S H O P | Highlights

I've been very busy with the shop during its launch weeks. I'd love for you to take a look and let me know what you think! I've been sorting through many things that have taken me down a winding memory lane, including a box of portraits that used to hang in my friend André's Boston apartment. He was a very good photographer. The photos are mostly of friends in Paris taken in the 1960s. Mine, was the last portrait he took for his wall in the 1980s. I'll scan and write about them soon. To visit Billy's Bungalow, please click on any of the images above. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

My New Shop on Etsy

Images from my new shop on Etsy

I am delighted to announce to all of you that I have opened an online shop at Etsy! My shop is a place to pass along many of the objects I collected over the 21 years I lived in Boston. Since that time, we've owned a historic house on Boston's north shore and have now settled in a small bungalow on the beach. For years, my passion has been collecting, entertaining, and decorating and my Etsy shop, "Billy's Bungalow" is a natural extension of these interests. We've had a great opening week and I hope you will visit. I will be adding more things to the shop weekly. I would love your feedback and look forward to seeing you there!

You can also follow the shop on Pinterest. Happy early spring to all. 

New Look | DIOR 1947

 

"It was the twelfth of February 1947. The people of Paris were shivering with cold as the temperature fell to thirteen degrees of frost. Coal was in short supply, and the newspapers were out on an indefinite strike. And so it came about that the French were the last to learn of the momentous event that had just taken place in a private mansion in the Avenue Montaigne: the event in question was the birth of a couturier. More than that, it was the birth of a fashion—perhaps even the birth of Fashion itself—a fashion from that day forward was to be word of law from South America to the Australian subcontinent.

Sales assistants on the day of the opening.

In a pearl-grey room a middle-aged man stood besieged by a throng of people, his chubby features scarred by lipstick, while an exceedingly ugly American lady, Carmel Snow, editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar, was heard to proclaim the historic words, 'It's quite a revolution, dear Christian. Your dresses have such a new look. They are wonderful, you know!'

Right to Left, Carmel Snow, Harper's Bazaar, Richard Avedon, and Marie-Louise Bousquet, The Eyes of America.

NEW LOOK, the first collection to bear the name of Christian Dior, was thus baptized. It was an expression that was to catch on in every one of the world's countless languages.

 

Most American buyers had already left Paris, having bought all they wanted from Jacques Fath, Lelong, Piguet, Rochas, Balmain and Balenciaga... 'The poor things,' Carmel Snow remarked with her usual discernment. 'They'll have to come back.' And come back they did. So began a venture that was as brief as it was brilliant, a venture without equal in the whole history of fashion. There were other stars in the firmament, but Dior's star shone brightest." excerpted from DIOR by Francoise Giroud 

Dior in his garden at the Moulin. He had a green thumb. Photo by Ostier

Happy 66 NEW LOOK.

photos: Dior book

Thank You, Dear Readers...

Photos | The Big Book of Chic | Miles Redd

Last year, I had routine surgery on my left foot and I ended up with extensive nerve damage. I have spent the past year working hard to repair and happily, I am exceeding all expectations as I continue the battle toward a full recovery. Sadly, I have not been able to find the passionate energy for posting here at My Dog-Eared Pages. Thousands of you continue to visit each and every month. And, I am just so grateful to you for your continued interest. I did not want New Year's Eve to go by without wishing you all the best and brightest in the coming year. I do hope you will stand by as I find my way back, soon. Happiest New Year to you! ox

PS... a New Year's entertaining post from 2009 here!

Decorator + American Beauty

Sara Gilbane {left} • Bedroom designed by Sara, fabric from Carlton V

I am just delighted to interview interior decorator, Sara Gilbane. I first discovered Sara's work searching for something on Google that led me to her blog—and, I quickly became a fan of her cozy, elegant rooms. After graduating from Brown, Sara studied interior design at RISD and blossomed as Celerie Kemble's assistant. Last year, she was named one of TradHome's Top 20 New Designers and House Beautiful previously named her as one of their Top 20 Next Wave Designers.

