Happy May Day! Families during medieval England would celebrate the beginning of spring by collecting greenery and flowers from woodlands and bringing them back into their homes. This custom was known as "Going A-Maying" or "Bringing Back the May." In France, the tradition of giving lily-of-the-valley flowers goes back to [...]
Tom and I have had a bit of excitement at the house. Our home and collections were photographed for Martha Stewart Living. Yes, indeed! Hence my absence from the blog - we were busy cleaning, scrubbing, waxing, and polishing everything. Just for Martha :) I want to thank photographer Helen [...]
Spring, we've been eagerly awaiting your return! Speaking of return, Tom and I are back from a buying trip abroad. There are antique mirrors, garden items, French paintings, Continental and Swedish furniture, decorative goods and a few surprises coming in April / May. So please start making room :) I [...]
Greetings ~ So here it is: another holiday season! I hope you are feeling as festive as I am. Jingle! Jingle!! What are your holiday plans? Christmas Eve is traditionally spent with the Troeschels, and this year, Tom's brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Chris, will graciously host the family at [...]
Hello - Happy November! I hope you are well! Tom and I have been busy transitioning into this month of "gathering." To get the house ready for company, we're tidying up inside and out, washing the china, and polishing the silver pieces. You should see our mini production line for [...]
Hello there ~ Happy October! After enjoying a bit of an Indian summer, it's now looking and feeling more like fall in DC. Have you added any seasonal touches to your home? I just brought in a few white pumpkins.Ten years ago, when I wanted these ghostly beauties I had [...]
Blue and white, I've got a crush on you! Always have, always will. This popular color combination is one of my favorites. I love its familiar yet surprisingly fresh vibe. On Swedish gray surfaces, blue and white looks effortless and lovely. It's cool, calming and crisp against the Gustavian palette. [...]
Dear Friends, It's hhhhhere! The new shipment has been unloaded, dusted and cataloged. Gleaned from Belgium, England, France and Sweden, there are many classics as well as a few surprises. If you are thinking of updating your home for spring and summer, might I suggest an antique to add that [...]
May is a marvelous month in DC! And a very busy one for gardeners. I'm spending what little free time I have in the garden: cutting back dead wood; pruning shrubs that were meant to be dwarf varieties for a city plot; fertilizing and reinvigorating plants that have seen sunnier [...]
It's been a crazy couple of weeks! This is how I feel at the moment: Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration, but not by much. I had planned to visit and photograph a client's lovely home for this week's post. But, sadly, I've been buried under a mountain of paperwork. While [...]
