteria in bloom

2011-05-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

the wisteria is in full bloom due to all the rain and the fragrance is intoxicating!(unfortunately, the dandelions are in full bloom too- a bumper crop this year)

party planning

2011-05-17T18:04:00.000-07:00

setting out the serving pieces in advance and washing the white slipcovers to get ready for summer dinners... cream platters and bowls by Barbara Eigen for The New General Store www.thenewgeneralstore.com
photograph by marili forastieri

guest rooms

2011-05-14T09:25:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of house guests coming next weekend as we are having The New General Store pop-up shop weekend. Tucking in extra beds in the garden shed, in the sitting room, in my studio! Remembered a story I did for Country Home magazine on guest room prep as I get ready and pulled the list out.

guest room essentials:
extra blanket/throw
water carafe and glass
scented candle
magazines
book of short stories
pad and pen
good reading light
desk/table with comfortable chair
set of towels
terry robe
bath salts/lotions
tea tray set up
notes to guests about breakfast/coffee
pretty flowers!

apple blossoms

2011-05-08T06:59:00.000-07:00

my favorite time of year when the apple tree outside my bedroom window is in blossom...

stone barns

2011-05-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

loved a spring visit to stone barns at the old rockefeller estate in pocantico...the architecture reinterpreted as a restaurant/compound by machado + silvetti, the gardens, the menu, the landscape...heaven.

spring at colonial williamsburg

2011-04-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

several years ago, i had the honor of working with the colonial williamsburg foundation, creating a book on Williamsburg Style, and stayed in Thomas Jefferson's doctor's house in the historic district. spring mornings i would wander through the streets and take in all the architectural details, gate hardware, the picket fences and especially the gardens ...here are a few of my favorites.

easter morning

2011-04-24T06:47:00.000-07:00

forsythia and daffodils

on earth day...

2011-04-22T07:08:00.000-07:00

a good day to organize the recycling center to make it easier to keep up with...using old canvas bags, baskets and wood wine crates, it looks good and feels good!
photograph by michael skott
from The Natural Home by Tricia Foley

This is glamourous: five things you need to know about interior design

2011-04-15T15:16:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of writing my five "things you need to know about interior design" for the wonderful "this is glamourous" blog...it was hard coming up with just five!

http://citified.blogspot.com/2011/04/favourite-five-interior-designer-tricia.html

summer whites coming up!

2011-04-14T18:40:00.000-07:00

Matthew Mead has a new "bookazine" called SUMMER and I am so excited that he is featuring my house for his new summer issue...will be hitting mailboxes mid-May,
and you can order copies through his website: http://www.holidaywithmatthewmead.com/2011/02/summer-musings.html

when lilacs last in the dooryard bloom'd

2011-04-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

"in the door-yard fronting an old farm-house, near the white-wash’d palings,
stands the lilac bush, tall-growing, with heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
with many a pointed blossom, rising, delicate, with the perfume strong I love,
with every leaf a miracle......and from this bush in the door-yard,
with delicate-color’d blossoms, and heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
a sprig, with its flower, I break"...walt whitman

in doing garden research for the mary louise booth house on long island, i found that lilacs were popular and planted to commemorate abraham lincoln's death as poet walt whitman celebrates in this excerpt...a very fitting description of my house and its lilac stand as well as at other historic 19th century houses along main street in this small town....

april showers

2011-04-04T18:29:00.000-07:00

looking forward to those may flowers...

bronte country

2011-04-03T07:41:00.000-07:00

with the film Jane Eyre just out, I have been thinking of the landscape in yorkshire where my english grandmother was born...she grew up looking over the moors to the village of haworth where the bronte family lived and many years ago, she took me to visit their home...we walked through the cobbled streets and saw the little stone house where the bronte sisters penned their tales that still hold us spellbound today and where heathcliff and cathie walked in wuthering heights...this time of year the moors are all soft and green with the sheep lambing and wildflowers blooming and in the fall it is covered in heather in soft shades of lavender...it is always misty with rain, which adds to the moody backdrop of these dramatic stories...

