I get really excited before a field trip up to Terrain in the Brandywine Valley of PA. GPS programmed, check. EZ Pass toll card, check. Station wagon readied, check. Let's go! With 2 locations, Terrain is the super cool and uber stylish nursery with the most amazing selection of plants, [...]
I am so grateful when clients ask for my assistance in furnishing and decorating their house. Imagine how thrilled I was when I had the opportunity to help my good friend and client, Linda, with another home. I had worked on the previous home, but what made the second experience [...]
Once a year, a certain wildling outside our kitchen window redeems itself with a spectacular show. We inherited this quite old and unruly shrub, and had planned to remove it after completion of the house renovation. The contractors even whacked it back severely. The whacking stopped one spring when I [...]
Through antique shows, brocantes and second hand shops, I have acquired a lovely collection of antique and vintage books. From rare bibles to Victorian paperbound garden journals, my collection is based on subject matter and, yes, the book cover. I do judge a book by its cover! Please forgive me, [...]
With spring so early this year, our gardens are lush and green. All of our ornaments and furnishings were brought out of storage a good three weeks ahead of schedule. I thought I'd post about garden ornaments since we just received our spring shipment of garden antiques and furniture from [...]
I remember selling, from my very first shipment, a Swedish sideboard to a couple wanting to freshen-up their screened porch. Upon delivering the sideboard, I suggested converting their porch into a conservatory with the following: change the laminate wood floors to slate (to tie in with the exterior terrace); replace [...]
I am a huge fan of the color blue! Versatile blue can be cool and calm, soft and pastel, or bold and electric. My kitchen cupboards at Tone on Tone are a shade of cornflower blue. The color palette of my new home office is white, blue and beige. Much [...]
At about 14 years old, I purchased my first piece of antique white ironstone china at an estate sale. It was a small creamer that was part of a frilly Victorian coffee set. I have no idea what happened to it, but I do remember paying very little. Today I [...]
I have been growing myrtle topiaries as houseplants for nearly 10 years. I favor the small leaf variety myrtus communis compacta, which is great for shaping. And, yes, I lost quite a few early on :( Here are growing tips on these finicky gems: - Plenty of sunlight. Keep in [...]
The sight of robins in the garden is delightful. Just seeing them makes me smile. In DC, robins are native & abundant. Whenever they see me outside, one or two will invariably follow---especially when I’m watering or weeding. As soon as I move to the next spot, the robin will [...]