Darling kitchen breakfast nook perfectly accessorized in blue + white

The thing that is so good about Sara's work is that she understands how to accessorize. "I am a fanatic about details and I must admit that this is my favorite part of a project." She gets it! Each room looks naturally finished. Sara has great taste in fabrics and her details—from piping to pleats are indeed, impeccable. She also makes wonderful, bold wallpaper choices.

Powder Room wallpaper, Poppies by Lee Jofa

I love this combination of large navy paisley with yellow lattice wallpaper.


Headboard, Ralph Lauren St. Kitts, navy • Wallpaper, Carlton V


Settee, Zimmer + Rohde, Oak Leaf Blue • Blue chaise in Rogers + Goffigon, pillow from Turkey


Inlaid chaise in Robert Kime's Suzanni Yellow, pillow Chelsea Textiles • Ottoman, Stark Burlap

Headboard fabric, Brunschwig + Fils
NYC Living Room, antique oushak carpet, custom lucite table, and Natasha Law painting


American Beauty photographed by Vogue alumna, Claiborne Swanson Frank

In addition to being a super-talented designer, Sara is a quintessential American beauty! She is featured alongside winemaker, Michelle Ouelett and style virtuoso, Jenna Lyons in Assouline's upcoming book, American Beauty.

I am so happy to meet Sara and to ask her some fun questions:

Current obsession: Wallpapers and fabrics by Idarica Gazzoni
Last thing you bought: Erdem floral blouse and tan suede Proenza Schouler bag
Favorite vacation spot: St. Barth's is heaven to me

Inspiring artist: So difficult to choose but I love Hugo Grenville right now - his work is stunning and reminds me of Matisse.
Listening to: I am a music fanatic and am all over the place with what I listen to, it really depends on the day. So on any given day you might find me listening to: Broken Bells, Florence and the Machine, Black Keys, Bon Iver, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Coldplay, Nicki Minaj, Beyonce, or Robyn.

Style icon: I look to a bevy of icons for inspiration: Lauren Hutton, Jackie Onassis, Ali MacGraw, Bianca Jagger as well as Diane Kruger, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, and Kate Moss.

Can't live without: My husband Jay and my daughter Gin
Most precious belonging: My wedding ring and old family photos of my grandparents and parents


French 75 [recipe here]

Cocktail of the moment: French 75 - a glass of champagne with a splash of gin and lemon juice and a sugar cube to make it fizz. Delicious!!
Favorite shape: A cube
Color of the moment: Purple is always intriguing

Museum pick: The Frick in NYC and The Musée Marmottan in Paris
Most comfortable shoes: A pair of low-rise linen boots by Rag and Bone

Favorite time of day: First thing in the morning when my daughter climbs into bed with me smelling like sleep.
Thing about interior design you already knew at age 18: Layering is the key to warmth in a space, bring on the sisal, area rugs, and accessories!
Best design advice for readers: Go into the process with a strong idea of how you live and how you would like to live.

Thank you, Sara!


You can visit Sara here.
And, on Facebook.
See the 2012 New Trad Designers at TRADhome.
You might like my interview with Tom Scheerer here.

A Holiday Walk | Greenfield Hill

Greenfield Hill, Connecticut is a part of Fairfield that is filled with a wonderful blend of antique houses built in the 1930s. Many of them are designed by architect, Cameron Clark. Clark lived in Greenfield Hill and had offices in Southport and Manhattan. He is well-known for his residential work and for his redesign in 1939, of the Fairfield Town Hall. Clark was married to Agnes Selkirk, a graduate of the Lowthorpe School of Landscape Architecture—a school for women founded in 1901, specializing in landscape architecture and horticulture—located in Groton, Massachusetts. Agnes worked for renowned landscape architect and teacher Ellen Biddle Shipman before opening her own Park Avenue office.

Not all of these houses were designed by Clark, but they are all gems that I wanted to share with you. I took these photographs on an afternoon walk last winter. The architectural details and stonewalls are timeless and elegant and truly Connecticut.

Everything looks particularly beautiful in late afternoon winter light.

Here is the Greenfield Hill Congregational Church that sits on the green. It's the church I got married in almost 14 years ago. In the month of May, there is a lovely Dogwood Festival here. It's been a tradition for 76 years. I hope you enjoyed our afternoon walk around Greenfield Hill. Wishing you glad tidings and all the best in the New Year!