dry stacked stone walls that northern england is known for

main stairway in the bronte parsonage in haworth

charlotte bronte's watercolor sketch of wild roses 1830

the heather covered yorkshire moors

"the sky is blue and the larks are singing and the becks and brooks are all brim full.."Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

summer studio

2011-03-29T18:44:00.000-07:00

This former machine shop/garage has been transformed into a studio which I use for photo shoots, dinner parties, and movie nights...This is the time of year I look forward to setting it up again now that the snow has melted and I can get back in there...I've framed a collection of black and white photographs and posters in white frames, rolled out a seagrass rug, slipcovered a big sofa in charcoal grey canvas, and found great folding cafe chairs at Ikea to use with the painted picnic table. Now it's ready for the season...
photographs by marili forastieri

lemons

2011-03-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

just filled a big wooden bowl with lemons and have plans to put sliced ones in a water pitcher, take a stain out of a white shirt, and brighten up some linens... there may be a lemon tart in my future too!
photograph by michael skott from The Natural Home

for saint patricks day...

2011-03-14T19:16:00.000-07:00

the land girls

2011-03-13T11:03:00.000-07:00

in england during world war II, with a shortage of food and no men to work on the farms, the country called on its women to volunteer and go out to the farms to work: to milk the cows and grow vegetables to support the cause, all under government direction. This division was called the land girls... beauticians, aristocrats, secretaries and housewives, all lived together in dorms on farms from coast to coast... i love this "can do" spirit and had the opportunity to create an interpretation of this movement many years ago in victoria magazine...at this time of year, with things sprouting and the growing interest in gardening and local farming, I keep thinking of my days in england at combermere abbey creating this inspirational story and wanted to share it!

the english country look: tweed jackets, handknit sweaters, flowered skirts and wellies never go out of style

The Land Girls by Angela Huth is the historical novel which we based our feature on, and it was made into a film in 1998...now there is a new BBC series...hope we'll be seeing it on masterpiece theater soon!

photographs by pia tryde

my pantry

2011-03-09T06:56:00.000-08:00

pine nuts
red pepper flakes
penne pasta
rosemary olive oil
scarpetta Marinara sauce
sundried tomatoes
black olives
sea salt

granola
english breakfast tea
lemon verbena tea
almond thins
lemon biscotti

a visit to rosendal

2011-02-26T13:59:00.000-08:00

one of my favorite places,ever, is Rosendal in Stockholm...on the site of a rose pink historic house and garden, this garden center/cafe/picnic grounds are open to the public and perfect in every season...I keep thinking of my last visit in spring and the long country walk through wildflower fields, delicious lunch in the greenhouse and tea outside on the picnic tables in the orchard... even the cakes are decorated with blossoms from the gardens and the shop is filled with fresh produce and wonderful teas and rosewaters, and baked goods to take home...wish I lived closer!

summer state of mind

2011-02-23T13:35:00.000-08:00

Matthew Mead is here shooting for his new Summer issue and the house is filled with white lilacs and pink peonies ...trying to avoid the snow outside, but we have a summer state of mind in the house!

mount vernon garden house

2011-02-20T07:35:00.000-08:00

on this presidents weekend, i'm thinking of our presidents houses. i have always been inspired by the garden room that designer victoria hagan did many years ago at Mount Vernon for House Beautiful...it's been on my inspiration board since then and led to me to a field trip there to see the home and gardens of george washington...love the floor to ceiling shutters, the rustic stone floors, the shelf with glass cloches above the door, white linen slipcovers and of course the natural color palette...

it's the little things....

2011-02-15T06:58:00.000-08:00

this simple Shaker candle sconce has been with me for years, and is at home in any setting I find for it ...above this small scaled wood chair painted black, it defines a place where I leave my bag, keys, papers that are coming and going...
photograph by marili forastieri

happy valentines day

2011-02-13T06:19:00.001-08:00

eileen fisher collection

2011-02-11T08:28:00.000-08:00

just received the new eileen fisher for garnet hill catalog and excited to see my sitting room styled as a bath for their new mats, towels and shower curtains in my favorite colors of truffle, muslin and pure white...already bought two of the bath mats for my real bathrooms...they photographed here a few months ago with photographer Ditte Isager who has worked here before and I always look forward to seeing the results in print( and on-line)!
http://www.garnethill.com/eileen-fisher-seedpod-bath-rug/bedding-home/eileen-fisher-home/bath/195506?cm_mmc_o=HFzbkCjCtBFwCjCvvlCwu_zftCjCyAT&SourceCode=K1W239B

green style survey

2011-02-09T06:30:00.001-08:00

laurie furber's wonderful blog, greenhouse design studio, features a series of interviews with creative types about their green lifestyle tips...I'm honored that she invited me to do the survey this week and really enjoyed doing it!
http://greenhousedesignstudio.com/green-style-survey--tricia-foley.aspx

downton abbey withdrawal

2011-02-06T16:24:00.000-08:00

so many friends are going through withdrawal over the end of downton abbey on masterpiece theater sunday nights and I remembered a fashion story I art directed for victoria magazine many years ago ...here are some of the images of Edwardian fashion circa 1915, from the archives of collector Lesley Balazs that will keep me in the mood until the next installment picks up again! photographs by toshi otsuki

the laundry room

2011-02-03T12:06:00.001-08:00

My friends Gwen Whiting and Lindsay Wieber, who own The Laundress, posted pictures of my new laundry room with their products which was featured in Martha Stewart Living ...my favorite product is their whites detergent!
photos by Eric Piasecki
http://thelaundressny.blogspot.com/
http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/a-cozy-basement-renovation

painting the kitchen white

2011-01-29T09:18:00.000-08:00

I decided that the kitchen needed a fresh coat of paint, and went with classic china white...As I am so influenced by the names in the palette and all those cupboards are filled with white china, I agonized over all the choices and went with my tried and true color...it's not too cold, not too bright, not too yellow or pink or gray, but just right for this old house with its imperfections...
photographs by marili forastieri

Winter is the time for comfort...

2011-01-19T15:15:00.000-08:00

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: It is the time for home.” Edith Sitwell

fireplaces

2011-01-17T17:54:00.000-08:00

Living in an old house in the country, I'm lucky to have fireplaces throughout that I tend to plan my life around this time of year...

winter retreat

2011-01-13T17:32:00.000-08:00

linen sheets, down pillows, a cup of tea and a good book on this snowy day
photograph by marili forastieri

a wing chair by the fire

2011-01-10T18:01:00.000-08:00

one of my favorite chairs pulled up to the fire, is an 18th century style reproduction from Hickory chair that I've had for years...I slipcover it in white canvas in summer, but in winter, the brown leather is just right.

weekend in the kitchen

2011-01-08T13:28:00.000-08:00

On this snowy weekend, it's a perfect time to put on my apron and look through cookbooks for new soup recipes. My new favorite is from the All the Best blog posted over the holidays for a spicy pumpkin soup. It is easy and delicious. Thank you, Ronda Carman!

Southwest Pumpkin Soup
3 1/2 cups vegetable stock
1 cup half and half
2 15-ounce can pure pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Garnish:
Grated sharp cheddar cheese
Chopped fresh cilantro
Avocado slices
Sour cream
Toasted pumpkin seeds

Bring vegetable stock and whipping cream to boil in heavy medium pot. Whisk in canned pumpkin, cumin, chili powder, coriander and nutmeg. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until soup thickens slightly and flavors blend, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish each serving with cheddar cheese, cilantro, avocado slices, sour cream, toasted pumpkin seeds and serve.

paperwhites

2011-01-04T12:34:00.000-08:00

By this time of the season, I have pots of wobbly paperwhites all over the house which I forced for Christmas. I find that I keep tending them as I can't be gardening, and love getting another week or so from the blooms. I cut them off from the bulbs and put loose bunches in big white pitchers. When they start fading, I trim down and put little bouquets in glasses for tablesettings or on the mantel. The bulbs go out in the woods under piles of leaves and most times they sprout in the spring with the daffodils!

10 period films

2011-01-02T18:20:00.000-08:00

On these cold winter days, I love to pull out my favorite films to watch over and over. I always find a new architectural detail, a beautiful fireplace mantel, a window seat, the perfect paint color, period hardware, panelled doors or shutters that are inspiration for my own home, books or design projects. These are my top 10:

1. Out of Africa
2. French Lieutenants Woman
3. Bright Star
4. Becoming Jane
5. Pride and Prejudice(2005)
6. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
7. Mrs. Miniver
8. Sense and Sensibility
9. Mr.Blandings Builds his Dream House
10.Cranford

happy new year!

2010-12-31T17:40:00.000-08:00

white quince branches, prosecco, friends ...
photograph by jeff mcnamara

kindling bundles

2010-12-28T17:58:00.000-08:00

so glad I stashed away a few bundles of kindling from The New General Store holiday sale...these are days to keep the fireplaces going!

merry christmas to all + to all a good night!

2010-12-25T07:27:00.000-08:00

Cedar trimmed stairway

2010-12-24T05:23:00.000-08:00

A cedar roping trimmed with berries and herbs and hurricane shades with votive candles on the steps are a beautiful holiday look for this country house stairway...
photograph by Wm P Steele

Christmas lunch setting

2010-12-23T06:33:00.000-08:00

A natural look for the table means a few simple touches such as votive candles, crates of mossy paperwhites and packaging with a bit of red and greenery...photograph by Wm P Steele

christmas films to get in the mood

2010-12-22T19:33:00.000-08:00

I have a list of favorite Christmas movies that I look forward to seeing each year,to keep me wrapping and cooking and getting ready for the family invasion Christmas eve...Here are my top 10!

White Christmas
The Holly and the Ivy
Christmas in Connecticut(1946)
Its a Wonderful Life
Little Women
Miracle on 34th Street
The Bishops Wife
Joyeux Noel
A Christmas Carol
Love Actually

the Christmas tree

2010-12-22T07:40:00.000-08:00

A family tradition for my brother Dennis is to decorate his old pickup truck with a red bowed wreath for the season and take the kids for an outing to find their Christmas tree ... photographs by Wm P Steele

berries + branches

2010-12-19T17:53:00.000-08:00

Simple greens with branches and berries are perfect for this 18th century
farmhouse...love the black berries from the privet hedges to tuck into wreaths
and fill the small woven basket on my front door...
photographs by Laura Resen

Christmas at Terrain

2010-12-16T06:38:00.000-08:00

I made a field trip to Terrain to do some Christmas shopping and meet up with friends for lunch
and loved every minute of it from the winter garden setting to the cafe lunch to the gifts I found for my list (and myself)...favorites were the candles in old mason jars lining the windows, hot bread from the oven baked in flower pots, the natural green trees and wreaths and the firepit with log stump seats with vintage blankets ...found lots of hard-to-find gifts for designer friends with beautiful natural packaging and great ideas to take home from the styling and presentation
of the greenery and simple sophisticated country decorating for the holidays...
www.shopterrain.com

a champagne tea

2010-12-13T06:10:00.000-08:00

Looking forward to an afternoon gathering of friends for tea and champagne
with ginger cookies, my mother's shortbread, and an angel food cake...

2010-12-11T16:23:00.000-08:00

Loved seeing my bedroom mantel styled for Christmas
in the Habitually Chic blog...here are a few more images
from that setting! photographs by John Bessler

Christmas wrappings

2010-12-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

vintage ornaments

2010-12-07T19:29:00.000-08:00

I add to my collection of cream, silver, pearl, glass ornaments from antique shops, flea markets, yard sales throughout the year and love remembering where I bought them on my travels when decorating the tree each year...

A seaside Christmas

2010-12-05T08:55:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite White Christmas stories was created in a seaside setting at Meadowcroft, Long Island ...natural trees, scallop shell lights , pine roping and berries, all looking right at home at this turn of the century country house ...
photographs by Jeff McNamara

The New General Store Holiday Sale

2010-11-26T05:19:00.000-08:00

One more day until The New General Store holiday event...we are busy unpacking all our gifts to get ready for Saturday November 27th from 11-6pm www.thenewgeneralstore.com

white pumpkins

2010-11-25T07:45:00.001-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2010-11-24T13:53:00.000-08:00

an early morning walk on the beach... beautiful palette

The New General Store Holiday Sale

2010-11-23T11:52:00.000-08:00

Getting ready for The New General Store holiday sale this Saturday...unpacking rosemary olive oils and lemon vinegars and burlap market bags...